Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 551: Featuring Mathieu Olivier

Summary

Podcast Summary: Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 551 Featuring Mathieu Olivier

Introduction

In Episode 551 of Spittin’ Chiclets, hosted by Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, and Biz Nasty, the team delves deep into the current NHL season, discussing team performances, player dynamics, and noteworthy events. The episode culminates with an exclusive interview featuring Mathieu Olivier, a standout forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who shares insights into his career, fighting style, and recent six-year contract extension.

---

Current NHL Season Overview

Timestamp: 02:03 - 05:39

The hosts kick off the discussion by reflecting on the NCAA tournament and its unexpected lack of upsets compared to previous years. Paul emphasizes the rising prominence of the NHL during March Madness, noting the intense wild card races that have captured fans' attention.

Keith Yandle shares his observations on the season's progression, highlighting the struggles of teams to secure big wins and accepting tough losses. The conversation shifts to the Columbus Blue Jackets, praising Mathieu Olivier's influence on the team and his impressive six-year contract extension. Biz Nasty recounts her transformative experience attending the Progress Clubs sports charity dinner in Halifax, raising over a million dollars for Special Olympics and bonding with former teammates.

Notable Quote:

Keith Yandle (05:30): "That's the biggest insult I've ever received. Like, show me a little respect here, especially on my home soil."

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Team Performances and Player Highlights

Timestamp: 06:01 - 17:18

The hosts analyze various team performances, focusing on the Montreal Canadiens' vibrant home crowd and their intense matchups with the Colorado Avalanche. They discuss key players like Sergei Bobrovsky and Cole Caufield, debating their impacts on games and playoff potentials.

Paul Bissonnette touches on leadership challenges within teams, using the Devils as an example where differing leadership styles between players like "Barky" and himself create a dynamic environment. The conversation also covers the Edmonton Oilers' defensive struggles, emphasizing the importance of players like Jesper Bratt in stabilizing the team's performance.

Notable Quote:

Paul Bissonnette (16:52): "When you have those good teams, everyone kind of, you know, when you're all pulling from the same rope and it doesn't matter where the message is coming from, as long as it's the right message."

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Fighting in the NHL: A Revival

Timestamp: 04:30 - 22:06

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the resurgence of fighting in the NHL. The hosts debate the role of enforcers like Keith Yandle and Mathieu Olivier, discussing how fighting can influence team morale and game dynamics. They share anecdotes of memorable fights and their implications on games, highlighting both the entertainment value and the physical toll it can take on players.

Notable Quote:

Biz Nasty (20:00): "Credibility and calmness, like, take over every time. Like, it's almost like the players, like when he speaks, like they don't want to let him down."

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Impact of Injuries and Management Decisions

Timestamp: 22:06 - 44:22

The discussion shifts to the impact of player injuries on team performance, particularly focusing on star players and their roles in critical moments. The hosts analyze management decisions, such as the Edmonton Oilers' handling of defensemen like Broberg, questioning the rationale behind short-term contracts despite stellar performances.

Keith Yandle shares personal experiences with injuries and the mental resilience required to overcome them, emphasizing the importance of team support and strategic planning in maintaining a competitive edge.

Notable Quote:

Matthew Olivier (67:47): "I accomplished everything in my career that I would never have thought, and I bet against all the odds everyone doubted me."

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Exclusive Interview: Mathieu Olivier

Timestamp: 73:32 - 136:00

In a heartfelt segment, Mathieu Olivier joins the podcast to discuss his journey in professional hockey. Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Olivier moved around due to his father's hockey career before settling in Quebec. He recounts his early struggles with skating and how incorporating fighting into his game, inspired by his father and seasoned players, helped him secure a spot in the NHL.

Olivier details his first NHL call-up with the Nashville Predators, overcoming a significant back injury, and transitioning to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He speaks passionately about his role as a defender and enforcer, the camaraderie within the Blue Jackets, and his dedication to improving his game through neurological training to enhance his vision and performance.

Notable Quotes:

Mathieu Olivier (77:01): "I just think I need to keep doing this and being."

Keith Yandle (83:29): "I was pretty sure that's what it's from because I'm. I think that's when it kind of all started on the ice, where I wasn't really finishing well."

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Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Timestamp: 136:00 - End

The hosts wrap up the episode by reflecting on the exhilarating moments of the season, from intense player matchups to significant management decisions. They express their support for teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and commend Mathieu Olivier for his resilience and contributions to the team. The episode concludes with light-hearted banter about upcoming golf tournaments and maintaining team camaraderie.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Whitney (135:55): "I'm really happy for you, man. It's. It's. It's pretty cool."

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Final Thoughts

Episode 551 of Spittin’ Chiclets offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the NHL season, enriched by personal stories and expert analysis from former players and insiders. The in-depth interview with Mathieu Olivier provides listeners with a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of a professional hockey career, making it a must-listen for any hockey enthusiast.

Transcript

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, Spit and Chiclets listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Paul Bissonnette]

When your home system or appliance breaks down, American Home Shield will help fix or replace the covered item, no matter its age. Visit ahs.com listen for 20% off any plan.

[Biz Nasty]

See ahs.com contracts for coverage details, limitations and exclusions.

[Keith Yandle]

As we progress through the season, every fan knows that big wins are hard to come by and tough losses are.

[G]

Even harder to accept.

[Keith Yandle]

But you know what isn't hard to accept?

[Ryan Whitney]

Discover.

[Keith Yandle]

Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%.

[Ryan Whitney]

So make a good call for your.

[Keith Yandle]

Wallet and get Discover.

[Ryan Whitney]

Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report.

[Keith Yandle]

Learn more at discover.com creditcard.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is Bostool Sports.

[Ryan Whitney]

Our white whale, Sidney Crosby. Shave his head. Shave.

[Biz Nasty]

Sh.

[Ryan Whitney]

Sh. Ryan Whitney.

[Biz Nasty]

Paul Missette.

[Ryan Whitney]

R.A. mike Grinelli. Spitting chicklets. How are you? Welcome to episode 551 of the Spit and Chiclets podcast presented to you by Pink Whitney. Oh, baby. Pink Whitney and the NCAA tournament, they kind of go hand in hand. If you're sitting around watching hoops all day the past week, who wouldn't want. And have some drinks all week with some Pink Whitney. The big bottles, the little bottles, the medium bottles, the shots, the mixed drinks. Doesn't matter. Golf, skiing. There's still skiing going on. There's still springtime skiing going on. Certain places I've never been. Sounds awesome, though. Pink Whitney, when it's involved, it makes it better. It makes it more fun. And it's all about Pink Whitney. That's why we hear, that's why this show exists. So thank you so much to Pink Whitney. Go out to your local bar and get a shot.

[Biz Nasty]

That a boy, witty. That a boy, witty.

[Ryan Whitney]

Snapping around. It's great to chat with you guys right now, actually. NCAA tournament kind of. I. I don't remember a year when it seems so kind of boring. I. I know it's all about the upsets in March Madness.

[Keith Yandle]

Now.

[Ryan Whitney]

I didn't catch every game as all the guys in barstool Chicago did at the gambling streams, but I didn't see really many upsets at all. I kind of was looking for exciting endings. Didn't see many of that. So let's hope moving forward as the better teams are now in the mix and what they call biz, the Sweet 16.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, you know, you know that NHL's going for now taking over March Madness because of all these wild card races. Hockey's just taking everything down. What the did Keith say while I was talking?

[Ryan Whitney]

He brought, he brought up your super sweet 16 birthday party you had. The guy that's not into birthdays had a week long birthday party.

[Biz Nasty]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Hey, listen, Jeff Jacobson and Jackie Carl forced me into it. So I was like, all right, I told you guys I'm not the birthday guy. But after doing it, it's completely changed my outlook on it. So you guys will be at 41, 42 one time.

[Ryan Whitney]

I, I, years ago, maybe you, you were almost, I think, pissed off you were getting happy birthday text.

[Biz Nasty]

No, I, yeah, because I don't want to be on my phone all day. I believe that my birthday gift should be at the fact that I, I, I get to get away from my phone, you know, I mean, how am I getting chirp for this? Yans, what do you have to say for yourself?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think you could always if he didn't want to look at your phone, but I mean, honestly, you're on your phone all day every day.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, you're, you're on the phone, so.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't understand why it would be any different. But maybe it's just nice as a friend to send another friend a birthday. I'm not looking for a text back saying thank you or whatever. It's just, you just want to send it out there.

[Biz Nasty]

I don't think Happy birthday to everybody.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's why the Merry Christmas ones, Those drive me insane.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, the copy and pastors. If you send merry Christmas to, like a bunch of people, like, yeah, it's, I hate to say you're a scumbag. I know it's all in good intentions, but you're a real scumbag.

[G]

I do that every year. I text all you guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

That is perfect. That describes it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yes. No shorts.

[G]

I love texting people Merry Christmas.

[Biz Nasty]

Wait, how about this goes for me saying I'd like the day off from answering texts back for happy birthday to send Happy Merry Christmas group texts belong to be shot into the moon here.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, and if you send happy Easter, there should be a firing squad at your door. By the way, I saw there was a guy in some state recently that was on death row. He chose firing squad as the way to, way to go. Did you see that story?

[Biz Nasty]

What I did.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I kind of respect it.

[Ryan Whitney]

You? I, I guess so. You. I, I didn't even. How are those things still allowed?

[Biz Nasty]

What do you mean? Like, they hit the button and it just cooks you. Cooks you.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't think they hit the button. No, they take a finger and pull the trigger. A bunch of them.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, they do like five guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

There's like five shooters or whatever, say 10. And there's nine, you know, bullets that aren't real bullets. So they don't know who actually killed them. So you don't, like, have that guilty conscience. So it's. There's nine blanks and then one real bullet, and they all shoot at the same time.

[Biz Nasty]

Get the fuck out of here now.

[Ryan Whitney]

Most people. Most people. It's crazy that this has gone all the way into. You know, how you end up spending your final moments on death row. But they'll put a needle in your arm and you fall asleep and you're dead.

[Biz Nasty]

That's the way to go.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, that's what I would think. Well, no, this guy wanted a firing squad. So if you send me. Happy Easter, either way, I'm sending those guys to your place. No rubber bullets.

[Biz Nasty]

I don't know what's worse, that or the fact. I thought you meant they lit him on fire.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, yeah, that would be. That would be really.

[Biz Nasty]

That's what I thought you meant. I thought you meant, like, they just spoke. It's like, wow, that would be. That would be a really sick way to go. Oh, that would be the sickest. That or drowning.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, God. Jesus. You know what, Biz? We were. We were somewhat on fire. A little pun or. Or play on words.

[Biz Nasty]

Thank you for.

[Ryan Whitney]

You and I were in Halifax. You and I were in Halifax, Nova Scotia. So we went out there, Keith. It was the Progress Clubs sports charity dinner. Now, we didn't know much about it at all. Going in this thing is as impressive as any dinner I've ever been to. Over 1300 people there in. Where was the. Where did we have it biz? The Convention Center. Halifax.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, just downtown. The newer one. It's, like, about a stone's throw away from the. The hockey arena. The downtown's not very big, but a beautiful city. And we're like, how hospitable is Halifax? The entire. You. You can't. You can't beat east coast people. And just their kindness and. And their. Their welcomingness and everything they were able to put together in order to raise a million dollars, they donated this year to an amazing cause, Special Olympics. And. And when I'm drawing a blank on.

[Ryan Whitney]

The home, the Windsor King's Meadow.

[Biz Nasty]

King's Meadow. It was in Windsor. Halifax is where the home is.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. And so they, the. There's I think, I believe 10 special needs people that it's a fully staffed house. Like this dinner's been going on, this Progress club over 50 years. An amazing time. It was myself, Biz, Jeremy Ronick, Jackie Barrett, who won 50, 13 or 15 gold medals in this.

[Biz Nasty]

Fifteen medals, 13 of which gold in the Special Olympics.

[Ryan Whitney]

Keith, he, he back squatted 625 pounds. And it was incredible to see, like this guy gave up. He gave a nice interview. We were with. Was it Rod, Rod Black. Correct.

[Biz Nasty]

Rod Black, legend.

[Ryan Whitney]

What a guy. All time bus driver. Keith, for this entire thing. Tessa Bonhomme was there. Legendary gold medal, gold medal winner, 2010 Women's Winter Olympics in van. So it was just a fantastic night. And, and it was funny because junior was, was chatting us up beforehand. I think he had been years prior. Somebody showed him a picture at like the same dinner. He's like, I don't remember that.

[Biz Nasty]

He didn't remember being in Halifax the first time.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's my first time in Halifax. Like Joe, you were at this dinner a couple, a couple years back. He's like 15 years ago, that doesn't count.

[Biz Nasty]

He goes, well, you wouldn't have believed them unless they showed him the picture. So that was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did that guy get all of his events in, like weightlifting?

[Ryan Whitney]

All of his. Started as a swimmer, swimmer started swimming and then I don't remember exactly what happened, but I mean he's a tank of a man and, and he just got into weightlifting and just smashing records, Smashing them. And to, to see this guy, how strong he was. And then Biz, who called you out center, center ice?

[Biz Nasty]

Jeff.

[Ryan Whitney]

And Jeff.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, one of the members of, of. Yeah, one of the members of that house. Like just a beauty. He actually had a full grown beard and he shaved it like the day before the event. He even took off the sideburns. Looked like. Who was the old coach for the Brampton Battalion? Stan Butler. He came up and at the luncheon he goes, I want to arm wrestle Ryan Whitney. But he thought I was with. So he called me out and I was like, that's the biggest insult I've ever received. Like, show me a little respect here, especially on my home soil. So I had to arm wrestle him up there and he gave me the. Oh, what's that over there? Hook, line and sinker. And then slam me down. Man, those guys, they got some strength. Jeffy embarrassed me. But we'll be back next year and I want, I want a shot at the title.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You got to be careful arm wrestling My buddy tore his bicep at the member guest last year down here. Yeah. Like, you can't. If you're an older arm wrestling, like.

[Ryan Whitney]

While drinking, you might as well be somebody sending Happy Easter texts, right? That's. What are you doing arm wrestling at this age? I mean, maybe the young bucks can rip that off.

[Biz Nasty]

They like their pops out in Halifax, eh?

[Paul Bissonnette]

These Alexander keeps.

[Ryan Whitney]

I showed up, I got picked up. I landed Wednesday night. I don't know, it's like 9:30. Got to the hotel. It was like 10:30 by the time I got got to the hotel. And I knew the next day we were doing stuff in the morning, afternoon, and then the gala was at night. So I check into the hotel and I'm just looking to go up there and like, finish season three of the Wire and pass out. And the guys who would. Guy Ben, who'd picked me up, he's like, everyone's in there. Everyone's at this room in the hotel bar. I was like, okay. And I walk in and these guys are like, take this gummy. Get him a drink. I was, fuck, no, no, no, no. So I ended up kind of irishing after like, 45 minutes. I was like, yeah, just like, snuck out. The only way to leave is you get older people. I think they understand this. You have to Irish on people like you wouldn't believe. And I'm talking Irish exit. I'm talking. You don't even look at somebody to give them a wink goodbye. You just pretend you go into the bathroom and disappear.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. You're unbelievable.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Professional.

[Biz Nasty]

Professional.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

And he won't even answer his phone when you're, like, calling him when he's at home. Like, he doesn't even.

[Ryan Whitney]

Completely dark.

[Biz Nasty]

It's like he's got four different lives going on. You probably have a different family I don't know about. Shut the up.

[Ryan Whitney]

Halifax, an amazing city. A mini Bostonish. Like, it reminds me of the city, the people, one million times nicer. But it's awesome. And it was great Biz and I said we'd love to go back. Actually, a former teammate of ours was there, Stephen Dixon.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, yeah, Dicky. Oh, my God, this guy. Funny.

[Ryan Whitney]

One of the funniest bastards you ever meet. Like, his voice, the way he tells stories. And I told the story up there because I think biz, man. Oh, Dicky, where are you at? Where are you at? We knew he was there, and everyone ends up pointing. And I brought up the story that Keith, he used to.

[Biz Nasty]

He's the hairiest, hairiest Sasquatch.

[Ryan Whitney]

He would shave his chest. He would put a V neck on and shave just the V neck. So like he's meeting ladies out, they think he's got a shaved chest. You pull the V neck back a square centimeter and there's just hair busting out. So he would do. And I think he would Nair his back.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, God. He did everything. He did. I don't think laser. Lasers to that degree existed back then. Like, they haven't. They hadn't invented like the hair remover or the tattoo removal lasers. So he was doing there like he had hairy triceps even. And he would trim them in the sink. So he would clog up our sink. So we couldn't even use our sink. And I use. I used to live with him and him and Dan Carcillo. It was the greasiest house you could imagine. Known. Known to the point where then he started doing it in the. The naring in the shower. And then it would start clogging up the shower. So we didn't even. We had to fucking bathe in the fucking sink in the kitchen, for crying out loud. I had to live with this guy. But I told Wit, like, oh, he did give me my nickname. And Wit's like, oh, yeah, show Hl guy over here. Thanks for the nickname. Just carving me on stage.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Unreal.

[Biz Nasty]

We were going at it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. We were actually really ripping each other on stage. That was pretty funny.

[Biz Nasty]

They were loving it.

[Ryan Whitney]

They were loving it. They're like, geez, these guys are friends. I'm like, yeah, we're best friends. But doesn't he know the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The all time trick is if you're shaving anything, you do it on the road in the hotel room. So you don't do that.

[Biz Nasty]

He had to do it every week.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's what I'm saying. It would grow back. Like, he shaves it Friday in Hartford and by Sunday in Wilkes Barre, it's all back. So I don't even blame the guy.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. So we were calling him out for about three minutes of that. That interview on stage with Rod Black. But going back to attend it all. Just incredible hospitality. Great job. What they're doing over there in Halle. And I believe there's two other progress clubs throughout Canada. There's. I think they're both. The. Both other ones might be in Ontario, but if I'm getting that wrong, my apologies. But what you guys are doing is awesome. And it was, you know, we're grateful to have been a part of it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. And Junior was. I was asking Junior like, Just like the difference in the game now, kind of like old stories. And I, I asked about Dirk Graham. I was kind of looking at the, The Hawks, like, 92 roster right around that time. He's like, oh, Dirk Graham, that guy was tough as nails. He goes, he had the most legendary pregame speech before one of the cup finals games that like, I've ever witnessed that I'll ever witness. I was like, really? He's like, he came in the room, he's all emotional, he's like, you're gonna get the best game I've ever played tonight, boys. I will be the greatest I've ever been. On and on about how good he's gonna be. Went out and had a hat trick in the first period. I was like, he's like, yeah, like after this insane, like, two minute speech where he's saying how good he was gonna be for the guys, he goes out, gets a first period hat trick. We lost six, five.

[Biz Nasty]

I had my guy, he was minus six.

[Ryan Whitney]

I admired power play goals. But, yeah, great, great weekend and biz. You're. Or that was Thursday, your weekend. It took you to hockey night in Canada. You, I mean, talk about dressing down. You got the tie way undone, you got the Ambassador jacket. You make this ridiculous video about the leaf screaming at the camera. And what do you know, the Leafs blow a two nothing lead to the teams in the Leaf league.

[Biz Nasty]

Nasty, mush, nasty. In full effect. They got the ambassador.

[Ryan Whitney]

Was it 2 nothing when you did that video?

[Biz Nasty]

No, I did that coming into the game. So we're up to nothing. And I even mentioned that San Jose game. I said, this one feels right now like one of those ones that comes back to bite you in the ass. And they were tied with Florida at that point for the division lead in the Atlantic, right? Same amount of games played, and they get an easy one right on their platter. They go up to nothing and then the fucking wheels fall off, man. I tell you, just unbelievable. And you had to know that Nashville was going to be coming hard too. Did you see Andrew Brunette's quotes?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. So he had called them out on Friday, I believe, or Thursday and kind.

[Biz Nasty]

Of like directed it towards the leadership group and the veterans. And then even O'Reilly was asked about it. He goes, honestly, man, he goes, this is the state where you start getting angry. Four losses in a row now. It's been a, a sandwich of a year. And he goes, but, like, I'm not playing good, so how do I get mad? Like, it's like you. I mean, Yan's I'm sure you can correlate. You're a type of guy who would have talked at some point, but if you're not bringing your A game like you, you can't really be the guy in the room who's rah rah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, it's tough too. Like not every leader, you know is speaking up in the locker room in between periods and you're getting the guys going. Like I'll say Barky, for instance, he, he's your best player in, you know, every night, every game, the entire year, 82 games. But he's not going to come in and start. If you're on a four game losing streak, he's not going to come in and start yelling at guys, be, you know, be like, hey, you got to play more like me. He more leads by example. And then you have guys like me who might be struggling but you have to say something. And then in your mind you're like, are these guys even listening to me? I'm minus seven the last three games. Like, you know, but I think when you have those good teams.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, I was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

When you have those good teams, everyone kind of, you know, when you're all pulling from the same rope and it doesn't matter where the message is coming from, as long as it's the right message. And you know, we have all been a part of those days when the coach comes in flipping out. You know, when you're on a tough stretch and it's never fun, but you know, it happens in a long season. Whether it's the coaches flipping out, the GMs coming in flipping out, or the players flipping out, it has to happen.

[Biz Nasty]

We've had plenty of coaches flipping out and we'll get to that. But going back to that Leafs debacle, that was a trap game up to nothing like they were against San Jose. And then they give up five unanswered. So just some brutal goals too. Lost coverage, you know, bad pinching by the F3 forward. So kind of disgusted because, you know, you know what, it brings me back to it. It brings me back to the whole leak interview when he was talking about when they, they just kind of didn't have that energy to like win those last couple games to win a Stanley Cup. And he looked back to prior series where they're like, man, we should have been more focused going into that one. We had to do the extra travel, play the extra game. And that took kind of a little bit of wind out of our sales in order to get over the hump. Like, buddy, you got an opportunity to, to get like a, a freebie up on, on Florida and they, they're dealing with a couple injuries and then you do that. Those are the games you're going to look back if you end up playing Tampa and you go to seven where it's like, fuck, we could have had. We could have had a, a wild card. I'm not saying that's going to be a layup, but we both know that Florida or, or Tampa ain't going to be that. So just a shitty night to be a Leafs fan. But hey, still a lot of Runway left here and we got a lot more to get to other than the Leafs.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. And like, nobody really seems to be playing that great right now in that division. I mean, Tampa's lost two in a row yesterday. Sunday. The. I thought the pants were going to lose to the Penguins. They're down three one. They got all these guys out of the lineup and they able. You know, that's kind of like, that's kind of an animal win by them. Right? Like, we're not losing to this team right now. We're trying to win this division and, and you end up. You end up getting the two points out of it. So that was impressive. Saturday night was wild, though. We had a bunch of crazy things go on. And I think the craziest might have been post game in New Jersey where I, I haven't seen a. A player make such an innocent quote in my life. As Kova Sevic made when asked, what do you guys got to start doing? I believe he said, you know, we just got to get that playoff mentality going. And I'm paraphrasing more. Just like when he finished the interview, he's probably like, oh, that was. I didn't, I didn't say anything bad. I just, just totally just trying to get the boys going here. And when asked about it, Sheldon Keefe just, just, I guess blew a gasket. He's like, start playing better. Why does he worry about his own game? Like watching it made no sense. I was so confused. Confused. And I guess like you could look at it maybe, maybe Sheldon Keith thought his quote kind of made it sound like he wasn't getting the team ready to go playoff wise. And it was a hell of. It was a hell of a sound bite, though.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Like, so I was on Hockey Night in Canada and right away when we were in the back and we saw it like Elliot was like, holy. I looked at BXA B said, first thing, he goes, he hates when they go to the room and they ask the players for, for comments and then bring it back to the coach. And most the time it's maybe being a little bit misconstrued on the way back and maybe it's being kind of teed up in order to get that type of reaction. Now I kind of agree with Elliott where I don't think he was doing that. I think he's just kind of, you know, saying, you know, do you think the player is right in this situation? And buddy, that is just stress. This somebody needs to get Sheldon Keefe a bong, like get him a ketamine bump before he's going into these fucking interview. He has to put on the moon boots and just chill out a little bit. And the, the Liam brought it up on our, our weekly TNT call because obviously we're going to talk about this. Like this is a big story. Like you would think with having lost Hamilton. Sean Thaler's out, Jack Hughes is out. He would be having a lot more light hearted approach in the fact that I don't think anybody's going to hang this season on Sheldon Keefe. I think most Devils fans, they would try. I think most of them think that they're going to go in and get throttled by Carolina. I think everybody thinks that. And like you got tough injuries at the wrong time and it wasn't your fucking year, but tons of Runway left. But to now all of a sudden like take that approach and kind of put a lot of the focus now on you being like, oh geez, like maybe no wonder these guys are gripping their sticks a little bit tight and things have been going well given the adversity, like this guy was. This guy's wound up like a kite and then to center out a guy who I think like for a young player has been one of their more, more consistent players. Like maybe he had a tough couple games and, and like a couple turnovers.

[Ryan Whitney]

Where they're just signed like.

[Biz Nasty]

But Jesus Christ, Keith. Like I thought this was a little bit over the top and I mean we're going to talk about Montreal, but we go from the game one of that night to seeing him like doing little shoulder bumps with Caulfield on the way in, playing tummy sticks, like making his players feel loose to, to what you see there, that was just, that was nuts.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I, I think that's a great way to lose a locker room is to do something like that because if guys are on the fence of whether, you know, they're loving Sheldon Keith the way he's coaching that's going to tip them the other way because you got a young kid like that. My. The way I took it was that young.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's not that young. 27.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

All right. Well, you got a class.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think it's even worse that he's not that young. I'm saying, like.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But my thing is, like, they're playing their games right now. All mean something. And when. Towards the end of the season when you're playing Ed the coach every meetings, hey, tonight's a playoff type game. Tonight we gotta play. Be playoff ready. Like, it's a playoff game. He's probably just repeating what the coach said before the game, and then he checks his Twitter feed after and he's getting.

[Biz Nasty]

Absolutely.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I would have been like, what the.

[Biz Nasty]

Hell is going on?

[Ryan Whitney]

What did the reporter tell him?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I said, clearly, obviously, Sheldon Keefe hates this guy and hates his game. But, like. And then he just walked out, right? He didn't even finish the.

[Biz Nasty]

That was the, like, the best slash, worst part. That's what I'm like. I think this guy ended it on that.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was. That was the end of the press conference.

[Biz Nasty]

He walked out. Did you see the PR guy? The PR guy's like, oh, God, here we go. And I don't think the PR tonight.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't think the. The reporter was trying to, like, stir the potter.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like, he was just saying, like, yeah, you got to be, you know, playoff ready.

[Biz Nasty]

And like, yeah, he's like, what that say what?

[Ryan Whitney]

No, I was actually imagining he's running down with you. He must kind of hate him. Because I was picturing, like, if a reporter went up to Terry and Pittsburgh after a loss, and he's like, so we just talked to Ryan Whitney and asked, you know, what they need to do. And he mentioned being playoff ready. Like, he might have just puked. Immediate. Been too upset, like, physically, emotionally to even say anything because, like, if a guy you don't love, if a reporter's talking about a player you don't love, giving quotes after a loss, like, all of a sudden, yeah, the coach's head is just spinning with anger. Pasha, is Pasha on here?

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, yeah. Well, yeah. Are you okay with this guy on.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'll tell you this, Pasha. If. If Montreal gets in, which I hope they do, and they get Washington, they have, like, a way better chance. Anyone playing Winnipeg on the west has a way better chance than the Devils have against Carolina. Like, this could be a -4:50 type line before this series. I don't even know if you'll win a game.

[Pasha]

Well, yeah, I mean, that's not anything groundbreaking. The best players out, their best offensive demands out, their best defensive demons out. Like, you got.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You got your goalie coach lost their mind.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, no, I mean.

[Pasha]

I mean, Markstrom has been terrible since he came back from his injury. And, like, going back to Keith's quotes, like, I. I didn't like it either. I think. I think he has reason to be frustrated with the team. It's kind of three tough showings in a row now, even though they. They beat Columbus that first game.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But the.

[Pasha]

The third period, they got caved. But to me, I honestly think, like, outside of he sure and brat, I think he would have had a similar response if anyone gave that quote. I think it was more kind of like, talk is cheap. Go out there and perform versus, like, specifically about Kova Savitz. Like, he's been pretty solid. The team has a lot of issues. Like, I just mentioned Markstrom being the main one right now. He's been brutal. The bottom six has been brutal. That's kind of more on Fitzy, but I really don't think Kova Savage is a problem.

[Keith Yandle]

And.

[Pasha]

And, boys, things have changed a lot since Game 1 when he called him Kovashkin. Have they not like, holy cow.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, he called him that?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Pasha]

Keith called him because he scored a Rocket 1 tee in game one, and someone's like, oh, Koba Savage this. And he goes, oh, you mean Kovechkin.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So he's got one goal.

[Pasha]

Is that his only goal this year?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Keyed his car. It's like he keyed his car.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Made fun of his wife or something like that reaction. I still think Kova Sevic is probably like, I. I don't believe that the reporter gave my actual quote.

[Biz Nasty]

Also.

[Pasha]

It was weird.

[Biz Nasty]

Also, if you're Keith, like today, if you had practice, that's the first thing you got to go over and you got to talk to him, right?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, he hates his guts.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, he ain't talking to him.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, no, he goes up and the guys are like, oh, nice. He's kind of apologizing, but he's in his ear, and he's like, speak to the media again. You. You'll be in the coast.

[Pasha]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Keith Yandle]

It was.

[Pasha]

There's a lot of names ahead of his that I think deserve that kind of treatment in the. You know, getting publicly called out over Koba Savage. So it was definitely weird.

[Biz Nasty]

I would have loved to have seen him talk about it to his captain, like, that you're saying that he would have said that regardless of any you're.

[Pasha]

Telling I said outside of he sure. And Brad like couple guys. I think like most guys have like, you know, he had heard that quote. I think his reaction was more just.

[Biz Nasty]

Like he would have said it to Markstrom. Markstrom's a scary.

[Keith Yandle]

I kind of hope.

[Pasha]

I kind of would like him to like. Markstrom's been brutal since he came back from injury.

[Biz Nasty]

Just like Keith throwing all his players under the bus now.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

This is an organizational problem.

[Pasha]

I would like to take a second though to pump the tires of Jesper Brat. You know, Jack Hughes gets out, they get gut punched. They could roll over. This guy is stepped up. He just broke Scott Stevens's franchise record for most apples. Oh, thank you very much for saying that. Ryan Whitney, yes. For Brat is the only player in the NHL with over 80 points and over 80 hits. The only player in the NHL.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay, that's a stat right there.

[Pasha]

That's a stat. This is a guy who people just, oh, he's small. He's soft. No, he's hard to get off the puck. He throws the body around. Elite playmaker, Great skater. One of the under players in the league. And for the audience listening, this is a guy who in Montreal at dinner, Ryan Whitney and Matt Murley said would not crack power play one on a good NHL team.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't remember that. Holy.

[Biz Nasty]

It was a late night dinner.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't remember that it was a late night dinner. But you guys, I do remember being owed $4200 by somebody on this podcast.

[Keith Yandle]

3800.

[Pasha]

Thank you very much.

[Ryan Whitney]

And no, it's not. It's 42. If the Rangers get in. If the Rangers get in.

[Pasha]

Well, if my grandma had wheel should be a bicycle.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's not 42, it's Pasha. You know what? You know what? If I said that I take it back? How about that? I'm a man. Yes. But Brad very fun to watch. Dynamic. The team is just miserable to watch. And Kova Sevic imagine next game. And the media comes to Kovacevic after he just starts running. He's like, ah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's like, no English. No English. You're like, dude, you're from Hamilton. Hey, it reminds me of I had my coach in the Miners, Pat Conagher. This guy hated my guts so much. Hated my guts so much. He got his tires slashed at his apartment. He had a team meeting. He's like, hey, just want to let you guys know I have video surveillance if anyone wants to, you know, fess up to this now there'll be no issues. Everyone's like, what is this guy talking about? He calls the captains and he was like, hey, go tell Yans if he wants to admit to it now, like, everything will be fine. We'll. He thought I keyed his tires out.

[Ryan Whitney]

What kind of knife did you use?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I'm like, I don't even know where you live, man. Like, what are you talking about? He's like, hey, we'll see. I'm getting the video.

[Biz Nasty]

He's your uncle.

[Ryan Whitney]

There's no chance he had video. He has. No. It's like. It's like my dad, Big Dan Whitney. I. I crashed my car into a basketball hoop in Ann Arbor when I was out at the program. And I called him. I'm like, dad, I just came out of the movies and somebody buried my car. What do I do? He's like, where were you? I told him the movie theater. He's like, all right, I'm gonna call over. I'm sure they have video cameras. And I was like, oh, no. I remember just like closing the cell phone. It was like the first cell phone ever. I was sitting in my billet house. I was like, what do I do? He knew there was no video. He just knew I was lying. I had to call him right back.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh my God, you caved, eh?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

And then my billets kicked me out of the house for that crazy, crazy sequence of events for you.

[Biz Nasty]

No way. For that was the reason.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was like the first reason. It wasn't even their car either. The other reason was I, I. Obviously these people weren't huge fans of your boy, but I, I didn't read a book that we were supposed to read and do a report on for Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. So I called my billet mom. I was like, hey, I reading this book, I don't really get it. And the teacher told me if I get the movie, that it'll really help me understand from my report I have to write. So she called the teacher and said, did you tell him to get the movie? And the teacher's like, no. And next thing you know, all my stuff was packed. They packed for me, dropped it all off at the A Squared Ice Cube Arena.

[Pasha]

Pull the George Costanza.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Why did you need her to get you the movie?

[Ryan Whitney]

Because I was going right to the rink, right? And then we were going to be at the rink till friggin who knows when. Because then you actually go to school now. They don't go to school. We were going to school. And then we go to the rink and then Keith and then I just figured I'd watch it right when I got home. Nice. Maybe a cup of hot chocolate. Do my book report.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

I had nowhere to live. I was homeless for a day. Oh my God.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, that's a. I love those bullet stories. Oh there was one. I won't say the name but he like there was this like blanket downstairs in the basement on the couch. He had the room down there and he basically had the basement to himself and he would tug off down there and he would just fucking blow in that like the blank.

[Ryan Whitney]

This guy needs a firing squad. That's ridiculous.

[Paul Bissonnette]

A blanket.

[Biz Nasty]

The billet mom came down at one point and was a hey, do you mind stop doing whatever you're doing in the blanket. It's a family heirloom. Oh my God.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh my God.

[Ryan Whitney]

This might be the that might be the most like talking culture has a problem story I've ever heard.

[Biz Nasty]

Just putting the VHS off. VHS is in. Cranking.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Those are my mother's ashes.

[Biz Nasty]

Got grandma's quilt. Just fire loads off the family patches.

[Paul Bissonnette]

On the quilt things walking around the basement.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, that was my college blanket.

[Biz Nasty]

Pasha, we're done with you and your devils. Get the fuck off the podcast.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh my.

[Biz Nasty]

What a top to bottom under the hood. Not a lot going on there.

[Ryan Whitney]

No. But Jesper Brat, that's pretty, pretty legit legit stat. He had one thing to give positivity wise and you knew it was coming and I actually teed him up chirping Scott Stevens since we that he broke.

[Biz Nasty]

Since we over already covered the Leafs and we probably won't go back to the about their them falling off the rails the other night. Couple bright spots obviously Matthew Nyes being one of them. They gave a stat. There's only three players in the NHL with 25 goals and over 150 hits and I believe it's Tom Wilson, Brady Tkachuk and now Matthew Nies. I think they have a unicorn in Matthew Niest. He, me and BXA were talking about in that segment you mentioned where I was all fired up about the Leafs where we talked about him specifically and like he's the type of player that makes me miss Hyman less. Like we didn't have a good net front guy. We didn't have a puck count on the forecheck and a guy who is relentlessly working. I think the high end for this guy is like the sky's the limit and and he's A dog. And he's a type of guy you need in order to win. So, so fired up about having this guy. And I think we were talking in the, in the, in the text about it, like, he's probably going to get like eight times nine.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, that's a number that he's going to get. I think he's going to get offer sheeted.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Dude, don't say. That's a biz.

[Ryan Whitney]

Everyone's saying. I, I. The first time I saw this, I think it was Nick Kyprios on a Twitter clip, and it was basically like, you saw what St. Louis has done. We'll get into them. What an awesome story that is. But those two players, Broberg and Holloway, like, you give the offer sheets and it wouldn't, it's not at all near the money that Nies would get, and I'm assuming Toronto would match, but it's just like, he's so good and with the cap going up, I, I think that what you've seen from the guys at St. Louis, like, maybe offer sheets now will become a much bigger thing, a much more popular thing, because, like, how else are you going to get studs? You can't get them anymore. They don't end up going ufa and.

[Biz Nasty]

Now why these guys have leverage, like the Wyatt Johnston one. Not to say he wasn't getting that money, but, like, that's the type of guy who would get offer sheeted, right? Yeah. So was July 1, and so was nice.

[Ryan Whitney]

But I mean, it seems like he's, he loves it there. He's been so good. There was a tweet also. I read that Minnesota two years ago, I believe. I think they had Logan Cooley, they had NY's, they had Brock Faber, like the kid Jimmy Snuggle roots still there. Like, they didn't win at all. That was. I think there's another couple NHL ers too. Like that team. The fact they didn't win it, and we'll get into college hockey, exciting time of the year in a little bit later.

[Biz Nasty]

And the fact that G just went to Minnesota for the Chiclets.

[Ryan Whitney]

Gee, that was great.

[Biz Nasty]

Maybe not the best time to drop it.

[G]

Yeah, I mean, I dropped it on, on day one of March Madness. The biggest mindsies move in my Chiclets.

[Ryan Whitney]

What were you thinking? It's like, hey, well, so there's a few reasons. Drop a sandbagger during the final round of the Masters, guys. Yeah.

[G]

Drop a Chiclets episode on Super Bowl Sunday. It's just the dumbest thing ever. So it had it had to go out before the end of March, so I didn't want to drop it next week right before the tournament because I thought it would have got lost in the shuffle with the March Madness and the college hockey tournament and the NHL. So I'm like, oh, we'll drop it this week. Ideally, it would have been Wednesday, but it wasn't done by Wednesday. So we're like, all right, fuck it. We'll just drop it Thursday. I thought, Chicklet, you was a wagon. I. I thought we could go up against March Madness, and we did it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Biz. We can beat the NFL Sundays, too. Yeah, you're. You're right. Yeah.

[G]

But the video is not doing bad, though. I mean, 100,000 views. The facilities are insane. Hot tubs, cold tubs, the saunas, incredible oxygen bikes. It's insane what they got going on there. And just, like, all the NHL players that have come there, like, more guys that have played a thousand games that have gone to Minnesota than any other school. Like, that's pretty cool.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, that was a cool stat that you had. That was nice.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[G]

They had no idea I was rifling off those stats, and they looked at me like, what the fuck are you talking about?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wait, I was thinking when you were talking like. Like talking to those guys about, you know, the guys that had been there before, like, when you were at college, did you know, like, what NHL guys? Well, you were crazy. Like, hockey. You knew a lot. But are there guys who were like, oh, Chris Fury went here. I had no idea.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, wait, are you saying that some people go to a school and have no clue that, like, a former NHL stud played there?

[Paul Bissonnette]

It seemed like with the two guys that G had.

[Biz Nasty]

They had no clue about the history of the team. I don't think that's a requirement. Just worry about your performance on the ice. Some of these guys, like, all they actually know is hockey. Like, especially the ones who are at such a young age in their phenoms because they're so dialed in. I don't necessarily think it's, like, disrespectful to not know the history.

[G]

I think it's so much, though, some of these schools have so many, like, random bullshit facts. Like Minnesota, everywhere you go, like, there's some type of memorial of, like, an NHL player, the 1980 Olympic team, Herb Brooks.

[Ryan Whitney]

There's. There's.

[G]

It's a lot to congest.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Kova Savage just has to worry about start playing better. I think that Minnesota is like a true blue blood. Call it like a power program. So, g. Great job on that video.

[Biz Nasty]

She.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, awesome job. Fishy. Back to Saturday night. I am so all in on the Montreal Canadiens right now. Like, I think going to the four nations in Montreal, and I hadn't been to a game since I played there 13 years ago, maybe 12.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You always said it was your favorite building, too.

[Ryan Whitney]

It was my favorite building to put. I played well in there. I had a couple goals in there, a couple assists. I also took the biggest hit of my career that we talked about on the Amazon night. We did, but I loved it. And then going back there, I was like, holy shit, I just forgot. And I think it's the number one crowd, and maybe you guys will disagree. It's the number one hockey IQ crowd. Like, you'll watch a Canadiens game, and right now, when they're in the mix, like, nothing's better. The noise and the vibe in there, little plays that in many arenas, 90% of arenas, people have no clue what it was. They get, like, cheers there, right? Like, I'm not saying block shots either. Something like. That's obvious. I'm talking, like, a little beautiful, short, breakout pass. Like, the crowd's like, ah. Like, you notice that they really get the game, that they're following along. And they go down 4:1 to the Colorado Avalanche. The Colorado Avalanche are just. They're just something else right now. McKinnon's, like, not even scoring at the rate that we've become accustomed to. They're still winning, and it looks like it's done. Third period, 4:1, and they come storming back Biz. Were you guys following along with that? What did you think? Did you get to see any of it?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, that was the game we were more focused on because of just how much. How much value it had as far as, like, standings and especially what it meant to Montreal. And you get to watch, like, fucking, you know, Makar, McKinnon and. And all the new guys for the lineup with Colorado and Buddy, like, I'll start with Suzuki. He's probably been their MVP all season as far as consistency and what he's brought. And I feel like he's kind of that silent assassin. Doesn't get talked about enough. And now with them in the playoff mix, kind of starting to get his recognition and. And probably the next guy over, it's probably between Lane Hudson and. And Cole Caufield. And it kind of reminds me of Washington, how they. They. I wouldn't say they had, like, snubs necessarily. Maybe Logan Thompson, but Suzuki, a bit of a snub for Canada some people thought didn't get the phone call. Cole Caufield had as many goals as he did at that time. Didn't get the call. So it seems like that rest and a little bit of chip on their shoulders has kind of, you know, made them a little bit hungrier down the stretch here. And I mean it kind of brought up the debate in the post show at Hockey Night in Canada, Canada with, with Ron Elliott and BXA about Lane Hudson and rookie of the year. Like what he's been able to do especially down the stretch. Like they lost Goulet like he played just over 28 minutes against the, the ABs the other night. Plus two player like getting difficult minutes. Like I think if he's able to keep doing what he's done the whole season long and I mean there's, it's probably a three headed race right now with, with Dustin Wolf and Celebrini but if, if they sneak into playoffs, man, I think that he, it's his trophy to lose essentially at this point. So great to see them playing as, as well as they've played down the stretch. Getting everybody involved. Like Dvorak was a healthy scratch a little bit, wasn't playing great. He's elevated his play. Josh Anderson. So overall from and and I'll go back to what I said before about Sheldon Keith and how he was kind of a snapshot on the press conference. Well that same night they got St. Louis showing up to the rink the same time as Cole Caufield and he's chumming it up with his players. So a lot has to go to be said about him making them feel confident, getting them all on the same page after a tough start and, and really getting this group into the position that he's got him and making him feel comfortable working with them and keeping that, that, that good mojo environment there in Montreal. So fuck. I think, I think they have a over a 50% chance to make playoffs right now. Yance.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I would love for them to get in but to go back to Lane Hudson, what he's doing as a defenseman, as an undersized defenseman coming in this year, he's got 55 points on a team. I mean they're a good team. No one probably had them making the playoffs this year to start the season. What he's doing with that group, I think he deserves that. The Calder obviously celebrity is having an awesome year too but you know, he's kind of one of those guys you expected it from which you know, you shouldn't take that away. From him. But I, I just think as a defenseman, a young, skilled defenseman like that, to come in and to be able to put up the numbers that he's been able to do and not look lost at all. I know he's, you know, a minus player right now, but it's still like he's. He's been solid for them in all three zones in Marty, too. Like, you see them there, they almost get. Have a fight in practice a couple days ago with Wi Fi and Pazetti. And then after you see Marty in the. Cause, you know, as an ex player, like, you just want that to end. And then guys laughing. You see him, like, in the pile with them, laughing, hitting them, getting them going. So he's. I think he's pushing all the right buttons with that group. He, you know, he. I think everyone in that locker room knows that he's done it all too, and, and been there and done it. And I couldn't imagine, like, those undersized guys like Caulfield and Hudson playing for a guy like Marty, who in his era, coming up when it was, you know, there was no undersized guys, like, the amount of tricks that he's probably teaching them of, just, you know, how to protect yourself, where to keep the puck. I think Marty, if they make the playoffs, Marty, you know, should be up there for coach of the year as well.

[Ryan Whitney]

And a sad storyline for the Canadians was Brendan Gallagher brought up that his mom passed away earlier in March and, you know, just gave quotes about how much, you know, she meant to their family and cherishing memories of her. And then he goes out, he ties it up with about six minutes left against the Islanders, I think maybe Thursday or Friday. And just to see, like, what he's done, how long he's been on the Canadiens, right? Like, that guy's a heart and soul guy that's battled so many injuries because of the way he plays. And, you know, you think, like, his mom and dad have a lot to do with, like, raising him to become that type of player. Like, to have that drive, to have that commitment to be able to play like that for that long. And that was. That was pretty incredible. Then you see a fan who had, I believe, won like a Hockey Fights Cancer, Hockey Fights Cancer jersey from the Canadians, reached out to. To Brendan Gallagher and said, hey, I'd love to. I'd love to give this back to you. And he wrote him back, yeah, let's do a jersey swap. So, such a classy move by that fan. Thinking of his family losing his mum so that was just. That was really hard. It's cool to see his team kind of get around him and he's pointing to the sky, touching his heart after he scores big goals for the Canadians as they try to get in. Slavkovsky, he has, I think 14 points in 13 games since the Four nations break. It seems like just like last year, he kind of really turned it on in the second half. So they have some special things cooking. And for St. Louis.

[G]

Wait, wait. He had a really interesting quote. You're of something.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. About Brady.

[G]

About Brady. Could chuck. I'll let you take it away, Biz. It was awesome.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, no, I was. I was gonna pop in and say that. Yeah, he said that, like, after watching Four nations, like, it was kind of like a bit of an epiphany for him saying, like, that's how, like, I want to be known to play hockey. Like, I want to be able to bring it every night like that. And, you know, that's a kid at a young age who's admitting being inspired by a guy down the roads play and how he thinks he should approach it night and night out. And, I mean, Brady's even a little bit banged up right now, but he ends up scoring. The other night, he's getting in the mix, getting in on the forecheck. And also, like, Slavkoski, man, like, he's a fucking young kid still. Like, imagine a couple off seasons in the gym for that guy and then him having a bit of that mean streak like a Tom Wilson or a Brady Tkachuk. That could be a fucking force to be reckoned with. And he had two goals the other night, Whit. And I want to throw it back over to you. How much emphasis do you put on for the rookie of the Year? Like, let's say Celebrini still reaches the 30 goal mark and gets like 65 points even though he hasn't played a full season. You've put a little bit more emphasis for Dustin Wolfe and Lane Hudson and the fact that in these last 10, 15 games, like, they have to bring it and if they don't, their teams don't make playoffs. Like, do you put more emphasis for the trophy on that?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, but I kind of look at. Dustin Wolfe's been incredible, but not playing every game to me has some sort of effect. And Lane Hudson, like, I mean, he came into the season, he wasn't on the first power play. And I think maybe two weeks into the. The Chiclet season, we were like, Matheson was there. We're like, all right, he's going to take that over. And it happened quick. And now the way he's played, how quick he is, I. I feel so vindicated in a way now. I was just going off what I saw at bu and the assistant coach Kim Brambles mentioned to me, yeah, he's going to get 50 points next year. And I was like, what? I think he said 50 to 60. I saw him Wednesday at BU's practice before I went to Halifax. He's like, remember what I said to you? I'm like, yeah, dude, I kind of thought you were crazy. So just to kind of see him in college and then see him doing the exact same things now, he's my guy. I also think it does hurt a little bit. Celebrini's in San Jose. The team is really struggling. 10 o'clock. They even play a lot of 10:30 eastern start time. They'll play 7:30 out there. And then you got Lane Hudson in the top three hockey market in, in. In North America, getting a team into the playoffs. So I think he's your guy right now. I Believe Hudson is plus 100. Celebrini is still the favorite. Minus 120. Celebrini and Will Smith and William Eklund have all been, like, phenomenal lately and like, San Jose's future. I think it's going to be nice coming up here. I really like what, what they're doing, but Lane Hudson as a defenseman, playing that many minutes, playing that well. Also the crowd, they're obsessed with them, too. But it kind of goes into what you were saying about St. Louis. You know how we've talked, like, the NHL is not a developmental league. Like, you're not there. The AHL coaches are working with you. It's really about producing better players, helping guys improve, helping them become NHL regulars, NHL. It's like, hey, buddy, it's winter. Go home, eat what you kill. Figure it out. We don't have time. I feel like St. Louis is probably the best coach at just helping guys improve. Like, just his. His past, how what he had to do to become a star in the NHL. Like being on waivers, having. Being told he had no chance. And then now, like, it seems like guys are making huge leaps with him. And, and that's something that, that shows, like, this guy isn't just winning games as a coach. Like, these players are improving. And yeah, they're young, they're going to improve naturally, but he just seems like someone you'd love to play for, like.

[Biz Nasty]

Credibility and calmness, like, take over Every time. Like it's almost like the players, like when he speaks, like they don't want to let him down. That's the feeling you want to have as a head coach. And I think he's earned that respect and not only how he works with him, but like how he treats them. He treats them like they're his buddies. Like, I'm sure there's time to crack the whip, but man, that's, that's as big of a player as coaches. You'll see. Now going back to the Lane Hudson argument, like I get what you're saying. Like Dustin Wolfe, I think, I think if he probably played half the amount of games right now and played well, he'd hit the 50 mark. Which if his numbers continue or even get a little bit better. What did, what did Olmark play as far as games when he won the Vesna. I feel like him and him and Swayman shared the net.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, but that's other goalies, like I'm saying like in the argument of like players who are playing every game compared to a goalie who's not. Like, I just always lean towards the guys who are in the lineup every night.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay. Yeah, I guess it's a little bit more difficult. Like typically it takes goalies. Like when do you often see a 23 year old goalie who plays that many with those numbers? So it's all relative to where like usually goalies don't develop till 26, 27. Like rarely are you seeing this situation. So there's still some meaningful hockey left to be played. But if it goes to where, because Goulet is not there and they're relying on late Hudson the way they did last game and he's playing 25 minutes down the stretch and he plays like he did the other night. I think given they're in playoffs and how much ice time he's playing, it's, it's his trophy to lose at this point because he is going to play every game. Would you not agree?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I think getting the, getting them in the playoffs is, it will be a huge, huge factor for Hudson. But it's, it's also too like Celebrini, you know, he's. Have they ever, have they ever done a split like two guys win it or. No, you can't do that.

[Biz Nasty]

Which is rare.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Unless Celebrini was like a clear cut, like he had 40 more points than him. But like if you're, if a demon's somewhat close in points in, in numbers and gets his team in the Playoffs and playing me to meaningful games and meaningful minutes. Like you said Biz. I think. I think it should be leaned more towards him. Not that I love Macklin Celebrini, you know, just as much as you all do, but I just think it's. It's a. It's Hudson's to lose now.

[Ryan Whitney]

Gee, I would love if you could look up. I should have done this before the show. Has there ever been a year or a two year stretch where two finalists for the Hobie Baker were also finalists the next year for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year? Forget. Forget. Forget them being teammates.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like there's no way that's happened. But I don't even know if it's happened with just two players up for the Hobie, then two players up for the Calder. That's what's kind of crazy. So maybe you could try to look. I don't even know. Does chat GP Unreal.

[Biz Nasty]

That unreal impromptu trivia question with that was genius level stuff.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was great.

[Biz Nasty]

Holy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Staying in the east wild card, guys. It was kind of. I think the west has quickly and surprisingly become a little bit more exciting just based on like Ottawa has kind of taken over. Right. I think Ottawa and God, the, the Sens fans, guys, they were furious at me. I think two shows ago I was like, let's go. Here we go. You're in. And then they had a little bit of a skid. They figured things out. I think it's safe to say, don't kill me. That unless things go completely sideways. The Senators are in. The Senators are in. And they will face the winner of the Atlantic Division. Now the next spot we've been rooting on Columbus. One of the coolest storylines of the year after what they went through and they've just hit a wall and. And it stinks. We have Matthew Olivier on the show, guys. It's over an hour. We did it Wednesday last week. Unreal interview. This guy is classic. His story's amazing. And it just sucks that Columbus can't figure it out right now. I think they've lost six in a row. They have three of a possible like 18 points in their last nine games and somehow they're kind of still alive. But it does suck to see them hit this skid right now. I think people were kind of waiting for it to happen and then at one point figured maybe it's not going to happen. So I don't know what you think of that Team Biz. Detroit also Detroit, man. Jesus. These guys. What's going on with them. I, I, it's very, it's now turned into basically five teams for one spot. Somehow the Islanders are alive. If the Islanders get.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, my. Please, no, please.

[Biz Nasty]

They are just lurking, aren't they? They're doing this without Barzell, too, man. They trade Nelson and no Barzell. Like, man, just a savage, greasy team who brings you down right into the mud and the mucks it up with you. That would be a boring team to watch and a team that maybe they'll just anaconda chokehold Washington if they end up sneaking in. So what what I think about the team is I think that we're doing everything in our power to give them a chick. Let's bump like this is us.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

We need telling Columbus Nation, we love you guys. We love your fan base. We love what your team's about, and we are giving you every bit of power and energy to get you back in the winning ways because it's going to be a hell of a push to the end. The way that St. Louis is playing right now, I feel like that's the the only spot available. I don't think that Minnesota can be touched right. As as much as they've been struggling and as boring as they've been, they're probably going to get that first wild card, correct?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think so. But, God, who knows? They actually had. Who did they beat? They had a huge win over the weekend. Drawing a blank. I'll check right here. But yeah, back to the East. It does. It does seem like, I don't know, Detroit has just kind of disappeared a little bit here. The Rangers somehow. Let's talk about the Rangers. Let's talk about Saturday afternoon. I tweeted out Igor Shusturkin should have got 17 million a season. I don't know how they won that game. Vancouver was dominating them. The shots ended up 39 to 12 and the Rangers won. Also maybe one of the best games Quinn Hughes has ever played. I know it sounds crazy. For this random regular season game, I think he hit right around 25 miles an hour, which is like the fastest anyone's gone this season. And as he's going end to end doing it, you Sam Rose like, holy. He didn't swear. He's like, this guy can fly. He's just flying around everyone. But sure enough, Shisterkin just sitting there. And then J.T. miller gets the empty netter, just kind of buries the Canucks in a huge game for Vancouver. Like, I don't know what's going on in Vancouver right now. Pedersen's now hurt. He left that game, I believe. And it's just like nothing can go right for the Canucks this year, Biz. Nothing at all.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh man, that you see. Do you see Quinn Hughes break Remy's ankles too on the blue line? That's how I looked going against D. Men like that. Like, you go out all confident. I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna pressure this guy, make him make a play. Whoop, whoop.

[Ryan Whitney]

Matt Carkner made you look like that. Like I think anyone Quinn Hughes would have legit.

[Biz Nasty]

Like I would have lost my soul.

[Ryan Whitney]

Dislocated.

[Biz Nasty]

I would have lost my soul. It just kind of feels like last year everything went right for the Canucks. Whereas this year just nothing is. And they can't. I mean they've dealt with injury bug, they've dealt with the, their fair share of drama. You know, games like that where they dominate and can't pull a win out of their ass. But oh man, that's gotta be a frustrating season if they end up missing out. But it's not looking good, man. I like, I really like the St. Louis team, boys. Dude, I really like this St. Louis team.

[Ryan Whitney]

I watched him play against the Preds. They look phenomenal. They have now won six in a row. Kyru gets his third straight 30 goal season. Like when he's on his speed and we saw it in that fat. Remember we saw him in Vegas biz.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Before fastest skater. He had all of his buddies in town. He's I'm going to pay my tab tomorrow at Hakasan with the fastest skater. Goes out and beats McDavid and all.

[Ryan Whitney]

The guys took it down and he's flying around. Robert Thomas, this is I. Pareco's out, right. He's still injured. They're doing this Bennington. I. I said a couple weeks ago, like Winnipeg having to do having the season they had only to deal with St. Louis. And then maybe Merle's on game notes was like this is kind of. Keith said it. I think this is kind of like when they won it. Like who knows what. What could happen with this team. But I, I counted them out. I think they went over, Monty went there. They had a great little run and then they kind of hit the skids and then now everything's flipped again. A lot of is being made about their schedules pretty easy right now. Yeah, where they got the Preds, they got the blackh. Got a couple different games where it's like, hey, this is a lot easier than say Calgary schedule. But it doesn't really Matter. Hey, put them in front of you. You still got to win the games, Keith.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, and those, like Biz said about that Toronto game, those trap games, you know, sometimes late in the season when you're playing the teams that have nothing to lose, they can come up and bite you in the rear end. But I think a lot of this. And you know, obviously Bennington having confidence in himself after the Four nations, but I think the group, like their whole team, everyone in the NHL was watching these games and they're watching Bennington, you know, making saves against USA in the finals, just playing unbelievable, winning them that championship. Like their whole group was probably like, all right, boys, we got the Jordan Bennington from 2000. What was it, 16 or whatever? Like, this is our time, we gotta go win some games here. And he's came back with the ultimate confidence in his own game too. So cool story there. I love it too, because Monty, obviously being friends with Merles and from everything you heard, just being a beloved coach and you know, Robbie Thomas, their whole team is just like a. They're a group that you want to root for. It just seems like A, you know, St. Louis, a blue collar town, they play that type of game. They always have, is never a fun building to play in. And whoever has to play them, if they get in first, first round, that's not going to be a fun series because they've been playing must win games for the last two months, it seems.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. And they're all in that perfect age where, you know, I think they're all in like 26, 27 year old. Their whole. The Coral group. I mean, Shanner's getting up there, maybe Butch Nievich a little bit, but I feel like they've been rejuvenated by that, that young core squad. But I just want to go quickly back over to the east too, because you talked about Ottawa being in that spot and it looks like they are going to make playoffs. They do have Columbus three more times to close out the season. So Columbus, to a certain degree, does control their own destiny. If they're able to win, like, even if they're able to get like five of those six points, like, that's a, that's a big swing and gets them back in the thick of things.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So going back against the Islanders tonight.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes, yes. That's a huge game. Who would have thought islanders Columbus on March 24 would just be this enormous game with playoff implications? That's why we play the games. St. Louis. The last thing I want to say after watching the game, like it seems like their lines have rounded out perfectly. But the biggest thing is Dylan Hallway fizz. He has 58 points.

[Biz Nasty]

Buddy, you guys caught in overtime the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Other night, or is it.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, it's the other Oilers guy that they got. And, and I think Oilers fans right.

[Biz Nasty]

Now, let's get into it. The, let's get into it before we go to Olivier. Let's do it.

[Ryan Whitney]

The Broberg one, I kind of get, like, it was, it was over 4 million bucks. Like, I, I, I understand it. The Hallway won just around $2 million. Like, I don't get that. And I don't think any Oilers fans understand. And it's like, even, okay, say he hadn't had that nice run. He's playing with Leon in the playoffs. He looks great. Like, that's what you were. Like, what the hell? You got to match this. Even if he hadn't done that, you could say, all right, well, I kind of get it. We haven't seen much from him yet. We're not going to match it. You'd seen it. You'd seen the speed, the playmaking. Like, this is, this is the absolute worst case scenario, what's happening right now where he's not only, he's not only playing. He's completely exceeded what Oilers fans would have been disappointed with in St. Louis. Like, if he went and had 45 points, it's like, oh, we could have used that. He might get 70 points. And, and it's crazy. Two million bucks.

[Biz Nasty]

One point, isn't it 1.7?

[Ryan Whitney]

Is it? Not even two.

[Biz Nasty]

I think it was 1.7 for two years. And that's what I can't understand is like, like the whole roster for Edmonton. And keep in mind, they got Frederick out right now. Kane will probably be back towards the end of the first round if, if they even get there, if they don't get beaten five by L. A and then obviously Connor McDavid and Leon out. So that's a lot of guys coming in. But if, if Jeff Skinner, and no insult to him is making $3 million, like, why didn't Holloway exist in your plans there? And then it goes back to like, oh, Ken Holland didn't, you know, didn't sign these guys before it even got to that point where, like, did he already know he was on the way out or the way they were treating him? Is he like, fuck you, I don't give a fuck. And then his buddy Doug Armstrong's like, you, we, we've talked about this before. Do you think that Doug Armstrong ends up doing that If Ken Holland still the GM of the Edmonton Oilers, and you go back to Broberg, said he.

[Ryan Whitney]

Would do it to his mom.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay, fair enough. But Buddy Broberg was their best defenseman in the finals against Florida. I thought he was better overall than Bouchard. Okay, say he wasn't. He was their second best defenseman. To me, that is such a big fumble. They got older, they got smaller, and they got slower. Like, Skinner's played well over the last couple games, but we're talking about McLeod, we're talking about Fogle, we're talking about Holloway, Broberg. Like, aren't all these guys not six, two, like, 200 pounds, maybe over like, what are. But why would you want that much turnover on a team that just brought you to game seven of the Stanley cup finals is beyond me and to. To something that we're going to look to as a complete fumble if this team's not able. Able to get out of it. But, hey, a big win without McDavid and Leon in the lineup. It was the first time, I believe it's ever happened when, since they've been playing together where they were both out due to injury. It was the third time it's happened. Both times before, it was when one of them was either resting and one was injured or maybe they were both resting for playoffs. So they're 22 and 1 now. Big win against Seattle. New I thought Nuge was awesome. He had a slow start.

[Ryan Whitney]

Now he's hot.

[Biz Nasty]

He's fine in his game. So maybe these big guys in those four guys being our lineup is not the worst thing for these other guys to get feeling good, get the Mojo going and hopefully propel them to another run. But with this is the feeling.

[Ryan Whitney]

The feeling. This year is so different, dude.

[Biz Nasty]

So different.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's like, oh, my God. Like, I think seeing Those two in St. Louis, seeing how disappointing Arvidson and Skinner have been overall. And then just like everything that that's happened this year is just like, oh, like, what happened here now? Who knows, right? Like, I. I was talking with stuff. I was like, dude, you kind of. I'd love to see like, an 8 and 2 run here going into the playoffs. Get some Mojo. I don't know what's going to happen. It sounds like Leon will be out until April. I don't know when McDavid's back. We don't even know what happened to Leon Stoff's mood.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, it. Was he confident? Was he saying, oh, we're gonna confident?

[Ryan Whitney]

Always.

[Biz Nasty]

Always confident about them.

[Ryan Whitney]

Always confident. A man of his stature. They don't lose belief, man. Yeah, he's carrying that whole city on his back. Yes, Leon and Conor were out, but stuff was in. So I'll tell you right now, stuff, stuff does. Does not bend. So it's just weird. It's this. So it's so hallway pisses me off way more. And it's kind of crazy being a defenseman. You think? I. I Love Broberg, but 2.2 is the deal. Two year deal. Two. It was two years too.

[Paul Bissonnette]

My apologies.

[Ryan Whitney]

He has 58 points.

[Biz Nasty]

My apologies.

[Ryan Whitney]

One of the fastest players in the league. Like, what the hell are we doing here? So also, last thing before we throw it over to Olivier. I was just looking at numbers. So right Now Leon has 49 goals, right? So he'll get 50. I mean, I assume he's going to be back and get one. No doubt for him. But last year there was 450 goal scorers and there was 1740 goal scorers in the NHL. This year there's only going to be one 50 goal scorer. And at the most, at the most that's being pretty lenient with what I think could happen the rest of the way. We might get 9, 8 or 940 goal scores. So kind of a crazy drop off.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, we talked about it with Mr. Ice and that's a good time to segue to Icecon before we go to Olivier. But goal scoring was way down at the start of the year, I think by almost like a whole goal. And it was fucking. He went on like a 18 game losing streak for picking overs. So I don't know if it was just like guys were just ice cold. I don't know if it's because goalies improve, but I think the weirdest part about it was I believe that even safe percentage was down. So like not only was goal scoring save percentage so just a. A bizarre first half of the year. I have felt like games more recently have been like crazy. Like even the other night on Hockey night in Canada. 5 4, 5 4. Like there was. Edmonton's game was 54 against Seattle. So was Montreal's 52 for. For Toronto. So I feel like later in the season it's getting a little sloppier.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, I watched Chicago Philly a bit yesterday.

[Biz Nasty]

What was that? Pond hockey.

[Ryan Whitney]

I've never seen a pond hockey game. You haven't seen a pond hockey game like this on a pond in your life, let alone an NHL ring. It was 4:3 with like 18 minutes to go in the second period.

[Biz Nasty]

I think it was crazy I haven't been watching much Blackhawks. I've been paying attention to the other teams, but Bedard's on the wing so that that other kid's playing. So interesting to see that. They kind of moved him over despite his face off. Percentage going up because of me. But Wit, I think we've kind of went long on the front half here. Should we send it over to the nail gun?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I have a couple, I just have a couple things. So when I asked if, if, if two Hobie finalists had ever also been two Rookie of the Year finalists the following season. Lane Hudson wasn't even a Hobie finalist last year. My, he completely made that up. I don't know how he was. And it was celebrating celebrity cutter Gaultier and Jackson Blake, who's nasty on Carolina. He is sick. So they, and we're going to talk.

[Biz Nasty]

About them after the break.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay? Okay. Okay.

[Biz Nasty]

Eight game heater.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, Pat Maroon. Yeah, Pat Maroon. Chicago Blackhawks. Pat Maroon announces his retirement in a pregame interview with Darren Pang in St. Louis. Very kind of emotional moment. You could tell, like it's time for me and my family to go on to the next chapter. And just talking to Panger, who was the blues color guy when he was on St. Louis and his three Stanley Cups in a row, one with St. Louis, two with Tampa. What a run. And then Maroon scored in that game against Philly on, on Sunday. Very happy for him, man. And I imagine how tough it is, but I kind of like how he came out and did it with around 10 games to go, hopefully, you know, get some stick taps from all the boys he's playing against and just get some credit at the end here.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, I, I, I think it was Panger who maybe mentioned like, hey, are you thinking about playing next year? And he, he said, basically said no to Panger. He goes, man, what an opportunity to maybe do it. This, this pre game. The fact that your family's here in St. Louis, like, this is where you won your first Stanley cup and brought it home. Like, and then, yeah, they had that, that interview. I think we should actually play it right now.

[Pasha]

Well, Pat, you're 840th NHL game.

[Keith Yandle]

How does that feel?

[Matthew Olivier]

Feels good.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Matthew Olivier]

I mean, obviously we all know the circumstances and I mean 840, I would.

[G]

Have never thought, what are the circumstances for you?

[Matthew Olivier]

I mean, for me, I just think I, I laid it all out there every night and for me, I just did everything the right way and I try to play an honest player and yeah, I mean it's Going to be an emotional night for me tonight. Obviously we all know what's going to happen, but I accomplished everything in my career that, that I would never have thought and I bet against all the odds everyone doubted me. And like you said, I'm 840M.

[Pasha]

When you look around here and see so many friends and old teammates, what's it like for you?

[Matthew Olivier]

It's tough. It's. Sometimes you got to give up everything, you know, and everything you dreamed of your whole life. And I just know it's time for me and it's time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives and you know, to get to have a special moment tonight and be in St. Louis to have my family come in town and I won a Stanley cup here and you know, I'm just going to finish this year as every game is going to be my last game, you know, like I'm going to play as hard as I can and do everything I can to keep winning hockey and. But yeah, it's, this is all I know Vanger. So it's, it's, it's tough. I mean no one will know. It's hard to go through things like this. You can't really process it. But I think it's, it's best for me, my family is go start a new chapter.

[Keith Yandle]

Really proud of you, pal.

[Matthew Olivier]

Thanks Banger. I love you. Thanks for everything.

[Biz Nasty]

So just obviously very emotional and a guy who just based on like not only the work he's put in as a player but from an entertainment value as well. Like he deserves to get a little swan song on the way out. Some as you mentioned, the stick taps and some love from the boys and go out in, in that type of fashion. Not many guys get to go out on their own terms and it seems like he's going to be able to do that. And just a legend. Three cups. So congrats to Patty. I'm sure he's going to be doing media in his post career because he's been doing all those commercials, the, the Glass commercial with Rick flair there in St. Louis. So what a career, what a run. And looking forward to getting him on.

[Ryan Whitney]

To talk about it considering our interview with him. I mean he, he got kicked off a team in the ahl. It's pretty incredible what he ended up doing. So congrats Patty. And with that we're going to throw it over to, to business. Number one heavyweight in the NHL, a true nail gun, Matthew Olivier, who got a six year contract extension at 3 million a year. 18 million bucks for this guy. Awesome story how he became the player he is and an incredible insight medically to something that he's been through in his career and how it's changed his game. So with that Matthew Olivier. What up guys? This episode is brought to you by Body Armor Flash iv. Body Armor Flash IV is packed with electrolytes and provides faster and longer lasting hydration with no artificial flavors, sweeteners or dyes. After the week in Halifax we had we needed some Flash iv. I crushed one on the way home. G, what do you got Right now your go to still fruit punch?

[G]

No. You know what Whit? I'm switching over to the cucumber lime. I love these things and I actually got myself a bachelor party this weekend in Scottsdale. Playing tons of golf, drinking tons of pink Whitney. But I'll also be drinking tons of Body Armor Flash iv. Gonna keep me super, super hydrated so I'm good for the Atlanta trip.

[Ryan Whitney]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

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[Ryan Whitney]

Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play.

[Ryan Whitney]

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[Paul Bissonnette]

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[Ryan Whitney]

We are now pleased and honored to be joined by biz's favorite player in the National Hockey League and a man who deservingly so just secured the bag for the next six seasons, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matthew Olivier. What's going on, buddy?

[Keith Yandle]

Not much, guys. What's going on?

[Biz Nasty]

Is it Matthew or mature?

[Keith Yandle]

Both. Yeah, it's originally a French version, but no one can say it in English, so I'm actually surprised your your French is like. You act like you can't speak anymore. You still got it, eh?

[Biz Nasty]

I can't speak English or French. I kind of like 50 of both, so. Both. Yeah, both languages. They say I'm a little bit dyslexic, but I still have the accent. I can still speak it better or. Sorry, I can understand it better than I could speak it, but yeah, but we're not here to talk about me. We're here to talk about you. And you actually grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi, or at least were born there because your father was a hockey player and from a young age you were just traveling around as a family, going to wherever he was playing hockey, correct?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, that's right. Yeah. So I was born there. I was like, I moved back to Quebec City when I was like three months old and then we bounced around. We were in Oklahoma City for a bit, then Houston and then bounced around for a couple years, ended up in Germany and then moved back to Quebec when I was like seven. So grew up all over the place.

[Ryan Whitney]

So he retired when you were seven, you guys went back home. Where was your first time? Like skating, like maybe first year mites or anything. Was that in Germany or were you not even really going Yet.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. First. First year I played organized hockey was in Germany, so they didn't have, like, a starting age there. It was just whenever you were good enough to start playing, could get out there. So I think I was, like, 4 or 5 years old, and I was playing with older kids, and I just remember it being, like, great. Like, I didn't feel like I was younger than anyone. They were all, like, nice to me, and I was just playing, so I was just happy to get it going.

[Ryan Whitney]

Was your dad a nail gun as well as the kids say? He.

[Keith Yandle]

He was different than I am. He was like a smaller offensive D man, but he played, like, in the coast in the 90s, so he always told me that he had to be absolutely insane because, you know, he. He had to create space for himself. So, like, he'll pump my tire. My tires every now and then, but he always tells me he was crazier than I am, and he'll always have that over me. So. Still scared of him to this day.

[Biz Nasty]

But have you ever seen his wires cross? Like, what, when they did, would he go crazy?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I seen it a couple times. So when he, like, when we went back to Quebec, he played in that, you know, Quebec fighting league for a bit, and he was like. He was. He was one of the best D men in the league, so they kind of just left him alone. But I remember this one time, he's, like, skating up the ice, and some guy was, like, going after him, whatever, and some guy just, like, you know, grabbed his stick, two hands and Right in the back of the calf. And I just remember, like, him turning around, gloves were flying everywhere, and he was just like, full UFC mount on the guy, just. Just going to town on him. And, yeah, next thing we know, like, I think a day or two after he was going to get a cup of coffee at Tim Hortons, the guy walks in, like, full raccoon.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, the guy on the ground that he's pumping.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, he's pumping him.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. They, like, actually had a cup of coffee together and stuff. So I was. I remember that was like, whoa, that's. That's insane to me.

[Ryan Whitney]

So I'm actually looking right now. I can't believe I didn't check this before I asked you the question, because one year on the Oklahoma City blazers, he had 302 penalty minutes. Okay, there you go with 40. Like, and then the next year had 48 points at 51 games. So, yeah, he. He had. Probably has the right to tell you, buddy, you may be tough, but I still got that dad strength on you?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I'm never, I'm never gonna try him ever in my life even, even if he's older than I am. I've seen some stuff just bothered me.

[Ryan Whitney]

Was he coaching you like when you did start, when you move, when you guys moved back home?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, yeah, he was, he was helping, you know, coaching either head coach or just helping out. He was coaching the queue for a bit there. He was four years in Victoriaville when I was like in Peewee Banham. So he was helping out when he could. But yeah, he was obviously coach most of the way.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's what I was going to ask you. When he was in Victo, you weren't with him?

[Keith Yandle]

No, he, I joined, I got into the league the year he left. So then he, he changed jobs. He became kind of the head hockey ops guy for the development in Levy, which is where I grew up, just south shore, Quebec City. So kind of became like the head guy there and helped develop kids to the cube.

[Biz Nasty]

I know it was before your time, but had you heard of the legend of Keith Yandel and Moncton at that point?

[Keith Yandle]

I did, I did hear the legend of Keith Yandel also. Yans, I don't know if you remember this, probably not, but you sunk me right behind the floor to net my first year in the league. Gave me the fake, the fake rim around with the fake slap shot on the control breakout and I bit on it so hard you just scoot right by me.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's your welcome to the league moment, dude.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you gotta get the guys that are playing their first couple games. You got to get them when they don't know. They don't see it that often. So I'm sorry for doing that to you.

[Keith Yandle]

No, you're all good. It was the COVID season, so after a couple times I stopped biting on it. But.

[Biz Nasty]

Only took you a few times, eh? Yeah, that's what Yan's used to do, check the game notes and he'd see the guys who only played a few games who he could get. So when they were first on the four check it's like, oh yeah, here we go.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, no, I got, I bit on it hard. No one gave me a heads up. So I guess that's on me though. I should have known looking at like.

[Ryan Whitney]

Your numbers in your career, like I guess your dad played so that, that, you know that probably has something to do with you playing and falling in love with the game. Like when you were younger, were you a real skilled guy? Were you always flying around? It seems like this, your speed is like your biggest asset. So, like, as you grew as a player, like what came first, what came last type stuff, I kind of just.

[Keith Yandle]

Developed everything later than usual. It's funny you say that my speed's good because I remember when I was getting drafted, the queue, and they were saying, like, it was horrendous. I couldn't skate really well. I had to do a lot of power skating and a lot of coaching lessons. But I think I was always a smart player. You know, kind of top one two players where I was, you know, coming up, but never really like highly touted. Just kind of barely got drafted in the queue. Not that time. I think they drafted only eight rounds of, of 15 year olds and I was like a seventh round pick. So it was like just through like summer hard work and kind of just grinding through it that I just kind of built it year after year and kind of game, the players that I.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Am today, playing five years in the queue, like, that's a, that's a grind. Right? And were there any times during that where you were like, you know what, I'm going to give this up. I'm going to go try to find a new job. Were you always set on, I'm going to make it pro, you know, following the footsteps of my dad and make this thing happen?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I was always set on making pro. I think I always believed I could know maybe the NHL. I was. I didn't know. I knew it was going to be a, a grind actually, but I knew I had like kind of a style of play that fit well professionally and I could at least give it a shot. So, yeah, that was always the goal. I mean, I kind of ditched school a little bit during the queue, but that's just play hockey.

[Biz Nasty]

So CHL education. Well, for some. Some guys took it seriously. The three that did ended up winning scholastic player of the year. But I'm looking at your, your hockey db, right? And so you entered the queue like your offensive numbers weren't there, but nor were your PIMs in the beginning. So was fighting something that you eventually incorporated to your game later in the queue, or maybe you were doing a little bit like, how much were you fighting in your early days there?

[Keith Yandle]

When I made the team, I was kind of in and out. I think I was playing every other game or something like that. And I was trying to find a way to get above the pack of the other guys I was rotating in with. And one day I just kind of looked at the other team's lineup And I said I should probably, you know, try to get a fight going, maybe something that will help me or at least, you know, show the coach that I'm willing to do whatever it takes. And I got absolutely pumped. But I never got scratched again. So. Started from there. Yeah, where I, I just figured, you know, maybe that's something that if I do it more than the others, maybe that gives me a little bit of an edge. And then next thing you know, they kind of gave me a little more confidence. So I started getting a little bit of, you know, some points here and there, and then I just kind of elevated my way up to the third line that year as a 16 year old. So.

[Biz Nasty]

So had you been doing it before you even got to the queue at all? Like you said, you ended up getting beat up. Like, was it a. So you, it was just a conversation you had with yourself? Was there any NHL player maybe you saw kind of doing it where you're like, ah, maybe that's the way to get there. Was it a conversation with your father or, or. No, it was just you kind of coming, having an epiphany.

[Keith Yandle]

No, my dad never told me to do it. I remember I called him one day early in the season. I was like, what do you think? Like, do you think it's a good idea? I've been thinking I should probably try something else. And he's like, well, try it, you'll see. I mean, you've been around it long enough, you know, you know what impact it has on a team and on guys. But, you know, just be ready to assume the consequences. Like, I had taken boxing lessons, but nothing like on ice or anything. Like that wasn't in my style of play at all. So, yeah, I just kind of built it over the years where it kind of really became part of my playing style. And yeah, I mean, I just figured at some point it was. So every time I do it, I'd get some more, I'd get like more space out there, be more confident. Like, it's weird how I just became this positive thing in my game where I was just like, I think I need to keep doing this and being.

[Biz Nasty]

A young guy and doing it all of a sudden. I don't know what your relationship was like with your teammates, but did you feel that initial response from them too, and the respect they have for you and like the, the, the, the, the satisfaction you got from that if you weren't contributing offensively?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I think I did. Plus, I was playing with like I was on the fourth line with like two absolute nail guns, like just guys that were there to chuck them and I was in the middle of them and I remember like before doing it, I was like, what, what am I doing here? Like I should be doing this. Like I'm playing with these guys, right? I'm, I'm like leaving them with the job by themselves. And then, yeah, they kind of just liked it. Obviously they were encouraging me and stuff. And then I, I was playing well and then I kind of elevated to third line and I just figured I'll keep doing it because it's worked so far.

[Ryan Whitney]

I, I got a two part question. First is simple. Do you remember the name of the guy who pumped you first fight in the queue? And two, like Biz has talked before how Dennis Bonvie was really important to him, like kind of teaching him how to fight. Did, did you have one of those line mates of yours, like after practice do little stuff with you?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, the guy that pumped me was Trevor Stacy. This, this guy from Kahnawake, Quebec who I think was a first rounder in the N nll, the lacrosse league.

[Ryan Whitney]

Wow.

[Keith Yandle]

Not to chirp the guy, but I think he had zero points in three years. He was just an absolute like, take.

[Biz Nasty]

It easy on those types.

[Ryan Whitney]

He just got his name mentioned. He's all fired up.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, I mean I just looked at, I remember looking at the game notes, that was bad mistake. And I remember seeing like another 16 year old who had a lot of pins and I'm like, oh, this guy will fight. I had no idea, right? It was like so early. Little did I know I was on my knees after 10 seconds. But yeah, guys that helped me while I was like around my dad, he was around the other pros in Quebec City. They had a good group. So I mean, I remember Donald Brashear was there and you know, I forget all the tough guys that I was around the locker room when he played in that, in that league, but all those guys, you know, watching him over the years and stuff, I picked up a few things here and there that I kind of was asking him questions. I don't think I've ever been on the ice actually physically, one on one, working on it, but just, you know, picking things here and there from those guys and, and hearing them talk about.

[Ryan Whitney]

It, that league, that senior league, like they, the crowds were unreal, right? Like people loved it. Like, I imagine the atmosphere in there was pretty electric.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, it was. And it was good hockey because it was all old pros that came back from their careers that just wanted to keep going. And it was good money. You didn't have to practice during the week. It was like you just show up, play a couple games, get us some extra money in your pocket and, and basically from what my dad's told me, he would just work during the week and his paycheck, he wouldn't even touch it because he would just use the money from playing the games in the weekend. So it was like a great gig. Good hockey, especially the lockout here was, I remember it like he said like it was AHL caliber hockey. It's obviously changed but I think like probably the bottom four lines and maybe one D man that were like there to put on a show and fight. They were the most paid guys obviously that's why the rinks were full. But it was really good hockey for sure.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And then you go, you go to, you know, you don't get drafted. You sign with Milwaukee is and I think it's so impressive that you never played any coast games. You know, as a, as a bottom six guy coming in like was there ever was there one certain guy like whether it was a scout or someone in Milwaukee or Nashville's organization that, that you knew believed in you and that kind of helped you get your footprint in there?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, there was a couple things. Well, first of all the, the scout that dropped drafted me in Moncton is the one that had started inviting me to rookie camps in Nashville. J.P. glaud is his name. So he kind of obviously I owe a lot to him for, you know, giving me chances here and there. And I think my first rookie camp, you know, I kind, I think I had a good camp, got into a fight and got noticed by the staff there. And for what I've been told later is, you know, they kind of needed a big tough guy to come in and round out team down there and in Milwaukee and obviously they thought of me, was my only offer on the table. So I took it in the heartbeat. But yeah, I just remember thinking I'm probably going to start in the coast because I have a one way HL deal and you know, you have all the two ways and, and well I remember thinking it's out of my control. I at this point just show up to camp, do what you do and we'll see how it goes. And yeah, never, never really looked back.

[Biz Nasty]

I was just going to quickly go back to that last year Junior and fast forward to now you 16 goals this year like that. The offense you've put up is five times more than you've ever scored. You had 16 goals right now. But that last year junior in Sherbrooke, you had 27. Was, was kind of getting that opportunity offensively in junior. What maybe gave you belief that you could eventually get it done at the National Hockey League level, knowing obviously it's such a big jump and you're going to be back on the fourth line. But the fact that you were able to do that your last year junior there was clear there was some offensive ability in you, I think.

[Keith Yandle]

So I was, I was never an offensive powerhouse obviously, but you know, I had a good shot. And weirdly enough, this is, this is, you know, I don't know if many players have talked about this, but my 19 year old year in juniors, I was missing a lot of chances where it should have been. Auto, auto goals, like coming in, back door tapping, stuff like that. And I would be getting passes from like a certain angle and just miss it. And somehow some way I met someone that was working in neuro, neurotraining and kind of working with concussion, maybe like guys that have issues with that. And sure enough, I get tested and I was completely out of whack. My depth perception was nuts. My eyes were glitching all over the place and did some, did some work, did some exercises to fix everything. And then I come back the next year and it's all going in. And so I kind of just, I wasn't completely fixed, obviously. I still had some stuff to figure out, but I probably had a concussion that messed up some stuff visually. And then just kind of. I've been treating it for years and it's been slowly and slowly getting to a point where now I feel like I don't even have those issues anymore.

[Biz Nasty]

No.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

And it's like you didn't notice it. Like it was more like until somebody pointed it out, a doctor. You're like, oh, like this makes sense.

[Keith Yandle]

I thought it was like normal. So like I'd be, I'd be watching TV and then my eyes would just kind of like glitch one way or the other. Like I'd be, I wouldn't be able to stare at a certain point. And then like once I got tested, they were like, yeah, you're not only you need some work, you're completely out of whack. And so once I did the stuff, I come back the next year in juniors and next thing you know, I'm not missing the net, I'm not missing those open nets. They're all going where I want them to go. And I'm like, okay, this should have been done years ago. But I mean, it's, it's crazy. But yeah, that was a big part of the turnaround offensively for me. And funny enough, I just kind of kept doing it in pro hockey. And this year it's kind of like the same vibe as. I kind of had a breakthrough last summer.

[Biz Nasty]

And so the original reset, like, would you go to a physio and you'd be there for an hour doing all these different exercises with a doctor. Would you have to leave home for like a week? Process, do they like study your brain? Like, how does that all work?

[Keith Yandle]

So I would go, I would go this, this neuro. It's called neuroactive. And basically it's an hour and a half away from my house. I drive there once a week, do about an hour and a half to two hours work. And it was all based off my results. And it was all like, kind of like a line pattern would go through a screen and I'd get like a electrical shock through a nerve that's affecting this one. It's like super advanced stuff that I got 100 lucky to fall upon and, and get that therapy kind of. And then it, it was like instant, instant relief.

[Biz Nasty]

And. And you felt that, that it was as a result of all the concussions because of the fighting you'd been doing. Like, was it. It wasn't like that before necessarily.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, it wasn't from fighting.

[Keith Yandle]

I think I got, I got hit when I was 14 or 15, a battle, and I kind of fell backwards and I hit the back of my head on the boards. And when I came back home, my parents thought I was high. They thought like, they were like, they were like, where's the drugs?

[Biz Nasty]

Like, were you hanging out with biz?

[Keith Yandle]

And I'm like, no, I just got hit in the corner. But that was like. I'm pretty sure that's what it's from because I'm. I think that's when it kind of all started on the ice, where I wasn't really finishing well, but obviously from hits and I don't think from fighting much, but, you know, like just playing the game. I think it probably got worse over the years.

[Biz Nasty]

Wow. So you correct this, you go back, you have the 27 goal season and, and from there on out, you're now able to just do all those exercises on your own because you know what to do in order to kind of reset things. Or do you still go back there in the summertime or, or do you have a new guy that you go to?

[Keith Yandle]

No, I go Back there in the summer. Yeah, I work with him. His name's Philip. He's developing this program. I think they're. They're trying to get it to a point where it's successful for everyone, which would be great, but. Yeah, that was, like, a big turnaround for me as far as, like, figuring out, you know, I. It was. It was a weird thing. My dad would watch me play. He'd be like, I don't know why you're missing these. Like, these should be automatics. You're missing all of them. Not, like, once in a while, oh, you miss a big deal. Right? So then it kind of all just made sense.

[Ryan Whitney]

Do you remember how, like, who you met or who kind of introduced it to you?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. So this guy Phil, he. He a friend of my dad's, and he kind of just. He's, you know, in sports, science, and he's a chiropractor as well. You know, does a bunch of different things. And obviously he. He's helped me. I think he's working with Monteau as well in Montreal. So he's trying to, like, I. I think they're. They're establishing a baseline. I'm kind of like the first one of the first few guys, and then they'll. I think they'll eventually try to make it a bigger thing than it is now.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's an unreal story.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, it's hockey specifically. There's just so much movement. Right. And like, you. You said tracking the puck and finding it through sticks and lanes and like, it's just. I mean, I know for when I was out there, I felt like, absolute chaos as a forward, but. Yeah, that's great that you ended up figuring that all out. Now I want to go back to the fighting side of it. You did mention you took a little bit of boxing as far as training earlier, when. Even when you were playing, Junior, watching you fight now, man, you're a nail gun. You talked about your line mates, and, Junior, you are the heavyweight champ in the National Hockey League based on not only performance, but how active you are. You look like you have it all figured out. What are you doing in the off season in order to prepare to fight all these heavyweights in the NHL?

[Keith Yandle]

Well, like you said, I did boxing for a bit, but my. My boxing coach, he used to be Golden Glove in Canada, but he's. He's past. Like, he can't do it anymore. His body is just his shoulders and all of it. He's. Can't really hold the pads anymore, so I haven't worked with him in a couple years, but I think, you know, the base has always been there. I think it's just experience. At some point, I kind of just figured out what worked for me, you know, what didn't work for me as well. And I don't know this year, and. And even last year, I kind of just figured out what is the best way for me to go about every fight. And I just kind of try to focus on myself and not the other guys, you know, Like, I used to watch the, you know, the fights on YouTube and all that and be like, okay, what's this guy doing? What's this guy doing now? I just kind of do my own thing, and it's been a big turnaround from there as well.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Do you have a. Like, a memory of your first time getting called up, your first NHL game? And, I mean, it must have been exciting because you had 10 goals that second year in the AHL, and you finally get a chance. I mean, that's quick. One year in the minors and then you're. You're kind of having. Having an opportunity. Like, do you remember the phone call or your first game or anything?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, yeah, I remember. I. I can't remember the exact road trip, but we were in Chicago O'Hare, taking the. Taking a flight to Iowa. I think we were going to Des Moines.

[Ryan Whitney]

Middle seat.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, that C. C13. And. Yeah. Next thing you know. Yeah, I get a call from David Poyle, and he's like, you're gonna fly to Iowa, but you're flying out tomorrow morning to Nashville. And then I had practice that day and then played the next night against Winnipeg. So obviously calling everyone and calling my dad, my mom, my sister, you know, getting everyone. Everyone down there. I think I had like 15 people, which was great. My parents made. My grandparents made it. So it was. Yeah, it was really.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's amazing.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, really cool. Really cool to have everyone there. And I didn't think it was going to happen that fast. I was, like, shocked. I was shocked because couple weeks prior, our AGM was telling me, like, you're. You're doing pretty good. If you keep going, you might get a shot. And I remember thinking, there's no. No chance. No chance that happens. I'm years away from that. Like, in my mind, I was like, it's going to be a grind. And, yeah, it happened a couple weeks after that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So. Were you still on an AHL deal?

[Keith Yandle]

No. So I. So I signed that a deal. And then I think in February, they. They offered me the entry level contract to finish the year and then the next two years. So it would have been like basically just half a year where I would have been in an HL deal. And then I kind of fell on my entry level.

[Biz Nasty]

Did they give you a signing bonus?

[Keith Yandle]

They did, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, rights, man.

[Keith Yandle]

It was some weird thing where the contract wasn't. It wasn't approved because it was too late in the year. So they, they gave me another AHL contract to modify my first one. And then the set. The. The entry level deal kicked in at the end of that season. But the, the bonus was part of the AHL contract as well. So that was kind of nice.

[Biz Nasty]

That was a good summer right there.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh yeah. It helped round out the year because let me tell you, when you're at almost league minimum ahl, it's goes away quick.

[Biz Nasty]

And I would imagine Milwaukee is a pretty good place to play in the ahl. And I don't know if you had a girl at the time, but it seems like a great party city. Like very down to earth people and, and very good support of their AHL team.

[Keith Yandle]

Great bar city for sure. Yeah. No, that first year I was single and it was, it was super like bar scenes. Great people are great, are great. And there's like three streets where it's just like bars all the way down and you're not gonna find like clubs or anything like that. It's all just like basically packer bars. And you walk in, watch some football and just have some beers, play some bar dye. It's good.

[Ryan Whitney]

You're like, hey, you're like.

[Keith Yandle]

This, it's this game that's like. I think it's just in Wisconsin where you walk in and, and it, it's basically just dice and you play against the bartender and whoever else wants to play. And if the bartender loses, you get a free round. So. Yeah, okay.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, that's a drinking city, right?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh yeah, sure. Like pure whiske. Go drinking city for sure.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. If you breathe, you get a free round.

[Ryan Whitney]

I could see you.

[Keith Yandle]

I could see skirts too.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Always breathing.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, if, if you, if you get called up to Nashville, is that a good bar city too? Guys? You're like, holy.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, wait till you see.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, that's why they put it there to prepare you to go to Broadway. That's exactly.

[Keith Yandle]

It's just a precursor. There's nothing like this.

[Biz Nasty]

I kind of want to go back to the fighting a little bit because like so many people are obsessed with like the, the fact that you've kind of taken over the heavyweight crown and, and like, fighters, preparation. Do you get nervous before games? Are you pretty much looking at the. The lineup sheet across the way and saying, yeah, tonight's probably a night that I'm going to go and. And basically go tap them on the shin pads and ask, like, what's your same process leading into the game?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, so I. I think I. I don't get as nervous as much anymore, but I do. Obviously, you look and you're like, okay, tonight there's obviously a couple guys on the other side or this guy's there. Like, you're aware of it. I think my approach now is not necessarily to ask guys. It's kind of just to make it happen. So have an impact on the game and kind of throw a couple big hits, you know, kind of create some momentum where they feel like they need to do it. Obviously, it's tough to do that night in, night out. Some nights you're gonna ask some guys to go, but that's kind of been my mindset last two seasons. I'd say instead of going around and asking them, just trying to, you know, make a difference and have people react.

[Biz Nasty]

To it, I would imagine they're tapping you on the shin pads more given, like, you're playing like, 15, 17 minutes now. Like, I. Like, that's. That's wild for a guy who's chucking him as much as you. So that I would be very envious from a guy across the way being like, look at that. Look at that role player getting 15 minutes tip. Come on, throw me out there.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, you know, I. I don't want to. I don't want to get away from it, though, because it's like my identity. It's what got me here, you know, I don't want to be like, all suddenly like, oh, I'm like, I'm playing more, I'm scoring a little bit. Like, I don't have time for this. You know, I. I feel like it's been such a positive thing for my career, my whole. Whole. My whole journey so far, that if I get away from that, you know, it's kind of just kind of getting away from what got me here. So I think it's always going to be there, for sure.

[Biz Nasty]

That's awesome.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I feel like a lot. A lot of the fighters, when they get a little success, do want to play more, telling the coach they could be on the power play and stuff. So that's. That's a great way to. Yeah, that must be nice.

[Biz Nasty]

I mean, it must be nice.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, it's. It's Nice to like, obviously I'm getting the tap and shoulder often and, and. And stuff, but with. With Dino, it's. What's great about him is he's never telling me, you know, don't. Don't fight either. You know, he's not telling me to do it, but he's not telling me not to do it. It's all on my own terms, basically. And so that kind of freedom for guy that plays the way that I play, it's so massive. You're not overthinking, you're not double. You know, you're not kind of stutter stepping your way on the ice. So. Yeah, that's huge. For sure.

[Ryan Whitney]

Now you were traded over to what, two summers ago, three summers ago to. To Columbus. Like, how did that go about? Like, do you. Did you have a feeling you might be dealt and like, it must have been kind of hard, right? You make it in Nashville, it's one of the best places to play in the league. Great crowd, and all of a sudden, like, you're traded. Like, what. What was the story on that?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, so that's another kind of story where a little bit of an injury bug where. So that year in camp. So I made the team the COVID year. Had a few minor injuries that year where I missed some games, but overall I was with the team the whole year and poised to make the team again and hurt my back in camp and took a while to figure out what it was, but basically herniated a disc in. In my lower like L5S1.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, Jesus.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, interesting.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. And. And the disc was. Was protruding on my sciatic. So my left leg was just completely like dead. Couldn't use it. Couldn't walk for two minutes. I had to like lay down a lot. And so I was fighting it all year and trying to put off surgery and trying to play through it, and it was just not a good decision. I should have just gotten it fixed right away. But long story short, I got it fixed in February and at that point I was already, you know, I was back in Milwaukee. And I come back in March with. Which was great because they had to do it endoscopically instead of just opening you up, which, you know, fast tracked everything. And next thing you know, my legs feeling normal again. I'm feeling great. And so I end up getting called back for playoffs in Nashville. We get swept by Colorado, go back down Milwaukee losing the second round, I think. And I kind of knew at that point, like, I'm gonna need a crazy camp to get back in kind of the mix right now because they already had Jano, who was a good buddy of mine, but he kind of had taken over that role there and obviously had a great year. So it was kind of written in the stars that I was gonna, you know, probably get moved. And David Poy was obviously super nice to call me a couple days in advance, be like, hey, I'm getting some offers, so just so you know, you're probably gonna get moved. So I was like, okay, that's fair enough. Like, I. I knew what, you know, kind of year just happened, so I just didn't know where. And, yeah, Columbus was. It was awesome. Brad Larson called me right away and was like, here's what I need from you. And, yeah, it's been awesome.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's the tough part, that. That you always have, like, even the best players, there's somebody trying to take your job, but there's guys with just so much security and someone in your role at that point, like, you come up, you're doing well. One injury, and all of a sudden, like, there's. There's the anxiety of, like, dude, I'm kind of. I kind of lost my spot, right? Like, that. That has to wear on you a little bit and. And make it. Make it tougher to be like, no, you just can't get comfortable. I guess I'm trying to say yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

But at the same time, that year, it taught me so much because I was obviously, I was fighting injuries. I was like, just in one in general, and I was away from my family for most of it. I had a newborn and a one year old, and they were in Nashville and I was in Milwaukee, and I was, like, up and down, and the whole thing was just a mess that year. And so it taught me a lot about, you know, not only playing through things, but knowing. Knowing when to be okay. This is clearly not okay. Like, I need to get fixed up here. And also, you know, when. When I was gonna make it back to, you know, not mess this up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So it was. Was there a point in. In when you got over to Columbus and obviously everyone now knows you're a fan favorite there? Everyone loves when you're on the ice. Was there a point, like, in your first year or two where you were like, oh, wow, they. They really. They really like me here, and this is a fun place for me to play?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I think so. Well, I got, obviously, our room. We have some really good leaders, and I got along with everyone really well right off the hop. And, you know, it was pretty obvious right off that, that they were going to value what I was going to bring, and I think they needed that. Part of the trade was that the year before, they were getting bullied a little bit, and then I kind of got brought in and they signed Goody Good brands into a deal. So they want to kind of take care of that aspect. And yeah, I. They, right from the start, just felt obviously everyone from the fans to the organization, like, okay, we. We've seen this guy play, we like him and we love what he brings. And I just kind of wanted to keep building on what I had with the team and wanted to show that I could bring some offense eventually and all that good stuff. So. But right from the start, felt very comfortable, very welcoming here.

[Ryan Whitney]

And then this camp, you know, Dean Evison comes in, like, there had to be like, every, Every. Every player, I think, has a coach where it's like, oh, that guy really believed in me. And, And I'm guessing right from the start, like, he loved you as a player. Like, did you guys have a chat in camp, preseason, at any point where he told you what he expected and kind of what he could give you and how much he appreciated your game?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, a little bit right after camp. But. But I think. Well, we. We. He didn't coach me, but I had him for a few rookie camps in Nashville because he was in Milwaukee. And the year I came in, he got the job in Minnesota, so we kind of just missed each other there. But he knew of me, you know, he was part of the recruitment process and all that. So when I got here, he knew, you know, what kind of player I was and what I could bring. And I just had. I had a really good camp. I was, you know, scoring goals and I played. I think I played all the road games, too. I got. I got the old tough. The tough. That schedule. Yeah. But after camp, he just, you know, came up to me and was like, what? It was the simplest conversation ever. He was just like, whatever you did in camp, just keep doing that.

[Ryan Whitney]

The best feeling in the world, man.

[Keith Yandle]

Have a good year. So I was like, perfect. So I haven't had many, many meetings this year, which is probably good reason. A good, good thing.

[Biz Nasty]

Can you kind of describe and go through the year? Obviously, it's been a bit of a roller coaster. I mean, all the way to the fact that you guys are in the playoff race right now, the tragedy that happened to. To start the year, the outdoor game. So there's just been so much along with what you've been able to achieve. So just from a Columbus fan standpoint, who is listening to this, can you just kind of go through how incredible the journey's been?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, yeah. Obviously the summer was just a nightmare. I mean, John was close to everyone on the team. He was obviously a big leader for us and not only like just with the guys, but, you know, everyone on the team. All our wives and girlfriends were close to Meredith and the kids as well. So it's good that, you know, she's around the team this year. We've seen her a bunch and seen his family, which is great. But I think our approach to it right from the get go is just, you know, go through it together, everyone and be open about it, talk about it, you know, talk about the good stuff, the bad stuff, and really just, you know, remember John for what he wanted to do. And then that kind of just kick started our year into, you know, kind of surprising a lot of people and then bringing John into the op door game, which was, you know, phenomenal. I don't think I've ever been a part of such a cool event and seen anything like it. But he's always, John's always around us and that was like the big number one thing this year. And we always joke around about all the stuff he'd do and you know, just walk in 10:59 for an 11:00 meeting. Like everyone's sweating and losing their balls because he's, he's not in the meeting. And the next thing you know, he just walks in like, what's up, guys? Just sits down, you know, like, just not a care in the world. Just wanted to be with his family all the time. So he taught us a lot and we try to think about him when, whenever we're going through some tough times or stressing out. Obviously he taught us to just enjoy life. So that was kind of the kickstart of the whole year and obviously what we've been doing, so.

[Ryan Whitney]

And one of the toughest, you know, parts is that how close him and Sean Monahan were and, and he comes over and I mean it, it absolutely sucks he's out injured right now because what a season this guy was having. Like, it was just incredible to, to watch and witness how much is he has he meant to that team. I mean, he's been around the league a long time. He's been a good player every year he's been playing. So has he helped you guys a ton, like in the room and stuff?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, yeah. Obviously a big reason why he came over to us was to be With John. They were best friends, so. Know, it's tough meeting a guy like that. You meet him at one of the hardest times of his. Of his life, but, you know, we just try to make him feel as welcome and. And obviously support him as much as we could. And, you know, Monty, to his credit, from day one in camp on the ice, you couldn't. Couldn't tell what was going on. He was dialed, ready to go. He's obviously been around for a long time and helped us, you know, our team so much, and he's done a lot for our young guys. Like, they. They look up to him big time, and they've seen how he plays and how he's so good defensively and then turns like, puck goes the other way, you know, chips in with points every night. It's. It's just like crazy to watch the. This guy just accomplish everything on the ice and. And going through what he was going through off the ice as well. I mean, just speaks to kind of player he is and the kind of person he is. So, yeah, our young guys have been, you know, kind of taking a page out of his book all year, and he's been big for our growth this year, for sure.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I just think what. Everything that you guys have done for the Goodreau family this year just goes to show you how classy of an organization it is there in. In Columbus. But I. I wanted to ask you about probably my favorite player, if not my favorite defenseman, one of my favorite players, and Zach Warrenski, like, how good is it? Like, I believe he should be in the. In the MVP race. You know, no offense to, you know, your whole team, but no, these other guys have, you know, superstars after superstars playing with them, and he like to watch him play every night. He's so smooth. He's so confident. He makes everybody else better. And I don't know, like, just what does he bring to that team?

[Biz Nasty]

He's looked like a different player since attending the first Chicklets cup, is what he's trying to say.

[Keith Yandle]

Yes, you got a chickless bump? Is that what you're saying?

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

He. He's everything to our team. I mean, it's simple as that. And, you know, he. We got Fabro off waivers, and I knew fabs from Nashville, but he had some experience with Yossi. He was his partner for a couple years, and he came in and he was just like, I know exactly how to play with this guy. And then Z. Just obviously, just stay the.

[Biz Nasty]

Out of the way.

[Keith Yandle]

Go ahead, bud. I Got the rest, so. But he's been like, obviously his offensive numbers are crazy and he's just insane to watch, like, how good he is night in, night out, and what he. He does on the ice. But his defensive number, like, he's been dialed in everywhere on the ice, and he's been a big reason why we've had more success than people thought this year. And obviously I, I think he should win the Norris for sure and should be in the mvp. I don't think it's a question like, just what he's done for this team. And it's. It's incredible. And he's so dial. He came into camp this year. There's something different. Like he. I don't know what he did this summer, but, like, he was always nasty, but he came in this year and I was like, whoa. Like, this is another level. Like, he, he came in this funny story. We, like, couple of us like late night snackers, like, not too far from the cookie box, you know what I mean? Like, I, I like, I like a good glass of milk with some cookies at night, you know? And he comes in and he's like, like, guys, have you tried these yasos? We're like, what. What are those? He's like, yeah, those. Yeah, Greek yogurt bars.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's like, they're unbelievable.

[Keith Yandle]

Telling you, like, they'll. They'll scratch, you know, they'll scratch the itch. But you won't, like, be eating like, crap all the time.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, wait, yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Next thing, next thing you know, like, Corali's on the train. I'm on the train. Next thing you know, we got half the team just following Z for just like, small stuff like that.

[Biz Nasty]

No free ads.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, no free ads, though.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, no, no. This. We could do free ads. I get the indoor one.

[Keith Yandle]

I'll take it anytime, though.

[Ryan Whitney]

He.

[Biz Nasty]

Not anymore.

[Keith Yandle]

You know, like, it's a small story, but, I mean, that's the type of guy he is. He just brought us into, like, the little details that make a difference at the end of the day.

[Ryan Whitney]

So another guy that. That's just taken off this year and it's kind of an interesting story is Kent Johnson. So he, he was the fifth overall pick. Played right out of college that season, just like nine games. Then the next year, had a great rookie year. And then last year, it was like something was missing. They send him down, but, like, talk about a guy who answered the bell, didn't. I don't, I don't think he sulked or complained. And then this season he's right around a point per game. So, like, what's his ceiling like? Like, what is he as a player? And do you remember last year? Like, it's big news of a fifth overall pick after a good rookie season, get gets sent to the ahl. Do you remember that? He.

[Keith Yandle]

He's such a talented player. You know, his vision, his playmaking skills are off the charts. But, you know, like, sometimes it's just. It's just hard to find your rhythm in this league offensively. Like, guys are so good defensively, and I think he. He kind of understood. He wanted to get stronger. He came in this year. He definitely did that this summer. Gained a few pounds. You know, he looked, Looked stronger, quicker. When we were playing those three on three before camp, I was like, oh, my God, this guy's gonna destroy the league this year. Yeah. And he, he had a hot start and he's been having a good year, but he, He's. His whole life is hockey. Like, he just eats, sleeps hockey. He's one of those guys, like, after the games, game's over. Like, I like to just sit in my seat and be like, oh, I'm done. Like, think about it tomorrow. He's watching the shifts, like, like slow motion, watching everything where you missed the lane, stuff like that. So he's really dedicated to his craft and great guy as well. Like, just, Just a really cool kid. So I. I watch him every day and I have no idea what he's doing because I'm like, this is another level of hockey IQ that I. I cannot comprehend. But he's great. So I'm just like, do whatever you do, man. That'll do.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm surprised you didn't ask about Kirill Marchenko. You've been talking about this guy? Not non stop.

[Ryan Whitney]

I was talking about him last year and now I'm like, holy. I kind of look like I know what I'm talking about. This guy. Well, and Veronkov. And then like, what's the story? I saw some story like Fantilli was playing with them, so they're calling him Fantilli Allverse. Like they got the little Russian mafia going on.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, yeah, yeah, we have like five or six Russians, so obviously that's kind of going on right now.

[Biz Nasty]

But no, many of them have like random buddies and tracksuits hanging around the locker room.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, he. He marches one of those guys. He'll walk into those white nice. For sure.

[Biz Nasty]

Do they have any, like, random Russian buddies who are always in the locker room?

[Keith Yandle]

No, no, they're. They're enough as it is. Like, we don't need that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But that's a good point.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

No, but he. Yeah, so I guess Monty was playing with him in Veronkov, and so Monty became Monahanov, and then when Monty went down, like, Fantilly came in and they were like, yeah, I don't know. Like, you're gonna have to earn that name. And he's been. He's been doing pretty good. So I guess he. I guess he's still Adam fan till off. And I guess they. They got Andre fan till off. If we make it to the playoffs, I guess money just went right to the top.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's, like a bonus in the khl.

[Biz Nasty]

He's gonna get the Putin gold card. If we're gonna have you guys make it to the competition, we might be.

[Keith Yandle]

The only team that might be able to get there. But seriously, like, he. He. He's like, every day, he's just, like, so happy to be there. His English is good, like, for a Russian guy, like, coming over, like, talks to everyone. Very vocal, Obviously leads the way out there. So he's a beast, man. Like, just puck battles and stuff. It's, like, really, like, small detail stuff that he's. He's unbelievable. Obviously, he can score, like, any way he wants to, so I think it's.

[Biz Nasty]

The way to go. If you're gonna have, like, a few of, like, you know, Russians, Finns, or Sweet, you might as well just bring in a bunch. Yeah, it sucks if you're just, like, one, if not even two Russians. Like, I feel bad for the. Who's the rookie there? Philly Michkov. Like, they eventually brought in Kuzmenko, but then shipped him off, but, oh, man. Like. Like, we had the Czech mafia when we were in Arizona. We had, like, five Czech guys, so it really feels like it works. And they feel like they have their own little sure. In the locker room.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, they got their own dinner crew.

[Biz Nasty]

You're.

[Keith Yandle]

No one's getting in that for sure.

[Ryan Whitney]

And they're carving everyone in the team, too.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, for sure, for sure. Oh, yeah. Everyone's getting it. But you know what? Like. Like you said, biz, if. If it weren't for all of them, I'm pretty sure Veronov would have had a harder time coming over. Like, his English is better this year, but last year was, like, zero. Like, there's no way this guy's talking, so it would have. It definitely helped him, so that was that.

[Ryan Whitney]

How did they get him in the fourth round, by the way? Like, he's huge. He looks like he's like 230. I mean, he had 18 goals last year. He's got 20 already this year. And yeah, it was a late pick.

[Keith Yandle]

He's unreal in front of that. He's. He's like smart too. Like, really smart player. And he's hilarious. Like one of those. Like, just.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He does.

[Keith Yandle]

He doesn't even talk English. And everyone's. He calls himself Big Boss. That's his nickname. And then I guess his contract stuff of the year in the year. And he's an rfa and he's like, big Boss, big money. Like, he's always like, oh. He's always like going around like, oh, he's.

[Biz Nasty]

The more I listen to you, the more I listen to you, the more I want to be on this team. Oh, yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

It looks like that's how he is.

[Ryan Whitney]

Big Boss, baby.

[Matthew Olivier]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

You know, he doesn't even need an agent. He's going on himself.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, yeah. No, I wouldn't want to negotiate with that. Just stares daggers at you all day.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is proverb. Because he's more American than most Americans that I know. Is Pro V running with the Russian guys or is he running with the American?

[Keith Yandle]

Care of all of them. Yeah, good care of all of them. Obviously he's helping out and stuff because. Because, well, Veronica, his real nickname's Ronnie, but he calls himself Big Boss, so it's. I mean, Big Boss doesn't get the meetings at all. So you always hear some like Marchenko or Provier in the back, like translating something in Russian. So, yeah, Probi's just kind of like, yeah, like you said. He's like. You wouldn't even tell he. He's Russian, the way he speaks. So.

[Ryan Whitney]

Man, this sounds like a fun room. This sounds. This is making me miss hockey big time.

[Biz Nasty]

Who's running. Who's running court? Who's the conductor in the room?

[Keith Yandle]

Honestly?

[Biz Nasty]

Probably me. Nice. That's why you got three times six. Holy.

[Keith Yandle]

I'd probably be running it. Me and Booner and Goody. Probably something like that. Like, more like some guys that.

[Ryan Whitney]

A little louder.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. Z would probably just be sitting in the corner laughing.

[Biz Nasty]

But we. We hung out with Fantilly at the draft in Nashville and him and his family just first class, unreal people. So. Yeah, he must fit in just like a glove.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, he's great. I get along with him. Like, he's. He's a great. Not only player, but like just a great kid. Hilarious.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like a goofy young kid, kind of like. You know what I mean?

[Keith Yandle]

That's what? I spent time with him every day. Every day.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, he tells you one from his antics.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, he's not too bad now. He's got a girl now, so he's settled down.

[Ryan Whitney]

But yeah, he hard launched his girl.

[Biz Nasty]

No way.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's an outdoor classic. I saw Twitter like, oh, fantilly hard launch. Because all of a sudden he's skating around.

[Keith Yandle]

So much for that app. I was like, dude, you just got hard launched. That was hilarious.

[Biz Nasty]

We.

[Keith Yandle]

We gave. Actually the reporter that, that posted it. It was like his, like, no offense, Mats, but it was like his most interactive post that he had were like, yeah, you had to hard launch a guy, Mats, to get the clicks. No, he. She's. She's. She's a nice gal too. She's awesome. But he's like, I. It's all. It's great. I always sit down with him in the morning. I'm like, all right, what you got for me?

[Biz Nasty]

That's the only reason I lasted as long as I did, because I actually had stories to bring the locker room. Yan's Ray Whitney. I had to tell all these married guys what the hell was going on. Like my. My rings at the. My 40th birthday party. What's been chirping me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We've been talking a lot about him the last couple weeks. James Van Reems, dyke. Is this guy not a treat or what? I love him.

[Keith Yandle]

Unreal. The treatment.

[Paul Bissonnette]

How much treatment does he get?

[Keith Yandle]

All the time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's insane.

[Keith Yandle]

It's great. We're on the road and you're. You're like, you're going. We're going to dinner and next thing you know, Reamer is 30 minutes late because he's getting treatment somewhere. But it's. I mean, yeah, I mean, he's been around forever. It's. He's got to have the right recipe. And he's been huge for a room. Like, massive. Like, just came in, him and Jack Johnson, both of them just like, just veteran presence that we needed and guys that, you know, small stuff that make a big difference. They've been massive. JVR is having a good year, putting up points and stuff.

[Biz Nasty]

Front merchant.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, he's. He's good. Like, he's. Yeah, massive for this team for sure. And a treat off the ice as well.

[Biz Nasty]

I get. Did we really talk and. And dive into, like, when you found out you're going to get this big contract?

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, no, I want to ask him.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, I mean, man, like, from the start of the year to now and then getting that, like, you Must have been just like, your jaw must have dropped when you heard the number. Not to say you didn't deserve it and you haven't earned it, but that's such a big number and long commitment for. For maybe a guy who's had your role in the past.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, well, we had a. Obviously, I knew it was going to be free agents, so my agent and I talk, and we're kind of spitballing numbers at the start of the year, and we weren't really near that point. And then as the year went on, you know, we kind of look like how it works. You look at comparables and all that good stuff, and. And we were just like, I think, like, we could probably ask for this and this and this and. Yeah, but I think it's a combination of everything. Like, everything fits so well in Columbus. Like, my role with the team, how I get along with everyone, just how we love the city. So undercover, like, it's got a little bit of everything for everyone, right? Like, young guys have Ohio State, and then you got, like, great suburbs for Suburbs for the families. Fan base is unreal. Like, everything kind of worked out where we didn't really want to leave. I mean, obviously, it's a business. We knew it was a risk, but. And the negotiations just kind of went well. We both sides just kind of said their number and figured out something that worked. And. Yeah, I just. No, over it never. What? There never was a point where I was like, oh, I don't know if it's gonna happen. It always felt like we were gonna make it happen here and done with. All is great. And obviously my agent did a good job so well. Yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm just thrilled that I'm here, like, for six year, protecting these young guys that are just absolute studs. Right? Like Tantilli Johnson Z. Still going for who knows how long. Seems like he's never going to die down. So, like, just. I'm here to protect those guys and obviously create space and just, you know, be that presence for him. So, I mean, that's all you can ask for, really.

[Ryan Whitney]

Guys, we need to talk right now about rollback. Let us introduce you to Roback Activewear. If you've ever seen those incredible floral polos for spring golf. Yeah, those are Roback. If you watch the sandbagger against Bob does, the spitting Chiclets won the win. We had the second version. I was rocking a beautiful floral polo from Roback. It's amazing how it feels so easy to swing, soft on the skin. I Cannot get enough of it. We're so lucky that Roback is on as a sponsor. The combo of fun colors, incredible designs, and the best fit out there make this our favorite collection. With new releases for polos, quarter zips, and hoodies, this collection is simply loaded. So use the code chiclets on roback.com for a generous 20 off your first purchase through the end of the week. That's c h I c L-E-T s on R-H-O-B-A-C-K.com 20 off hoodies, joggers, and more with code Chiclets. Yeah, I'm so happy for you, man. Especially after talking and getting to know you a little bit here and because I was wondering the way your season's gone and the type of player you are, and it's. It's quite obvious that, like, you're kind of a unicorn now. Like, you talk Tom Wilson yourself. Like, the game has changed so much that if you can do what you do, there's just not a lot of guys like that. So there was a lot of rumblings that you possibly. You could have fetched a haul at the deadline. Right. Like, but you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's good to hear.

[Ryan Whitney]

There was never even a question about, like, the. The. The negotiations not going well, so you didn't have to deal with the stress of, like, oh, are they gonna trade me so they don't lose me for any. For nothing?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I think it was early on. Sorry, I'm moving around here. I don't know if you can edit it.

[Biz Nasty]

No, we'll do a little Cribs episode, too.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, exactly. No, our crib's not great, but my wife is yet. My wife's. My wife's showing up with the kids any minute now, and they're gonna walk in and start screaming. So I just went to her room.

[Biz Nasty]

The workbench.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, exactly. There was. There wasn't.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's a head print.

[Biz Nasty]

A lot of fingerprints above that headboard.

[Ryan Whitney]

There's cash everywhere.

[Keith Yandle]

I don't. I'm not sure I like this background right now.

[Biz Nasty]

I might have to come with the stripper pole.

[Keith Yandle]

No. Yeah, it looks like that, doesn't it? I've actually said that before. I got to figure out a place to do this one. Here, I got it right here. Perfect floor.

[Paul Bissonnette]

There you go.

[Keith Yandle]

Now I don't look like a degenerate.

[Biz Nasty]

Working off those cookies.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, exactly. I'm off them now. I'm on the asshole train. I told you.

[Biz Nasty]

All right, I'm gonna check you out.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm ordering those summer right now. They're.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, they're nasty anyways. Yeah, so, no, I didn't think I was gonna get traded, to answer your question, because I think it was just. It made sense for everyone. And they were like, very, very early on, maybe 20 games in a year. They were like, very upfront, like, no, we want to keep you. Like, we want to make this work. And I was upfront with them. Like, I believe in what we're doing. Obviously love it here. Just want to make sure that it works out. And obviously it was about getting something that works for both sides, but, like, there was no. Like, I don't think there was a time where we're like, we might be on the move. Like, it was. It was going well.

[Biz Nasty]

So I just had one more before we pump your tires on the way out, because this has been awesome and it's been great getting to know you and deserve everything that's came your way. Like, who have been the toughest challenges as far as fighting at the national hockey level? Like, who. Who are you? Like, oh, God, I'm not going to have as good of a pre game nap knowing that this might happen tonight. And anything that you. You want to say on that.

[Keith Yandle]

When I fought Luch, it was my third fight in three games and I got pumped and I was like, after that, I was like, oh, God, what just happened? That was a tough one. Obviously. Delorier. Every time's a hard one. You got Curtis McDermid who was in Devils now Revo was obviously a big one. Gadjevic doesn't get enough credit. I feel like, you know, I'm forgetting a bunch here. I think Ross Johnston and Anaheim's Nails Jeanno still, like, absolute nail gun. That was fun playing with him that one year. So have you guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Have you guys fought each other being buddies with Milwaukee?

[Keith Yandle]

Not yet. Not yet. But I will say, when we were in Milwaukee, we were on the same line, and that was a treat. Oh, my God, whatever. We're getting it back.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think I did have to play against them when they were in Nashville together.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. We had like an abs. Like, that team in Nashville was just pure, pure fighters, basically. We had Boro. Wiki was there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, the Boro car.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, my God, he was so tough.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah. So nails great guy, too.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I saw him at the airport the other day.

[Biz Nasty]

He looks like he's Russian.

[Ryan Whitney]

He beat you up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He.

[Keith Yandle]

He trains like trains on the heavy bag every day. Just an absolute nail gun. Great person, too. So we had him, we had Ben Harper, we had Goody at the deadline that was just on D. And then we had Yakov, Trenin, Me, Janelle, Big Mike McCarron. Oh, just. Just meat sticks was on that team. Connie can fight. So, like, all absolute meat sticks. Yeah, that was a fun year. But, yeah, I mean, to go back to your question, yeah, Jeaner's up there and, you know, probably forgetting a few, but there's some. There's some guys pretty much everywhere now, like.

[Biz Nasty]

And there's been a little bit of a revival of it, I think. Feel like there's not as much hate towards it, where people are embracing it and the game of hockey is turning back into way it's supposed to be. So it's great to see that you're on top right now, man, and doing your thing, and we're so happy for you. And this has been an awesome interview, man. I didn't know what to expect, but the stories of the locker room, like Whit said, it kind of makes me miss being in there. So it's great to see that Columbus has established an awesome culture to kind of coincide with that unreal fan base, because that's one of the most underappreciated fan bases in the league.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, big time. Big time. They fill up the building. Even the last couple years, obviously, we're like bottom of the east and they're there every night. It's always packed. Always packed. And. Yeah, no, they're unbelievable. So we can't wait to give them a reason to cheer even louder.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm. I'm really happy for you, man. It's. It's. It's pretty cool.

[Keith Yandle]

I'm not getting the Russian tag.

[Biz Nasty]

You're not getting the Russian tag.

[Keith Yandle]

That kind of player. Although you gotta get some more excited when I fight. They got big time excited. They're always the first ones up. So.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, like, five more years, back of their house, their barns. That's how they did it over there.

[Keith Yandle]

Russian story for you guys.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, yeah. Let's go.

[Keith Yandle]

I just thought about something. So. So I guess in Russia, it's pretty standard for guys to be on their phones, like, during. In, like, between periods and stuff. Yep. I guess they, like, just check their phones or whatever.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, the one kid had it fall out of his pants this year.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was.

[Keith Yandle]

So that was Veronkov's own old team, so that's where I was going. So big boy, big boss is on his phone between warmups and first period, and I'm like, was he looking at, like, stat Sheet. Cause we don't really get the game notes anymore. At least in Columbus we don't. So I'm like, maybe. Maybe he's just looking at the lineup or whatever and this guy's watching a video of like a Russian bear just eating something in the backyard. Straight watching a reel about a bear just dummying some poor animal. And I'm like, oh my God, this guy.

[Biz Nasty]

I love this guy. Hockey game and I love this guy. He's my new favorite player. Big Boss.

[Paul Bissonnette]

My pet bear, Bruno.

[Keith Yandle]

So yeah, anyways, that was my. That was my biggest.

[Biz Nasty]

They got five Russians there. They should bring in a bear it. Keep it at one of the guys houses in the basement.

[Keith Yandle]

Anna Basa have something going?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't know.

[Keith Yandle]

But I'm not. I haven't been invited in the inner circle yet. I'm working my way there.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, I was gonna say you, you. You need like couple more years of your. Of your vision training in the summer and they might give you a look. But if you miss one tapping, it's done. You're done with those guys.

[Keith Yandle]

Done.

[Ryan Whitney]

If Russians give you a tap in and you miss it is maybe the most angry people can get. I have a mouth.

[Biz Nasty]

Get the red dot on your forehead when you. When you're leaving the rink.

[Keith Yandle]

The fuck you matches on the bench are unreal when they're in Russia and I'm just sitting there laughing, looking at it. Yeah, just, just. But it's great though.

[Biz Nasty]

We should get a. We should get a Russian 5 shirt made up for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Yeah, the new Russian 5.

[Keith Yandle]

Elvis is Latvian, but he speaks Russians Russian with them. So I think we're gonna have to make it the Russian six. The starting six with the goalie.

[Biz Nasty]

All right, well, hey, that name hasn't been taken so perfect. We're not gonna get sued. This has been unreal. Like you're.

[Keith Yandle]

This is.

[Biz Nasty]

We're gonna get you on if you make playoffs.

[Keith Yandle]

Sounds good. I'll try to bring Fantilly or Big Boss with me.

[Ryan Whitney]

Bring the Big Boss on.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, sounds good.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, congrats on everything, dude. Like, you know, really happy for you. And we've been saying all year we're rooting for the Blue Jackets to get in. So keep it up, man.

[Keith Yandle]

Awesome, man. I appreciate it. Thanks, guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Guys, we need to talk about game time for a minute. The best part of college basketball is here. And we know you're as excited as we are to watch some big upsets throughout the tournament. We're gonna need the third and fourth round to give us a little bit more upsets, but game times here. And while we're streaming in the cave, all the Barstool Maniacs in Chicago sweating out, sweating out games. You can get out to see the action in person with Game Time, the official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports. Game Time makes getting tickets faster and easier. Prices on the app actually go down the closer it gets to Showtime. Plus the Game Time Picks feature makes it even easier to find the great deals on the seats that you want. You can even find last minute tickets for the tournament for up to 60 off quickly and easily. Also Icecon coming up Saturday in Nashville. 71. I see right now you can get a ticket on game time. Come be a part of the action with Elio and all the Maniacs from IPCON in Nashville. 71 bucks you can grab a ticket for right now, just pull up your chosen event and turn on the GT Pick setting at the top of the screen or browse the best local Game Time Pick deals near you on your Game Time app homepage. Like I said, Nashville's got the 71 tickets for Icecon. There's deals everywhere for the NCAA tournament. Put on your Game Time picks on the app, find a great deal and they also have have great curated deals for all tiers of tickets. And you know you're getting the top option when you see the super deal icon. What are you waiting for? I'm gonna buy those Predators tickets and hang out with Elio and root for goals right now with Game Time Picks. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use code Chiclets 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? G Game Time. Thank you so much to Matthew Olivier. Guy has, deserves all of the, all the things that have come his way in pro hockey and a great person. Really, really had a blast chatting with him. Go Blue Jackets. Come on. Although we have said we really want Montreal in so I One of those two. Let's say that one of those two.

[Biz Nasty]

I was fascinating. I was fascinating. It was fascinating to hear about the, the neurological stuff that he did.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's nuts.

[Biz Nasty]

And how much it changed everything for him for him to like take the initiative to go do it. So there's probably a bunch of kids who heard that and are like, oh, I need that. I need it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, yeah. Every kid who misses tappings, like, I just gotta get my brain Fixed I got no hands.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He did. He didn't even. Somebody noticed it for him. He wasn't out seeking it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It, you know, someone comes up to his dad and says, hey, I think he tried.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, that's right. It was his dad's buddy, wasn't it?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Your son can't like.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, I mean even a follow through with it. The fact that he's driving an hour and a half and like putting in the time, like, fuck, man, that's ROI on that was pretty good, I guess. 18 sheets in the bank for an absolute nail gun. And I said he's the heavyweight whip because not only is he winning every fight, he's the most active too. And he's getting 15 minutes a game now. So he's not just this like fourth line player, knuckle dragger. This guy is very effective. He's got a career high in goals right now, I believe what last time we talked to him he might have been at 14. I think he's at 16 now. So like just remarkable turnaround this year and finally getting some ice time and, and making the best of it. So you got a good one there in Columbus and you got some, you got some games you can make work for you. Ottawa three times. Let's go. CBJ Biz.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He, he just looks, and obviously you're the fighter out of us. He just looks so calm in the pocket. He looks like a boxer that's just like waiting, waiting. He's not afraid to like make that first move. He's just like in the pocket like where, you know, I think in no offense to you, you were more like squirrely, like grabbing guys like he's just like, it looks like he's, you know, in bed at night.

[Biz Nasty]

Just like I fought like I stick cattle, right. Very choppy, sloppy. He looks very confident like you said in the pocket. It was interesting to hear him say that. He doesn't really care to watch the other, the other guy he's fighting. It's more about what he's bringing into the fight. And you could just tell he's going in with that killer instinct. He's throwing those hard, quick punches. Yeah, he's able to, he's also able to use his, his leverage hand to almost pull the guy in tighter. And sometimes those guys who are compact like that, working in close is almost more of a benefit. So his, his ability to over and under as fast as he's doing and having the control of his body in which he does, absolutely remarkable. And once again it will always come down to willingness. He just has the. He's seeing red. He's putting on the jersey. He's going out there, and he's expecting it every night. And he's like, oh, yeah, you want a fucking shot at the title? Let's go.

[Ryan Whitney]

Gladly. Gladly. Also, we should. We should have mentioned in that little Saturday recap in Montreal. Colorado, awesome fight. Keaton Middleton ends up, like, roughing it up behind the Montreal net. And Jack I comes in. Great tilt. Jack, I smashed him down at the end, maybe get the win. But that was an awesome fight.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, I think it was. It was a Josh Anderson, who might be battling a little bit of injury. He got. He. Middleton kind of went after him, net front protecting the goalie, and. And then all of a sudden, Jack guy was foaming at the mouth, gave him the shimmy shake. They dodged the referees, and then they just started throwing the haymaker. So I would definitely say edge to. To wi fi on that one. Although the fans hate when I call him that name, but I don't give a shit. I'm calling them in anyway. Yeah, some good action there. So definitely feel like people are so much hungrier for fights ever since the ordeal at Four Nations. Everybody wants it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Everybody wants them. The fans, the players love watching them. Some of the players love doing it. I certainly didn't keep. He certainly didn't. And it kind of leads us into LA and Boston and. And we'll get to the GM meetings in a sec. But the LA Kings smash the Bruins 7 2. I mean, the Bruins are horrible. They're. They're. They're right on their way to getting a top five pick, which is actually, I think, what most Bruins fans want. That's perfect. But they are just horrible right now. And in the midst of the game, Jeremy Swayman, he starts shaking the gloves at Darcy Kemper. And Darcy Kemper comes out of the crease and says, all right, let's do it. Goalie fights are, I think, one of the most exciting moments you can have in hockey. Like, I'd rather a goalie fight than a goalie goal. They're both awesome, but two goalies squaring off center ice? That's like, awesome scenario every time. And the refs break it up. The Internet was aghast. They were furious. The fans watching at home were pissed off. At least if the Bruins are going to get pounded, let me watch a fight between Kemper and. And Swayman. Keith, were you the one? Yeah. You texted the group that apparently this is like a. No, no. The refs are Told to break these up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. So you see it every time. You even saw it with Flurry when Flurry was trying to fight. Was it Bennington A couple years ago? The refs got in right away. So that's the first time I reached out to a ref about it. And then obviously, with this one, too, and they're. They're told the owners do not want it. Like, your most important player breaks his hand in a fight. That's not going to mean anything. So my proposal was, if there's a goal, he's going to go at it at center ice. The two backups should have to come off the bench.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Center ice. And fight each other.

[Ryan Whitney]

Or just the backups fight.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Just the backups fight. The. The. The starters start it like, you know, all right, shaking the gloves, and then you look over the bench and the backup comes out.

[Ryan Whitney]

But what. What if. What if Eric com restarts it for Winnipeg? He's like, come on, Helbuk, it's your turn, buddy. So it's basically like if the real starters in the game backup fights. If the backup's playing the backup. Tilt.

[Keith Yandle]

Backup fights.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, okay.

[Keith Yandle]

Okay, That's.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's my bench. He's like. Like, oh, shit, he's starting another one. Biddington Bennington gets his backup into 14 fights in one season.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Olivia is the backup goalie for Columbus.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, I wanted to see that, though. And then after I'm so confused by the quote by Zadorov, he was asked if he believes, gee, can you play it?

[Paul Bissonnette]

You guys appreciate that Jeremy stuck up for Lucindia.

[Ryan Whitney]

Is that what it is? Okay. I don't know.

[Biz Nasty]

No comment.

[Ryan Whitney]

Zadorov seems very confused that, like, they're even mentioning that. That Swayman's trying to, like, stick up for teammates and. And gives the no comment biz. Did you. Well, how did you take that?

[Biz Nasty]

I don't know. I saw the video and, like, I don't want to mess up whatever the context was. I. Maybe he was, like you said, confused by the question. Like, people were trying to make it out as if, though, like, he was kind of, like, maybe almost like kind of rolling his eyes at the fact that Swayman was trying to protect the teammate. I won't take it that way until he's asked and. And. And maybe confirms or denies. So I don't want to hop on that one. I know. I don't want to get. I don't want Zadorov acting like Sheldon Keith all of a sudden on me. So I'm just gonna stay. I'm gonna Stay away from this one.

[Ryan Whitney]

Business to start podcasting a little better. Let's have him worry about that.

[G]

I. I almost feel that he got so upset because I feel like he thought almost taking a shot at him, like, hey, it's kind of your job. It's your job to defend these guys. It's your job to defend these guys, and you have your goalie doing it, like, what's going on here? Type thing. And he's kind of like, no off. No question if that was, but who knows?

[Keith Yandle]

Okay.

[Biz Nasty]

That's why it's always good reading all the comments underneath, because people have different opinions on, like, how it was taken. So I definitely agree with G. I felt like it was more something like that than. Than he was actually carving Swayman. It seemed like some people thought he was kind of taking a dig at Swayman. Right? Is that. Is that what you're trying to insinuate, Mr. Boston Hater?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I. I don't. I don't really know how he was taking it, but, yes, people were kind of saying that. Almost like. Almost like, dude, just. Just stop the puck. Like, we just need you to stop the puck. Just. Just a horrible year for the Boston Bruins. I can't wait to see Marshawn start playing for Florida. But the, the. The GMs, they were in Florida. They were. They were having their meetings, and Gary Bettman was asked about the possibility of switching up the playoff format. And this guy has dug his heels in on this one. He's made it very clear, like, telling everyone, I like it, how it is. It will not be changed. We did chat about how. How it. It doesn't change that much. It seems like every year it would pretty much end up being one through eight the way it is now. It just sucks on years like this when you get Dallas, Colorado in the first round. But Keith Bettman has said it's. It's going to remain with the divisions and, And. And figure it out that way.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I think it's also tough to kind of question him, too, with where the game's at right now and the rivalries. I think, you know, the game's in such a good spot with, you know, the ideas that they've been running with the last few years. So I personally would like one through eight, because if I'm a one seed and I got to play a team that. But, you know, a team like Dallas as opposed to a team like St. Louis, you know, I'm. I'm. I'm pretty pissed off. So it's. It's One of those things, I can't, I can't question his, his logic on it. It's, it's working so far. It's making. I think the rivalries are getting bigger and better. I don't know if that's just because the game's so good or the matchup wise, but yeah, for me, I, I just, I can't question his, his, his logic behind it.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm pretty much exactly where Yan's is on it. I was far more critical of it before. I also think that was coming from a player mentality where if I'm a two playing a three, I'm furious because I just played 82 games to gain some type of advantage. And like you're telling me, all I get is home ice and I got to play Colorado, even if they, like, if they do get home ice in that situation. So that's kind of where I was coming from before. But like, like now that I'm a fan and I'm on this side and at the end of the day, it's about the fans. Like, we're going into round one, which, like you think of March Madness those first few days, it's just absolutely chaos, right? Like, when will the most people be watching the game of hockey? In the first two rounds of NHL playoffs? So to solidify the fact that you're going to have some really, really good matchups, not only on the east and Western games, like, you're not going to get like the NBA product where a lot of times when the ones and twos are playing the sevens and eights like you're. You're getting five games, four games in most case. Now that is the, the basketball product where it seems to be a lot less. What's the word I'm looking for? The parody doesn't seem to be as good, but. Yeah. So I've now leaned back towards what Yans is saying where I really can't question the mentality of the league because everything they decide have decided, including the point structure where, listen, we were in the dog days. But it's hard to be in the dog days when literally five teams in the east are competing for a wild card spot. You don't know what the first round is going to entail, whether it's going to be a Chuck bowl, whether it's going to be a Battle of Ontario or even going out west, where you're going to get this team like St. Louis who looked like they were dead to rights, while they've snuck in before in a spot and then look what they've done. So it's just overall, like I went back last year saying the, the. That was the most exciting NHL season of all time. Like, I think we're right back to that argument based on everything that's happened, including the Four nations, the OV Goal chase. What is he, seven away now? That's still a hot topic. Fighting's up. The passion in the game's back. Like, there's potential for six Canadian teams to be in playoffs if. If Montreal and the Flames make it. So. So, yeah, man. Going back to the original topic. Keep it the way it is. Keep the point system the way it is. Everything seems to be interesting. The full 82 at this point.

[Ryan Whitney]

I go back and forth, but one thing on the way they have it now that is good is you are guaranteed some very special matchups within the division early. And no matter which you, what way you go one through eight or the way it is now, the finals can always end up being two teams the league is not thrilled about. Like, if Winnipeg, like, plays Carolina this year, Gary could have a stroke in his office.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Right.

[Ryan Whitney]

And that can happen no matter what. So you have the first round and now you know, like, all right, we're getting some sick rivalries within the division early and we're guaranteeing some sick matchups because we don't know what. We don't know what two teams is going to end up playing for the Cup. So I see that. The other thing that was chatted about all the insiders, if I had to.

[Biz Nasty]

Go to Carolina for the TNT finals, like, I might need private security.

[Ryan Whitney]

Imagine you going to a Houston's in Carolina.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, I'm done. I'm dead. You might as well. Yeah, you might as well. Bring my parents in. I'll say my final goodbyes.

[Ryan Whitney]

He just throws Yolanda in front of the Irish traveler.

[Biz Nasty]

But boys, as. As messy as that whole situation was. My favorite word. Did that not galvanize the group or what? They rattled off eight in a row. They got dummied by la, but you're bound to have a letdown game.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

But then they go right back to their winning ways. So it's Halsey. Looks like he's fitting in great. Hatrick.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hatrick.

[Biz Nasty]

Jan Kowski. People try to say that the rotten deal included Taylor Hall. My understanding is it was kind of like a. Like a. A third rounder for Taylor hall and that was it.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was a separate deal.

[Keith Yandle]

I thought.

[Biz Nasty]

That's what I mean. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Now Chicago had taken some of the money for Ron.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Half of Ronan's money. So maybe it was like in the midst of that three way. I've been involved in a lot of freeways lately so I'm getting a little confused.

[Ryan Whitney]

If you, if you people listening heard the story that this guy told us before we started recording. I tell you to go park your car before you listen to it. But it was not being recorded. It was not being recorded. Great three way trade there though.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Great three way traders might be joining only fans. So you guys might be.

[Biz Nasty]

Everybody won. Pasha refused to be my cameraman so I'm currently looking for somebody new. Fish is probably. I want a job.

[Keith Yandle]

I want the job.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's already in your room.

[Ryan Whitney]

I got a password already.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, trust me.

[Ryan Whitney]

I know the ins and outs on how to post poster in March Madness.

[Biz Nasty]

No chicklets. Cute chicklets, you Chiclets, you. It's like nah, nah. We're on a. We're on a greener pastures now, buddy.

[Ryan Whitney]

G. Post the Chiclets you.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm getting milk.

[Ryan Whitney]

As the puck drops for the gold medal game in the Olympics next winter. The other news that the insiders are mentioning is expansion now. Would love both of your opinions on this. So I don't even know the name. Some big hitter came in in Houston and there's going to be a team at Houston at some point and there's going to be a team in Atlanta at some point. It seems like that's. I don't know what year this will happen but the cap's going up. It'll go up. I've. Even higher if you get two more teams in.

[Keith Yandle]

I don't know though.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like I'm watching Philly Chicago yesterday and.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm like Jesus, yeah, that's where you got to worry yourself about watering it all awful.

[Ryan Whitney]

And then you're getting two more and I, I, I guess making more money for the players. I'm all in. Because the players will make more, the salaries will be higher, the cap goes up. Awesome. I want players to make money, become rich. But the product guys with two more teams. Where are you sitting on that Keith or Biz?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I heard even up to 36 teams.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, that's crazy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't know. I, you just feel like Houston's name has been thrown around so much lately that at some point it's gotta happen. Right? And for a 2 billion dollar. Is that what they're saying for expansion?

[Biz Nasty]

1.5 to start. Like by the time Atlanta comes around it might be 1.1.7 closer to 2. Like that is so much fucking money. You Know, the other owners are just salivating at that because when it's players.

[Ryan Whitney]

Get zero, players get zero of that.

[Biz Nasty]

But more contracts, that's where these new CBA negotiations are coming up. That's where there should be definitely never be any escrow. Former players should have insurance paid for like off. If you got two more teams coming in, we're talking a total of $3.2 billion in, in revenue for the owners. Give me a break. If these former players don't have insurance, like, this is going to be a very pivotal moment for the NHLPA to, to understand where this is all going money wise and secure their bag just as much as ownership. Now it seems like the fans always lose in these situations. I had Josh, one of our behind the scenes camera guys here yesterday. He mentioned that the Leafs are jacking up ticket prices like 20% next year.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't saw that.

[Biz Nasty]

Like, holy fuck, man, it's buddy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Edmonton. Edmonton is like, I think the. One of the most expensive arenas too. Beers. How what they. It is. Yeah, you're right.

[Biz Nasty]

Maybe there's an opportunity with, with those two expansion fees coming in for there to be a little bit of a pause on, on jacking up prices for these fans. Like maybe there's a way for everybody to win here because like when I heard that, I'm like, are you fucking kidding me? It's going to be like corporate meetings going on in there. Just woof woof down below and then the corporate meetings during the game and nobody cheering on what the fuck's actually going on on the ice, but nobody watching. Yeah, it's. I think I agree with you though, Whit. I'm concerned about watering down the product. I do think that maybe if it isn't rushed and let's say it's like four or five years from now. I think with the growth of hockey in America and even with the amount of people who are coming from overseas, like it seems to be another wave of Russian players coming out too. I think that, that maybe it's not. It wouldn't be a bad time for it align with that. Like it's. College hockey's grown, the viewership's grown, there's better players coming out of the States. I think that it will be a, a good opportunity to expand. But I think that ultimately if it was my decision and, and taking out all other factors, I'd actually like to minimize the amount of teams. I would want more talent on, on the ice all the time than watering it down. We don't want any bissonuts out there. Let's just put it that way.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hence why like the four nation did so well is because people who knew nothing about hockey. When you're seeing the best players on the ice, it's. It's a different level of viewership. Right. You're seeing just every player on the ice is a superstar. Where. Yeah. I don't know. Because as a player you want more teams. That's more jobs, more opportunities for guys to make it. But you know, for us who have to watch these games, like we're the ones who would have to suffer, you know, watching like Philly, Chicago couple or whoever the teams are in the next few years. It's. It's. That's more on us. So I would feel bad more for us in the media side than the players.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay, so here's a question for you guys. Gun to your head. You have to take out a team from each conference in the NHL currently. Who? Who?

[Ryan Whitney]

Buffalo. See, I would.

[Biz Nasty]

I would take out Long island before Buffalo.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Because even with the history and I. I talking.

[Ryan Whitney]

Are you talking relegate them or. They're. They're done. They're done.

[Biz Nasty]

If you had to snip one team from each conference currently.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm going Buffalo with you. Whip.

[Ryan Whitney]

I. I know. But like I feel like this Sabres have better fans than the Islanders.

[Biz Nasty]

Agreed.

[Ryan Whitney]

And the Sabers deserve to stay more because they've never won anything. The Islanders had that dynasty. It's one of those two out west. Phoenix is already gone. Oh man. That's a tough one. Dude.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is it though?

[Biz Nasty]

I would say. Man. Jose. And it's not just because they're in last. Because when you go there there's just like absolutely no trim. Love their. Their goal horn. You know, Love the Shark tank and everything. But just.

[Ryan Whitney]

You know what? There's a drone for them playing for them. It might be Anaheim. And I feel bad. I was a Duck. I was a duck for one season.

[Biz Nasty]

Buddy. You're living in.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know, man. LA's already up there. LA's right there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think Anaheim and San Jose should combined make one team. Get a team back in Phoenix. Get a team back in Phoenix. No more San Jose. They can play in Anaheim area. Just a little nicer. More trim for you. Biz. Yeah. I don't know that I would probably say Anaheim too. But. But I always liked going to Anaheim.

[Ryan Whitney]

It is at Newport Beach.

[Biz Nasty]

You're going to love it. You're going to love it. Restaurant. Have we told that story on the pod?

[Paul Bissonnette]

For sure.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, we'll move on here.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't even know what you guys are talking about. All I'm doing is picturing Houston playing Buffalo on a Sunday afternoon in four years and they both have 37 points just battling it out for last place in the league and the whole league being all the fans being like what are we, we watching right now? This is the NHL biz is getting minutes. He signed.

[Biz Nasty]

Colleen's the GM of the team.

[Ryan Whitney]

They signed an only fan star, Paul Bissonnette for a one game contract to fight. Olivier gets all his teeth knocked out but still has an only fans video dropped that night from some of the trim Buffalo. Yeah, I, I, I don't know. It's, it's, I do like the players getting more money. I also think at the end of this cba, if somehow, if somehow former players are getting their insurance paid for. Marty Walsh may bring up Matt Murley's name in the press conference. Like nobody has talked more about this. And I still think knowing Merle's the true mush, they might end up passing this with guys who have played a certain amount of games and it'll be one more game than Merle's play. That's how it may end up going down. Like how many games did Merle play? 70.

[Biz Nasty]

It's like the guy at, at the guy at Shawshank who kept, right, it was an Andy who kept writing the letters to get more books.

[Ryan Whitney]

Merle's played 62 games. It's going to be like 65 games or more. Has their health insurance paid for the.

[Biz Nasty]

Rest of their lives since we, we, we kind of went off the rails a little bit regarding that topic of expansion. What were some other things they discussed at the GM meetings that are worthwhile? No All Star game.

[Ryan Whitney]

They talked about the All Star game. Yeah. They talked about next year somehow doing a skills competition thing but not having a game because they're all taken off from there anyways to Torino. So yeah, like after this year it's really hard to imagine there ever being an All Star game again. Maybe you just always just have a skills competition. Like a skills competition on steroids with some crazy stuff. Now granted they've done the shots on the beach when it was in Florida. That was brutal.

[Biz Nasty]

I, I feel there's another way that they can generate revenue. Like they're better off honestly doing another outdoor game game as opposed to putting the resources like I don't mind though. People like, oh, another outdoor game, another. Not every fan base gets to enjoy them. Like you don't always have to go do the exact same cities either. Like the one, the one Columbus in Detroit, like that did great. Like what about some non traditional markets doing it there. Like to put the resources into something that, where like majority of the time the players. Yeah. Some of the players who have never been to an All Star game and they're young and they're like, wow, this is cool, especially if it's in a good location. But fuck, I mean Yan's, didn't you go to like two of the worst ones? Like no offense to the cities, like three. You went to Ottawa. Where?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Raleigh, Houston.

[Ryan Whitney]

San Jose.

[Paul Bissonnette]

San Jose. San Jose, yeah. San Jose, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Those are your three All Star.

[Biz Nasty]

I mean, think I'd rather get a Happy Easter text.

[G]

Guys, what would you think about. And I brought this up on game notes. Like what would you guys think about potentially doing like a mini Olympics 23 under? Like just that you said it's great.

[Ryan Whitney]

For the young guys.

[G]

It's almost like world juniors. But for the guys that are in the NHL, that are guys that are someday going to get to play in the Olympics, they're not just there yet, but it would be good to, you know, people obviously like rooting for their country. That's something that we can get behind and it's a good way to promote the young guys.

[Biz Nasty]

I think that you just give them that one. Considering that there's going to be the World cup every two, then Olympics, then World Cup, I think you give them a year of nothing. Like allow these guys to rest. Maybe in those years you go to 84 games during the regular season. There's also word that they're talking about starting the season earlier. Correct.

[Ryan Whitney]

And biz, I don't know, I thought it's going to remain October correct for.

[Biz Nasty]

Now, but I think that there was discussion maybe going like further down the, going down the road. And, and I think right, right now what they're doing is they're waiting for basketball to make a decision. Because I, my, my understanding is basketball might not even start to like November, maybe even consider starting after Christmas. Like basketball to me is something that you'd want to consume in the summertime, like by the time mid July or mid June hits, like most people are checked out of hockey, man. They're, they're just, they're, they're so, so why get your designated days during the week? The, the, the Tuesdays, the Wednesdays, Sundays and the Fridays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays to start the. Listen, I know we joke about that, but I'm saying you can avoid that but yet still have entertaining games on and not combat with with with NFL and at the fact that you wouldn't be competing with the NBA I believe that you would get more eyeballs just because of that alone. So I think that people are checked out by then And I also think that those years in between give these players a little bit longer between games to recover. It doesn't always. There should be no 4 and threes in a year with that like where there's no All Star game. Like none of that. Like, like there should only be like maybe, maybe five back to backs. Like let's keep the product better in regards to not wearing these guys out. And you could. If you're telling me that there's too much lost revenue from one All Star game to make up for it, you could do something else in order to make up that revenue. You can't.

[Ryan Whitney]

G just wrote here. Elliot Friedman also mentioned that the CBA talks are going to begin like in April and that there was discussion it says of tax credits like a higher cap for the higher tax markets like California, New York, Canada. So I've been saying like they kind of do it. They have to do something about this. I think a lot of people argue it's not as big of a deal as people make it out to be.

[Biz Nasty]

Yes it is.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know.

[Biz Nasty]

I. Yeah yes it is because not only are you it it hurts probably Canadian teams the most wit and let's just be plain honest, it's not pleasant playing in Canada. Fans know about your business. Everything is the end of the world. It's, it's non stop. You saw like you're telling me you're going to pay 50 tax playing in B.C. dealing with that media circus every year. If you have a chance to play in Dallas, Florida, any of these other places, you should be at least getting paid market value to what those other teams would be paying them or have the opportunity to. And if they don't do it, it's going to continue to kill Canadian teams. It's going to. And, and, and I know the dollar shit right now so it's probably a bad time to bring up the Canadian markets. But if it gets back to 25 cents on the dollar you need to see your Canadian teams thriving like you got to. So it this, this is something that has to happen.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The fans are still going to be all in people's business and know everything about you no matter what the cap is for those I know but you.

[Biz Nasty]

Should, you shouldn't be getting charged attacks on top of that where the team could be able to offer you more money to keep you. Like you're just simply not going to put up with both. If you're getting the money, you're like, ah, okay, I could see I could put up with this and stay there given the fact that I'm not basically taking a hometown discount because I'm getting tax next 11 more because I'm getting offered the same deal by Florida or even less. So that's.

[Ryan Whitney]

It just becomes sketchy when like if somebody were to be traded, like then it's like, I guess you could figure it out but then it's just kind of madness of like does the. I think, I think you salary drop depending on where you go?

[Biz Nasty]

That's a, that's a great question. And one of those kind of like loopholes where you would see GM start to exploit that if they didn't figure out maybe like he had. If he has to spend at least one year, full year in your organization till when he does get traded, it's at the. Whatever rate it's at.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, whatever. Yeah, it's. It's definitely a storyline now. It's definitely a storyline where you see guys making a lot more money when their salary is actually less than somebody in, in a place like Massachusetts, New York or Canada. So kind of crazy there, but we're on to the quick hits. This is presented by Dove Men's plus Care. Finally, a scrub designed for men's needs. Add the new Dove Men plus Care body and face scrub to your shower routines. Use in the shower bath or at your sink. Apply to wet skin. Rinse, clean and follow with your favorite Dove Men plus Care body wash or cleansing bar. I'm a bar guy. I've made that clear. Scrub transforms how you and your skin feel. And it's made for your face, your body, your scalp, everywhere. Dove Men plus Body Care. If you want to try Dove Men plus Care, find it at Walmart. They're all over the place, these Walmarts. Find it at Walmart today. I can't believe I forgot to mention this when talking about the Oilers. I'm sorry, just to quickly bring this up, this Carney guy, Mark Carney, is that his name? And I, this guy is out there at a pre game skate and I'm telling you, people are coming at me on Twitter like I don't care which way he leans politically. It could be the right wing guy or the left wing guy. You don't have a politician on the ice during pregame skate. Not to mention a politician who can't skate. He's shooting absolute.

[Biz Nasty]

That's what I looked like.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Back foot, weak wrist, humbiz.

[Biz Nasty]

That was me.

[Ryan Whitney]

Believe it. And I don't care which way he leans politically. You have people who are insane about politics now. They hate people on one side, they hate people on the other side. Said, don't bring politicians on the ice, let alone a practice day. We're talking pre game skate. Do you think that, like, Ryan Nugent Hopkins wants some politician standing next to him before a game? You have your preparations, you have what you need to do that night. You're thinking about what you need to get accomplished in the morning to be ready to play that night. And you got a guy standing next to you that half the country hates. What the hell are we doing? The Carney curse. I'm telling you, it's amazing. They've won a couple games since he skated. I couldn't believe it. What are the Oilers thinking? And I'm told that the guy hates oil in Alberta. So maybe go to, like, Toronto or something. I don't know where. He's maybe a little bit more popular. Politicians on the ice for pregame skate is worse than sending a happy Easter text by a mile. And I couldn't believe it happened, so I had to bring that.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, the good news is, is at least they're evening it out that Pierre Poliev is actually singing the anthem. Anthem? The American anthem at the next. The next Oilers game. Singing both, apparently. I said the American, but it's both. I just read. So at least they're snapping it around and they're not just being favoritism to one person.

[Ryan Whitney]

Can you imagine if, like, Ted Cruz was on the ice with the Panthers? Like, what are we doing here? Have some kid on the ice or something.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, Barky, go back door. If I got it at the top.

[Ryan Whitney]

Of the circle, Mark Carney's asking knob lock like, well, what's the. What's the PK formation? Can I get in the mix on a drill? No, dude. You're a politician who can't skate get off the ice. Craziness.

[Biz Nasty]

Colorado inviting Biden's kid. Him and Nchu can't get off the rails.

[Ryan Whitney]

Colorado is going to get another Stanley Cup. Then Hunter Biden showed up at practice and we can't find Nuskin. Oh, Jesus Christ.

[Biz Nasty]

I'm glad we saved this for quick hits.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, my God, the Carney curves.

[Biz Nasty]

The Carney.

[Ryan Whitney]

Ted Kennedy skating with the bruins in the 70s. Next thing you know, Bobby Orr never plays A game. We're like, what happened? Oh, they brought a politician on the pre game skate. Ah, the Carolina Hurricanes are.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, the JFK files came out. Did you guys read those?

[Ryan Whitney]

I. I didn't read them. I, I saw on Twitter that like, apparently like everything's like what people have always thought. I mean, I don't know. I think we're going to stay away from that one. I guess that he wasn't the only shooter though. I've been to that Dallas book depository on the, on the. We had a game there and I went over there. People are like, what you think? Do you think it could have been one guy? I'm like, I don't know, dude. I was just checking out some books. I was trying to find a book that I was looking for. I didn't even know he was killed there. Jfk. Yeah. Biz. Forgot about that. Good thing you brought that up in quick hits. The Carolina Hurricanes quick hits, all right. Are expected to court Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs winger hits free agency this summer. That's from Pierre Lebron. I think everyone's going to be courting Mitch Marner.

[Biz Nasty]

That's no speaker, zero surprise. And I think that given the way that everything is shaken out that he deserves to go hear what the other offers are. I mean, of course because he's a. An unrestricted free agent, but just that maybe how he. He's probably felt a little slighted based on performance, yet them still asking him to waive the no move and move on to a different team. Considering I would say that he's probably been the Toronto Maple Leafs MVP from the start of the year till now. People might say Nylander was extremely dominant, especially in the gold department early on. But I just feel like from front to back, you could argue that it's Mitch Marner. And if not, if not him and Willie. Well, Willie's got his, his eight years, right. So he's got, he's got his bank secured. But yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Question.

[Biz Nasty]

Yep.

[Ryan Whitney]

What if you could only pick one? Nice signing 8.5 times 8 or Marner signing 13.75 times.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, you gotta stick with knives. It's just like he just really.

[Ryan Whitney]

Wow. Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

He just. Yeah. I mean, come on, man. Like you're talking about.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Mitch is not gonna like hearing this.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like he's nice. Is nice when he's playing with some stuff.

[Biz Nasty]

You're, you're, you're telling me that, that you should be paying a Winger regardless how good he's played. I think playoffs will have everything to do with my answer. But if you ask me that right now, nice is something we don't have. We don't have that. You know, we could, we kind of, we, we have a guy as good as Marner on the wing and it's William Nylander, you know.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay.

[Biz Nasty]

I think that, I think that Bobby McMahon could be a, could be a 30 goal guy too. I think that where you, you. Yeah. I think you just kind of need a power forward and that's one thing they're really lacking. If you get rid of him. Like one of Toronto's biggest issues is how soft they've been. Well, he not only scores goals, he hits people like you saw with the White cloud stuff. Like he could even chuck them. He's a lefty. He'll handle his own business if he has to. So you can't get rid of a guy like that. Especially coming off of entry level and getting him in at a number like 8 1/2 where you said he might get offer sheeted, I just don't. I think that Marner is going to get 14 million in free agency. I think he probably could go be the superstar of a smaller market team and that's pretty much how it's going to shake out. That's where I'm leaning anyway.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I feel like he's a guy no matter what. Even if he was leaning towards signing back with Toronto, that he's going to test the market just to feel the love, see what's out there. And I don't know, at the end of the day, biz like, are you ready? Is this, is this his last season with the boys?

[Biz Nasty]

I've, I've mentally been prepared for that since the off season. Things changed the way the season started then. To hear they tried to make a deal at the deadline like that and the fact that it gets out. Well, I guess it got out. Cause they fucking asked them. But yeah, that's just kind of the writing on the wall for me.

[Ryan Whitney]

We talk about deciding not to sign players with Hallway and Broberg in Edmonton. I think Keefer Sherwood not being signed by the Nashville Predators is, is an all time fumble for this season. He broke the record, record for the NHL record for hits in a season. Crazy. And biz was. What was it like 1.5 he wanted.

[Biz Nasty]

Or he, he wanted 1.5 from Nashville? And my understanding is, is that they didn't want to pay him as much as they were paying McCarron and I believe McCarran's what their fourth line center and he's a Big guy, he could chuck him. He plays physical. But I think we can all agree on, like. Like, based on what we've seen this year, Kefa Sherwood is a superior player. Like, he. Like KE for Sherwood, the way that he plays and the Energizer Bunny that he is and how he forged, I would say he's a $3 million player. And the fact that they got him locked in for one more year at one and a half, I. I think that Nashville management and what they did, man, they're going to have to give themselves a very strong look in the mirror. And the worst part about it is, like, this might just be the beginning. Like they. They've committed to these older players to be able to. To get the job done and bring them into a playoff position. And now with 15 games left, you're. You're out there. You have their head coach asking them to remain professional for the remaining games. That's. That's when you're moving off of guys for. For 1.5 who are doing what they're doing and you're signing these big tickets to old guys. You. I don't know if they're. I would. I would imagine that Trots, based on what he. He's been able to accomplish in hockey, has a few bullets left in the chamber in order to turn this around, but not many more if this is how things are going to proceed. Because it's like not only are they not going to make playoffs, these. This team was abysmal to watch. And I know, I know they beat my Leafs the other night, but every fucking Preds game I watched was reminded me of last year. Them in playoffs against Vancouver. Like 20 shots a night. Like slow, boring Islanders 2.0 hockey. Right? Am I. Am I being too critical here?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. They could have won that series too. Like, I mean, she loves, like saved Vancouver again.

[Biz Nasty]

It was who was going to hypnotize the other team with their Boeing play the most. That was who was going to win that one one.

[Ryan Whitney]

So he broke the. The record was Jeremy Lazon had 383 hits. He got his 384th. I played 459 games and I'm almost positive I didn't get 384 hits in my career. He had it in one season. Crazy. I do remember going to Madison Square Garden and I'd get like three. They were very kind of. What's the word? What's the word where they'd give them out easily.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, freebies.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Like, that's not jerseys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Jersey's like that, too. That's why generous is generous.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, okay.

[Ryan Whitney]

Generous. Generous. Yeah, they're a little generous in msg, but that's an incredible number just to be running around killing people all season.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Seven goals. Just talking about Sherwood, I think, especially for that group. You know, you look at that group, they're. They're a softer team. And I think he brings guys into the fight a little bit more. Like, when you're. If they didn't have him this year, I think they'd be way worse off than they are now. Like, you know, you. You see a guy like that going out every night and getting four or five hits every night. Like, you have to, as a player on that team, if you respect your teammates, you have to up your level a little bit. And I think he's bringing that to that group, and he's been a huge part of why they're, you know, still kind of in the hunt a little bit.

[Ryan Whitney]

Actually, G just wrote here, speaking of Vancouver, a little bit bit, they announced Demko is back tonight. Well, last night, for people listening, Tuesday, first time since February 8th. And Pederson and Hoglander, who left the game injured, they got sent home from the road trip. There's four more games. That is bad news for the Canucks trying to squeak in the playoffs. So, Demko, I mean, what do you.

[Biz Nasty]

Make of that wit? Like, I. I don't know what's wrong with pd, but, like, you go to. You go to New York, you know, he's been playing a little bit better lately. I think that after the first period, they had J.T. miller stats, and it was like the. He'd thrown, like, two or three hits, and they were both against pd, and. And then all of a sudden, Petey goes down the tunnel, like, I don't know what. What he's injured with, but, like. Like, I don't know, man. Like, Brady playing on one. Brady playing on one hip, and he's on the bench, opening the door for the guys like you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, you would think, too, because it's Miller. Like, I'm not leaving the game. That's what I'm saying. I'm at least gonna sit on the.

[Biz Nasty]

Bench here, challenge him to a fight, for fuck's sakes. If you're. If you're.

[Ryan Whitney]

Miller also gave a shove to Quinn Hughes in that game. Who knows, they could just be fucking around, but just gave him a little hit against the boards after. Yeah, Patterson, That. That. That storyline isn't going anywhere. And. And, yes, he's been a little better, but what he's making and how he looks all season, it's, it's crazy. He, I mean, Jeff Jacobson, he's a huge Canucks fan. He's like, I, I, I am at a loss for words at this point of the player that we're watching compared to the years prior and what he did before that contract. It's a wild story. But, yeah, that sucks. I mean, four games, if, if, if you get sent home, you're not coming back on the road. So now they got four games without him. At least Demko's back. I'm rooting for Demko too.

[Keith Yandle]

Fuck.

[Ryan Whitney]

That guy's been through a lot. He just cannot stay healthy. I hate seeing players being injured that often. I just know what it's like to kind of go through that. A guy who's rarely ever injured is, is Alex Ovechkin. I know he was this season, but he's been a horse for 20 years. He's got seven goals left. Biz. It, it is turning into something where, when you wanted it to be next year to have the summer storyline be the OV Chase and when he'll do it. Now I'm kind of rattled. If it's like, I didn't agree with you then. Now I'm like, it can't be next year if he needs two goals. Like, it just takes away a lot of the excitement for me now what he's done this year, missing games, it has to be this year Now I'm.

[Biz Nasty]

Just a little concerned that if not only if it happens, like, they can't prepare for it and put it on the pedestal it deserves. Maybe my opinion on that has left just kind of at the excitement overall about the Washington Capitals and what they've been able to do and that they might win the President's Trophy, but it might be one of those situations, boys. And I think it was army who might have mentioned the group chat like this could be like a massive nut burst and then like, you just got no more energy left for playoffs. Like, they let out this huge knot and then like you got the spaghetti legs. You know, everybody's been built up to this, to this moment, and then boom. Game 81. Yeah. We're all on the ice. We're celebrating the locker room like we just won a playoff series, if not the Stanley Cup. Pop the champagne. Yes, we. I am score Alex Ovechkin and then losing five first round slugs. That, that would be my biggest concern. You don't want the, you don't want the come legs.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I think that that Group. They've been. I don't think that that could rattle them that much. I think just the way that they've handled their business all year with. I mean, the chase has been talked about all year and, you know, kind of died down a little bit when he got hurt. But, you know, it's been at the forefront of the. The whole league all year. So I don't think it would hurt them too much. I still think they could lose first round no matter what, but I don't think that that's. I agree with you. What it has to happen this year.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, it's. It'll just be. It's still. This insane record will be incredible. But if you need two or three goals next year, it's just so different. They have. They actually have the jets tonight in a battle for the President's trophy. Those two teams, they got the Wild. He should be able to get one against them. He's got the Sabers. He could get four that game while watching Buffalo play. They got the Bruins. He actually might break it in the next next four games. They go wild, Sabers, Bruins. And he's got the Blackhawks. He's got the Blue Jackets twice. It is 12 games left, those seven goals. Not shocking at all if he does it. But that's not easy. And the crazy thing is it truly might come down to the Penguins, the final game of the year where Sidney Crosby, guys, is about to also break a record. That is just mind blowing to me. He needs two more points to guarantee himself his 20th season at a point per game player, breaking Wayne Gretzky's record of 19 years doing it. That is out of control to never, ever. This, this would mean in his life he's never been below a point per game. Like I'm talking. He certainly wasn't below a point per game when he was nine. No, right. He was 11 years old. He was probably three or four points per game.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, they don't really fall around. Kids with CBC with a camera crew. If you're below a point per game when you're 13 years old, it's not really part of the criteria.

[Ryan Whitney]

20 years, dude. He's also leading the league in five on five points. Like that's.

[Biz Nasty]

That's the craziest stat of the season. The fact that he's leading the hardest, the hardest to score or get points in the NHL, five on five. It doesn't happen a lot now just with how good teams are defensively, where goaltenders are at. And he's got what, 51, you said.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, I didn't say the number. I didn't say the number. I just mentioned that he's leading the league. Yeah, it's crazy. And, and, and God, you know, we were talking about recently when, when would he ever leave? And so many people have said he never would. But I think part of it might be he's so insane. He's. He's obviously an insane human being to be this good and this dedicated and driven. He might actually think, like, every season, like, we can win the Cup. Like, I, I can carry us to the Stanley Cup. Maybe that's why he's never going to leave. Because in his brain he's like, no, we can do it. We can do it. Because I can do anything. Anything I've ever wanted to accomplish, I have. And I'm going to get Pittsburgh another Stanley Cup. That really might be what's going through his brain. Sid the kid. 20 years in a row with over a point per game. Crazy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Insane.

[Ryan Whitney]

The league announced the Penguins and the Predators will face off in a pair of games in Sweden next year as part of the global series. What the poor people in Sweden do to deserve that. You're sending over the Penguins in Nashville. They don't sell out the game.

[Biz Nasty]

Well, they got Forestburg.

[Keith Yandle]

Who?

[Biz Nasty]

What other sweets?

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, Carlson.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Carlson Ricard.

[Ryan Whitney]

Raquel.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, Raquel.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay, but it's all about, I guess, all the Europeans, right? Like I. Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

Were you, were you on our team when we. Obviously we did the, the Prague.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I was on every team that you were in.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, that's right.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

You were there every time. Remember when we had one year you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Got sent down and he made the team.

[Biz Nasty]

Hey, remember, Remember we went to Prague? There was like 20 Czech guys, both teams.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, my God. It was almost. Yeah. Because we played the Bruins. It was unreal. That was one of the funnest trips ever. We were hanging with the Bruins guys. We're like, hopefully we just split these. Like we each get a. Yeah. And we did. It was perfect.

[Biz Nasty]

And they won the cup that year.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. And we won the Toilet Bowl.

[Biz Nasty]

You know what's wild is, is so the, the year I did it with the Penguins, When I played 15 games, I did the world premiere games where we played Ottawa and Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup. And then I did it with, with the Coyotes and then, boss, we played Boston and then they won the Stanley Cup. A little fun fact for all you people.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did Florida start the season last year in Finland or was that this year and they won?

[Biz Nasty]

I can't even remember.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Was that this year or last year?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think it was. Was this. No, this year was Dallas. And was it Dallas, Florida?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Yes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yes.

[Biz Nasty]

I think Florida might have been two.

[Ryan Whitney]

Years in a row because it was after Barkov won it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay.

[Biz Nasty]

Anything else in the quick hits or.

[Ryan Whitney]

We done quick hits quickly. I, I read. Do you guys know that? Because we're talking about President's Trophy. You know, Washington plays Winnipeg. President's trophy. So the last team to win the Stanley cup after winning the President's trophy was 2013. That was the Blackhawks. But. But it was a shortened season before that. It was actually 2008 when the Wings won it. They beat the team I was on, the Pittsburgh Penguins. So it's like, who cares about the President's Cup, I guess. Right? It's kind of wild, though, that two in the last. What is that? 18, 17 years. And one of them wasn't even a full season when Chicago beat the Bruins in 13. So kind of crazy. I didn't realize that. Quick hits. Biz Hurdle. Thomas Hurdle, dude, he's been on fire. I wonder what you thought about this. Hit hurt. This is hurdles. Last 10 games, 1 and 1. 2 points. Then he had an assist, then he had a hat trick. No points and he had two assists. Then he had an assist, Then two games without any points. They need another hat trick. Then he had a goal last night, but boom, he's out. Hit from behind. I believe the player's name was Emil Lilleberg. Kind of like, I don't think he meant to hurt him at all. And he's. He pushed him from behind when he was almost right next to the goalie, but it did not look good. Good. He's getting up, kind of hanging his shoulder a little bit, but that's a brutal injury. He's been on fire.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Fuck, man. That's a tough one. Like any, especially when a guy's going that fast, to apply any type of pressure at the back and extend your arms, you have to take accountability, I guess. I don't know. He'll probably get like a game, maybe, maybe two.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Fine.

[Keith Yandle]

Maybe.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know if you. Because they took, they changed it from a major. They gave him a major originally.

[Biz Nasty]

And then, God, he kind of is that little, that little cross check, man. And Hurdle's always already on his toes there. And he goes so hard into the wall there. I, I, I, I think that's a little bit reckless. I'm not saying this guy's a dirty player that just like, especially at the fact Hurdle's going to be out. You can't do that. You can't push him on the back of the pant like that. Fuck. And. And like you said, man, he. He'd had a hat trick the one game, like he'd finally been coming into his own because. Because last year he came over in that trade from San Jose, kind of rushed it a little bit, being injured, didn't have the best playoff, but he almost looked like a little bit slower, maybe not in the best shape, especially for those big guys who. Who that can happen quickly. But fuck, man, that's such a hard loss if they lose him for a long period of time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We all know, like, you get that little shove, and when you're going full speed, it is absolute panic time when you're like, if you get that little shove, it's just that one little ounce, and every player knows what you're doing. You know, you can get them off balance that way. So you hate to see that. Especially, you know, a guy like Hurdle, who, you know, I've never seen him really do anything too dirty to anyone. He's an honest player, and they need him. They need him bad in the playoffs. The way he's been playing, you know, let's Jack kind of not have to do everything. And Stone can kind of, you know, find where he's at. So that's a. That's a tough blow for the. For the Golden Knights.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I didn't. I didn't. So he has 31 goals. His career highs, 35. He might have broken that. It's actually only his third year scoring 30 or more goals. I would have thought. I would have thought that was. That was a little different. The NCAA tournament bracket came out, guys. But before we get to the men, we have to shut out Kirsten Sims. Did you guys see this? Wisconsin vs Ohio State women's national title game.

[Keith Yandle]

Insane biz.

[Ryan Whitney]

Mark Johnson, who was on the 80 Olympic team for the US he's been the coach of the women's program in Wisconsin for a long time. They haven't. They have. They've had a powerhouse for years. So they're down 3, 2. They get a penalty shot with 19 seconds to go in the third period. And he's standing on the bench and he's like, who wants it? And I guess, like, all the players, right away, they're like, she throws her hand up, boom. I want it. She went down and probably scored the nastiest breakaway shootout penalty shot goal I've seen this year. Like, it was Patrick Kane in Patrick Kane's prime time. Some people are saying, like, the puck went backwards, it maybe shouldn't have been allowed. I. I thought it was just your. Your momentum had to keep going forward. She put the goalie in the corner. Biz ties it up. 19 seconds to go. Then she gets the OT winner for Wisconsin to win the NCAA title.

[Biz Nasty]

No way.

[Ryan Whitney]

Unreal moment. You got to see the gold.

[Biz Nasty]

What's.

[Keith Yandle]

What.

[Biz Nasty]

What last name? Sim. What's her first name?

[Ryan Whitney]

Kirsten Kate Pearson. Sorry.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Talk about, like, the pressure.

[Keith Yandle]

If you have.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, you raise your hand to go down with 19 seconds left and to pull a move like that. Like, if that's me, I'm shooting it 100%. Either missing the net, hitting the goalie right in the chest, or scoring. No in between. But imagine, like, you're coming down with that many stick handles and you lose it. Whatever. Like the. The. I. I just love the fact that she trusted her game, knew what she was doing.

[G]

Choppy, too. Like, it wasn't. That wasn't easy.

[Ryan Whitney]

She has so much confidence to, like, try that move because, yeah, Keith used. There was 30 stick handles in two seconds.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know.

[Ryan Whitney]

And then the final. Like, I finally thought, she's going backhand, goalie slides over. Nope, right back. It was gross. She had the whole net. She said to slide it in, and then she gets the OT winner. So just an incredible, like, final championship game. Was that at where the Gophers played?

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Great patience. Yeah.

[G]

Sick arena.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. That is a cool Mariuchi Arena.

[G]

So they play at the one right next door to it. It's attached to Mariucci. I think it's called Riddler arena or something like that, but it's really cool.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Don't they have three girls on their, like, the same line that are up for, like, the Hobie Baker for women's.

[Ryan Whitney]

I saw a girl won it from there. Gee, look up her name, quick. They.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They got Lane Hudson.

[Biz Nasty]

Wow. What a selly. I just saw. I saw the. The. The penalty shot and then the game winner and OT. Great job. On the rebound to find that there's.

[Paul Bissonnette]

19 seconds left to tie it up. You're pulling a move like that?

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, me? No.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I mean, anyone, like, think about. I'm. I'm even thinking Patty Kane or Sid. Like, they're gonna keep it simple. Go to a. Go to a move that they, you know, it's nothing.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Because if you mess that up, it's like, what are you doing?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know.

[Ryan Whitney]

I know you tried that. She's like, nope. I just.

[Biz Nasty]

Alligator blood.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The confidence is amazing.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's a heartbreaking loss for Ohio State. Dude, you're right there. I, I do know. Gee dude, how did they get the penalty shot? Was it a trip on a breakaway?

[G]

No, covered up.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Covered up in the crease.

[G]

But Casey O'Brien, the girl who won the woman's Hobie Baker called the Patty Kazmier Award. Keith from Milton, Massachusetts. Wisconsin girl Milton Mass.

[Keith Yandle]

Right there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What?

[Ryan Whitney]

What? Keith Milton. I think they had, I think three different girls teams like youth teams won the state tournament and then the high school team lost in the champion in the, in the state title game. So Milton, Massachusetts producing some good hockey players.

[Biz Nasty]

Well since we're talking about women's hockey that PWHL's cranking like they're already talking about expansion. They do these little like these pop up tournaments in different cities like get the teams to kind of see and engage interest if like what cities would want to maybe have a team. I don't know if it's going to happen in Colorado but they were packed to the tits there. Like it was sold out barn like I apparently they might get one. There's other rumblings maybe Seattle. So I don't know where expansion is going to take them. Right now they got six teams but I think that they're going to quickly move to eight. They're selling out tons of games. There's more energy at the, the, the female game in Toronto than there is in the lower bowl at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[Ryan Whitney]

Games like way more play at the, at the Rico. Is that what it is where the Marlins and, and, and Tessa was telling us like they could no doubt sell out the Leafs Arena.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Rogers. Really?

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's awesome.

[Ryan Whitney]

Rogers.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

I, I, I mean every time I just think Air Canada Center I, it's just, I don't know why I can't cannot figure out that Rogers. NCAA men guys, I'm very excited. It's, it's, it's an awesome tournament. Every year six Hockey east teams got in. This year just quickly going through we got BC is the number one seed. They're playing Bentley in that bracket. Providence plays Denver. So there's a chance that BC has to play Denver to go to the Frozen Four. Incredible final game last year in, in min. Minneapolis. Western Michigan plays Minnesota. Western Michigan. Where did they come from? I think they're I'm geek. I'm guessing they're a little bit of an older team kind of like Maine but they have a wagon but they got to play Alex Bump.

[G]

Keep an eye on Alex Bump. 5th round draft pick of the Flyers. He's been incredible this season.

[Ryan Whitney]

Biz loves that guy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Was they call it, right? Does everyone just get shit faced at that place, Waster University.

[Ryan Whitney]

They're playing Minnesota State in that bracket. Minnesota plays UMass. So. So geez, that's a. That's a tough, tough matchup for Western Michigan if they end up getting Minnesota. UMass was good too. I saw.

[Biz Nasty]

Are you guys going to St. Louis? Did we already mention that?

[Keith Yandle]

Yes.

[G]

Yeah, yeah. The game notes guys will be there. Will be.

[Ryan Whitney]

So I have the mini golf tournament for Barstool. That's on Thursday. Maybe I'll try to fly there depending who's in the frozen four. Frozen four is great. Awesome tournament.

[G]

I mean, I think BU is the biggest question because they're a team. That wouldn't surprise me one bit if they're playing for the frozen four. But it also wouldn't surprise me if they get bounced by Ohio State. Like, everything's really changed since this goalie came in. And Pandolo has been pretty hard on them with their Hockey east performance. But like, I don't know. I mean, am I wrong to. Am I wrong to say that?

[Biz Nasty]

Hey, Whit, what would you say to the boys right now if you got to go in there and talk for like, you know, 30 seconds a minute? Like, how would you address the team going in right now?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Be like Jim Harbaugh in the Anaheim. Did you see that?

[Ryan Whitney]

That was incredible.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Unbelievable.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'd go in and say, boys, you had two finalists for the Holy Baker last year and late hunting celebrity, and they're not here anymore. And they'd say, what they. Lane wasn't a Hobie Baker finalist.

[Biz Nasty]

You say, shut the fuck up. I'm talking.

[Ryan Whitney]

Can you get. Can you get the hell out of our locker room? Yeah, I actually, I turned on. I went to USCHO, like college hockey online. It was probably like 10:30 Saturday night to see scores. And I noticed Michigan State and Ohio State were going into the the double overtime or the first overtime of the Big Ten title game. So I clicked that on. It was awesome. Isaac Howard. This kid's an animal. The Iceman. We talked about him at his draft when he said, I'm the best looking guy at the draft. I wanted to be the best dressed as well. Tampa Bay picked him first round. He scored the winner in double O T. Ohio State looked good. Like they were deep. That's going to be a tough first game for BU and then if you do win, Michigan State, I imagine, takes care of Cornell. Although Cornell's coach, Mike Schaefer, he's been there forever. They had to win the ECAC championship to get a bid in the ncaa. They got it done. They beat Clarkson. So, like, who knows this legendary coach? Like, what if somehow, like, this is the year he gets his first national title? In his last year. They were going nuts. He was like, covered in water, Gatorade. And he's holding the ECAC trophies. Going nuts. My brother Sean, who played at Cornell for Mike Schaefer, he's like, he wasn't acting like this when I was there. He's hard ass, just giving it to us all the time. But he realizes, like, my career was done if we didn't just win this game. The last bracket that we haven't talked about. Maine, they get the three seed overall in the tournament. The number one seed in Allentown. They play Penn State. Awesome program. See what's happening there.

[G]

Essentially a home series for Penn State though, right? Like, super close to campus. It's. I mean, main fans travel very good. They took over the greatest bar the other night after the Hockey east championship. The band was playing in the bar and everything.

[Biz Nasty]

They play out of Lehigh Valley's bar barn.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's just. Dude, you talked about, you know, they have these. They have these four brackets and what are they called?

[G]

The neutral site Regional.

[Biz Nasty]

No, no, I know neutral sites, but are they playing out of Lehigh Valley's barn in. In. In Allentown?

[G]

That is where they're playing this series. But that's not where Penn State plays, right? Joke that they do this, this Neutral zone. The. The neutral site games is a fucking joke. The fact that they're playing games in Manchester, Toledo, Ohio, boys, Are you kidding me?

[Ryan Whitney]

People there.

[Biz Nasty]

Toledo Walleye fans are hardcore, so I would imagine that they love the trim there. I've never spent a night in Toledo. We were always in and out because of how dangerous it was. You said. You said Manchester New Hampshire's hosting games.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, always do.

[G]

Oh, yeah.

[Biz Nasty]

I mean, did win a call to a cup there, but. Yeah. I don't know. You did neutral again. You think so?

[Keith Yandle]

I didn't know that.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Biz. You know who's very good for Maine? Enormous flies around. Hits everything that moves. Cale Makar's brother.

[Biz Nasty]

No, I thought he was going to UMass too.

[Ryan Whitney]

He. He transferred from UMass, but this came to Maine, so. Dude, this guy's a machine. Maine won Hockey east with ease. UConn drum BU in the semifinals, Maine drummed Northeastern, and then Maine took care of UConn. UConn's also a program that's. It's pretty cool what's happening there. They finally got their own rink. Cool new arena. Right. They have Mike Kavanaugh who was an assistant at BC for, for a long time. He's the head coach. And I think if you have a nice new arena, they possibly will have pretty big nil money based on the basketball program. And you, you have this Mid Fairfield program, which is for sure, if not top three, a top five program for developing players in the United States. They might be able to start grabbing some studs. And Yukon could turn into a wagon.

[G]

Well, Quinnipiac too though. It's not like Connecticut hasn't had good college hockey because Quinnipiac's done well too. And that's why that first round, that first round game, Quinnipiac, Yukon is awesome. It's like the battle of Connecticut just to start it off.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, all those.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Night. And he said that his son made that Mid Fearfield team. And there's a woman that has coached this like one group of team. They haven't lost in like four years.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's the 2012 Mid Fairfield team. I think last year they played up a year. So against elevens, I don't know if they ever lost. This year they played with their age for Quebec. They don't lose. They won Quebec with ease. Apparently like one of the par. That's another thing about that Mid Fairfield program. Like, I mean there's a lot of money around there. Greenwich, Connecticut, all that. Westchester, New York. They. They have an enormous pool of kids to. To choose from and they have a lot of money. I think there's a parent on the team with a full like NHL size arena at his house that they're practicing at every day. Also talking about our buddy Donley. His son, he's a 2020. They had 60 kids at 2020. They're turning five this year and they had 60 kids come to tryouts for a team next year. Why? It's. Why, why it'll be doing like Devo, like they play like against each other cross sites. Like. No, Mid Fairfield has a legit team with tryouts. How do you even have tryouts for 4 and 5 year olds? Like what do you do? Like these kids can't imagine Wyatt at a trial. He'd stab the coach.

[Biz Nasty]

Half the kids raise their hand. All right, you guys get cut. All right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Whose parents has their own plane?

[G]

Before we move on from college, you got to mention Brad Berry. Like legendary North Dakota coach just got fired. I mean, pretty surprising, I would say. But at the same time, not so much. I mean, a guy who's never finished below 510 seasons there, won a national title in his first year. The only coach in college hockey history to ever do that. Five regular season NC. NCHC titles, five NCAA appearances. I mean, kind of a guy that, like, was looked at as, like, almost like a legendary coach right now in the. In the college hockey game. So on the negative side, that, yeah, they haven't made the tournament the past two of three seasons.

[Ryan Whitney]

So, yeah, if you're in North Dakota, dude, you're not in the tournament. You're. It's just not. It's not. That's what. That's what North Dakota is, man. They're. They gotta be a powerhouse.

[Biz Nasty]

Could ha. Could hack. Stall. Be going back.

[G]

That was my suggestion. Busy, actually. I think Dave Hackstall. I think. I mean, he. He's tried the NHL. Tw. I don't. I wouldn't necessarily say a head coaching job is coming across his table anytime soon in the NHL. So why not go back to where you played? Why not go back?

[Biz Nasty]

He was at a game at asu.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, supporting that night, right?

[Biz Nasty]

What?

[Ryan Whitney]

You were. You were with him that night at the North Dakota.

[Biz Nasty]

Went by one of the boxes, and he was in there. I didn't. I hadn't. I remember he coached college hockey, but I'm not as dialed in as you guys. And then it just obviously made sense that he was there watching. The fight ensues. So is that. Do they still call them the Fighting Sue?

[G]

No, unfortunately not. They're like the Fighting Hawks now.

[Biz Nasty]

It's kind of okay.

[G]

But two. Two more names for this coaching job. Jared Demichel, assistant at UMass. Now he's an assistant at MSU. I think he'd be great. And here's one crazy one you guys might think I'm nuts for. Jonathan T. He wants to give back to the game. He wants to get back.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's playing next year, bud.

[Biz Nasty]

He's playing. He's texting me.

[G]

Is he.

[Biz Nasty]

Is he definitely coming the other day? We're going golfing this week in Arizona, so I'll let you guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Man, he's skating in Arizona every day. G. I just think he's playing.

[Biz Nasty]

You know where he's playing.

[G]

Cross him off the list, starting with the Gargoyles.

[Biz Nasty]

Gonna be our first line center.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's nice. We'll give him. We'll give him an A. We'll give him an A. On his sweater.

[Biz Nasty]

We'll do a bobblehead.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Someone told. Or Billy Ryan told Me that main, main one. Hockey east, right?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And he said that, like, they're not a great team. They're all just like third liners. Grind it out. But he said that their coach is amazing what he gets.

[G]

Barr.

[Ryan Whitney]

Benny Barr.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yes. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

He said he, this guy, he recruited and built a national champion at Union. He had moved on. He recruited and built a national champion at Providence. He had moved on by the time they won it. And he had recruited and built a national championship team at UMass and he had moved on. So he hadn't got. He, he's like brought in all these players and they've ended up winning, but he hasn't won one yet. So that's why it'd be pretty cool. And like, I'm rooting for bu. But he's a great, I've known him for a long time. Awesome dude. Dude just goalie.

[G]

Absolute best guy in the world. Real quick story about Benny Barr. I actually texted him a couple months ago and was like, hey, Benny, you know my little brother really wants to get into coaching. Could you send me over just a couple bullet points that I can text over to him and, you know, we'll help him with his coaching interviews. He said, what's his number? I sent him over my little brother's number. He jumped on the phone with my little brother for 90 minutes, just picking his brain, teaching him what to do. When you go into a coach's interview, what systems guys want to hear that their team's going to be playing nowadays. So just like assault of the earth, best guy in the world. Everyone should be rooting for Ben Barr. The hockey world needs more guys.

[Biz Nasty]

There you go.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's incredible for college hockey. Thursday, Thursday at 12 Eastern. Game notes, 10am Eastern.

[G]

A little earlier.

[Ryan Whitney]

10Am Sorry, 10am they will have an entire preview of the NCAA tournament coming up, so. Those guys are so dialed in. G will be there, Pasha will be there. Merles and Arnold me check them out. Thursday, 10:00am finally, our last thing. The Chiclets foreplay match. Oh, we have it is. It is dialed.

[Biz Nasty]

I thought you were gonna mention you were going to icecon in Nashville.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, that's another thing.

[Biz Nasty]

Sweater on right now. I was gonna go.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Whitney going with you.

[Ryan Whitney]

You're not going.

[Biz Nasty]

Do you want me to go? Then I'll rebook the flight. I just like I'm, I'm on the road for a long period of time. I, I, I got two days at home coming up. Thursday, Friday, I was going to le you there or I get the two extra days Rest. What do you think?

[Paul Bissonnette]

What's going to help us more in the sandbagger?

[Biz Nasty]

I think getting the rest. Cause I might be. More than likely I'll be paying golf with Jonathan Toews.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay, then. Then you. Then you go home. I'll. I'll take care of Chicklet and represent icecon. Keith, you're more than welcome to come. I have a flight Sunday morning from Nashville to Atlanta to get ready. I want to play golf on Sunday in Atlanta. I need to play around a golf before the foreplay match.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Match.

[Ryan Whitney]

That will be Tuesday, April 2nd. It's a 27 hole bonanza. Nine holes, three on three. Scramble. Nine holes, three on three, alternate shot. And nine holes, one on one. Myself versus Riggs. Keith versus Frankie Biz versus Trent. Here's the wrinkle. Here's the wrinkle.

[Biz Nasty]

Oh, baby.

[Ryan Whitney]

There is 27 holes coming up. Stroke play.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah, motherfuckers.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes. You just heard. You just heard correct. No more. Hey, you hit it in the woods, you chunk it out of the woods. The team's on putting for birdie and we're hitting our fifth from the fairway. Let's just end the hole. We lost the hole. No, it's ball and hole golf. We will have one score as a team for the nine hole scramble. We will have one score as a team for the nine hole alternate shot. And we will have three scores individually. That adds up to one total team score of what we shoot. So. So apparently all the fans that talk to foreplay a lot online, they say play a play around ball and hole. We want to see what you'd really shoot. Yeah, people say that all the time. So we're doing it. So I guess when Riggs and I play, yes, we're playing against each other, but we're really playing against the course. If I could somehow go out and shoot a 39 and he shoots 44, that's a. That's a five shot lead for our team in that match. Right, Right. So it's a little different than match play, but you could see some numbers.

[Biz Nasty]

Are there any strokes being given up on either side? Are we figuring that out when we get there? Are we basically just.

[Keith Yandle]

I don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think we're all pretty even, dude. I think like. Or right around there.

[Biz Nasty]

I would say me and Trent are very similar. Right?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I think.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Lives in Florida now.

[Biz Nasty]

I play. I play probably 12 to 15 rounds a year. Year.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, I mean, I got. I got two rounds in since November 1st. I mean, I. But this would only make it better Guys, this. That's why I gotta play Sunday in Atlanta. Actually, a guy reached out, wrote me a dm. Would you like to play at Atlanta Athletic Club? I gotta write him back. Please, please, God, I'd love to play with you, but the fact that it's stroke play, foreplay versus Chiclets. Now, what's nice about this is if somebody has a big lead going into the singles matches, like, dude, somebody makes an 11 on a hole, like, you're right back into it. So it is not match play. It's foreplay versus chickle. It's ball and hole. It changes everything. I've played stroke play tournaments. You hit one out of bounds, you got to re tee. You hit another one out of bounds, you got to re tee. Then you're standing there. No, no, no. We're not going till the next hole, till you get one inbounds. Get it on the green and put it in the hole. So let's see how this goes. I can't wait. It's going to be fun. Fun. But I wanted to announce that to everyone. The course.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The course. Looks like there's some hazards, too. I look at water everywhere, water everywhere. It's tree lined. Yeah, yeah. No, this is. This is. No, there's gonna be some numbers. I'll say.

[Biz Nasty]

I'll just bring my seven iron in my putter. Seven iron, 52 in my.

[Ryan Whitney]

Get off the T biz. When you get off the tee, you're unstoppable. Right. You know how to get off the tee in golf and tee up a girl you met on riot.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

And you can do both of those things. We'll win this.

[Biz Nasty]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

So very exciting time of the year in hockey. Very exciting time for Chiclets and golf season. Beginning golf to finish it up. Victor Hovland won the tournament this. This week in tan the Tampa area. He on Thursday told the media, basically, I'm so lost, I have no clue where the ball.

[Biz Nasty]

And then he won the tournament.

[Ryan Whitney]

And then he won. That's golf.

[Keith Yandle]

Golf.

[Ryan Whitney]

Then he won the tournament. Like, that's golf for you, Right? There he goes. My whole life I've been able to pick a target and then decide if I want the ball coming in left to right or right to left. And I can't do it now, and it's driving me in crazy. And then he won the tournament. So that's golf right there.

[Biz Nasty]

By how many strokes?

[Ryan Whitney]

Two shots. It was him and J.T.

[Biz Nasty]

Justin Thomas.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, we're tied. He was like lighting it up Sunday. He bogeyed the 18th hole as Hovland birdied the 17th hole behind him. So he had a two shot lead on the 18th hole and he got it done. But that just describes golf. Like, oh, I'm lost. I have no clue. And then you hit one shot, something clicks. You're like, I'm back. Stupidest sport in the world. But I love you guys. Everyone listening. Thank you. Thank you so much. We love you. Pink Whitney Dove Men plus care. Anything else, boys?

[Biz Nasty]

No. Hell of a pod.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Great job.

[Biz Nasty]

College hockey breakdown. And once again to the the gentleman, gentlemen of the the Progress Club in Halifax, we thank you for all your hospitality and the amazing day that you brought into our lives and what an amazing cause and. And what you guys are doing. So thanks again. Great pod. Yan's, you look great. We'll see you Monday.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I want in next year.

[Biz Nasty]

Okay, that's a deal.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Love you guys. Have a great week.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Love you boys.

[Biz Nasty]

Even if I.

[Keith Yandle]

Don'T know the other way this feeling so hard to work I'll get you someday.