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- [00:00]
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.
- [00:10]
Paul Vincent
Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is Barstool Sports.
- [00:15]
Ryan Whitney
Our white whale, Sidney Crosby. Shave his head. Shave his head.
- [00:21]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Shave his head.
- [00:23]
Ryan Whitney
Ryan Whitney.
- [00:24]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Paul Vincent. R.A. mike Grinelli.
- [00:27]
Ryan Whitney
Spittin Chickfila Foreign. What is up folks? Wow, what a tune there. Welcome to episode 558 of the Spitting Chicklets podcast. We're back live. Haven't done this since last year's playoffs. Very exciting, very exciting. Biz did about 15 games back to back this weekend. Yan's been watching hockey. I'm rocking an oiler shirt after that big dub Biz got the least. But before we get into everything, let's talk about Pink Whitney. Boom, boom. Look at this thing. Boom. Pink Whitney. This is, this is the giant bottle. This is the biggest, biggest big old bottle. But we got the little bottles, we got the, we got the nips, we got the little guys. Take your shot with Pink Whitney. That's why we're all sitting here. Thank God to Pink Whitney. Vodka. It's summertime, it's warm. It's 70 degrees in Boston today. I'm home from Florida. What an amazing vacation. And I had some Pink Whitney on there. So thank you so much to everyone who drinks it. Take your shot with Pink Whitney. The playoffs are on crack.
- [01:28]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
This is absolutely nuts.
- [01:30]
Ryan Whitney
It's absurd. And I said the other day, like I think I've said every year, wow, this is the greatest first round in Stanley cup playoff history. But no, no, no, no, no. I take it all back. This year is madness. And it started maybe a touch slow, maybe just that first day last Saturday. But all of a sudden the madness began. And now every single night, I'm just on my coach like this. I'm just amazed, shocked and awed at what we're witnessing. Biz, take us through your weekend because you were literally in the studio for I think 38 of. Of, of 48 hours.
- [02:02]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, first of all, you should be kissing my ass for getting the Oilers back in this series, buddy.
- [02:07]
Ryan Whitney
I ain't kissing anyone's ass, bro. They got the LA Kings themselves. You, you, you, you brought up. No team has come that back from a two old deficit in this year's playoffs. So thank you for bringing it up, but that's not what we want. We won with hard.
- [02:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, yeah. And we're at TNT Studios and Shaq walks out. And I said the only thing that's Going to bring the Edmonton Oilers back in this series is Shaq Hyman. I said, would you do us the honors of coming out in this segment? He goes, sure, Shaq Hyman comes a helmet. What helmet?
- [02:42]
Ryan Whitney
It looked like a helmet you'd get cup of ice cream with at the Red Sox game. Then like us putting that on. But it was an extra large bower.
- [02:51]
Paul Vincent
Sell hockey helmets at Red Sox games. Now that is a stride description exactly like Biz is towards the end of his career.
- [03:00]
Ryan Whitney
It was incredible. And I think he even lifted that puck that he shot on net. He came in Shackheim and baby, he.
- [03:07]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Did get some leverage. Yeah, I would say that his stride was a little longer than, than the one towards the end of my career, that's for sure. Honestly, I wasn't even that tired going through that fucking gauntlet of games because of how exciting they've been. Every game trumped the last game as far as excitement and storylines and chaos and fans going crazy online whether it was Tom Wilson pissing everybody off again. You think they want Chara arrested for his hit on Pacioretti? They're going to want Tom Wilson in solitary confinement for the rest of his fucking life after the hit he put on carrier. So it's just been remarkable. The production, the swings, the goals, the hits, the fights on the bench. You name it, we got it. Hockey is on a heater. I know, we, like you said, we've said it in the past. This is the best playoff we've ever seen. This is the best season we've ever seen. It's exceeded expectations. Goalie controversies, you name it. So, I mean, Yan's, I'm sure you've been glued to the couch watching all these games. What have you made of it?
- [04:11]
Paul Vincent
And you, I know you guys give me a lot of for watching Bravo reality tv, but it's like the Bravo people and you know, Ryan Seacrest are behind these NHL playoffs there's going on everywhere. The only thing we're missing is like a wife fight in the stands.
- [04:27]
Ryan Whitney
We might get one. We might get one.
- [04:29]
Paul Vincent
I know if Mrs. Wilson shows up to to Montreal, game six, it could be a Gamadov.
- [04:35]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Kim Kardashian, the opening face off Game 6 back in Montreal. Like you don't know what to expect. But like you said, it's a full fledged reality show. And when I'll hand it over to you. This. Yeah.
- [04:47]
Ryan Whitney
What.
- [04:47]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
What a rock.
- [04:48]
Ryan Whitney
It's. It's been incredible. So many different ways we can go. I think kind of staying a little. Most recent with Sunday at least for. For what I want to do. And that's talk about the Edmonton Oilers guys. I mean, got it. I don't know if I've ever. And. And people will correct me here. I don't know if I've ever seen a team as a whole get dominated through four games and somehow be tied 2 to 2 like the Edmonton Oilers. It is nuts. They, I mean, forget about the two games in la. We talked about them. We haven't chatted. We chatted Friday morning and then the madness of Friday night. I guess we can kind of start there. All I take away from that game is what will probably go down is one of the worst coast coaches challenges in NHL playoff history. And that sounds a little far fetched and maybe a little dramatic, but I'm watching the game and I'm like, there's absolutely nothing to challenge there. It was quite obvious that Evander Kane won a battle in front of the net. He bangs that thing off his skate and then clearly hits it with the stick. It's in goal now. Right away I'm like, I don't like. All right, we're going to call the timeout because you could tell Jim Hill's looking, we need, we need a timeout to continue to decide if we're going to challenge. And then by the time the timeout ended, I'm like, there's nothing. And they decide to do it. I said immediately, we got a power play. We got a power play. What is it? What are they thinking? And it's. It's hard to really blame him because I'm guessing and I saw you and Rick bonus talk about it. It's kind of the, the video coach's decision, I would think, where he's like, hey, go, go, challenge. But that one, to me, a no brainer, nothing burger. And we go on the power play score eight seconds later.
- [06:29]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So did you see the video that army sent to the group chat though, where after it had. After it hit, it hit his, like the kicking motion, it had been stopped. There was. Kane did kind of. He tried to shoot it in and he did touch Kemper's pad where it did start moving. But it felt like Kemper was kind of already making that movement with his leg. So to a certain degree, I could see where they're coming from. And maybe in the regular season, if you're that desperate, you may make that call. But the most shocking thing to me, whit is two times in that series already, when Edmonton had tied it, L. A had a response. They'd scored Twice within a minute of, of of Edmonton tying the game.
- [07:13]
Ryan Whitney
And when they haven't scored, been all over him after every Oilers goal, they're buzzing.
- [07:18]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Exactly. So in that situation, you have a two nothing series lead. The game is tied with six minutes left. You have to be thinking to yourself like I would take, if we, if we could have put ourselves in this situation at the beginning of the series, you would have taken that in a heartbeat. So why not just allow your team to get the job done, five on five for the last whatever, six minutes of regulation and then try to win it in overtime if that's not the case, like to give like. And I know the power play for the Edmonton Oilers at that point wasn't as good as in years past, but to put the best, essentially the best power play in the world when they figure things out with that much time left in that situation, well, what do you think's gonna happen? They score nine seconds later, like you like. The fact that they got one nine seconds later was just the icing on the cake. And they ended up stealing one. And I was just flabbergasted by the call. And you know, after the game, Hiller, it did seem like it was. He was a little rattled in the post game presser, nowhere near how rattled he was after game four. So I don't know. That's pretty much the, the, the biggest piece of controversy from game three. Is there anything else that from game three that you wanted to talk about?
- [08:31]
Ryan Whitney
I want to ask Yant and, and Leon Drais said was asked about it after game three. Was that a play that you guys had drawn up? He's like I, something like I'm going to keep that to myself. But Bouchard walks in the zone, drops it. Obviously they had realized there's that open area in the middle and he keeps going to the net and, and just a tap and pass. Have you ever like seen a play like that, ever talked about a play like that on the power play where the D man just keeps going?
- [08:57]
Paul Vincent
Oh yeah, all the time. We used to, we used to do it too. We'd have like you even on the drop pass sometimes that D man can get lost. You can hit him back with it for a breakaway. But I, I think for them it's just seeing. And they didn't want to use it too early. I think they waited for the right time to use it. They needed a goal. It was late in the game. I, I thought it was a, a great play. Obviously something they had been either talking about or working on but anytime you put that, that crew on, on a power play with a chance to win the game with, you know, under 10 minutes left in the game, it's not fun being out there on the, on the pk. But I think that, you know, that challenge has scared them for. It scared them last game.
- [09:35]
Ryan Whitney
Yes.
- [09:36]
Paul Vincent
For, for making a couple challenges and I think it even scared Edmonton too or. Yeah, yeah, Edmonton too with the F goal, the Fogo goal, pushing the pad. So yeah, tough challenge there especially I think biz you made a great point. It's like trust your team, trust what you've been doing. The, the, you know, the series of playing well, being good response team after a goal and like you said, giving them an opportunity because at that point it's a 50, 50 shot if you're going to get the, if it's going to get reversed or not. And but it's 100% you're getting on the PK if you don't get it. So it's a tough, tough, tough review. And yeah, it's probably on the video coaches on the video coach's head.
- [10:13]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
They reversed those calls maybe 10, 15% of the time. Like that's. I, I don't know if we're able to pull up the video. Like I don't know if we're legally allowed to do that. That army said where, where he thought that Kane in one case when he took a whack at it might have pushed the pad if or not. I'm sure most of you have seen it online. But going back to what I said, the Deno goal in game one was I believe 49 seconds after that Edmonton had tied it up and then the more one, the one hander on Picard. Now whit were you shocked at the fact that they went back to Picard given the fact that like he doesn't typically start back to back games. I didn't think he was very strong in game three. And then he ends up letting in a few squeakers. Like what is your, like what is your thought there on, on, on going back to him?
- [10:58]
Ryan Whitney
My thought is even though we're tied two, two. We. I can't believe in year ten of Connor McDavid the two goalies are Stuart Skinner and Calvin McCarthy. It's actually sh. It's like oh, oh my God. Like, but, but you know, you dance with who you brought to the dance. I just butchered that saying. But it's, it's, it's, it's where we're at. I thought for sure Skinner was coming back game four last year when they put Picard in against Van. I believe he did start the next game as well. Or maybe he only started one. There's just so much hockey in my brain right now. I can't remember, but I was surprised. But let's. Let's get to the. The. The crux of why LA is tied to too.
- [11:38]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, buddy. I was going to say Merls calls them the Fraud Squad. They're not the Fraud Squad. They're the Choke Squad. That was a full fledged choke job.
- [11:49]
Paul Vincent
Yeah.
- [11:50]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Them sitting back the way they did in the third period was an absolute travesty. Witness. That was a travesty.
- [11:56]
Ryan Whitney
It. So it's partly that they're completely changing their game in the third period, which makes no sense because you want to go to the beginning of game four. Dude, Kevin Fiala, as you said, Biz might be on the gas. He came up. I was like, what the. They. I mean, now, typical Oilers, in the beginning of these games, the first two periods, they're getting dominated in the second period, they're playing phenomenal in the third in all the games. But first shift of the game, Walman pinches down. No. No back checker. No third man high. Two on one. Fiala misses a wide open net. He then hits the post on the power play. They're all over the Oilers. They're playing like, not run and gun at all. They're just chipping it in. They have a third, fourth guy high every time. You see McJesus flying through the neutral zone, but, like, there's just so many layers he has to get through. He can't do it. And then they get to the third period, and like you said, they sit back. Now, here's the argument some Kings fans are making. They're playing nine forwards in 4D. Okay? So they're exhausted, right? And they have these nine forwards they're playing are all. Yeah, yeah, very. I mean, I think they sprinkle in a little bit more, at least on the D side. But, like, by the end of these games, these guys are. And you get into overtime. I mean, these guys are gassed. And the reffing last night on both sides, there was complaints everywhere. I mean, I think at the end of the game, before they tied it up, there was kind of two plays on McDavid that they didn't call. One was a trip. Perry blatantly trips Gavrikov before they tie it up. No call there. And some people hate the call on McDavid in overtime. It's kind of like a call soft. I thought it was a little bit soft with two minutes left in the first overtime. But guess what? We'll take it. We'll take it. Because that's the thing that I'm saying. Everyone the. The complaining about the refs I think has gone nuclear this playoff. I maybe I'm forgetting that it's like this every playoff. But when your team gets a nice little call that goes their way, it's the best feeling in the world. And I don't care what you say, every fan base will take a call that might be soft that goes their way. Well, we took advantage of it, but LA needs to figure out and now we could show the clip of Hiller after the game where I think he knows. Why did we stop playing the way we did in the first and second?
- [14:10]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, you're the fuck coach. What do you mean?
- [14:13]
Ryan Whitney
Let's play it.
- [14:14]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
How do you change your approach in the third period to better close out games? How do I change it? Next question please. We're that far away on the empty net Q chips that one out Bichard makes a good play. We're not even talking about this. So.
- [14:36]
Kevin Hayes
How about that sentiment in the room? Was it the first 40 minutes?
- [14:40]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That's your favorite question too, by the way. You got some ideas for me that what do you think?
- [14:49]
Paul Vincent
There needs some ideas.
- [14:51]
Ryan Whitney
The emotion of the. He is so angry. You know, the meme of the guy who. With the smile but the anger behind him.
- [14:58]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
What do you mean? We're not talking about this. Edmonton had 113 shot attempts by the end of the third period, bro. They had three forwards on the blue line and their 2D hanging out at the tops of the circles in their own zone, allowing Edmonton free zone entries. Like what the are we even talking about here? Like did you see the question I asked Leon after the game or. Or excuse me, I think Liam asked him the question, but Leon ended up answering where he's like. He's like. They always hang back like. Like rolling his eyes essentially saying that that's the way they play. But the way that they play is normally their F1 forward is in the middle of the ice and he's hanging out probably around the blue line where they're trying to filter them towards the. The one side of the red line, not allowing them to go east to west where at least at one point they're dumping it way before they get to the blue line. So at least your Demen have an opportunity to go back, make a play, break the puck out they're not breathing down your neck nearly as much because a few guys are at least getting stopped up by the blue line because they're waiting for that dump to go in. We showed a clip of. Of how they normally do it for through the first couple periods. And then as that third period went on, they literally just kept backing up more and more and more. Yance. We used to do a drill with Tip where the five defenders would literally just be stagnant in the defensive zone and they would allow the puck carrier to just walk in the zone. And then it's like, okay, we're practicing D zone. That's literally what they did. It's like Hillary went in the locker room after the second period and was like, hey, boys, we're going to pack this D zone for the next 20 minutes.
- [16:32]
Ryan Whitney
Tip is real.
- [16:34]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
We're doing the tip drill.
- [16:36]
Ryan Whitney
And. And biz now he brings up. He brings up like, hey, Byfield has the. The. The game on his stick. I believe Gavricov first just did miss the empty net. And yes, By Fields play like, that's a young player, man. It's a. It's an enormous mistake. The steps he's made, how good he's been in this series. Like, you feel for him.
- [16:55]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I feel sick on my stomach for him.
- [16:57]
Ryan Whitney
You feel for him because literally he chips it off the wall, he skates by Bouchard and he buries it. But you can't then say. You can't say, like, we were right there with Byfield in the empty net because the first 18 minutes, even before that you were on your heels. Like that had. That wasn't the reporter's question. I also loved, I think the reporter, like, tweeted out after, like, you guys like that question, just living it up, just so happy with himself. You could tell the guy would strangle him.
- [17:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, you know who asked it? The Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator, son.
- [17:27]
Paul Vincent
Oh, was it?
- [17:28]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, yeah.
- [17:29]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, he got his number through the NHL Regret. But Byfield's play. God, man, that's just. Oh, that's just knowing the time of the game. What the game. It's so. And. And he's looking back, he's probably thinking, like, what the hell was I thinking? But what a play by Bouchard. And that can lead me into the discussion of Evan Bouchard. I don't think I've ever seen a roller coaster type defenseman like this guy. Like, he makes. I mean, the third goal by la. He just like double pumps it, clutches it, loses it. They go down the other way Fialo makes an incredible play. Boom. 3 1. You're like, we're in one. No team has come back from down two goals in the playoffs yet. What does Bouchard do? He gets the two tying goals and offensively he is incredible. He has a cannon, boost, bump, boost, bomb. And he can find guys. He moves well. But then in his own zone sometimes it's. It's so insane to watch. That's why Oilers fans like his contract. What do you give him? I mean there was a point in the game after it went 3:1, LA Oilers fans are like, trade him for a bag of pucks. And now they're talking about 10.5 a year for eight years. The guy. The guy. It's insane watching him, it's unbelievable. But he has come up in big moments and I g sent me a tweet. He right now is second all time in points per game by a defenseman in the NHL. In the history of the NHL, besides Bobby Orr.
- [18:54]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Right behind in playoffs.
- [18:56]
Ryan Whitney
Yes, it's crazy.
- [18:58]
Paul Vincent
I mean, a lot to do with power play. Like their power play last year was a joke. They went. But holy shit, that's unbelievable. But the thing is that every. Look at. Go back and look at every single goal that Edmonton scored yesterday, you'll see one thing that's the exact same in every. Every single goal.
- [19:14]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Corey Perry in front.
- [19:16]
Paul Vincent
40 year old Corey Perry standing in front of the net. Why is the oldest guy on the team doing this for your team, Whit? He can't be the only guy.
- [19:26]
Ryan Whitney
He lives to do it. He that goal. Hitting it to yourself out of midair with a guy draped all over you and then knocking it in. What a beautiful play. Just incredible to see his hand eye. I mean he's playing with McDavid and Leon out there like he's. They're calling. Get up here, buddy. Come on. We'll wait for you. Come on. Oh, there you go. Get in front of the net. We're good to go now. It's wild. And. And it's just been such a crazy series that now just win a game on the road. La. I mean, yes, they played incredible for Most of games 3 and 4. They stink on the road. That's just a fact. Look at the wins and losses. They can't win on the road. We go back to la, we grab game five and this could be one of the most shocking series wins I've ever seen. A lot of hockey to be played. But also. Let's talk about nurse. It's been interesting to say the least he's been on the ice, I think, for 13 of 19 goals. Against the goal last night, I believe LA's second goal, he just rimmed like, nobody's on him. A lot of times, nobody's there rimming it around the boards. Like, the announcers are like, God, he has time to make a play. And I seriously think it's a confidence thing with him. When he's going, he's making plays, he's moving his feet. And then when he starts feeling the pressure and the heat and know that he's struggling with the puck, he gets it and it's just panic time, panic time. And you see some of them turn into brutal giveaways. So who knows what's going to happen in la.
- [20:51]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
But before you know how they do the jersey swaps after games. Like the soccer players. Yeah, him and EOM should be part of the first ever contract swap this off season. They should do a press conference and do a contract swap because they. You could tell how bad they're missing him. Like, the way that, that thing's going. I was going to throw it over to Yan's, though. Like, the thing too, about the way that LA's playing in that third period. Like, you go into overtime, like, it's so hard to make that mental switch. Like, you can't just now go back to playing like you were in the first and the second because you've already been backing up and you've been on your heels. So your. Your mind's in, okay, let's play defense mode. So you saw in the overtime, they just had it taken to them. I think they might have had, like, one shift of sustained pressure in the offensive zone, la. So, like, that's the thing too, is, like, you're playing not to lose, and then it's tied up and then it's like, what do you. What are you going to say? Is Hiller now, hey, boys, let's get aggressive and let's go. It's like, why didn't we fucking do that in the third period? Like, to me, as a coach, I'd much rather lose playing aggressive. Go. I'm not talking about dipping in and pinching and giving up odd man rushes. I'm talking about sending in a four checker and having a responsible F2 and F3 and playing with layers and closing guys off and having good gaps and good back pressure, not just sitting back and like, like. And listen, mind you, I'm not blaming these guys. I'm just, like, curious. Like, the conversations on the, on the Bench, when you're having these TV times out, like TV timeouts, like is, is Anzac, Kopitar and Doughty saying hey boys. Like, hey, listen, like I get that we play a little bit more structured and we tend to hang back a little bit, but this is getting obnoxious. Let's, let's try to be a little bit more aggressive.
- [22:35]
Ryan Whitney
So this is last year's Kings that they hated playing. Like, remember they were talking about before Hiller came in?
- [22:41]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah. So it's just like they're going back to their old ways and playing not to lose. And wit, you're like, okay, we're going back to la where listen, they had the best home record in the league. They also had the worst away record in the Western Conference. So I don't know, I don't know if they can recover from this. Like, if, if, if I was a betting man, like I would probably. I think that Edmonton has all the momentum and they're going to win this series. Like, I think that LA is shook. And I'm really interested to see how By Field's able to recover from this. He's such a young guy. That's such a monumental mistake. Like from a mental standpoint, like, I hope they're able to recover and he's able to recover. But I'll tell you what, they better have sent those Korean ladies to the spa for a Manny Petty back massage. Massage they want because they're going to need those fucking harmonicas come Tuesday. I the only thing that could save them.
- [23:37]
Ryan Whitney
I smashed my harmonica off that wall and Boca Raton as hard it was a 93 mile an hour fastball. It's done. They're done. My final two things in the series going into that game. In the last 21 times these teams have played in the playoffs, the team who scored first was 192 crazy because you know you can get a lead in this series and boom. But somehow LA cannot figure out how to play on the road at the end of games. Now my final thought before we bring in our very special guest.
- [24:08]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I got two last quick final thoughts.
- [24:10]
Ryan Whitney
You gotta, you gotta go back to Skinner. But it's a house of horrors for them, for him. That's why I wanted him back in game four. Get the home crowd behind them, get the confidence like he's going back into the Dragons layer.
- [24:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
No, you're wrong. So you going Picard again, buddy. Who did Conor McDavid go hug as soon as they won that game last night?
- [24:30]
Ryan Whitney
I didn't see.
- [24:31]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He didn't go to Leon he went all the way down to the other side and, and, and hugged Picard. And the fact that they went back to him in Game 4, although he wasn't spectacular. The Skinner has already played the two games in at crypto.com I think now you have to go back to Picard.
- [24:50]
Ryan Whitney
So. And then if you lose, you go to Skinner. Game six at home.
- [24:53]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Absolutely.
- [24:54]
Ryan Whitney
But, but I mean if you remember, Picard went in and scored. They scored 20 seconds later on. And Kempe, this Kempe guy, his release and him skating down the wing and pulling it into his feet while going 20 miles an hour, bringing one off the crossbar. He is a unbelievable player. Like I can't get over watching that guy, how good he is. Now we're going to bring on.
- [25:16]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Can I bring up my two points? You mentioned that no team, no team at that point until I mushed on Twitter had come back from a two goal deficit in these playoffs to win a game. It was 25. And oh, teams that were up two goals to close out. Obviously Edmonton being the first and shocked that these playoffs now Alexander Ovechkin and Leon Draisaitl have scored their first overtime winners in Stanley cup playoffs. Like that was a shocking stat to me that the fact that those two guys hadn't scored an OT winner given how much playoff hockey they'd played. So congrats to Leon. It was great having him on after the game. He did chirp my salad. But how does he look that good after playing a game?
- [25:54]
Ryan Whitney
He's a stallion. He's an oiler. And we're bringing on for the next eight years too.
- [26:00]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Did you sacrifice your hairline for him as a fan? Is that what happened?
- [26:04]
Ryan Whitney
Oh my God, buddy. I'd sacrifice. I'm not going to say anything that sounds a little odd, but, but his hair. I mean we did an ad for sports clips and I was saying like best hair in the league. Leon, by far, easily. But I want to get to our. Do you have another point?
- [26:18]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Nope. That was at 25. I want to get to a special.
- [26:20]
Ryan Whitney
Guest, a great friend of the show. But before we get to him, we got to talk about Noble. Guys, Noble shoes. Oh my God. Noble is a footwear brand for training and for daily life built to support you in your pursuit of physical, mental and emotional strength. Look at those things. Look at those things. G the no Bull out work shoe. It's incredible. It's strong, it's comfy, it's easy to put on and they are wonderful. You can work out in them. You can go Walking them. You can do anything you want in them. No Bull celebrates a no bullshit approach to wellness with options across training and lifestyle. No Bull has options for everyone. This is the one I'm rocking right now. Boom. I love it. The the Outwork Shoe. Exclusively for Spit and Chicklets listeners. No bull is offering 30% off your order. Visit www.noproject.comchicklets for 30% off your entire order. That's www.n o b u l l p r o j e c t.com backslash checkouts for 30% off. And that brings in our noble friend of the program. Who. Who? Hazy? Kevin Hayes.
- [27:38]
Pasha
Guys, Kevin Hayes.
- [27:39]
Ryan Whitney
What's going on, buddy? You don't have a coach right now, Nasty.
- [27:43]
Paul Vincent
Thanks, guy.
- [27:44]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, you like?
- [27:45]
Paul Vincent
I just trimmed her.
- [27:46]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, he looked good, Hazy.
- [27:48]
Paul Vincent
Thanks, bro. You too.
- [27:49]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Energy, Hazy.
- [27:51]
Ryan Whitney
Do you remember playoffs being this crazy? The playoffs? You've played in the playoffs. You've watched from home. What do you think so far?
- [27:59]
Pasha
No, these ones are absolutely insane. I feel like there's only really one sleeper one, but it got a double overtime win. So that kind of adds to the. To the craziness. But every west series is bananas. It's bananas. Like, we were texting with Veast last night. I was dead asleep, but I woke up and watched the condensed game of the Oilers. That game was wild.
- [28:26]
Ryan Whitney
It's the Oilers. It's a roller coaster. That's how we live.
- [28:29]
Pasha
It's insane. And McDavid's just unstoppable but hazy as.
- [28:35]
Paul Vincent
A player still playing in this, like we see LA last night, they just. Just go completely back playing, you know, defense at the far blue line. As a player, how much do you want to just, you know, live by the sword, die by the sword? We've been playing fast all series. We've been getting on the hunt. Yeah, you got to make simple plays and chip pucks in instead of trying to carry the puck in. But sitting back, like, as a player, that it's not fun to even do that, right?
- [29:02]
Pasha
No, it's not fun at all. But, like, even when you're not playing players like Leon and Connor and you're up in the third period, you just think like, okay, don't fuck this up. Don't turn it over. A, you're not going to play anymore for the rest of the game, and B, you don't want to give them any momentum. You're like, let's just rely on our defense. But then when you do it against those guys and they have all that room.
- [29:22]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
- [29:22]
Pasha
I mean, it's obviously the reason why they lost, but it's definitely no fun. But I think it's just like in the back of everyone's mind, like, all right, we have this win. We're up two goals. It's the third period, we can go up three. One. Like, let's not make any mistakes.
- [29:35]
Ryan Whitney
And then it's crazy how, how, how kind of mental the game can be because you would think we've dominated the play. I know we played our game, but I agree.
- [29:47]
Pasha
But like, it's just so, like it's so easy to be like, hey, let's not screw up. Let's not go for a two on one and all of a sudden we turn it over. Let's just play defense, which is like the start of the downfall of the game.
- [30:02]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
You know what I mean?
- [30:02]
Pasha
But like, yeah, it's easy to say it now from us, but like it's, it's so hard when you're playing those two guys to be like, all right, I'm going to try to match them offensively. You just can't do it.
- [30:13]
Ryan Whitney
All right, well, we did talk about that series a long time. So we're going to go over to probably the. Because Montreal is involved to the craziest game three in quite some time. Hockey is alive in the playoffs at the Bell Center. The Bell Center's back biz and it did not disappoint. We'll get into game four. But first off, take us into game three biz. What you thought the fight on the bench.
- [30:39]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
The.
- [30:39]
Ryan Whitney
The best meme I think we'll ever get from Tom Wilson. The crying meme. And just an incredible win by Montreal when it looked like they were dead too.
- [30:48]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He's the. He's not the gift that keeps on giving. He's the gif that keeps on giving. It's just like, remember how, Remember how he had the one where he was flexing in the penalty box?
- [30:57]
Ryan Whitney
Yes.
- [30:58]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Like, no, he.
- [31:00]
Ryan Whitney
This one.
- [31:00]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
And the fact that Dolus was complaining after game four about the hit and then everybody obviously is hitting them with this meme. It's it. And let's not forget like this all started with Anderson in game two. Well, I guess Wilson and Anderson have even more of a history. They fought twice before Anderson ended up giving Wilson a cross check. Where I felt, felt that wh. Wilson sold it a little bit in game two. And I would imagine there was a lot of chirping going on over that which then spilled over to warm up where Wi Fi and Wilson were chirping like, like even Ovi was getting in the mix on that. McElrath who took warm up, was getting in the mix. So tensions were building at the Bell center and obviously it. It spilled over. And then the goalies go down, which was even crazier. So both goalies in the same game in game three get injured. And then between the second and third, after the second ended, I don't know if somebody said something to Dovish where Savard came over and that kind of started that whole pile up. And then obviously Anderson and Wilson having the history that they did going back to game two, they end up linking up and then somehow end up on the fucking bench scrapping. Like, look at. Like look at this. At the four lines, Bell Center. This is. This is like we took a hot tub time machine back to the 70s. The only thing missing was a Milbury shoe. That's all that was missing here. Look at the referee. This guy is not getting paid enough. They're having a reverse 69 on the bench to try to stop this guy from scrapping, and all these guys are going on the fucking ice. It's. It was. It was a scene, dude. It was incredible. Amazing game. Very happy that the Habs got back in the series and were able to pull off a victory. I think that they've been very impressive. But if we fast forward a game four, boys, that hit by Tom Wilson, oh my God, was a series changing.
- [32:52]
Ryan Whitney
Hit, life changing for someone. Or. Or say what your tweet was. If you can remember off the top of your head, people.
- [33:01]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I think that I said if you think that that hit that Wilson gave to Carrier was dirty, you're a fucking clown. And you need to stop watching playoff hockey, people. Off head was the first point of contact. His fucking knees were bent and he drove through his arm in, arm in. When a guy is skating his head the way that the fucking knee flexion is and the way that his. His torsos like this, your head's going to be the first point of contact. There's nowhere else to go. If you're driving through the middle of his body, that's a clean hit. That's a clean hit. He ends up getting dummied. He was late getting off the ice because carrier was so shook, it ends up going all the way to the capital's end. Van Re Dyke sends it over to Chickren. It was a scrambly play because I think everybody was like, is this guy dead? And then Wilson's going for a change. New bodies coming on the ice and chicken's got no Option. So he's like it. I'm just going to go a Pat McAfee punt here. He sends it into oblivion. And then all of a sudden, Matheson's dealing with that grenade, and Duhame just gets shot out of the cannon. As a defenseman, that is the biggest nightmare, dealing with that type of grenade. It's. It's panic mode. It was the perfect flip by. By Chickren, and Duhame gets it, and it's just a brutal bounce for Caulfield. It goes right off his glove. Great net drive off the change, like I just mentioned. Like, Tom Wilson delivers that hit at the end of his shift. He goes to the bench. They get new bodies on the ice. Both doubt and I believe, who is the other guy on that line? It might have been Mangio Pani or somebody. They both drive the net, and Caulfield's got to go with them, and that's the reason that the puck's in the net. So incredible line change. And then you see the jubilation from OV and Wilson on the bench, like, ah. So like I said, you fighting in.
- [34:50]
Ryan Whitney
Game three, same spot on the bench, you exactly.
- [34:54]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Same fucking exact spot. So you go from being down a goal to delivering that hit, completely changing the momentum. And then they score a few more shifts later, and it's all of a sudden a 3:1 series. It goes from being 2:2 series to 3:1 on the change of a hit.
- [35:10]
Ryan Whitney
And I got a question for Haiti, but I want to kind of preface it with, there are little moments in series that can change the entire outcome of everything. And in my mind, the series changed when Montreal killed that 5 on 3 against a long 5 on 3. Dobish made the incredible save on the side. All of a sudden, Montreal, they end up getting the lead. I'm like, holy. Like, that's how you win a game. That's how you end up changing a series. Killing a five on three against this power play. But no Tom Wilson, he flipped it on its head again with that hit. And I want to ask, Hazy, playing in the league now, how aware is your entire team when he's on the ice? Like, you have to be talking about it.
- [35:52]
Pasha
Yes, 100. Especially if, like, if someone on our team hits him good early in the game. He's kind. You know what I mean?
- [35:59]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He's kind of let him sleep.
- [36:00]
Pasha
He's like a luch. Remember Luch? If you didn't touch Luch, he wasn't that bad. But if you hit him in the first, he would. He wanted you dead. One time I played against Luch, and I was on the PK and I, like, ragged the puck for, like, 50 seconds. Then I iced it, and he hit me probably 22 seconds late. It was like, if you ever do that again, I'm gonna fucking kill you. Okay. But no, when Willie's out there, he's an absolute menace. Like, he's one of the biggest guys in the league. And when he's skating full speed like that, that carrot, like, has it come out? Is he. Is he gonna play?
- [36:36]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
No, he's dead. His soul left his body when he hit him. I can see.
- [36:39]
Ryan Whitney
I mean, he stayed on the bench. And then I think there was a spotter that, like, grabbed, like, a cane from an old woman at the Bell center and literally hooked him off with it.
- [36:47]
Pasha
Like, that was insane.
- [36:49]
Ryan Whitney
I. I felt bet. And you know what? He's a big loss for the Canadiens. They brought him over. He plays solid minutes. He's pretty physical. But my thing is, and, And. And you feel. You feel horrible seeing a guy get hit like that. Yeah, dude, he didn't pick his head up for. For, I don't know, three seconds.
- [37:05]
Pasha
It was kind of like the puck squirted out behind the original play.
- [37:09]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Right?
- [37:09]
Pasha
He kind of came in with momentum. And then Wilson was getting full speed, too. Oh, so bad.
- [37:16]
Ryan Whitney
It's horrifying. And the greatest camera angle switch of all time in broadcasting. It was. It was like the guy knew. He's the cameraman up near the glasses screaming, wilson's coming. And then right as Carrie gets it, they go down to ice level, and you see a murder. And I don't want to see a murder. I'm not looking. I'm not watching a murder mystery sci fi film. I'm watching a hockey game, and the guy's dead. So Tom Wilson changed the entire series. He changed the outlook of everything. And he talked after the game with you Biz. He made a. An interesting point that a couple years ago, when I'm younger, like, this is the type of game where. And I'm completely paraphrasing what he said, but I end up. I end up taking penalties. I. Or I would have.
- [37:57]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, he. So he drew the one on Anderson in the corner, right? So he baited him. And. And after all the fiasco from game three, I. I felt like that at that point for the Washington Capitals, it was unnecessary. I thought that that whole ordeal was actually in Montreal's favor. And I felt that he, Tom Wilson, had came a little bit unhinged, especially at the fact that, like, he's wasting all that energy and warmup with Wi Fi. Like, listen, I love Wi Fi. I think he's a valuable asset. I think he's a great number six on any. On any NHL team. But, like, he's obviously way more of an impactful player than Wi Fi Wilson. So the fact that he's wasting that energy and getting baited into that stuff. So Carberry had a talk with him after Game 3, and he's like, hey, man, like, you got to toe the line way better. And credit to Wilson for being receptive to that constructive criticism because he did change his game in Game 4 and was the impact player that we all expect Tom Wilson to be. And it was. Yeah, it was insane. And I know we've been very complimentary of Washington and everything they did. Shocked that Logan Thompson even played after seeing the way that he left the ice. Like, I thought he was going to have to get his leg amputated the way that he left. But switching over to Montreal, guys, like, I still think Washington is going to win the series, but the experience that Montreal is gaining for this team, the youngest team to make playoffs in a very, very long time, like that power that helped him get the lead in that game with. With Demigod as. As Anson likes to call him. Like everyone on that power play, Suzuki's what, 25 years old? And everyone's younger than that. You got Colt Caufield, who I believe is 24. Lane Hudson, who has been absolutely incredible in the series. Like that read on that one pinch in the game before where he ended up setting up, I believe that was Caulfield, or maybe it was even in that game, but just the play that Demigod makes when he gets it over from Hudson, that toe drag he makes, and then goes around the net to give it to Slavkoski, who did the little shimmy shake on the zone entry. It's beautiful to watch. The future's bright. I know we say that all the time, but they. They have really been pushing the pace, and I've been very, very impressed, and they've exceeded my expectations as to what they were going to bring come playoff time.
- [40:18]
Paul Vincent
I got. I got a question for Hazy or all you guys. Whoever wants it. Everyone talks about, you know, guys playing banged up in playoffs, but you never really talk about the goal. He's playing banged up. And then Thompson last game, you think? I thought he was way more hurt than Monty was.
- [40:34]
Ryan Whitney
He couldn't put weight on it.
- [40:36]
Paul Vincent
I know. Yeah. And then he comes out and plays you think that has a show, the jolt of energy to his team and, you know, excited to play in front of him, like, hey, this guy's giving it for us tonight. Let's give it for him. And then on the other end, it's, Monty doesn't play and you're doish. This isn't the guy that, you know, you can really win a. A series with, especially against a team like Washington. So I. I don't know, I was just curious, like, with the whole goaltenders playing through injury. I know groins are tough for goalies, but you think that helped out Washington at all? Hazy.
- [41:07]
Pasha
I feel like the vibes are so high and washed. Right? Like, you see all these videos and stuff, right? It's actually funny that my goalie in college is there, like E Bug, and he like, travels with the team sometimes. Parker Milner. And I was texting him because I was just in. In South Carolina and he is like a food critic there, and he was saying, dude, I want to go back and travel with them all playoffs because the vibes are so high. And then remember when Thompson didn't make the Canadian team and like, rumor came out that he's a bad teammate and, and no one wanted.
- [41:42]
Ryan Whitney
They didn't want anything to do with him, apparently.
- [41:45]
Pasha
And I think when he does that, he goes off and he's hurt and he comes back. I think it does send a message to the team, like, hey, I'm here. I'm here with you guys. Like, I'm ready to battle for you guys. Let's win this whole thing.
- [41:56]
Ryan Whitney
G makes a good point in the chat here. Think about what happened to him in Vegas. He was an all star. He got hurt, lost his job to Aiden Hill, and. And they go on to win the Cup. And maybe there's a part of him like, I'm not. I'm not losing my job again. It's not going to happen again. Um, it was just weird, like, because the way he went off, you thought he was done for. For the playoffs. The. The no weight thing. You brought up the ebug. Your buddy who's done the ebug kind of reminded me of game three. We. Can we please get the picture of the Shay Paris bouncer that they brought in?
- [42:26]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
You're telling me that rebouncer.
- [42:29]
Ryan Whitney
No, he's. That picture. The picture of him face on is even better. He's. He's a cop.
- [42:35]
Paul Vincent
Goatee.
- [42:36]
Ryan Whitney
He's a cop, I guess, but he looked straight out of shape, P. Dragging people out in. In choke holds when they tried touching the women too much and it was just. And apparently now I don't know if this is true. Apparently once like the pictures of him on the bench came out. They were like, hey, hey, get off the bench. Like get off the bench. Go in the locker room. And he went to go in the habs lock. They're like no, no, no, no, go to another locker room.
- [43:00]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, come on. You got pigeon tossed.
- [43:03]
Ryan Whitney
I think just when he came. When he's coming down the tunnel with the goatee and the shaved head, looks like he's the size of, of, of of Aiden Hill too. Yeah, he might as well had a cigarette. He put out his cigarette.
- [43:16]
Paul Vincent
My other ashed it on his head and then went out.
- [43:20]
Ryan Whitney
My other favorite clip of this series in the crowd was after Mangapani scored the go ahead goal in game four. They, they, they before commercial they pan to a guy, he had a long perm, bald up top but long on the sides. And, and he had a Canadian jersey on. He had a breathe right on. He was rocking a breath right. It was incredible. I said this is so Montreal. I want every game to be at the Bell Center. The other part of the Manchipani goal. That was tough. And it sucks that this happened to Kaden Goulet because that guy.
- [43:54]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh wow.
- [43:55]
Ryan Whitney
Stud.
- [43:55]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, stud. Special play.
- [43:57]
Ryan Whitney
16Th overall pick next year. Starts a six year deal at five and a half.
- [44:02]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I mean one of the.
- [44:03]
Ryan Whitney
That might end up being one of the top defensive contracts in the NHL. The kid Hammers people skates like the win. Not super offensive, but can add in some offense. Just a solid true top pair D man. But he comes over the line or Strom comes over the line. It's kind of a two on two cuts to the left and it should just be a switch, right? Go. Defenseman calling each other off. He follows him across, Manga cuts across and he drops to him. He's kind of all alone for that split second.
- [44:33]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Tough mistake there but well, Bones touched on that. That was the one off. I believe it was Van Reems Dyke behind the net. And the for Montreal, they haven't been putting a forward up by the net to make sure that that defenseman when he comes out and passes it, he, he's not on his forehand. So they need to put a guy to prevent the defenseman from coming out of his forehand because about three, four times in that period the defenseman would just come out from behind the net and zip it up like to center ice. And in that case Stromer was right there. All by himself. And then everyone seemed to kind of close in on him, and then that's how the whole play developed. So a tough. A tough setup on their. Their. Their set forecheck. But, yeah, boys, Washington looks great. And like you said, hazy. Just the. The mojo that they're playing with right now, they just seem to have it. And also for how many guys they. They brought in this year from, like, in the off season, and even at the deadline, it just seems like they're kind of, you know, like, they're like a bunch of misfits, right? They're all coming there to, like, refine their identity and get back to where they think they could play in the National Hockey League. Like, another guy that sticks out who keeps on playing well is every game he's noticeable. Bolivia.
- [45:43]
Pasha
He's unreal. He shows skill, too. Like, he started our season. He started our season on Sid's line. I don't think he was expecting to be on the first line, but we had an injury, and he absolutely ripped it up to start. And then he plays in any part of the lineup, up and down the lineup, power play if he has to. He's been a power play guy his whole career. I don't think he really was at all this year. He wasn't really in Pittsburgh. And then they're not mixing up Washington's power play.
- [46:09]
Ryan Whitney
But.
- [46:10]
Pasha
But, yeah, he's nasty. And he's the only player to ever assist on an Ovechkin and Crosby goal.
- [46:15]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
In the same year.
- [46:17]
Ryan Whitney
What?
- [46:17]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Wow. That little nugget from Hazy stack guy. Hazy, move over with that one.
- [46:23]
Pasha
Yeah, and he's the absolute man, too.
- [46:26]
Ryan Whitney
All right, well, we'll see what happens.
- [46:28]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Hey, who's the only player to ever play with Crosby or not? Crosby, Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky. Mike Knubel. Oh, wow, there's a little.
- [46:43]
Ryan Whitney
I thought there was. There's a Merle stat. Oh, Merle's played with who? What's Merle stat about? Coach By Gretzky played with Crosby. And he's got something else in there, too. He's building his house right now. He's legit in a ditch, pouring concrete. Poor guy can't even watch the show. We'll see what happens. Game 5. Can Montreal drag it back for. I'd love one more at the Bell Center.
- [47:03]
Paul Vincent
We need one more.
- [47:04]
Ryan Whitney
We need one more. Need one more of that. But let's bring it over back to the west and. Oh, my God, is Winnipeg and their fans in one right now? Guys, the jets fans are Big Mad. They're confused, they're sad. They don't understand what's going on. And I can speak for them, as neither do I. I, I, I, I don't get what has happened to Connor Hallebuck in the playoffs. It's kind of crazy to witness. I mean, the jets, they give up seven in game three. They give up five in game four. They're going back. They could have easily lost one of the games at home, too. I mean, game one, think back. St. Louis is in control going to the third tights. It's saint all right. So Hazy, you played for both these teams. What are you seeing?
- [47:56]
Pasha
I think St. Louis, like I said with Washington, they have some serious mojo right now. Like, what was it? You Biz, you asked about Jobu to Thermy.
- [48:06]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
We've been asking everybody, but they won't say a word.
- [48:09]
Pasha
He won't say a word. That is so funny. I mean, I don't even know anything either about it, to be honest. I would assume, I would assume Binner brought it into the locker room, but.
- [48:19]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That'S just a total guess speculation.
- [48:21]
Ryan Whitney
Okay, that's what, that's what we're going to run with, though. This is a Bennington thing.
- [48:25]
Pasha
See, Ra, text me like, you're a idiot. But, dude, they just have the mojo. Like, they, they bring Monty over. They had an unbelievable start with Monty. Then they were horrible. Like, I remember I went to dinner with a bunch of them before we played them and they were like, yeah, if we lose this game tomorrow to you guys, our season's over. We beat them like 6 to 1. I think 6 to 2. And then they won 13 straight. What was the thing?
- [48:51]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
12. They won 12 in a row now.
- [48:54]
Ryan Whitney
Won 14 in a row at home. At home.
- [48:56]
Paul Vincent
I don't know.
- [48:57]
Pasha
Have you guys been to a game there?
- [48:59]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Chris Pronger said it was the loudest game he's ever heard there.
- [49:03]
Paul Vincent
We all played in the NHL, Kevin.
- [49:05]
Pasha
Oh, that's true.
- [49:06]
Paul Vincent
Actually, we've all been to a game there.
- [49:08]
Pasha
That's very.
- [49:09]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That was a biz comment.
- [49:10]
Pasha
But were they always that, like, were they always this good?
- [49:14]
Ryan Whitney
I never played him in the playoffs or anything, but I remember the place because they do that. That. What is it, like the bell for every goal they score and then it gets going, then does the towel toss. But, like, it's more about to me. And yes, St. Louis has been great. But Biz, you tweeted it. You're going calmly game five.
- [49:35]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
No, I was, I was a little excited after the game. I think that it's obvious that hell, a buck is just not the same goalie in playoffs. You also have to put the blame on the guys in front of them because they also turn into a pumpkin. Where you saw like Morrissey loses his guy net front, then all of a sudden crossbody screen from him. You see Hellabuk look over like, what the fuck's going on? You got the hoop goal from Pian. Like they don't look like the same team in front of him, but he's also not giving them those big saves that he provides in the regular season. Like, you can't tell me that they're perfectly defensively all the time in the season where he doesn't make a big one to like stop the bleeding. That's not happening. The numbers are the numbers. Like, look at what we're seeing here. This is on the fucking, like, look at this.
- [50:24]
Ryan Whitney
I mean, this is some of them. That's game three and four. But game one and two wasn't much better. It's.
- [50:29]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
We're talking about a guy who might win the mvp. He's got the Vesna locked up. That's happening.
- [50:36]
Ryan Whitney
I think they announced. Did they announce today that he won it?
- [50:39]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
No, I think they announced the top three and he's definitely, he's definitely going to be involved in it. But considering now they have two days off in between games again, which mind you, that might be also something that's throwing them off. They've had two, two day gaps throughout the course of this series. So it's like, fuck, man, like, let's get to playing these games. Let's go here. Let's get in some type of rhythm. So they go back home, he's able to get a few days off. It kind of reminds me of the Bobrovsky situation where they rattled off three wins in the Stanley cup finals, then they lose the next three. You have to imagine with the amount of games that he's played this regular season, like fatigue has to set in at some time. There's a reason why they go. The 1A 1B situation nowadays, there might be a sense of like overload on his workplate right now. So give him a day off, let him reset, you go back with him game five. He's earned that right based on what he's done for the organization. He took a team friendly deal. He's going to be your mvp. Put him back in net. But if we see the same hella buck. No way. Game 6 Eric Comb Renette I've seen enough. And it was kind of Weird. When he got pulled in the third period, like Bones said it on the broadcast, he said, don't pull them. Even if they get shelled for eight, don't pull them. It's going to fuck with his confidence.
- [51:58]
Ryan Whitney
Because it's two in a row. You're saying two in a row.
- [52:01]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So they score. Two minutes into that third period, they yank them. Hellebock never came back to the bench. He went down the tunnel, never came back to the bench. I don't know if he's pissed off at the coach. I don't know if he just. Just is like, I want to go to the locker room and fucking take a minute and be by myself, whatever it may be. But not a good sign. I don't think it would be a good thing for the organization to not play him in game five.
- [52:25]
Ryan Whitney
Because he's playing. He's playing.
- [52:26]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I think he would legit.
- [52:28]
Pasha
Say, you think lose game five, you don't put the best goalie in the league in the net for game six.
- [52:34]
Ryan Whitney
If he gives up five or six.
- [52:35]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Hazy, Hazy, Hazy, Hazy, Hazy. Come on now, buddy, buddy, buddy, buddy, buddy. We're not talking. We're not talking about a small sample size here. Now, Bud. Is there more graphics we can pull up as far as this guy's numbers? The numbers are the numbers. The numbers are the numbers. Hey, Hazy, don't look, don't wipe your face like that.
- [52:56]
Pasha
My teeth. I have braces on right now.
- [52:58]
Ryan Whitney
Last nine road playoff games, 1 and 8.4.58 goals against, 8.61save percentage, pulled in three state straight road games.
- [53:09]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Hazy, if they lose, if they lose, 5, 4 at home. Are you putting them back in, getting net, game six?
- [53:15]
Pasha
I am, yes. He's getting a little biz.
- [53:18]
Ryan Whitney
This guy played with him. So it's almost like we can't take his opinion serious right now. I'm not going to, but I actually think. I think most jets fans, and I'd love to see their response. I. I think they're like, we have to go with them again, though. It's. It's. It's like. It's like an MLB star hitter in the playoffs, and he just goes cold at the wrong time, but he's one swing away, one swing away from hitting.
- [53:43]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
It's like your wife cheating on you with the neighbor. It's like you're. It's like your wife cheating on with the neighbor. You walk in, you catch her, you trust her, you bring her back in, and then she goes. And another guy, cheater.
- [53:54]
Ryan Whitney
That's a crazy analogy.
- [53:56]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
No, it's not. It's not. What's a cheater? Always a cheater.
- [54:00]
Paul Vincent
Same neighbor or different neighbor?
- [54:01]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Different neighbors. It's a block party. It's a block party, though.
- [54:10]
Pasha
Like, he's the best goalie in the league.
- [54:11]
Ryan Whitney
No, he's, he's, he's, he's the biggest dump in the neighborhood too. He's, he's always out there with his ass crack showing, cutting the lawn, and you're like, honey, I, I, he's, he's.
- [54:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
The one making the kids sandwiches. But yet she's still off the neighbors. He, this guy did it all. Do you like my analogy, Hazy, or no?
- [54:31]
Pasha
No, not at all. But this game, this series is going seven, 100%.
- [54:35]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Okay? Hot take hazy.
- [54:37]
Paul Vincent
You put comrian for game seven. Hazy.
- [54:40]
Pasha
Tommy's an unbelievable, one of the nicest people I've ever met, but I think you got to go with Hellbug.
- [54:46]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, my God. And another big thing for Winnipeg Dealers is out for the series. Gabe Velardi. I think he, he skated or was game time decision. It's like, all right, Gabe, we need you back, we need you back in Game 5, right? Get him back on that top line. I have follows, but good. But you could drop him down. I, I just am shocked to see Winnipeg once again in one. And now it's way better of a scenario than they were last year against Colorado. But same thing. Their goalie, who as Hazy mentioned, is the best goalie in the world, can't save the puck. And I wonder, I wonder how much of the team that gets together and it's like, we have to do what we can to help this guy. We have to block more shots, we have to give up less in the, in the, in the, in our defensive zone. But credit St. Louis and also them bringing in Snugarud like you've seen Leonard come in, who was better, I'd say this year than Snuggle root in college. And he's. Granted Washington's a different team. He's doing a hell of a job on the third line with Mangia Pani. But this snuggle roots playing on the first line. He's scoring goals, he's playing incredible. You get to bring him in. It drops guys down. And St. Louis, with Cam Fowler basically on the, on pace to set a record for most points in a series by a defenseman, is just feeling it. Just, just as Hazy mentioned, the Capitals.
- [56:07]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Were so five point night the other night in game three for Cam Fowler. I think it's a franchise record.
- [56:13]
Ryan Whitney
By a defensive.
- [56:14]
Pasha
People were like writing him. Not writing him off, but they were just kind of like, push him to the side in Anaheim. He's been the best pickup in the whole NHL in the. For a trade.
- [56:23]
Ryan Whitney
All right, Hazy, we know that you have to go soon, but before you go, we got the last question presented by Roback. Use the code chiclets on roback.com for a generous 20% off your first purchase through the end of this week. That's C-H-I C L-E-T S on R-H-O-B-A C-K.com 20% off all hoodies, joggers, and more with code Chiclets. You played in Winnipeg. We've talked many times about the pressure in Canada. Is that a fan base that after the first period, if they're down one nothing. Is it going to be similar to Toronto where the crowd gets on them and the crowd gets anxious? Or is that more a city where it's. Let's build these guys up. Let's not turn on them right now. They need us 100%.
- [57:08]
Pasha
Let's build these guys up. They're not. They're not leaf. Leaf bands and biz fans. They. That white out was the coolest experience I've ever had in my NHL career. And now that they're tied two, two, they're going back for game five. That game. That game five might be the best game playoffs in all the playoffs. It really will be. Kyle Carter will probably score. Ella Buck. Hopefully he's good. And then you got my boy. Robbie Thomas would probably have a couple points too.
- [57:36]
Ryan Whitney
All right.
- [57:36]
Paul Vincent
And I should go to it if you like it so much.
- [57:38]
Ryan Whitney
Well, we have another question for him.
- [57:40]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
You. Well, you said the best experience your playing career. I would imagine playing with Crosby's up there too. I mean, oh, my God. Just. Just. He ends up breaking the. The point per game or no. Yeah. Point per game record for consecutive seasons.
- [57:54]
Paul Vincent
Yeah.
- [57:54]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
One pass Gretzky now, like, what a guy. What a player. And just like, what was that experience like?
- [58:01]
Pasha
Sid's the absolute man. Like, you hear all these stories when you play against him. Like, oh, he's super nice. He's like very genuine. He's nice to everyone. He's like the ultimate professional that I've seen. Like, he makes sure it's. Everyone's having a good time. Everyone feels comfortable. He works super hard. He's hilarious. He loves hut Stoven in the. In the training room. Lives for it.
- [58:27]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
What's it. What does he like talking about, like, what's his, like, guilty pleasure? Is he. Does he like the Teen Mom? Like, Yan's on the Bravo network?
- [58:35]
Pasha
No, no, no, no, no.
- [58:36]
Ryan Whitney
He's more.
- [58:37]
Paul Vincent
Come home.
- [58:37]
Pasha
I think he might be. He might be mad at me for saying this, but he, he's like, knows a bunch about birds. Like, we'll be like driving on the bus and he'll see a bird and he'll tell me exactly what type of bird.
- [58:51]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Come on.
- [58:52]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, that's why I heard he's in Wilkes Barre practicing with the injured guys because there's a couple sick birds that only live in the Wilkes Barre area that he's checking out. He's got binoculars. There's an 87 on the binoculars. It's cool.
- [59:06]
Pasha
That wasn't in Wilkes Barre. That was in Pittsburgh.
- [59:08]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, okay. Why is he still skating? Because he's that sick.
- [59:12]
Pasha
Maybe worlds potentially. I don't know.
- [59:15]
Ryan Whitney
Well, Hazy, what about the news that broke today? Mike Sullivan no longer the coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Give me your thoughts.
- [59:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
You got another guy fired, eh?
- [59:25]
Pasha
Oh my God. Enough. Stop that. No, I mean it's. It's tough to see Sully go. He's a great coach, super honest. He demands a lot, but. Yeah, I mean, I was only there for one year. I'm sure you would get better intel from other guys, but tough to see him go. I'm sure he'll find a job pretty quickly if. If that's the road he wants to go. But yeah, I mean, it's just tough to see him go, I guess.
- [59:55]
Ryan Whitney
Sounds like you may cry. So, unfortunately, Mike Sullivan is. Is gone. Hazy, thank you. And biggest news for you, I believe we're. We're counting it down. Like any day you're going to be a father.
- [60:08]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah.
- [60:09]
Ryan Whitney
How Katya feeling? Are you ready?
- [60:10]
Pasha
I gotta go. Yeah, she feels great. We gotta. We got a ultrasound today at 12:45. So yeah, I'm ready. I'm a little nervous, but I'll be texting you too. Not you. Biz of some advice, but what do you mean?
- [60:25]
Ryan Whitney
Well, Biz will be like, keep her away from the neighbor. Jakey. Neighbors. So you're gonna be. You're gonna be an all time dad. I'm so happy for both you guys and we appreciate you coming on the show, bud.
- [60:37]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Hazy, you doing a home birth?
- [60:39]
Pasha
No, not like wit.
- [60:41]
Paul Vincent
It's an apartment first.
- [60:42]
Ryan Whitney
Do most of the work at that. Good luck.
- [60:46]
Paul Vincent
Good luck.
- [60:46]
Pasha
Hey, good luck. Good luck. Sorry if I look a little stung. I was on a seven day golf trip.
- [60:50]
Ryan Whitney
Oh boy, that must Be fun. All right, we'll talk to you later. Love you, buddy. I mean boys. St. Louis, they're fired up. Winnipeg jets fans, they're kind of panicking, but we're going back out east now. We're going to the battle of Florida. And some big time arguments within the chick chat. Big time. Some a time to bring it all to a head and talk about what we really think about some vicious hits. Now what, what game had been played? Oh, they're only through three games, so we hadn't seen the game. Two or three. I don't even know where we want to start.
- [61:31]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, let's go back to the Hagle hit, right?
- [61:33]
Ryan Whitney
Okay. Okay.
- [61:34]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So. So on the broadcast I was asked if I thought that could Chuck should get a game. And I said, well, it makes no difference to me if he doesn't. I don't care. But if we're going eye for an eye here, I would say based on maliciousness, I would say that I would be okay if they ended up giving Tkachuk a game. Do I compare it to the Hagel hit? Well, no, because Barkov never touched the puck and Genzel did. But let me remind everybody listening, if Tkachuk would have done what he did to Gensel, to either of these two guys, they would be calling their uncles in Boston to put cement boots on Matthew Tkachuk. They would be livid in the locker. Whit if Tkachuk hit you like that when there was an empty net after you delivered a pass, Yance, you as well, you guys would be fuming in the locker room. Yance, I think you've even in the last month said like, oh yeah, that guy used to hit guys late. I want him dead. And I'm like, did you not deem that hate hit by Tkachuk late?
- [62:40]
Ryan Whitney
But like I said, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.
- [62:44]
Paul Vincent
Like I said in the, in the group chat, I wouldn't have been in that situation. You know, at the end of the game, your best player just got, you know, his head taken off by a guy. You know, there's going to be some sort of, you know, something going on. Especially with Matthew Tkachuk on the team and Sam Ben on the team, something's going to happen. You going for an empty neck goal, you do not admire your pass. You keep your head up and you see Matthew Kachuk coming and you put your stick out like this to protect yourself. I put the the it more on Genel for letting him hit him like that. Matthew maybe a little late, but I loved it.
- [63:21]
Ryan Whitney
It was late.
- [63:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
You're basically telling me that, that, that he was trying to get retribution for the bark off situation. He ends up hitting him like we're not talking like a half a second late. Like it was like a full second late. Changes his course of direction to get him back for the bark off, which I'm fine with.
- [63:40]
Paul Vincent
But he was in front of him the whole time.
- [63:42]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Hey, listen, I'm the eye for an eye guy. I'm the guy who would be like, no, just don't suspend him. I'll handle my own business. That's how I like to handle things. But at the end of the day that's a lit. Do I think it was as hard of a hit as Hagel put on Barkov? Absolutely not. But I think it was more premeditated. And let me remind everybody listening to if Matt rent a delivered that hit to Sidney Crosby in the regular season, they would send him in that shuttle that they sent the fucking Katy Perry in the crew up, but they'd have it keep going. He would be shot into orbit to never come back to earth. He would get a minimum 15.
- [64:20]
Ryan Whitney
He'd be head shot in an alien.
- [64:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He exactly. He'd be head shot in an alien. So I get that it's playoff hockey. I'm totally okay with him not being suspended. But my whole point on the haggle thing was he thought that Barkov touch it.
- [64:37]
Ryan Whitney
So that's what you think that that is.
- [64:39]
Paul Vincent
How do you know that?
- [64:41]
Ryan Whitney
Based on his reaction? I do agree with you because he kind of like turned around like, oh, I, I, I, I think he did. I, I'm with you on that.
- [64:49]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I think that everybody could agree that was way more of a hockey play. People are saying, no, it's not because he didn't touch the puck. Like Barkov is a stick on puck guy. He's one of the best defensive forwards in league. He's everywhere. He covers the entire ice. And the way that the angle was going like he haggle was tracking him the entire time. So if that puck did get turned over and Barkov did strip McDonough, which he's done a million times, he would have just finished his hit. In this case, Genzel wasn't even Kachuk's guy. He changes his course of direction. And mind you, I would take Tkachuk on my team every day of the week, twice on Sundays. This has nothing to do with any type of personal vendetta towards Tkachuk and I'm fine with him not getting suspended. But in the case of the game. Before you give Hagel a game for that, Barkov's back on this. The only difference is Hegel didn't Or, or, Or Gentle didn't leave the game. He didn't stay down.
- [65:40]
Ryan Whitney
No, there's another difference, and that's head contact. Yeah, there was a little bit with Hagley not completely shoulder to head, and there was zero with Tkachuk. And the biggest thing, I read a couple different tweets or whatever about it, like, they don't really suspend on interference calls when there is zero head contact. Also, the speed of Hagel compared to Tkachuk was so different. Right.
- [66:05]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
But it was also more of a hockey play. Like they were. I felt like it was a hockey play where the Kachuk thing, like he knew what he was doing. Matthew Tkachuk is a certain type of player. He knew what he was doing in that situation. Can we agree. Also think.
- [66:20]
Paul Vincent
I also think he's smart enough player to not hit him as hard as he could, not to hit him high. He hit him right in the chest. It was kind of like he let up a little bit. He was like, hey, I'm here. Don't forget, I'm still in this series. I think if he really wanted to hurt him and get a suspension, he could have fucking killed there.
- [66:38]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So what you're saying he's the perfect amount of dirty.
- [66:40]
Paul Vincent
Yes, he's 100.
- [66:42]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He's. He's the perfect amount of sluttiness. He's got the trance, he's got the tongue ring, hoop earrings. Yeah, but he won't.
- [66:50]
Ryan Whitney
When she comes to meet your parents, she can look like, you know, a professional.
- [66:54]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Right. But. But she won't with the neighbors. She won't take double penetration, she won't do anal. But she's got the tramp stamp and the tongue ring and. Okay, the perfect amount of sluttiness. I got you. That's an analogy.
- [67:07]
Ryan Whitney
More to this series, actually, let's quickly play the incredible. I'm not going to say war of words, but just the mental battle between the coaches in which. Do we have the clip? Here we go. Obviously, big topic of discussion at this.
- [67:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Game is the late hit from Canuck on Gentil there.
- [67:25]
Ryan Whitney
Any comments on that? Do you expect any repercussions from the.
- [67:28]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
League after what we just saw with Hagel?
- [67:32]
Pasha
The only players we hit are the ones with pucks.
- [67:36]
Ryan Whitney
So not sure if you had seen it or not, but after the game yesterday, John Cooper got asked about the hit from Chucky. Yeah, he.
- [67:45]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I know, he chirped me Yeah, I saw it. I'm watching.
- [67:48]
Pasha
I'm at home watching the Senators game.
- [67:49]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
And he chirped me. Right. Which I appreciate. He used my own words on me too. I mean, I'm not sure it was applicable to the events on the ice, but it was still good. Well done.
- [67:59]
Ryan Whitney
Does it add to the energy this series and stuff?
- [68:01]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, God, I hope not. Yeah, I. I don't. I don't. My wife had a good chuckle. I think she thought it was pretty funny. And I think the coaches probably. I'll have to take over the chirp. And at some point it's kind of a lost start on the bench. So it was all good.
- [68:18]
Paul Vincent
Just two guys, you can tell that respect each other, respect the game, and are having fun. At the end of the day, they both won Stanley Cups. They know what they're doing. And that's the shit like you were talking about earlier, Biz just adding to the, you know, the drama of this league. But you can tell there's no hatred with those guys. Obviously they hate their teams, hate each other, but they are. They're having fun. They're. They're spreading love to the game. And just imagine sitting there and your wife laughing at you from another coach chirping you. It's unbelievable.
- [68:49]
Ryan Whitney
I think.
- [68:50]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Just don't let her visit the neighbors.
- [68:52]
Ryan Whitney
No, no, no, please, please, no. I think that Cooper doing that, like, just in the coach's room before he went to do the press conference, like, he definitely, like, told the guys, or maybe he didn't and he just decided like, oh, this is the perfect time to say exactly what he said after the Hagel hit. And I mean, he says it's not applicable. I think it is actually like, perfectly applicable. It seemed like it went. It was the perfect time. Little joke by Coop. But back to the actual series after game two, that might have been the most shocking, like, lack of passion in hockey and offense that I. That I could imagine from Tampa Bay. It was like, what is going on here? Like, they. They had nothing going. High scoring team, league. I know we mentioned that going into game three, but there was just nothing. And they exploded. And it was all in the backs of Kucherov. Kucherov had been quiet. That goal that Genzel scored, I. What was it? The first goal of the game for Tampa?
- [69:50]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I. I think that it ended up going off of points leg. So I think that point ended up getting credit for it. But it look like the, the play that Kuchov makes to him and the fact that Genel 1 touches it to Himself through the defender. Like, could we talk about Jake Geno? Wit like crazy.
- [70:07]
Ryan Whitney
He.
- [70:08]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He's. He's top six all time among goals per game, playoffs, the highest among active players. I think that dry Seidl might have passed him with the OT winner, but I don't know if we had the. Or the list. But this guy, when it comes to playoffs, he is as clutch as it gets. And listen, people. Oh, I play with Crosby. Play with Crosby. He went to Carolina and easily fit in and got it done. And then now he's in Tampa doing it. And I get, I get that he gets to play with these other superstars, but he's a superstar in his own right. And when the chips are on the table and when it's playoff hockey, he's won a Stanley Cup. He knows what it takes. He can get the fucking job done. And he's worth every penny. He's a gamer. He looks like he could be a fucking accountant. Yeah, he doesn't even look like a hockey player. We did a postgame interview with him. He looked like he was a buck 60 soaking wet, but man, oh man. And he is not afraid to go to the hard areas. He's one of those guys. Yeah, he's just slippery. He'll get in, get out. Normally avoids contact. Usually what's. When it's within a timeframe of you can get hit.
- [71:13]
Paul Vincent
But a lot, a lot of. A lot of guys get the opportunity to play with guys like Sid and Cooch. It's how you take advantage of it. And he's done it his whole career. They probably. They probably brought him in. We're like, okay, we'll give this guy one or two games, see how he does with Sid. And he just rolled with it. So you have to be a special player to play with special players. Not anyone can do it. So there is. You cannot put any ounce of. It's all him. He's doing it for himself. He's been a stud since he stepped foot in the league. And I think his dad was a coach. Right. So he's been around the game a long time. Such a smart player. Just don't watch your passes.
- [71:51]
Ryan Whitney
The Montreal E. Bug strip club. Strip club bouncer. He looked more like a hockey player than Jake Gensler.
- [71:57]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah.
- [71:57]
Ryan Whitney
I mean, it really is crazy. He's just like this little guy. Yep. You see him at the office. How was your weekend? Good. Went to church, played around a golf and then watched a movie with my wife. No, I'm sixth all time in goals per game in the history of the Stanley cup playoffs. So the other thing. Look at this.
- [72:12]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Those are the five guys that are ahead of them.
- [72:14]
Ryan Whitney
Look at those names. Jesus Christ.
- [72:18]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I mean, that'll actually make up for the Cam Neely press conference. So we don't dig into that now, but.
- [72:23]
Ryan Whitney
So back to Kucherov, though. The play, you know, the play that the. On the first goal that point up gets. Ends up getting credit for, then you see a very uncommon Bobrovsky blunder on the Nick Paul. It's going wide, it's on the ice. Just a fluke, hits his pad, somehow kicks directly through his legs into the net. But then what happens? It's 2:1. Florida had the lead. 1 nothing. 2:1. Tampa keeps pushing that pass Kucherov made from behind the net to. To Gensel.
- [72:51]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
It's.
- [72:52]
Ryan Whitney
It's like I don't even know how he sees him, let alone get it to him where he's on his backhand. He somehow misses the post, similar to the past Demidov gave to Slavkovski on that goal. But Kuch is actually skating the opposite direction. So he's got all this momentum going behind the net and just slides it behind, just misses the. Just misses the post. And Genzel Berries. So Couch reached a different level. I think he knew after game two, it's like I. I got like this team. They go through me. And the way he collected the pass in the neutral zone on that third goal, and then he weaves into the zone. He makes it look so simple, so easy. And now Tampa has life. Now you're still on the road. You got to think Bobrovsky's not going to give up one like he did. But it gives Vasilevsky some confidence. He gets a win. He only gives up one goal very early in the game. I mean, Kachuk scored two minutes in. He got 58 minutes after that. Didn't have. Didn't give up anything. I don't know where this goes. I would. I would kind of lean towards it goes back to Tampa. Two. Two. I know. I. I know that there was some talk online and me watching the game, kind of disappointment of an atmosphere, not an atmosphere of like a level of play. I even butcher grass tweeted, like, seemed like a regular season. Yeah, one o'clock starts fest a little bit and that's not what Florida needs.
- [74:11]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I feel like when. When either team has gotten the lead, they just are okay, kind of just locking it down. Let's not, not, not like LA style, but just slowing the pace of the game down, not getting out of position. And going back to the. The play that Kucher made, didn't he have a similar play that he made against Florida when they. They beat them out of playoffs where. Where he. He caught Uyghur sleeping, where he did that, where he was going this way and ended up throwing it this way behind the net. You know which one I'm talking about. It might have eliminated them like a few years ago on their way to winning a Stanley cup. So he's pulled that move off before. Very. Also, Marner is a guy who likes to do those as well. But yeah, I, I agree with you. Probably the most boring series from a play perspective. Yeah, the. The Kachuk hit and the haggle stuff has amplified it from an attention standpoint. So maybe that adds a lot more fireworks moving forward. I hope that overall the play does ramp up. Been impressed with that. Is it Gabe Gun Chavez? Like, I didn't even know who the fuck this guy was. He's been making plays.
- [75:18]
Ryan Whitney
Did you say his name could.
- [75:19]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Chavez Gun Chavez. That's what Jazz told me. The statistician at tnt. Maybe I'm completely butchering it and.
- [75:25]
Ryan Whitney
But I really hope he said that.
- [75:27]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Just so you'd say just to completely with me. But hey, another change. Ekblad finally finds his way back after the long suspension. So a little bit of change in personnel for the Florida Panthers. So let's see if in. In game four, they recalibrate and get to their old ways. But once again, going back to what we started with, I'm completely, completely fine with no Kachuk suspension. I just comparing the two, they're. They're. They're similar in a sense where if one deserves a suspension, I think that the other one could have earned a suspension. But here we go.
- [76:01]
Ryan Whitney
Game scary. And last thing I think, you know, even though Florida loses that game they had, they outshot him 34, 22. So does that get Vasilevsky going or is Florida like. That's fine. We outplayed him on the shot on the. On the shot metric. Let's see where that one goes. It's. It's. I'm hoping for a little more hatred. I think the entire fan base of the league thought that that might be one of the nastiest series. And overall, those two hits withstanding, it's kind of been a little. A little quiet. We'll see what happens in game four.
- [76:33]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I feel like also like for Haggies been just. He's kind of been invisible. No.
- [76:38]
Ryan Whitney
Did you see Maurice like Jason Voorhees style behind the, the, the back curtain. Like watching him do a press conference, it looked like he was just like, what's he saying right now? I need this guy to get going. Jesus Christ. Because I, I have an all year for Hagee was kind of not.
- [76:56]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, he didn't have a great season.
- [76:57]
Ryan Whitney
Freaky years prior, so we'll see.
- [76:59]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, now he's gonna get two.
- [77:00]
Paul Vincent
Next he get. If he gets hot, watch out because he, he's a streaky player and when he gets hot, he is a scary, scary individual.
- [77:08]
Ryan Whitney
Back out west story of, of. What is the word? Resiliency. Never giving up. Gabriel Landiscog returns and then the next game scores a goal. Colorado down two one at home in game four. They're going to go back to Dallas. Down three one. No, they put on a clinic. Yance said Friday morning. You had seen Cale Makar play for him. What was a. Not a great performance. He showed up. Everyone showed up. And to see Landiscog score a goal and then to see the clip of the arena, I think it was for about three minutes after the goal on their feet, going crazy. I was so happy for him. And, and it wasn't, it wasn't a, a grimy goal in front. It was a snipe off the rush. Beautiful drop pass posted in. Can you imagine the feeling he had because he's. He hasn't just come back and been like, oh man, I don't know if I got this anymore. And even there was thoughts of like possibly coming. He would come back and then it could be like one game. And he's like, dude, this is my knees fucked up. No, he looks awesome. He's flying. And to score that goal, it just was one of the coolest things I've seen after interviewing him and hearing what he's gone through biz.
- [78:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah. And yeah, played just under 15 minutes and then he gets bumped up to that second line with Brock Nelson who had to get also get going. So a beautiful zone entry. And I, I think he even said he goes. That was my first shot on net. And the fact that he was able to get it and there was no big wind up. It was just that little, little quarter clapper and boom, top cheese and surprised from that distance that he was able to score on Ottinger. Given how good he was in that second period. Like Ottinger in that second period, that might have been the single best period I've ever seen a goalie playing playoffs. Like, he was just stop. You couldn't beat him.
- [79:00]
Paul Vincent
Like he was in Makar were buzzing around. He was making saves left and right. It was unbelievable.
- [79:06]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
But just to, to see what he's gone through and how much inspiration he's not only provided like other athletes just, but just people in general and, and, and also like, like having the, the, like the, the four, like what's. The, what's like the looking ahead thing like to, to basically document foresight. The foresight. The foresight to document the whole process in order to share with people. And like, it's just, it's just amazing what's happened and, and that atmosphere when he came out for the first star. And I think the one amazing thing too, after he scored that goal, you saw the celebration with his teammates. They pan up to the crowd and there's a guy in a Gabriel Laniskog jersey and he just grabs his girl who's got a Nathan McKinnon jersey on and, and they just start making out and then they pan back to the ice and he goes over the bench and now he's hugging with Nathan McKinnon.
- [79:59]
Ryan Whitney
Who'S helped him out with Nate.
- [80:03]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Just. Yeah, but it was just Nate get.
- [80:07]
Paul Vincent
A little like wobbly leg behind the net there when he ran into.
- [80:11]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That was a big collision. That was, that was. I was a little, I was a little worried. I don't know if it was me too Marchmont maybe. I don't know who it was, but that was a little scary. But overall that one game. And listen, Dallas might still win the series. Like you would never count them out. They were down 02 to the Vegas Gold Knights last year. But that Colorado team looked like a Stanley cup champion in that game. Like that was like, oh, they are just built a little bit different. They ain't sitting back like la. They're the complete opposite. They're go, go, go, go, go. And they're a well oiled machine when they're playing like that. So. But just, I mean the, the best story in sports right now, Gabriel Landiscog and the fact that he's going to make an impact in that lineup, not just playing limited minutes where he's a second liner now. Unreal below the goal line and even on the one goal who was parked out front right to the blue paint. That's where he can be a horse and make an even bigger impact. Yeah. So great to see from our boy Gabe.
- [81:12]
Ryan Whitney
Now I said that the Oilers like, it seems like they have no business being 2:2. Dallas has led for I think a minute of this series. They, they won game three in overtime. They just have not been able to get a lead and play with a lead. So to me, it like, I. I wouldn't be surprised if Colorado wins Game five and Game six because they just. They do look like a better team. They look faster, but somehow Dallas stays alive. Ottinger's very good after a loss in the playoffs. He's going home. Can they. Can they kind of figure out their game? But Wyatt Johnson's been quiet. There's a lot of guys in Dallas who haven't appeared in this series yet the way that we thought they would. Does Heskinen come back? I don't know. You're kind of hearing rumblings. But if he's not in yet, does. Do we see him at all? I'm very interested to see where this series goes because Colorado's game four effort made it look like we have a better team. We know we're better. We've been controlling this series every single game and. And we've just kind of thrown it away at different times. But we'll see what happens. I. I think is that. What time is that game? Is that the late game?
- [82:21]
Paul Vincent
Dallas needs to stay out of the box. Mason Marchman, he's. It seems like he's taken a penalty every period. Like, when they start getting the momentum and he's taken a penalty giving the other team momentum. It's like, especially against a team like the ABs, you cannot give them free looks and free opportunities. The penalties in the offensive zone, it can't happen like 200 foot away from your net. It cannot happen, especially against that team. So if they have any chance of winning this series and they. They do have a chance, even though, like you said, with. They've led for 62 seconds this series, they have to stay out of the penalty box. And, and I love March. You played with him here in Florida, but he's. He's the number one guy that I need to see out of the box.
- [83:00]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah. And he was complaining about the one minor that he took on, Kale Makar. Kale Makar is on the ground and he's got his butt end in his glove, and he gives him a jab in the face and he's bitching that Makar sold it. Where it's like, buddy, like, this is a generational talent star of the league. You think you just give him the stinky mitt, like, uncontested. And then even after that, when he took the minor, he still took a shot at another guy.
- [83:24]
Paul Vincent
I thought they were going to double him up same.
- [83:26]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
They could have because the Other guy didn't even come over and do much. He just. He was bitching about the call and out of frustration. So agree with you, Yens. I love his game. I love how he mixes it up. I think he's so effective. I just think that he's much like Carberry. Had a chat with Wilson. I think it's time maybe that DeBoer has a chat with him saying, buddy, you got. You got to tow that line just a little bit better. If there's one team we can't afford to be on the penalty kill against, it's. It's the fucking high flying Avalanche. So unreal effort by that Logan O'Connor. They got wheels on that team, man. They move and I don't really have much else on that series. Blackwood, first NHL career playoff shutout. I thought he's been tremendous so far in this series. So really both goaltenders have stood on their head and. And yeah, Ottinger, he's. He's got to be the difference. Especially no Hayeskin and especially who. Who's the other guy? They're missing out of the lineup right now.
- [84:20]
Ryan Whitney
Robertson.
- [84:21]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Robertson.
- [84:22]
Ryan Whitney
Jesus Christ. 9:30 Eastern tonight. Only two games tonight, so really could focus in on both.
- [84:27]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I like that.
- [84:29]
Ryan Whitney
Let's actually. You know what? We'll save. We'll save. We'll save it. We'll save it. We got to stay out west and we got to go. Why?
- [84:36]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Were you going to move to my Leafs?
- [84:38]
Ryan Whitney
Nah. But I'm not going there yet. We're gonna go. Another apology from me. I apologize to the Wild and their fans and that I needed to be. Was that just a. Was that a fart at the Wild.
- [84:48]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That was to you for you just.
- [84:50]
Ryan Whitney
Put your mic right in your cornhole and fart The Wild. The Wild had that series three one. They've never been up three one and you just farted right in their faces.
- [84:59]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
You don't think I'll give myself pink Guy? You don't think I'll give. You think I'll need the day off.
- [85:04]
Paul Vincent
Guy's been working.
- [85:07]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That's what they think's coming out of my mouth normally, is me fucking farting in it.
- [85:12]
Ryan Whitney
Listen, I apologize to Minnie. I wrote them off. They stormed back. They're up 2:1. They got a great chance to go up 3:1. They'd never done it but Vegas. They didn't hear no bell. They didn't. What an incredible overtime. Man. It was nuts to see it even get there. Thought Minnesota had that game. Eichel shows up. Barbashev shows up. It was a different Vegas team. Merles bets alive. He's got the future. And what did Merle's do? He tweeted out. Vegas is dead, it's over. And boom, it goes to ot. They get the win. And Minnesota was right there. They had this series locked and loaded. And now they're going back to Vegas. Two, two. Yance, what do you think?
- [85:56]
Paul Vincent
I think, I think Vegas did look dead to rights for a little bit there. It was not good. Their power play looks so stagnant to me. Like when you're. When you're a team of that with that much skill and your power play looks that bad, it translates into the 5 on 5 game. And I had kind of written them off. And then, you know, when you have studs like that, it can, it can change, I guess, at any point. And Jack showed up. Jack's ready to go stone. So I think for them, it's just playing. They're one of those teams, they have a ton of skill, but when they just play straight ahead, play fast, get pucks in, and then kind of let Jack and, you know, a couple other guys do their thing, that's when they're at their best. But they need to play north salt fast, big, physical, hard hockey because they arguably have probably the biggest, most mobile D in the league. And you just kind of let them get back. They can all make that first pass out of the zone, get out of the zone, get up in the plate. We don't. They don't need the east west stuff. They don't need, you know, to look. Make it look fancy. Just play hard north south and they can get the job done. Let the skill take over on the power, on the power play when you have the chances or in zone when you're working the puck around. But I did not like that was again, that game seems like it was six months ago, by the way. Okay. But you just. The east west stuff through the neutral zone, just. I don't think it's their game. Just get it in, go to work and work. Wear teams down. And realistically they should. They should have won this series, you know, 4:1. I think we all probably had it maybe going to Game 6, but now they're in a dogfight. A lot of credits gotta go. You gotta go to Minnesota as well. They've, you know, they've played an unbelievable series, as good as they could have right now. Caprizov's insane, but yeah, this, this will be a fun one tonight. And Vegas needs to really, really show up they need to spank them tonight is what they need to do.
- [87:51]
Ryan Whitney
It's not tonight.
- [87:52]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah. Well, wait. I think the storyline going into game four is how much that Baldi, Caprisov and Erickson Ek line had dominated the Eiko line like nobody expected that. I think they expected a battle back and forth, but offensively dominant and Capri saw four goals, Boldy four goals, Ericson Ek, the perfect compliment to each of them who does everything. But I think that if you looked at these teams going into the series, you would have said, oh, the depth up front, Vegas is going to dominate them. Well, that's not been the case. The bottom two lines, if you consider Felino who ended up getting bumped up the second live left wing because Johansson came out. They've been incredible like that Trenin Rossi and Brazil line on the forecheck. They've created two goals just simply off their forecheck, forcing errors, physicality, speed. So I've been very impressed. And you go back to the. You mentioned the power play early on, Keith, for. For Vegas. I think all season long they've really relied on the low plays where they don't really have that bomb up top. Like Theodore, he. He does throw the sifters through. I think he does have a good shot, but I think he has a boost bomb. He doesn't have a boost bomb and he's really a pass first mentality. So Minnesota's been taking away all the low plays and they've been going up high and then it's just, okay, they're not the perfect play. Let's keep moving around, look back for the low play where it's like you have to take what you're given. So I don't know what the adjustment's going to be moving forward, but in order to keep clicking at a high rate on the power play, they're going to have to have somebody up top who wants to shoot the puck. And why wouldn't you with a guy like Mark Stone in front of the net? I believe Theodore, the goal that he did score, Mark Stone was parked out in front of the net.
- [89:35]
Ryan Whitney
First of the game, first nothing.
- [89:37]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So they need to get back to that and stop having that pass mentality and be so focused on working the low play. Do they have talent who work like at the goal line area and around the net? Absolutely. But it's clear that Minnesota is aware of that and taking that away. So I thought that. I didn't think that Hannifin and Petro were playing bad per se. I think they were dealing With a lot of bad bounces. We talked about that icing in game three where it should have been called icing. Like petrol reaches all the way for it and they wave it off. Hanifin does a couple shoulder checks and it was Fillino who ended up going to Eichel. Disrupting it, goes over to Petra or Hannifin disrupts it and then the play continues. Hartman gets involved in the Knicks and then ended up scoring a goal. So same with the other Foligno goal where it was the. The jump ball with Petro where he makes a bad read and then he leaves Foligno all alone in front of the net. So they've just made a few bad reads and had a few bad bounces where they're just going to need those guys to be rock solid like we know Hannifin and Petro to be in order to close out this series. But the fact that they're able to sneak out that game for win and come from behind and kind of get all their guys clicking again, it. I really, really lean towards Vegas now at this point. It sucks. I don't know what the last. I think it's been since what, 2010, since Minnesota's been out of the first round. It's been a long time.
- [91:04]
Ryan Whitney
Years. I think 15.
- [91:05]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, maybe maybe 10 years. But I don't think it's going to happen now. As good as they've played. Um, and then. Fuck, man, that, that Z bouillon penalty. Tough play, man. I felt so bad for him. He cut stone pretty bad. Four minute minor. And then Boldy has the chance to clear it. He whiffs on it. Like those are the little moments that if they lose a series, Minnesota is going to look back on just like the byfield. Non clear. Like fuck, man, this series we were this close to having their nuts and a vice in a 3:1 series lead.
- [91:38]
Ryan Whitney
I just, I was a. I thought it was like mini team of destiny type thing. When Hurdle gets that goal, a completely kind of lucky bounce in front to go up three, two and 50 seconds later, Spurgeon ties it up. Sick wraparound. I'm like, oh my God, they are not going away. And then you get to overtime. And I feel bad for Jake Middleton, man. I think if he could do it over. He's going up the wall and you're trying to keep it out of the middle. Totally understand the high flip play. Just, just get it out. Relief pressure, but he kind of whiffs on it and then it ends up in front. He went down to try to block the pass, and he wasn't able to kind of block it completely or it bounced right to the Vegas player. And it's just. It's just one of those things where with, Booyah. You're going to play him, right? He's the power play guy. And then all of a sudden in overtime, he's not playing. He's not playing the power play at the end of the third period that. I mean, how's your confidence after taking that penalty and then after. To not be getting thrown out there? It's like, fuck you. Almost. I understand how. How high the stakes are, but, like, you got to show some belief in him. And I get. I get John Hines. Like, I just really can't trust him right now. But to me, it's like, I think you put him out there and a guy with. With his pedigree and what he's done prior now, it hasn't been in the NHL. It's like, that's a guy, I believe that would answer the bell and show up and make up for his mistake. But now you wonder, will he. Will he continue to play? I don't know. But going back to Vegas for them to get that game, yeah, they have life. They got the home ice advantage once again. And that is Tuesday night. We're going to see a special one in Vegas. I think. Think Gustafson could bounce back. I don't think it's done yet. I could see that going. Seven two biz.
- [93:21]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah. The one shocking thing this playoffs, I find there's a lot of goals being scored on teams. Like after they win the face off, they'll win the face off and they'll have a blunder and end up in the back of their net. Like the other night, The Tampa snaps one back. McDonough, I thought he was going to go up the strong side. Looked like the ref got in the way. They make the wrong play, comes back on their end, and that's when Bennett goes over to Kachuk for the first one. I don't know if you caught game three that Montreal won. Where. Where Doubt wins the face off and it's a bobbling puck. It goes to Carlson. He like, tries to tow it. Goes right out in the slot. And I think it was Suzuki who ended up scoring the goal even in that same game. Doubt on the. On the neutral zone face off where Dvorak gets kicked out. Gallagher is like, no, I want it. Did you see that play?
- [94:08]
Ryan Whitney
Yep.
- [94:09]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Where. Where doubter snaps it back and Gallagher is almost anticipating it. Pounces on it, it gets turned over, they go in and score the goal.
- [94:17]
Ryan Whitney
So McDavid on the third goal to Bouchard and on the bench like, what the fuck?
- [94:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, I tweeted out after that one, I go, that might get McDavid in a maple Leafs jersey. He was fed up. He's like, I snap back a draw. I'm going to the net thinking, we're going to put one in and you're bobbling this motherfucker. And we're going back the way you, you touched on it earlier. That skillful play by Fiala, who bats it out of the air, five feet out of the air, right back to his twig. And then to put that in the net, like. But once again, like, I always feel like some playoffs, like, oh, like, like I think it was last year, the year before, it seemed like teams were scoring after winning one in the offensive zone, like three, four seconds later, boom, it was in the net. Where this year the theme for me is a team wins a draw. Somehow they it up. Just like you said, Middleton, it ends up in the back of their net. And even on the net front part where he turns the wrong way. Oh, I don't even think the puck had crossed the goal line and Barbashev was already sprinting the other way celebrating that goal. So incredible series, incredible crowd in Minnesota. Sucks that they fumbled the bag, but hey, we'll see. We'll see if we get some more.
- [95:26]
Ryan Whitney
There's. They're going back there no matter what. Let's see if they can close it out or they got to stay alive. And that leads us to another team that stayed alive. The Ottawa Senators and Biz Biz. Who would ever worry about being up 3:1, right? I mean, you're up 3:0. You can lose one game. Why would the Leafs be worried, right? They would never, ever choke away a 30 series lead. That, that wouldn't happen, right? Toronto, they're. They're nails. They run the playoffs. They've won one series, and in 20 years. It's really, it's. How could we believe that they could possibly blow this?
- [96:03]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, first of all, as I've said many a times, this team's different. It's not going to happen. Not ideal. In a closeout game in Ottawa, in order to get the sweep, you have a four minute minor called on Ottawa where you can close the series out and you get five shots on net. Auston Matthews hits the post and yeah, congrats to Sanderson. Sends a sifter in there. Bad screen by Carlo on his own goalie. For those of, those of you who want to like the hockey talk on that play, Carlo has Zetterland on the opposite side of his goaltender, right? If he's already on that side as the shots coming, you just have to wait. You have to stay on the the opposite side after the shots come. Then you worry about the box out. You don't want to screen your own goaltender. It's the same reason that Hellebuck looked at Morrissey like what the fuck? After he went cross body screen on him. So not ideal. I'm curious to know if the hit on JT early in overtime that put him out down the tunnel, right? So J.T. had. I don't know if it was concussion protocol. I don't know if he got his bell rung and he took himself out down the tunnel. That kind of scrambled things where they didn't do the five forward power play unit. They went back to Riley on the point for that one. So mind you, I don't know if the reasoning for that was because earlier in the game they gave up a shorthanded goal when they had the five forwards out and they're thinking, listen, we got, we got four minutes here to score. Let's not get scored on again on our power play. Let's play it a little bit safer. I don't know if that's why Morgan Ry was out there, but you also can't blame that power play because they had five shots. I thought they had great sustained pressure. They hit the fucking post nine times out of ten. Auston Matthews is putting that in the back of the net, especially in that building. That was the building where he played his first NHL game. He had a four goal game. He has luck in that building. So I said from the beginning, the series is going to go five games. It's going to be a gentleman sweep because the Toronto Maple Leafs are a classy organization. They wanted Ottawa to get a win at home. They wanted that young core group to get a taste of what it's like to have playoff win experience. But ultimately the Leafs are a much better team. They're going to put a full 60 and they're going to.
- [98:23]
Paul Vincent
What are they though? Biz? They've fucking gone to overtime pretty much every game. Are you worried about this at all? Three games, Overtime?
- [98:30]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah. This is playoff hockey.
- [98:32]
Paul Vincent
It's against Ottawa. You would say it should have been a. Could have been a sweep. Gentleman sweep at that. And I'm a Leafs guy with you, but you just barely beating Ottawa. Is that sending Good signals to your brain about who they're going to have.
- [98:46]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
My words. Mark my words. I'm marking them.
- [98:49]
Ryan Whitney
Mark.
- [98:49]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Over in five fucking games. Ok, ok.
- [98:52]
Ryan Whitney
So what are you going to say?
- [98:53]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
If they somehow use trying to plant the seed of doubt, can suck my dick, it ain't happening.
- [98:59]
Paul Vincent
I agree it's going to go five games, but going to overtime with Ottawa every game when they're the far superior team coming into this series.
- [99:08]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Everyone, this is about entertainment. This isn't about sweeping teams.
- [99:13]
Paul Vincent
Okay?
- [99:14]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, what about Bobby Holy? What about Bobby Holy? Yeah, close him out when you can.
- [99:20]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Closing out in five games and getting a goal home and getting two days off in between game four and five is conserving energy.
- [99:31]
Ryan Whitney
I'll tell you this. You're right. All right, they won game four, we go back home, we take care of business.
- [99:35]
Paul Vincent
Barely.
- [99:36]
Ryan Whitney
If Ottawa goes in and somehow brings them back to Ottawa six, then it's going seven. That is straight out of Oilers Panthers. Last year it was, hey, let's drag them back to Berta. Let's drag them back to Ottawa, get a win in Toronto and we're going seven. And then I think if they lose Tuesday night, it's panic time for old busy boy. And I can tell the foam, the energy, the hat. If they went in five, Biz was right. Nostradamus Biz, he's correct. Mark his words. But if they lose. Oh, my God, you're right. Oh, my God.
- [100:15]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I was foaming a little bit at the mouth there.
- [100:17]
Ryan Whitney
I was biggest. It's a big.
- [100:18]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
His rabies came out there.
- [100:20]
Ryan Whitney
Can we talk quickly? Biz Leaf.
- [100:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I'll admit this, though. I'll admit this. If they do lose game five, my arsehole will go from being this puckered up to about this puckered up. If they lose game six, oh, you're done. It'll be about.
- [100:36]
Paul Vincent
You're gonna have a heart attack.
- [100:37]
Ryan Whitney
You're gonna have a heart attack.
- [100:39]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
It'll be.
- [100:40]
Ryan Whitney
There'll be a little butt plug in there and you'll be laying there. What happened at base? Oh, the Leafs blew another one. And I will. I will bring up Leafs some impressive things. I don't know if Zube threw a weight vest on or Matthew Nyes was shot out of a rocket, but that goal, he skated by him like. It was like I was out there. And I was very happy for Zube. Get that hog off the screen. This is not.
- [101:06]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That's what I was doing when I saw that goal.
- [101:08]
Ryan Whitney
Zube made a beautiful pass to Peron to make up for it. When they went up 3, 2. But that goal and that speed and then the move going that fast, Boom. Little forehand snipe. Top shelf. I was like, oh my God, I can't wait till somebody. Nine and a half times eight offer sheet signed. See ya.
- [101:30]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That was put right into my spank bank. That was one of the nicest goals I've ever seen. Yeah, he was shooting lightning bolts out of his ass as he just left zub in his dust. And you. You said it. The fact that that speed he was able to fake backhand, go forehand and go top cheese right where grandma hides the vibrators is absolutely banana lands. And I'm this kid dude is. Is incredible. They have to do whatever they can to lock him in. I think like he is just as much if not more of a priority to resign than Mitch Marner. And at this point I would say more of a priority just because his game transfers more over to playoff hockey. I think that the big dogs for the most part have been excellent for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I still think Stolers has been awesome. Happy with their D. Very happy with the production from the back end for the Toronto Maple Leafs. That play from Willie Nylander over to Oliver Ekman. Larsson with that quick release, incredible. But listen, full marks to Ottawa for not giving up some of these young guys. Getting it done for them. Pinto, I mean if we're going to compliment. Nice for getting shot out of a cannon. That PK goal. Pinto like he was shot out of cannon. Incredible read. Did you guys see my breakdown on that goal though with them having five forwards on the power play?
- [102:52]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, Matt, you just went way too low.
- [102:55]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He. If you don't. Yeah. If you don't have. That's my one. If I. If I have one gripe with the Leafs is I feel like sometimes those guys are maybe a little bit too laissez faire. Right. They kind of just because they're so talented offensively, like sometimes the hockey brain just tends to shut off to a little bit of a degree where I'm okay with Mint Marner pinching on that strong side. I am. And he did have back pressure from knives. Maybe not the best pinch. Maybe. Maybe the. The coaching staff doesn't want a pinching there and maybe that's why Matthews hung in. But unless you have full possession on that wall, especially at the fact that Ottawa is overloading, if you're Matthews, you could hang out at the blue line and if it does get sent to the weak side, you're still Going to win that race for the puck. There's nobody over there. The farthest player for the Ottawa Senators to the weak side of the ice was at the far side dot. So Matthews would have won that race every day of the week. So he cheats, he's fading away and the minute Pinto's gone, it's breakaway season. There's no, there's no safety valve on the, on the, on the weak side. So that was one of my gripe. But Brady fucking gamer. A lot of their guys game, I think that they definitely need more from Bathurst. Haven't necessarily been that impressed with him so far.
- [104:20]
Ryan Whitney
Still getting Stutzel, getting that first goal for him. Maybe that gets him going big time.
- [104:25]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Big.
- [104:26]
Ryan Whitney
Right. That was a hell of a shot.
- [104:28]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Cousins as well, haven't necessarily, necessarily seen the most out of him. But Sanderson's been incredible for them. He's. He's going to be an absolute stud. But I don't really have much else other than the fact that I ain't scared. We're closing out in five different team. Suck my haters. And we're on to Cleveland.
- [104:46]
Ryan Whitney
All right, well that leaves us with. It's Cincinnati. It was Cincinnati. Speaking of that, the interview going on, he looks, I think he's. I think he's being held like captive by her.
- [105:02]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, no, I don't know.
- [105:04]
Ryan Whitney
Oh yeah, she's doing his interviews and what the hell is wrong with him? He's got.
- [105:08]
Paul Vincent
Yeah, we're not talking about that. Yeah.
- [105:10]
Ryan Whitney
Navy sweatshirt on with a rip in it like you're the coach in North Carolina. Would you not rock Tar Heels gear? Crazy. Crazy. I mean, I think that's why when you're 70 years old, you don't date 24 years old. But none of my business. None of my.
- [105:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, I mean it works out for Shannon Sharp, but the, the fact that she's being tagged on emails for like personnel stuff with the football team is bizarro land.
- [105:36]
Ryan Whitney
Like that's probably. She played. She was a wide receiver.
- [105:38]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
No. Yeah.
- [105:39]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
- [105:40]
Paul Vincent
Okay, well, that means he's gonna coach the receiver.
- [105:42]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Flag football.
- [105:43]
Ryan Whitney
He was going to bring her to New England, but then he got fired, so he started dating her instead. So one more series left, but before we get there and before we bring in our guest, we got to talk about game time. The NHL playoffs are here. We're talking about it. And the only place to buy hard to get playoff tickets is game time. The official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports Killer. Last minute deals. All in prices, views from your seat and their lowest price guarantee. Game Time takes the guesswork out of buying NHL playoff tickets. Prices on the app actually go down the closer it gets to puck drop. You could save up to 60% when buying last minute tickets. Take the guesswork out of buying NHL playoff tickets with Game time. Download the GameTime 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? Game Time. And Pasha, our guest actually got tickets from Game Time. Both games under 70 bucks each. So Pasha, you got to see one for under 70 bucks that you loved and you were flying high after game three and then you got to see one for under 70 bucks because of game time and you did not love that. It was not, not, not enjoyable for Devils fans.
- [106:58]
Kevin Hayes
That's correct. Yeah. A bit of an emotional roller coaster. I really thought that they were back in the series after that. Electric, electric double OT winner by Simone Nemes. But yeah, at a bit of a loss for words to be honest. Like this was not totally unexpected. Kind of where we sit today and I've definitely been in better spirits.
- [107:18]
Ryan Whitney
Outclassed. I don't know about.
- [107:21]
Kevin Hayes
I don't know about outclassed. I don't know about outclassed.
- [107:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I would say you're trying to fucking kill Anderson and that the fuck is that Timo Meyer.
- [107:28]
Ryan Whitney
Timo Meyer could have had three penalties in that game. Or Robinson, but not even near the puck. He ran over Anderson. I don't know how that wasn't called.
- [107:38]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
What did you make of the non call, Pasha?
- [107:41]
Kevin Hayes
I would have been fine with it. I would have been fine with a two minute minor. Like I don't think it was like malicious. Let's try and hurt the guy. I think it was just a bit reckless. But like Timo plays with that edge. He's a bull in a china shop. I love his game for that's part of why I love his game. But I would have been okay with with two minutes, especially with Anderson getting hurt there.
- [108:00]
Ryan Whitney
I mean it takes them double overtime. Nemech, who you have been, I mean very worried about, very hard on for a second overall pick. It's like ah, but he scores the goal and he's your hero. He's your hero. But just to win one game, it was that difficult. You outshot him by a good amount. You really thought going into game four it was going to like go the devil's way. Because my thought was it was that difficult to win one game. Carolina comes back to life and handles business. No problem. Game four, I was correct, Pasha. I had that call. I was right.
- [108:33]
Kevin Hayes
Well, just touching on Nemesis. If you're looking for any positives in this series for the Devils, there's not many, but his play is definitely a positive. He has looked very good, stepped up to the moment, has his confidence back. If he can continue next year to play like he has this playoffs and he did in his first year, that's huge for the franchise going forward. Obviously we've talked about how big of a disaster his regular season was this year, so he's looked great. But I mean, what do you want me to say? What like they. They get a double OT win. They dominated that game. They outplayed them the game before. They're back at home. Like, yeah, I'm not going to lie. I thought that they were going to keep it rolling and win that game. Obviously, you know, first shot goes in and things. The wheels came off pretty, pretty quick. But you know, I was positive. I thought. I thought they'd win it.
- [109:16]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
How about. How about that read by Jacob Slaven, boys? Oh, just that like you. He's got such good feet to trust your feet where you come up as a defenseman like that and make that pinch like inside the offensive zone blue line and then to one touch it to himself on the backhand, to his forehand. That's probably one. As a Devils fan, you're frustrated to see go in like that angle shot.
- [109:41]
Kevin Hayes
Full credit to slaving. Incredible play by him, but like similar to byfield. What is Nason doing? Had so much time get that puck out and then Markstrom's the last guy I'm blaming for this series. But what is Markstrom doing there? Like tough, tough angle. But again, credit the Slave. An incredible play, but Jesus Christ. Nathan's got to get that puck out.
- [110:00]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, I think that I just am worried for Carolina about and Anderson is. It's just impossible for him to stay healthy.
- [110:09]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Fragile, very fragile.
- [110:11]
Ryan Whitney
So do you think that. Was that a head injury? I mean I think that was a whiplash.
- [110:15]
Paul Vincent
It didn't look that bad like he did.
- [110:17]
Ryan Whitney
It was a penalty. 2 minutes interference kind of went into him hard, but I didn't think seeing that he'd be leaving the game.
- [110:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, there's certain goalies and like listen like you're not on a guy for being injured. Like if you're injured, you're injured. But like some goalies are just very fragile. Like they had anti ranta where Every time he got touched, he'd be out, like, three weeks out. Okay. And some guys, it's just harder to rely on where the minute they get bumped, it's like they're down the tunnel and they're throwing their backup in. Like, I talked to a few other guys who are professionals who played net, and they're like, that's exactly why I would have started Kachekov, because I trust them more. And, and. And. And they basically were like, oh, shocker that this happened. They said that this exact thing is inevitable. When Anderson's a net, he's going to get touched, he's going to go down the tunnel, and he's not going to be relied upon to play the next game. So hopefully he's back in there and going back to. I think what you asked Yan's earlier, like, what does it do for a team when your goalie gets hurt and then he's back and he. He's battling through it a little bit. Well, I guess we're going to have to find out till next game to see if Anderson's in the net. But Kachov, who played majority of the games this season, he started 47 of them or played in 47 of them. Anderson was a little banged up at certain points during the year, but towards the end of the year, Kachekov, his play fell off. So I wasn't surprised to see them going to Anderson. But Anderson is not the. He's not the Vasilevsky. He's not the Bobrovsky. He's not the guy that you can play, you know, 55, 60 games in a regular season and expect them mentally to be fresh and go the full distance come playoff time. That's just history repeating itself. That's a proven fact. But when he is, he's incredible. The numbers speak for themselves. But what do they say the best ability is?
- [112:10]
Paul Vincent
Availability.
- [112:11]
Ryan Whitney
Wow.
- [112:11]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That's what brought you on board.
- [112:14]
Paul Vincent
That is where I live.
- [112:15]
Ryan Whitney
My.
- [112:15]
Paul Vincent
That was my whole career, but is like, I know goalies are kind of like, you know, people don't really talk to them like that. Like, I feel like someone in that team should be like, hey, dude, we don't give a Fuck that you're 50%. We think we have a better chance of winning if you're playing at 50. 50%. Just give us a shot tonight. Get out there and play. Whether it's concussion or not. Didn't look like a concussion.
- [112:38]
Ryan Whitney
Right?
- [112:39]
Paul Vincent
What's that?
- [112:42]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, you skipped out there, Yanzi.
- [112:43]
Ryan Whitney
Sorry. You just skipped out quickly. Yeah, I mean, that's just hard to imagine. Imagine like going up to a goalie, fucking put the pads on, you're fine. He's like.
- [112:52]
Paul Vincent
He's foaming in the mouth.
- [112:54]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Like beating through a eating tube. Now get your ass in there.
- [112:59]
Ryan Whitney
Brindamore made a great decision. He moved Svetchnikov up with Ajo. Boom. He gets a quick goal early, ends up getting the hat trick. Awesome game for him. And the biggest problem, jerseys. You know they're down 3:1, but if their power play, one of the best power plays in the league. Pasha could have done anything in this series. It could be different. They're over 12.
- [113:22]
Kevin Hayes
Over 12 and they've given up a shorthanded goal. They're the only team in the playoffs without a power play goal and one of five to give up a shorty. I think losing Luke just threw that all through that all for a loop. You know, they just like they're. They're out of sync. And Dougie hasn't looked great since he's been back. So yeah, obviously special teams, which was their bread and butter all year, has really, really cost them. Surprisingly actually they've carried play five on five. They've had the better five on five play. So it's kind of been the opposite of what I expected going into the series. But another not surprising stat other than Nemetz's double OT winner. That was the only goal this series for the Devils that he sure Brat or Meyer have not been involved with. So just zero secondary contributions. Could have seen this coming from a mile away. And when you lose a guy like Jack Hughes, the only way of winning is when you're just getting tons of third, fourth line contributions which the Devils haven't. So Fitz, he's got a lot of work to do in the off season because you got to beef up that third and fourth line. And I do think that had Jack not been hurt, he would have taken a big time swing at sort of a Brock Nelson, kind of like that 3C type. But yeah, you need contributions coming from the bottom of the lineup and they have not gotten that.
- [114:31]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Wow.
- [114:31]
Ryan Whitney
Pasha, Pasha, Pasha. He's so level headed because if Jersey was up 3:1, we'd be dealing with a raging lunatic. So it's nice. It's nice. It sticks for him that when he's normal, his team stinks. But it's nice for us. I. Pasha, I'll leave you with this as the power play struggling and you think of, of a guy like Brady Tkachuk, right, Like in front of the net, he helps power Plays. You once said you would not do a Simone Nemec for Brady Tkachuk. One for one trade. Would you care to address that? Would you still stand by that?
- [115:04]
Kevin Hayes
It was a bad take. Bad take. We've all had him. You more than most. Yeah.
- [115:10]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
All right, well, this is a new man with this girl. He's got his girl.
- [115:15]
Ryan Whitney
I told him, settle down.
- [115:17]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
How is the girl, Posh?
- [115:19]
Kevin Hayes
She's good, except G update. You guys in the chat. We're sitting there, game on Friday. Devils are up two rip. There's like, I don't know, 12 minutes left in the third. She texts me. I look at my phone, devil's one. And I'm just like, oh, no. Oh, no. And five minutes later, it's a two two game. Grinelli is just dying, laughing. And I'm sitting there just being, obviously.
- [115:42]
Paul Vincent
Wait, you didn't dump her?
- [115:43]
Ryan Whitney
No. He said if they lost, he was done. He said, guys who think they won. I still have a girlfriend.
- [115:49]
Paul Vincent
Wow.
- [115:50]
Kevin Hayes
Crisis was averted. But, yeah, I would have had to do some reflection had they blown that game. So I. I text her. I was like, from now on, none of those texts. You gotta. You gotta double triple check before you're sending any texts like that. So crisis averted. Thank God.
- [116:03]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Hey, might as well learn. Might as well learn when she's young, right before it gets too serious and playoffs.
- [116:09]
Ryan Whitney
He had center flowers. Then the text came through. They tied it. He switched it to anthrax, then cancel that order when they won. So it was good. She's still with us, Pasha. Thank you very much. Let's see if they could bring it back to Jersey. I'm guessing this one's probably ending in 5, as. As most people saw. But thanks for coming on, buddy. You're so normal and nice and not crazy. And maybe the Devil's getting back in the mix will bring back that crazy.
- [116:34]
Kevin Hayes
Don't worry. The deranged posh is bottled up, and it'll be out there next year and for. For the next decade when they're a wagon.
- [116:40]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
And so it's kind of nice not having to run the disclaimer, too. Just kind of bring them in. Nice.
- [116:44]
Paul Vincent
I kind of miss it.
- [116:45]
Ryan Whitney
No, we're closer to a disclaimer for you with the Leafs.
- [116:48]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, yeah. Okay.
- [116:51]
Ryan Whitney
All right, Pasha. See you, buddy.
- [116:52]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I think the foam on my lips is the disclaimer when I get my rabies. We're on.
- [116:58]
Ryan Whitney
We're on to the quick hits now. That was all eight series, which is actually insane that we talked Friday morning and Then that much happened. So just imagine, imagine next Friday when we come back to you. Game Notes will have you Wednesday at noon. But just wild. What a first round coaching carousel. It's getting crazy. We talked to Kevin Hayes. He was, he was kind of crying, actually. Pittsburgh Penguins have relieved Mike Sullivan of head coaching duties. Now, I don't know if it was more a mutual decision. I've read some things that maybe Mike Sullivan's looking at. Like, I can kind of really change the coaching payment market.
- [117:34]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, you think?
- [117:36]
Ryan Whitney
Like what this guy, Kevin Weeks, per my conversation with several team owners, executives and coaches, given the timing, 7 billion plus NHL revenues and other factors, Sullivan can reset the coaches compensation market. Does he get to or eclipse the high watermark, $7 million per season? I, I, you hear Boston and New York, right? Back and forth, back and forth. He has coached both of those teams, if I'm correct, right? Or was he the assistant?
- [118:04]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, I have no, I have no clue.
- [118:05]
Ryan Whitney
Coach bruins. That's when R.A. had the bag over his head.
- [118:08]
Paul Vincent
I think he was the assistant for Torts in New York maybe.
- [118:11]
Ryan Whitney
No, Quinny maybe assisted for Quinny.
- [118:13]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I also think that like.
- [118:15]
Ryan Whitney
No, what am I talking about?
- [118:16]
Paul Vincent
No, he would have, he was in Pittsburgh when Quinny was there.
- [118:19]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Like $7 million for a coach, like really Babcock style.
- [118:24]
Paul Vincent
Isn't, isn't the, isn't the league a. What have you done for me lately? League?
- [118:29]
Ryan Whitney
Especially with the coaches, not with coaches.
- [118:33]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I think that to get that much. No, no. I, I think that he's smart enough to realize there's a situation going on right now where there's a lot of desperate teams. There's also a few teams who essentially have like, I don't want to say unlimited budgets. Like Boston's a pretty notoriously cheap team. They've had to change their ways for like keeping McAvoy and Posternach and, and a few other players and haven't gotten more with the times. But obviously there's a lot of pressure on Sweeney and Cam Mealy right now. And it's an original six franchise, so they're going to want somebody with a type of allure. Bringing in a multiple Stanley cup champion is going to be able, when you're sitting at that press conference, it's going to go a lot better than their last one. Let's just put it that way. Right. When they got asked about their, their, their drafting ability so they could put a band aid on last season, if they're able to bring in a guy of his stature or of Rick Talkett stature. But the minute that Rick Talkett signs a deal, if he does beforehand, let's say who's the next best available coach. I mean you could say Quinville, but Quinville is in a situation where he's probably going to have to take less than what he's actually worth, given with what's gone on in the past and might have to find himself, as I believe Kevin Weeks tweeted out, like the eye emojis. Or maybe it was butcher grass. It was Quinville and Anaheim Ducks. A place where maybe he can fly under the radar a little bit more. Not necessarily a team like Boston where it's a media circus, where if you bring in Quinville it's going to be a five ring circus. So I look at talk it and I look at Sullivan who are probably going to be looking at around the five and a half, $6 million ranges as head coaches. So perfect timing for Sullivan. He gets to get out of a situation where maybe it's a little bit overdue. Pittsburgh doesn't look like they're in win mode now. I don't think much is going to change. I don't think they're going to be a playoff team again next year regardless of Cindy. Crosby keeps doing what he's doing. So he gets to go move on to greener pastures. A team that's more prepared right now to win and also to a team who can hand him the ultimate bag. Now I also think it's ridiculous if you sign him to like a five year, six, $7 million deal. I think it's ridiculous. I don't think any head coach should be getting paid that much money because at the end of the day, most of these guys are running the same systems. There's a few different variations of them and you can get just as much value out of a guy making three to four as you can a guy making six to seven.
- [121:05]
Ryan Whitney
Would you say the same about NFL or do you think based on how much more coach.
- [121:09]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Okay, way different.
- [121:10]
Paul Vincent
Yeah.
- [121:10]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Wait, we're talking about a game. We're talking about a game that is literally five second plays. Like it's literally all about the play that you're drawing up.
- [121:19]
Paul Vincent
Hockey is like coaches win and lose games in the NFL coaches.
- [121:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Exactly. Where hockey, it's like, like how many different variations of a four check are there? Oh, let's go with a split four check. Or let's hang back like the Kings and just hang out with the blue line. Like fuck, I could tell them to do that. That Right. I should be getting paid.
- [121:37]
Paul Vincent
I got a question. If you're a Bruins fan or player or no, let's go fan. So maybe G can pop in. Would you rather have Mike Sullivan, who's already been there, obviously during tougher times, but would you rather Mike Sullivan as your coach or Rick talk at both of them, you know, talk played in Boston a little bit.
- [121:54]
Ryan Whitney
Sullivan, they want that job. I don't want the boss.
- [121:58]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
I think that the talk it situation makes sense for Boston because they're going to have a. A decent amount of younger players. Talk it is good with his staff on developing as much as coaching. Also they have a few guys locked into long term deals that he has coached Lynn home. And who's Zadorov and those guys both? I wouldn't say Lindholm as much, but Zadorov played his best hockey under Rick Talkett. So in order to maybe put a band aid on those bad signings, at least as of last year, as well as help develop prospects, I think the answer would be talk it more so than Sullivan for them.
- [122:36]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, yeah.
- [122:36]
F
I mean, I think I can speak for Bruins fans and say that nobody wants to deal with this father in law bullshit. That's going to.
- [122:42]
Ryan Whitney
I don't.
- [122:42]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
What is it? What does that mean? What. Who's the connection there?
- [122:45]
F
Mike Sullivan. Charlie McAvoy is married to Mike Sullivan's daughter.
- [122:48]
Ryan Whitney
Who cares? Yeah, but he's coaching that.
- [122:51]
F
It's about every day you turn on the radio and Boston sports radio. Like you want to talk about aggressive media markets. That's Boston every time you turn on the radio. And they got to name a captain this year. What if they name Charlie McAvoy the captain and then it's all, oh, Mike Sullivan, father in law. He's just looking out for his father, his son in law here. So I think Bruins fans want Rick Talkett like more than anyone. And I think there'd be, you know, David Carl is ahead of the list above Mike Sullivan. And we probably know, you know, David Carl just pulled himself, pulled his name out of the Blackhawk.
- [123:23]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, that was weird. Eh?
- [123:24]
Ryan Whitney
That's a tough look for the Blackhawks considering like they give him a monster five year offer.
- [123:31]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Oh, that's what they offered him that?
- [123:33]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, it was a five year deal. I've read. Apparently he. I'm going on the word of somebody who said he was asking for a little bit more decision making in the personnel types type, you know, part of being a coach where you're, you're kind of, you know, you're reaching into two different bags there and. And in the end he decides to go back to Denver. As it looks right now, I just think like Mike Sullivan, he's leaving Pittsburgh with no prospects. And I'm not saying that's his fault, but it was just such a tough couple years. Then you go to Boston where it's kind of a similar situation. I mean, I see him in New York.
- [124:14]
F
Yeah, but you're going to get a top pick too, though. Yeah, but I think Boston's in a way better situation moving forward than New York is.
- [124:21]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, but not in the next two years. Not in the next two years.
- [124:25]
Ryan Whitney
Oh, God.
- [124:25]
F
I think New York's breaking it down. Like I. I think in the next two years, Boston's still in a better spot. They have a top five pick this year. David Poschnock. Morgan Geeky just scored 30 goals. Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Swimming.
- [124:36]
Ryan Whitney
You gotta sign Geeky.
- [124:37]
F
They'll sign him. Judy's got us locked up. Juddy's looking out for the Bees. But one thing about David Carl I would like to bring up is Butcher Gross mentioned this earlier and I thought this was super interesting because Torah Knee is still the coach in Utah, but he mentioned David Carl to Utah possibility just because of, like you said, the decision making. He thinks that Ryan Smith would do something a little bit unconventional and give him roster capabilities. You know what I mean? He can pay.
- [125:03]
Ryan Whitney
He's.
- [125:04]
F
Ryan Smith is probably going to pay and he'll give you a long term deal. So it's interesting.
- [125:08]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, there's a lot going on right now.
- [125:10]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah. Right.
- [125:11]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Either way, these guys are going to get paid. Did you get any word on money for. For Carl? No, there was no.
- [125:18]
Ryan Whitney
You have to imagine it was around 5 million.
- [125:20]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Ish.
- [125:21]
Ryan Whitney
I'm. That's a guess.
- [125:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Crazy. For a guy who's never coached a game in the National League. That's wild.
- [125:26]
Ryan Whitney
And what you would assume would be Kyle Davidson's last time, like, if that didn't go well, you got to think he's gone. But Frank Salivari tweeted, right now, head coaching vacancies, Bruins, Rangers, Flyers, Blackhawks, Ducks, Kraken, Penguins, and to be determined, the Canucks and the Islanders.
- [125:44]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So it's gonna be crazy, dude.
- [125:46]
Ryan Whitney
I know.
- [125:48]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That's why I said it's ridiculous to offer a coach 6, 7 million. Like, look at the coaching carousel. It's a fucking joke now. Like, there's no longevity for coaches. Oh, it's not working. Next guy. It's not working. Next guy. No onus on the general managers. Anymore.
- [126:05]
Paul Vincent
That's why I think it's crazy for Carl to even leave college.
- [126:08]
F
One coach I would love to see is Patrick Wa. If he gets, if he, if he gets fired from the Islanders, he. Him in Boston would be such a. Like a funny story. Like he tells Montreal the off, he's done with the franchise. He goes to their franchise's biggest rival. That would be an awesome story.
- [126:25]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah.
- [126:26]
Ryan Whitney
You got to be the only Bruins fan hoping that they hire Patrick Waugh.
- [126:30]
F
I. I just want to see the world burn.
- [126:32]
Paul Vincent
Are you Dr. Seuss?
- [126:33]
Ryan Whitney
Jens, what were you going to say?
- [126:35]
Paul Vincent
No, I'm just saying that's, that's why I think if. If I'm Matt Carl, I'd stay in college for the rest of my life. Like these jobs, like you could. Like Jack Parker. How long was he in Boston for? 40 years.
- [126:45]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, the Bruins offer once, but.
- [126:49]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
But if Carl's making a million bucks at school, like you sign your five year deal, you're making five. You sign your $25 million ticket and you go back to college. Like if he ever goes back to college, you can go to any program he wants to. Obviously Denver is an elite program, but he, he could go to another elite program and by then they're probably going to have Division 1 schools in like Texas and Florida and all these other sunny states where you'd rather even be to begin with.
- [127:14]
Ryan Whitney
So that was a guess on the, on the offer. I'm just. You gotta think that's right where it was around maybe a little below 5 in terms of. You mentioned quickly Quenville with my bet for who gets a 5000 bucks too with Pasha, that the Ducks get a cup before the Devils. God, I would want Q to get hired by them. That core, that young group. Carlson, Gaultier, Lacombe. Oh my. I mean there is so much there to bring in a guy who's won all those Stanley Cups with young guys playing major roles in the lineup. And biz, you bringing up the lack of media circus, Southern California, you're not going to deal with the madness. That makes a lot of sense to me. So we'll see what ends up happening there. But yeah, it is crazy to see how many coaches are. I mean, how many vacancies there are right now. And, and I guess Elliot Friedman mentioned that he could see Mike Sullivan like with the Rangers tomorrow.
- [128:11]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So yeah, I could see that. And they got the money to spend. Dolan's got unlimited budget and yeah, and.
- [128:18]
Ryan Whitney
You bring up Kyle Davidson. This is kind of his, maybe his last hire. If things Go poorly. Chris Drury. If, if things struggle and they do hire Mike Sullivan, you, you wonder his job security. Now he just signed an extension. But nowadays, biz, you said it. The coaches get gassed and the GMs.
- [128:35]
Paul Vincent
Keep living as, as a Rangers fan, what's the difference between Mike Sullivan and Peter Labiolette?
- [128:43]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Not a hell of a lot.
- [128:45]
Paul Vincent
Like, why bring in, you know, the same type of guys, same, you know, old school, you know, cut from the same cloth type of coach. Like I'm bringing in something completely different.
- [128:56]
Ryan Whitney
If I, if I'm quite similar, actually.
- [128:58]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, how many cups does La Violette have?
- [129:00]
Ryan Whitney
One.
- [129:01]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
How many does Sullivan have?
- [129:03]
Ryan Whitney
Two.
- [129:04]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That's the difference.
- [129:05]
Paul Vincent
All right.
- [129:06]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, but that's it, boys. I don't know if, I mean, we've got a big chat right now. I believe there's like about 6, 000 people watching. Maybe it's dipped a little bit. Maybe we take a couple like what's the theme going on in the chat right now? I haven't been looking. What are most people asking about? I mean, obviously they probably missed most of what went on earlier, but any, any common theme as to what they're asking for?
- [129:29]
F
G. It's, it's a lot of where is Mike Sullivan gonna end up? Your Matthew. Nice comment. Kind of got people a little rattled earlier about you'd rather pay Matthew Nyes over Mitch Marner. People are asking what would, what would Matthew Nys cost if the Leafs resign him? So.
- [129:44]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Well, not as much as Mitch Marner.
- [129:45]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, you're getting him at eight or eight and a half compared to 14.
- [129:50]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So I don't think you're gonna, I think at this point you're probably looking at between 8 and a half and 9 for Matthew NY. Now I don't have. I, I, I obviously talk to people like, not like this could be complete, but my understanding is it could get to the point where he's there, him and his agent are going to push things to where it goes past July 1, where he does get the possibility to get an offer. She, I, I think that that would be bullshit if they were to offer him a healthy contract of like a eight times eight and a half, which I would offer him today. And he's like, no, no, we'll see how things go. It's like, buddy, we fucking developed you. You've gotten the opportunity to play with Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and, and, and be put on a pedestal. This was his breakout year, which I believe he didn't hit the. So we're gonna give you how much is. How much is eight times eight and a half. I'm no rocket scientologist, but that's just under $70 million. Six. Yeah. Like. Like if you turn that down like I might meet him in Toronto and challenge him to a scrap if he doesn't sign that deal. You're like I'm serious.
- [131:01]
Ryan Whitney
You're just straight up going them because.
- [131:02]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
He doesn't want to say you. You sign that deal right now, you piece of man.
- [131:10]
Ryan Whitney
That's going to be an interesting storyline. Marner's just so good. He is.
- [131:15]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
So I get. If Marner wants to be greedy about it, I understand it because of the disrespect he's felt in a sense of at the deadline this year after putting up 100 point season that they were prepared to get rid of him for rotten and then offer rotten and eight times 13 and a half because I believe that that's what the number that rotten and was being offered. So if you're Mitch Marner you're like well I'm getting that and if not I'm getting 8 times 14 because I'm just going to be a little bit of a. Like I'm going to be a little spiteful in the sense that you try to do that to me where I get it right. And he's. And. And Matthew Nyes reminds you he's restricted. Marner can be a free agent. He's earned that right. So I'm taking if the contracts were 8 times 8 and a half or 8 even 8 times 9. I'm taking Matthew Nyes at 8 times 9 over Mitch Marner at 8 times 14. And if you're in the chat, you disagree with me, you can suck a fart out of my asshole.
- [132:11]
Paul Vincent
Is there a world that they can have both of them, buddy?
- [132:15]
Ryan Whitney
I mean well, Tavares would be gone unless he's making.
- [132:20]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Tavares would have to take league minimum. Yeah.
- [132:22]
Paul Vincent
Which I. I've heard stories. He wants to retire there. He wants. That's where he wants to be. So I feel like he could take a discount. Obviously not. Probably not a million bucks. But I feel like that those crew of guys have to come together like Sid and Gino and Latang did and be like hey, what should we.
- [132:39]
Ryan Whitney
They've done the exact opposite.
- [132:41]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Opposite. I know opposite.
- [132:43]
Paul Vincent
But now they can read like not.
- [132:44]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Even on eight year deals on. On like five year deals and six and seven year deals. So other than that, anything else with the chat? We appreciate you guys for hanging around. We've went over two hours. Unbelievable.
- [132:57]
Ryan Whitney
Hockey so far has made 111 million biz so you really, really, really want to be a Leaf. Give me, give me two, give me a year at 1.5. Who cares?
- [133:10]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
That ain't happening. I would, I would. I would offer him a deal of three times. Three would be nice.
- [133:18]
Ryan Whitney
Three times another nine. Get it to 120 for the career.
- [133:22]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah, yeah. Even numbers OCD.
- [133:24]
F
Last thing from the chat guys. Have your cup picks changed at all since now that we've seen some?
- [133:30]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
If I'm gunned to my head gun to my head watching that last Colorado Avalanche game I would have to lean to them. I think it's going to be Colorado Leafs final. I've obviously still riding with my Leafs but if it was like bigger fucking team and I'm picking Colorado after that.
- [133:47]
Ryan Whitney
Last performance I'm a little panicked that Florida is like on the path to possibly do this again.
- [133:57]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Yeah.
- [133:57]
Ryan Whitney
Coming off a 51 loss but they had a bunch of shots like if they end up, if they squeeze through this series in five somehow they will smash, smash the Leafs. Like I want that series more than anything just to watch you implode and foam all over TNT Studios as Florida bullies the Leafs just like they did two years ago.
- [134:21]
Paul Vincent
Yeah, my, my picks hasn't changed. I still think the winner of the Dallas Colorado they're going to go to the finals in the winter of Florida Tampa going to the finals beginning gans.
- [134:34]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
We love you.
- [134:34]
Ryan Whitney
I love you guys. Hey, I got one last thing to say. Just kind of a shout out, kind of like some tough news. So you guys know I do listen to the Kirk Minahan show a lot. It's a great, great show. It's a crazy community. Kirk over the years has brought in listeners to kind of be the third chair and the fourth chair and a guy. He goes by Cinema Lords. Right. So he's been on before. He played on his basketball team. Real name Nick Soares. I hope I'm saying that correct. Everyone knows him as cinema lords. 32 years old, passed away this weekend. So when you listen to the show, like this guy would come on. He was kind of a big part of the mini hand world and I even ran into somebody at the airport yesterday. Right away they came up like how about Cinema Lords? I never met the guy or anything but I'd heard him on the show and he was talked about a lot. So just kind of heartbreaking news for a guy.
- [135:25]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Just a funny guy with like just.
- [135:27]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, very funny. He hilarious kind of Boston Accent and. And just like, awesome dude on the show. That world is kind of like a little miserable to each other. Yeah, it's a wacky world. But it seemed like in reading everything on Twitter about him, like, everyone loved this guy. Like, I mentioned I hadn't met him, but I know Kirk was. Was, you know, really upset. And it's just kind of tough. You know, you listen to a show daily, and all of a sudden a guy who's a part of the show passes away at 32 years old. Just. Just wanted to show him out. Brutal news. But, yeah, ending with that's kind of tough. But we're back. Tonight. We got Tampa, Florida. Crazy game four. That'll be crazy. They've only played three games. And then what else do we have, boys? Dallas, Colorado. Correct. I'm losing my mind here. Yes. Dallas, Colorado, 9:30. Game five back in Dallas. We'll see what happens. Thank you so much to everyone who tuned in.
- [136:28]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
We love you doing a live show.
- [136:29]
Ryan Whitney
Fun biz. 11 games this weekend and you were ripping. Ready to go. Yance. I know you were at the lacrosse fields. Both girls won the title. I saw.
- [136:38]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Congrats.
- [136:39]
Ryan Whitney
That's awesome. And I'm back on a normal schedule. It was a great vacation. It was so much fun with the.
- [136:44]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Good for you. You deserve it, buddy.
- [136:46]
Ryan Whitney
Thank you, guys. Love you.
- [136:47]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
And. And just to all the fans who are still in the chat and watching, like, like, the reason we do this is for you guys. We love you. Like, I know it was a crazy weekend at tnt, but the. The. The game of hockey is in such an amazing place, and it just pumps me full of adrenaline and it just makes this job so easy as much as you guys watching and listening. So we love you. And yeah, rights. Life is good, boys.
- [137:12]
Ryan Whitney
Life is good. Go, Go. Oil. Bring this thing back. Drag him back to Berta, baby. All right, guys, chat. Love you all. Thanks for listening. We will see you Friday. God knows what we have to talk about then. Peace.
- [137:26]
R.A. Mike Grinelli
Great job, Fishy g. Pasha, everybody in the back too. We love you. This episode is brought to you by. Hey dude. Hey dude. Have you tried hey dude. If you haven't experienced them yet.
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Ryan Whitney
Hey dude.
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R.A. Mike Grinelli
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Ryan Whitney
With so many options to choose from.
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R.A. Mike Grinelli
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Kevin Hayes
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R.A. Mike Grinelli
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