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Ryan Whitney
Hey, Spit and Chiclets listeners.
Paul Bissonnette
You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime.
Biz Nasty
Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.
Ryan Whitney
Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed.
Keith Yandle
To the jungle that is Barstool Sports.
Ryan Whitney
Our white whale, Sidney Crosby. Shave his head.
Matthew Kachuk
Shave his head.
Biz Nasty
Shave his head. Ryan Whitney. Paul Missonnette. R.A. mike Grinelli.
Ryan Whitney
Spittin Chick. Good morning, hockey fans. What a wonderful Monday it is. And welcome to episode 564 of the Spitting Chicklets podcast. The man in the middle is smiling and dancing. I don't know why, because he's dead. Keith lives. I live biz. You stink. The Leafs, you suck. And welcome to Spitting Chiclets, presented by Pink Whitney. Vodka. Thank you so much for everyone who sent over some pictures of a beautiful May weekend drinking Pink Whitney. There were Leafs fans who were just drowning their sorrows in Pink Whitney. There are fans everywhere. Florida fans, Edmonton fans just loving life drinking Pink Whitney because their teams aren't choke artist losers. So thank you very much. Take your shot with Pink Whitney. Go buy a big old bottle and go buy some nips and enjoy your spring and summer with Pink Whitney biz.
Biz Nasty
Ah, you. How did, how did you even get to sleep last night, buddy?
Matthew Kachuk
I didn't.
Keith Yandle
I was laughing all night.
Ryan Whitney
I had the best time of my life. And let me tell you, I was at a rink all day Sunday, pretty much my son playing in something called the Town Cup. Everyone's asked me, what do you think? What do you think? What do I said? What do I think? I said, they're gonna get demolished. It's the Leafs. They're the biggest bunch of losers you could ever imagine. They never get it done when it matters. They never do anything good when the moment's at the biggest time, right? They, this team is exactly who you thought they were. There's no questions about it. There's no wondering. There's no sitting around thinking, this is our year. Hey, oldie, put on my yellow shirt.
Paul Bissonnette
Hey, Illuminati.
Ryan Whitney
Let's grow our noses out together. Hey, Shannon. Plan. Hey, Leaf spirits. We got it this year. No, you don't. You'll never get it.
Biz Nasty
Hey, hey, oldie gave us a puncher's chance. Take it back.
Keith Yandle
He's a turncoat. He's dead to me.
Biz Nasty
Oh, here we go. Yance Yanz is gonna cry more than me. This podcast. I will say, though, I will say I'm, I'm surprised that you thought that that was going to be the outcome. I, I, I'm surprised you didn't think they Actually maybe had a chance to keep it close, get it to overtime, but you just never go full Leafs.
Keith Yandle
Get it to overtime.
Biz Nasty
Who is 6:1. I know. I meant like when he was talking to the kid, the, the parents, like during the day about the outcome. Like, like I, I, I thought they were gonna give us an iconic game. Like maybe they end up losing it. Maybe, you know, a close one goal game. But you never, you said why?
Ryan Whitney
Why?
Biz Nasty
Well, I mean, but first of all, because I felt like they took their dump in game five. Like that would have been their dump. So then they go that game.
Ryan Whitney
Sorry, I forget.
Biz Nasty
Six one.
Ryan Whitney
Oh, six one both.
Biz Nasty
They went Irish Travelers. Game five. They went full Irish traveler on me. Oh, like I think that could. Chuck and Marshall must have planned that together.
Keith Yandle
I think the league did.
Biz Nasty
Oh, the double.
Matthew Kachuk
Irish had enough double.
Biz Nasty
We got, we got, we got traditional salad twice. Hold the tradition.
Ryan Whitney
Managers. The tradition.
Biz Nasty
Oh my God.
Ryan Whitney
The tradition lives forever.
Biz Nasty
Like I, I was actually a little concerned for them. Like the Leafs in their D zone, like let alone having a dodge hit. They were dodging Coors lights and most, and most beers by.
Keith Yandle
Are we getting to that now?
Biz Nasty
Crazy.
Ryan Whitney
No, no. I think one of my. So go ahead, Keith. Sorry. Sorry. I just have so many thoughts in my mind.
Biz Nasty
Oh, there's a lot, there's a lot to get to here. There's a lot to unpack.
Keith Yandle
Like, you wonder why people don't want to play in Canada or in Toronto in these big market things. You got people throwing jerseys and, and you know, full beers on the, on the ice. It's absolutely.
Biz Nasty
Look at the refs working overnight trying to make. Paul's picking up.
Keith Yandle
He had a day off.
Ryan Whitney
Hey. Hey. I have never laughed as hard watching a broadcast. Second intermission. DNT biz, Liam, Ace and army. And ACR says, why are they booing? What the are you talking about, buddy? 75 to 2 in game seven. They're down three nine. Why are they. He goes, It's a 60 minute game. I bought, I said, Buddy, it's a 60 year curse. Why are they.
Biz Nasty
I was waving the white flag. Just make it 40. Get me out of here. I want to go looking for flights out of promo.
Ryan Whitney
Hey, I can't believe they're booing. There's 20 minutes. No, buddy, no.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, there's nothing left. No, I was. And they go, they go. What would you say if you're the coach going in for a speech that.
Keith Yandle
Was unbelievable.
Biz Nasty
To go on Expedia and catch a flight, hotel deal the Cancun, get the out of this city before they start pipe bombing your house. Like, get. Get in the witness protection.
Caesar
Hide your kids, hide your wife.
Ryan Whitney
Hey, cheap. Oh, what? Four Check. We start in the third with. I would. I'd get your families out of their house right now. I would consider putting the house on the market. Guys, let's just make sure.
Biz Nasty
Don't sleep anymore. Just leave it. Oh.
Ryan Whitney
Can I go through some of my favorite tweets that I read post game? We want to talk about the game.
Biz Nasty
That's a good place to start. That's a good place to start.
Ryan Whitney
Okay. Okay. This is. This is from Drew Livingston, Leafs Core 4 games, 5, 6 and 7 from 2019 to 2025. William Nylander, 20 games. 20 games played, 8 goals, 8 assists. The guy is. The guy is easily the one player you could never get rid of. So Core 1, the Core 1, Matthews, 18 games played, 8 goals, 4 assists. Now, there's another tweet that goes along with this. Tavares, 17 games played, 5 goals, 5 assists. Mitch Marner, 20 games played, not one goal.
Biz Nasty
Not one goal.
Ryan Whitney
Oh, let's go to another one. Dan Tensor. And this one. The Oilers have as many series wins in the last three weeks. Then the Maple Leafs happened 20 years.
Biz Nasty
Unbelievable.
Keith Yandle
You made that one up with. That was.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, that last one's not real.
Paul Bissonnette
Right?
Biz Nasty
That's.
Ryan Whitney
What do you mean, 20 years? 20 years. The Leafs have won two series. The others won two in the past three weeks.
Keith Yandle
Anyone who's still in biz has won more than the Leafs in the last.
Biz Nasty
Why the was Justin Bieber sitting behind the bench like that?
Ryan Whitney
I. I said, what? I. I go, why is he not in a box? And then my wife's like, he's a jock sniffer. He probably wants to be close to the action. I said, you can't even see anything.
Biz Nasty
Like, I would have rather had this all seats. I would rather had oldie in those seats. So they could have at least maybe put them on for a shift or two.
Keith Yandle
Yeah, but honestly, why like everyone who knows hockey, that's the worst seat in the entire building.
Biz Nasty
Worst seat in the house.
Keith Yandle
Why would I. Yeah, I don't know.
Biz Nasty
I don't know.
Ryan Whitney
Unless you have between him.
Biz Nasty
Drake. Between him and Drake. I mean, that's a curse right there. Drake put a million bucks on the game and then after the game posted them and beaver and said the be the beaver curse. Oh, my God.
Ryan Whitney
I got one more. I got one more tweet.
Biz Nasty
I loved only one. Are you kidding me?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, well, there. I think there's a Couple more with this one. I really liked Luke Fox.
Biz Nasty
All right.
Ryan Whitney
Most important game of an era, Simone Benoit and Bobby McMahon, a couple of guys who were never drafted, were tied for most shots by a Maple Leaf in game seven with three.
Biz Nasty
Shout out to them, hey, Benny boy, he can come back.
Ryan Whitney
He's awesome. He's awesome.
Biz Nasty
He's awesome. He's awesome.
Ryan Whitney
He's an unreal player.
Biz Nasty
I mean, where do we go from here? I mean, should we have some more.
Ryan Whitney
Laughs, talk about the start? Give me your thoughts on the first 10 minutes.
Biz Nasty
Oh, shot attempts were 25 to nothing. Like it's game seven at home and they already got beat and shit kicked six one the last time they were at home. See, I said so I'm thinking there's no possible way they come out and have a bad start, right? And. And it. It was so weird because it. It felt like every single shift, they would just retreat to the middle of the ice, and then every time a Florida Panther touched it in the ozone, they'd have, like, three seconds to make a decision with it. They were so slow reacting. And from a. From a game standpoint, you guys obviously know, but I'm trying to explain to the fans listening, like, they. Florida was coming so aggressive down with their D, right? We call that a split four check. Like, we used to do it with Dan Bilesman down in the American League where, like, off the hop of games, like, the first eight to ten minutes, it's like, hey, you get that F3 center support and. And the. The wings go, and the D man stay up and you got the support, but you're breathing down the winger's neck. Well, if you're a team who is seeing that right off the hop and is expecting it, and, and like I said, even if it happens in the first couple shifts and you were unaware they were coming in a split hard for check, which Florida comes hard. We know that you. You put it off the glass a bunch and punt it and kind of back them off until things get settled in, buddy. They were making such soft plays, like, up the boards and leading to turnovers and, like, easy pinches for the Florida D man to just keep plays alive. Like, it was. It was crazy how bad it was and how embarrassing how nobody was able to make a play. But not only that, even when they did turn the puck over, them playing D, compared to the game before, it looked like a different team. Like, it didn't look like the same team. Like, they went down there and in sunrise and played an unbelievable game, they stayed above the pocket.
Keith Yandle
They played great.
Biz Nasty
I think you're muted. Whit. I think we got you muted or we lost you for a quick second there.
Keith Yandle
I heard him.
Biz Nasty
I heard him. You back.
Ryan Whitney
They played great.
Biz Nasty
Oh, no, we lost you.
Keith Yandle
No, no, I hear you.
Biz Nasty
Or did we lose me? I can't hear Yans.
Ryan Whitney
I. I can hear you.
Biz Nasty
Is it me?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, hey, we played great game st.
Biz Nasty
And then, like, I saw Maple Leaf.
Ryan Whitney
Square and the fans were, like, pumped up. Did you see oldie in my lucky shirt?
Biz Nasty
I couldn't believe that, like, the lucky.
Ryan Whitney
Shirt didn't win, but this is our year.
Keith Yandle
What? What is Illuminati doing right now, Paul?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, Illuminati.
Keith Yandle
No, no, you gotta answer his biz.
Caesar
Oh.
Ryan Whitney
I had 67 grapes left in my fruit bowl. That's a sign.
Biz Nasty
This is the year.
Ryan Whitney
And next year, Jagger might sign with us. He wears number 68. That's one more year. So I don't know. Hey, I got another great one. This one. This one is my favorite. Mike bunt. I don't know who Mike bunt is.
Biz Nasty
That's Bunting's. It's a short form for Michael Bunting used to be a Trump bunt.
Ryan Whitney
The 2004. 2005 NHL season was canceled due to the lockout. I don't know if you guys remember that. My first year pro since then. The Buffalo Sabres have four playoff series wins. The Toronto Maple Leafs have two. The Sabers haven't made the playoffs in 14 years.
Biz Nasty
Oh, my God.
Ryan Whitney
I feel sick for Leafs fans. I swear to God, I. I actually, no joke, feel sick for them because Leafs fans are in my. My mentions. It. They're like, this is not fair. This is so not fair. It's like Ryder not playing in the third period. This isn't fair, Dad. I know, bud, but life isn't fair. And being a Leafs fan, it's got to be the worst feeling in the world. It's got to be something where you wake up every day and you think, today's a different day. Today is a different, different day. The weather's nice. We can't continue. No, nothing's different. Nothing's better. It'll always be the same. And because you were born in Ontario, maybe. Maybe your dad was a Leafs fan, but you're from Edmonton. You just were cursed. You were ruined from the day you first bought your first jersey or hat or card or sticker. And then looking forward, I think you really done. Poor, poor Squanto. He was actually rooting for Florida by the end of the thing.
Keith Yandle
Yeah, of Course he was. He's.
Biz Nasty
Hey, can I ask you guys a question? Specifically you, Yance, were you a little nervous on what Oldie was able to go do down in Florida and then bringing it back to Toronto? Just like a. Were you a little bit nervous that he was gonna throw Bob off again?
Keith Yandle
Yeah, I was. I can't. I can't lie. I. I wasn't happy. I wasn't happy you did that to me, that you would make my friend turn on me like, that. I wasn't happy about.
Biz Nasty
So can I. So can I tell the story how. On how. I think it came to be the whole oldie thing. So you went on pmt. I didn't listen to the hit, so I guess he listened to it. And on it you're like, oh, yeah, Biz is gonna go watch it at some dive bar and well, and I might have oldie column and like, fake friend him and find out which bar he's going to and send it a bunch of Florida Panthers fans. So that funny. So he heard that and then he DM'd me, being like, hey, what's up? And then when he did that and. And I think he tried to call me via, like, Twitter. I didn't know you could do that in the Twitter dms, like, call me through it. And then I texted you and asked you for his number. So when I did that, I was like, hey, I'm gonna be in Welland, and, you know, why don't you come down and end up watching the game with me? So he did. And like, he was such positive vibes. I didn't know what to expect. I never met him. Like, obviously he. Originally when I went on PNT and I said that they need to have a Canadian ambassador on the PMT live stream for the four nations, I said, you know, or they had four people submit. You were the one who texted the whole group like, hey, I got to get this oldie guy in there to represent Canada and hold. Hold his end of the bargain. And that's how it all. Obviously oldie came to be. So when. When I brought him down there, that was the first time that I'd actually had interaction with him. And I'm like, oh, my God, I'm going to give this guy my yellow shirt because Merle's had messed in the chat. You should send him down to Florida. So we did, like, that whole idea came up in like 24 hours. He's married with kids. He's like, sure, I'll get on a flight, goes down there, does what he does. Behind Bob. And, and here we are. So the fact that it all really started because of you, you almost cost your team.
Keith Yandle
I know. That's why I was pissed.
Biz Nasty
You almost fucking ruined the Florida Panthers with the oldie trick.
Keith Yandle
But guess what? We got to play the Leafs and we got to play the Leafs at home in a Game seven. And you knew they weren't going to come through. You absolutely knew that's what they lost. Game 6. I was with my friends. I'm like, I'm like, this is actually even better because it makes it so much better when they win on the road. Dude, they were minus 145 dogs on the road. Game 7 favorite.
Ryan Whitney
They were favorite on the road.
Keith Yandle
Yeah, that's what I meant.
Biz Nasty
That's what he meant. Yeah.
Keith Yandle
It'S, it's all, I'm like, it just, it makes for a better storyline. You get a Game seven. I'm like, I just, I kind of hope it just goes to overtime. I hope they can make it a good game. Bomb six one. Irish Travelers times two, baby.
Biz Nasty
The, the, the. I will say the craziest part about it all is the fact that they kind of turned it around in the second half of the first period. Like, because Florida was coming so strong, Toronto was able to squeak a few buy them. They had two breakaways and then a few other grade A's, like the Nylander chance, which Bob was unreal on. Hey, and Bob was money when he had to be money, especially with not getting any type of rubber in the first, like 10 to 12 minutes. That ain't easy. Like, all of a sudden your first shot's a breakaway. So I felt like after that, I'm like, okay, the Leafs have settled in. They got the big stops early. Like, they got their feet underneath them. And then they come out for the second period after it being tied, nothing, Nothing. After killing off that big penalty at the end of the first. And they were even worse that entire period. They looked like the first 10 minutes of the first. That's why when, like, listen, I understand if, like, Ace is like, hey, wait till the end of the game to boo your team. Sure. I, I, I would have been in the same boat as him after the first 20, after they settled things down, if they would have booed him off the ice, but having started the first 10 to 12 minutes and then having a full 20 in the second period like that, if you're paying 5k for a low lowerable seat at Scotiabank, bro, outside of throwing your jersey on, on the ice during play, And. And hucking beers on the ice. Boo all the you want. Like, that is an absolute joke. The fact that they came out and started the second period. Now another thing. Rooney. Is it Chris Rooney?
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, dude.
Biz Nasty
He said, I thought he lost his eye.
Keith Yandle
Me too. That was scary.
Biz Nasty
Okay, so if anything, I thought that would have killed that time off, would have killed Florida's juju and momentum like that. That was such a scary thing. It was like, what, like probably like an 8 to 10 minute layover. They brought the stretcher out. Like, I was worried from at that moment, you're kind of like, okay with the. What's going on with the game. Like, did this guy just lose his eye? He was gushing blood. So shout out to all the refs and linesmen who, you know, they're grinding through playoffs, man, more so than probably anyone. And they face all the scrutiny, too. So. Whit, I know that you know him. He's a Boston guy. Doesn't he live around, like, your neighborhood or something?
Ryan Whitney
He's my neighbor. And I. When. When the. They showed the refs at the beginning, I was showing Ryder, I'm like, oh, that's. That's Chris. He lives right over there. And then that happened. Ryder was actually kind of. Because all the blood, he's like, what happened to him? And I'm like, oh, my God, did this guy lose his eye? He sent me, I texted him and he just responded with a picture. His eye is completely swollen shut. Like I'm talking out to here. Thank God. It was just right above tons of stitches. But yeah, and Bisque quickly about the whole booing at the end of the second and the Second, two things. One, they turned it around in the last 10 minutes. They were great. It was the McMahon breakaway, it was the Lawton breakaway. It was the Nylander save that somehow Bob caught in between his arm. And then the Leafs were. The fans were cheering them getting off the ice. They were.
Biz Nasty
They were.
Ryan Whitney
The fans were awesome.
Biz Nasty
Leaving the first even after Florida had scored a couple goals in the second period. They started the goalies go chance right after the puck drop. Like they tried to get them back in it a few times. And I'm like, right, it's the Yacht Club. A as much criticism as they show, as much blow as they're doing down below while they're mucking their sushi. They brought the noise. So, you know, no, nothing on. On them. But I think before we get to maybe what is going to happen in the future here with the Toronto Maple Leafs, I think we really need to shift the focus to the Florida Panthers and like, what they've built the. The guys they brought in through. Whether it was free agency, like, guys like Nate Schmidt, whether it was guys through trade, like Brad Marshaw, Leaf Killer 5, 0 now in. In game Sevens against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ryan Whitney
Six points in those five games.
Biz Nasty
Six points in those five games. Like, I believe that was his 13th game seven, like, all time, which is like one of the highest of any player to ever play in the National Hockey League. So, like, not only did they have the pieces in place from like, a core perspective, but all the moves that Bill Zito has made and staff because, like, you got to credit all the scouts and all the. All the research they've done to put those right people in place, including, like, their fourth line. So Seth Jones, guys like, are you kidding me?
Ryan Whitney
Best player. He was the best player on the ice.
Biz Nasty
Him and Marshall, the two people they traded for. Right. Right at the deadline in a little bit before, were the best players on the ice for the Florida Panthers. So Yance, you're. You're the Florida insider. Let's start with you on. On. On who you want to give praise to because, I mean, it's really every guy in that lineup and what they brought, especially in games five and seven.
Keith Yandle
Yeah, I think. I mean, obviously you get a. Bob gets a lot of credit, but I think just from the two, you know, eggs he kind of laid first two games to come back in. The way that he played was incredible. Like, he never lost his cool about him. Even when he was giving up weak goals, he just still kind of stayed in the moment. Thought he was amazing. Obviously a key opponent to that, to that win. Even last night, those say the breakaway save, it was nothing. Nothing at the time or maybe one nothing. Right. So huge saves then. Also Aaron Ekblad, too. Another guy. Like, he, you know, obviously missed some time this year. I think he's up for contract this year. Like, he's. They have to resign him. He is so good, especially when you can have a one, two punch with him and Seth Jones, like that. Just amazing. The third line. I was. I was talking to, you know, my wife and. And kids last night who don't know much about, you know, what's going on. I'm like, this third line is. Has been the best line in hockey, probably, like. Or especially for the Panthers, but for the. Since playoff started, which is an anomaly for playoff hockey, usually it's your big boys carrying you, but they have been amazing. You can just tell what Marchie has brought to that group. And he said, I think it was when he was talking to you guys. But just the, you know how they've come together and gel together. But that's a hundred percent him, I think, because I know those two guys, they're quiet guys, they work hard, put their head down, but I guarantee you he's the guy in there kind of getting them together and just making them have the chemistry that they have had and they're winning them games. What else? Who, who else is.
Ryan Whitney
The Leafs have four guys who make more money than Barkov.
Keith Yandle
Yeah. Have you ever. He would never complain. The, the guy's just a horse man, like Barky. I tell everybody every time I talk about him, he's the best player that anyone that has played with, has ever played with. He, he's just all three zones in the locker room outside of the game. Just brings it. He's a true dog. Like, he has that in him like we were talking about with Chuck. He's not out there, rah rah. And he's just got the dog in him where he's just shows up to work every day, puts his work boots on and it's, it's, it's amazing to see him. You know, Matthew Kachuka, I don't think had his best series or hasn't even had his best series so far this playoffs, but he is going to show up. And that's, that's the best part about this team is they don't, they don't need one or two guys carrying them. Like next series it's going to be Benny, it's going to be Matthew, it's going to be Rhino. Like they just, they're going to come in waves. So truly, truly amazing series. I, I love the fact that what they did, being down 02, coming back home, playing in front of their own fans, no panic in their team, just everything I saw, just zero panic. I don't know if it starts with Maurice and comes down through the captains and, you know, but wherever it's coming from, it's truly amazing how they just keep it even keel go out, do their job and you know, right now, the last few years, they're the standard.
Biz Nasty
Of the league standard.
Ryan Whitney
How about, how about all the people when Seth Jones was traded?
Biz Nasty
Oh, I don't know.
Ryan Whitney
Like this guy, he's not good anymore.
Biz Nasty
Chicago fans, more.
Ryan Whitney
You're judging a player on a bad team. Like it. Some guys, yeah, they're bad, bad players on bad teams. This guy was on a horrible team, playing a ton of minutes Obviously he's going to look even worse. They never have the puck in the offensive zone. He's tied down in his own end all the time. He gets on Florida. I mean, first off, that shot, that was, that was like a shot, like a 50, 60 goal score makes. It was right where the crossbar meets the, the post. Perfect shot on a two on one on a sick dish. I think it was Rodriguez who dished it to him.
Biz Nasty
Rodriguez was great.
Ryan Whitney
Rodriguez was great. He came back in the lineup for Boquist. And then. And then the way Seth Jones is just kind of controlling the play out there. I don't know how that wasn't a goal. The one they called back. Like, I, I don't know. It wasn't a kick.
Biz Nasty
Maybe that was. That should have been a goal. That should have been a goal.
Ryan Whitney
And then forget. Forget the, the, the goals or. And then the one that wasn't allowed the hockey IQ on him to push the puck ahead and not touch it.
Keith Yandle
Dude.
Ryan Whitney
To let. Was it Greer who was coming back to get on?
Biz Nasty
I think it was Gadjevic.
Ryan Whitney
What a smart play in the moment, right? Like it's. It maybe sounds a little stupid, but like, no, all right, I gotta let him clear. I'll push it ahead. The same thing had happened, I believe, in the. Was it Colorado Dallas series.
Biz Nasty
Yeah.
Ryan Whitney
I mean, you bring that guy in and people are like, I don't know, I don't know. And even I was like, if you're bringing him in, why didn't you resign? Montour, which I guess still is somewhat of. Of a discussion, but after seeing Seth Jones play like that and the interview after with. With Jackie Redmond, he was kind of just like, yeah, just being here and the way these guys approach everything, like, I just want to kind of do my job and just, just help out any way I can. Because the way everything's approached and how there is no panic. He just went on and on about how special of a room it is. And obviously, I mean, they're probably gonna go back to their third straight Cup Final. I mean, we'll talk about that series in a little bit with Jovo. I. I'm just amazed, amazed at them. They were down 3:1 in game three and they still weren't panicking. So.
Keith Yandle
Yeah. Wait, have you ever seen like, even. Even them celebrating after the game? And like you just said about Jones interview after, they're just like, okay, all right, on to the next. They're not like, they're not a winner mindset.
Ryan Whitney
Well, they won 14 to nothing. So it's like, good game, guys.
Biz Nasty
They didn't even celebrate by the end.
Ryan Whitney
I know, I know.
Biz Nasty
They had more friends and family still there than there were Leaf fans in the building. What do you mean? It felt like a, it felt like a, a preseason scrimmage, like black versus white game. So many more. Like, like, like the fourth line. Like, I thought like the, like the fourth line for the Panthers, like, would have been probably the most effective line for the Toronto Maple Leafs had they been a line on their team. And the fact that they keep interchanging them as well, like that. No, sick, incredible pickup. I love that Greer. I've talked about how I played against him in the American League, where in the American League he was a first liner. First, second liner, played special teams and like when there were scrums and he'd be barking the entire time where you're like, okay, like if this guy, like wants to even just alter his game where he was a, like a, a bottom six guy, this guy would be unbelievable. Could play any way you want. And it's, it's no surprise that he's found a nice home in Florida. As you guys already mentioned, we're going to be bringing on Ed Jovanowski. He works for the team, he does television. There's obviously a longtime. Panther was drafted first overall, you know, probably knows more. He's forgotten more about hockey than I know. So I think we should probably bring him on now to continue to discuss the Florida Panthers and then we can get back, get back to talking about the Leafs. But wait, I'll throw it over to you for a little house cleaning.
Ryan Whitney
Yes, Sorry. Before we bring on Jovo, we gotta talk body armor, boys. Body armor. This episode is brought to you by the Body Armor sports drink. Body armor has great taste in flavors. Right here. Strawberry, banana. This one, Peach, mango, orange, mango. No artificial dyes, flavors or sweeteners. I was lucky enough to be at Keith's sister Lauren surprise 40th birthday party Saturday evening. And it was a great night. Saw so many hot plugs.
Biz Nasty
What? Any butt plugs? Well, you, you said that there are butt plugs at my 40th party, so I just want to know if there were any at theirs.
Ryan Whitney
I forgot I said that. And I was like, what the is he talking about right now? But the next morning, I needed body armor. Kept me, got me hydrated and keep me hydrated. Got me hydrated. Got me through a Sunday at the rink. Body armor is where it's added in a new bold look with the same great taste. Get Your body armor today at Walmart or a local grocery store near you. Body armor choose better. And now let's bring in the man, Jovo Cop Ed Jovanovsky. What's up, Florida Panthers? Take the undershirt off, Eddie.
Keith Yandle
Take the undershirt off.
Biz Nasty
Welcome to the content game. That Jovanoski. Let's go.
Paul Bissonnette
Yeah.
Matthew Kachuk
And I figure I. Can you guys hear me good?
Biz Nasty
Oh, we can hear you great.
Matthew Kachuk
I. I figured I wear my. This is. This is my buddy's boat. So I figured it's. It's the right. It's called momentum. I figured it fits.
Biz Nasty
Never heard of it.
Matthew Kachuk
You'll never be on it either.
Biz Nasty
You. You haven't skipped a beat. Hey, Joma, this for everybody listening. We. I used to come on the plane and you boys, well dressed. Jovo, I say, Jovo, that's a real nice sweater. What kind of sweater is that? And he'd look at me from the card table like, why is this peasant bothering me? Expensive. That's. Hey, Joe. Hey, Jovo, you got change for a 20? That is change. Ed Jova, you are one of a kind, brother. One of a kind.
Matthew Kachuk
I tell you what, buddy. I love. You know I love you.
Biz Nasty
Yeah.
Matthew Kachuk
You were in one, buddy.
Biz Nasty
I am.
Matthew Kachuk
Oh, my God.
Biz Nasty
I was deep in the. The sauce.
Matthew Kachuk
Have you slept?
Biz Nasty
Not much. Not much, buddy. I turn. I turned it on for. For four weeks. I went hard in the paint reliefs. And I wish the boys would have showed as much effort on the ice as I did on the Internet for the last month, but. But that wasn't the case. But we're not here to talk about the Toronto Maple Leaf. We're here to talk about this series. What you saw. Congrats on your post career doing television with the Florida Panthers. Talk about this team, man. Like, this is a well oiled machine looking to repeat potential third trip to the Stanley cup finals. Where do you even begin with this squad?
Matthew Kachuk
Well, just before he came on, just listen to what you guys are talking about after the game. It's kind of like, hey, listen, you know, we got, you know, we overcame, we jumped one more hurdle, right? So now we're going to face Carolina, you know, celebrate. You know, they've been there before and I think just going into a game seven like this, it was just clinical. I mean, I really. Right from the drop of the puck, you can see, you know, just the jam that the guys played with. And you know, when things did break down a couple times there, Bob was up for it. And then the second period, just go on and on and never mind that third period, Toronto gets on the board with Domi's goal and then immediately right after that they kind of stopped that with, you know, with Florida's fourth goal. So they're a deep team as you guys were talking about, up and down the lineup. I love that you guys mentioned the fourth line on that group just the way, no, sick. He hasn't been in the lineup. He's been healthy, you know, kind of leading up and got back into the lineup and really kind of showing why they brought this guy in there. He's a big centerman and, and Greer and gadgets is great to see these guys get, get on the board. They do all the little things, all the bumping and grinding down low. They're not an east west line, they're a north south line and, and just right top to bottom, man, right now, I mean the team is pretty good.
Ryan Whitney
Jovo. After, you know, game six happens kind of shocking, right? Like, wow, this team had the balls to go in there, shut out the Panthers. What was your thought going into game seven? Like, were you, were you very confident or were you after game six thinking, jesus, like they might end up, they might end up doing this?
Matthew Kachuk
Yeah, you like to close that one out at home, right? I mean, I mean now, now you're going into a game seven and you run into a hot goaltender, you know, a timely goal, anything can happen. You know, a lot of people ask me, what do you think? And I, you know what I'm going to say. I'm like, we're good, we got this, you know, and. But I think you draw on that.
Biz Nasty
Experience.
Matthew Kachuk
And I wish they did. And I think when you come into this situation, you have like a guy they brought in like you guys were talking about Brad Marshaw, just this is the fifth time he's beat the wheels off this Leaf team. I mean it's unbelievable. So does that. Is there a message going out for game seven? Hey guys, you know what? Whatever happens in this, we remain even keel. Which has kind of been their motto. Up or down in, in a game. We saw it in, in game three. Down, three, one. I mean they found a way to come back and win yesterday. I don't think they wanted a chance. Anything you can see right from the drop of the puck, this team was raring to go and really kind of sent that message early on. But I agree wits, I think you're going into a game seven, you have to trust the guy next to you. Trust the system. The game plan that was implemented by the Coaches and they executed. And what it comes down to is execution, right? I mean, this team executed well. Got on a little bit of a tear there and just kind of didn't let up.
Biz Nasty
This is a question for kind of Yans and you, Jovo, did you see like, were they coming in a split? Like, was that just something that they were coming in off the hop with all like the pinching of the defenseman? And have you had a chance to, to talk with Paul Maurice and like get to know him at all and like, I mean, he just seems like he can fire up the boys more than any coach you ever seen in your life and they just respect them and whatever he says they're willing to do.
Matthew Kachuk
Yeah, I think, I think so. He's been around a long time and I think he knows kind of what buttons to press at the right time. But you hear him say Yan's, you can, you can chime in here too. I, he trusts his group. So I think a lot of these things he kind of leaves it up to his group. You know, going out there in a game, you're going to put the game plan in right after that. He can't go out there and fucking put the skates on and go play. I mean, the guy's got to do it. So I think having the experience that these guys have played in big moments, big games, played a lot of hockey of late, I think they can draw on that into these games, but they just trust in each other. I think when you look at this line, this team as it goes, it's a fucking red wave, man. I'm telling you. They just come after you, come after you, come after you. And you look at the anticipation of the D last night, that's kind of a double edged sword. You see a couple times they kind of got. If you're going to get that aggressive, they can pick you apart. And they had a couple breakaways there that Bob came up to save, but overall they were, they were a little aggressive and I'm sure that was discussed. Hey, listen, let's try to keep as much alive we can in the offensive zone.
Keith Yandle
Jovo, I want to ask you, and as a former first overall pick to Florida and Ecky the same way, and you know, he came into the league probably expected, expecting to be more of an offensive guy and put up massive numbers. And I just love the way that he's transformed his game into being just a solid defenseman that can, you know, shut down any line, but also can play good offensively, make good plays like it almost reminds me of you, too. Like, the way you played. He played. You played hard as he plays hard. And it's just like, I see similarities in both of you, and, like, I'm just. I'm proud of him, the way that he's done it. And you see that the same.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
Matthew Kachuk
Came. You know the old saying, you come in as a. As a crusher, you turn into a rusher, and then eventually, like me, you're an usher, you know, But I just think you look at a guy like Stevie Iserman, right? Just how prolific score he was, point guy, and you can see him towards the end of his career, how solid defensively he was. That's kind of where I seen Eckie on the other side of things is.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, he can.
Matthew Kachuk
He can run a court. He can quarterback.
Biz Nasty
Do you want to answer that? Is that your phone?
Keith Yandle
Who the hell has a house?
Matthew Kachuk
No, I'm not in my medical practice here. I. I actually can be a secretary.
Ryan Whitney
That's Barubi.
Biz Nasty
He's like a boob job.
Matthew Kachuk
But, yeah, I. I think his game with forsling, they draw all those tough assignments, right? Playing 25, 26 minutes on your toes every shift because you're facing the best. And I think he's really accepted that role. And I talked to him, and he takes more pride. And I think I was the same way, too. As you get latter part of your career, you know, the numbers are what they are. But I think you take more pride in being a plus player and playing on the defensive side of things, because, you know, at the end of the day, that wins you hockey games. It wins the championships. And I think he recognizes that, and he's done an unbelievable job. And I like where his game is right now. And I heard you talking beforehand. You look at this team and you take a guy like Ekblad out of lineup, they're just a different group. I say the same thing with Sam Bennett. You know, you take a spark plug like that out of your lineup, they're just a different group because he adds so much, not only in a scoring area, but just, you know, firing the group. The heart and soul of a group. Yeah, even.
Keith Yandle
Even Ecky, when I was skating with him, you know, and it was just me and him, and I know you, like, I would be like, hey, you want to do some, like, shooting drills, pass? And like, he's like, no, he's like, I want to do four check and stuff. Like, I want you to dump it in, be on my ass and try to try to get the puck from each other and I'm like, who's working on breakouts when you're by yourself? You know, I thought he just wanted snapping around, but like you said, he's really taking pride in, you know, what he's become as a player. And it's, it's special to see now.
Matthew Kachuk
They'Ve mastered that flipper.
Keith Yandle
It's great.
Matthew Kachuk
I'll tell you what, you flip it into the neutral zone and, and, and you can get into that foot race. And it's not only the Panthers that do it. You look around the league, I mean, a lot of these guys, because the pressure is coming so quick, especially in the playoffs.
Biz Nasty
I wish the Leafs would have done it more. I said that about the start of the game, the first 10:12 minutes. It's like they're trying to make these soft, slow plays to the winger. It's like, buddy, they're. The defensemen are breathing down their neck. Punt it off the glass or, or send a floater into the air and, and, and back them off a little bit. I feel like, like that's something that Florida's done so successfully and, and that's why they win hockey games. It doesn't always have to be pretty tape to tape. And the cleanest breakout you've ever seen. Did you not find that the Leafs could have like implemented that into their game a little bit to at least start off?
Keith Yandle
They would, yeah.
Matthew Kachuk
But you know, the biggest thing, the biggest thing with this group is the forecheck. So they do come at you hard and sometimes, yeah, you want to make that nice play. The clean exits come out of your zone. But you know, sometimes you got to play it safe and get into that neutral zone and not give teams added offensive zone time. And that's where you see the Florida Panthers different in a lot of, you know, areas, they don't give teams extra opportunities when they don't need to. I mean, yeah, there's going to be a, there's going to be a breakdown in the zone and you know, teams will have their way in that area, but for the most part they're, they're coming out of the zone and they're on the attack and they're coming up as a five man unit.
Ryan Whitney
I was in talking about Marshawn earlier. We didn't mention that interview he had done at some point in this series where he talked about like, I came over here and like the shock of being traded and not only just being traded, but to, to a rival from the Bruins. And it just took him a while, like do you remember an instance in your career where it's kind of crazy being dealt and then all of a sudden, like, after 15, 20 games, you're finally like, all right, I feel. I feel at peace here. I feel normal. And that pretty much to me explains, like, what he was able to do in this series.
Matthew Kachuk
Yeah, it's got to be tough for him. I mean, obviously, it's. I've spent three and a half years before I got dealt to Vancouver, so a little bit different. I think the history with. With Marchie in Boston and coming to this situation, maybe a little bit slow to start with on him. But I tell you what, when this playoff started and it was a new player, like last night, it was unbelievable. This. This guy was winning every 50, 50 puck battle. He was pickpocketing players. He was great on his edges and creating things, the low to high plays.
Paul Bissonnette
And.
Matthew Kachuk
And I think for that you can see him having so much fun here. Just another opportunity for him, you know, in this situation here. And it's been an unbelievable fit.
Biz Nasty
I feel like he's the most talked about on that line. But Luster, Rynen and Lundell, like, these guys are not household names. Like, for those of the people watching Jovo, like, describe their play and how much they mean to the group as well. Paul Maurice, I think he was asked after the game, he's like, how many more years does loose ride and have? And they said three. They said, he's like, damn. Like, that's. That's good for us. And probably at a hell of a bargain, too, right?
Matthew Kachuk
Well, I think the one word that you're going to, you know, when you talk about these two guys is responsible.
Biz Nasty
And.
Matthew Kachuk
And I think for. That's the. Probably the toughest thing, and it's coming out of coach's mouth. Toughest thing to teach these young players coming in is develop on them on the other side of the puck. And I think that's what exactly the Florida Panthers did with these two guys. And. And they're so responsible. They're put out in key situations. They kill penalties. Lundell play both sides of things, but Lucy's sneaky big. You know, he's a tall boy. He protects the. You watch him along the boards, and that's kind of moving forward to the Carolina series. They're kind of similar in that fashion where a lot of board battles, and I think that's going to be a good matchup in that way. But these two guys have learned, you know, probably quite a bit for Marchie playing with him, but I know he enjoys playing with them because they have the speed, they got the size, and they work well together in small areas.
Keith Yandle
Jo, those guys have been. They've been following around Barky since he got there too. Like those guys, they're learning from Sasha Barkov, who is, you know, responsible both ends of the ice. I, you know, I can only imagine the. What they're Learning in a 2, 3, 4 year, you know, it's a crash course on how to be an NHL, you know, Selkie award winner. And they're doing it. They're listening. And now they get to play with another legend like Marshawn. It's surprised there's even any water in that thing. Biz.
Biz Nasty
It's not.
Paul Bissonnette
You're right, man.
Matthew Kachuk
And that's not the. You're not the first guy that ever heard say that. And I think, you know, we touch on it a lot that come from. From the coach. I think anytime you see, you know, a guy like Barkov, just the amount of time first on the ice working on whatever he's working on, he's so good at everything. I don't know if you can get better at anything. But, you know, for Bark off and just putting the time in and, and how responsible he is, you know, in, in the 200 foot game and you kind of watch these two guys and, you know, it's. There's a lot of similarities between, you know, them, but they learn from him and, and it's just a treat to watch each and every night. Especially Barkov, because he's this. He's still. He's a star in the league, but he is not. He doesn't get that recognition. Recognition that I think he should league wide and he does with the players.
Keith Yandle
Which is kind of all you want.
Matthew Kachuk
Yeah, he makes everyone better. And that's. That's kind of testament to his game.
Biz Nasty
Yeah. Like a guy like Evan Rodriguez and no disrespect to him. I mean, you could put a. You could put anybody on Barkov's line. They're going to have success. That's what I want to ask.
Matthew Kachuk
Because you would get 30 playing with him.
Biz Nasty
That's what I'm saying. I could have made a lot of money playing with Sasha. Yeah, shots. Evan Rodriguez and Nate Schmidt, like kind of two guys who maybe don't get talked about, like, pretty much because they have such a good lineup. But I felt like, like they're so good at getting these pickups like the year prior. They get Oliver Ekman, Larson on a cheap number and he ends up having a huge playoff form. Nate Schmidt, I believe he's got three goals, four assists, seven points so far in these playoffs. He's been a huge number 5, 6 guy. And then ever Rodriguez, who got hurt, he gets thrown back in. As Whit mentioned, he makes a huge play on that first goal from Seth Jones. So like, just talk about what these guys like, the guys that definitely don't get talked about enough do for the lineup.
Matthew Kachuk
Well, you look at what. What Schmidt did in the. In the first round, you know, with the, you know, scored three goals versus Tampa. So he brings the offense. He's got experience, and I think that's what you're looking at. You're going to lose. You're not going to replace them on tour. You know, you got guys that come into the lineup and. And you want to find their way. And I think the system that the Panthers play, that these guys can come in and fit in seeming seamlessly and do a good job. Same thing with, like, Erod. I mean, he's been here for. For a couple years, but he. He's played with McKinnon, he's played with Sid, you know, so he's.
Biz Nasty
He's.
Matthew Kachuk
He's kind of played up and down the lineup. Call him that Swiss army knife. You can put him on the fourth line winger, you can put him in the top line. He can play with anyone. And I think that just goes back to the responsibility of a player that you can trust him. When he goes out there and you can see him yesterday, I mean, his biggest asset is his speed. He drives the play low. He likes to turn up play. And now he's kind of finding, you know, what's coming in late. But this Bill Zito, man, I tell you, man, he brings these guys in and he's got to work within that cap because we all know how this game works where you're at. You got to take care of certain guys. That's just the way it is. And you bring these guys in here that sign these deals, that you end up losing them again because they're going to get paid somewhere else. And I think the Panthers are okay with that and happy about that, that these guys can move on and make some more money and move on, but they experience something here, and you have an opportunity to win each and every year, and it's not a bad place to live.
Biz Nasty
And when you create a culture like that, too, I feel like everybody's willing to take a million less a year. Like, a guy like Reinhardt, like, he could have got way More in free agency. You know, they got, they got Marshawn who's going to hit free agency. Like I wouldn't be shocked if he signs for less than what the Bruins offered him just because he loves the environment and wants to, wants to win hockey games. Right?
Matthew Kachuk
That's, they created something really special and it's, it's taken some time and I think they've done it the right way. They drafted, developed these players and bring in pieces that you know are going to kind of complete this whole thing. But the practice facility ends. You know, I mean state of the art. All the players kind of live in that area. They're, they're taking their golf carts or whatever. They're just close, they're close knit group and they've created, they've created this culture here in this organization where it's a place that hey listen, when free agency comes up, you know, the Panthers are at the top of the list of players wanting to come here.
Ryan Whitney
Looking forward to the conference finals. We get the rematch from two years ago where it was a sweep. Unless you're Rod Bridge no more. He said it wasn't a sweep, but they were, they were very close games. One of the longest games ever played. Both teams forecheck so well. I mean I look though at like Jarvis Ajo Jackson, Blake Rostovich, you know, it's a, it is a smaller team. So do you just think the Cats are just going to look at this like we have to just run them over non stop chip it. And even though that's what Carolina wants to do, you think Florida's like we have to just use our physicality over these guys.
Matthew Kachuk
Well, I think it's, it's a staple other game and, and I think the Panthers are all about getting the puck in deep and creating that forecheck and, and being physical. It's not putting guys through the boards. But I think when you look at that Toronto going back to leaves here, I think they wore them out. I mean come game seven. I mean it's just a hard battle. I mean it was a grinding series and I think you might not see the dividends here after game two. But if the series does go along, along the physical part, I think the edge goes to the Panthers where I think, you know, Carolina, they got a nice back end. I mean Slavin just got. This guy's a beast. And Burns been around forever. Orlov Walker. These guys, I think they're a solid team. They don't do anything, I don't think they do anything fancy like we said earlier, I think they're just straightforward group that just plays the way their coach played, you know, just hard. Never give up. Stingy defensively. That's gonna be a tight series.
Biz Nasty
They're gonna have Bennett the Menace all over slaving like they. They did a few years ago.
Matthew Kachuk
He remember that hit?
Biz Nasty
You remember a board advertisement?
Matthew Kachuk
He hit him at the goal line. At the goal line and he actually is back hit the boards.
Biz Nasty
Yeah.
Matthew Kachuk
He was where old.
Biz Nasty
He was during warm up. He was where Oldie was during warm up. He was behind the glass.
Ryan Whitney
Right.
Matthew Kachuk
It was crazy.
Biz Nasty
Did you see that Oldie guy in. In Sunrise?
Matthew Kachuk
I didn't see him. I saw him on. I saw him all over social media.
Biz Nasty
Okay.
Matthew Kachuk
Kind of getting tired of him.
Paul Bissonnette
But.
Biz Nasty
That'S Yan's. That was the best man at Yanza's wedding. That was the best man at his wedding.
Ryan Whitney
Another. Another stat here. We kind of forgot to mention biz about game seven. It was through two periods, the Panthers had 75 shot attempts against the Leafs, which was the most any team in the NHL had this year, regular season and playoffs.
Paul Bissonnette
Wow.
Ryan Whitney
Just another. Just another reminder.
Biz Nasty
That was the Leafs too. We make history. We make history your year.
Matthew Kachuk
Well, that's where his part was worry worrisome early on in the game, you that the Panthers with all these chances, you know, but Toronto was still kind of getting those, you know, the sticks in there, the blocks. So you wonder where this game was going to go at at a certain point, you know, does it look differently if Toronto gets that first goal? But you know, Florida, you know, had the pressure on, but Toronto did a pretty good job early on in that first period of deflecting a lot of shots or blocking a lot of shots.
Biz Nasty
All right, Jovo, you want to team up for the last question brought to you by Roback?
Ryan Whitney
I don't. Do we have that ad?
Biz Nasty
I mean, I don't know. You're the bus driver. Do you want to do it?
Ryan Whitney
Okay, here we go. I'm sorry, I'm looking up stats on the Leafs. I apologize. Last question presented by Rollback. Use the code chiclets on rollback.com for a generous 20 off your first purchase through the end of the week. That's C H I C L E t s on r h O-B-A-K.com 20 off all hoodies, joggers and more with code Chiclets. Jovo, what are you doing? If you're running the Toronto Maple Leafs, what is your. What is your approach on who you're Keeping who you're letting go. How are you going to try to fix a broken organization?
Matthew Kachuk
Oh man. Well, I think there's, I mean, listen, Marner is going to go. There's no question on that. I think what happened or what didn't happen at the trade deadline with his name floating around and this and that and it's going to take a lot of money to sign him. You have to make changes to that group. They're all elite players, don't get me wrong. They're all elite players and I think that Matthews and Marner, the shit that these guys take from that media, you know something, it's just like a guy's got 100 point guys. I mean it takes more than two guys, you know, to get the job done. You look at the Florida Panthers roster, this is a well built team and it takes everybody. It's not just two. It can't be Barkov and Chucky getting it done. So I think out of that page you got to look at, hey listen, we bring in other guys that we have a more balanced lineup and that is playoff kind of tested and know you got to win these tough games. You can't rely on one or two guys. So you look at the guys that are UFAs, Tavares, who had an unbelievable year, you know, you have Marner, those are the kind of two easiest where you can start from what your decision is going to be there. But you got to get some sandpaper maybe a little bit more in there. I like what they did on their back end. I thought tan have was a great pickup. He played hard. You know you're going to get out of him each and every night. But I think trees got some work to do this summer, smart guy. Him and donor will figure it out.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, no doubt, no doubt.
Biz Nasty
You're a legend, dude.
Ryan Whitney
Thank you so much, buddy. We will, we'll talk to you throughout the, throughout the conference finals.
Biz Nasty
Dude, if you guys advance, Jovo, we'd love to get in person if we're in Florida for the finals. I'll be there for sure. I'm sure the boys will join. Yeah, I know Murals will be at the Elbow Room, so we can do it there.
Matthew Kachuk
Yeah, buddy, absolutely. Anytime.
Biz Nasty
We love you, buddy.
Ryan Whitney
Keith, apparently I'm being being told you have a special guest.
Keith Yandle
Yeah, so I reached out to my, my agents who represent a bunch of, you know, singers and stuff like that. So we got Justin Bieber coming on here to have a couple words with busy boy.
Ryan Whitney
Oh, oh no wait, it's Matthew. Good Shot. It's Matthew.
Bob Stauffer
What up, boys? What up.
Keith Yandle
When he's in the room. Biz. Thank you.
Biz Nasty
Here, one sec.
Paul Bissonnette
He's leaving.
Ryan Whitney
He's leaving. Last time he grilled you before the series and now. I know. I think.
Bob Stauffer
I think that's. I think that's what hurt them a little bit.
Ryan Whitney
I don't know.
Caesar
I don't.
Bob Stauffer
I don't know what hurt them more before that. Him asking the question.
Paul Bissonnette
Oh, man.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, I don't know what the.
Bob Stauffer
I don't know what the turning point was. Those questions before the series are Yan's on the drum. Yan's was. Was pretty dynamite there. I think that's what would change it around for us.
Ryan Whitney
Hitting the biz. Idiot T shirt. It was classic. But bunch of questions for. I know you don't have a ton of time, but let's. Let's go through what was said after game two or prior to game three. Like, you go into Toronto, doesn't go your way. Didn't look like the Florida team everyone's seen for three years. What was said within the room and from Coach Maurice.
Bob Stauffer
Yeah, I don't really know what happened in the first. I think it was just like the start of game one. We struggled, we came out, we played a really good Tampa team, and I don't know if we came out and thought it was going to be, like, easier. I don't know what it was. We just didn't play well in the first period there of game one. But then we got to our game and I felt like that they couldn't really play with us once we got like all four lines and all 60 going. Like we're, We're. We played really well, like in waves throughout the rest of the series. So we kind of got to that in game two. Still lost, but, like, you're going to lose in playoffs, even when you play well, like, it's. You're not going to. There's no team that's going to be able to just stomp through everybody. So I thought those two games at home, obviously Yan's leading the charge and I don't even remember what game that was. But no, I. Going back home. Like, we knew that the series was still on even though we were down 2 0. And I thought that we. I thought that we took care of home ice just like they did. And when you make it two two, then you're coming back for game five. Like, we know that the pressure, we kind of use that, the pressure like that they're feeling up here in Toronto almost against them in a way like, you know, that they could not afford to lose that game and they could not afford to lose that series after being up 2 0. So we kind of like, use that and kind of use that as, like, a rallying point against them. And I thought our two best games were game five and seven, obviously. So it just speaks to, you know, the way we were able to come from. From being down and out into making it a series and then ultimately taking over. Sometimes it takes to game seven, but that's why it's first to four, not first to two, not first to three. So that's what makes playoffs so great.
Biz Nasty
Do you want me to go, whip?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, I'd love to hear what you.
Keith Yandle
Have to say before you start.
Ryan Whitney
Apologize.
Keith Yandle
Apologize to the man.
Biz Nasty
I'm sorry, Matthew.
Bob Stauffer
Hey, I get it.
Keith Yandle
It's.
Bob Stauffer
Plus, I know I said it before.
Biz Nasty
But I was trying to get in your head. I think I got my own. In the meantime, I wanted to ask, were you guys. Well, I kind of. Did you guys. Did you guys know oldie or see oldie in game six? Like, you gotta tell me, that was kind of funny.
Bob Stauffer
I did not know, but I did. I did see on. On, like, Twitter and Instagram last night after the game, wearing some. Some brutal shirt.
Biz Nasty
I got a BJ at a bachelor party in that shirt. Were you surprised, like, how they played in game five and seven? Like, were you, like, surprised they laid that big of an egg?
Bob Stauffer
No, I mean, I think that we played well. Like, it's not all. You know, I. Sometimes you feel bad for. For them because, like, they have some unbelievable players and a great team. And I was actually saying this last night to. To some of the guys, like, if their team was not in, like, Toronto dealing with all, like, the. The crazy circus stuff outside of it, like, they'd be like, an unbelievable team and, like, such a hard team to play. Like, they just have so much to deal with, and I feel bad. I mean, we don't have to deal with that in Florida, and I feel like that's what makes me and my team so lucky. But, like, you almost use that against them, you know, like, the pressure that these guys have to deal with day in and day out. And, like, I wasn't surprised with how they played. Like, they had stretches in those games where they played really well. I mean, look at last night. Like, they were that second half of the first period. Like, they were unreal and Bob had to come up huge for us. So I. They definitely didn't lay an egg at all like they, they played us well, they took us to game seven and.
Biz Nasty
You know, I think that, I mean.
Ryan Whitney
That'S very, almost even more slap.
Biz Nasty
I know, that's what I'm saying. Like he like brings you out to dinner, he's got flowers, he's opening your door, he brings you home by 10 o' clock like, Jesus Christ, what the hell's going on?
Bob Stauffer
Like, like they, they, they play well. So did we. Like, we, we, you know, we got, we give them a lot of credit. They, they made it a hard series for us and ultimately I think coming down to game seven, there's a lot of pressure being the, the home team, especially in Toronto and, and we came up with a great start and kind of took the crowd out of it early.
Biz Nasty
So I just wanted to say by asking you that I was not trying to discredit you guys at all. I just felt like, you know, yeah, they showed up in the second half of that first period. I just thought From a full 60 minute perspective I would have expected a little bit more after the fact that they got, they got Irish Traveler in game five and I wasn't expecting it in game seven.
Bob Stauffer
Like, no, I mean I get, yeah, I guess, I don't know. Like they, it's crazy too because they play us so hard in Game 6, you know, and like they didn't give us much. Like there was nothing in that Game six, like both ways and, and you know, I think going into game seven, we felt as a team like playing the, playing on the road. Like let's do to them what they just did to us. Like that was such like a, a suffocating type of game. Like there was, there was nothing out there both ways.
Keith Yandle
So.
Bob Stauffer
No good, good series and it's, it's nice to beat them. Obviously. It's nice to keep going and yeah, just, just about to hop on a, on a bus to, to the, to the plane to go to Raleigh right now. It's crazy we're playing again tomorrow. But I guess that's what happens when.
Biz Nasty
You go, buddy, the fact that you came on pre series and then to button everything up afterward, like this is just a pure master class of stuffing me in a locker. So congrats to you and the boys and I appreciate you, you playing along with all the, the clownery before the series and really during whit I, I'll throw it over to you. I know you wanted to ask one.
Ryan Whitney
No, no, I know this guy, I know this guy has to go. So I, I, Congratulations. Incredible, incredible series. I, I Was going to ask, like, does that game last night? Because you're saying, yeah, you guys played great. No doubt. So maybe it's not fair to just dog the Leafs. Is that. Is that like one of. Is. Is that could. With game seven last year against the Oilers, the most well rounded game you can remember playing on the Panthers as a team, because there was just nothing for the Leafs similar to almost nothing for the Oilers in game seven last year.
Bob Stauffer
Yeah, I think last night was. Was probably the best one. Like, we. We played really good from the start. Like, every line's first shift, like the first four, like the first rotation, like, it was. It was pretty much domination those first few shifts. And like, just like getting the confidence level that we can do that in that type of a game, like on the road, like, just settles everything down and, And. And kind of set up. I know they had a really good push in the second half of that first year, but just sets up our game and knows that we can, we can roll them over. It takes. One thing I love about our team we've talked about is, like, it takes everybody. Like, it could be anybody on each night, and it could be somebody different on different nights. And I just think we're super lucky to have the depth that we have.
Biz Nasty
I just want to ask one quick last one. The two guys who probably made the biggest impact last night. Seth Jones, Brad Marshaw. In order to repeat, you have to bring in new blood that's going to rejuvenate a lineup. Like, how much do those two pieces mean to that team? And specifically Brad Marshall with the game seven numbers and, and being the Leaf Killer that he is, like, what. What has it been like getting to know these guys and be teammates with these guys?
Bob Stauffer
Yeah, they've been unreal. I mean, Marshy first, like, you know, coming in, we've had some, Some crazy series with them in the past, and the rivalry and, and, you know, he just fit in so perfectly when he came. It's like we've been playing together forever, and he brings like, that, that confidence, that swagger that we've had before, it just adds right to. He's like a perfect. This team's perfect for him. Like, it's like a. So we're so excited to have him. He's been unreal. Like, he's so strong on the puck. Their lines been just incredible. And Jonesy, like, was he not like the best defenseman in the world last night? Like, he was. He was just a man out there, just like, fooling around, almost like he was Incredible.
Biz Nasty
Chicago fans thought they fleeced you guys.
Bob Stauffer
Yeah, I don't know about that, but he was pretty good.
Biz Nasty
Flip it.
Bob Stauffer
Yeah, I'm still waiting for my dinner. I mean, I had to get her so we could get him. That's crazy.
Biz Nasty
So I say that he owes you a Rolex for getting him out of that situation.
Paul Bissonnette
I've been.
Bob Stauffer
I had to grind for months, and so, yeah, he owes me something. But, no, he's been absolutely unreal and, like, amazing guy. I've known him like, a little bit before and another guy that just fits right in to what we have down here. And I'm sorry. Happy that, you know, we have him for five. He's got the same, like, years left on his contract as I do, and I just can't wait to continue to grow with him. But I don't know, like, he was. He might have been the best player in the world last night. Like, he was incredible.
Ryan Whitney
Last quick question. How come. How come you guys didn't pack to go right to Carolina? Because you came. Are you in Florida?
Bob Stauffer
You said no, we're in. We're in. We're still in Toronto right now. Yeah, we packed for three games. We packed for three years.
Biz Nasty
You knew we.
Bob Stauffer
I wouldn't say we knew, but we were planning on it.
Biz Nasty
Chucky, I was just gonna say, buddy, like, not only thanks for coming on and having fun with the pod before the round started, after the round, to stuff me in a locker, but, like, everything you do for the game, buddy, like the. Like. Like the foration stuff, like, it's. It's hard enough, like, doing what you do on the ice, but doing it off the ice in order to promote the game. Like, you make it easy for us, buddy, and I'll. I'll never. Hey, I'll make you this promise. Even if you play the Leafs in the future, I'll. I will praise you guys. I won't act the way I did this round.
Keith Yandle
Write this down.
Bob Stauffer
Yeah, let's write this down, boys. No, because I appreciate it. It's nice to. Nice to see the old. It makes. Makes it fun, you know, the games when there's people that are pretty intense into it, but yeah, no, it's looking forward to get maybe a little bit more your support this. This round.
Biz Nasty
Then you'll have that awesome, boys.
Ryan Whitney
Appreciate tomorrow night, buddy. See you later.
Keith Yandle
Tomorrow.
Biz Nasty
Hey, hey. Round of. Hey, Everybody in the chat, including round of applause for Matthew Kachuk. For Christ's sake, man.
Keith Yandle
I'll tell you one thing for free. If I was him, I wouldn't have came back on if.
Ryan Whitney
No, no. Although. Although to. To crush his soul and belt to ask him it. I think it's actually like I gotta come. Yeah. Belt to asp is belt to assay.
Keith Yandle
So he. He's. This is what he likes.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Biz is like rock hard right now after belting his own ass. So that's not what we wanted to see. I. It. You know what though? Him saying that. Like I, I didn't even really think of the fact that they're hopping on a plane and tomorrow morning they're going to pre game skate and just start another one like the Stanley cup playoffs. And going seven creates that one day off. Then you're back on the road in the toughest place to play in the Easter conference because the Terror Dome's in Edmonton. But what, what an amazing run by this team. I mean we said it with Jovo. It's now just been three straight years of them just taking people, taking city souls. Biz. That's what, that's what the Florida Panthers do.
Keith Yandle
Playoff is legit. Guantanamo Bay now that you think about just over and over torture on your body Biz. I love the fact that you said that about him and he is such a good ambassador for the game. Something that we need so much that the, the league needs, it wants it and you know, just a great family too. Like amazing. I'm glad you said that. That was awesome.
Biz Nasty
No, I mean, I imagine Leafs would have took down Brady and Matthew, what could have been. But here we go. The older, the older brother finishes off the dirty work.
Paul Bissonnette
Yeah, you want to.
Biz Nasty
Brady's right behind him. Brady's right behind him, man. He's building that culture. Before we get to Carolina, Florida, just like talking about the Leafs, I just wanted to chime in. I agree with what Matthew said. I agree with what Joel said. Like those. That Core four is the most scrutinized core group in the entire NHL. And don't blame the fans.
Ryan Whitney
Don't do it.
Biz Nasty
What do you mean?
Ryan Whitney
Whoa.
Biz Nasty
No, I'm not blaming the fans. I thought Matthew was, was very like nice in saying that and how it can be hard like dealing with all that media scrutiny. I do think that based on how. I think the attention is going to probably be more directed between Marner Matthews and when you have that type of price tag and type of money they're making, like it's gonna fall on you. Especially with like the numbers that you listed off. Do you want to go through those quickly again? Games five through seven and there's probably like other numbers like including like all the games in the second round and maybe drop off in production there. And I think it's probably going to come out that Matthews is not playing at 100. But it's also, which I respected him.
Ryan Whitney
Saying after, I'm not talking about this.
Biz Nasty
Right now, I respect, I think that he handles the media incredibly. Like the way that he answers questions and I, I Marner does too. I think that Marner is the most scrutinized of, of anyone out of that core four, probably the most scrutinized in the entire NHL. I, I just, I just, I think that if you're trying to win a Stanley Cup, I probably couldn't fathom paying him based on what he brings in crunch time, probably more than $8 million. And, and it's, it's nothing against him. Like, I understand that he's a, he's a highly intelligent offensive player. He makes unbelievable. He put up 100 points this year. Like not many players do that in the NHL. He has a very, very special skill set that I don't know based on his frame and, and, and, and you know, what he's got inside driving him and the way that he plays that transfers over to, to big game hockey and like that is just proven with the stats that you brought up, especially compared to what he's able to do in the regular season. And I was hard on him. I wasn't hard on him during the season. I was as supportive as I could have been. We got to this round, even last round, there was a few things I wasn't happy with as far as his play this round. Like in big moments, wearing a letter on your jersey, making that type of money. And, and Drovo made one comment. He's like, you know, they, they definitely have to spread the money out and fill holes other places. And it's like, well, yeah, like he's the one that commands him 11 million. He's the one who thinks he command, he should command 11 million. He's the one who's probably going to hit free agency and command 13, 14. I think as a general manager, unless you're trying to, to like ignite a fan base and trying to maybe, you know, sell more season tickets and, and get excitement around signing a big free agent. I think you're out of your mind if you pay him 14 million based on how the hard cap system works in the National Hockey League. And I'm not trying to take away from what he's accomplished and what he's been through. And the success that he's had playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I just, you didn't show me anything when the chips were on the table. And I understand it's, it's 20 guys that have to get the job done. But like guys who command 11 to 14 million dollars, they will take over games. They will take over games 5 on 5. We see it from Nathan McKinnon, we see it from Dry Seidel, we see it from McDavid. We see it from a car. We see it from Rotten. Like, give me any player who's making that much money and majority of the time they're, they're, they're taking over five. Caprisov, like, I don't give a fuck about your pirouettes or your behind the back passes because you don't see a team. We just finished spending 45 minutes talking about Florida the way we talk about Florida. None of them are doing the behind the back bullshit. None of them are doing that flu, flu nonsense like that. That's his personality and that's how he plays. That's fine. And he's going to go get his 13, 14 million. He ain't going to be doing it on the Leafs. He ain't going to be doing on the Toronto Maple Leafs. And as far as Auston Matthews concerned, I think his game does transfer over more to playoff hockey. Yeah, he didn't come through being clutch with goal scoring. He didn't, he didn't make the, the big plays enough throughout the course of that round against the Florida. He had the big goal last game but we, they needed more on that of more, more of that based on what they're paying him. And you know, I would tell Judd the same thing. It's like, how much, how much can you feel like that this guy's 100 in when he's only signing five year deals at the highest possible price tag. It's like, well, we're going to try to get you the winger you need in order to have the success and lift the Stanley cup, but you're, you're commanding all the money you think you should be paid. The highest paid guy in the NHL, like Sasha Barkov, doesn't care about being the highest paid guy. He signed an eight year commitment to create a culture inside that locker room at a discount. That's what that's telling me. If you want to be paid that extra money because of what you have to deal with media wise and all the other that Toronto has to offer, I can also understand that too. But with that Money comes the scrutiny and here we are. John Tavares said he wants to be a Toronto Maple Leaf. He's part of the core. I think it is a little bit weird if you only move on from Marner and you still basically have the same core outside of him. I don't know if that necessarily solves all your problem of maybe getting a new blood and changing things up. I think you build around Matthews and Nylander. If JD JT does want to come back, I would offer him a three times three. And people say, oh, look at his regulars. I don't give a flying about your regular season numbers. I would say, J.T. we put nearly a hundred million dollars in you and your family's pants and your jeans, so to speak. Why are you laughing?
Keith Yandle
That'd be a lot of money for. There'd be big pockets, a lot of cargo.
Biz Nasty
A lot of cargo.
Paul Bissonnette
Eft.
Biz Nasty
Yeah.
Ryan Whitney
200 million in Canada.
Biz Nasty
A lot of Janko jeans in that household. It's like, do you really want to stay here and be part of the solution and help us use this money to go get other things that will take the pressure off your ass? If not, and you want to gouge us and make a lot for a guy as old as you are because you had a good regular season, take your talents elsewhere. We don't need it here. That's what I would say. And if we want to go back to the root of the problem, I know this. I know the league runs through Judd's cell phone. But out of those entry level contracts, what he wanted and what Marner wanted, I would have said, fuck you, stay at home. I ain't giving you that much money. You haven't proved. And if he wants to call me after he hears that, I'd say the same thing on the cell phone to him. That's it. That's it. Right? Am I crazy? Am I crazy as a GM when they're restricted to just hand over these no. No move clauses like the have you done in the league to deserve what you're. I want to see championships in rounds one before I'm. I'm handing over leverage and, and, and giving you all the control. That's it. Like that. It's a. It's a. It's a boat. It's a boat. It's about the, the, the. The crest on the front of that jersey. That's what it comes down to. That's all. That.
Paul Bissonnette
That's.
Biz Nasty
That's what it comes down to.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah. It's all very well said. Matthews and Marner 0 and 6 in game sevens. Matthews has three assists, Marner has two assists. They've got, They've never scored in a game.
Biz Nasty
Well, they're, they're, they're 0 and 8 in, in winner take all elimination games. They're 0 and 7 in game sevens. And then they had a game. Yeah, you know, upgrade that. And then they had the game five against the Columbus Blue Jackets. And like I said, like, regardless of my comments about the money that they're making, I do believe that Matthews will eventually get it done in Toronto. I do. I, I believe in Matthews, I believe in Nylander, I believe in Marner. I believe at Marner saying, hey man, here's eight times eight. Go take your 14 with, with Dubas. Go. Go to Utah.
Caesar
Go.
Biz Nasty
Whoever's gonna pay you that money. But keep in mind, if this is the same song and dance you see, because a lot of that cap, the hard cap, is being taken up by Mitch Marner. You can't be sitting here six years from now being surprised at your core with him as part of it. Didn't get it done. Like, I don't know how much is going to change stylistically from this kid's approach to how he plays playoff hockey. Like, I don't. I feel like at this point it's pretty ingrained as to what we're seeing. And if what we're seeing is I'm throwing over my assistant captain, a leader and a guy who's making all the money over the boards. When we're up 2, nothing in a series, we're up 3, 2. In a hockey game where we need a big smart shift out of you and you're going, no, look behind the back one on four, inside the offensive blue line. And then Mr. Selke nominee every year, who is the safety plug on the strong side, just fucking blow zone coverage and fucking not even look at the battle going on along the boards, which he created because he made it Benoit's issue inside the blue. I just, I don't, I can't, I can't. I simply cannot reason with you. I can't reason with you because you know, you know who gets nominated for Selkie trophies? Sasha Barkov, the guy who took the eight year discount, who's a Stanley cup champion. You know who gets nominated for the SELKIE? Pam Reinhardt, 50 goal scorer, 1 of the smartest players in the league making fucking 9 million. There's a massive, massive difference. I don't want to fucking hear about state tax either. That's an organization that's built a culture with a commitment to winning and guys are willing to take hometown discounts to stay and play there. And the fact that Marner won't, Matthews won't, or any of these guys won't take a hometown discount because of the outside noise and the media circus. Use whatever excuse you want. Don't give a fuck. The Marner story, it's about the crest on the jersey.
Ryan Whitney
100%. 100%. And the Marner story is like it's such evidence and truth, like how cruel sports can be because you, you think about and I don't think a lot of fans give a flying and I don't blame them. When you're grinding out 75 hour work weeks and, and, and you're, you're struggling and you're doing the best you can for your family and you hear about like the struggle of guys that are making $11 million. I completely understand you saying shut the up. As somebody who played in, in the NHL though, I'll give at least my side of Marner. From what I've read and been told and heard, pretty much a prodigy growing up, right? And there's a 10 year old Mitch Marner out there that if somebody told them you're, you're gonna go on to be drafted in the top five by your favorite team, your hometown team, you're gonna go on to become one of the best offensive players the Maple Leafs have ever had. You're gonna have 99 point seasons, you're gonna have 100 point seasons. You're gonna in an interview say we're pretty much gods in this city. Like everything you ever dreamt of, not everything. A lot of what you ever dreamt of came true. And it ended with you being booed every time you touch the puck in your last game as a Maple Leaf. And it's just wild to think like all the skill and all the ability and all the, the resources and everything that he has and it still ended like that. And that's why I do think wherever he goes, I think you're going to see a different player and not in the regular season because the regular season, Mitch Marner, fuck, he is unbelievable. He is an incredible player, but at some point, and I think it's being on a different team in a different city and looking at how things ended here, when the playoffs do begin, if he goes to a team who gets in and has a chance, he's going to say like, it just doesn't work the way I was doing it. And maybe the pressure and I. I understand, like fans, you have a right to give pressure. You want. You want a Stanley cup, you're shelling out Big Doe for jerseys and tickets and. But the pressure that, that he felt had. It had to affect him in a way where he. He couldn't perform when the lights were at the brightest. But I think if he goes somewhere else and he's not the number one piece, right? He was.
Biz Nasty
What do you mean he's not the number one piece, bro? He's gonna be making $14 million. Well, that wasn't the main. He wasn't the main piece. Zealander was. He was the. He had to be the third guy.
Ryan Whitney
I know, I know. You're right. He. You're right. The money.
Biz Nasty
That's what I mean. It's not like it's gonna get. It's not like it's okay. I didn't bring it in crunch time. I didn't play up to what my value was when it mattered most for my team and my organization. I've shown that in the past. It's clear why they wanted to move on from you for rotten and because they would have got that for that value if not cheaper. So there was never any onus of, like, I want to prove it to the city and. And to the organization. I want to stay here. I've already made fucking 75, $80 million. I'm gonna take a hometown discount and make another 85. Like. Like, that's what I mean, bro. No, I'm gonna go fucking bleed the market for 14 to go. Like, think I can. I gotta go be the. The guy somewhere else. By all means, prove me wrong. And from a fan perspective, thank you to everything he's brought into the organization. Like, I. I don't think success is necessarily just based on what you're able to accomplish come playoff time. Like, he was a model citizen. Like, he did work in the community. Like, he, like he wasn't out boozing and getting du. Like he was a. He was. Like, he was a good maple leaf. He was. You know, and. And none of this is personal has to do with that. It's more about the, like, oh, you want to be the highest paid guy? You want to get treated like a guy? But like, bro, like. Like, I don't know, maybe lay out and block a shot. Maybe when you blow zone coverage in that game three there, when you make that brain fart, maybe put a little bit of effort into the back check. Like, the video is the fucking video. Like, those. Those are the moments that I'm gonna remember because those were the important moments, the moments as to why we paid you the 11 million because we thought you were going to show up there. So I. I know I've been long winded, but it's kind. You know, we're talking about a team here who won the Atlantic Division, who has had this core group where. I mean, when they first came on the scene, I think that a lot of us, a lot of people in the hockey world said, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised at one point if that core group all coming in at the same time would win a Stanley Cup. Maybe they didn't think that once they commanded the dollar value they were commanding, but I don't know. I. I guess we can move on, but I think we can move on. Time to move on. All right, Sorry.
Ryan Whitney
I'll finish with the Hockey News Cover 2018 Hockey News Cover plan the parade. It's not a question of if the Leafs will win a Stanley cup, but how many turned out they didn't get to the conference finals.
Biz Nasty
And this isn't just. This is a. This is a conversation that, like that really like any. Any fan watching who's. Who's. Who's got a favorite team could have. Right?
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
Biz Nasty
Like. Like you're talking about your leadership group, what you're paying them, what you think they deserve, what they're bringing when it matters most for you. Like, it just so happens it's Toronto. So, anyway, I think there's 31.
Keith Yandle
31 other teams that would love to have Mitch, and I hope he gets a bag this summer already.
Ryan Whitney
Hey, he will.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, but. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You say that. You say that. You say that. Would you. Would you want Florida to sign him for $14 million?
Keith Yandle
No, but they would never do that. I hope he signs in Florida.
Biz Nasty
That ain't the question. I'm saying you're. You're trying to, like, dunk on me for what I'm saying. I. I compliment him, I think. Well, I'm saying is, like, you're sure that 31 other teams would love to have him and give him 14 million? It's like. Well, would. Would the team that you. Would you do it with a team that you root for if you were general manager, how much would you give them in Florida?
Keith Yandle
I can't give him more than Barky. What does Barky make? Nine, eight?
Biz Nasty
I think he makes 10 million.
Keith Yandle
I'd give him what you said. Eight times eight or seven because it's a new team. Seven times eight to come down here.
Biz Nasty
And I hope he gets paid too. But we're talking about a difference of probably $6 million in a hard cap league of what you actually think that he's worth. And I, yeah, give him eight time eight. I would give him eight times eight till I'm blue in the face. But I ain't giving them 13. If you want to put butts in the seats, sure, yeah. You want to sell more mammoth jerseys, go ahead.
Ryan Whitney
I, I think that moving, moving on a little bit here. I think that based on just talking to Kachuk and that battle of a series and playing tomorrow night, like, God, it's going to be hard for Florida to win that game. One might, right? Like they're going into Carolina, this Carolina team they've gotten, they've only played 10 games. They've had plenty of rest. They have an amazing home ice advantage. I think this series is going to be pretty special. I, I, I know. I, there's no, there's no way the Panthers can sweep them again if that happens. I will be so disgusted with Carolina if it's so impressive.
Biz Nasty
I want one goal games all two one games and then I want to see the rod press conference if, if it is a sweep, just couple like that would be.
Ryan Whitney
He just doesn't talk. He just puts his interview on like his phone from two years ago and.
Biz Nasty
Just, and the media and, and one, one Kachuk OT winner in Carolina where he just goes out the exit door and, and, and fire up the jet.
Ryan Whitney
Biz or, or Keith, like you think we're seeing six, seven games here. I know who you're picking. I know how confident you are. But are you scared at all?
Keith Yandle
No, not scared. I think the, I think that, that turnover, him saying that they're playing tomorrow was crazy. I mean, like I was just away for the weekend and I, I, I did not play hockey. I didn't do anything physically exerting, so, and I'm tired, so I can't imagine that they're playing again tomorrow. But no, I don't, I don't think that they're, I don't think they're too worried about, like Chucky said, like they're, I think they're a team that wants to not wants to, but I think that they're ready to play seven games. They know that the way that they play, they, they beat talent, beat teams down. And yeah, like you said, I think game one's gonna be tough. But you know, it's also that thing like, hey, we just won, you know, game seven. Really, I mean, it wasn't that hard for them. It was almost like a kind of a little pre game skate for game one of Carolina. So it's. I think they'll be fine, but it's just Bob too. You gotta, you gotta count on your goalies on games like this where it's tough, travel, tough, you know, scheduling, but yeah, I think they'll be fine.
Ryan Whitney
So in looking at, in looking at the lineups, I think the biggest thing for Florida when they're looking at Carolina is we have to shut down Svetchnikov. Right. Eight goals. He obviously is, is there is maybe not their best offensive player. For sure their best goal score. I think Ajo's overall their best offensive player. So if you look at shutting down Svetchnikov, that, that, that right there could be enough for them to win the series. I don't know if it's possible the way he's playing, but I'm like looking at lines here. Okay, so you take Svetchnikov, Ajo and Seth Jarvis. That is an unbelievable first line. You take Barkov, Reinhardt and Rodriguez playing on that line. All right, kind of even evens out there. Would you guys agree with that?
Keith Yandle
Yep.
Ryan Whitney
But then we go to Bennett, Tkachuk and Verhe. Now Tkachuk is obviously like probably battling injury, but he's still Matthew Tkachuk. He's still going to be in the mix. Bennett is going to probably do something ridiculous at some point in the series. Whether it's a big goal, an enormous hit, an elbow to the head, we don't know. And then Carolina's second round, a second line is Roslov, Logan Stankhoven, Taylor hall, right there. I see, I see a pretty big difference. That's in my mind that's playoff hockey. That's what we've seen the past three years. Then you get to the third line. Now Carolina's third line of Stahl and Martinook and who else is on that line? It would be Carrier. That is a big time playoff third line. They're in your face. They're great defensively, but so is Lundell, Luster, Ryan and Marshawn. And they add way different offense. So we're going through the top three lines and we can even out the first line and then the second and third line. To me it's not really that close. So that's why, like, I don't think it's going to be a sweep. I could see Florida winning in five. I think they're going to win in six. But even the defense. Yeah, I'd say Overall, Carolina has a better defense. What's good about Carolina's defense in this series is they're strong, but they move the puck better than Toronto. Right. Toronto's D were awesome. They were hard. They got pucks out. They were hard in front of the net. But I mean that Walker can skate, Slavin can skate. This Nikishkin, right. We saw, I think it was just one game, but you could tell. All right. There's something there. I don't know if Chatfield is still injured or not. So the defense is better than what Florida just faced. But Florida's defense with Jones and Forsling and Ekblad like that right there, kind of evens out as well. And goaltending, as good as Anderson's been, what goalie would you want in the league right now that more than Bob? So I, I just look at how good Carolina is, but then Florida is just that much better and, and I, I want a great series, but I, I just cannot see a way Carolina can beat this team. I, I may, maybe I'm. This could end up being one of the, one of my top 10 dumbest statements, which is an amazing list. If we could ever get it, people would puke. I just don't see them being able to compete with the Panthers.
Paul Bissonnette
Yeah.
Keith Yandle
And I think, well, I was going.
Biz Nasty
To let Yance go.
Ryan Whitney
Sorry, sorry.
Biz Nasty
Oh, no problem.
Keith Yandle
The Panthers aren't power play merchants too. Like, they're not like Washington. You knew they would have to score a bunch of power play goals to even have a chance to win that series. Florida is not like that. They can win games other ways. The way that they play, the way that they kill. Like I said last podcast, they make other teams play their type of game. I don't think that they can do that to Florida. I don't think, you know, they can predict what they're gonna do either. I think Florida is going to throw different stuff at them and, and not play the way that they want them to play. So I think it's going to be a great series. I think it's going to be hard, heavy, you know, some nasty games. I think there's going to be, I don't think it's going to be very high scoring. Obviously it's going to be a low scoring game. Goaltending is going to be a huge, huge asset in this. But I don't know, at the end of the day, it just looks like the, you know, the Panthers are just that well oiled machine that are looking to go to a dog fight and Play seven games and go in on the road and do it with, you know, one game in between a game seven. It really seems that they just do not give a, about what hand that they're dealt. They're ready and willing and able to go. And yeah, I, I agree with you where I think it's a six game series, hopefully Florida can steal one on the road here in the first two and you know, just hope for the best game one. But I think game two is kind of when the series starts for them.
Biz Nasty
Yeah. So I agree with you guys in a sense of, of they're essentially carbon copies, copies of each other with the goaltending, how good the back ends are, like how they play structurally, how they're down your throat. I would say that obviously advantage to Florida from a size perspective and imposing the will and being able to get to the inside. I feel like in a series like this, like we saw the last time they played the one on ones, the, the man on man, the D zone can sometimes bite you in the ass a little bit with like the pick plays as you go farther in the playoffs, like the pick plays are a little bit more allowed. Right. Those little bits of interference where I felt like the last time they played, they did a good job of that and we're doing a, a better job than other teams were able to do to get to the inside on Carolina, which things will change with Anderson's numbers once you get a lot more traffic that and a little bit more contact. He's a fragile goalie. So with the amount that Florida gets to the net, I would not be shocked if, if Anderson gets bumped into a few times. You hope not to the extent that it happened in round one where he had to leave because I don't think if Peter Kachekov is in the net, this thing goes longer than five games. I do have Florida winning it in six. Although from an advantage standpoint, for all the hockey that Florida's played over the past three years, for the amount of physical play that they've played, like I know that they were the ones inflicting pain on Toronto and bumping their D constantly over and over and over, but it does take a little bit of wind out of your sails to inflict that as well. So going seven with Toronto, how much will that impact the series moving forward with Carolina and Carolina having home ice, I don't think that Florida is scared to go play on the road. They're not, they, they, in fact they've, they very much embrace it as we just saw against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But them having to go from that series to fly to Carolina, humid temperatures and then go into that Bees nest with a team who just got of both rounds kind of unscathed. In a sense that for me, for Florida is an issue and advantage to Carolina. Both teams smothering penalty kills. But the other advantage for Florida is power play. Like I saw Carolina, Carolina's power play towards the end of that series against Washington was better. It was brutal at the start. But the way that that Florida pks, I think it'll be a harder time for Carolina to produce offense on the power play than it will be for Florida to produce on their power play. Going against Carolina's pk, Carolina's PK has a. I think it's a higher percentage. It was first if not second in the league all season long. They have a good penalty kill, but I think Florida is going to figure it out. I think they went through some, some issues against the Leafs where they're going to start pulling the trigger a lot more. Using the downplay a little bit more and posing that will that I talked about. That's where I see the advantages for both sides and that's why I end up leaning towards Florida and 6. I could easily see this being done in 4 and 5 for Florida. But there is a snowball. There is a slight chance that Carolina, because of home ice and the rest factor is able to pull this off in seven games. So that's all I got to say. I'm picking Florida and 6G.
Ryan Whitney
I want you to come on here.
G
Yes.
Ryan Whitney
You, you. You were on the Canes in seven. Tell, tell us, tell us three how that's going to happen. Tell us how you're a new Canes fan. I mean you're, you're a Cane's guy all of a sudden.
Biz Nasty
Oh, Gargoyles.
Ryan Whitney
What is your squad doing to win this series?
G
Pepper in them. Just peppering them. Just doing. Playing the Carolina Hurricanes game. They're not going to switch it up. I think that's something we've seen with the Hurricanes is they don't switch up their game. They play their game. Shot, volume. Shot volume. Shot volume. And Freddy Anderson. I said this last series but like if Freddy Andersen can stay healthy. He's playing incredible hockey right now. That's the biggest if can Freddie Anderson stay healthy and if Freddie Andersen stays healthy, I think the Canes can do it in six. And I know you say it's, it's. They're not afraid to go into Carolina and play. But it Ain't about them. It's about what the Carolina Hurricanes can do in front of their home crowd. This ain't Toronto. This ain't Toronto. They ain't playing in front of the yacht club. Carolina's gonna play better in front of their home crowd. Now, I understand Florida is probably not scared, but I think Carolina will play better hockey in front of their home crowd. And I think the Canes take this in seven.
Biz Nasty
Wow. Okay. A. And. And I'm catching wind that they want you to come in and maybe like ring the siren. What is that? Is that a thing?
G
It's. We're having some conversations with the Canes. They actually just gave me a phone call about 20 minutes ago. I didn't answer. Obviously we're on the show, but we're planning some things. I'd like to get down to a tailgate. I love a nice tailgate. A Thursday afternoon tailgate in Raleigh that could be. That has Grinelli's name written all over it. I'll say that.
Ryan Whitney
So it's.
Biz Nasty
I mean, what's like. I mean, I can't be a hypocrite here. I. I was the one twirling around like a tube top Edmonton Oilers sweater at the Stanley cup finals when I'm a Leafs fan. So, like, it was more because I wanted to see McJesus left the Stanley cup him and dry Seidel and bring the cup back to Canada. Is it weird being a Boston Bruins fan ringing the siren for the Carolina.
Ryan Whitney
Hurricanes partied with the Blues after they won game seven against.
Biz Nasty
Well, I know, but when you get a chance to celebrate with the Stanley cup, that's also a little bit different, especially for somebody who never played in the National Hockey League. But like, where do you think Bruins fans sit with you all of a sudden on national tv? And how do you think Carolina Hurricanes fans are going to react?
G
Well, I wrote a blog about this. So Carolina Hurricanes fans have been tweeting at me saying that they want me to come do this. So. And I think that they tweeted at the Hurricanes and. And that's why the Hurricanes reached out. As for the Bruins, I wrote a blog about this. The Bruins are always my number one. Bruins go head to head with the Carolina Hurricanes. I hope the Bruins fucking sweep them. 10 nothing every game. I'm a Boston Bruins fan till the day I die. But at the same time, the Greensboro Gargoyles. This is the day that was announced. I had. I don't know what it is, but it was like. It was almost like. Like you guys like, you grow up. You grow up a fan. You know, you grew up a Red Wings fan, but then you're drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins, you almost instantly become a fan of them. That's kind of how it was with the Hurricanes, the Greensboro Gargoyles. This is something that I should never be an owner of an ECHL team. This is something that's like so crazy to me and so out of the realm and the fact that I get to be a part of this and be a part of the Carolina Hurricanes franchise, I'm gonna be a little bit of a fan of them, I have to be honest. And I'm always going to be a Bruins fan. Bruins till the day I die. But this is really cool. And I'm. I like, I like.
Biz Nasty
You should go change their. Their D zone while you're at it. You're part owner. You could do whatever the you want. Make it justice. Grab the Sharpie off Rod the bod. Just be like, hey, buddy, put that vein back in your forehead. I got this thing I was gonna also. What was I gonna ask you? Oh, I thought it would have went in. Yance, correct me if I'm wrong, thought it would be a good idea, considering he's such a hardcore Bruins fan, to bring in the Gargoyles mascot and also Petey Pablo to present Carolina fans with him ringing the siren. So it's kind of like one degree of separation and you get the guy go. Who sings North Carolina Kimono raise up like their theme song.
G
Imagine he did it in the Devils too. The Devil series. Peter Pablo did it as well. He rang the siren. So maybe we bring him in again.
Biz Nasty
So he's already done it. All right. He's already done.
Ryan Whitney
Are you worried? You know, no chirps. Small wristed guy.
Biz Nasty
Yes.
Ryan Whitney
Small rested guy. That. That thing, it's kind of heavy, I think. Like, I don't. Is there any worry that you wouldn't be able to.
Biz Nasty
Well, he could tape his wrists.
Ryan Whitney
No, he's.
Keith Yandle
He's gritty.
G
Dude, I will say this. I will say this. I've seen a trainer three times a week at 6am for the past six months. I look great with my shirt off right now. I'll say.
Biz Nasty
Show us.
Keith Yandle
Let's see.
Biz Nasty
Prove it. Let's go. I mean, that's not that good.
Ryan Whitney
I don't think the angle.
Paul Bissonnette
That's great.
Keith Yandle
Yup.
Biz Nasty
Not bad. Wait, your. Yeah.
Keith Yandle
Do one of these.
Biz Nasty
Your. Your arms are way more defined.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah. I'll give you credit. No, I would never do that. I would never do that. What you do.
Keith Yandle
You look great.
Biz Nasty
You look good.
Ryan Whitney
You. You look way, way better than before. I'm not gonna say you look great, but you look.
G
I'm getting there, though. It's a work in progress, baby.
Ryan Whitney
Yes.
Biz Nasty
This is.
Ryan Whitney
This is.
Keith Yandle
This.
Ryan Whitney
This is wedding body training.
G
I'm like the Philadelphia Flyers hiring. Hiring Rick Talkett. There's a lot of issues, but we see what we're building here. We're making steps, we're making strides to become better.
Biz Nasty
That's a good. I like that comparison.
Keith Yandle
Gee, you look great with your shirt off. But if he does do that bell, remind me. I'm going to the bank, taking a mortgage out on my house and putting it every single dollar on the Panthers to win that.
Caesar
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Biz Nasty
Remind me.
Keith Yandle
Remind me if he's doing it that day, if he's a home.
Biz Nasty
That's a pretty. That's a pretty good siren noise, guy.
G
That was a good siren.
Keith Yandle
I am going to the bank and putting every single dollar I have on the Florida Panthers.
Biz Nasty
Well, yeah, this is a bit of a conflict of interest for you because you're also part owner of the Carolina Hurricanes and you're a Florida Panthers ambassador, so.
Keith Yandle
I'm not part owner of the Florida. I mean, the Carolina Hurricanes, technically.
Biz Nasty
I mean, we're ECHL owners. They're affiliate of us. Like. Like we could.
Ryan Whitney
The Panthers gave him the money. The Panthers gave him the money that he used to become part owner of what you're now calling the Carolina Hurricanes.
Biz Nasty
It's an inside job. Jesus Christ. This is crazy. So you don't. You don't view that there's a conflict of interest here? Keith, Maybe you have to forfeit your ownership in the. The Greensboro Gargoyles.
Keith Yandle
Well, this. The team hasn't started yet, so next year, if they play each other.
Biz Nasty
It's a good loophole.
Keith Yandle
I have my. I. I got three more months or four.
Biz Nasty
But then that means that she's technically not part of the organization yet, therefore can't ring the siren.
G
No, not mine. That's his loophole, not mine.
Keith Yandle
Oh, yeah, that's mine.
Biz Nasty
Well, I'm interested to see if that actually goes down, but we will be sending G down to a tailgate and. And hopefully we can set up like a pink Whitney, like RV or something.
Ryan Whitney
Can we bring all these back at work?
Biz Nasty
But I think it would be a kind gesture to send him down there because he's so positive and, you know, maybe he could hand out pink Whitney shots and basically just work for this Chiclets crew for. To do some Good deeds and get back in everybody's good graces after showing the world his pocket for the last 72 hours. Like, I think that, that he just.
G
Texted me a oldie custom jersey with oldie 97 Carolina Hurricane jersey on the back of it. So he might not Drake.
Keith Yandle
I told you, he's Drake. He just roots for whoever wants him to. And you're telling me? No, he grew up there. This guy's a jerk. Just kidding. I love you, oldie.
Ryan Whitney
The fact that we've gotten G's body and oldies pocket on the past two shows is we might. Well, we might. We might need to.
Biz Nasty
Really?
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, he does. He does. For. For as you said, a middle schooler. We have a middle school producer that's getting ready for his wedding. But yeah, for. For what I'd seen from him. He does, he does look a lot better, I think before. I don't know when. When stuff's coming on, but we gotta. We gotta do a couple ads and then we, we. I want to talk about Winnipeg and Dallas and Mark Scheifele. But yeah, before we get to that, we're gonna. We're gonna get to some ads here. And I don't know if you guys have heard of aura frames, but they are unbelievable. From big events to the silly moments you capture every day. Doesn't it seem sometimes feel like all of your favorite photos are just stuck on your camera roll? It does for me. I'm like, I got all these great pictures and then came along. Aura frames. It finally was the time for an easy way to share and enjoy all those pictures with friends and family. That's where aura comes in. The number one digital photo frame by Wirecutter. That's Wirecutter said this is the number one digital photo frame. Aura makes it effortless to upload unlimited photos and videos directly from your phone, so your favorite memories are always within view. Plus, you can personalize and preload an aura frame for a truly special, unforgettable gift. The easiest thing is how. The best part is how easy it is. You just plug it in and go. Everything's right there, right on the OR frame you pick. You can have them flipping on, flipping any which way you want. You can have a role that you want to be played. But for a limited time, listeners can save on the perfect gift by visiting or frames.com to get $20 off plus free shipping on their bestselling Carver Mat frame. That's a frames.com promo code. Aura 20. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout terms and Conditions apply so or frames are incredible guys. They're unbelievable. And also game time if you need to go to a game if you want to witness your team in playoff action does not matter the sport. Game times where it's at the NHL playoffs have been incredible. We're on to the conference finals and there's only one place to get hard to get playoff tickets. It's game time. The official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports Killer. Last minute deals all in prices, views from your seat on the app and their lowest players guaranteed 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 and you could save up to 60% when buying last minute tickets. There's some great deals on game one for Florida and Carolina. Check right now on game time and what are you waiting for? Go buy your tickets right now to whatever you want to see using game time and get involved. So amazing, amazing way to go to your favorite team's games and quickly.
Biz Nasty
I just want to say to the over 12,000 people who are joining us live right now, thank you guys for all your support throughout these playoffs. It's been an awesome run and I'm sure a lot of you have came by for the, the Leafs chatter and the essentially the Leafs funeral. But we love you guys and yeah, thank you so much for being here.
Ryan Whitney
All right, well said. We appreciate everyone watching. And now the man with one little video dropped before game one won the series for the Edmonton Oilers. Because when you're thinking about. When you're thinking about Vegas and you're thinking about their depth and their goaltending and their defense, you weren't thinking about Bob Stauffer walking onto the plane with Johnny Cash playing slow motion. All the aura, all the the excitement of a Bob Stalker broadcast. A man who knows the Oilers better than anyone else out there. You could take a Die hard Oilers fan and sit him in a room with Bob Stauffer. And Bob Stauffer is going to know more than him. He's going to know the ins and outs of the team and the PK and the forecheck and the power play and the line matchups and I don't know why he hasn't been brought in yet. Where is. Give me Bob Stopper. Yes, Bob. Yes, Bob. Bob, we're alive. Can you say it with me, Bob?
Biz Nasty
Yeah.
Paul Bissonnette
Are you talking. Are you talking about Batman or are you talking about Lawless?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, we're talking about Lawless today.
Paul Bissonnette
Oh, man. Tough series. Close series by the way I just. I gotta do this biz. I feel for you. I. I really feel for Maple Leafs fans.
Biz Nasty
That was hard to watch.
Paul Bissonnette
You know, not an excuse, but they've been a tough division. Could be six straight years at a Florida based team ends up the Stanley Cup Final. But game five and game seven, those were painful. Those were ugly beats. Unfortunately, a reoccurring theme. Those, you know, they have great fans there, they're passionate and it got a little out of control last night. That happens. I feel for you, man. I know how much you were. You wear. Literally and figuratively. That, that was, that was difficult to watch in stretches.
Biz Nasty
I got two quick questions or I guess statements, one of which I think that after that video dropped of you going into game one against Vegas, I think you could make more on Only Fans than Karina Comp at this point. You absolute stud. I don't know if it's anything. You maybe considered exercising that maybe in the off seasons when you're not on, maybe consider exercising. And from, you know, an outside perspective, you've watched Leon and Connor do what they've done, making the big bucks. Like, how do you view the Marner situation? Probably more so than the Matthews. And I understand the scrutiny that, that he's under and that they deal with making the big bucks. But if the big dogs for the Oilers showed up the same way that Mitch did, what do you think the reaction would be? And you being as emotionally connected to Edmonton as you are the Oilers, like, how would you feel if Leon and Connor pulled one of those?
Paul Bissonnette
Well, you're right. You know, when you're in our roles, you're not supposed to be emotionally connected, but you are because you end up caring tremendously about, you know, the people that are in your organization. I just want to establish, first of all, I am not going to take my shirt off right now for this segment.
Biz Nasty
Okay?
Paul Bissonnette
I just. I just want to make sure we don't need to see a flavolaunch like that. So. But you know, it's interesting you mentioned the core four. So Matthews, 59 points in 68 playoff games. Marner, 63 and 70. Nylander, 58 and 67. Tavares, 31 and 51. Zach Hyman, since coming to Edmonton, has outscored all four of those guys in the playoffs. He's got 33 goals, he has 57 points. And in the playoffs, everybody has to hit and everybody has to block shots, right? Who's leading the league and hits right now? Zach Hyman. Right. Like he just. And there's your illustration. So Hyman's, you know, he's on that power play though he didn't spend a lot of time in round two on the orders power play. So he's, he's outscoring all four of those guys. And oh by the way the winners have the top three scoring players in the playoffs over the last four years. You know McDavid's got 134 points in 85 games. Leon's got 126 and 85. And Bouchard for all the criticism he gets. And by the way he was excellent against Vegas in round two. 70 points in 64 games. He's the second highest scoring defenseman. NHL history of points per game. So Edmonton's guys have showed up and I think that's therein lies the frustration for Leafs nation is just their core four guys haven't. Now I will make the argument they played against real tough teams like you know the Boston's and then Tampa and Florida. Those are good. Like you have to acknowledge who they were playing against. But it's just what happens in Game 7 that I'm sure drives everybody nuts. And I know this, you know the orders lost game 721 of Florida last year but they will themselves back from three nothing down. And Connor drove that with four point performances. You know, in games four and five when they're down three nothing. And that's why nobody bets against Conor and Leon. You know like Leon can. I mean he played with a high ankle sprain in 22 against Calgary in the playoffs after he, you know, he kind of got maybe a borderline slew foot against LA. It's 17 points in five games. He had at least three points in every games. And he's playing with a busted ankle like he's, you know, I joked with you guys before, pain threshold of a, of a cadaver.
Biz Nasty
So what was he, what, what was his AVV at that time? I know he just signed the new deal.
Paul Bissonnette
It was eight and a half and he was, and Pete Shirelli was the GF Paul at that time. He got ripped. He got ripped. Where's he going?
Ryan Whitney
He's probably going, he's gonna go puke.
Paul Bissonnette
So yeah he was. He's making eight and a half. So that's, you know, even Boucher this year is at 3.9 million guys. So you know, like it's, I think everybody out there that watches the games, you guys know this. You know Connor and Leon are going to show up whether they're playing together or whether they're Apart and, and all you need to know about Leon is he was hurt in last year's playoffs. Okay. And he was asked two days after what was the injury. He didn't want to discuss it. And I know and the reason he didn't want to discuss it is because every player that was playing for Florida and every player that was playing with Edmonton was likely playing for everything or was playing with something injury wise. And it's just he didn't, you know, his, the guy's a gamer. The guy's a. He's just like didn't want to take any sort of, you know, hey, I was playing with this, I was playing with that. He was disappointed. You know, he'd be disappointed that maybe they didn't have a little bit more juice going in game seven. It was a one bounce game which when we talk about Dallas we need to talk about the series last year, the matchup this year. But to answer your question, I think everybody that watches the game snows of Connor and Leon are going to drive it and they're going to show up come crunch time and they've been a major reason why busy Oilers have had that playoff a modicum of playoff success and had now gone to the conference final three of the last four years.
Biz Nasty
I had to go take a d. A couple deep breaths after you said eight and a half there. I nearly had a stroke.
Paul Bissonnette
Right.
Ryan Whitney
You puke stuff. We, we talked about the Oilers win over Vegas believe on Friday. So let's kind of move forward to this series. I, I think it's setting up to be an all time classic. I know Dallas is a better hockey team right now than they were last year. I also believe somehow some way the Oilers are better than they were last year. How, how do the Oilers get this done? How does, how does, how does this series play out in your mind? Will they play Leon and Connor together to start? And what are you hearing on Matthias Ekholm in which Knobloch mentioned not early in the series but believes could be back as we move on in the, in the conference finals here?
Paul Bissonnette
Well, well, first of all you guys, that series last year could have gone either way. Dallas loses in game one, double overtime and with David scoring the winner after getting the double minor, you know, to start the first overtime period. And then Dallas out shot upon 34:10 in game six. Right. And the orders won that game two one. Stuart Skitter, the best he's ever played was in that series. He had a.922 save percentage. Otten here was at 901 so that was, it's a six game series. You know, that's, that's one bounce either ways. These are two good teams. Dallas knows how to win. They've been in the conference final three years in a row. They got a coach. I think he's, I think he's played in five or six conference finals the last seven seasons. Like Peter DeBoer is a really good coach. They have a veteran squad though. Not quite. Like they don't have Pavelski and Suter. Those guys were there last year. They're really good in goal. They're not running great metrics. Like if you look at their vet now, they did play Colorado and they got absolutely, you know, destroyed 5V5 in that series. But they came back when Colorado had them on the ropes. Dallas is going to be a tough out. There's no question. Well managed amongst the best management teams in the league. You know, experienced coaching staff, lots of really good veteran players. I do not expect Connor and Leon to start the series together. I, I think the way you guys saw Edmonton finish with happening and put holes in with Leon, which again tells you a lot about Leon. And then Nugent, Hopkins and Hyman with McDavid. I think those will be the orders top two lines. And as for at home, possibly game five or game six, I don't think we're going to see him the first four games of the series. I'm just gonna be honest with stature coming in and he's a little undersized. Great shot guy, by the way, took a bad in practice two days ago. Hit a puck or you know, rip off his stick. Off his stick. And it got all of them in the nose and in the teeth. Like it was awesome. So I'm going to be interested the team practices.
Biz Nasty
You look like Chatfield.
Paul Bissonnette
Yeah, it's like I think there's a good chance, I would think he might have to wear a bubble. It was that bad. But he is a committed player and he's, he's helped Darnell when they've been paired together and it's eased the lefty, righty alignment with him coming in because they're way more. Paul Coffey was way more comfortable playing stature than he was playing Emerson and even at even strength. So their D's been good. And you know with Stan Bowman, the first manager, you get one of the first managers you guys had on spit and checklist. I think he was.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, six, nine, six nine. Remember that. You're asking about his burner account.
Ryan Whitney
I forgot about that.
Biz Nasty
I think stuff logged off Good thing you've grown up. I was extremely critical of, of like the off season moves and like I thought you guys got like slower, older and smaller. Everything seems to be kind of panning out in the right direction. Mind you, Skinner and Arvidson weren't playing towards the end of the last round so maybe a bit of a miss in the fact that you don't have Holloway considering you gave them each 3 million. But like what do you make of all that?
Paul Bissonnette
Well Arvidson got four times two July. I mean you look at the July 1st work, right? Like that's completely fair comment Paul. Like they do. They certainly look through large stretches of the season like they were a smaller team but now I'm going to circle the stands work because he went out, got Walman and he took a swing on Klingberg and I'll be honest, I'm a little bit surprised how well Klingberg's played.
Biz Nasty
That's incredible.
Paul Bissonnette
Not shocked like, like I didn't think he'd be that good. Walman's been playing through a little bit of an injury but you know watch, watching Toronto last night against Florida the leaf spilled a big heavy, tough defense but they struggled to transition the pocket into the Florida forecheck. Right. We all saw it. Well Edmonton can move the puck and what's helped him even more now is I got Walman and Klingberg and they got the puck up to their forwards, you know because obviously they got Boucher who can do it and Kulak is playing 24 minutes a game. Nurse, you know is got a lot of athletic ability and I think those two additions on the back end really like Walman. None of the big headline or you know, trade buster guys out there, the Servallies and the lebruns and obviously the Elliott's of the world. None of those guys had Wallman out there and that, that you know the owners did give up. Well, we'll likely be a late first but I see Jake Waldman being in Edmonton for a number of years so you know I think they upgraded their defense. They made the trade for Frederick which they didn't really get to see a full impact with and then Kane came back and Paul, you mentioned that they were smaller and slower. Yeah, but then they got Kane and Frederick back basically for game two of the playoffs and now they have a little bit different dimension with their forward.
Ryan Whitney
Group as well stuff you'll see. We saw Leon get put with Pod Colson and it was basically to to shut down Eichel. Right. Kapanen comes in and Leon's completely fine with. With playing a def. I mean it sounds crazy defensive role with two fourth liners. I imagine if that line is staying together, that's just on Ronson and now Dallas has the. The last change in games one and two. But I think if there's one guy you could think of you want playing against Miko Ronton right now, it would be Leon and how well he skates and how big he is and protecting the pucky way he does. So if that line's sticking together, that's for sure. That's for sure. For the hints line. Right.
Paul Bissonnette
We'll see. Because they. They play 11 and 7 which gives them the chance to double shift ranting. Right. And so it might be a lot more problematic now. Edmonton's played 11 and 7 at times as well. Knobloch really wants to have all of. All the players involved. You know I gave you the numbers. When he first took over he noticed 23 penalty killing forward groups in the first 13 games of that season. When he took over he used all the bottom six guys with the exception of Nugent Hopkins and said this is your job. Your job is to kill. And their penalty killing was really good from the time that he took over last year. Hasn't been great in the playoffs this year. But even think of the overtime guys he used. He just rolled over four lines in overtime. Yeah, he never once played with David and dry settle in that overtime against Vegas. And then Kapanen became the 13th Oilers forward to score a goal in the playoffs with the overtime winner. So again I think they'll start with those lines that they finished with against Vegas because Chris doesn't screw around with a success. And Matt, it's. It's been strange right under Knobloch 7 and 11 in Games 1 through 3 as a coach of Edmonton in the playoffs.
Biz Nasty
Wow.
Paul Bissonnette
16 and 2 in Games 4 through 7.
Ryan Whitney
Wow.
Biz Nasty
It's kind of like Skinner gets better as the series goes on and maybe, maybe there's.
Paul Bissonnette
Maybe that's part. I just think he makes good in series adjustments and I think the team elevates as the playoff. As the respective series go on over the last two years. I don't think there's any debate about it. They. They work their way into the series and then they get going and they've not been good coming off of breaks this year, guys. They have a slow start out of the gate this year. They had a bit of a hiccup out of Christmas. They had a. Certainly a rough stretch after the Four nations. I'll be intrigued to see how they start the series Wednesday in Dallas.
Keith Yandle
Stop. I wanted to ask you about Corey Perry. Just obviously we see what he's doing on the ice, but is he a guy in there that's kind of, you know, because he's won. He won everywhere. Is he, is he a guy in the locker room that Connor and Leon are leaning on or is he just out there doing his job like he's done the last 20 years?
Paul Bissonnette
So I'm always a little bit, you know, cautious, answering questions about what happens in the room. Unlike the three of you. You know, I like the speed, talent, agility, coordination, toughest character to play in the Western Hockey League, let alone the NHL. I've only used that line 643 times, but the, the sense I get is that when he speaks, they listen, right? And he just. The guy's gamesmanship and professionalism is off the charts. Like when they. There were a couple times like he fought Frederick in Boston this year, you know, like that's a. He turned 40 two days ago. Like the guy's 40 and every fan in oil country, you know, hockey's supposed to be a meritocracy. The guy had 19 goals and five fights in the regular season. He's got five more guys goals of the playoffs. Everybody wants to see him resigned at 40. Even though he's not, he was never fast. He's not exactly the quickest guy through the neutral zone, but hash marks in offensively he's an elite player and he has the up. I know for a fact because of how effusive McDavid and dry saddle are when they talk about him, how much respect they have. So it's an incredible story.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah. I'm looking at this series and I remember last year the Oilers penalty kill in this series one won them, you know, the, the Western Conference.
Biz Nasty
I think their Penalty kill was 94% all of last year's playoffs.
Paul Bissonnette
It was incredible.
Ryan Whitney
It was, it was incredible. And. But you even brought up that game one double overtime when they killed the McDavid four minute minor. Like what have you seen that's maybe struggled a little bit compared to last year in the pk? Because you look at, I mean you got hints, you got Harley playing the way he's playing. You got Wyatt John. Like their power play is deadly in Dallas with Ronton and 2. So what has been struggling with Edmonton and what can they do against this unit to do what they did last year against them?
Paul Bissonnette
I had to laugh post game guys because Ottor gave Harley a little bit of a shot for playing for Canada instead of the US in the category, you know, you're old. I did Thomas Harley's father Brian Harley's games at the University of Alberta in 1988. 89. So I was doing the play by.
Ryan Whitney
Play of the Bears.
Paul Bissonnette
His dad was in medical school. He was a goalie and he ended up so. And then I see him in Montreal at the Four nations and two hours before the game, his dad didn't know whether or not he was playing that night. That Saturday night game where we had the three fights in the nine seconds. It was awesome. Anyways, there a couple things on the penalty kill. The owner's best penalty killing defenseman is not playing. That's Matthias Echo. He and Emerson were their top pairing, you know, at home, five on five with Bouchard. Right now Kulak's playing with Boucher, but you know, at home, if he can again, I think we're looking at game five. He's a big difference. On their penalty kill. I do think it's been better. They made a little bit of a switch. Waldman started the first three or four games on the with a lot of penalty killing. They. They backed him off a bit and Buer went on the PK and Buer, like against Vegas, he was the best defenseman in that series. And he's hitting us at the right time because his contract is up, you know, and he's. I mean the number he's over the last two full seasons, he's the third highest scoring defenseman in the league. And then over the last four years in the playoffs. He is the highest scoring defenseman in the playoffs over the last four years. So Boucher took on some more. Their penalty killing got better as a series. You know, you take out the first two games against LA where they got lit up. Their penalty killings have been okay, but it still needs to improve. And Dallas has got a good power play. Dallas at 30%. I think Dallas is third in the playoffs in the power play. So that is with 100%. That's going to be an identifiable area that Edmonton's going to have to be really cognizant and focused on.
Keith Yandle
Do you think?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, sorry, Keith, go ahead.
Keith Yandle
No, I was just gonna go back a little bit to the Vegas. Like, do you think Vegas was more of a fraud squad or you just think Edmonton played the game where they just made them look like, you know, they were a JB team?
Biz Nasty
Tell Merles they were more of a fraud squad than the Kings.
Paul Bissonnette
Please I don't think Vegas was a fraud squad. I don't think the Kings I, I, those teams finished ahead of Edmonton. I, there's a lot of really good teams and the Oilers have some experience and they can ride through some unsettling times. I am surprised Edmonton won the series in five. I think Bruce Cassidy said it the best like but David Andrei settle. I think one guy had six, one guy had five points that series against Vegas and the orders power play was only at 9% and he said if, you know, if you told me those two guys would be limited to 6 and 5 points and the PP would be at 9% I would have told you we would have been the team that won the series in five games. I think what's underrated about Edmonton is that they have scoring depth. You know, they, they have lots of contributors. They, they're not the most, they're not the fastest, most explosive team. Though they did play fast. I mean the game four, you guys talked about it on your, on the podcast like they kicked the crap out of Vegas in game four. That was as an impressed, impressive of an orders performance that I'd seen a long time. Like they just came out and everyone committed to hitting and they got another four check and they just ran right over the Golden Knights game for so I don't think Vegas was key. I think they were a pretty good team, you know what I mean? Like I just there were some bounces that went against Edmonton two years ago. You got to have a lot go right for you. And the Oilers were very, you know, really exasperated with how they lost. That was, that was a tough, tough loss for them two years ago against Vegas and I think Edmonton got a couple of those bounces against the Golden Knights this year.
Biz Nasty
This is a short answer question. Do you think we're more likely to see the third string goalie for the Oilers in this series or Skinner will get the net the entire time? What's more likely?
Paul Bissonnette
Oh, I think the plan is for Skinner to get the net all the way through because I don't think the third string goalie is Olivier Rodrigue and the only way we're going to see him in the first maybe four games is if Skinner gets pulled. So I think for Oilers fans, they're hoping that Skinner goes the distance like he did last year against Dallas.
Biz Nasty
You think he got the reset and he's good to go?
Paul Bissonnette
Well, he had back to back shutouts. He had back to back shuttles. They played well in front of him. Like they, they, they had a real Good structure and process, by the way. It's the battle of the two of the best madam and defense teams in the NHL between Florida.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, that's fine. Wait, you're looking at me like I got three heads like that couldn't fall off the rails in the first two games in this series. Like I'm just asking as you go.
Paul Bissonnette
Like, oh, it's a fair question. Because of the inconsistency of what, you know, what we've seen with Stewart. What we have seen is when he gets recalibrated like he did last year. He got pulled out of game four and game five and pickered winning against Vancouver right from that point on, game six and seven against the Canucks, the six game series against Dallas and against Florida, he was good. Like he, he and I do think, you know, I'm not comparing him to Grant Fear, but Grant Fear was from the Edmonton area and I think that helped him deal with playing here. And I think Stuart Skinner, you grow up here, he played for the same athletic club at Edmonton that I did. I think that it probably, I, I think it might help a little just because you understand the pressure and there is pressure. You know, it's sort of like everybody's favorite quarterbacks, the backup quarterback and everybody's favorite goalie in hockey is the backup goalie. So. But it's a completely fair question given the, the ups and the downs that Stewart's had during his NHL career.
Ryan Whitney
Who asked McDavid about playing low scoring games and winning low scoring games when he looked like they just lost a playoff series after beating Vegas in five. He was disgusted. Do we get spec here?
Paul Bissonnette
It was not. I was on the air during the post game and I've asked my share of stupid questions over the years. So I, guys, I remember after game four, Edmonton and Carolina, the orders fell behind three games to one and the orders power play was one for 19 and I passed Greg McTavish. Do you, do you need to look at doing something different on the power play? Like maybe having a net front? Sometimes you put George laroque on the power play and he goes next question. And George texted me later that night, he's like, you idiot. Now he's gonna scratch me for game number insurance. George never got back in series after that. So I, I, I, you know, I can tell you it wasn't Gary Lawless and it wasn't Mark Spector. That reporter shall remain nameless. Daniel Nugent Bowman from the Athletic ask the question. I'm just having fun with you, Daniel. You know, I think the owners have showed it, you know, that when they want to lock it down, they. They can play some solid defensive hockey. And Connor, that was a. Guys. Connor went hard. Like he got when he backtracked on that play. And sort of. I was. I mean, when I saw your tweet, you were a little bit panicked. And I don't think he's ever had a concussion. McDavid. Like, I don't recall him. Maybe he had one in junior. I don't know. But, you know, that was. There was some nervousness again. I was watching him a lot on the bench during that. And he doesn't. Connor and Leon don't screw around. Like, hey, they just beat Vegas. They just played two of the best defensive games he played. And so he brought. He brought, you know, he brought a little bit of heat. That happens once in a while.
Biz Nasty
I was gonna ask one non Euler related. Where did you want. Did you have another Oiler one?
Ryan Whitney
No, go ahead, buddy.
Biz Nasty
Like what we saw the other night with the passing of. Of Mark Scheifele's father, like, that was like, I can't remember anything like that happening in the past where somebody's father died unexpectedly and had to play that night in a playoff game. Like, that is like, I think Marty.
Keith Yandle
St. Louis is mom. Yeah, something like that.
Biz Nasty
Okay. Like, just like. Yeah, like I just like, I don't know how he did it. I mean, the word warrior. Like that. Yeah. What were your thoughts on all that? And. And like, like I said, have you seen it in the past? I mean, they just answered the question with Martin St. Louis, but just a devastating thing for him to have to go through and. And a gutsy performance to lace him up.
Matthew Kachuk
Yeah.
Paul Bissonnette
The closest thing I could think of is maybe Brett Favre. Right. Like when. Right. I was. I was a Monday Night Football game, and I think it was against the Raiders. And he put on an incredible performance. It was. I was at a establishment with a couple buddies. Watch that game. And when. When he was in the. I'm like, just kill the damn penalty. Right? Just kill. Just get the penalty killed. I think everybody, you know, I don't. I don't mind telling you, I lost my dad and we were in Dallas and at. So that was. Rod Phillips was the same age as my father. That was the last year Rod did. Rod the game. Did the games with us. Rod had done the orders play by play from 1972 all the way to the 2009, 2010 season. So, I mean, clearly in Mark's case, it was unexpected. I Think that everybody, you know, just their hearts went out to him, as I think every. Just when you watch the Stars, obviously the jets players consoling Shifely after and then the Dallas players. Right There's.
Keith Yandle
It was.
Paul Bissonnette
It was hard to watch. Right? Like, you just. You had nothing but empathy. I'm sure you guys are aware of the situation that Tom Gallardi, the owner of the Dallas Stars, who's from Western Canada, sent a. A personal jet so that Mark could fly back and be with his family. First class. No surprise, knowing what I know about this. I mean, the Stars have been one of the best organizations in the league for a long, long time. So it was. It was. It was tough, difficult. Am I surprised he played? No, because it's in the DNA of the players. And I'm pretty sure, you know, that's what Mark would have wanted to do, too.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, that penalty, and you're like, please, no. Like, not while he's in the box. It's just. That was so cool. But Scott Arnels quote was. Was amazing about it, because I hadn't even thought about it this way, that Mr. Scheifele was like a part of the entire Winnipeg jets family. Right. Mark had been there so long that all these guys in the team had. Had come to get to know him. And so it wasn't.
Biz Nasty
It.
Ryan Whitney
It wasn't just like a loss for Mark. Like, it hit everyone so difficult and it's just so heartbreaking that. What a warrior to play in that game. He scores a goal and that was just. That was one where I think everyone's rooting for a Game seven just. Just to get him through that. It was incredible. You know, hats off to him, but we appreciate you. You kind of talk about that quickly. I. I guess moving. Moving along to. To wrap up with you. What do you think? What's your final prediction in this series? I have the Oilers in seven. I think it's going to be one of the best series we ever see. What do you think?
Paul Bissonnette
Well, you know, I can tell you that the orders. I know the players respect these teams. Like, there's no. This is a. This is an older, mature, veteran team that has belief in themselves, but is respectful of how good the other teams are. And they know they've got to be locked in. I think Edmonton's gonna. Again, they're gonna have to be going early. Right. Because that. You take a look at Peter DeBoer's record, game seven. It's pretty good.
Ryan Whitney
Well, that's why at some point, it's Gotta end. I don't think you can get 10.
Biz Nasty
That's what I thought. That's what I thought.
Keith Yandle
67 years.
Paul Bissonnette
Yeah, that's. It's crazy. So I think that, you know, it's funny, I think if Edmonton, their power plays got to be a little bit better. They gotta, you know, and it's funny, when you're a team broadcaster, you always, you don't want to be too much of a homer and. But you're also in a situation where, you know, stuff that you say may get back. Like I have a thing about the power play. If the power play is not going, simplify the power play. Get pucks to the net, create chaos. As good as Edmonton can pass the puck around with the guys they got. The reality is the power play was at 9% against Vegas. I don't know if it can survive another series being at 9%. No, especially against a team like Dallas. It's got real good special teams. And I also, conversely, I expect Dallas to be better 5 on 5 than they've been so far through the play. Like they've got a negative goal differential through the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Stars have won two road games during the playoffs. So I think Edmonton is, you know, I think both teams have aspects of their game they're going to look to improve. And a lot of people say, well, Dallas has got the advantage in goal. And I'm just going to say, well, last year everybody thought that too. I think it's going to be a super close series. Dallas has been knocking on the door. Edmonton's been knocking on the door. Let's go play.
Keith Yandle
It would have Newell Brown, I think. Did Newell have any time in Edmonton? But if we were struggling on the power play, he would just tell us to one time Parks shoot it right away and then that. Then the seams would open up. So especially with Bouchard up top there, if they are struggling with the power play, they just got to start letting it rip from up top and then. And then those guys can get the rebounds and then creativity takes over for.
Paul Bissonnette
Them, especially if they're going to use higher and forwards on the dk, right. Like you want to go ahead and eat a puck with your ankle, your toe, whatever, right. Like it that comes with it. But. And yet the orders do have an. There's an outside chance at some point. I wonder if you see Walman just because he can really, he can really hammer the puck as well. He gives a, you know, a little bit different option there. There have been a couple Like Florida's used two defense men on the, on the power play. I, I don't think we're there yet for Edmonton just because it's been, I mean guys until like for six straight years the orders have had a power play over 25. Right. So I'm thinking I just gotta basically until the final 14 games this year when Edmonton didn't have either. Like the last time Edmonton played Dallas, Dallas built up a four nothing lead. The orders out shot the Stars 44, 24, made it a four three game. They didn't have McDavid or dry settle in that game and all that experience those guys got when they didn't have those, you know, those two big like they didn't have either one of McDavid or Leon in the final 14 games. It sucked their power play a bit and I just, that's why I'd be interested to see if they could get some rhythm. They also haven't had a lot of power plays. We, here's. Here's a bizarro statistic. The orders are over 14 on the power play in the road in the playoffs and they're 6 and 6 for 10 at home. They got to find a way to get some power play goals on the.
Biz Nasty
Road in Dallas and Dallas outside of Those last like 8, 10 games of the regular season they would be like second in the league and penalty kill.
Paul Bissonnette
They've been good on the penalty kill for a while, Paul. Like that's been.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, yeah, like I was just saying like, like those numbers dipped off because of those. That, that losing streak that they were on at the end of the season and I think they bumped down to like fourth or fifth best overall in the league by the time the regular season ended. But that's a top three PK in, in. In the NHL last three years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's going to be difficult on the road and you know I feel like as the, as the playoffs go on we know how hard it is to, to get power plays. I feel like the whistles go away more and more as the games progress. But Stoff, we can't thank you enough. I don't know if there was any more questions we had for you. We appreciate your time as always and, and like the deep dive insight on what we're looking at with the Edmonton Oilers. It could be like now that Toronto's out, I'm going to root from a distance. I'm not going to be tarps off on the jumbotron. I mean because we had the TNT broadcast too in the finals this year. But I really hope that McDavid and dry seidel and Canada wins a Stanley cup for the first time in a long time.
Paul Bissonnette
Really flatter the guys reached back and had me on again. Thank you for your time.
Ryan Whitney
Anytime. See you later, buddy. What a guy. What a guy. We gotta say thanks to Bob Stauffer. He's the best. I love how he brought up how Skinner played for his club when he was little. Right.
Keith Yandle
Like this is.
Ryan Whitney
This is an Edmonton man, Bob, that.
Keith Yandle
Changed my pick for the series.
Ryan Whitney
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Biz Nasty
No. Yeah, like it was just nice to see. Like you said, the Hella buck kind of turned the corner and looked way more like himself. Like sometimes playoff hockey there could be a little bit of a mental block. You know, A lot of the attention was also directed to the fact that there was a lot of that going on with the team in Front of him itself as well. Like, not looking like that same team in the way that they position themselves in the regular season, whether it was through the neutral zone, defensive zone, screening their own goalie, you know, own goals, in some cases, where it's going off their foot or their ass in the crease area. So, you know, some bad bounces for him. But like you said, it was nice to see towards the end that they. They looked a lot more like themselves from the regular season and just from the Scheifele stuff. Like, I was just so gutted when they scored, when he was in the box. An absolute warrior for lacing them up. I. I couldn't fathom having to do that after unexpectedly losing my father in the same day. Like, I don't even know. Like, and, you know, I think Anson touched on. On the broadcast. It's almost probably like, Like a. Like to get your mind off of it at least as much as you could for three hours, like, and play the game that you love was probably a very, Like a. A very symbolic thing. And the fact that his father would have wanted him to compete with. With his team and the boys in a. In a place that was. Was an extended family of his as well. So just. Just like an awful thing. But you.
Paul Bissonnette
You.
Biz Nasty
You shift your focus to the handshake line and just like the love and compassion that Dallas Star showed to him and in the embraces, and specifically Mason Marchman, who also lost his father unexpectedly, and they had a, you know, an exchange of words, and I can only imagine what was said and the support that he showed towards Shifelee during this difficult time that he's experienced himself. So absolutely brutal, but it just shines a light on how special the hockey community is and how, you know, as much as we want to compete and kill each other, when it's for the. For the wins and the losses that, you know it, there's way more than the hockey itself. So just a very, very emotional 48 hours for the hockey community. But more importantly, condolences to the Sheffield's family and extended family of the Winnipeg Jets.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, speaking of the series, too, like, oh, gee, go ahead, buddy.
G
Well, yeah, guys, before we move on, I did have one more guy who wanted to stop by and say hi here. A little surprise here for Biz.
Biz Nasty
Busy boy.
Caesar
Busy boy. Let's go.
Biz Nasty
I thought it was over.
Caesar
Let's go.
Biz Nasty
I thought the torture was over. Big Caesar, how the hell are you doing after that?
Ryan Whitney
Oh, I thought it was a video.
Keith Yandle
Is he live right now?
Caesar
Oh, he's live, boys.
Paul Bissonnette
Let's go.
Ryan Whitney
Caesar.
Keith Yandle
We watched the game this week, man.
Caesar
That was a beating. Literally. We literally put you on my knee and slapped the out of you.
Biz Nasty
All right, you know what? Because you showed up, I'll do another one for you.
Caesar
Let's go, Caesar.
Ryan Whitney
Were you nervous at all after six? Were you nervous at all after you met old?
Caesar
There we go. No, you know what? I give biz credit, though. I give biz credit.
Paul Bissonnette
He.
Caesar
He got his good game plan for game sick. He distracted me. That was a great game plan. Distracted me. That whole day, my phone was blowing up. I was distracted. I wasn't focused. But you know what? I'm like, game seven. That's it. Bucket. I need to lock in and that's it. Well, we had to lock in the boys lock in. They finally played Panther hockey, and Bob was outstanding.
Biz Nasty
Well, okay, so you're obviously one of the MVPs of that series with the energy you brought. You were an absolute. You were an extension as much as oldie was an extension of me throughout that series. I feel like you were an extension of Panthers Nation. And of course, Keith Yandel, who's not on Twitter, who doesn't use Instagram as much, but, buddy, you brought the heat. And we can't play because of the rights of the music.
Caesar
All 26 and a half fans of ours, we had this, baby. We had this.
Biz Nasty
You are unbelievable. This is one that we can play here.
Caesar
There we go. There we go. I don't play walk.
Biz Nasty
Unreal. So are those the girls with their tits out behind you when you did the other video to distract say, I.
Caesar
Can'T say yes or no, but that's. That's for you to determine.
Biz Nasty
Oh, my God. Okay, so going back to the beginning, how long have you been a Florida Panthers fan?
Caesar
Shit, since 96, actually. Bob and Beesbrook, or John Van Beesbrook came to my elementary school, and I remember him, like, wearing the goalie pads, and I was like, damn, that's pretty cool. But I actually grew up a big football fan and just like the Toronto Maple Leafs, so I feel for you. My heart goes out to you. And I'm a Cowboy fan, so, you know, I know how you guys feel.
Biz Nasty
We're the Cowboys of the NHL.
Caesar
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah, no, John Van Beesbrook, man, came to my school and then that 96 playoff run, year of the rat, and I just became hooked and became a season ticket owner back in 2016. The arena is literally five minutes from my house, so I usually. I used to roll my chair from my house to the arena. So, man, awesome, awesome job by the boys. And it's crazy because three years ago, I got diagnosed with a stage grade one chondrosarcoma. So I had a tumor in my right knee, and two years ago, I ended up going under cardiac arrest. So it was the year when the Carolina Hurricanes, or when we beat Boston, when we swept them or not when we swept them. When we. When we came back, we were down 3, 1, and we came back. So the day after it was, I think, May 5, so I had to go under the operating table and. But, yeah, man, I was in a coma for, like, oh, two weeks. I came back. And the first. The first words when I came back where? Let's go, Panthers. So that goes to tell you where my mind was.
Biz Nasty
How are you doing now? And, like. Like, what exactly? Like, were you born with? Like. Like, I don't know.
Caesar
I was born with osteogenesis imperfecta. It's a brittle bone disease. So I have grade three or type three, so my bones are very susceptible to breaking. My whole life I've dealt with broken bones, so the best way to deal with that is watching sports. That's why I love sports. Like, it gets your mind off of, like, all the bad you go through. And, you know, that's why I started my own podcast. So I want to, you know, show people and tell other people that, you know, there's other ways to. To motivate yourself, and I want to share other people's stories on how they use sports as a motivation tool throughout their life. And I've been through a lot my whole life, but nothing's impossible. I got to coach high school football. It was a great opportunity. I was never able to play, so they gave me an opportunity to be part of the team and be part of the coaching staff. You know, I done some motivational speaking and stuff like that. So, you know, I give a lot of credit to a lot of my friends. Kelly, Shawna, Cameron, you know, they've been my backbone, my support, my little brother Alan, my brother Albert, and my. My little brother actually passed away two years ago in a bike accident. So he was a big, big Florida Panther fan. We used to ride from my house to the arena, and he would buy right on the back of my chair, and we would, like, just book it every time. So winning the cup last year was unbelievable. And I don't know if you guys saw the video of when Paul Maurice gave me a big hug after in the parade. So, like, that moment was so special. Just all that negativity, all the stuff that happened before was gone. It was like, damn, this. This is what it's all about, you know?
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
Biz Nasty
I'm gonna, I'm gonna pull up that video right now that you're talking about.
Caesar
Shout out to Mark Scheifele. Man, I had this with me yesterday. You know, we're with you because as a hockey community, we're one family, you know, so.
Ryan Whitney
Yes. And that's so well said and. And so sorry for the loss of your brother. And that's why, you know, you're what's great about sports. Like, you're a fan. You. Like you said it takes your mind off things. And I'm just wondering. Yeah, this is it right there, the video.
Caesar
I actually quit drinking two years ago. I got some funny backstories to that. But they gave me a beer and I was like, I'm just gonna pour. I want to celebrate it. I want to be like the boys in the locker room, right? And dude, it was just a awesome moment though. I. I do wish they would have gave me those goggles. They ended up taking them back. But.
Ryan Whitney
Caesar, because, you know, you saw Tampa have all this success and all these Panthers fans. Oh, there it is.
Caesar
Dude.
Biz Nasty
What a legend.
Caesar
I gotta, I gotta. If there's one day, my goal is to talk with him one on one because he's unbelievable. He's such a great guy. I kind of hope it's a Peter deboer Palmarese Stanley Cup. That's what I'm hoping for.
Biz Nasty
Don't tell that. To wit, you already win.
Caesar
No, no, no. I gotta give credit to the Oilers, man. They remind me of the Panthers of last year where they lost. Yes. And they're coming. You could tell the way they're playing. They're coming. And Draisaitl had an unbelievable year. McDavid is. He's hungry, so don't put it past them.
Ryan Whitney
So I wanted to get to quickly biz. You had all the success in Tampa and things just for so long in Florida. It was a struggle. New ownership comes in. I just would love to talk to you about what happened against Columbus.
Biz Nasty
Right.
Ryan Whitney
Like, you had that record breaking season and you're probably like, finally, it's our time. Like that had to be the lowest moment as a Panthers fan for you to see what's happened since. It's just so incredible. But that series, it must have been like, oh, my God, are we ever going to get over this? Are we ever going to become a legit cup contender?
Caesar
I mean, never in my wildest dreams did, I think when Benny Biola bought the team, though. I have a great story to that. During that year, they were playing the New York Rangers, I think it was in December, and I happened to be at the game, and I actually ran into him in the elevator, and I turned around, it was just me and him. And I was like, holy shit, you're Benny Viola. And he looks back at me, he's like, yeah, hey, how are you? I was like, I'm Cesar. He goes, oh, yeah, everybody knows you. I was like, oh, any violin knows me. That's pretty awesome. But he ended up taking me into the locker room during the intermission. Dude, that was freaking. That was special, man. Unbelievable. Super nice guy. Down to earth. And from what I hear, he's like family first, you know? So you could tell by the culture that they build in the locker room, like, everything is, like. They do everything together. It's. He's done a great job with the organization and. And look at the commanders in the NFL. They changed owners. And what happened last year, Jaden Daniels ended up getting the right pieces. So that goes to totally tell you, like, the right ownership and the right general managers, you can get things done. And I got a message for the Leafs fans. Don't. Don't be down on your team. You guys were much better this year. We told on our podcast, on our Cats and Rats podcast. Shout out to my boys out there. We've been saying it all year like, this Toronto team is legit. They're not going to be an easy out. They got the players that had Steven Lawrence, OEL Stolars, unfortunately, that. That he wasn't able to play. But maybe Biz and Stoli can play some poke check over there in the off season. It might get some. Some better muscles out there, but, no, they've gotten a lot better. They. I think they're in the right direction. We'll see what happens with Marner here in the offseason. But I think they're. They're moving in the right direction and get the right pieces in there, they have a chance. Go all the way.
Biz Nasty
Thank you for that. That was very kind of you. After stuffing me in a locker like Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marshall the whole second round.
Caesar
Started it. You started it.
Biz Nasty
That's true.
Caesar
Coming across your heart, man. Hey, you mess with us.
Biz Nasty
I know. But if I don't say that, I don't come across your profile, and then we never get to meet and we never get you on the podcast.
Caesar
That's true.
Biz Nasty
Right.
Caesar
Thank you for the jersey. It's very nice.
Biz Nasty
In order to make up for my comment, what I wanted to do was I don't know if you've ever been to Carolina to watch a game. I don't know if it's going to be possible in the next couple days, but let's say they go back to game for Game 5 in Carolina. G at some point is going to be going down there. What if we paid for your flight hotel, got you tickets, and got you to a game to go on the road to watch Florida in Carolina? Would you be interested in doing that?
Caesar
I. I might be interested.
Biz Nasty
Boys, that's my. That's my truce right there. Tia is I'm gonna fly you out there, all right? Get you to a road game. And maybe Matthew could chuckle score another OT winner when he says fire up the jet and peels out of the rink before they even.
Caesar
I got the Matthew Chuck haircut.
Keith Yandle
Yeah.
Caesar
Let's go.
Biz Nasty
Okay, so we're gonna get your information. We're gonna figure this out, and hopefully we could time it with UG and we might even send liaison Oldie down there just to kind of be part of the. The tailgate festivities.
Caesar
I love Oldie, man. Hey, I, I. He hit me up last night after the game. Great dude. Met with him after the Panther game, too. He stayed with us and we talked hockey. Super awesome dude. Really appreciate everything you guys have done. This is what the hockey community is all about. Like, we might have been talking online, but you know what? We brought a whole bunch of people, new people into the hockey world, and that's what it's all about, right, boys?
Biz Nasty
These guys talk to me every podcast. Did you not see these?
Ryan Whitney
This is acting like he doesn't talk. This is acting like he's getting bullied.
Biz Nasty
Caesar, Spirit Airlines, I'm gonna get you.
Caesar
We'll put him in a. We'll put him in a luggage instead. He doesn't deserve this. Beard Airlines. That's. That's a first class for him.
Biz Nasty
Yeah.
Ryan Whitney
Big C's honestly talking to you like, it's, it's resiliency. Like what you've been through in your life. It's so incredible. Like, that. This is what hockey does. Like, us three get to meet you through hockey. And my main takeaway from talking to you is that you're scared of the Oilers if you meet us again in the finals.
Caesar
I'm not scared because. Because you know what? In order to be the champion, you got to beat the champion. So bring it with. I'm not backing down, baby.
Ryan Whitney
I love it, buddy. Well, so what is it on YouTube? Big C's show. Is that what they just had?
Caesar
Yep. And then I also got my. The Cats and Rats podcast as well. You guys can follow us there. We do, uh, the pre games and after games as well on there. Talk all NHL. We have an HL After Dark too. So, you know. Hey, trying to get going, man. Trying to get going here.
Biz Nasty
Thank you so much for, for joining us, buddy. It was great. Great banter back and forth and we'll figure out how to.
Caesar
Hey, anytime you're in Florida, man, you hit me up, man. We gotta catch up.
Biz Nasty
If the Leafs are playing you guys next year, I might kidnap. Kidnap their secret weapon. I might just. Just take you.
Caesar
Okay. Hey, why not?
Biz Nasty
That's awesome.
Caesar
They need an mvp.
Biz Nasty
Yeah, exactly. That's awesome.
Ryan Whitney
Cats and Rats. Check it out. Check it out right now.
Biz Nasty
What a way to end the pod. What a way to end the pod.
Ryan Whitney
Talk about pulling on the. The heartstrings, man. What a person he is.
Biz Nasty
And it was awesome.
Ryan Whitney
He was. He was great. Giving it back to you, biz coming on.
Biz Nasty
I asked G to play the video and he said he can't because of the. What do you call it? The, like, the music licensing. But I'll show you guys, without playing the. It was the Eye of the Tiger sound and he had this one going on. This was him. Yeah. There it is. Eye of the Tiger was playing. So he's hitting the speed bag before the game, getting ready, and then he. And then he wheels over, towel on the forehead. What a legend. What a legend.
Keith Yandle
He owns you, Biz. And I.
Biz Nasty
He owned me. He owned me. Him, Tachuk and Marshaw. The Big three.
Keith Yandle
Yeah.
Ryan Whitney
Oh, boys, we're on to the conference finals. Incredible. It feels like it's. It feels like it's been 10 minutes since the first round began, and it feels like 10 years at the same time. It's crazy. It's like being a parent, I guess. But I. I think. I think we're in for two amazing series. I know Hurricanes fans are probably like, all you guys, except for G is just counting us out, but I think. I don't think it's at all going to be a sweep. And then Dallas and Edmonton. I. I don't see how that doesn't go seven, but I am so excited. I can't believe that they started the Easter Conference before the Western Conference. Also, another complaint I do have is first game in Edmonton for Game 3. It's an afternoon game. Kind of sucks I think here we go.
Biz Nasty
Here come the excuses.
Ryan Whitney
Not an excuse. Not an excuse. I will not use it as an excuse. No way. I just kind of. I don't know, people are. People are very busy on the weekends, during the afternoon. I know the US loves using those afternoon TV windows, but personally, I was hoping for, you know, all night games, but I still think it's going to be great. I believe in McDavid, I believe in Leon. This is. They're going to be their toughest test by far. But I cannot wait to begin this. I cannot wait to just sit down and get my thoughts written down ready for each show on the Oilers and the Stars and the Panthers and the Hurricane. So it's been great and Ed Biz said it best. Everyone watching right now, thank you so much. What a. What a family we have here. Amazing fans that, that we appreciate. Without you guys, we're not even here.
Biz Nasty
I'm gonna take Oilers and seven. I think it's gonna be.
Ryan Whitney
No, no. Oh, stay away from us.
Biz Nasty
You know he don't want.
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, too like, I'm gonna hop on the others. No, get away from us, dude.
Biz Nasty
All right, fine. I'll pick Dallas in seven.
Ryan Whitney
Okay. Thank you.
Biz Nasty
You're welcome. And then Yance, what about you?
Keith Yandle
I got Dallas in six. I've had Dallas going to the. I had Dallas, Florida going to the finals. I gotta stick with it.
Biz Nasty
So those of you, the Dallas fans who are in the chat or who end up listening to the podcast, I feel like you guys didn't have enough representation on this pod. Next pod, we're gonna try to get on someone from Dallas. That way we can balance everything out. And also we should probably try to get somebody from Carolina. We gave Carolina a lot of flowers on this one, but it was very Oilers, Leafs and Florida specific. So we, we feel you, we hear you. We want to try to snap it around as much as possible. But as Whit said, we love and appreciate you guys like family. The Leafs are dead. Too many passengers.
Ryan Whitney
I can't believe it.
Keith Yandle
Yes, I see it coming. Wait, how about the text to the group chat like. Oh, yeah, well, Leafs are gonna. Leafs are gonna win tonight. They're never gonna do it.
Ryan Whitney
They're gonna lose 61 game. Notes. Friday noon Eastern. Biz is out. The Leafs are out. Keith and I remain. We might meet again. Thank you so much to everyone. Thank you to Jovo, thank you to the staff monster and thank you to Caesar. Love you guys. Belt and Matthew Kachuk. Jesus. Belt to ass. Have a great week.
Keith Yandle
Well, cats.
Biz Nasty
I don't know any other way.
Ryan Whitney
It.
Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 564 Summary: Featuring Ed Jovanovski, Bob Stauffer & Matthew Tkachuk
Release Date: May 19, 2025
Hosts:
Guests:
The episode kicks off with the hosts bantering about Leafs fans and their perennial struggles. Ryan Whitney sarcastically welcomes everyone to Episode 564, highlighting the ongoing frustrations with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Notable Quote:
The hosts delve deep into the recent playoff performance of the Toronto Maple Leafs, criticizing key players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for their underwhelming performances in crucial game sevens.
Notable Quotes:
The discussion highlights how the Leafs’ core players haven't delivered when it counts, leading to disappointment among fans.
Shifting focus, the conversation turns to the Florida Panthers' impressive playoff run. The hosts commend the team’s depth, strategic acquisitions like Seth Jones and Brad Marshaw, and their resilient performance in overcoming challenges.
Notable Quotes:
The hosts praise the Panthers’ balanced lineup and the effective management under Coach Bill Zito, emphasizing the team’s ability to execute and maintain composure under pressure.
The podcast features an in-depth interview with Ed Jovanovski, Bob Stauffer, and Matthew Tkachuk. They discuss the Panthers' organizational culture, player development, and strategies that have led to their recent success.
Key Discussion Points:
Notable Quotes:
The guests emphasize the Panthers' commitment to building a resilient and adaptable team, ready to handle the pressures of deep playoff runs.
The hosts analyze the upcoming series: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers vs. Dallas Stars. They discuss team strengths, potential strategies, and key players to watch.
Notable Quotes:
The discussion covers the Panthers' robust defense, the Hurricanes' home-ice advantage, and the Oilers' scoring depth led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Predictions lean towards tightly contested series, with a preference for Florida clinching in six games.
The podcast takes a heartfelt turn as Caesar shares his personal struggles with osteogenesis imperfecta and a recent battle with chondrosarcoma. The hosts express their support and highlight the resilience found within the hockey community.
Notable Quotes:
The conversation underscores the therapeutic role of sports and the strong bonds within the hockey family, offering condolences to those who've faced personal tragedies during the playoffs.
As the episode wraps up, the hosts reiterate their support for the Florida Panthers and the Oilers, expressing optimism for the upcoming series. They thank the listeners and guests for their contributions, ending on a high note with camaraderie and anticipation for the continued playoffs.
Notable Quotes:
The hosts finalize their predictions:
Final Prediction: The hosts express confidence in the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers advancing further into the playoffs, anticipating thrilling and closely fought series that embody the spirit and unpredictability of NHL postseason hockey.
This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and emotional moments from Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 564, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners who missed the episode.