Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 565: Featuring Craig Ludwig, Tripp Tracy & Ryan Warsofsky

Summary

Podcast Summary: Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 565: Featuring Craig Ludwig, Tripp Tracy & Ryan Wasofsky

Introduction

In Episode 565 of Spittin’ Chiclets, released on May 27, 2025, hosts Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette (Biz), and Mike Grinnelli delve deep into the NHL playoffs, providing their characteristic outspoken and irreverent take on current events in hockey. This episode features insightful discussions with former NHL veteran Craig Ludwig, Hurricanes analyst Tripp Tracy, and Ryan Wasofsky, the head coach of Team USA's gold medal-winning World Championship team.

Current Playoff Series Overview

Timestamp: [02:04] - [05:46]

The hosts kick off the episode discussing the ongoing conference finals, focusing primarily on two pivotal series: the Edmonton Oilers versus the Dallas Stars, and the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Florida Panthers. They reflect on the intensity of the playoffs, highlighting the emotional and physical toll on the teams.

Oilers vs. Dallas Stars Analysis

Timestamp: [05:04] - [26:01]

Ryan Whitney leads a comprehensive analysis of the Oilers' performance against the Stars. He notes the Oilers' impressive depth and scoring abilities, emphasizing players like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and evading issues with their defensive structure. Whitney highlights Evan Bouchard's exceptional play, stating, “Evan Bouchard, this guy is getting 10 million. For any fans out there, not a 10 million player. No, no. He’s actually maybe more than a 10 million dollar player this guy” ([12:00]).

The hosts also discuss controversial refereeing decisions, such as the non-call on a puck over the glass penalty in Game 3, which led to Oilers scoring two critical goals. Whit remarks, “I laughed out loud. I mean, I’m watching… We got lucky” ([04:43]). The lack of defensive solidity from the Stars, reflected in their negative plus-minus ratings, is another focal point, with Biz noting the disparity in performance between the teams.

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Breakdown

Timestamp: [26:01] - [85:42]

Switching focus to the Hurricanes, the discussion revolves around their struggle against the Panthers, particularly addressing key injuries and strategic adjustments. Tripp Tracy offers an in-depth analysis of Carolina’s gameplay, emphasizing the importance of leadership and physical play from veterans like Jordan Martinook and Nikita Soshnikov. He states, “They got to have their best start that they've had at home in a while” ([90:31]).

Tracy also highlights the emotional investment of the Hurricanes' players, especially after Game 3, where a lack of fight and pushback was evident. He praises the resurgence in Game 5, attributing it to the team’s ability to play to their identity and maintain belief despite previous setbacks.

Notable Moments and Player Performances

Timestamp: [17:02] - [21:40]

The hosts dissect specific game-changing moments, such as Darnell Nurse’s slash on Rupe Hintz. Paul Bissonnette critiques the play, mentioning, “That was a very physical play that had a brutal outcome similar to the hints one maybe” ([20:00]). They debate whether such plays warrant major penalties or suspensions, with differing opinions from the hosts and guests.

Another key highlight is Connor McDavid’s “McJesus mode” in critical moments, showcasing his ability to change the course of a game single-handedly. Whitney praises McDavid’s leadership and clutch performances, asserting, “When McDavid’s doing the things that he was doing in Game 3, he’s fucking unstoppable” ([11:28]).

Guest Segment: Craig Ludwig

Timestamp: [30:39] - [43:04]

Former NHL defenseman Craig Ludwig joins the podcast, bringing his expertise on shot blocking and defensive play. The hosts engage Ludwig in a discussion about the current playoff series, particularly focusing on the Oilers' defensive strategies and the importance of physical play.

Ludwig shares personal anecdotes from his playing days, emphasizing the evolution of protective gear and its impact on the game. He recounts his experiences with shot blocking: “I know, I know. People have been asking a lot, you know, my thoughts on that play” ([32:27]). His insights provide a valuable historical perspective on how defensive play has changed over the years and its significance in today’s high-paced NHL environment.

Guest Segment: Tripp Tracy

Timestamp: [66:46] - [102:47]

Tripp Tracy, a Carolina Hurricanes analyst, discusses the Hurricanes' recent performances and strategic decisions. He reflects on the team’s adjustment after early losses and the rekindling of their playoff spirit in recent games. Tracy highlights the emotional resilience of the team and the critical role of leadership in reversing fortunes.

He delves into the impact of key players like Jacob Slavin and Logan Cooley, praising their defensive prowess and ability to make crucial plays under pressure. Tracy emphasizes the importance of maintaining intensity and smart play to counter Florida’s offensive threats, stating, “They have to have their best start that they've had at home in a while” ([90:54]).

Guest Segment: Ryan Wasofsky

Timestamp: [102:52] - [131:24]

Ryan Wasofsky, head coach of Team USA, shares his experiences leading the national team to a gold medal victory at the World Championships. He discusses the challenges of coaching in a high-stakes tournament, the importance of team chemistry, and the development of young talent.

Wasofsky highlights standout players like Clayton Keller and Will Smith, noting their growth and pivotal contributions to the team’s success. He emphasizes the significance of a disciplined and motivated roster, stating, “We have some guys that can play the heavy minutes, that can shut down a top line” ([115:55]).

Strategic Insights and Coaching Philosophy

Timestamp: [37:01] - [85:42]

Throughout the episode, the guests provide strategic insights into effective coaching and team management. Craig Ludwig discusses the necessity of balancing physical play with skillful puck management, while Tripp Tracy and Ryan Wasofsky emphasize the importance of leadership, resilience, and adapting strategies based on game developments.

Wasofsky shares his coaching philosophy, focusing on continuous improvement and fostering a positive team environment: “He’s been on the bus for 24 hours from Kalamazoo to South Carolina, Charleston, and now I’m on a private jet” ([136:12]). This highlights the demanding nature of coaching at the highest levels and the dedication required to succeed.

Concluding Thoughts

Timestamp: [133:01] - End

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the key takeaways from their discussions and interviews. They express optimism about the remaining playoff games, the potential for dramatic series outcomes, and the exciting futures of both the Oilers and Hurricanes.

Paul Bissonnette and the other hosts reiterate their commitment to providing honest and engaging hockey analysis, ensuring fans are well-informed and entertained throughout the playoff season. The episode concludes with a blend of humor, camaraderie, and a deep appreciation for the game of hockey.

Notable Quotes

• Ryan Whitney: “There are so much discussion about the rematch... I don't want to hear the rematch discussion yet. Florida. Yes, you're in the finals. Edmonton. This series is far from over.” ([26:01])

• Paul Bissonnette: “I think Logan Slavin and Logan Cooley have had some tremendous support... they have to add to that group.” ([85:42])

• Craig Ludwig: “If it was the other way around, it would probably happen too. And, but…” ([29:11])

• Ryan Wasofsky: “It was a total team effort. It was obviously Z's idea to go get the jersey and bring it out. Ruwinski.” ([104:34])

Conclusion

Episode 565 of Spittin’ Chiclets offers a rich tapestry of hockey analysis, strategic insights, and personal anecdotes from esteemed guests and hosts alike. Whether you're an avid hockey fan or a casual listener, this episode provides an engaging and informative look into the high-stakes world of the NHL playoffs, the dynamics of team performance, and the intricacies of coaching at the highest levels.

Transcript

[Whitney]

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

[Biz]

Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Yandle]

Golf season is in full swing and getting out there to work on your game is bound to make any day even better. And if you're looking to improve your drive, Chevy Equinox EV is the smartest choice you can make. Bold athletic styling, a commanding presence, award winning tech, and an impressive range, all with an affordable msrp. Chevy Equinox EV will put a smile on your face no matter how your scorecard shakes out.

[Biz]

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

[Ryan Whitney]

Our white whale, Sydney Crosby. Shave his head.

[Biz]

Shave his head.

[Ryan Whitney]

Shave his head. Ryan Whitney. Paul Vinette. R.A. mike Grinelli. Spittin Chick. How are hockey fans? What's going on? Welcome to episode 565, the Spit and Chicklets podcast. We're in the middle of both conference finals. Feels like I haven't seen or talked to you guys in a month because it's been a full, full week. But we are here to talk hockey, to talk about the Oilers, to talk about the Cane, staying alive, to talk about it all with some very special guests. And it's all presented to you by Pink Whitney. That's not a coffee business drinking. That's actually Pink Whitney. Early in the morning, he knows what's up. Easy to get fired up when you take your shot with Pink Whitney. Local bar, local liquor store, doesn't matter. Get the big bottle, get the small bottle, get the nip. Enjoy yourself with some Pink Whitney as the summer begins and as we watch some amazing hockey in the conference finals. Guys, I'm in a great mood. I'm in a great mood. Keith, I'm assuming, still in a great mood even though last night it could have ended Biz. You're just a loser still, but I love you. What's going on?

[Yandle]

What's going on with me after you called me a loser?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, not a loser. Your team's a loser. You're not a loser.

[Yandle]

I mean, I got you bodying me. I got Jackie Redmond bodying me. I got Paul Maurice laughing when she's bodying me. So, I mean, the L's, the L's keep rolling on for old busy boy here. Yeah. How was your Memorial Day weekend, my friend?

[Mike Grinelli]

Well, fill us in because I was at the game, so I didn't hear what happened with Jackie.

[Ryan Whitney]

It was amazing. Amazing.

[Yandle]

I think that the, the conversation was. Is like keeping a good bench and like Paul Maurice encouraging Them to. To celebrate even the little things, whether it's the block shots or just a simple outlet pass. Maybe it's a good stick in lane, not just the goal, the fancy goals and assists. Right. You need to have a good bench and make sure you're pumping the guy's tires. Kind of like. I mean, kind of like when you pumped Gordo's tires when he used to block shots, and then even sometimes when he got out of the way, he used to chirp them. You know, you just got to have a lively bench chiming in, keeping the morale high. And it's evident that they've done that. But, hey, credit the Carolina Hurricanes boys. There was not much fight in those first three games. The first two, it felt like there was, what, 30% of their fans left in the building by the time the game ended. So they get an opportunity to not only bring that home to stretch at the five, but to put on finally what we would deem a good performance in front of that home crowd that crazy. The crazy Caniacs in Carolina. So, yeah, no, Jackie Redmond, she. She bodied me pretty good there. And Paul Maurice had a good chuckle as a result of it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Maurice was like, oh.

[Yandle]

He was like, oh, why don't we roll it?

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, we have it. Let's roll. Let's roll.

[Yandle]

I don't know if the guys prepared that in time. In the meantime, we can kill it.

[Ryan Whitney]

I laughed out loud. I mean, I'm watching. I'm like, oh, you got NHL Stanley cup winning coach. That's just like, we're not around. We're not allowed to roll the clips. Apparently they'll sue us, so that one won't be show. But we just pretty much described it perfectly. Very, very funny. Another thing that was funny is, is G tried to switch the series around early by getting down to game two in Raleigh where he. He rang the siren. I believe it was kind of tough for him with his wrist. I mean, you could tell he's going all in on that. And it did absolutely nothing. I mean, he. Look at the scoreboard as he's doing it. Everyone's like, get this guy off the big screen right now. We're down three nothing. He can barely spin the thing. So I don't know if he wants to pop on quick and mention if his wrists or arm or shoulders. Do you need surgery?

[Paul Vinette]

Shoulder was hurting, boys. Shoulder was killing the next day. Yeah, it wasn't as much the wrist, but my shoulders aren't much bigger than my wrist. So, yeah, I was struggling. What'd you guys think of the tracksuit, though. Everyone was calling me Grinnelli.

[Ryan Whitney]

Very nice. Very nice.

[Mike Grinelli]

Unreal. Really nice.

[Paul Vinette]

Ordered it on Amazon. But what an awesome opportunity to promote the Gargoyles to get down there like such a welcoming organization. The Canes were like, it was funny because they were so optimistically positive too. Like, everyone in the lot was like, we love our boys. Go get them, boys. Like, we know they're down and out this year, but our boys will be back next year.

[Yandle]

Year.

[Paul Vinette]

It was almost like it was like their local high school team before game two, they were saying that, oh, yeah, oh, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

They. They.

[Paul Vinette]

They knew they were down and out. They knew that, like, they basically had no chance to win, but they were just optimistic and, like, loved their team in a sense of, like, we'll be back next year. We love our core. We love Roddy. We love what they're building here. So it went to $30 million in money this summer. So, yeah, they were. It was. They're so welcoming and so nice. That tailgate gets so wild. There's guys dressed up in, like, Chewbacca costumes and Rick Flair Flair costumes walking around, so it's pretty cool. But people were loving the gargoyle stuff. We had a Gargoyles tent and I mean, every. They said we got tons of season ticket signups as well, so it was pretty cool.

[Yandle]

Maybe not after I ripped them after game three for navigating.

[Ryan Whitney]

I. I have a lot of messages of from Canes fans saying I was going to go to a Gargoyles game. I will never show face in there again now.

[Yandle]

Yeah, they will.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think. I think they will. And. And we're going to get to the Hurricanes and the Panthers. We have the Hurricanes color analyst on Trip. Tracy's been doing it forever. He's going to join us. We have Ryan Wasofsky, gold medal winning Coach for Team USA. Huge, I think 1933. Incredible story there. We have him coming on later in the show. And we also have Craig Ludwig, who is just an all time shot blocker. His shin pads were his wine as wide as the screen right now is. And I got a big old Max.

[Mike Grinelli]

Think Whitney bottle.

[Whitney]

Behind you.

[Yandle]

The one behind you. Those were shinnies. Yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Try getting a shot past these. So great show lined up Biz quickly before we get into Dallas and. And Edmonton. The alt cast with Will Arnett. Very funny. I popped on for a little bit. I know Yan's was on. How did that come about? Was it. Was it enjoyable for you?

[Yandle]

Yeah, I think, like, like 10 days to two weeks beforehand we were in the mix of playoffs and they called me in and they asked if I wanted to do it. Obviously at that point I assumed that Toronto was going to beat Florida in advance and it would have been a Toronto alt cast and we would be the ones pumping Carolina in this series. But no, Florida ruined it. Of course. Yans and the boys just put us in a blender. Could Chuck and the rest of the crew. Brad Marshaw, my arch nemesis, but man, getting to do an alt cast with an a lister and a guy as funny and quick witted as that, it was awesome. We had some incredible guests. Obviously Chuck stopped by. He's kind of got those ant glasses. Like he looks like an aunt, like our grandma, doesn't he? The same ones he had when he came on our podcast. He's just like, I think he's got to burn those things. He looks like he's got bifocals on or put a strip of tape in the middle and look like a Hanson brother or something. Then we had Al Michaels. I let him know that I, I didn't realize it was him who did the call. And then he roasted me. And then you and Yance popped on. We had Chiclets. Memes popped in because Will Arnett's obsessed with Chiclet's memes ever since he tried to sell him that script that was basically just a knockoff of a few movies that were put together.

[Ryan Whitney]

Jason, he has one scene. He has one scene.

[Mike Grinelli]

Jason Bajorn.

[Yandle]

It's just basically like a spoof version of Jason Bourne. So that's, that's what Memes is running with. But he's so endearing that I think Will Arnett like wants to actually do the movie and provide the funding for it. So you got, you got Will Arnett going from hanging out with Bradley Cooper, making a movie with him, to now knocking on Chiclet's memes door and wanting to collaborate with, with an all time great. So as long as those memes keep on coming, I don't give a what he does outside of work, but hopefully we can all get a role inside that movie. So very, very cool experience for me. You know, it Will's been like unreal to us. I mean, Shanny's the one who introduced us to him, right? And unfortunately he's not going to be coming back with the Toronto Maple Leaf. So I kind of feel bad. Like he introduced me to a new friend and then he loses his job. Like I just got to be very supportive of him right now. And Continue to rock my ambassador jacket.

[Mike Grinelli]

You guys have to give those back now that Shannon's gone. Or. How's that?

[Yandle]

Well, here, I guess I'll show you the alterations we made quickly.

[Ryan Whitney]

There'll be a call coming from. From Toronto, I think. Like, we're gonna need those things back.

[Mike Grinelli]

There's a UPS box outside of your house with the. With the label already made. Put the jacket.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, no. They wouldn't even pay for the label. It's like you can pay to return it, too. And then, you know what? Soon enough, you know, maybe. Maybe you guys get some.

[Yandle]

I wasn't. I wasn't gonna do this. What's that?

[Ryan Whitney]

Wherever Shani goes, you can. You could be an ambassador for that team.

[Yandle]

Well, yeah, I'll just add it to the island. Add it to the team list. Yeah, but I wasn't gonna do this. You guys brought up the alt cast, and then all of a sudden I got the ambassador jacket on. Let me take the sticker off. After a few days of thinking, you guys are gonna think I'm crazy, but seeing how this series has gone with Carolina, I would offer Marner 8 times 12. Take it or leave it. And I would consider rolling it back and bringing JT if he's willing to bring a hometown discount. I would. I would. I. It's kind of like. Like I'm addicted to a drug. And I just. We know I want to prove people wrong with that core four. And just.

[Whitney]

The following statements are about to be made by a deranged Leafs fan. The views expressed are his and his only.

[Biz]

Take everything you hear with a grain.

[Whitney]

Of salt because remember, he is a deranged Leafs fan.

[Ryan Whitney]

There are great timing. There are people losing their mind right now that we're talking Leafs. The fact that we're talking Leafs.

[Yandle]

I. I wasn't going to talk long about them. I just want hat on and a jacket. I. I just wanted to say that I. I would offer Marner 8 times 12. I'd say you're a coward if you don't take this. You still have some things to prove here. We've put a lot of money in your jeans. Let's roll it back. Let's hit this gym this summer. Enough with the boat of Muskoka. It's not even that good. A boating Sam Gagne is full of. Let's hit the gym and let's win a mug here with this core four. Let's go. If you're listening. If Marner's listening. I believe in you. I believe it. You. At 8 times 12. I still think that's a little bit of an overpayment based on what we've seen come crunch time. But let's roll it back. And that means Nice has to take 8 times 8. He has to take a little bit of a slight discount and then so does Marner.

[Ryan Whitney]

You know what taking a discount has been. It's just, it's been what the Leafs do. So I think that this could work. It's what they're known for. Guys take discounts, guys want to win. It's just that's Maple leaf hockey. So we'll see next year. Maybe the core four returns. Last week it was eight times eight for Marner. He just gave.

[Yandle]

Yeah, I agree.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm saying 32 more million because of Carolina playing this bad, but we shouldn't. Carolina gotta win. Let's just, let's just, let's just pump Carolina's tires for a minute. We'll get to that series. But because Craig Ludwig is going to be joining us, I believe at 9, 30, 20 minutes. I think we have to talk Oilers stars. I know that the Florida Carolina was last night, but this has been incredible even, even for me and the expectations I had. Edmonton in seven. I didn't see it going like this. So far where I mean we're talking, the Oilers have, have looked much better than the Dallas Stars. And after game one, the collapse in the third period through game two, I mean basically what, 108 of 120 minutes through game two, the Oilers, I mean, dominated this team. And it's all based kind of on five, on five hockey. I mean you look at the Oilers scoring depth, what they're getting, I mean Connor McDavid leaves the leads the playoffs in scoring. Ronson and Leon are tied for second with 21 points. McDavid has 22. But the Oilers have been so good with their depth and other players that it's not even a huge storyline that McDavid and Leon continue to do what they do, averaging around one and a half points per game in the playoffs. Their third and fourth all time. We've mentioned that probably a while. I mean it's been four years of this guy's doing it, but this year it's everyone else with Edmonton and what they're doing. And I think for me being a defenseman and the times I've ripped on him, Evan Bouchard, this guy, he is getting 10 million. So for any fans out there, not a 10 million player. No, no. He's actually maybe more than a 10 million dollar player this guy. Every playoff gets better and better. You saw him score the huge goal to start it out in Game 3 in Dallas. So the Oilers lead 2 1. I will say last game, Stuart Skinner won him that game, boys.

[Yandle]

Oh yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean he was phenomenal. Second period, game three in particular, just amazing save after amazing save. He robbed Wyatt Johnson once. He robbed Blackwell I think at the beginning of maybe the first period. But we have to talk about the breaks the Oilers got in game three because I'm not a real fan. If I'm not going to sit there and admit that a little bit of a ref show that the Oilers really, really the right side of. And it all kind of started with the Kulak over the glass penalty. I I'm wondering your guys opinion. So they showed the replay. We're kind of watching. I was with Bunzo Keith, he was over the house. We're watching and they showed the replay of the puck going over the glass. And I kind of just figured like kids are running around like oh, penalty. Bouchard comes down and scores quick. I'm like, oh, shorthanded goal. I'm like, wait, wait, wait. I just like I was like, how was that? How did that not get called? It was pretty blatantly over the glass. Well, the refs got together, decided that they didn't have one of the refs saying, listen, I saw it for sure not get tipped to me. I don't know why you don't call it because then it can be challenged. But you can't not call it and have Dallas say listen, like go back and look at this. So maybe look at it like you call the penalty. It's almost like the way they call majors now, then they can be reviewed. You can rescind them. You can. So I, I, Dallas Stars fans had had a legit gripe with that one. And not only did, not only did they get screwed on the non call, the Oilers got two goals in what would have been the power play. Yeah, so I don't know what your opinion was on that biz or Keith, but we got lucky. And we also got lucky because there was a quick whistle. I forget the Dallas player. The puck was never tied up and took it like off Skinner's pad. They blew the whistle quick. Could have been a goal. There shouldn't have been a whistle. So Oiler's very lucky with the refs. Game three.

[Yandle]

Yeah, in order to win a mug man, you got to get some breaks along the way. And even going back to the game before like we had the. I was Arguing with people online about the Darnell nurse on Rupe hint. So he ends up taking warm up in game three. Doesn't end up playing. That's also a huge loss. So I don't know how quickly you guys want to dive into that. But going back to what you said about game three, where, yeah, the over the glass and the fact that they respond with two goals under a minute. And I don't know, man, with McDavid playing the way that he's playing so far in this series. And I know you said he only had three goals heading into that game, but he was in full McJesus mode in that one. Like Harley tries to pinch on him. He put the afterburners on. Great little give and go between him and Nuge, who's been after. I felt like maybe the LA series he was a little bit quiet, but since then, man, Nude has looked a lot like he did that year that he put up the hundred points. And like I said, when McDavid's doing the things that he was doing in game three, he's fucking unstoppable. De Rotten. And he tried to pinch off on the wall and get going north. I believe that was what, the third or fourth one. And even though Dallas dominated that second period, they end up coming out on top and. And get a few of those late goals. So really, everything going Edmonton's way right now, including Skinner, who. Who you said, who stole the show. I thought he was first star in that hockey game. Like, it was all Dallas in that second period. It was an onslaught. I think he had 20 stops, but it is just. Yeah, it's unbelievable. Now, do you guys want to dive into the. To the Inglewood chop from Darnell nurse on Rupe hints or what?

[Ryan Whitney]

The love tap. I'm joking.

[Yandle]

Okay. Yeah. No, I mean, it's a great discussion, right? Like, obviously Edmonton fans are going psycho online calling it a love tap. But I agree with Pete DeBoer, though, and I know it's a double standard because it's not McJesus. But if Harley gave a half wind up to McDavid's foot there and McDavid's foot was broken, like Oilers fans would be having a meltdown. Like they would be filing a lawsuit like the Canadians did when Pacioretty got put through the dasher board by Chara. Like, could you imagine Whit talking right now if that was McDavid's foot that got broke?

[Ryan Whitney]

I would like to think that I would still stand by the point that that play happens legit a Hundred times a year. I mean biz. You think that, that he. It was not, it was not a huge over the shoulder windup. It caught him in the perfect. Now not perfect spot for the Dallas Stars and Rupe Hints, but like it was, it was not a major. There's no way, if you look at the replay, that's a major and it's not a suspension. It was bad. It was, it was a, it was a dirty play. It was a Stanley cup playoff type play and it was really bad luck.

[Yandle]

Correct. And my issues with more of the deranged idiots online who root for the Oilers saying that, oh, he's diving all over the ice. It's like, ah, he gave it a pretty hard half wind up, got him with the heel on the stick right in an area that we know. Chris Pronger chimed in. He goes, oh yeah. He goes, I used to get guys there all the time. There's a nerve down there on your foot and it'll shoot up your whole leg. And he knew exactly where to go for half of them were saying that he, they. That he got him in the shin pad. And I'm like, what are you talking about? He got him right on the top of the laces. Yans, I don't, I don't know if you ended up switching over to using those shot blockers where mo. I felt like most guys would be wearing them nowadays. It feels like guys have actually moved away from wearing the shot blockers.

[Mike Grinelli]

Yeah, I, I switched over in New York. Everyone had to wear them. They had to wear the, the ones on your feet and then like the thing on your hand, which you see more and more guys wearing the ones on your hands. I, I think it's one of those things where it's stupid not to just because as a defenseman too, you stand in front of the net, so many pucks can get, you know, redeflected and hit you in the foot and you know, missing a game, especially in playoff time, like, you're missing Rupe Hints, which, I mean, he tried to take warm up. So clearly he's hurt. You know, they could miss him the rest of the series. Like, why not just wear those shop blockers and then you can kind of. I don't think that really, especially how fast he skates. Like he's not going to lose a step from it. Like, especially during playoffs, I would make my guys wear them or at least try to get them convinced to wear them. But yeah, I, I think that, I think you explained it perfectly. What I think it was you know, a dirty play, but it happens all the time. But it was an unfortunate, you know where it hit him and you know he probably did break his foot, right?

[Ryan Whitney]

Like I would think so.

[Yandle]

He was wearing a walking boot post game game too. So it just goes back to the breaks where like, like, no pun intended, like that happens. They don't get the call, they end up losing that game. And then followed into game three where you get the puck over the glass and I mean shout out to Emily Kaplan as soon as, oh my God, dude, they don't call that penalty. And then they get two goals in the back of their net in less than a minute. He wheels on the bench and she's right in Deborah's grill being like, what you make of the non call? Like, right? I'm like, oh, no, no. He look, I know he looked like he was going to headbutter.

[Mike Grinelli]

Kids were like, how mad do you think that coach is right now? And I'm like, I. I don't know how he's doing this interview. Like, I would, I would have just walked down the other end of the benchman like, I cannot do this right now. Not right now.

[Ryan Whitney]

And shout out to her, like, that's her job. She, she had an incredible interview. She had an incredible interview with Skinner after game two. It was awesome. He's talking about, you know, the ups and downs and, and how like the team's like a family and how many people are in his corner. All these things, like great questions by her when she walked. She couldn't have been thrilled to have to go to the bench there.

[Yandle]

And he, I love it.

[Ryan Whitney]

He probably, he gets the tap on the shoulder and she's there. He, he's. I can't imagine his head like, what a pro.

[Yandle]

Deborah, he's like, give me that mic. Just take on Gary.

[Whitney]

You.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's yelling at the head of officials. He's. But yeah, I was like, oh man, that's a tough, like that's a tough interview to have to give. So you guys just got screwed on a non over the glass delay a game penalty, then gave up two goals. And this is kind of a disaster. What do you think?

[Mike Grinelli]

Hey, it reminded me of, it reminded me of like when your dad's already pissed off at you and then you have like a homework assignment due that like they have to go get something at the store for you at 10 o' clock at night. And you're like, hey, dad.

[Yandle]

Oh no.

[Mike Grinelli]

They turn around, they're like, what?

[Yandle]

Yeah, Shout out to Emily for, for walking right Inside of that one.

[Ryan Whitney]

I, I think that, you know, quickly on Dallas, like looking here though, a lot of the discussion was of their depth, right? And you. We went through their lines and, and the players on each line and how good they are offensively, but they're not getting much. I like right now, Wyatt Johnson and plus minus is different now than it used to be. Looked at, he's minus 17, Duchenne's minus 13, Harley's minus 7, Jamie Ben's minus 8. Like, they 5 on 5 are not, not even close to the Oilers and they weren't really close to the Colorado Avalanche either. So I'm, I'm kind of shocked like looking here. I mean, you look at the goals, right? Like, Rupe Hintz has two five on five goals. Grandlin has two five on five goals. Wyatt Johnson has two five on five goals. Sagan has three, Duchenne has none.

[Yandle]

It's.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's been kind of something where, I mean, Robertson got on the board with that tip. He didn't even know he scored.

[Yandle]

He didn't even know he scored.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's like, I got that one. Like, which actually could be great for him. Maybe just getting one even though you didn't know you touched it can, can get you going. I thought Bishl scored that goal. That Bishell is going to be good. By the way. He, he reminds me of like a better skating Doug Murray. I'm sure San Jose Sharks fans listening. Remember Doug Murray, just a machine bench press like that's like the size of Bishop. Now at the end of Game 1, when Dallas had that amazing comeback in the third period, don't know what he was thinking with kind of turtling with.

[Yandle]

With Corey with his vagina. That's what he was thinking with. Buddy, you can't be turtling in that instance. That's such a bad, like, morale thing.

[Mike Grinelli]

When you're that big.

[Yandle]

Corey Perry, the guy's collecting Social Security. He's a buck 80. What the man? You're 6, 6, 6 7, 230 pounds, buddy. You gotta eat more than that. Yeah, you better eat a couple on the chin if you like, for your team, man. You, you, you turtle. And then obviously Perry, in old school fashion, mocking them, and rightfully so. I felt like the series turned on a dime at that instance. I haven't and I agree.

[Ryan Whitney]

And as an Oilers fan, that third period and our stream. Shout out our stream. Where one of the craziest streams we've ever done. Put it this way, it ended up with us like play by playing The Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Game one? I believe so. Like, I don't know what happened. Big Cat came on. Blutman came on immediately. The Oilers gave up five unanswered in the third period. It was, it was a nightmare. But the next morning I'm sitting around, I'm kind of reading about the game. I'm like, I'm still very confident in the Oilers because they had controlled that entire game, five on five, mostly third period, stupid penalties, awful pk. But everything kind of turned out to, to be what I thought it could be in games 2 and 3. So awesome. Spot a couple numbers here. This is courtesy of Jason Greger who does a great job covering the Oilers all year. The Oilers are 10 and 2 in their last 12 playoff games. They've dominated La Vegas and Dallas by outscoring them 48, 29. And it's because so many players are producing. The Oilers have eight players with four plus goals in the last 12 games. Four plus goals is a 27 goal pace for an 82 game season. So you think of like what guys are doing. I mean like Zach Hyman, he has over a hundred hits. I think he has 115 hits right now. The most he ever had in a season was like 101 in 82 games. And he's scoring now. He had two beautiful goals in game three. The breakaway goal to make it four one. And then that passed by Evander Kane. That sauce.

[Yandle]

Oh, it was a bit of a wobbly sauce, a little bit of a walking sauce.

[Ryan Whitney]

I thought it was creamy. Nice sauce.

[Yandle]

Yeah, a little, little ragu meat Sauce.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's the ninth player since 2006 with four goals. Four or more goals and a hundred hits in one postseason. And we're, you know, he could have a possible 10 games left.

[Yandle]

Glad we gave, glad we gave all the boys 11 million out of their entry level. So we couldn't bring Zach Hyman back. Great job.

[Ryan Whitney]

Bring it back though. Run it back. Back. I, I just, yeah, the, the, the five on five play. And I will, I will also say this. There is so much discussion about the rematch, the rematch of last year's cup final, which I think happened in 83 and 84 with the Oilers and the Islanders. The Islanders won the first one, the Oilers won the second. Gretzky's first Cup. And then it happened in 0809 with the Penguins where I was on the losing team. And then they got, you know, the next season Sid grabbed his cup. So it is setting up for MC Gretzky, Crosby, McDavid to kind of all do it the same way. I don't want to hear the rematch discussion yet. Florida. Yes, you're in the finals. Edmonton. This series is far from over. If we can get the game tonight, then I feel a lot different. But if Dallas shows up and this thing's 2:2, all the discussion of the the Stanley cup rematch will be will. Will make me sick because Dallas ain't going away. Go ahead.

[Yandle]

Viz Zach Hyman nugget career high and 82 game season is 117 hits. This is from G in the. In the chat. He has 109 through 14 games playoffs leads in it. Did you already. Did Whit already read this off?

[Mike Grinelli]

Yeah.

[Yandle]

Oh, I didn't. I must have blocked out during that one. And last thing before we throw it to Ludwig, can we roll that clip of the Boar getting interviewed by Emily Kaplan so everybody has a reference and we can ask Ludwig about it and maybe if he was watching how much he had a laugh.

[Mike Grinelli]

I can't do the clip either. He already said this.

[Yandle]

No, no, he said that they have the clip ready. The other one they couldn't do.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, he's talking about. He's talking about the post game where he gave the McDavid line, not the interview. Can't show the interview. Can only show the. Can only show the post game where he's like, if this was McDavid, Whitney would be losing his mind and like, okay, outside this driveway flipping out screaming at neighbors about it.

[Yandle]

So you can only show certain clips but not others. But let's bring in after we do a couple ads.

[Ryan Whitney]

We got a couple ads here. We're gonna start this thing. Sorry, I gotta get over. I'm trying to. Trying to balance some things here. We're gonna start Game Time. Guys. NHL playoffs are here. God, somehow they're almost over in a way. But the only place to buy hard to get playoff tickets is Game Time, the official ticketing partner of Barstool Sports. With killer last minute deals, all in prices, views from your seat and their lowest price guarantee. Game Time takes the guesswork out of buying NHL playoff tickets. Prices on the app actually go down the closer it gets to puck drop. And you could save up to 60% when buying last minute tickets. Apparently 75 bucks right now is the. Is the way you could get into game five, I believe, which would be in Carolina. So check it out right now. Game Times where it's at. What are you waiting for? Get involved right now. Download the Game Time app. Create an account, use code Chiclets for 20 off your first purchase Terms apply. Create an account. Redeem code CHICKLETS20OFF. Download the game time app today. What time is it? Game time. And then also. We got rollback. We got rollback. Biz, I think you have rollback on right now. Oh, these shirts. Use code chiclets on rollback.com for a generous 20 off your first purchase through the end of this week. Their all American collection just dropped. We are here for it. Fresh designs would be an understatement. And they have some incredible new products if you're looking for good USA theme polo for the summer Ryder cup coming up. USA theme. Roback has you covered. These designs are incredible. Prints, stripes, American flags, you name it, Roback has it. Second is their shorts. If Biz is doing a workout, he's wearing the Roback shorts. Incredible. And. And you. You kind of talked about them to me before when we were in Atlanta. They're simple, though. They're easy to wear. So comfortable. There's not a better workout. Short, short on the market. Lined or unlined, these shorts are so good. Lightweight, easy to move in, perfect length. And the final one, we didn't even know Roback had swim trunks, but we just tried them and they may have the best swim trunk on the market. The quality is unmatched. So like I said, use code chicklets on roback.com Generous 20% off your first purchase to the end of the week. C-H-I C L-T S on R H O-B-A C K.com 20% off all polos, shorts, swim trunks, and more with code Chiclets. And with that, let's bring in a man who blocked shots for a living. He ate shots. He got in front of an in guys, faces in the crease. And he actually interviewed us years ago, years ago at the Nashville Predators Dallas Stars outdoor game at the Cotton Ball. Let's bring them in. Craig Ludwig.

[Yandle]

Good morning, guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

What's up, Craig? How you doing?

[Whitney]

I'm doing good.

[Ryan Whitney]

That.

[Whitney]

That seemed like light years away from that.

[Ryan Whitney]

I know, I know, Craig. Also, I want to mention Craig is the host, the co host of the D.L.L. s Stars podcast. So talk to us. Craig, where are you at? Are you panicking? Are you actually calm? What did you think of the non over the glass penalty? I mean, there's a bunch of different things. You could kind of start this series.

[Yandle]

Can I bring up a little nugget first about that outdoor game? That was the one where Corey Perry got kicked out in the first period.

[Ryan Whitney]

And had the Best walk of shame ever.

[Yandle]

The worst walk of shame. God. Do you remember that, Lud?

[Whitney]

Hey, that was, that was the walk of shame. Remember how long it took him to get out of there? You know, he's walking halfway across the football field, so yeah, I'm sure he would like to a little shorter route to get out of there.

[Mike Grinelli]

So.

[Whitney]

Yeah, it was, it was a good event. You know, you guys did a great job. I remember I had to bring up though the pink Whitney. I was like, well, what the hell's going on here? Like, isn't this what your big thing is? And yeah, exactly. You guys had nothing out there. Nothing. So. And I had actually come from. At 7am or about 7:30, we started doing a little thing with Ed Belfort and so for his new product and he had Belfor spirit. So it was one of those kind of days. It was, it was a long, long morning, long afternoon. But had a great time with you guys.

[Yandle]

Yeah. Oh, it was great.

[Whitney]

So, so what do you want to know? What do you.

[Ryan Whitney]

I want to know something. I want to know something. I actually just thought of this as, as, as a defenseman who played hard, was physical, maybe dirty at times. What did you think of the Darnell nurse slash? Are you like, whit, you're an idiot. That is not something that h. Happens commonly. He should have gotten a major and maybe suspended. Or are you on the side of like just a horrible break and just caught him in the perfect spot, but not a major.

[Whitney]

It's part of the game. You know, I, I, you know, we have now on, on our show on DLS there, we're, we're doing these watch along parties, right, for all the away games. So, and Brent Severn comes on with us. So we just kind of sit there and talk the whole, the whole game through and things like that. Anyway, when, when they brought, when it was brought up again, Sevy and I just looked at each other like, you know, that that's part of the game. That's just what you do in front of the net. You know, I, you know, when it, and I looked at Nurse and nobody really talks about it, it wasn't bad. But you know, Rupe kind of gave him a little cross check in the back right before that. And so nurse knows where he is. He doesn't even look back. I mean, you can, it's kind of an instinct thing. You know what side of the body he's on. You kind of have a general idea where his feet are and you know, you're trying to make it uncomfortable. For people there. So, you know, I don't think we felt that it was, you know, one of those two handers. I definitely don't think it was a major. I understand, you know, the whole walking boot and leaving the game and I, I get that that's part of posturing for, you know, for, you know, that kind of stuff. So, and if you, if you do it enough that particular play, you kind of know where you're aiming for and you know, there's that certain part of the foot that is a little more exposed. And even in today's game, I, I always thought all these guys are wearing those shot blockers, you know, or have something in their, in their tongues of their skates or something. So, you know, again, no, I didn't think it was. I do agree though, with, and I, I'll tell you what. The first thing I said when the show was over and I didn't say it on the show then I did say it the other day, but I kind of expected him to be walking out of there with a boot on. Just walking out of there with a boot on. Isn't that what you do? And, you know, if it was the other way around, it would probably happen too. And, and, but I agree with how Pete tried to go about it. You know, you're trying to set a tone for the next game and, and things like that. And, and there is a lot of talk here, obviously with the fans about that. But, you know, the majority of the talk, and I rightly so, is where's the response? You know, is there going to be a response? And, and you guys all know, I mean, that's game two, so you're not going to go out and put yourself in trouble early on in a hockey game in game three. You know, if there's a, if there's the right place in time, which possibly, you know, it could have been after that fourth goal. You know, there's maybe five minutes to go in a game. But then on the other side of the coin, you know, Jim Nill and Pete and those guys that have put this team together and have run it so well for the last few years, it's not really their identity, you know, to be that kind of a team. You know, if it's not Jamie Ben doing things like that or sticking up for, you know, his teammates, there's not really a ton of guys that, that jump into that mode.

[Yandle]

I was just going to ask about Jamie Ben because you, you mentioned, like, who could respond in that regard. I feel like he's Maybe been a little bit quiet this series so far. Like, I feel like he's the type of guy who needs to impose his will and, and strike a little bit of fear in, in. In Edmonton's eyes, where I don't know if that's realistic. I think that I really like the way that Edmonton's built. They got a few guys like Kane who can handle that type of business, but among him and, and who others needs to step up for the Dallas Stars in order to get back in the series because I feel like they got a few guys missing also. Yeah.

[Whitney]

You know, I think that you have to look at again, what I would say is it, it has to be for this particular group. I think it's got to be a team toughness kind of thing, you know. But I do look at the guys on the back end. Leon Bishell, you know, we obviously, you know, big guy and, and we see everybody knows about how game one unfolded with Perry and all that kind of stuff. You talk about Perry again, I get it. So. But, but I, you know, I look at, you know, the other guys that are on the back end, whether it's Labushkin's in their cc, you know, who's ever in there that particular night, I think they can be a little bit more physical. But again, it's not in there. I, you know, it's not the identity of that team in front of the net, which is one of the things I probably chirped about the most, you know, making it a little bit more uncomfortable for, for players to. And what. You know, I mean, you guys want to come into the front of the net a lot of times, you know, especially on the better players, you know, you make it difficult on them and they kind of shy away a little bit. And so, you know, that's, that's goes back to, to our day and doing that. But, but I, and I, I'd be honest with you, I missed the times Red Bell for, you know. You know, Eddie would tee off on a few guys there too.

[Biz]

Right.

[Tripp Tracy]

So.

[Whitney]

But, but again, that's not who they are and I think that. But back to Pete. I agree with how we piece a lawyer. Right? I mean he, he knows how to speak and he puts it out there pretty good and he tap dances around some things the way that you should in the comments. I think he's been a little testy the last couple days. Testier than I've seen him in some of the interviews. But, but to be able to use that reference, that if it was McDavid and all that kind of stuff, you know, maybe there would be a little bit more hype about it. I'm not sure. But again, I, I think you play through things. Here's what I said yesterday in, in my opinion, and I saw some, some video last night of, of hint skating. He looked really good with one of the coaches, I believe, and he looked really good. But regardless of where he's at, you know, is he 60%? Is he 70%? We all know there's ways that you can get into the game and you can make it through that. You know what I'm saying?

[Yandle]

Bud Kilmer, I. Shut your mouth. If you knew it was good for you.

[Whitney]

Yeah, I, I think, I think he has to play tonight. And the reason I say that is, again, I guess we're going back to old school. He makes a difference when he's out there with his speed. He can back people off. He opens up a little bit more room for, for Granlund and Miko and things like that. But it just seems to me like this is such an, a pivotal game in this series that, you know, if he can get in there and let's say Roop gets in there, he plays well. They have the outcome that, that's great. And if he doesn't play, for some reason it's so sore again, they don't have that break now. You don't have that couple extra days, maybe it's going to be sore. But I think the alternative is not that they can't win without them, but if they go down three to one because you miss that part of that game. I, I, I think that, I think the swap out, as long as he's cool with the thing and would, would be willing to get in there and Play. Being down 3, 31 vs. 22 and not having him in Game 5 is the way I look at it.

[Yandle]

Well, I mean, you played when I don't even think they had shot blockers. Did you ever break a foot and what would be your response? Just shoot the thing up, put me in coach type of thing biz.

[Whitney]

I, I go back and I've been asked that obviously lots of times, and I remember I go back to Boston and we were playing in the Garden and it was before our playoff game and I was on the, I was on the table next to Gainey and, and we were both getting shot up and at that time and Beau looked, and I was young, you know, I was probably my third, fourth year, whatever it was, and, and he just kind of looked over at me and Bob, if you've ever had a chance to talk to me, he talks very slow and very deliberate. And he looked over at me and he goes, lens, you know why we do this, right?

[Mike Grinelli]

And.

[Whitney]

And I just. And I ve. I learned after the first couple years is, I think, more before I answer his questions, because he has these ways of going. He'll. You'll give me. Give you an answer. He looks at you, he looks back again. He looks up at the ceiling. He looks at you again. He hasn't said a damn thing yet. And then he'll go, no. And so you're like, oh, you know, the wrong answer. But. But really what it was, he goes, here's the reason why we do this. He go. And I said, you know, because we want to play. I mean, we want to be part of the game, and you want playoffs and all this other kind of stuff. He goes, nah. Yeah. He goes, but you know what? If you don't play tonight, there's another guy waiting for you, and, you know, there's a younger guy there that's making less money. He goes, that's why we do this. And that stuck with me for a long time. So you. You play through those things and. But basically go to your question about the spot. Back to gaining. He had said to me, probably, I think it was the. It could have been the year we won the cup or maybe a year before that. He looked at me one day and he glad, you know what you ought to do? You ought to come up with a shock blocker. I'm like, what? And he goes, you ought to make something for your skates for tongue. Like, I think it'd be a good idea. You know, you're getting hit in the feet and all this stuff. And, you know, we would take that Plaster Parish stuff, and you kind of mold it around your foot and try to get your skate in there. And now looking back a couple years ago, I thought of again and said, you know what? I wouldn't probably have to be doing half the things I'm doing if I'd have come up with some idea about them guys are all wearing them shock blockers, lockers and things like that, right? Yeah.

[Yandle]

Or molding the shin pads. I mean, that's what you're famous for. We have a lot of young listeners.

[Whitney]

With, okay, let's get this straight right now, okay? Like, it. It went from. From parking my car on them and flattening them out and all these things. I got those shin pads when I got to the University of North Dakota. I Walked on my freshman year, made the team, and I got used equipment. My shoulder pads, my shin pads. Anyway, over the course of a few years, they started to crack. And I, I, I probably wore 3, 4 pair of skates in my entire career. I hate new stuff. I cannot stand it. I despise it. And I. And so our trainer in Dallas, and they kept cracking. One day I was taking my skates off, and I took it off, and my socks were full of blood. And I thought, what the hell? I didn't get. I don't remember getting hit with a shot. And anyway, when I took my shin pad off, there was a piece of that plastic that was stuck in my shiny. So I must have got hit by a pocket stuck. And I went to the trainer and I said, smitty, we got to fix these. And he goes, bloods, I got shelves of new shin pads. I said, anything happening? Let's fix it. So what he did is he took that stuff, that plaster paris stuff, and you heat it up and you put it over your wrist and things like that, you know, to protect you a little bit. Well, what happens? And they put rivets on it. So we riveted it on over that crack. So at least if I got hit again, I probably wouldn't have that, that stuff sticking in my shin pad. But what happens is when that stuff cools, it just starts to straighten out and expands. And so that's how they actually became so wide. I must have had rolls of tape on there trying to pull them in. I couldn't get them in because let me tell you, there were times when I was skating up the ice, and I'd have to have guys tell me, there you go.

[Yandle]

Dude, that's insane. That's photo that you cross overshot.

[Whitney]

I know, it's awful. It's not photos. Well, they're not as bad as that looks, to be honest with you.

[Biz]

That looks so bad.

[Ryan Whitney]

Refrigerators on your legs, you're weari so they're wider than the pants.

[Whitney]

With you, you could skate. Biz you couldn't skate. Neither can I, right? So you know how hard it is for us to skate, just in general. So what would happen is those pads on the inside would click. And there'd be times I'd come back and, and, and a lot of times it was zubies, like Zubi. He'd say, let's look at your shin pads. One of them would be facing straight ahead because it just, the tape came off, and I didn't even realize it. So it was a bit of a pain. But I'll tell you what, the older you get and the slower you get, the less distance you have to travel to get into a shot lane with those kind of things because you're kind of already in a lane. So. And I'll. And be honest with you, it was nice because, you know, I was a guy that played and I had to play against people, I had to learn their tendencies. I always felt that if I knew where you want to go first and I get there first, you have to go to plan B. So I got a bit of an advantage. So I would. I knew the shooters versus the danglers and I knew the guys that wanted to shoot between your legs. There's something about it that bothered them too. And even if I, even if I didn't get it, they were thinking about it. And so it kind of helped me in that way too. And I, I just believe in, I try to have our players that are U18 team talk about it all the time. Like you guys have to learn what players do. Like you, you may be that guy that likes to come across the offensive blue line and you know, curl up and all that Federal. There was one time with Fedorov and, and this was. And I had Rick Wilson as our coach for a long time. I had him in college and I was not that defenseman that can hold the blue line that well. League Fedorov was coming down, it was just, just on the other side of center. I was right in front of the bench in Detroit and I hear Will yell to me, let's stand him up. And at the same time I looked at him and I, and I was skating backwards and I said, yeah, right. And I kept on going. I backed up and Fedorov got in, got to the top of the circle and I didn't give him anything. So he curls to the wall. Our third man picks him up. I come back to the bench and I said, wills, did you seriously want me to stand up on Fedorov? He goes, yeah, I have no idea what I was thinking. So it's just that was kind of part of what I had to do. And those shin pads and that kind of stuff, those little details of that I think help you survive in the game for a long time as a.

[Ryan Whitney]

Guy, a two time Stanley cup champion, right? And I think it was 13 years apart. You won it in Montreal and Dallas yet Patrick Waugh yet Eddie Belfor. When you watch Dallas now does. Do you think Ottinger is a guy who can end up being a Stanley Cup Champ. I mean, he's had some incredible runs. He's very good, usually after a loss in the playoffs, but I think in the Western Conference final, he might be 5 and 10 now in his career. A pretty bad record. Like, do you believe that he is a guy that could, could lead a team to a Stanley cup, though, watching them all year?

[Whitney]

Yeah. And, you know, and the reason is, and you know, coming down the stretch this year, the last seven, eight games of the regular season, Dallas wasn't good. And I'm, I'm a big believer of you got to be playing some of your best hockey heading into the playoffs. And when, when. And Jake wasn't good either. He wasn't Jake. So there's a different standard there. I, you know, when, I think when we watch Ottinger play now, we know what he's capable of and when he's, when he's on, he's on. He's, he's. But there's no doubt in my mind he's one of the top three or four goaltenders in the league. But, but I'm like. And I was. And again, we, you know, we were groomed to be in teams that you're playing your best hockey at that time of the year. And I'm like, this isn't like a light switch. You don't just turn it, turn it on at the start of the playoffs. Well, when the playoffs started against Colorado and I picked Colorado to win because of those reasons, and Jake was unbelievable and he was able to just turn the switch. And so I don't. And here after, after the Winnipeg series, I look at it and I go, this team has to be better. Like, they have to be better five on five. Because right now they've gotten through Colorado, who obviously made a lot of changes, maybe too many changes, but anyway, they made a lot of changes. They still have superstar players, obviously Winnipeg, best team in the league. I, I just think that the. It's Rentman and it's in its otter. That's what got them, in my opinion. Of course, there's other things that are in there a little bit timing of power plays and things like that. But because of those two guys, that's what got them to me, the majority of it through, through two rounds. And so to answer your question, long winded Jake Ottinger. Yes, he can be that guy. And you now what you see from Jake, you see this calmness. Very different than the other two goalies that you brought up. You know, them two guys can be wingnuts, especially Eddie But Jake, it doesn't seem like anything rattles him. Whether it's a. It's a poor goal that he thinks is a bad goal. The chaos that goes around him at times, I could see this year. There were times that he was getting frustrated with some of the things that were going on in front of him, coverage wise. And. But, but he, you know, you can see it. You can see how they. A puck goes in and they kind of look at that defenseman for, you know, for a little bit too long. You're kind of sending a message to whoever, you know, and I think that's just natural. So. But yeah, he's been so good and he. A lot of times he makes things look easy and along with some of the crazy saves that he's made.

[Mike Grinelli]

Craig, you mentioned how it's, you know, mostly Ben Otter and, and Miko, and you look at Florida and you look at Edmonton, they're getting contributions from up and down their lineup. Does that worry you guys in Dallas at all? And especially Robinson, I look at him, he doesn't look like he has the last two, three years. Like, is there something going on with him that, I mean, obviously everybody's banged up right now, but is there any worry that you guys aren't getting the depth scoring that these other teams are?

[Whitney]

When you mention Florida, for sure, they're. They're a different kind of animal.

[Biz]

Right.

[Whitney]

I look at the makeup of their team, the bite that, you know, we talk about bite and some of the players that they have, and I think that's what. Edmond makes Edmonton a little bit different because of the Puds Cole or Pud Cold Coles in or whatever the hell his name is and you know, in Perry and Kane and, you know, and you mentioned, guys mentioned, you know, Hyman before and I knew like, he. Where he generally was in the regular season, he was somewhere around a hit per game in the regular season. So he has just been a different. He's been a different player. What it is, it's a, It's a team that said we need a little bit more of this. They made a couple adjustments, added a couple players, brought that kind of, kind of element into the game, but they're, they've bought into that part of the game. When you got Zach Hyman being that guy and, you know, McDavid plays that way now, too. I mean, I don't think people give McDavid enough for credit for sticking his nose in there at times, so. But. But I think it all runs through, obviously him and, you know, 29 there. But you can. You just watch the way those two go about their business during games. And there's a. There's a different level to their, to their attitude and the way that they. There was the goal that was scored and I and Biz, you guys sit there and watch it all. In that last game, I believe there was a power play. Edmonton had a power play and there was. And I think it was in the second period. It was right. It had just ended and then McDavid had scored a goal. But at the end of it, they kept everything stayed on the right hand side of the ice. So McDavid basically never touched the. Never got to touch the pot. And the puck got cleared a couple different times. And right at the end, There was about 30 seconds left and you could see it on, on the camera, on tv. He kind of waved his hand like that, like, I never touched a puck. I never got it. Well, the next time he touched puck, down he goes and you know, all that kind of stuff. So it just seems like there's another level coming off of the way that it ended last year for those two guys in particular, McDavid especially.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, they are. They are on a mission. I don't think this series is over by a long shot. I do want to bring up the fact that a lot of Oilers fans have said, you know, enough. Enough discussion about hints being injured and the nurse slash because Petrovic head shotted Connor Brown and now he's out and he's been incredible. I'll stick. I'll stick to being, giving my real opinion. I thought that was a great hit. Awful, awful, you know, circumstance what ends up happening. But I think Petrovic laid a perfect body check. So I am not on the side of Oilers fans saying that's a headshot. I thought it was a. It was a very physical play that had a brutal outcome similar to the hints one maybe. Obviously that was clean because it was a hit as opposed to a slash. So I do think that the bitching from the Oilers fans on the Brown one, I just think that's just a brutal time hit for Connor Brown to take. The other thing is that when they went down when the Oilers were up two, one in the second period and Dallas was all over them, all over them. My buddy I was watching with said, this is when you need McDavid to just do something, make Jesus style. And. And that's exactly what happened. And it's under a minute to go in the period. And I think Ronton and kind of overplayed it. Ronton's on the D side and ends up getting in front of McDavid, thinking he might get the puck on the turnover and go down. Nope, it gets by him and McDavid buries that. So he did exactly what my friend said. That's the difference In Leon and McDavid is you have, you have a well rounded team, but then you have these two guys at any moment that can just pop off. And it kind of leads to my question for you. You've you the two cups you've won. You know, you've seen Zubov in the playoffs, Madonna, you've battled against Sakic, Forsberg, all these legends. Have you ever seen maybe two guys this good when, when the playoffs come around? I mean, I'm sure, sure you have, but this is kind of a different level with Gretzky and Lemieux now.

[Whitney]

It is a different animal. And again, like I said, I just, I, I think they're committed to, to fixing what happened that didn't happen in their favor last year. But yeah, and again, this, when you talk about those kind of guys, especially you know, 97, it's by committee, you, you can't. And that in that particular play that you're talking about, you know, Dallas, everybody knows I complain sometimes about, well, probably quite a bit about the man on man stuff in the zone. And I, and I think what you're seeing from Edmonton is the way that you get around that is they do a lot of interchanging. They have these little moving picks and one, you know, puck hair is going north and then somebody's coming south and heaver. You either slide in between the player that's trying to cover the puck here or get on the outside now. So, and so you have to be, you have to have your head on a swivel. And I think that play that you're talking about with Ran and like he, he actually, he follows the puck, he chases the puck. That's what happens. And so now all of a sudden there's that separation. And because other guys away from the puck are on their guys, there's more space because they're looking at where they're going. I mean, you know, I looked at one of the goals in the, probably the last game, a power play, and I think that's the one that got tipped maybe rnh or somebody, but. But it was mainly because Wyatt Johnston left him like he was there and then he just kind of takes off and he moves up a little high and it opens up that space that's how perfect you have to be when you play that kind of system. But yeah, with the way that those two guys are playing and, and you have to do, you know, you're really not going to contain them. They're going to get their chances. Which goes back to Jay Cottinger, but go. And also for me goes back to. Then we've got to make sure that we're in the areas of ice where they're shooting from less higher quality opportunities. So they've got to be outside the tops of the circles if they can. You know, McDavid made a great shot. He used. I think it was Essa for a screen on that goal, you know, and again, that's McDavid does McDavid things right. That, that happens. But, but I just think that any time for McDavid, if you can get him with his speed and you take away the middle of the ice enough, especially on entries and rushes, if you can get him to go behind the net, it's better off than all the other alternatives because generally that means that if he's going behind the net now you're finally getting all five of your guys back into the defensive zone and then get down below the tops of the circles and try to keep things on the perimeter as much as possible, which is where when that happens now there should be a few chops on the ankles or on the wrist that you can get away with and make it a little bit more, you know, uncomfortable for people to want to hang around the front of the net and let Jake see those shot lanes a little bit better.

[Yandle]

One other guy I was going to ask you about Wyatt Johnson. Brutal plus minus. Whit mentioned it before you hopped on, but it feels like that first year he had such a, an impact come playoff time and there's been a significant drop off when the games have gotten more difficult. Like, what are you seeing? Like, you know what, what more can he improve on in order to make a difference in these games, especially in the conference final? I mean, Jan's already asked you about Robertson. Maybe you could add him in it too. Like what do these guys need to do in order to make an impact, maybe even outside of scoring? Because to me, Robertson is non existent right now. And I know he came off injury, but these are two guys, they need to make impacts. But specifically Wyatt Johnston.

[Whitney]

Yeah, and I'll start with Robo. I think that Robo, for Robo, he has to score goals, you know, I mean that's just. That's what makes him go. And, but. And I used to say this about Tyler a lot. Sagan and I felt that when. When Tyler had a tough stretch where she hasn't had many, when goals weren't going in, especially on the power play, I think sometimes, like, they. They get a little bit further away from the net to get their shots, get their shots off and stuff like that. And I think it should be the opposite. I think you got to go to the front of the net because it doesn't matter how the puck goes in for those guys. They just need it to go in. And. And I think so. And I. To say that for RoboBo, and you're 100% right. Like. But this is. Kind of goes on with Robo sometimes during the playoffs. You know, I think he gets freaky. I think he gets that reputation sometimes. Oh, it's playoff time. What's going to happen with Jason? But I will say that, you know, he's had a couple injuries. He had one, obviously, at the end of the regular season, but. But the skating part of it is there, so there's no excuse, in my opinion, right there. But I think what Robo has done. There was a goal in game one, I think that Granlund scored on the power play. Robo was the guy that was in front of the net with the screen, so that's just a little thing, but it. And then even the goal. And he did get credit for that goal the other night, which he didn't even know about. And I don't know if you guys saw it, but there was a shot on the bench. After the goal was scored, Robo came to the bench, and they. They got. They got him, and he was all pissed off, like. And I think it was almost like. It was like, I got that, but they didn't credit it to him. So I was like, oh, is he mad? But then I saw in the interview after they told him that, you know, that was your goal, and he's like, oh, I got that goal. I didn't know I got that goal. All of a sudden, there seemed like, oh, I got that goal. So maybe that's what it takes for Robo is to get that, you know, that goal to go in. As far as Wyatt goes, you know, I think you're trying to use him a little bit against using him for a matchup, because Wyatt can skate with. I'm not going to say anybody you can't take with McDavid, but I think that they trust Wyatt enough that he can match up against the. Whether it's dry Seidel or McDavid be on the ice and those kind of things at the same time, because of his skating ability and his hockey sense and things like that. And I just wonder sometimes, because you may have that added responsibility, you get a little too dialed into that responsibility, and you just have to go and do your kind of things. Because he is such a great. And he's such a good player in the playoffs. I mean, he scores goals in the playoffs. He scores big goals. So I don't know if he's getting a little too. I gotta be. Because right now you might as well forget about your plus minus. You're probably not coming out on the plus side, even if you're. So you might as well forget about that part and. And start putting pucks in that. And. Because again, we've seen that if they can get two or three goals, you know, and get them early, get a goal early on Skinner, there's a good chance that you might be able to get to that guy. So it's almost like you can't sit back and not be worried about getting scored against. Play your game. That's the kind of team this is been a team that gets on its front foot and, you know, they make the passes, they make the pretty plays. Which. Playoff time. I'm not a big fan of that. You got to just direct more pucks to the net. And when more pucks are getting directed to the net, the other two forwards or whoever it may, the other four players know, hey, we're putting pucks to the net. So they don't hang on the perimeter as much. They kind of go, well, it's coming to the net. So now all of a sudden you get my. Might as well go to the net, because that's what we're doing. We're shooting the net. So I just think a little bit more traffic and make it a little bit more difficult on Skinner. You saw in game one, I mean, there were a couple times he was scrambling because there was people in his kitchen. And. And I think that bothers every goalie. So I just think they. They need to add a little bit more of that.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, you know, Skinner gets a shutout or maybe gives up one or gives up like six. So, yeah, I mean, if you can get to him early, the whole thing could change. But do you have anything else for.

[Yandle]

Yeah, I mean, I. I figured we'd have to ask about Heiskin and the fact that he came back from injury. What have you seen so far? Does he still look like he's. He's nursing it A little bit, because I. I feel like for him, there's still, like, another gear there maybe that we're not seeing, and hopefully we see it soon. If they have any chance of coming back in the series.

[Whitney]

Yeah. Because I don't know if Miro is going to be 100%, but even until next year, you know, I mean, he had a significant thing happen with him, but I think game one, he came back and there was a particular play he was backing up and. And I don't remember who it was, and he kind of. He had to cross over and it didn't turn out well, but again, he had an injury and he's been out for three months, so I expect that kind of thing. And we expect special things from him. I mean, he's such a great skater, but he's getting better every game. I still think that having to turn sometimes he doesn't have the same quickness. Been a couple times where guys will get the middle of the ice or get the edge on him a little bit, and where he would normally pivot and shut it down right away, that's not there. I. I think he probably has to learn or at least try to adapt to coming off an injury. The brace, the whole nine yards of. Maybe I have to give them a little bit more space. I'm usually really good at holding like that. There was a play last year in the playoffs against McDavid, there was a turnover in the neutral zone, and I don't. I have no idea. And McDavid got it, and McDavid actually was headed towards Dallas's zone. Miro was heading up towards the Edmonton zone, and there was a turnover. McDavid was gone. And Miro took two strides and he had the gap right there at the blue line. And I was like, I've never seen anybody be able to do that. So that's the ability that he has when he's healthy. So I think he's still trying to get through some of that. So sometimes you might have to give a little more space than you used to to buy an extra second for yourself where. Where he's coming around. Miro is the guy, for me that the. One of the biggest bonuses offensively for him is the way he transports the puck out of his own zone, because he doesn't like with Thomas Harley, who's obviously, you know, taken it to another level this year. Harley is that pass. He makes, a long pass, he makes a good pass generally out of the zone. Miro picks it up and he skates. And for me, what happens is when Miro breaks down that first four check, however you have it set up, now, he gets past the first guy, and as he starts to get in to the blue line area, start getting in the neutral zone, their coverage has to change a little bit because now somebody has to come to Muriel because he's still skating through the middle of the ice. And Miro has the ability to see if he's coming from his left or his right. And he knows if he's coming from his left, he makes that pass up that side, and now you can create a three on two. So Miro breaks things down with his skating ability, and that's what they need to get some more transition and create some more offense, you know, and outnumbered rushes heading into the offensive zone, right slide, you're.

[Yandle]

You're on the ball, man. You know it all, man.

[Ryan Whitney]

The man knows, hopefully.

[Whitney]

Maybe they should listen to me, then.

[Yandle]

You should be behind the bench with the board. Another coach man added to the staff.

[Ryan Whitney]

Wear your shin pads on the bench. Nobody else could fit there. You'd be the only coach standing there. But thank you so much.

[Whitney]

Hey, listen, let me tell you a little. One little thing about that. I got a letter. Oh, man, this is 20 years ago. I got a letter from the hall of Fame about those shin pads, and I just kind of tossed it. I just thought, yeah, I wonder who's doing this? Because I've gotten some of them things. Then I got another one, tossed it. Then I got a phone call, and it was somebody from the hall of fame. Mr. Ludwig, I don't know. We've sent you some letters. You know, we'd really like to have the shin pad, all this kind of stuff. And I said, yeah, right. Like, who is this? No, no, we're serious. So I got one more call. I didn't. I said, no, man. I said, my kids want them. Which, you know, they wanted to wear them, for God's sakes.

[Ryan Whitney]

I wanted to play beer pong on them.

[Yandle]

Yeah.

[Whitney]

And you know what? They're. They're still the I. And I would put duct tape on them, the color of the team that we played. There's still duct tape on them from that particular team. They're all moldy on the inside. Anyway, I got one. I got one last call, and I said, I'll tell you what. You can have the shinpets as long as you take me. I've never got a callback. I've never got a letter. Everything stopped. So anyway, what was the question?

[Yandle]

I got all sidetracked no, no, you should be getting inducted into the hall of Fame. Two Stanley Cups, veteran shot blocker and willing to get shot up, Bud Kilmer style before games. You were the ultimate teammate and I think they could throw you in the lineup and you could be a factor right now.

[Whitney]

Lud, I'd be a pylon biz.

[Yandle]

That's what I. Yeah, well, you never skated that well. So changes.

[Whitney]

You have to play with deficiencies, you know, I mean, you got to know who you are and what you're good at.

[Ryan Whitney]

Over 1200 games, over 170 playoff games, two cups. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Great catching up with you and we'll see what happens tonight. Craig, we'll talk to you soon.

[Whitney]

Yeah, thanks, guys. Love listening to you.

[Yandle]

You're a legend. Thanks so much, Lud.

[Ryan Whitney]

Guys, before we get to Tripp Tracy, I mean, and who knows Tripp Tracy, we needed that win. He couldn't come on here after the sweep, so can't wait to chat with him. But we do have to talk about body armor. This episode is brought to you by the Body Armor sports drink. Body armor has great tasting flavors like this one right here, Strawberry banana. They got orange, mango. No artificial dyes, flavors or sweeteners. I'll tell you, a long Memorial Day weekend. This is the perfect drink to just get you. Get you back feeling good, get you hydrated, get you also tasting great and feeling better. It's body armor in a bold new look with the same great taste. Get your body armor today at Walmart or local grocery store near you. Body armor. Choose better and then quickly. Quickly. Biz. We need to talk about no bull before trip comes on. Because no Ball is the footwear brand for those wanting to be better physically, mentally and emotionally. The no approach. All you do is rock these shoes. Now biz.

[Yandle]

Oh, unbelievable gear. They got gear as well. They got the shoes. I mean, they got. These ones are the mesh ones so they breathe easy. You don't even have to wear socks with these bad boys. You can wear them to hike. And they tons of new models coming out. Tom Brady's brand, so you know he's doing an unreal job with whatever he's putting out. So you can get incredible discount. Try them out. And very reasonably priced as well for the quality that you get. So if you're looking for a new training shoe, make sure to check them out. And as I mentioned, plenty of amazing styles online. So I'll hand it back over to you, Whit.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I've been doing my treadmill Walks in the new Nobles they sent me. They sent me three different pairs and they're phenomenal. Comfortable, lightweight, like you said. And exclusively for our listeners, no bulls offering 30% off your order. Visit nobleproject.com chickless for 30 off your entire order. That's nobleproject.com Chiclets for 30% off. Let's right now bring in a man who's finally, after all the Eastern Conference defeats, he's finally happy. He's finally feeling good about his team. They're going back home. They've been an incredible home team for a long time. Can they get a dub and force game six back in Florida, we have Hurricanes analyst does a great job. Tripp. Tracy, what's going on?

[Tripp Tracy]

What's up, boys? Great to be with you. I have to tell you, I, you know, I'm running on fumes. We got back pretty late last or in the morning after win last night. But what a hot stove with Craig Ludwig. And it made me reminisce because years ago at the Fox meetings on the ocean in California where I had a session with Darryl Ray, the brilliant analyst, he was doing play by play at the time and Craig was his color analyst and you know, as a goaltender with dreams, did I ever love Craig Ludwig. And we just hot stove. He's got the tolerance of a rhinoceros. But that was tremendous stuff and I really enjoyed that sip in my coffee and a great memory of that, that session on the Pacific Ocean with Craig.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, great guy right there. And I'm interested to see or hear your thoughts after last night because I think everyone watching the game was like, this is the Hurricanes team that we thought we'd see from the beginning of this series. We talked about the sweep two years ago and how close those games were. And I said, no chance, it's a sweep this year. I think the games are going to be just as close. Carolina looks very special this season and then kind of disaster struck right at home. The first two games, then game three blowouts. What were you thinking kind of going into not only the series but, but game three back on the road after a disappointment at home. So what are you thinking right now and what was your thought after games one and two of like what is happening out there?

[Tripp Tracy]

Well, I mean, we had to to go back to entering the series. I mean, I've had the privilege of being here for 26 years and I have plenty of character defects but I do have an elephant like memory and you know, I can remember their last win in the conference final before Last night, spending some quality time with Mark Rechy. It was a hurricane at the time after they beat buffalo in game 7, so.

[Ryan Whitney]

Can't hear him. Can't hear you right now.

[Yandle]

We lost you, Trip. I don't know if you're getting a phone call that's coming in that might be blocking the sound.

[Ryan Whitney]

Possibly still. Still muted.

[Yandle]

Why don't you do biz voice on him?

[Mike Grinelli]

I was just thinking that.

[Yandle]

Hey, why don't you do the biz voice on Trip?

[Ryan Whitney]

Because I would never do the biz voice to anyone else but you. I can't wait to hear. I can't wait to get him back because, yeah, he has been involved with the Hurricanes for so long. He knows the team. Until we get him back, I guess we can discuss, like.

[Yandle]

Well, I think the last time they won an east, the last time they won an Eastern Conference final game, Rod, the bod had the game winner. That just tells you how long ago it was since they'd won a game in the Eastern Conference finals. So I don't know, boys. The issue for me after game three was the lack of fight and the lack of emotional investment from some of the guys in their lineup. And I know that Svetchnikov ended up bumping. Oh, we got him back here. You good, Tripp?

[Tripp Tracy]

Boys, I apologize. It's a. Can you hear me worries.

[Yandle]

We got you now.

[Ryan Whitney]

We got. You're back. You're back.

[Yandle]

That was like, games one through three for you guys. Everything was falling apart, but we got you back. We're back on the rails.

[Tripp Tracy]

It's a running joke that, you know, you'd never think that I graduated from Harvard. I'm the dumbest. I'm a tech dinosaur. And so even getting on this zoom with you guys is. Is a real challenge. So hopefully now it sticks. But I going back to, you know, the privilege of being here for so long. I remember spending time with Mark Rechy after that Game seven conference final win. And, you know, it's been tough sledding to the ends of the year. So going into this series, especially Florida coming off of their, you know, their Game 7 win in Toronto, I thought that it was of paramount importance that Carolina get in front of the series and that streak and at the very least, go to Florida 1:1, ideally to nothing. It didn't happen. But I've always enjoyed, through all the groups here, guys, that players know that I have a job to do, you know, But I'm in the trenches with them. And, you know, part of that is these last couple of days you know, you can't lose your belief. So especially with my morning coffee, I have to map out if Carolina gets back in the series, what it's going to look like. And I love the start last night in particular because the moment you lose your belief, you're cooked. And I knew they needed to play not just their hardest, but their smartest game of the series in the fourth game, because that's what frustrated me more than anything, guys that they weren't playing to their identity. I know Florida's a different opponent than Washington was or New Jersey was, but if you're going to go down, go down playing to your identity. And that identity just simply cannot involve the puck management mistakes that they were making in the first three games. And they rectified that very impressively last night.

[Ryan Whitney]

When you were, when you were muted. Biz talked about the kind of lack of fight and pushback after game three. My thought after the first game was I, I understood what they were doing, but I didn't agree with they were. It seemed like they were trying to play Florida's game a little bit. Bosses bear shot the puck at Marshawn, right? Things that is only going to piss off Florida even more. It's almost like let. Let the sleeping Giants sleep a little bit and just try to out skate them and out shoot them. The Carolina's won so many games, but they went into it and almost tried to bully them. Then it turned around where you have, you know, you have Chuck Cross checking a ho for payback on the hit against Reinhardt. You have gossip where Marshawn goes at him, he keeps his gloves on. Like did you see them kind of not playing their game as you just mentioned, and trying to rough up Florida when, when that isn't their identity. And were you as confused as that as I was And Tripp, I was.

[Yandle]

Actually like, I like the fact that Svetch bump Bob. Like to me it was like, okay, all right. Like they got swept two years ago. He's coming in with a little bit more jam, especially as one of their power forwards where they're clearly outsized and outmatched in that department. But it told me that he was emotionally invested early. I guess the problem was there wasn't much of a follow up, especially from some of the other guys as well.

[Tripp Tracy]

You know, Biz, where I did not mind that bump, you know, from Svetchnikov and you know, you remember with his knee injury, he wasn't available in that conference final two years ago, so. And that was a huge loss. Max Pacioretti had torn his Achilles for the second time, too. So you were up against it. But I agree with Whit wholeheartedly. You know, even in the first period of game one where Carolina was pretty good, you know, I thought they were. They were trying to prove to the hockey world that they can be just as physical and nasty as the Florida Panthers. I thought gossip was as dangerous players they had in that game. I'd love to see him stay as covert. Stay covert like a Navy seal, you know, and I was. This will probably. This might not go over well with, you know, my, you know, wonderful passion with our wonderful, huge Caniac fans. But, you know, I was going back and forth with Tom Wilson this morning because I love Tom Wilson. I still think he sets the bar when it comes to scary guys that can play the game at a high level. And that's what Carolina did so well against Washington. I know that Washington is not Florida, but number one, they only chase the game really once in game two, and they played whistle to whistle against. I thought Tommy Wilson had a really good series. So the guy that sets the bar for me really could never be a factor. And they lost that identity of who they are early in the series. It was like they were trying to prove that they've taken these big time steps. And I like game three a lot better. I liked where they were at early in the third period. They had that early kill, you know, really unfortunate. And a big time turnover from Taylor hall. And all of a sudden Florida lowers the boom. And last night from the. The opening face off, right? And you know, the first win is usually the hardest and it didn't come easily, but I love the way that they played to their identity. And now they're going to have to be even more desperate tomorrow night at home, and they can't come off of that at all.

[Mike Grinelli]

And going away from Freddy for game three and then going back to him, obviously they get blown up out in that game and you got to go back to him. Do you think that was part of their plan? Like, you know, Freddie can reset. He's been amazing for you guys all, all playoffs. And was it kind of one of those things you think Rod was like, hey, listen, if we said him and we somehow get a win or even a loss, like if he can come back in and he can be our guy that we know he can be, you know.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yeah, I, you know, because I'm not a guy that, you know, has a gut instinct decision, and then if it doesn't work out that, you know, I'M a revisionist and I felt that it was the right time to go to Coach Adkoff. You know, Freddie going back to that previous Eastern Conference final against Florida, that was a sweep ront play game two, but, you know, he hadn't been able to come up with a win. You know, I didn't fault him at all. He was the least of their problems in the first two games. But you didn't get those saves early in particular that you needed. Coach Chetkov had always risen to the occasion against Russian goaltenders. His numbers had been really good against Bobrovsky. I loved him in the first two periods. Didn't like the hall turnover and didn't like how Antsy got with a stick as he was moving from right to left on Boquist. But where I. So I agreed with that decision. However it was going to play out, that's the way I felt. So I'm not going to change my opinion because it didn't work out where I give Rod a lot of credit because I've always thought that Freddie is the kind of guy that when he's on a roll, how long can he build upon that role in terms of me against the world rebound guy, I don't know that Craig was talking about, you know, Ottinger and needing a big performance tonight in Edmonton. He's a great rebound guy. That's never for me been Freddie's strongest asset. So for me it was a true decision for Rod going into game four last night. But Freddy's the guy that got you there and he was stellar. What I love most about Freddie Andersen last night, you can usually. It's a real good barometer for me is he attacking with his hands and right from that early save on Bennett and throughout the hockey game, there was a tip from Barkey in the third period where he established a high glove. I love when goalies do that, even big goaltenders, because you can go from high to low, you can't go from low to high. But his hands really jumped off the page for me more than anything else in his shutout last night.

[Yandle]

I wanted to talk about. I didn't think the loss to Chatfield was going to be as significant as it was. It really feels like they were missing him in the first few games. They decide to go with Scott Morrow. I can understand Rod's decision given like the systems and the man on man D zone and how complicated it could be for a guy like Nikisha coming from overseas and adapting to that. But I felt that he belonged in the series. From the Beginning just given his shot size, his offensive upside and the fact that of how big Florida is and really being able to contain them to the outside amongst everything else that he brings. How have you felt that he's entered the series and what do you make of that decision early on, which I mean, I think we could all, I mean outside of Orlov in game three, I think that that was probably the worst offensive performance we've seen probably in playoffs for Morrow. Unfortunately for him.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yeah, I, you know, it's no secret here in Carolina, you know, I have a job to do. But you know Rod, I walked his mom down the aisle at his wedding. He's my closest friend in the organization. 95% of the time biz, we see the same game. I liked Alexander Nikitian in Washington. He had a tough first shift. He got bailed out on a successful coaches challenge on that offside play. That would have been a glaring, costly turnover. But for a guy playing on a North American ice sheet, the challenge of the Russian language. I liked him so I would have stuck with him. For me, truthfully, it would have been a no brainer. That's no disregard to Scott Morrow. I'm sure Rod, you know, prioritized Morrow's comfort with the system, having guys on their natural side. But I want to tell you a quick story about Nikish and his first practice here. Guy doesn't speak a lick of the language and I'm watching him first practice. He's flown all over, zigzagged around the world to get here and he is tapping the veteran guys that are English speakers throughout practice. Just his charisma told me right away this is why this guy was the captain of SKA in St. Petersburg at such a young age. Aside from the fact he's a beast, aside from the fact he's got a big shot and I think he's showing signs of being mean, which Carolina desperately needs already. But even in that first game I saw a guy that simply is not going to dip his toe in the water. He's going to go for it and has that thing called self belief. So you know, I started talking to Nikisha and communicating with him last summer, you know, before his last year in Scott. So I've been bullish on him for a long time. And was he ever great in games three and four?

[Yandle]

Yeah, that primary was, was nice on the backhand right up to stanky, stanky leg and stankhoven.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean what a shot. I think he's if not the best right up there for the, the top Hurricanes player throughout the playoffs. So, you know, you talk about Carolina went for it with Bronton. It was disappoint, disappointing how it all kind of turned out. But Stankovit's been phenomenal. Like, do you see him as kind of like a pace setter? Like he's, you know, he's, he's like the Energizer Bunny out there. It's non stop. It's almost like guy's got to follow a little bit of how he's been playing. Would you agree?

[Tripp Tracy]

I think when he's been awesome, you know, I can tell you again, you know, it didn't work out with Miko. Miko and I will keep in touch. You know, I've talked to Mikko regularly in the playoffs, including, you know that epic game seven against Colorado when I. But it was the right move to move him and because it fell off and he was really disengaged at the end. And as soon as I heard speculation that, you know, that Eric Tulski and Jimmy Neal were working on a deal, truthfully, the guy that I wanted to be in that deal, not knowing it, you know, I've never been in the scoop business. I don't work at Baskin Robbins. I said to myself, I hope Logan Stankoven is in this deal. And I really did. And then immediately I got a text that I showed to Logan from Pete DeBoer, just singing his praises how difficult it was to have him part of the deal coming to Carolina and Kamloops Blazer. I mentioned, you know, my relationship with Mark Rechy and Rex told me and nobody would know it better. And Rex said, Tripp, his will and his compete is off the charts. Can he find a way to live on the inside and against this sizable tough Florida group of defensemen? Nobody has gotten to the inside more regularly in this series than Logan Stankovin. He is without question been their best player.

[Ryan Whitney]

I watching Florida, I don't know if the Blues or the Rangers ever saw a day when Mikola would be this good. I mean that loss is enormous. You talk about Reinhardt being out, Mikola the way he was going, it's like without him, he went flying into the boards with the shoulder. So going back into Game 5, right, they finally got a win. So the weights lifted off their shoulders. They're going back home. If Mikola and Reinhardt can't play like I, I'd suspect Carolina is going to be right in this game as well. Like, do you think that winning one game will, will help take the the pressure off that much where they can play a little bit more at ease in front of their home crowd.

[Tripp Tracy]

My guy tells me, miko plays. You're making me think about, I did a game between the benches when he was a Ranger. I didn't notice him in St. Louis, but seeing that size and the crazy, his ability to move that game I did between the benches when he was a Ranger, I'm like, who is this guy? I'm a firm believer that momentum, especially against the Stanley cup champions who are not going to get rattled, does not exist between games. So can Carolina not only be as desperate as they were last night, but even elevate their desperation and boys, their starts? The Hurricanes have been significantly better on the road than they've been at home. And so, you know, can Carolina locate their best start in their own building that they've had in some time against, you know, Florida's 7 and 2 on the road? So you can't come off of that desperation. I could go through every guy on the roster like last night and say he made a positive contribution. If you get anything less than that, you're not extending this series. But if they can not just maintain their desperation but elevate it, especially game two, which was the one really lopsided. It's as tough of a playoff game as I've seen here at home for Carolina to have the ability to make amends here and it'll have to start with a good start. What an opportunity for this group. I thought it was, I thought it was good. The boys were excited. I was coming on spin Chiplets on the plane last night and I think it was important as long as it's been to enjoy that win. And I'm sure they've this morning started to shift their focus as to, you know, how they win another one. Because even at home it's going to be tougher tomorrow night.

[Yandle]

As good as Freddie was, I'd probably credit that win last night to Slave and Burns and Orlov. Like the bounce back game that Orlov had compared to the game before, like that takes a lot of mental toughness. I think slavin registered what, 28 minutes. He had four block shots, two hits like he was absolutely everywhere. Plus three, hammered Barkov, manhandled Barkov. Like that was like an all time game that you'll remember as a Canes fan that he put in. I feel like more of the pressure in game five at home to me will be on Jarvis, Ajo and Svetch. To have the game of a lifetime would you agree with that? I feel like maybe they haven't, you know, put together a performance that, that the Canes fans can be proud of, saying, those are our guys. That's our core group, and we believe in these guys to get it done.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yeah, I would say that. First of all, touching on Slavin, Timmy Gleason, you know, who obviously runs the defense. He really distributed his ice time this year where, you know, it'd be so easy to lean on Jacob Slavin. And then you have two short series and slaving, what did he average? 24, 25 minutes in the four nations, you know, so he should be fresh. And so even with a, you know, a big loss, that everybody knows how big it is in Chatfield and as well as Walker was playing, I've been hoping that Slavin's minutes would go up. He played 28 last night, and he played his best game of the series, specifically on Barkov. But I've been hoping those minutes would go up. I thought that, you know, there's a couple of things here, you know, after what happened with Ajo and Fetchnikov late in game three, those two players needed to be drivers last night. They got tremendous support, you know, with the care factor of everybody else in that lineup, and I could get to that in a minute. But Ajo had seven shots. You know, he's been a guy Craig was talking about. And there's only one Connor McDavid. And then of course, the close second, Leon Dry Seidel. There's one thing I'd say about Sebastian Biscuit. His best moments in his playoff career in Carolina have been in first rounds. And, you know, he needs to be a guy just like, you know, and I know your same draft is McDavid, but that as you get deeper and deeper, he doesn't fall off, he gets better. And I thought Ajo was terrific last night. You know, Paul Maurice, last change, he's playing a lot against Barkov. And I love what Svetchnikov did with that empty netter after Jarvis forced the turnover on could have, you know, powered at home himself, but I think he recognized the importance of getting it to Sebastian, which I thought was a quality play. And who knows how it could carry over moving forward, but, you know, can those guys build upon it? Because I thought were great last night. I thought Jarvis had his best game of the series. And can they be the types of guys against the Stanley cup championship team when you, you know, have some control over matchups in your own building, that can be the difference. Coming Off a game where maybe statistically they didn't get rewarded, but I thought they were all over it. In particular, really good defensively, that those three guys had a complete buy in and they're on in the ring.

[Mike Grinelli]

Do you think that there's a world, and I know you mentioned that you're close with them, but do you think that there's a world where if they lose this series, that Rod could be saying his goodbyes? I. I mean, he's got them to the Eastern Conference finals. He's been amazing coach. I don't think he should even be talked about getting fired. But do you think that there would be people wanting him gone?

[Tripp Tracy]

I think it's preposterous. I mean, I, you know, the.

[Yandle]

I love the. Up for it, though. We need a good sound bite. Let's go.

[Tripp Tracy]

I'll tell you a story.

[Yandle]

Okay.

[Tripp Tracy]

Because Yan's, you know, the. The incredibly important piece you were to the Coyotes, you know, for so long. And Biz and I first had our first conversation there at Glendale Arena. I remember sitting in that epic Renaissance hotel before a pregame meal, and I was lounging, having a cup of coffee, and Bill Peters was the coach at the time, Rod was the assistant, and Jordan Stahl walked by me and he. Rod was, you know, 15, 20ft away. He couldn't hear us. But Jordan Stahl said, that's the guy who should be our coach. And, you know, he has done as good of a job as any coach in the league of getting maximum investment and playing to your identity more consistently or as consistently, I think, as any other coach. We've already identified that. That identity. There was a departure. Whit mentioned. He's right early in this series, but for me, absolutely preposterous. And then the big thing that I would look at is after game three on Saturday night, Rod challenged some of his guys. I have a feeling the guys that I think he was challenging. So when you're at a point, and then I think he was really stern with the group on the off day at the hotel in Fort Lauderdale. So if. When it gets hard and you can go two ways, you can say, it's not.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's.

[Tripp Tracy]

This is just not worth it. We're going to go quiet into the night. Your coaches challenged you. If you did not have the supreme respect and admiration for the guy, there's no way after I think he gave him the gears on the off day that they would ever respond the way that they did. That should be the proof in the pudding, in and of itself.

[Yandle]

Last one I was going to ask, what are the keys for you going back into game five? Obviously, the first two home games, I, I think by the time the Buzzard sounded, there was 30% of the fans left in the building, which I was shocked by. What do you expect to see from Kayniacs Game five? It should be the loudest the building's ever been. And what do they need to do in order to get another victory and send this thing to six?

[Tripp Tracy]

They got to have their best start that they've had at home in a while.

[Ryan Whitney]

They have a lead.

[Tripp Tracy]

They need a lead. They've got to be smart like they were last night, even if Florida scores. So you, you know, you limit the bleeding. That's critical. And I'm going to point to one guy because this came out, this is on the plane last night, and I was, you know, I love what you guys have done for the game. That's genuine, right from the bottom of my heart.

[Ryan Whitney]

So.

[Tripp Tracy]

And I remember when, you know, Witt broke into the league and Brooks Orpik was on the club in, in Pittsburgh. And so in 2019 or picks on the defending Stanley cup champion Capitals. Okay. And he had won a cup with Jordan Stall. And at one point in the series, Brooks says to me, goes, you know what, Trip? Jordan Stall is a load to deal with no matter what, but when he gets angry, watch out. And I believe. And I just, I googled before we came on, what animal has the thickest skin? I believe it's a. A sperm whale. And I admire the heck out of this in biz.

[Ryan Whitney]

Relax, Biz, Relax, relax.

[Yandle]

It's still early.

[Tripp Tracy]

Biz did the Hurricanes a huge favor and I probably owe him a massive. Houston's gift card at any location that he chooses because he made Jordan Stahl angry and can he be and even a great friend of the show. Teammate of you guys. Jordan Martin, of course.

[Yandle]

Why? Because I call. Because I called out the fact that nobody stood up for Ajo and Fetch. And I thought that, that, like, that. That to me was a little bit of a question mark on the culture. What's going on? Like, I know for me personally, I was dog shit. I wasn't a very good player. But if I saw one of my star players getting taken advantage of, I'd be coming over the top ropes.

[Tripp Tracy]

You know what I'd say?

[Ryan Whitney]

Business.

[Tripp Tracy]

I would say the Optic. You know, I'm calling the game. I didn't like the optics of it, but what reigns supreme for me is one, how much I like Daho and Svetchnikov last night. But more importantly, how hard of a game, starting with the captain, Jordan Martinuk always plays hard to the ends of the earth. That's the type of response that you are looking for. And what I'm doing is I'm complimenting you because I love it when Jordan Stahl gets angry. I love it. I hope he can stay angry because when he can, when he does like he did late in that Washington series, he goes to another level.

[Yandle]

I lit a fire under his ass is what I did. The whole fucking team. I should get a. I should get a ring if you guys end up pulling this bad boy off. And I. I said this. I said to Marty before the game started, we had him on pregame. I said, you're a heart and soul guy. Like, you weren't on the ice. How did you feel about it? And one thing that stuck out, it was early in that first period, Tkachuk was in front of Anderson and he was trying to do his antics. Stinky Mitt. And who was right there? Jordan Martinook along with the rest of the guys. The other guys didn't fuck off either. They all stood in front of Anderson and they were emotionally invested right from the beginning of the game. And to me, that was the difference right off the hop. It showed me that they had more. And whatever was said by Rod and whatever was being questioned of their team, that was. They had the answer and more of that in game five. And moving throughout the course of the series, I just had to call it like I saw it. And I'm glad that we saw that fight. Like they. I was emotionally checked out of the series. That game kind of pulled me back in to see, like, all right, what do they. Let's see what they can get cooking at home here with this home crowd.

[Tripp Tracy]

Now, don't you biz. You commend both teams. You commend Florida because the lead that they had for, you know, taking their pound of flesh. But then for the Hurricanes to stand up to a man, a truly hardened game for a whole. And Svetchnikov and both those guys were very good too. So I think you commend both teams. I mean, I liked it in the second period when will carry a, you know, loose Derrine and didn't want to go. But I'm watching him challenge loose Derine and going back to that hit that I thought you covered quite well with Jackson, Blake and, you know, but I think that was a direct reflection of the conclusion of game three and how much those guys care about Svetchnikov And AAHO and the way that they perform and you can't come off of it even one bit. And I just hope, you know, my friends have often called me the angry Hornet. I really hope that Stahl stays an angry Hornet because he can dominate when he is.

[Ryan Whitney]

Before we let you go, I want to ask. I want to ask one more thing. And we got to right. I see the hockey world got to see slaving at the Four Nations. That was the. That was the point where people are like, holy. Had no idea how good he was. You already mentioned I saw Bucha Grass talking. He's got to play 28, 30 minutes a game here moving forward. But he was drafted fourth round pick, came into the league, I think 14 games in the AHL and just taken off like what have you seen his growth be like, what was he like right that first rookie year? Could you tell this was all going to be there. He had to be a late bloomer based on where he was drafted. But he's big and he can skate. So what is seeing his game grow and becoming maybe the best defensive defenseman in the league kind of in front of the Canes fans eyes and your eyes been like with baby.

[Tripp Tracy]

First of all, I believe the scout that deserves the credit for plucking him where they did in the draft is a guy by the name of Bert Robertson. And so a mention for Bert and he did have me from hello. And I'll tell you a story because he's on the other side, our dear friend and one of Witt's agents, the great I always called him Jerry Maguire. Paul Kripelka, part of Florida. And and they also obviously represented along with Bobby or Rick Curran, the stalls for, you know, the entirety of their career. So we're in Vancouver. The had to be a month before Eric Stahl got traded to the New York Rangers. And it's out. You know, we're having a coffee before getting on the bus, the Pan Pacific Hotel. And Eric Stahl I teased in my cell phone as Mr. GQ because he was uncomfortable going to a GQ shoot, being from Thunder Bay. So he asked me, trip, will you go with me? So he'd be comfortable when he was taking the pictures with the donkeys on the ocean and all that stuff. And so I've always called him Mr. GQ. So I said, gq, what's going on? He said, trip, with all of these tough years, I finally gotta go now when they've got this slaving. And he mentioned Pesci2 coming and he knew he knew about Jacob Slaving and that was what frustrated him more than anything. Because of all those difficult years. He could see what Jacob Slavin was going to be overlooking. That beautiful scenery in vancouver with Eric. Mr. G.Q. stone.

[Ryan Whitney]

You could tell.

[Yandle]

Yeah, this is awesome.

[Ryan Whitney]

You make watching the Canes games very fun. Well, at times I say they're a little boring to watch. Your broadcast of it is exciting. We appreciate you coming on. You've done a great job. And let's see, you know, Florida, they, they got to have some nerves that they blew a 30 series lead to Force Game 7 last year. Maybe Carolina can get that win at home. At least force game six back in Florida. We appreciate you coming on and we'll talk to you soon.

[Yandle]

Hey, tell the boys they've been starting at home like a bunch of pussies. Light another fire under their ass.

[Tripp Tracy]

Hey, one question, Whit. Because Jordan Stall mentioned this to me on the plane last night because years ago, Henry Stahl, first dad's trip in Pittsburgh, he said, oh my. Is it, is your dad's name John?

[Ryan Whitney]

Dan.

[Tripp Tracy]

Dan.

[Yandle]

Close enough.

[Tripp Tracy]

Dan. He said, this Dan Whitney's one of the funniest guys I've ever come across. And so Jordan tells me on the plane last night, your mom and dad live upstairs from Henry and Linda's Stall on the west coast of Florida.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes. They ended up in Estero. They went to look at a condo and they're looking around and all of a sudden they walk down and they see Henry Stahl and random, they're like, yeah. And then they live. Literally, I think they're 202 and the stalls are 102 right on one of the holes on the golf course. So my dad gets to see Henry. Great family. The stalls. I just thinking back to Jordan as a rookie, like 6, 4, 2, 30 as an 18 year old. And I was like, holy. Knowing that he was going to be the third center in Pittsburgh for years to come. So great people. It's crazy how it's worked out. So, yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's pretty cool to see Jordan still doing what he's doing. And yeah, tell him I said hello. Even though he hates our show because we've been carving his team for the past couple weeks.

[Yandle]

But we appreciate you that you guys were boring. I don't even think you guys are that boring. I think people are make overblowing it.

[Tripp Tracy]

Well, I'll tell you, I, I, because I just, you know, guys, I was.

[Ryan Whitney]

He fired Rod a minute ago.

[Tripp Tracy]

I wasn't. I was a goalie. So, you know, like, I never paid attention to anything. I remember years ago, I know you guys got to go, but Jimmy Rutherford grabbed me after a morning skate in Florida, and we had been in Dallas, and he had watched the game on tv and he said, trip, I watched the game last night. I'm going to give you a grade. And I said, what is it, Jimmy? And he said, g. I said, g. What is that worse than an F? And he goes, g. G for fucking goaltending. All you do is talk about goaltending. And from that day in caps, it's the top of my game notes, you know, because it's my comfort zone. I have one tried to not talk about it too much, and I have, with passion, tried to get as comfortable in every other facet of the game. Going back to that conversation so systematically, when Carolina is dialed in like they were last night, I can't tell you how much I enjoy it. So, you know, that's. That goes back to Jimmy challenging me like he did. He's been very profound in my life trips.

[Mike Grinelli]

I just want to let you know, I. I wasn't the one who said Brendan Moore should be fired. It was biz. I think he should have be a lifetime. Thank you for. Thank you for coming.

[Yandle]

Appreciate it. I'll light a lot of fires, but I ain't lighting that fire. I'm a ride or die for Rod for life.

[Mike Grinelli]

Same.

[Yandle]

I would go through a brick wall for that guy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, this had an amazing interview with Rod. I don't know if you ever heard that one. Thank you, Tripp. Thank you, Tripp. We appreciate it. We appreciate it. Awesome guy, Great analyst. We got another special guest coming on just quickly. And I know Ryan Wasofsky's waiting, but just shout out Florida, because that's a lot of Cane's talk, which we hadn't had anyone on all year. We'd had Joe Vaughan talking about Florida.

[Yandle]

My wrists are sore from stroking off Florida all season long here. We have to. I know, but we have to snap it around Carolina.

[Mike Grinelli]

You all over them last series against Toronto. You haven't.

[Whitney]

We're still talking about them. We were still.

[Yandle]

We were still talking about them now, weren't we?

[Ryan Whitney]

Say Carolina. Say something very nice about Florida right now.

[Yandle]

What do you mean? They're wagon? I. I know they're a wagon. I just wasn't playing tummy sticks with them last round because we were going to war. I mean, fucking. What is it? What isn't there to say? Bill Zito and staff, incredible. They should win. Management of the year. Bobrovsky. Best goaltender on the planet. Best money game goalie. I mean, Mikaela's fucking turned into Cale Makar, right? I mean, Forsling, probably the most underpaid defenseman in the league. He's only making 6.2 million. I mean, the list goes on with those guys. Best third line. I mean, Listo. Marshaw, I could. I could stroke these guys off all day. But Carolina needed to be discussed. Dallas needed to be discussed. And now, since 1933, the United States had not won a gold medal at the world championship. And we are going to be honored today to have their head coach on a guy who. Who led him to victory. A lot of young guns in America. They're on the rise, baby. There he is right there.

[Ryan Whitney]

There's the jersey, too. San Jose Sharks head coach and gold medalist Ryan Wasofsky. What's going on, buddy? First off, congratulations. Second off, incredible moment by you talking about how Johnny Goudreau's up there watching that happen. We saw the clip of Warrenski sprinting to the locker room to get his jersey. Just an incredible couple weeks. I mean, I'm sure for you, it must have felt like you're over there two months, the long tourney. But talk to us how it feels, and once again, congrats.

[Biz]

Yeah, thanks for having me on, guys. Obviously, known Whitten and Keith for a while here, but it was a surreal, surreal tournament. Long tournament, like you said. Felt like we were over there for two months, you know, and the families come over and the wives come over and, you know, gets a little bit better. But it was a great group of guys. You know, Warinski, Cooley, Keller, Garland, some of our leaders really stepped up. And obviously Johnny was a big part of the big part of this, looking. Looking from up top. And I know his family's proud. I'm sure his wife is proud. And, you know, that's just. It was a total team effort. It was obviously Z's idea to go get the jersey and bring it out. Warinski. And, you know, it was very special and something that I think we'll all remember for the rest of our lives.

[Yandle]

I was gonna ask quickly Whit about the. The helmet that you guys are giving out. What's the. The backstory? How did it come about? Because you see a lot of teams now in the NHL after they win. They, you know, St. Louis, they had Kelly Chase's shoulder pads. Edmonton, I think they have like a. Like a defensive player of the game and an offensive Player. Where did the helmet that you guys, where did that whole backstory come about? And, and yeah, I'll just throw it over to you.

[Biz]

Yeah. It was actually Lawrence Filoni, who's in video coach in Nashville. He came up with the idea because back in 1933 was when Evel Knievel kind of came out and we said, you know, let's find something, some sort of image from 1933. So he kind of grabbed it and ran with it and you know, I think as a staff we talked about, you know, I think it's going to be, you know, when you win you need someone to make it, you know, block shot, big hit, went a puck on the wall, you know, a big, a big play. But that probably doesn't get recognized by, you know, the average fan. So we usually gave that, we gave that, that helmet out. As coaches we kind of rotated around and you know, it was a special. And then we obviously had Johnny Goudrill's winter hat. Was a player of the game and I think that was, was very unique. We had his autographed hat on there so the players would give that out. So again, it was a great group of guys, you know, very coachable guys fit into roles. There was no egos from day one. These guys were driven to win. And, and this, you know, 92 years curse that you'd say now was there.

[Mike Grinelli]

The kind of two part question I wanted to talk, get your feel on Page Thompson. I, I thought he got screwed and not being on the, the Four nations team, you know, I would imagine he's going to be a shoe in for the Olympic team. But also who's another guy that kind of, you didn't know too much about and just kind of popped off the charts for you, whether it was the locker room or on the ice. Just the guy that really, you know, took over your eye.

[Biz]

Yeah. You know, with Tage for sure. I mean the hardest shot I've ever seen. He absolutely can rip it. And you know, he, he's. His game's maturing and I think he gets kind of not knocked a little bit there because of Buffalo and what they've gone through. But I think he's, his game matured a lot through this tournament. You know, even his dad said to me after the tournament, he's like, this is the first time I see him dumping pucks, you know, late in games and latent periods and play the right way. So I think it was really important for him to play, you know, in this tournament. And obviously you saw him Score the game winner. But he also scored throughout the tournament, you know, and he wants to score. He wants to be an impact player throughout the game. And sometimes he gets frustrated as emotions get high. But I think that's what makes great players great. And I think you need to play with that emotion. And I'm glad to see him get rewarded because he had some looks earlier in that game, didn't score, and he kind of just stuck with it. So definitely a player that I think, you know, really should be talked about more for that Olympic team, and I think he will be. As far as guys that probably. I think Andrew Peake was an important piece, you know, in this tournament. You need to have some guys that can play the heavy minutes, that can, you know, shut down a top line, that can block shots really good on the penalty kill. He's really. He really surprised me just the way how heavy he was. And the other guy, I would say is Matty Bernier. And I know he's, you know, a really good center in the National Hockey League, but the way he plays, he's a smart, smart high hockey IQ player is underneath pucks, really good defensively. I think he, you know, he's someone that kind of reminds me of a Bergeron type, you know, just always in the right spot. Again, the list, I could talk about every guy that had a big impact on our team and, you know, we talked about as a staff and with Jeff Kelty and Chubbs there at the end of the game about, man, this roster in four years there's going to be some superstars, you know, and there's guys that are coming for USA Hockey, that's for sure.

[Yandle]

Whit, I was just going to hop in quickly. It was Clayton Keller who wore the C, right?

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Yandle]

And, you know, I got to spend some time with him in Arizona. Dealt with adversity when he broke his femur. And talk about a guy who's all in as far as, like the office, the mental preparation, the diet, the exercise. Like, how big of an impact did he make to the lineup and whose decision was it to give him the C and provide that leadership throughout that tournament?

[Biz]

Yeah, well, I think it was him that kind of stepped up and said, hey, I wanted to come, you know, and that's. This tournament can be challenging after the NHL season of guys, you know, banged up and go through some. The grind of it. And he, Kels, what everybody asked him, he said, yeah, I'm in. So I thought he led in that way just by starting that. You know, guys accepting the Invitation to come to the tournament. You know, he's a guy that's playing the tournament, he's got experience. You know, I thought he'd be the right guy to lead this team and we'd have some guys that around him that can help him and support him. But he really stepped up. You know, what surprised me is, you know, this is a, what he's played probably 10 years in the league and he's asking to look at video after, you know, we play hungry because he wanted to get better. You know, that's what, like, surprises me, even in the NHL, is how much guys want to get better each and every day. They're not, you know, just gonna go and kind of just glide through the season. Like, this is Clayton Keller, the captain of our team, you know, had one and one and two against Hungary. And he's like, hey, can you show me some video more? I gotta work on my wall play. Like, those are the things. And I think that stuff's contagious. And then next thing you know, Tage is doing that and next thing you know, veneers and Will Smith and Cutter Gaultier. So, you know, I think the. That's all, you know, contagious and how we wanted to play and get better each and every day. We talked about that, you know, and I think our team, you know, we went through some adversity through that tournament and I think that was good for us, you know, and we lost to the Swiss early in the tournament. We gave up a lead to Norway and our guys. I mean, we beat Norway in overtime and you would have thought we lost the game six, nothing. The guys are so rattled. And I thought that was what we needed really to, you know, have an understanding of how we need to play to win the tournament.

[Ryan Whitney]

I want to talk quickly. You mentioned Will Smith. He's part of this generation of winning a lot of gold medals international hockey wise and under 18s and world juniors and. And then this year, it's almost the beginning of the year, I'm like, oh, should this kid have stayed in college? But the last 30, 40 games, I mean, he looked incredible. Then he's over there playing for you. There's a clip of him burying someone into the boards. Not something that's been a big part of his game that you probably love to see being his coach in San Jose. Like, what did you see him grow as, as a player throughout the season and then this tournament was. It kind of everything put together and his play was that good, Similar to the second half of the NHL Year.

[Biz]

Yeah, a little bit for sure. Like he definitely got better as the year went on. The game slowed down for him. He let his skill set to come out a little bit. He got on the score sheet and that's how these players, they want to get on the score sheet. So he gets a couple, his confidence grows. You know, a lot of it's the pace of the game, the NHL, it's obviously, as you guys know, it's extremely fast. The pace is non stop when you go against, especially the Florida's, the Tampa's, the Edmonton's. Like you take a breath for a second and you get put on your heels, you're going to get run through the walls. And he needed to learn that. And I thought he, you know, the kid is a special person. He is extremely gifted hockey player, but he's an unbelievable kid. Wants to get better, wants to learn, wants to, you know, he's a hockey nut. Like he knows the history of the game. Like he'll talk to Doug Kuda and Jose on the bus about like the Bruins game in 2014, like game two in like the Eastern Conference finals and he's bringing up like plays that Andrew Ferenc made.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like he is huge nine.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yeah.

[Biz]

And he just loves, loves to learn about the game and he's coachable. But I'll say this about these guys, these younger players, Cutter Gaultiers, as Eve Bouilliams, they have like this quiet confidence about themselves that they're like, yeah, I'm going to figure it out and I'm going to be a really good player and we're going to win. And I think they've learned that growing up, you know, through the national program, winning national championships. Like you see him around the hotel and like, yeah, we're going to win tomorrow. Like it's like it's no big deal. And it's like they have, it's not like they're a huge egos but they're just really a quiet confidence about themselves that they know they're going to figure it out. They know they're going to be good and they're going to help, you know, help the team. Whether that's San Jose and with Will or, or Cutter and Will and Z, like whoever it was as a. Some of those young guys that are, you know, super talented and they come and go throughout the game but then when you need to play, they can make a play. And when the game gets a little more, you know, with more pace to it, like they step up. And I thought Will probably played his lot against Sweden and against the Swiss there. Those last two games were his best games. That's complete games I've seen him play.

[Yandle]

I'm going back to the Evil Knievel helmet. You passed it off to a trainer. There was a beautiful moment in the locker room. And just from that video, like, I didn't follow a ton of the tournament. You could just tell how much they did the group of gel. Could we run this clip even with sound? And started off from the beginning. It started from the beginning.

[Biz]

Johnny was here watching this one.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey.

[Biz]

He was up there watching this one. And this guy's getting the helmet. He's been with USA Hockey for the longest time. Over 20 years.

[Yandle]

What a moment.

[Ryan Whitney]

What a moment that is.

[Yandle]

Let's go to the bar. So what's. What's the backstory?

[Ryan Whitney]

So.

[Biz]

So Stan's. And I don't know if Keith, you guys. Whit probably knows him, but he's been with team. This was his 57th team. And for Team USA World Juniors, U18s.

[Mike Grinelli]

World, they're in 1933. Biz.

[Yandle]

Well, those Asians, they age well, eh? They don't wrinkle.

[Biz]

And he is the nicest guy in the world. He's the best. The guys love him. It was his 18th World Championships and we had, you know, all the coaches had given it out. I wanted him to give it out. And I just said, screw it, let's give it to him. He's deserved it. Like, he lives in New Bedford and, you know, I live down. Down that way, too, in. In Mattapoise, sitting the off season. I'm like, hey, you gotta come golf. And he's like, I can't. I'm like, what do you mean? He's like, I got. My family owned the Chow Main noodle factory. I'm like, so you can't come? He's like, no, my mom has. My mom's like, I gotta go back to work. I'm like, no, you're coming golfing this summer. He's like the heart and soul. Like, the work so hard doesn't complain. Just an awesome guy that, you know. I think all these young guys obviously came up through, like, World Juniors and being around him. So everyone knows him. He's. He's the best.

[Ryan Whitney]

I just.

[Yandle]

Going back to the camaraderie quick. Like, when you. When you have a tournament like that, you have to gel super fast. Who. Who were the guys in the locker room who were like the. The. Provided the. The light every day that. The laughter. I mean, you hear about what Marshawn provided to the team at four nations and, and just the laughs, like, who are the jesters? That really brought it all together quickly.

[Biz]

Yeah, I think, you know, Connor Garland's one of those guys. It's is a goofball a little bit and keeps the rim loose. But then when it's time to speak up, he was really good for our young guys, you know, then you had, you know, Logan Cooley, who's a unique guy, but, you know, I'll say this, like we were in Herning, Denmark, in a small town and there's like a strip of restaurants and bars and like the coaches will go to dinner and we go out for some beers after and we, we wouldn't run into the guys ever. We, we wouldn't see the guys. I'm like, where are the guys? Do you come back? It'd be like one o' clock in the morning and they're all playing poker. Like all 16, 17 of them are just playing poker in the lobby. And I'm like, times have changed, as you guys know. Like, like back in the.

[Yandle]

I'd be balls deep in my room.

[Biz]

They were so into playing poker. That's what they did. They didn't really go out. I mean, there was a couple nights, I'm sure they did, and especially after we won. But you know, there was just a very, it was almost like very business. Like, the guys are extremely driven. The day we got to Germany on.

[Ryan Whitney]

May 1, I gotta ask you this, and this is kind of switching a little bit to Team Canada, but I can't imagine there was anyone more thrilled and loving the clips coming out of Macklin Celebrini just following and learning from Sidney Crosby for a couple weeks. You saw the practice clips on Face Offs. You saw them talking on the bench as his head coach, kind of talk about his rookie season, how good of a player he is and him learn a lot from Sid over the course of the Worlds.

[Biz]

Yeah, it was awesome. Awesome for him to experience that. He's obviously a very unique individual. This kid is, you know, so self driven, wants to get better, ultra, ultra competitive, wants to win.

[Ryan Whitney]

Obsessed with the game.

[Biz]

Like obsessed. Got to kick him off the ice. Always working on his body. It's like he's 18, but like he's going on 28. It's incredible. And I think being around Sid will help him. You know, I think in our situation it was tough, right? We lost some games, we had some leads, we had some tight games. And learning how to win those tight games is the next step. That you know, Mack and our young guys need to learn and I think being around Sid can really help that. You know, the detail that you need to play with. You know, winning face offs is a way to get possession and play with the puck more. You know, Mac's a guy that wants to puck on a stick and how do you do that when you're in the offensive zone? Win the face offs and now you get to play in the offensive zone. So there's some things in his game that he obviously needs to improve on, but he's a special, unique individual that really drives our group. Drags guys into the, into the fight at 18 years. 18 years old is crazy to say but then off the ice he's, he's the best. Like you'd want to marry your daughter. He's the nicest guy and treats everyone with respect. Doesn't, you know, signs autographs for kids treats, you know, because I think he has an understanding. How, how much of a role model he is at such a young age is obviously impressive. But it was nice when I saw him. I ran into him in Stockholm at a coffee shop and he was after that Denmark game so he was a little down the dump. So we'll have to pick him back up.

[Yandle]

Oh, it must be sick to have Joe Thornton around helping, you know, help those guys grow. Learning from him as well. I mean that's just, that's going to keep feeding the organization as well.

[Biz]

Yeah, it's awesome. Jump Jumbo is great. He's there every single day. You know, you would think he's on the roster. He's hours with the guys. He's. He's in the gym working out.

[Yandle]

He loves, he loves the rink, doesn't he? He's a rink.

[Biz]

He's literally the best. He keeps the, you know, the energy, you know, in the room loose. But you would think he's on the roster and I love it. I think he's great to have for these guys to be around him and you know he was great early in the year when, when guys would take like the optionals that are, you know, the second years and he, he tells stories like never took an optional in my life. Never. Not once. And like these 22 year old kid from Rush is taking a optional.

[Yandle]

Yeah, that's not usually not good when.

[Mike Grinelli]

Joe's and you're not reason Ryan.

[Yandle]

Yeah, I think I took, I took one in my career and it was after I played the 11 minutes in Edmonton. I felt like I needed to put a body cast on. Remember that game Yans where we, we ended up winning it and I got over, over double digits. I was gonna ask you a tampering question. If you had the ability to sign any free agent forward and defenseman, who would you pick out there right now? Who's available?

[Biz]

Oh man, I don't even know. Am I even allowed to answer that question?

[Yandle]

Yeah, you are.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're close. I'm going to say no because what do you mean they're under contract till July? First name right now all of a sudden the guy's getting San Jose find a million bucks.

[Yandle]

No, I'm saying, hey, I already got.

[Biz]

Fined 25 grands from the refs this year. I don't either.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, what were you giving it to him that night Biz. I, I didn't mean. I'm just trying to help my guy.

[Biz]

Right.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like these guys are under contract till July.

[Yandle]

Okay. So you don't have to say names but what do you think that you guys need in order to, to get to a different level? Yeah, I'm not saying it's going to be overnight success where all of a sudden you guys are in playoffs, but who would, what type of player would you like to have there for those guys like the Will Smiths and the celebrities to learn off of but also alleviate a little bit of pressure as well?

[Biz]

Yeah, well, I think down the middle we're in a pretty good spot. You know, with obviously with Mack, you know, Will is going to get another look there and then, you know, we believe Wenberg's a really good third line center. But if you look, you know, obviously our back end needs to continue to improve, you know and I think that's. We had some, you know, the Mukama Dulin kid came in and it looks like he's going to be a really good player. And we have Ferraro back there who's you know, the heart and soul guy. We need to add to that group. You know, obviously, you know, with our power play, getting a guy that can run a power play would be obviously important to distribute the puck and more of a puck moving ability back there. I think that what's really kind of we struggled the most. So I know Mike and his staff, you know, is, is hard at work to, you know, we, he knows it. We need to improve our roster and take the next step and that's going to be important this summer.

[Mike Grinelli]

Ryan, I just want to say I know how hard you've worked. You know, started in Curry College, I remember you skating there. I was skating with you during the lockout then start in the. In the coast and work your way up. And. And I think especially for what you did with this team and getting a win since 1933, like, your name should be in there for the, you know, at least being on the staff for that Olympic team. I know Mike Sullivan's the head coach, but to have a guy around that, you know, has helped them win, that you've done, I think that would be unbelievable. I think you would be a huge asset for that team and bring them back a gold in the Olympics, too.

[Biz]

Yeah, I appreciate it. That'd be obviously a bucket list to play in the Olympics. Obviously. Whit did it and. And that would. That would be, obviously, that's like kind of the icing on the cake for some people. And we'll see. We'll see if it happens. If not. I've always just kind of been where my feet are from coaching at Curry. If I'm coaching in South Carolina, if I'm the assistant coach, just do the best possible job I can do where I'm at. And if people call, people call. But, you know, I think this was a great experience. It was an awesome event and great group of guys. We'll take a little time off and then you get, you know, before, you know, it's September and you're right back in it again.

[Ryan Whitney]

So, you know, Keith mentioned it quick. You're. You get to South Carolina after coaching at Curry quick, You guys lose in the finals, then you're in Charlotte, move on to Chicago, you win the ahl, get hired in the NHL. It must seem like it's happened pretty quick, right? And what's cool is you've been at each level similar way John Cooper did it. But. But did you even picture it happening this quick? Like you got hired in the NHL? I was so excited for you and your family, but it had to be quicker than you thought, even kind of dreaming about your future as a coach.

[Biz]

Yeah, for sure. It happened. You know, obviously, if I thought looking back, I'd be here now, I probably would think you're joking. For sure. I didn't think it was going to happen this quick, but like I said, I just kind of just, you know, wherever I was, I just tried to do the best possible job. I learned under some really good coaches. And Spencer Carberry, who obviously we just saw probably going to be winning coach of the year here in Washington. I worked with him for three years, you know, went on to Charlotte, worked for Mike Felucci, was on the staff here with at Worlds, you know, then Went with, worked with Quinny and I got a lot of, you know, really important people around me that has helped me with. You know, you mentioned Mike Sullivan who's a close family friend and got to know torts and. And just a lot of different people that have helped me and helped me, guide me and, and you know, I was probably early on I was very green and just tried to learn as much as I possibly can and pick people's brains from coaches to players and just try to do the best possible job. And you know, as you're playing, when you play in the NHL and coach in the NHL, you're truly kind of blessed. It's the best league in the world and I don't take a day for granted. I love my time here in San Jose and you know, it's. It's a, it's a great league. It's. The players are special, they want to get better. You're on. You know, I was on the bus for 24 hours from Kalamazoo to South Carolina, Charleston, and now I'm on a private jet, you know, going from Edmonton to San Jose. It's a little bit different, but I try not to change who I was back then to who I am now.

[Ryan Whitney]

You mentioned Carberry who the Clips based this season in the locker room like seem just commands a room. The team was very close. Unfortunately they lose out to Carolina. But you mentioned him first, like what was, what was something that you could think of right off the top of your head that, that he taught you that he maybe helped bring to your coaching. Coaching career?

[Yandle]

Yeah. And what was it about South Carolina where they're able to develop Ednard Carberry? You like, it seems like they just have this unreal pedigree of coaches that they're able to develop.

[Biz]

Yeah, I mean, well, first like carbs. One of the best communicators I've ever been around and that's something that I learned. The way he communicates, the way, you know, how detailed his message is, it's clear, it's to the point. There's no gray area, you know, so whether that's individual meetings, whether that's a team meeting, you leave the meeting and you know exactly where, what it was about, you know, and I think that's what he's so good at. He can motivate a team. You know, I always would, you know, talk to, you know, buddies around, you know, that watch the game and I'm like, hey, Washington loses. They're going to respond the next night, you know, that he just Always got them back on track. You know, I think that's something that I learned from him is the way he communicates, the way he can, you know, motivate a team. You know, his details, you know, the care he has for, you know, the human being more before the player. I mean, the list goes on. He was so. He kind of molded me probably to the coach I am the most, you know, and I think South Carolina, you know, in that league, you wear a lot of different hats and you're grinding. You know, there was times I would go into the office, I'd leave on a Saturday. And the guy there, especially in Charleston, it's a great city, the guy's, you know, getting ready to watch, you know, Clemson versus usc. He's drinking beers and you're going to the rink and you're like, what am I doing here? Making seven grand, you know, a year, like, and. But then you. You enjoy the grind, and at the end you're like, look, that was so worth it. You know, the stories I could tell from, like, the sleeper buses and the. And the travel and whatnot is something that kind of what makes you so. You know, I think Rob Tincana, the president down there, you know, from Dorchester, you know, yeah, Cougs, he's. He's the best. I mean, he's kind of put that whole organization together and keeps it together. And, you know, obviously Bedsey was. Was down there. Jason Simmons was a scout with. With Washington, and Cale McLain, who's assistant coach in Calgary. There's been a lot of coaches that have come out of there. And, you know, I think Rob is the one that kind of keeps it all together. And the guy is, you know, he's a hilarious human being. The stories go on about this guy that you wouldn't even believe, but it's a great little, you know, group of guys down there that we, you know, we try to get back there once a summer. I went golfing last year with Bedz, cougs and carbs before the season. And, you know, we from. For 18 holes, we just talk hockey and, you know, whether it's experiences in South Carolina or the NHL, and that's how you learn, you get better. And I think that's what's so special about the, you know, that kind of fraternity down there.

[Yandle]

Does Betsy rip the. He's so chill. Is he ripped the bong like. He seems like a weed smoker or something, doesn't he?

[Biz]

No. Loves his bourbon. Loves being in the woods. The funniest guy you'll ever Meet like, Ben is the longest storyteller there is. He started a story the second hole, didn't finish to the 12th.

[Yandle]

But like, like, keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[Biz]

Oh, yeah. Keeps you right on the edge of the seat.

[Whitney]

He's.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's the best.

[Yandle]

Another thing you mentioned about the ECHL and when you coach, like, you have to do it all right? You have to make trades. You're basically like the general manager. You're booked in the hotels. You have to do everything.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Biz]

I mean, you're really, you're making sure the bus shows up on time. You're doing meals. You wear like a lot of different hats. And it's something that you learn as, like how to manage your time. And as you go up in the levels, it gets almost a little bit easier. And you know, I'll remember. I'll never forget. I was coaching there and the bus driver, we were going from Atlanta to. Back to Charleston. We played the next night and we hit a deer. And in Georgia you have to pull over and like wait for the police to write their police report. And we lost like a bumper in the bus seat. George is like, hey, you gotta go put the flares out. And I'm like, we're on like 95 cars is flying by at 4 in the morning. I'll never forget. I was putting flares out and I like texting my dad on. My dad just put flares out. What am I doing with my life?

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, I'm coming to Eminem Trucking.

[Biz]

Yeah, I'm going to go work. I'm coming to work next week. Like, cars are flying down my. Like my clothes are coming, almost coming off. The cars are flying so fast and I'm putting out flares. And while the guy. The bus is smoking a cigarette, waiting for the police to show up.

[Ryan Whitney]

Everyone else sleeping, using the flare, having.

[Yandle]

A beer, lighting a cigarette.

[Biz]

It was, I'll never forget that.

[Mike Grinelli]

Cutting up the deer to eat.

[Biz]

Yeah, this guy used to actually catch like alligators. It was a crazy. Used to tell me stories.

[Yandle]

Oh, you. You meet some characters playing in the coast. I played in Wheeling, West Virginia. Our sleeper bus broke down about five, six times before we even exited the city. We. We were halfway to Johnstown one game and we had a very big city either. Yeah, we had the booster bus behind us. We had to swap out all of our gear on our sleeper bus over the booster bus because our. Our bus broke down while the booster waited for the sleeper bus to get fixed to then bring them to Johnstown so they could meet us up at the game. But I just got one final one for me, like, what are, like what is the most stressful aspect of making the jump and becoming an NHL head coach? I know you, you mentioned it becomes easier at the fact you don't have to wear all those hats, but what was the most challenging thing this past year? And just adapting and, and getting used to that role in a high pressure situation in the National Hockey League just.

[Biz]

To grind the grind of it. I mean, it's every other night, you know, the travel, the, the practice time. You don't. For a younger group, we needed to practice. You don't have a ton of practice time. So you got to make sure your meetings are very clear and concise and to the point, you know, and, and the situation we're in when we're. This is. The NHL is a, you know, at the end of the day, it's results driven business, wins and losses. And when you don't win, you don't get that result. It's a challenge. And you got to keep pushing forward and, you know, help develop the players and continue to, you know, have that process of winning habits and getting these younger guys to understand how to play at that level was the biggest challenge. And then I think, you know, when you win in the NHL, it's almost like a relief. And then when you lose, you think the world's coming to an end. And I think every NHL head coach would tell you that, you know, you go into Vancouver, you win, and next night you get Edmonton sitting there for you, and then the anxiety and the stress builds right back up again and then you lose and, you know, you think the world's coming to an end. So dealing with that for me was, you know, something that I needed to get better at and improve on. And, you know, kind of you have tunnel vision and try to stay, you know, where your feet are and what day you're at and whether that's a practice or a game and get the guys prepared as much as you can. And. But that's. It's a challenge, right? Especially as competitive hockey. People are competitive. They want to win. And whether you're playing pickleball on a, you know, off day in Fort Lauderdale or you're playing the Florida Panthers, you want to win. And, you know, being competitive and you're not getting that result can be extremely difficult, you know, so you have to kind of enjoy the, enjoy the grind and embrace it instead of, you know, kind of fighting it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Love it, Ryan, we appreciate it, man. It's Been really exciting to see you kind of rise in the coaching ranks throughout. Throughout pro hockey. And to bring back a gold medal as the. As the coach of that team is just something that will stick with you forever. So congrats. You come from an amazing family, great people. We appreciate you coming on. Long overdue. And. And here's to better times in San Jose. Right? It's. It takes a. It takes a while to really build into a contender in this league, but you're the right man for the job. So thank you for joining the show, bud.

[Yandle]

If you had to add one of us to your roster next season, who would you add?

[Biz]

Oh, definitely. We need a power play D man, so bad, so we can still play well.

[Ryan Whitney]

But Keith trained Ekblad when he was on suspension, and next thing you know, he's elbowing people in the head. So Yance might have changed his game.

[Mike Grinelli]

He's also playing great.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's playing phenomenal, actually.

[Yandle]

To protect Celebrini and Smith, I'll play for league minimum.

[Mike Grinelli]

I think they're good.

[Ryan Whitney]

This will happen in Vegas on off days. So, you know, what do you guys got protecting them?

[Biz]

I mean, Goudreau does a good job. You know, young kid. Kid is going to be a good player. So I need these guys playing.

[Yandle]

All right.

[Ryan Whitney]

That'S Sam. Dickinson's coming. He's looking.

[Biz]

Yes, we have some guys coming. Dickinson Helltoon. And that's in both those guys in London. Musty. That was in Sudbury, so. So there's some guys coming. We see the light at the end of the tunnel here.

[Yandle]

The future. The future's bright.

[Biz]

Yeah. He's going to be a good player. Too big.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's nice. That's skills.

[Biz]

Yeah. Really good player.

[Ryan Whitney]

All right, bud. Hey, have a great off season. You deserve it. And I will talk to you soon.

[Mike Grinelli]

Congrats.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah.

[Yandle]

He showed it.

[Mike Grinelli]

I was gonna ask him.

[Yandle]

Oh, yeah. We should get him on. Yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Put it on, put it on.

[Yandle]

Oh, man, I bet you I'd get you 15k on my eBay account for that.

[Ryan Whitney]

I thought there was a hole in that thing.

[Yandle]

There is.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Oh, okay.

[Yandle]

We got pigeon tossed again. That was great, boys. A couple, three great interviews today.

[Mike Grinelli]

You're gonna do an ad. I gotta.

[Ryan Whitney]

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[Yandle]

Give my dick pills.

[Ryan Whitney]

Sparks. Yeah. Get Biz his dick pill.

[Yandle]

I want erection. I don't want none of that 85% nonsense.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, no. Yeah. Thicker, longer, harder erections. That's spitting Chiclets. That's ro.

[Yandle]

Give me the extra half an inch.

[Ryan Whitney]

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[Whitney]

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[Ryan Whitney]

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[Whitney]

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[Ryan Whitney]

So guys, I want to ask you.

[Yandle]

Quickly about how do you say his last name?

[Ryan Whitney]

So we're soft.

[Yandle]

We're soft key.

[Ryan Whitney]

So they have so four boys. We got Adam, I think it goes Adam, Jared, Ryan, Dave. Dave Wasofsky, star at bu, played in the NHL. Hell of a player. Ryan played himself. Adam's son Chase is a very good player. He plays with Keith's nephew. So Ryan's nephew Chase plays with Keith's nephew. Calling at Cushing Academy. They won it all this year. New England Prep, I believe Chase just got asked to go to the national festival, you know, for players. 09 birth year. Great player, great family. And so the dad, the dad, Mr. Wasofsky, his wife Dawn. Mark and dawn, great people. He started a trucking company years ago Biz and it just took off.

[Yandle]

Eminem.

[Ryan Whitney]

Eminem. And. And I think for times Buddy has worked for them. Correct. Keith, your dad. Yeah, he did so great people, hard working and. And Dave grew up playing with my brother Sean. So the Yandels, Whitney's and Wasofskis have a connection. So happy for him and I mean to see his rise being that quick. Biz, I think you were on the. But you know it's kind of the coop model. Like I mean he wasn't in the us he wasn't in the ushl. But go to the coast, get to the finals, wins in the ahl quickly up in the NHL. So San Jose's got a good one there.

[Yandle]

Seems like very personable. Like the guys love them and you know you just, I mean you saw like at worlds like how quickly it became a family there. So was there really no shock that as quick as the rise was for him knowing him from. From back home.

[Mike Grinelli]

I remember we did a segment when I was working with with Sportsnet and it was like who do we think the next head coach in the NHL is going to be? And I didn't know anyone really so I just said him and like I got text when he got hired from like Cassie Campbell and Ace and David, Amber. They're like, how the did you know that? I'm like, I just took a guess because he's a family friend, you know, but so not. Not surprised just because he's won. He's won everywhere. He's won in the coast, he's won in the ahl. You know, you can even see, like, we've talked about it this year. Like, they obviously weren't the best team, but they were fun to watch. You get guys like Celebrini and Smith, and, you know, they're not just out there playing pond hockey. You can tell he's got some structure to their game, and he's. He's not letting them ch the game where, you know, some of these young guys come in and they want to just go out there and get points and score goals. I didn't say that, but you can just tell that he's got. He's got that crew kind of locked into playing the right way and earning it, because I think that stems from him knowing what it takes to win. And he's done it in, you know, different leagues and obviously gonna try to do it at this level as well.

[Ryan Whitney]

It was interesting to hear him say, because we. We mentioned Will Smith struggling at the beginning, and then he was playing a lot of wing, but he said right there at the end, like, he's getting a shake.

[Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

At 2C. So if you have Celebrini at first line center and Will Smith, you're kind of, you know, next 10 years laughing here. Right. If these guys turn out to what I think they will be, and a lot of prospects coming. That Dickinson's a hell of a defenseman. So Sharks fans from. Yeah. Like you said, Keith last year was like, holy. Like, I would. I literally wouldn't watch him. And then this year, it was fun. You get a couple new players, and it's a good team to watch. Let's see where it goes. So bright future there. I think we got some other news biz. I think we got to start. Shani's out. Your guy is out. The jacket's being returned. What was your takeaway? I thought he released a great statement. I think the organization is in a way better spot than when he took over. Right. And. And they. They weren't able to get over. Get over the hump. But do you want to say anything on him? Him moving on?

[Yandle]

Yeah, I mean, like, I. I said it on game notes. Like, I mean, a lot of fan bases and teams would be happy with making playoffs for the amount of years they have in A row. Obviously the playoff success hasn't been there. It's unfortunate that it's came to the point where it's going to be dissolved to a certain degree in a sense of like, you don't know if JT is coming back. It's more than likely Marner is not coming back. I don't know enough of like the background story on, you know, whether there was rumblings that maybe Dubas wanted to move on from Marner, maybe it was, it was in fact Shanny who did, or, or you know, vice versa, whatever it was. And essentially they, they, they, they, they nixed it, right? And they kept them and they decided to trust in the process and figuring it would eventually turn around and work. So, you know, at a certain point, I guess they got to change things up and look at a new direction. But you know, you know, there, there are successes in the midst of it and then there are failures. And you know, when you're, when you're the guy at the top, I guess you got to eat that to a certain degree. And I'm sure looking back at his tenure, there were some, the, the, you know, some of the mistakes that were made. I mean, I would view the Hyman situation, I would probably say in what they had hiring Dubas at the time they did was maybe like a weird move. I find, just in the sense of, you know, an inexperienced guy at the helm where it was such a pivotal moment in the organization's time get, you know, overpayment of those guys not having the money to, to sign Hyman moving on from Cadre when they did. A lot of people say what was back to back years he took those, those suspensions and playoffs. Mind you, I think that we are in a time where the wokeness online was dictating suspensions and the way the game was going. And that's unfortunate because you had it had him at such a cheap number and then you panic, move off of them and you don't get enough back in return. So, so it sucks. Like, I really feel that there was an opportunity to make this team a cup winner and a cup contender and now it's. They're going to have to do so without his help. So I hope that he, he's able to move on and go find work somewhere else. But I appreciate everything, like I said he did for us at the All Star game last year and make me feel as small of a part as I was as a part of it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Guys.

[Paul Vinette]

Alan Walsh told a pretty interesting story on his podcast this past week about Mark Andre Fleury and how they actually had a in place to send him from Chicago to Toronto and he was going to play out the second half of the season wanted to make a playoff run in Toronto. Dubas believed in the deal, Chicago believed in the deal. And then Dubas told Alan Walsh this just has to go up up the chain. And once it got to Toronto ownership the deal got next. So I wonder how often was Toronto ownership stepping in on deals and yeah but them to make deals.

[Ryan Whitney]

But what did that. What would that have changed?

[Yandle]

Like yeah and also like what was.

[Paul Vinette]

What what do you mean you get an experienced goalie goaltendings.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, it hasn't been their issue.

[Paul Vinette]

I think I think last year it was was it not or two years.

[Yandle]

Ago I I wonder if also they'll.

[Mike Grinelli]

Give flower a ambassador's jersey for almost being a maple leaf.

[Yandle]

When are you gonna let that.

[Ryan Whitney]

They grabbed you on waivers Biz I'm with you.

[Yandle]

That's what I'm saying bro. They wanted me. I was like ah, my service too.

[Mike Grinelli]

That's what I'm saying.

[Yandle]

I went and helped you win a couple playoff rounds there all the way to the Western Conference finals two games. How about TNT putting two NHL playoff games played on my name.

[Ryan Whitney]

No they just don't need Come on. I know that's your network too. Like just don't even put it.

[Yandle]

Yeah graphics guys gonna get a right hook. I'm gonna be in lunch.

[Mike Grinelli]

Career playoff games they could say went to the Western Conference finals. They don't need to know how many.

[Yandle]

Games were yeah control the ox played.

[Ryan Whitney]

In Western Coyotes team dinner at Western Conference final put on so going back.

[Yandle]

To what G said like I don't also don't know what they were going to be getting off of as far as like a like an asset to get a rental and flower and and I don't know if at that point point that was the answer. Once again like I think the biggest one was maybe nixing the fact that they could have moved on from for Marner actually got something of value and all of a sudden you're not losing the guy for nothing. And given the fact that he hasn't really done much in games Crunch Time Games 5 through 7 in any playoff series throughout his tenure. What was it? No goals in 20 games five through seven in any playoff round throughout his playoff career. So I am gonna go back to what I said at the beginning of the podcast for people who were not around like like out of spite. I just want them to offer Marner 8 times 12. If he. If he didn't take that, I'd say you're a coward. Move on. See you later. If the noise is too much for you in Toronto, the reason the noise is so big is because you bent this over for 11 on entry level and we really got nothing for it come playoff time play other than these 100 point regular season performances. So Nice would have to take 8 times 8. If Nice thinks this is the problem with guys in Toronto though. They have this over inflated ego because they're reading their names in the press clippings after they have one good season. Like hey, great job. Nice. I truly believe that you're. You're a first line future in Toronto. But if you think that you're worth more than eight times eight, maybe eight times eight and a half. If you really want to lock them in for the full eight years, bro, you've had one good year and you get to play with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Sign the deal if you don't want to be here off. That's what they got to start telling guys moving forward. You got guys that want to play for the front of the jersey. I'd rather have. I'd rather have a full team of second liner working their dick off and falling short and and pushing the limits all the way to Game 7 than having guys bail out and. And playing flu flu hockey like I want guys who want to wear the jersey and Marner can prove that if they offer him 8 times 12 and he doesn't want it get pack and off.

[Ryan Whitney]

Seriously, that's a state of. What do you mean Union.

[Yandle]

Do not you think that's.

[Ryan Whitney]

He would say no to that so fast and that makes you think he's.

[Yandle]

Gonna get later buddy. How much?

[Ryan Whitney]

He's got 31 teams, right? Taking out Toronto, he's gonna get at least 13 million bucks. If not 13 and a half 14. And I'm. And do I agree with it? No. But it takes one team to do it and I think it's gonna happen. Now I respect what you're saying man. And I think that Toronto will make sure that the offer sheet with nice stuff maybe doesn't even get to the.

[Yandle]

Offer sheet and leash fans might think I'm crazy. If you offer him a healthy deal and financial security for the rest of his life after having one big season. If he says no and wants to play that game off.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, why. Yeah, why can Jack Hughes. Why can all these other studs take the 8 times 8 and he can't.

[Yandle]

I'm so over the. The whole pay me, pay me, pay me, do something. Win a. Win a mug or some hardware. Before we start handing over these ridiculous deals, Yance is gonna say, what is it your money?

[Ryan Whitney]

No, I love how he's calling it the mug. All of a sudden, this episode. Win a mug. I haven't heard a mug in a while. My Oilers are on track because I got my mug. But we got other news. Oh, go ahead, Keith. Go ahead.

[Yandle]

No, I want to talk about the leaves for another 30 minutes.

[Mike Grinelli]

Going back to. Going back to Shanahan. I don't know exactly what a president does, but you look at. He's been there, what they've drafted, what they've. You know, they've made the playoffs a ton of years. Like. Like, he's done an amazing job there. You can't. You can't blame him too much for everything. Like, he's gotten them to the point that they getting in the playoffs every single year, which is huge for any organization, never mind the leave. So I think he's gonna go on to do, you know, great things, as Brendan Shanahan always will. So.

[Yandle]

No doubt. Well said, Yance.

[Ryan Whitney]

Can either one of you guys, though? Because I think it's maybe confusing to fans, even to me, at times. Like, you have the GM and you have the president, I think people wonder, like. Like, who is in charge, right? Like, for example, you see Vancouver and Rutherford's the president of. Is it Patrick Alvine? What's his name? In the gm? So it's like, I do think at times it's like, who. Who is the final say? Like, does the president just take over everything? Like, I think fans have a right to wonder, like, what does the president do? Or if he's doing it all, what does the GM do? Do you. Do you get what I'm saying there? Bizarre.

[Yandle]

Yeah. I don't. Like, I just don't know enough. I don't know goes on behind the scenes as to who. Who has control. Like Akalini in Vancouver. Yeah, he's calling the shots. My, My. My assumption is that he didn't want to get rid of Petey, and he was willing last year to pay him the money that they paid him in order to silence all the noise and the fact that he was having the decline. But as we know, when you have owners who don't have a hockey background and they want to stick their nose in a little bit too much, it can really hurt your organization. And sometimes it's like, Carolina, like, I truly believe that that owner Is way too involved making decisions like was the cockney Emmy not a spiteful offer sheet that they stole from with about the AHO thing. And all of a sudden you give Cockney Emmy eight years. What's he making? 4.82 for what?

[Ryan Whitney]

We didn't bring up his hit, by the way, where he swung his leg around and his stick like I could. Who was that?

[Yandle]

Well, at least he's doing something out there for 5 million.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean they got him but Zito in Florida, he's the president and the gm. Like I. I just feel like maybe it's just title but when you have one of each two different guys, there has to be some sort of too many cooks in the kitchen here there. Unless the president is like I'm just the head figure and you're calling all the shots. But if you have different opinions, then what is one guy worth more than the other?

[Yandle]

I don't know. But all I want to go back to is. Is asking you it. If Marner has done what he's done with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he's proven that he can't live up to those big moments come in the second round, all those five through seven games. If they offer him eight times 12 to stick around, you think he's a coward if he doesn't take it.

[Ryan Whitney]

I wouldn't say coward. That's a harsh word. I would say. I would say he has. He has no desire to be on the Maple Leafs anymore. If he turns that down, especially getting.

[Mike Grinelli]

Booed on his way out like it's. It just.

[Yandle]

You said that and a few fans pushed back where it wasn't directed at Marner, it was directed towards the team. You're saying no, no.

[Ryan Whitney]

His last two shifts. His last two shifts and he didn't play the last three four min. When he touched it, it got louder.

[Mike Grinelli]

For sure.

[Yandle]

For sure.

[Ryan Whitney]

And I wouldn't say coward, but I'd say if he wants to be on the Maple Leafs, if he's like I'm from Toronto and this is not done yet, then he would accept 12 times 8. 100%. I'll go with you on that deal.

[Yandle]

Yeah, it's fine.

[Mike Grinelli]

That extra year too.

[Yandle]

He's getting the extra year so that makes up for the fact he's not making that 13 million. And I don't know, man, I just feel like he's got got. He's got something to prove to Leafs fans. And I think that he can completely change the narrative. If he. If he was willing to take a little bit of A hometown discount given the fact he hasn't showed up in those big moments.

[Ryan Whitney]

$96 million to remain a member of the Maple Leaf. Has he made. How much has he made?

[Yandle]

I agree with you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, no, I'm. I'm speaking.

[Yandle]

They're all agreeing. That's why they're all agreeing. That's why I use the word coward. Because it's like you're. They're still offering them $96 million. They're still saying, we believe in you. And because it got a little noisy when I didn't show up, I'm gonna go somewhere else where it's less noisy. You? Yeah, you.

[Mike Grinelli]

I get what you mean Now.

[Ryan Whitney]

This was. This was the biz we thought we'd see. He needs a mug saying that.

[Yandle]

I'd still be willing to hand that over to him. My fucking loyalty to Martyr.

[Ryan Whitney]

Get him up.

[Yandle]

If I'm marner in his camp, I haven't been offside with anything that I've said. I'm still saying I believe in him. Let's get it done in Toronto, buddy. Let's get it done here.

[Ryan Whitney]

And if you walk.

[Yandle]

If you. If you walk, I'm done with you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hey, what if.

[Mike Grinelli]

Seven times seven.

[Ryan Whitney]

If he signed eight times 12, that would bring his career earnings up to, I think 166 million. I mean, I think that's bro pound my old lady.

[Yandle]

If you paid me that much money, like, I'd fucking sit in the diddy chair in the corner and watch. Scored a goal in games five through seven, and I'm giving you 166 sheets. Let's move on to the quick hits before I have a nervous breakdown. Bring back the core four.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think that Islanders fans have some excitement in their life and shout out me, who basically got them the first overall pick. When I talked, the clip came out at the sandbagger with the foreplay crew on the range. I'm like, well, you did it again. You kind of battled throughout just to miss the playoffs. And now you're not going to get a high pick. And boom. The whit mush gets them. The first overall pick. Lou is gone. The players can now grow beards and use clear tape the way they want to use it on their shin pads. And Matthew Darsh comes in. Now, this has been a name that's been rumored in GM openings for quite a while. I feel he spent time with. With Tampa Bay, and he's worked his way up. Actually, based on his Wikipedia page after he retired, it says he served as vice president of sales and marketing in Canada for Del Mar International, which is a freight forwarding service that's based out of New York. So kind of out of the game if that Wikipedia is true. You got to trust it on the Internet on Wikipedia. But then back into the game and has worked his way up and up and now he's getting the chance to take over a team who. God damn it was the. Were the Islanders close to winning a Stanley Cup? They. They lost one nothing in the Stanley cup final against Tampa Bay in game seven. And remember they're playing the Canadians. They're. No, it was the cup final. It was the cup final. It was the Canadiens. That thing was done. The Canadian. That was it. That was. And it was very priceless.

[Yandle]

Shooting Roman candles out of his that whole run. There's no way they're winning that Stanley Cup Final.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, he had done so much. But the Islanders since then it's been the older core. It's been not trading Paul Mary at the deadline. They didn't trade Anders Lee, their captain at the line. They did get rid of Brock Nelson. Where they got. Is it Cal Richie? Is that his name? Somebody correct me quickly.

[Yandle]

Yes, Cal Richie in the trade stud from Colorado.

[Ryan Whitney]

You have Iserman from bu. That was a first round pick. You have. I don't know what's going on with Dobson, but like they're. They're now with the first overall pick coming, which also means the 33rd pick, which you can get a hell of a player at. Now there might be some maybe different style hockey in Long Island. Do they move on some from some veterans? Are they able to kind of maybe even not try to get in the playoffs this year and. And strip it down a little bit more and realize it's going to be a little here, a little time here. But the Islanders fans got to be excited because while Lou is this hall of Famer and did a hell of a job there, considering where they were when he got there, it the time had come for. For some new blood, a new leader and Matthew Darsh is the man. So I think overall Islanders fans, let us know in the comments. Are you as excited as I've heard some people?

[Yandle]

Oh, Yance has something.

[Mike Grinelli]

What if Marner does what J.T. did to the Islanders to Toronto?

[Ryan Whitney]

Dude would. He would be nasty in long. Like that's Barzell.

[Mike Grinelli]

Him and Barzell dancing around out there.

[Ryan Whitney]

Dobson the Core 37 times 10 punches a hole in his wall. And then he comes out in the press conference and he's like. He's like, hey, this happened because that fake ambassador, Paul Bissonnet, he dogged me time after time after time. And yeah, now he's hanging by a Toronto Maple Leafs necktie in a hotel room in Atlanta getting shirt by even his producers for playing two playoff games in his career.

[Mike Grinelli]

He's like. He's like, you know, the islanders offered me 7 times 15 a year, but I took 7 times 7 just to shut Biz up so he can get more players. And then they. Then they offer sheet nice goes there too.

[Yandle]

If Marner goes to the Islanders, he better put a restraining order on me. I'll tell him that.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think he already has that. That's going to be used in the court case right there, folks. I respect it. Biz. You're a man that speaks what you truly feel, but that could end up being in a court case up.

[Yandle]

And you're saying NY is going to jump ship too, to Long island as well?

[Mike Grinelli]

Yeah, because Marner's gonna. Marner's gonna get offered 7 times 15. He's gonna say, you know what? I've made a ton. Give me 7 times 7. Let's go offer sheet nyes with the extra dough and then get Stolars on waivers.

[Yandle]

So I go right to Walmart and get the.

[Ryan Whitney]

Now the question I guess remains, does Patrick was stay as the coach? Don't know. Seem to be that he. He had some choice words for like the roster makeup at times. I don't know if a new GM necessarily wants a coach who will kind of maybe call him out a little bit. I don't know what's going to happen there, but exciting hire who everyone around the league has said would be a guy who'd become a GM at some point. So Islanders, there you go. And you're welcome. For the first overall pick, the Blackhawks hired Jeff Blash Hill as their next head coach.

[Yandle]

I don't.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't want. I. I don't know how Blackhawks fans feel about this. Been the assistant in Tampa the past three seasons. Was the head coach in Detroit from 2015, 2022. As you see right there. Biz or Keith. Did you have a takeaway? Were you surprised? I think they were probably going after some other people. I don't know if maybe that job isn't what people are looking for.

[Yandle]

Well, they originally were talking to the DU coach, Carl, and then all of a sudden, I don't know if it was because maybe he wanted a little bit more say and decisions that were being made and was it going to get that right? Yeah, I feel like he does have a little bit of experience. I mean, he was last in Detroit. Where was he before that? Assistant in Tampa.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Last three seasons.

[Yandle]

Yeah. So, yeah, I don't know. I mean, you hope that he's going to be able to get through. There's going to be some. Still some. Some rough years ahead, but seems like he. He was a college coach beforehand, too. Was it Miami of Ohio?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, in Ferris State for like. I think he coached college for 10 years in the USHL.

[Yandle]

I feel like he can relate to the younger players and, you know, is more of a. Like a new school type of coach who's not going to be crazy, crazy hard on them. So, yeah, I'm interested to see what he's able to do with that young group and. And if he can get through to Bedard and how much talent they're going to be able to attract in order to continue to grow that organization back to what it once was. So I don't really have much else.

[Ryan Whitney]

We didn't ask Ryan Wasofsky, but a bright spot for the Hawks. It's not just Bedard and. And Vlasic on D. It's Frank Nazar. Nazar. I'm sorry if I'm messing up his name, but the kid can play. It was his first year pro. Spent time in the ahl, lit it up, was up playing phenomenal hockey at the end of the year for the Blackhawks. Looked great at the Worlds, so they have him. But looking at Blashel as the head coach in Detroit, they lost in the first round his first season, missed the playoffs his next six years. So I think as a Hawks fan, it's like, all right, well, Connor was maybe hoping for somebody with a better track record as a head coach, which I get.

[Yandle]

But who. Like, who, like, who's even available? Like, I. I don't.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, there were a lot of guys available, but they didn't want that job.

[Yandle]

But. But who, like, who's available?

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I mean, Mike Sullivan ends up getting hired, right? But I'm saying, like, pockets available. That's what I'm saying. There were big names, but.

[Yandle]

But yeah, outside of those guys, though, like, who's the. Who's the next option? Like, who's still sitting at home?

[Ryan Whitney]

You got a cousin or something you want to give an NHL job to right now?

[Yandle]

I would say maybe, yeah. Canadian oldie would be good. What about.

[Ryan Whitney]

He was Laviolette. The chat just says right here.

[Yandle]

Yeah, Benny Bar.

[Ryan Whitney]

Benny Bar. Merle's buddy at Maine. Maybe that was a guy they could have gone after who.

[Yandle]

Who was the one who was in Florida got canned. Vegas got canned. New York got canned.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, yeah.

[Yandle]

I don't know. Woodcraft is a young guy who, like, I feel like they. What they got off to that horrible start a few years ago. And do you feel like he unfairly got the ax and deserves another job in the league like you? You're the Oilers guy, Whit. Like, do you see Woodcraft getting his feet wet again?

[Ryan Whitney]

Possibly. I could see that. I mean, have there not been rumblings that he could be the Bruins coach? Look, from an Oilers fan, Woodcraft would be great for any developing team. Yeah, I mean, Edmonton, they. They had some good teams. It was just time. Like you could tell they needed a change. But I would be shocked if he didn't get another chance. That's actually. Yeah. I wonder if Chicago even reached out to him. It seemed like Chicago was set in stone on getting David Carl and. And what was told to us is a big offer and he still decided no. So that's when they're like, oh, like, you know, and Jeff Blashiel's been a coach forever. But they obviously. He obviously wasn't their first choice. Let's say that. But let's see what he can do with a team similar to San Jose. They got a long way to go. Can he be the guy who gets them back into the playoffs and into the mix and makes Bedard play a certain way while keeping his skill and his creativity and all his offense there? Can he get him to play a different style?

[Yandle]

Make Bedard do it. I'll go on a couple more hikes.

[Ryan Whitney]

There'll be another restraining order. Little righty forwards who are skilled are your restraining order crypto.

[Yandle]

I'll whip him in a playoff shape. I'll be. Hey, hey, hey, Marner, Bedard. You guys want to lift a mug? Come talk to old busy boy here. Call their cup champion. I'm the only one.

[Ryan Whitney]

Two games played in the Western Conference final.

[Yandle]

Nah, one of them was in the first round against the Detroit Red Wings. We got swept that year. I played game four. Got this guy. I got to shake Nick Lindstrom's hand. I don't think Stevie, why I was still in the lineup.

[Mike Grinelli]

Basically like winning a mug.

[Yandle]

That's basically it's winning way was rubbed off on me in that handshake line. And then that's why later on got to a Western Conference finals a few years later. And then of course a caller cup champion in which some people look at my hockey TV and say, you had no Points during that whole caller cup run. Points aren't everything. I do the intangibles.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Setting up dinners, playing the music. That's what wins you mugs. Thomas. The tar guys. He signed in Switzerland. Oh. Next two years, played at 927 career NHL games. 496 points. Had some really good runs with a bunch of different.

[Yandle]

How many games did he play?

[Ryan Whitney]

Says927. Is that correct?

[Mike Grinelli]

This is on the notes all times. Kind of like the Montreal Fans.

[Ryan Whitney]

Thomas. Yeah. 9:20. I would have. I would have honestly guessed like 450.

[Yandle]

Who was it from the Islanders we thought played his 400 forever.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, no, it was a Brock Nelson. No, it was the righty. We can't even think of his name right now. This is.

[Yandle]

Well, we've been going 245. Look at us. We're on a marathon.

[Ryan Whitney]

No.

[Mike Grinelli]

Was it Nielsen?

[Yandle]

No.

[Ryan Whitney]

This is so bad, man.

[Paul Vinette]

It was Andrew.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, it wasn't. It was Josh Bailey.

[Yandle]

Bailey.

[Mike Grinelli]

Josh Bailey.

[Ryan Whitney]

G comes flying in with Andrew Cop, who was never even on the Islanders.

[Yandle]

Gargoyles trapped suit and bag licking.

[Ryan Whitney]

What are you talking about?

[Paul Vinette]

Right before the sandbagger. We have the clip biz. Also forgot Andrew Cop even played in the NHL if you guys remember that too. So that happened as well.

[Yandle]

No.

[Tripp Tracy]

Yes.

[Ryan Whitney]

They're a cop, right? He's like, no, it's my lasting us.

[Paul Vinette]

On the way there. And I was like, he played 400 NHL games.

[Ryan Whitney]

You're like, what?

[Tripp Tracy]

No.

[Paul Vinette]

I didn't even know he played any.

[Yandle]

Yeah, I think I was being sarcastic about being. I didn't even know he played in the show. But. But I knew he dipped his toe in, but that's like whatever.

[Mike Grinelli]

Had no idea who I was.

[Yandle]

Can we just talk about Marner again?

[Ryan Whitney]

Russia banned from the Olympics, guys. Bummer. Bummer. People are flipping out. How can you say that's a bummer? War crimes. Horrible. Just want them in the hockey Olympics.

[Yandle]

Yeah. This has nothing to do with dropping.

[Ryan Whitney]

I just want to see Ovechkin and Kucherov and Nikishan and the goalies.

[Yandle]

And I want to see the torch passed off. It's going to be a lot. Would be the last opportunity that Ovechkin. Malkin.

[Ryan Whitney]

Malkin.

[Yandle]

Who's. Who's one other older guy who. Who probably this would be his last Olympics.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean, Panarin maybe. What'd you say?

[Yandle]

He said Andrew Cop. We're getting. Can we end this podcast?

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Congrats to the Minnesota Frost one Back to back Walter Cups in the pwhl.

[Yandle]

Kendall Coin Scarfield. What a legend. Dude, back to back mugs.

[Ryan Whitney]

How many games of those went to overtime? I think it was all. All four of them.

[Yandle]

They won three ones.

[Ryan Whitney]

All four.

[Yandle]

All four.

[Ryan Whitney]

So that's some action. PWHL popping off. If you haven't watched, please, on the foreplay channel, go watch spitting chicklets foreplay 27 hole bonanza. There'll be more to come with that. Game notes, Friday, noon eastern. Can the Edmonton Oilers take a commanding 3:1 series lead tonight in the Terror Dome? I believe they can. Can Carolina force a flight back to Lauderdale for game 6? I believe they can as well. I need. I need that series to go longer. I don't need Florida finishing that off and waiting around for us in what could be the most epic Stanley cup final rematch we've ever seen. Yes. Yes. Detroit and Pittsburgh went to seven that second year and Pittsburgh got the win in Detroit. As I was sitting on my coach literally crying after they won. I could be crying. I could be crying. Tears of joy this year if McDavid somehow beats the Florida Panthers. Game 7 in Edmonton this year. A long way to go. I'm not counting out the Dallas Stars like a lot of Oilers fans. And I'm not counting out the Hurricanes either. Thank you everyone for watching. Thank you to Craig Ludwig and his shin pads, Trip Tracy and his love of Rod Brindamore's mom walking her down the aisle. And Ryan Wasofsky, gold medal winning coach in the world championships. Love you guys. Love you.

[Yandle]

Hey, quickly, this is Chiclet's memes. The Leafs taken back businesses. Ambassador jacket.

[Ryan Whitney]

All right, get us off. Get us off business. Bring them back.

[Whitney]

The core.

[Yandle]

Oh, that's the new president of the Leafs. I don't know any other way. Even if not the go away.