Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 585 — Summary

Release Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette (“Biz”), Keith Yandle, Rear Admiral (RA), Mike Grinnell (Producer)
Guests: Matthew Knies, Big Caez, Eric Engels

Overview

In Episode 585, the Spittin’ Chiclets crew kick off the new NHL season with their trademark banter, irreverence, and deep-dive analysis. This episode features current Toronto Maple Leaf Matthew Knies, Panthers superfan Big Caez, and Montreal Canadiens insider Eric Engels. The bulk of the show is a comprehensive Atlantic Division preview, with extensive chats about major signings (Kaprizov, Lacombe, Hughes), contract trends, team prospect pipelines, and the cultural state of the NHL. Several memorable stories, behind-the-scenes NHL insights, and a high-energy preview set the stage for a new season.

Key Discussion Points

1. NHL is Back — “Holy shit, the NHL’s back!” (01:37)

• The hosts celebrate the start of a new season, reflecting on the fast offseason.
• Whitney delivers his trademark “Pink Whitney” salute, noting how the signature vodka accompanies every moment of the hockey year.

Notable Quote:

“Peaks and valleys. That’s life. ... I’ve been in some enormous peaks. I’ve been in some giant valleys. So you stay even Steven. ... don’t stress about 7-year-old youth hockey.” — Whitney (03:09)

2. Personal Catch-Up: Family, Coaching, and Weekend Recap (02:35–08:43)

• Whitney describes the frustrations and joys of coaching his son’s hockey team, invoking classic “hockey parent” culture and memorable slogans (“Attitude and effort — only things you can control”).
• Anecdotes about posters, college football, Penn State’s spiral, and Halloween decorations.
• Touches on spinal cord injury benefit with Brett Young performing, drawing a poignant moment about athlete resilience.

3. Atlantic Division Deep Dive & Major NHL Storylines (09:25 onward)

a. Minnesota Wild Offseason Moves: Kaprizov and Gustafsson Contracts

• Kaprizov signs groundbreaking $17M/year deal. The group discusses the implications, the state of NHL salaries, and Minnesota’s team-building needs.

Notable Quotes:

“He’s worth the price of admission. He’s a one-man band … when you have a top five player, and the cap’s going where it is ... for what he’s done there prior, including on years where he was making peanuts ... I think it was a no brainer.” — Biz (12:09)

• Gustafsson, the goaltender, also locked up long-term, fitting the Wild’s strategy of keeping their homegrown stars.

b. Devils & Ducks: Luke Hughes, Jackson LaCombe Extensions (24:26 onward)

• Discuss the negotiations and “bargain” potential for rookie defense deals.
• Pasha joins to evangelize the Devils' window and what Luke & Quinn Hughes can become.
• Comparison between Devils (Hughes) and Ducks (LaCombe) young blue lines — both described as future cornerstones.

Notable Quote:

“[LaCombe] is older ... defensively, he was miles better last year [than Hughes]. But they’re both on awesome trajectories. Anaheim’s core is stacked.” — Biz (34:32)

c. Rising Salaries and Agent Power

• Discussion about how knowledge-sharing and future salary cap projections have permanently changed the landscape of contract negotiation.

4. Quick Hits & Contract Chatter

• Evangelista’s delayed deal in Nashville prompts jokes about “bridges” and contract posturing.
• Mikola’s solid extension in Florida.
• Observations on teams like Florida locking in their core for the long-term to ensure sustainability.

5. Florida vs. Tampa Rivalry & Preseason Violence (47:14 onward)

• Recap of wild preseason altercations: Greer vs. Hagel, Sabrin’s hit on Ekblad.
• “Hatred like this in preseason is insane”—the group predicts a fiercely contested season series between the state rivals.

Notable Quote:

“I like my hockey with a little bit of violence ... I think the NHL is in a perfect spot right now, a blend of violence and skill. A new era is beginning.” — Biz (50:56)

• Big Cs, Panthers superfan, joins to share fan perspective on the rivalry and Panthers’ season outlook.

6. Atlantic Division Team-by-Team Breakdown

A guided tour of every Atlantic club, mixing serious predictions with signature humor

a. Florida Panthers

• Consensus: Playoff lock, possibly only a wild-card due to early injuries (Barkov, Tkachuk).
• Noted depth and leadership (“they’re not going anywhere for a long time”).

b. Tampa Bay Lightning

• Reinforced blue line and star power (Kucherov, Point, Vasilevskiy).
• Coop’s silent contract extension revealed.
• Predicted to “bounce back” with a deeper, more motivated group.

c. Toronto Maple Leafs

• Hosts bullish on the roster: “wagon,” “built better than last year.”
• Center-depth lauded; defense still a minor sore spot.
• Wol/goalie health flagged as X-factor.

Notable Quotes:

“I love this group. ... I think they’re poised to win the Atlantic and go on a cup run. That’s it.” — Biz (76:00)

d. Boston Bruins

• Panel skeptical: “Miserable for McKenna”—tank watch on.
• Swayman and strong defense recognized, but lack of offense noted.
• Projected as entertaining but not likely a playoff threat.

e. Buffalo Sabres

• Group is dubious, feeling the team regressed and needs “big steps” from youth; praised D-core but critical of lack of scoring after shipping out Paterka.

f. Detroit Red Wings

• Debated as “on the cusp.”
• ISERPLAN supported as patient and methodical, but consensus says “not quite yet,” with some hosts wavering late in the discussion.

g. Ottawa Senators

• Group expects Ottawa to take a significant step; lauds Sanderson’s emergence and the team’s snarl/entertainment value.
• “All seven Canadian teams make the playoffs” bet from Biz for the headline.

h. Montreal Canadiens

(Eric Engels interview, from 1:40:00+)

• Engels sees improved maturity and depth, especially on defense (Matheson, Dobson, Lane Hudson, Jack Eye).
• Breathless optimism for Ivan Demidov’s Calder chances.
• Hot Take: “Sidney Crosby could end up in Montreal if the Habs are good and the Pens bottom out” (187:10).
• The panel sees Montreal as a future contender, perhaps needing one more year.

7. Interview: Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs) (84:33–136:38)

• Knies discusses his Arizona-to-Toronto journey, development through adversity, mentoring by Tavares, etc.
• Talks about pressure in Toronto, the revamped roster post-Marner, favorite away cities, and his Chick-fil-A “addiction.”
• Lighthearted fashion/locker room banter, “Will this be the Leafs year?” optimism.

Selected Quotes:

“I just try to stay dialed on my own game—stay away from the media noise.”
“I think it’s our year.” — Matthew Knies (133:27)

8. Other NHL News & Culture (207:24+)

• Erik Johnson and Max Pacioretty retirements highlighted—tributes to their USA Hockey Hall of Fame-caliber careers.
• Marc Sanchez’s bizarre off-field story retold with typical Chiclets humor.
• Gavin McKenna’s eye-popping performances as a top prospect, with Biz praising his composure and flash.

9. Caustic Humor & Concluding Banter

• Plenty of ribbing, cap circumvention jokes, and wisecracks about tanking, contract negotiations, and rivalry intensity.
• Multiple callbacks to classic Chiclets bits (Ryder Cup, Stranglers, the beneficence of Pink Whitney).

Segment Timestamps (Approx.)

• 01:37 — NHL season return: Offseason, coaching, Pink Whitney ritual.
• 09:54 — Kaprizov’s contract, Wild’s long-term strategy.
• 24:26 — Devils/Ducks: Luke Hughes, Jackson Lacombe signings discussion (with Pasha).
• 34:53 — Comparisons of young defensemen contracts, Anaheim prospect breakdown.
• 47:14 — Florida/Tampa preseason brawls and rivalry preview.
• 54:53 — Big Cs (Panthers superfan) interview.
• 69:00 — Tampa Bay Lightning roster/depth breakdown.
• 74:39 — Toronto Maple Leafs “wagon thesis,” Knies contract, and power play changes.
• 84:33 — Matthew Knies interview: Leafs pressure, Arizona roots, development.
• 140:28 — Boston Bruins’ tank outlook and rebuilding pains.
• 148:32 — Buffalo Sabres: long playoff drought, “doom” and hope.
• 154:30 — Detroit Red Wings: Tenuous optimism, prospect talk.
• 162:41 — Ottawa Senators: Grit, breakout candidates, playoff picks.
• 168:07 — Montreal Canadiens/Engels interview: Depth, defensive core, Lane Hudson, Dobson acquisition, Kirby Dach's path, Crosby trade "hot take."
• 201:32 — Road trip stories, rugby tangents, Oasis music kick.
• 207:24 — Retirement farewells (Johnson, Pacioretty), final thoughts.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Tanking is such a crapshoot. You lose the lottery, boom—you’re third overall.” — Whitney (09:59)
• “He’s worth the price of admission ... you pay your superstar.” — Biz (12:09)
• "Peak and valleys. That’s life. ... Don’t worry about stressing about 7-year-old youth hockey." — Whitney (03:09)
• “All seven Canadian teams are making the playoffs. Biz stamp of approval, 100% guaranteed.” — Biz (165:46)
• “Sidney Crosby could end up in Montreal ... but only if the Habs are good, and the Penguins are really bad.” — Eric Engels (187:10)
• “The Islanders, the Bruins, the Ducks, you name it ... we’re talking about bottom dwellers.” — Biz, referring to weak teams (paraphrased, various)
• “Is it our year?” — Ryan Whitney
  “I think it’s our year.” — Matthew Knies (133:26)
• “I like my hockey with a little bit of violence ... we’re hitting the start of a new era.” — Biz (50:56)

Final Thoughts

Episode 585 is a quintessential Spittin’ Chiclets ride: sharp and brash, loaded with inside jokes, yet packed with astute NHL insight. The hosts blend respect and irreverence, toggling between serious breakdowns of contracts and player development with side-splitting stories and relentless chirping. The Atlantic Division preview sets up copious storylines for the season — new contracts, franchise-defining players, and what may be the league’s most exciting collection of up-and-coming teams.

If you’re gearing up for the NHL, this is a must-listen for fans craving both deep analysis and the lighter, chaotic side of hockey culture.

Quick Reference: Key Team Takeaways

• Toronto: Absolute contender, deepest roster yet, minor question marks on D/goaltending.
• Florida: Playoff lock, likely to weather injuries with strong depth.
• Tampa: “Pissed off” and hungry, predicted to rebound.
• Ottawa: Trending up, expected to break into playoffs.
• Montreal: Fun, fast, still a year away unless everything goes right (watch Demidov, Lane Hudson).
• Detroit: Some see playoff breakthrough, most see one year away.
• Boston: In a rebuild/tank phase; competitive but rebuilding.
• Buffalo: Stuck, biggest question marks up front, potential in youth.

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