Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 587: Featuring Seth Jarvis, Rick Tocchet & Jody Shelley

Summary

Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 587: Featuring Seth Jarvis, Rick Tocchet & Jody Shelley

Date: October 13, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, Rear Admiral, Mike Grinnell
Guests: Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes), Rick Tocchet (Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach), Jody Shelley (Columbus Blue Jackets Broadcaster)

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Episode Overview

This week’s episode is a jam-packed Metro Division NHL preview with three signature Spittin’ Chiclets-style interviews. Whitney, Bissonnette, and the crew bring their trademark blend of hockey analysis, locker-room storytelling, wild tangents, and irreverent humor. They break down the Metro’s outlook, check in on fan-favorite teams and young stars, share personal anecdotes, and chop it up with guests Seth Jarvis, Rick Tocchet, and Jody Shelley for exclusive insights and plenty of laughs.

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Opening Banter & Housekeeping

[01:12-02:36]

• The hosts riff on recent adventures, the return of cozy season, and seasonal sponsors (Pink Whitney, Bombas).
• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; 100% of proceeds from select merchandise go to charity.
• Shoutouts to sponsors and hockey community partners.
• The regular banter sets the show’s light-hearted, “boys in the locker room” tone.

---

Early NHL Season Storylines

[02:36-13:00]

• Paul Bissonnette addresses criticism about his role in the Mitch Marner trade:
  “If me saying ‘Selkie my dick’ was really what did it, then…I’ll take the blame for it, okay? But I ain’t fucking calling in death threats and sending them DMs.” (05:14, Bissonnette)

  • The hosts debate whether media pressure impacts star movement.
  • Lots of jokes about marriage, exes, and being “run” by wives (“Every guy ever who has been married bitching about their old ladies — Hey Biz, when you gonna get married?”)

• Leafs and Vegas Cross-Talk:

  • Biz declares himself off the Leafs/Vegas bandwagon drama.
  • Reminiscing about team loyalty, locker-room chirps, and jersey swaps.
  • Detroit’s feisty start and Anaheim’s young team both draw praise.

• Detroit & Anaheim Rookies:

  • “McTavish looked unbelievable… rookies making imprints early on.” (13:26)
  • Detroit’s bounce-back after a rough opener signals possible upside.

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Segment: Metro Division State of the Union

[13:57-26:54]

• Toronto, Florida & Around the League:

  • Patrick Kane’s resurgence.
  • Bruins’ hot (defensive) start and the viability of their “boring” style.
  • Florida’s elite play and why they continue to be a juggernaut:
    “I don’t see many teams that can beat Florida…they’re amazing, their ability to plug guys in is insane.” (25:51, Yan Stastny)

• Buffalo Sabres Troubles & NHL Conspiracy Theories:
  “If I’m them, blow it up now. Rasmus Dahlin, come on down to Toronto, please.” (30:32, Bissonnette)

  • The crew riffs on Buffalo’s futility, Eichel’s exit, draft conspiracies, and NHL business-side rumors.

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INTERVIEW: Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes)

[37:49-62:57]

Interview Highlights

• Summer Recap & Living at Home:
  “I’m still with my parents. I’m still at home…” (40:03, Jarvis)

  • Lots of self-deprecating humor about still needing swimming lessons and not touching the big contract cash.

• Vision Boards, Motivational Quotes, and Childhood idols: “I think I had like every motivational quote you could ever imagine written on that board.” (40:54)

  • Jarvis as a die-hard Matt Damon fan (The Martian, Ford v Ferrari).

• Team Chemistry and the Canes outlook:

  • Insists relationships in the room are tight; the “marathon” theme from Rod Brind’Amour.
  • Fitness testing anecdotes, Rod Brind’Amour’s freakish conditioning, and the “torture” of the team bike test.
  • “He still kills it. So it kinda sucks when I come in…it’s just shitty.” (48:29, Jarvis)

• Locker Room/Power Play & Burns’ 1,500th Game:

  • Inside anecdotes on Brent Burns’ clappers: “It’s the worst feeling to be in front of the net when that guy has the puck at the point.” (52:10, Jarvis)
  • Rapid-fire trivia: celebrating NHL’s ironman defensemen.

• Food Tangents & Hockey Personality:

  • Jarvis confesses love for peanut butter and pickle sandwiches—offering to make them a Gargoyles arena specialty.
  • How being featured in the Amazon docuseries put his habit of “eating like a child” on blast.
  • “They had me cooking chicken nuggets in my air fryer for the cameras.” (59:56, Jarvis)

• Team Prediction:

  • Jarvis thinks the Canes’ experience & chemistry could push them over the top.
    “We have so much experience, especially with our younger guys now going on a deep playoff run…we have a lot of guys in that room that have been around for a while.” (62:30, Jarvis)

[Notable Quotes & Moments]

• “I can’t really swim, so I don’t trust myself behind a boat or doing anything like that.” (39:26, Jarvis)
• “Believe it or not, [my diet] has taken a lot of steps…But yeah, it’s gotten better, unfortunately.” (60:45, Jarvis)
• “I will 1000% skip a Hurricanes game to drop the puck in Greensboro.” (67:11, Jarvis)

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Quick Hit: Islanders, Schaefer Mania, and the Barzell Watch

[70:06-77:37]

• Frankie Borelli’s fan report: “It’ll be a frustrating season in the sense that it feels like they will compete in every game…but can they finish them off and get wins?” (71:41)
• Matthew Schaefer emerges as a reason to actually tune in (“worth the price of admission”).
• Islanders coach Patrick Roy’s “softer, warmer” style is noted as a positive culture shift.

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INTERVIEW: Rick Tocchet (Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach)

[78:44-139:11]

Interview Highlights

• Old School Training Camp Memories:

  • Epic stories about getting bag skated, fighting, doing blood-draw fitness tests, and “pitchforking” an opponent for a quick ejection.
  • “First shift, a guy named Dwight Schofield…I turn around, pitchfork him—get kicked out.” (80:32, Tocchet)

• Coaching Approach & Communication:

  • Discusses the evolution from old-school to modern, relationship-based coaching.
  • “It’s a partnership with the players… they have to have a voice.” (93:00, Tocchet)

• Flyers’ Direction & Rebuild:

  • Tocchet lauds patience from management, the deep prospect pool, and the organizational structure with Keith Jones and Daniel Briere.
  • On integrating new staff: “I’m a big teacher guy…coming in every day excited to teach a player.” (94:56)

• Handling Top Prospects:

  • Thoughts on managing Matvei Michkov’s development, language barrier, and being patient with creative talents versus defensive accountability.

• NHL Media, Canadian Pressures:

  • Vivid stories from the firestorm of Vancouver’s media and “cheap shot journalism”.
  • “I pulled a couple [media] guys aside…It was cheap shot journalism, what I thought.” (129:41, Tocchet)

• Flyers & Philly Sports Culture:

  • Reminiscing about the Spectrum, Flyers/Eagles crossover, and navigating Philly’s passionate—and brutally honest—fan base.
  • “If you had a Rangers or Devils jersey on…you’re not walking out.” (119:20, Tocchet)

[Notable Quotes & Moments]

• “I just survived Vancouver Twitter. If you can survive that, that’s like climbing the mountain.” (114:59, Tocchet)
• “You can’t just create a culture overnight…he’s got five years to work his magic, man.” (142:26, Bissonnette)

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Rapid Previews & Guest Analysts: Metro Teams

New Jersey Devils – Fan Lunatic Pasha

[144:45-156:13]

• Pasha: “Jack looks like Jack…engaged, skating, threw a hit on Gensel—he looks engaged.” (145:50)
• Optimism is strong; key rookies cited (Nemetz, Gritsuk), but some criticism for Palat’s contract and concern about goaltending.
• Lively debate on whether the Devils are a playoff lock; Pasha bets on it, others less sure.

New York Rangers

[156:13-159:09]

• Slow start, scoring woes, and Trocheck’s injury alarm the hosts.
• Bissonnette declares: “I have them missing the playoffs.”

Washington Capitals

[159:09-163:04]

• Leonard’s rookie impact praised; lingering questions about sustaining previous success.
• “Ovi’s gonna get 35, 40 goals…I feel like this year they’re playing because they probably know it’s Ovi’s last year.” (162:21, Bissonnette)

Pittsburgh Penguins – Colby Armstrong (“Arm Dog”)

[164:32-182:13]

• Excitement about youthful infusion (Kendall, Brunic), finally seeing homegrown talent get NHL chances.
• “This team is easy to cheer for…they work hard. This team’s fun to watch.” (179:54, Armstrong)
• Geno Malkin is off to a hot start, Crosby’s continued point-per-game pace is “wired different”.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Jody Shelley

[182:19-207:47]

• Shelley details a tight, motivated team blending young talent (Fantilli, Johnson, Marchenko) with savvy vets (Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood).
• “This is a group that loves each other…It just kind of feels like an extension of last season.” (183:49, Shelley)
• Praise for captain Boone Jenner as the “definitive leader” and a hilarious anecdote about the team’s beloved “donkey hat”.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Seth Jarvis on his cash management:
  “Just fixed up the fence this summer. That was the big one.”
• Paul Bissonnette on locker room blame:
  “I’ll be your fucking punching bag. You guys get your fucking shows ran by your wives all day long…if you need a punching bag on the podcast, let it be me.”
• Rick Tocchet on Philadelphia:
  “If you had a Rangers jersey on at the Spectrum, you’re not walking out.”
• Colby Armstrong on Penguins Youth:
  “For once they actually took some kids…not just the ‘everyone’s got a chance, but you know it’s not true.’”

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening NHL Banter & Marner/Leafs Fallout: [02:36-07:55]
• Seth Jarvis Interview: [37:49-62:57]
• Islanders/Schaefer Hype: [70:06-77:37]
• Rick Tocchet Interview: [78:44-139:11]
• Devils with Pasha: [144:45-156:13]
• Armstrong (Penguins): [164:32-182:13]
• Jody Shelley (Blue Jackets): [182:19-207:47]

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Metro Division Picks

• Unanimous: Carolina Hurricanes as division favorites.
• Washington and New Jersey generally projected in.
• Mixed outlook on Rangers, Columbus, Penguins—jury is out, but lots to watch for.

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Final Thoughts

This episode fires on all cylinders, delivering Metro Division breakdowns the only way Chiclets can: with in-depth hockey knowledge, hilarious asides, and barroom storytelling. Listeners get a sense of evolving NHL culture, the complexities of coaching and player personalities, and the mixture of optimism and reality that defines the new season.

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Next up: Pacific Division Deep Dive, more player interviews, and the latest on the Greensboro Gargoyles home opener.

[End of Summary]

Transcript

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, Spit and Chiclets listeners.

[Rick Tocchet]

You can find every episode on Apple.

[Biz Nicks]

Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Paul Bissonnette]

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[Biz Nicks]

Paul's here. Kids are back in school, vacations are over, and cozy season is officially on. You know what that means. Bombas season is on. Bombas makes the most comfortable socks ever. And they even make slippers, tees, underwear.

[Seth Jarvis]

All crafted from premium materials, perfect for this time of year and cozying up for football watching. Their slippers are also Sherpa lined, which feels like you're walking on the clouds.

[Biz Nicks]

Bombus really has it all.

[Seth Jarvis]

And if you head over to bombus.comaudio you can use the code audio for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B-A-S.com audio code audio@ checkout.

[Colby Armstrong]

Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed.

[Rick Tocchet]

To the jungle that is barstool sports.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I brought it toward the Coyotes and I asked him if it was okay if I joined a Spit Chickens podcast full time.

[Biz Nicks]

Ryan Whitney's got a Pink Whitney out there now. The song command is a full time member. Marley just gotten assist from Chris B. Whoa.

[Yan Stastny]

We're buzzing right now.

[Biz Nicks]

What is up folks? We're back. Episode 587 of the Spitting Chicklets podcast, presented by Bring it out Keith. Pink Whitney. Pink Whitney's everywhere. Pink Whitney was seen multiple times by myself this past weekend. It's always nice to see it up close and personal. I hope everyone's giving it a chance. Shout out New Amsterdam. Shout out Pink Whitney. Shout out Keith. Always having that bottle. We're gonna need to see that bottle just empty a little bit, right? And then reload for another one. So that's what we're gonna need to see happen. But still, shout out Pink Whitney. And before we talk to the guys, October's Breast Cancer Awareness month. So I've mentioned this the past few pods, but for good reason. This year, 100 of the net proceed. Proceeds of what we're selling will go towards supporting five under 40. We got 47 brand hats, sweatshirts, T shirts. So let's buy some ladies some wigs. Biz you're in to Keith, you're in Fort Laudi. How you guys doing?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Doing great. I have recovered from that onslaught that you, Billy G and Yan's provided me the other day. That was a undressing you guys were you guys. That was like a. That was. I felt like that was a little personal.

[Biz Nicks]

I think Billy's giving it to anyone who's saying something that doesn't make much sense. And that first question, it was amazing. I mean right away he says biz, what the fuck you talking about? What did you even ask me think you talked for? I. I think I'm the king of like asking a 47 second question. I hate the. I hate the feeling as it's happening. Then you can't get out of it. Okay, that was you and Billy G.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yanz went dark for a hot minute. Now he's got what looks to be a Toronto MAPL Leafs jersey. Is that a Morgan Riley who is. Oh, Austin Matthews.

[Biz Nicks]

Wow. The old one with the A is that.

[Yan Stastny]

That's an old signed too busy boy. Because. Because now that you're on the Vegas Golden Knights bandwagon, they need someone and they came calling.

[Biz Nicks]

You're going with him?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, they.

[Yan Stastny]

No, Biz is gone. Biz is gone. He's with Vegas. All the guys are saying pick one.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Listen, there was a few upset Leafs fans who I think misinterpreted what I was saying. Exactly.

[Biz Nicks]

Okay. Because so did Keith and I. So we can get into this now.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm saying is I made a mistake by, by maybe being too much and, and being at the forefront of having Mitch Marner leave town. But by no means does that mean that we can't win without him and that we didn't address other needs without the money that we didn't spend on him. Like I think that we did a pretty good job and I'm pretty confident that this team can can go deeper in playoffs than they did with Mitch Marner. Does it suck to see maybe the first few games and not seeing Mitch setting up Auston Matthews for some goals? Yeah, it does suck. Is it going to take a little bit of getting used to not having a guy of that caliber set up your fucking captain for another 69 goal season giggity? Absolutely. But hey, we're on to greener pastures, okay. Like you gotta be able to live, you gotta be able to move on. Guys lose big name players all the time. It happens.

[Rick Tocchet]

It's part of Life, right Yance?

[Yan Stastny]

100%.

[Biz Nicks]

So I've had people reach out to me like numerous Times after certain episodes, you know, the Babcock situation, people are calling and texting me, this one, this past week or. Or last. Last week, Friday, you people reached out. They said he said he ran him out of town. But I think 30 minutes later in the pod, you're like, I didn't run him out of town.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm saying that. I'm saying that if me saying selkie my dick was really what did it, then. Then that's what did it. I'll take the blame for it, okay? But I ain't fucking calling in death threats and sending them fucking DMs saying, I know where you live.

[Biz Nicks]

Shit.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like, are you out of your mind? Like, I think that that's more than likely. That's probably what did it. Than me saying that he needs to be a little bit more responsible with the puck when you're up, three, two. When you get thrown over the boards when they just score. And maybe a little bit harder working on the back check. Merle said the same fucking thing. And then you guys agreed.

[Rick Tocchet]

So we could.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We don't have to keep revisiting this. I don't think I ran him out of town. If you want to fucking put that label on me, sure, I'll fucking take it. I'll be your fucking punching bag. You. You guys get your fucking shows ran by your wives all day long. Every day. All day. So if. If you need a punching bag on the fucking podcast, let it be me. I don't give a fuck.

[Biz Nicks]

You know, I think this is a. More Billy G. Billy G. Was the one. Billy G was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And you know what? And.

[Rick Tocchet]

And. And you know what?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm glad you brought that up. But not only Billy G. I'm gonna rope all you Americans in on it. You know what? I'll be your punching bag today. But when it comes Olympic time, we're going to fucking bend you over. No spit, no lube, sandpaper finish. And I'm going to have my day in court, and I'm going to fucking lay into you motherfuckers just the way that your wives were laying to you, you motherfuckers.

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, hey, listen. I think any married guy out there is like, oh, biz biz is going to be the one guy to get married and not have a show run. That'll be biz. Yeah, I'm going to watch Marner Vegas in Game 6 of the Cup Finals, honey.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You think I'm getting married.

[Yan Stastny]

Guy got his dog taken.

[Rick Tocchet]

Mine.

[Yan Stastny]

Guy got his dog taken by a girlfriend.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Talk about what do you mean? I went and saw Lloyd two days ago.

[Yan Stastny]

I'm still. Yeah, he probably doesn't even like you.

[Biz Nicks]

I'm still friends.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What do you mean he doesn't like me? Came running out the dog door. He was loving life. I was playing.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, he wanted to get peanut butter.

[Biz Nicks]

He's like, we're going to the wilderness in this truck.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Actually, it's funny you say that. My ex called me today when I was in the. In the, in the black car on the way to the hotel, baby.

[Pasha]

Hey.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Just because they can't lock me down, boys. You know why? Because I hear all the way.

[Biz Nicks]

All.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Every single. Hey. Every guy ever who has been married bitching about their old ladies. Hey, Biz, when you gonna get married? When I stop hearing my buddies about getting bitched at every day. That's what I'm gonna. That's what I'm gonna tie the knot.

[Yan Stastny]

So. So never.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So absolutely. Maybe never. Maybe never. I got. I got G in the background rethinking his wedding next summer.

[Biz Nicks]

No, he's got like his Bruins face paint on. They're three and. Oh, hey, I. I do have to give you credit because I laughed out loud. There's a group chat with us three and Billy G. And Biz sent. We got to throw in the picture of. Is this what you're making, Biz? Billy G. And just, just throw the picture into the YouTube incredible visual of giant wooden dildos. And then, then Billy G started sending us what he's actually made the little computer table.

[Rick Tocchet]

I said, I go, I go, okay.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I go, I go, okay, Geppetto. And he says, shut the up, Pinocchio, you big nose. And I said, I said, make me some. I said, make me some wooden dildo beer bottle openers before Christmas time. I got some gifts to. And he says, yeah, right to the top of my list. So you could shove it up your hoop.

[Rick Tocchet]

You.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Frame broiler. Oh my God, what a start to the pod.

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, so Biz, two. Two o' clock today. You got your rematch. Cause Detroit worked. You absolutely worked. You guys.

[Rick Tocchet]

What?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, before we hop into the season previews of the. What are we doing? The Metro, the biggest dog division there is in the NHL right now, right? I would say that's the worst division.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh yeah. I think could be like eight word previews for a coup teams.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think if you made an allstar team of, of of the Stranglers and the big deal selects, we might able to be on the cusp for playoffs in that division. But the Todd McClellan ripping the Detroit Red Wings.

[Rick Tocchet]

Game one.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right.

[Yan Stastny]

His old lady must have been giving it to him at home. He had had enough.

[Biz Nicks]

They. They were one of. They were one of a. A handful of teams who were horrendous in their home openers. And he was like, I love what he said, Biz. He's like, you. Some of you. Some of these guys have been here long enough. Like. And I. I mean, they came out. You watched the next one. They came out guns a blazing.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think the biggest thing going back to. To game one was I Like the. The second half of the first period, they had. They were on a kamikaze mission for pinching, and they must have got caught on like seven or eight odd man rushes.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So he was probably pulling out his hair between periods and. Yeah, and they got worked.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Probably maybe not the best goaltending performance from Gibson after he did. All right. Of the onslaught of odd man rushes, but nonetheless, it was known.

[Biz Nicks]

It was known to Delovic, but in the first game. But it wasn't. It wasn't great.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, no, the Delovic, that was a tough one, man. The. Not only the knuckler, but to skate out and go right off the shin pad.

[Biz Nicks]

No, when the OT one happened, I was pinching my cheek. I'm like, you're asleep. Like, this isn't your. This is fake. No chance. You're just dreaming this wild, like, goalie, absolute blooper. Highlight reel opening.

[Rick Tocchet]

What do you say to the boys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

In the locker room after you do.

[Biz Nicks]

I think I. I felt sick for him and.

[Yan Stastny]

Oh, yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

And I would. I would feel bad. Like game 42. Right. But opening night in, they got Vegas on the ropes. Oh, he lets in a drill. Oh, my God.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That whole sequence, though, they almost pop the empty netter and then they do the wraparound. Don't score on the wraparound. And then a knuckler from Michael from the. From the center ice saying. I don't know. I. I didn't really get the. I didn't get the behind the net cam to see.

[Biz Nicks]

I only saw the one from up top too. Like I needed to see a bounce or something. Oh, but. But Biz, I actually remember. I think it was a playoff game and I know a Red Wing or Sharks fan will know what I'm talking about. Mike Greer empty netter against the Wings, went to wrap around and Lidstrom dove from about 10ft out and he put his. He put his stick inside the post like so. It wrapped around. It was going in. It just hit his shaft. It bounced Out Detroit tied it up. Shay Theodore did the same thing on that Eklund wraparound. It was sick play. Like to dive back and just block it. Then he lets it in. And then the OT one. I saw there was a couple Sharks fans that had the gall to say celebrity. And he quit on that play. I'm like, buddy, you can. If you mention anyone else.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, Selkie, my dick.

[Biz Nicks]

He's going to.

[Rick Tocchet]

To.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's gone. He's gone. Oh, he's gone.

[Rick Tocchet]

Hey.

[Biz Nicks]

I'll tell you, though, then I watched San Jose Anaheim. All of a sudden. Two years ago, I wouldn't have watched San Jose if they were at a. The rink in my backyard. Now they're. I love watching them. And then Anaheim, too, I think Anaheim, like that bet with Pasha. If I'm him, I'm. I'm begging to buy out of that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Young two games in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But no, no, I watched the first game against. It was Seattle. It was in Seattle. And if it wasn't for Joey Decord, that game was over. I think they were getting out shot like 20 to 5 early on that. And Bowie was. Oh, my God. Bowie, sit the down in lower bowl buoy.

[Biz Nicks]

I saw you in your house just like videoing the tv. Just. Bowie on the. On your voice. It was like, he's enraged.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, I was. I was seeing him in lower bowl just disrupting traffic.

[Yan Stastny]

The thing that I was dying laughing about, he was like, look at this guy taking up room. And then I think the next day we got sent a video of you going to see the Bob does. Guys like just stepping over people.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, no, no, they don't. They don't let you go down until the plate. The whistle's dead. Now when the. When the whistle goes is when they let you walk down on, like, in the lower ball. I don't know if that's the case in the upper bowl, but I would never walk down while the play's going.

[Biz Nicks]

Out, I don't think.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And then I went down, and then a few people asked for photos. Not a big deal. So I try to kneel down as good as possible and then take the photos and say, all right, get the. Out of everybody's way. But going back to anaheim, buddy, that McTavish looked unbelievable. Seniki. I think he's, what, the. One of the first players ever to score in his first two games in the NHL. So a lot of rookies making some imprints early on, but we can't just glaze over Detroit because their fans get pissed off and. And because we don't give them enough. Enough love. But that response they had against the Leafs in game two, a lot of those young stuns studs brought it. And that's what the. That's a team that in a few years, just like Anaheim is going to scare me and. But not now. But definitely not now. Because on Monday Night hockey. Prime Monday night hockey. Well, it's going to be tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'.

[Colby Armstrong]

Clock.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'll be doing the panel with Pronger and then Adnan.

[Biz Nicks]

Right?

[Yan Stastny]

He's great.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We're going to fucking wax the Red Wings. Okay? So mark my words on that. I would say guaranteed two goals for Pablo. So that's. You can market market in your sports books at DraftKings. Enjoy the win while you can, Detroit fans. I took your abuse online, but we're going to fucking bend you over tomorrow. All right, you fuckers. And then you're going to be out of my mentions and I'm going to be gloating on Twitter. So that's all I got to say about the Detroit Red Wings. Good job by McClellan. Lighting a fire under their ass because they needed it. Oh, one other thing. If Patrick Kane has that type of pep in his step all season long leading up to the Olympics, they definitely have to consider taking him. He looked like he had his old step back. Last year was his first full year back after hip surgery. He looked a little faster in that game too. I don't know if I'm just seeing shit. Maybe I hit the fast forward button by accident on my remote control. He looked like the Patrick Kane of the past. Am I crazy here?

[Biz Nicks]

No. And I think he. I think there was an article or he mentioned how much he wants to make that Olympic team and yeah, if he's producing and looking like that biz, I'm with you. Talk about a guy. I mean, none of us have gold medals. None of us have gold medals.

[Rick Tocchet]

I do.

[Biz Nicks]

I don't know why I just said us.

[Rick Tocchet]

I do.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I have two. I have two. I won two for under 18 team Canada.

[Biz Nicks]

I know. I forgot. I forgot. I apologize.

[Yan Stastny]

I won one too for usa.

[Biz Nicks]

Okay, so. So congrats. That worked out well.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Maya Culpa.

[Biz Nicks]

As I'm staring at a silver.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Lucas Raymond scored his 100th goal as a Detroit Red Wing. Didn't take him very long.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, seriously, that's that pass Kane gave him. The one timer. I forget what goal it was. That was awesome. I mean, yeah, cider's a horse. I, I, I, I. Detroit fans. Couple reached out. Hey, can you Talk about the team. Big bounce back here. It is. Because they're fun to watch. Hockey town, baby. I don't know, though. Monday. Today should be interesting. The Leafs have to. They have to answer, right? They're at the Yacht club. That's the problem. And on an afternoon game, that place will be so quiet. Hopefully. It's like kids day. Kids days in the minors and. And at least they bring up the noise level. They pretty spun Spongebob in Oklahoma City. When I got sent down at 11am game, I'm like, Holy shit. Not in the NHL anymore.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But speaking of kids, what happened with. What happened with Squanto recently? You were telling us that you had.

[Biz Nicks]

A story for us, Wyatt, today after Riders game. Two big wins for the Junior Terriers. Two big wins this weekend. Beat a team that we lost to last year 8 to 2. Was maybe the closest game. We lost to him five times. Beat him on Saturday. Now, granted, they had two kids who scored every goal for them and they went up to the. The higher level, but still, the kids get to beat this team, right? They're excited. After the game today, we went over to this brewery just to, like, hang out, watch a little football, eat lunch. We get out of the car and Wyatt's muttering. He's furious. First he was like, bye, bye, bye. He's kind of like looking back at the car, and then he's pissed, rattled, like, muttering to himself like the guy in Grumpy Old Men, like Walter Matthaus. And I'm like, what's wrong? And he's like, I say. I say goodbye. And he never says goodbye back. But when he says bye to me, I always say bye back. And I'm like, who is he talking about? I'm like, what is he, like, having an imaginary buddy? And then Ryder looks at me, he's like, what's he so rattled about? That I'm like, I don't know. It's Wyatt. So I pressed the lock on the car. Beep, beep. And he's like, now he says it. Now he says it. So all these times I would. I would be locking the car, and I started remembering, I'd lock the car, beep, beep. And he'd be like, bye, see ya. But he said it this time as we were leaving and I hadn't locked it yet. And this kid could not get get over the fact that the car wasn't saying goodbye back to goodbye back. He was fuming.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He thought the whole time the car was saying goodbye to him.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, he'd say goodbye when I locked the car right after he heard the goodbye with the whole hoop, the bank, the Hong Kong. But then when he said goodbye, first he didn't answer him. And then this had this kid swearing.

[Rick Tocchet]

He swore.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did you explain to him what.

[Rick Tocchet]

What.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What was happening?

[Yan Stastny]

No.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, I gave him an explanation. But I don't know if it. If it got through. We could have another instance on our hand. I don't know how you just thought of that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was unbelievable.

[Biz Nicks]

That was great. We went to the BU game too. I took the kids. Going to BU games is unreal. Like quick drive in. So much easier than like going to a Bruins game. College hockey is sick. I know. Grinelli was at Maine with Merle's this weekend. Can't wait for that. Chicklets you. But I mentioned in the interview with Jarvis quickly. I don't even know why I asked him about if he. If he would have gone to college. But there are some players on bu. This. That Cole Iserman. He's going to be unbelievable. I know. We got the Islanders in the preview here. That's a guy. Islanders fans. This kid is nasty. So it was pretty cool. Like Ryder Richie's a player who came from junior. They got a kid from North Dakota. That's nasty. Flyer 7th round pick McLaughlin. College hockey. I think basically. I don't know how I got in this tangent. I apologize. There's so few D1 programs and now with major junior and Canadian college players coming, I don't think there'll be any really bad teams anymore. Like Colt. They played Colgate. They were flying around with. So I. It was. It was a lot of fun to be at. At BU's the youngest team in college hockey. So that's kind of a big test now. But back to the NHL. I apologize. Say goodbye when the kids say goodbye to you. If you're a car biz. Did you see Kaden Gooley crush?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

And then how many guys from Chicago hopped in?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. That was the first thing I. I noticed right away. I was very proud of the Blackhawks. Like it seems like that's like a. That's like a. An establishing of a culture. And the response there and the. The overall.

[Rick Tocchet]

So the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The Wings and Leafs games was going on at the same time. So I saw it. Media and who. Who ended up going over and fighting? Gooley. Cause he was a pretty big guy.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. Who was that G. Look that up quick.

[Rick Tocchet]

But. And then.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And then like Demidov was getting after. It was somebody else. I felt like Bedard was getting in physically involved. Like I feel like Bedard's also, like, starting to give it back a little bit more where he's not just getting pushed around, where he's got a little bit more bite to his game. So it's great to see. I love what's going on in Chicago. And even that first game they played against the, the Panthers, they, they, you know, they looked a lot more competent, obviously, that, that tough loss. What was it, like 15 seconds left? I, I, I don't lost it.

[Biz Nicks]

Was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That, oh, was it Boston? They lost to 15 seconds left.

[Biz Nicks]

No, in overtime. I think that was overtime. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Montreal, they were playing that, that was when they scored. I think it was Slavkovski might have got a stick on it. But they're playing, they're playing good hockey, man. A lot better, a lot more competent. So a lot to be proud of if you're a Chicago Blackhawks fan. Like, being a lot more engaged and involved in, in, in, in games.

[Biz Nicks]

So the Louis Cier C, I hope I'm saying that right. He's six, six eight G says, wow.

[Paul Bissonnette]

When you're that tall, you better be.

[Biz Nicks]

I want to get Keith. Yeah, I got a question for you in one sec. But considering we just mentioned the Blackhawks. The Bruins beat him in ot. Corpusallo was like the greatest goalie in the world parts of that game. Bedard had an absolute snipe. They looked, they looked way better. Chicago looked way better. But the Bruins, 3.0G, I saw tweeted if you want to hop on quick. I'm now like, completely all back in that they're going to make the playoffs and you're all positivity. I think for them to win games, it'll be kind of boring hockey. Not kind of. It'll be boring defensive hockey, but that's how they would have to do it to get dubs. So is this a fugazi start? Cause they haven't played anyone great unless Washington is, is great again.

[Seth Jarvis]

Well, I mean, they have Vegas, Colorado.

[Colby Armstrong]

And Tampa this week, so I think.

[Seth Jarvis]

We'Ll get a real test if they can play or not.

[Colby Armstrong]

Swayman's playing awesome, but Corpus all.

[Biz Nicks]

It's interesting you mentioned his name Wit.

[Colby Armstrong]

I think he would be a perfect.

[Seth Jarvis]

Guy for the Oilers to trade for at the deadline.

[Biz Nicks]

Like, he is a, if he can get back to where he was a few years ago.

[Colby Armstrong]

Like, he's a great name for them.

[Biz Nicks]

He won't cost much and it's, it's.

[Seth Jarvis]

Better than where they're at now.

[Biz Nicks]

I know, but in terms of us Getting our Stanley Cup. I, I, when you say like, they need a goalie, I don't think Corpusallo. But then everyone says, well, who are you going to get? So that's a fair point. That's a fair point. But Bees, you're happy? No complaints.

[Seth Jarvis]

Very happy. I want to clarify though too.

[Colby Armstrong]

I don't think they're making the playoffs.

[Biz Nicks]

I was just saying I'm staying positive.

[Seth Jarvis]

I'm going to find the positives in everything.

[Biz Nicks]

Even in losses this season, I'll find the positives.

[Colby Armstrong]

And positive number one right now is Fraser Mitten.

[Biz Nicks]

Thank you Toronto for that deal. Still have a first round pick from that deal as well. Coming so very, very excited for Frazier Mitten in the future.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I got a lot of thank you tweets.

[Biz Nicks]

Okay.

[Paul Bissonnette]

After that goal in overtime, Yance, I.

[Biz Nicks]

I'm one of the people immediately being like, I can't believe Florida would like, maybe struggle without Kachuk and Barov because they're just exactly where they left off.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, I mean, we talked about it too. Like their, their ability to just plug guys in and play is insane. Like, they're, and I, I think it's cuz they all, even the superstars, they all play the same way. Like, I don't understand how it's possible that they can do this, but yeah, they're, they're amazing. They're. I think they're, I think people were kind of like, okay, this is the year that other teams can maybe take advantage of them. Like, the Carolinas of the world were probably licking their chops. Right? Like, okay, finally we can get past these guys. But they're nowhere. They're not going anywhere. Goaltending's obviously amazing. Bob is still Bob. Their D is incredible.

[Biz Nicks]

Looks good.

[Yan Stastny]

Ekblad looks amazing. Like, he, he's another one of those guys too, I think. Wants to be on that Olympic team so bad. He's like, okay, finally, this might be my time. Like, he, I mean, he's arguably one of the best shutdown guys in the entire league, if not 1 1A, 1B. So him and him and Fors linked together are incredible. Do a really good job. Yeah. That game against Chicago, like you guys are saying, Chicago did look good in that game, but Florida, like, they still like the. I don't even, even watching the games, I don't see many teams that can beat Florida.

[Biz Nicks]

No, I know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I was that Marchie breakaway goal. Is there anybody better at. When there's a 5050 puck, he just truly believes his guy's gonna get it. And then he's off and running. And he always gets those fucking half breakaways, but he.

[Biz Nicks]

But every time, he's always right. Like, he's always. I think he's cheating, but he never. Because the guy always gets it right.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, it's wild. He's got such good anticipation, knowing when his teammate's gonna get that puck and make the play. I mean, you've. You've seen it time and time again. And as far as, like, breakaway speed, no offense to Marshy, but he doesn't have it. Like, he's not like the. He's not like, the fast of foot. Right. But just such good anticipation in. In. In real time. So, yeah, they look good, boys. They look poised to. To potentially even win another division.

[Yan Stastny]

He's so good at, like, when somebody's draped on, like, the backside of him. He's so good at, like, I don't know if he's baiting guys in to go one way, and then he'll just move over to the other side and score. Like, he's so good with guys on top of him. It's very impressive of. For a small guy breathing down his.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Neck on the breakaway.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah.

[Yan Stastny]

Like, the guy, like, he's four. I don't know if he baits guys in to go. He's like, okay, he's going to come to my left side. I'm just going to pull it and go backhand. But he's just a really smart hockey mind.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, I saw that Cup Finals double overtime. That's. That's ptsd, Keith. Remember skating with him, the lock, that's when he'd come out with the puck. You'd have it, and all of a sudden he's on the other side. He's net side, like, with it. He's the master. If you go to a game, watch Marshawn go into the corner, and I'll guarantee you he comes out with it in some fashion where the defense was still looking at the glass. So it's incredible. Incredible. Guys. We were going to go a little deeper into this, but the interviews ran long and we got all the previews coming up. And for. For maybe players or teams we haven't mentioned. They will be mentioned in the Metro coming up. But Buffalo, I had people reach out. Oh, all you guys do is trash Buffalo. All you do is shit on Buffalo. Have you.

[Yan Stastny]

Have you seen Warranted?

[Biz Nicks]

What the hell are we supposed to see?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Their own people trashing their team? You see that viral video of that kid leaving the ring?

[Biz Nicks]

That kid was losing his mind. Now I want to say this first. Sick after being somebody whose career was derailed by injuries. Sick for Josh Norris.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

That is just so brutal in the first game. And they said long term, it looked harmless.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It was just off the face. Off.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. Like. Yeah. Who knows? Like, upper body, you get. Your arm gets twisted. I don't know. But to go through all that and then the first game of the year, you guys know, like, the feeling of how hard you're working and what he's been through to that, have that happen. Sucks. But the team there, it's a.

[Jody Shelley]

It's.

[Biz Nicks]

It's a. It's a disaster. So I don't really have anything else on Buffalo biz.

[Yan Stastny]

Imagine being hurt on that team and, like, having to work. Like, everyone talks about it when you get hurt. Like, the mental grind of trying to get back. Like, imagine watching that product being hurt and being like, oh, my God, do I really even want to come back?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think that G was the one who mentioned it when I was talking to him about the outline today. A little bit of a conspiracy theory. G, why don't you come on and talk about it?

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah. So Gavin McKenna, first overall pick this year.

[Biz Nicks]

It.

[Seth Jarvis]

It almost just makes sense for him to go to Buffalo.

[Biz Nicks]

And the reason being. Oh, the Penn State connection. Who is Penn State's biggest donor? Terry Pula. Who is the arena named after at Penn State?

[Seth Jarvis]

Terry Pula.

[Biz Nicks]

Who is the owner of the Buffalo Sabres? Terry Pula.

[Colby Armstrong]

And that.

[Biz Nicks]

Mind you, mind you, the NHL is making money off Gavin McKenna.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right now.

[Biz Nicks]

They're playing Gavin McKenna. A few of Gavin McKenna's games opening weekend on the NHL Network. Who owns a piece of the NHL Network? The NHL.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Where. Where are they going to put next year's Winter Classic? 20th anniversary.

[Biz Nicks]

Bettman was at the Buffalo game. And he didn't say it for sure, but the 20th anniversary, the one that I got to play in the first one. Well, there was Montreal and Edmonton, but that was different. First Winter Classic, New Year's Day was Buffalo. Ralph Wilson Stadium.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We could see. I think we might see an Eli Manning if that happens.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, I was going to say I'd go back to school for eight more years if I was him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's a doctor.

[Biz Nicks]

He's Tommy boy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's the Sabers team doctor. In eight years. Yeah, I'm good.

[Rick Tocchet]

Fuck.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, man, they stink.

[Biz Nicks]

I know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I keep saying it like, if I'm them, blow it up now. Rasmus, Darlene, come on down to Toronto, Please, please, please.

[Biz Nicks]

I really think when we look back at all this and what's soon to be 15 years of no playoffs. The one thing that'll come into my mind because everyone, when you think of the Sabres, you think of something. My thing is Jack Eichel just wanted to get a surgery. It was that, like, I'll be 80 years old, God willing. And so Buffalo Sam's way, they go like, eichel just wanted this surgery.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I saw it. I saw it.

[Yan Stastny]

It's his body.

[Biz Nicks]

It's his body.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I saw a tweet. They're like, jack Eichel just wanted to get the surgery that he wanted to get in order to go perform the way he's performed in Vegas. But then, yet their team doctor cleared the Josh Norris trade. And I'm like, oh, Jesus, here we go.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, yeah, I know.

[Yan Stastny]

He probably. He probably didn't even have to get a surgery. He was like, what can I fake to get out of this?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, he's holding his head like Sleepy Hollow. Can I leave now? What's the Adams family? Uncle Fester or who's the. Who's the one who's holding his head anyway?

[Pasha]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Rick Tocchet]

Sabers are trash.

[Biz Nicks]

Go Bills. Go Bills.

[Yan Stastny]

Actually, I came.

[Biz Nicks]

I said, go Bills. When the Patriots are trash. The Patriots and Drake May are nasty. They're. They're a legit team. So it's not Go Bills anymore because the Patriots aren't trash anymore.

[Yan Stastny]

So they got the Bison.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Buffalo.

[Biz Nicks]

We feel for you. We feel for you. It's time. It's time. Let's get into some of these Metro teams. We're going to start with Carolina, the heavy, heavy favorite. And all of ours. We don't even have to say it. I don't even need to hear you two say it. Our pick to win the division. We're going to start now, Seth Jarvis. Great.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Before we get there, like, should we talk about nature's trade a little bit longer just to rile them up, or should we send it to the interview?

[Yan Stastny]

He looks good.

[Biz Nicks]

No biz. You're. You're. You're. I think he's your favorite player. You love him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So I watched that Colorado game and the Dallas one. We. Yeah, we can have a. More of a conversation and dialogue. Carolina fans seem to think you'll see Nages where he'll. He'll look like McKinnon and that will happen for. For 10, 10 games and then he'll disappear for 10, 15. Okay.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Yan Stastny]

But Nate won't let him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That. That's one and two. I actually feel he just fits in that style of Play more where they're able to play with pace and, and hang on to the puck. I believe Carolina last year and even the year before, it might even be the last like eight years. They are, are analytically one of the teams that dumps in the puck the most and goes and gets it like a, like the, the most for checking team where clearly Colorado is a puck possession team. But when I saw that game the other night when they dominated Dallas, they end Dallas ended up winning the game in a shootout, run into revenge again. Shocker. But he's, he looks like he's in fast forward. Boys like nature. Nature. In my opinion, if he plays like that 65 games of the year, that to me is a superstar. No.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't care that he's playing with McKinnon like he can match his abilities. I believe he had three points on that night and if it wasn't for Jake Ottinger he would add six right. Like Jake Gar was shooting lightning bolts out of his butthole in that one. He should have been first star. Wasn't even a star. The only reason it went to overtime. He must have had 10, 10 bell saves. But I just, I don't know man. Like what do you guys think of nature?

[Biz Nicks]

I think they're accurate. When he's on, it's. It's insane. Like it's this, it's the. You think it's in fast forward and his skill and stuff. But I think it's a legitimate thing that he may shut her down a couple games here and there. Hadn't even thought of the idea of Nate basically just like getting in his face threatening him if he has an.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Opportunity to take a game off. Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. So that, that dude. There's no, there's no doubt. There's been players in any sport who've careers have changed. Like going over to a team with a superstar that plays the right way that expects you every night to bring it, every practice to bring it. I mean I wish I could think of one off my head, off top my head right now, but that could be something that Grinelli says.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Chris. But the, the argument on the, on the Carolina side is that they don't have Stankhoven, they don't have hall, they don't have Keandre Miller and still a few draft picks. So I guess the deal worked out for both sides. But what I'm thinking of a game breaker and how many times that these guys come around. I don't know, man. I feel like sometimes you have to let a guy Also develop a little bit and play his style a little, a little more. And I guess we're going to see how this one pans out. But I just really like the way that he played the other night. I'm like, holy, I was drooling in that game.

[Yan Stastny]

He also doesn't have to drive the bus too, right? Like, Nate's gonna do that every single game. Maybe in Carolina it was like, all right, I can't be the guy bringing it every single game. So maybe not now that it's Nate's job, like he's kind of second fiddle, right? Like he's just gonna be like, I'll fucking just do what I need to do. Get open from nate and score 50 goals.

[Biz Nicks]

Nobody wants him to dominate more than. Than the ABS front office because, all right, well, we gotta keep him. If we have to pay him huge dough, like, that's fine. Because once we saw ronton and get 12 million and what's turned into these salaries, it's like, we probably regret that one a little bit. We need this guy to hit.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So I think it's a huge home run. If they're able to lock him in at 8 times 10 the way that he played the other night, if he's consistently doing that throughout the first three quarters of the season, I think that they're going to probably have to pay him 12 just like Randon.

[Biz Nicks]

Cause he's got to depend on his numbers. That'll depend on.

[Yan Stastny]

Sure.

[Biz Nicks]

Like, you know what I mean? If it, if he. If he plays phenomenal but finishes with 75 points, he's not getting 12. He's only 26. Who knows in this market? But yeah, it's.

[Yan Stastny]

He's.

[Biz Nicks]

That's the thing. He's only 26. So it's like he's got, you know, seven legit years left, especially skating like that. All right, well, we can go over to now a great guy, Seth Jarvis, just. We just recorded with him before we started this awesome talk about the Canes. Talk about him. He's a goo.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And also a. A new member of the Greensboro Gargoyles, where we're having our home opener.

[Biz Nicks]

Yes, thank you for mentioning Saturday night, baby Doug. You guys know the name of Jacksonville's nickname? We got Jacksonville home opener, 7pm Saturday.

[Yan Stastny]

Gotta be like the Jackals or something.

[Biz Nicks]

No, Swamp Rabbits, the Icemen.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm gonna have bounties on their head in the locker room pregame in the Greensboro locker room.

[Jody Shelley]

I don't know if.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What do you mean? We can't put that in there. I'm a owner of the team.

[Yan Stastny]

I think that's when it gets.

[Biz Nicks]

Sean Payton's all of a sudden listening. He's, like, shaking.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, no. I just got fined from the ECHL.

[Yan Stastny]

$3, folks.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Enjoy. Seth Jarvis.

[Biz Nicks]

Welcome now. Been on the show before. Real beaut of a guy. Star of the Amazon. Season two, face off with the NHL. Seth Jarvis. What's going on, buddy?

[Seth Jarvis]

Nothing. Thank you guys for inviting me back. I'm excited.

[Biz Nicks]

Awesome. Nice little start for the Canes. No surprise. No surprise there. But before we get into that, like, how was the summer? How. How did everything go? We chatted a while back. I mean, how did you spend the summer after representing Team Canada?

[Paul Bissonnette]

He was getting pickled with all his buddies who drove all the way down to Boston probably.

[Biz Nicks]

Those guys were beautiful.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, I spent. Spent a lot of time with those guys back in Winnipeg. Not doing a whole lot, really. Just seeing friends and family and. Yeah, like you said, getting pickled with the fellows.

[Biz Nicks]

How often are you on the ice in the summer? Are you an everyday guy?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, no, I'll go maybe four. Four times a week at the most.

[Biz Nicks]

Okay.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Winnipeg. People shit on Winnipeg. But, like, it's beautiful. The women are beautiful. And then the lakes in the summer is what it's really known for. Do you get off to all, like, the different lakes and stuff like that?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, my buddies have some cabins just a little bit out east, so we get out as much as we can. But like you said, the ladies and the weather is just money.

[Yan Stastny]

I heard they have bugs that are like this big.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, mosquitoes are massive.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They're like the one in the. In Jurassic Park. You know, when it's in that. That, like when it's kind of frozen in that thing and then they extract it in order to make dinosaurs. That's how big the mosquitoes are in. In Manitoba. What. Water skiing. Can you. With that or. Or not under contract now that you're making the big bucks?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, I'm not much of a water athlete. I. I can't really swim, so I don't trust myself behind a boat or. Or doing anything like that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like, legit. You can't swim. Like, if you got put in deep water, you're like.

[Seth Jarvis]

If you gave. If I didn't get help in like 35 seconds, I'd be probably drowning.

[Biz Nicks]

There's no way. I don't.

[Yan Stastny]

That's. You got to.

[Seth Jarvis]

You got to get swimming lessons. Bone density. I sink like a rock. I got the money now to pay for it, so maybe I will.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You got to get the water wings on you in the cold tub.

[Yan Stastny]

Do you still like, I know in the documentary it said you, you're still living at home. Have you got your own place at least in the summertime. Are you still staying with your parents?

[Seth Jarvis]

I'm still with my parents. I'm still at home.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Get the out of here.

[Biz Nicks]

They're like, hey, the contract was 63 million, so can you at least pay us like rent?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, I'll get it fixed up the fence this summer, that was the big one and that's about it.

[Yan Stastny]

That was nice of you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did you help to do it or did you just pay someone to do it?

[Seth Jarvis]

I dug a couple holes but paid for them to do the rest of it.

[Biz Nicks]

You're just not telling us they won't let you move out because you don't know how to swim. They're like, we need to be like.

[Seth Jarvis]

That'S their big fear. I think right now they got a.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Four foot deep pool in the back backyard below ground. Actually that was pretty much one of the big features on, on this year's Face off was the fact that you went to your parents house, right? And then you showed off your, your vision board in which from a young age you were like, your goal was set, like, I want to make the NHL. I want to make the NHL. And I believe that that was written down many times.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, I mean, I don't really know what I was doing with that thing, but I had a lot of stuff on there. I think I had like every motivational quote you could ever imagine written on that board, like all jumbled together. But I guess I was a little bit ahead of my time in terms of putting it out in the universe and seeing what happened.

[Yan Stastny]

You should have put down learn to swim.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. What, like, what were your favorite motivational movies growing up? Were you a big Rudy guy? Would you, would you binge watch the Rockies?

[Seth Jarvis]

Watched a lot of the Rockies, but I don't, I don't love the motivational movies. Really?

[Biz Nicks]

I mean, what movies you love?

[Seth Jarvis]

Like any kind of comedy. I've seen The Martian like 35 times. Ford versus Ferrari. Matt Damon's my guy, so anything he's in, I'll, I'll clue in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did you see that clip where his biggest regret, he got asked to do what's like the blue alien one, Avatar, Avatar and J. Is it James Cameron, the director of.

[Biz Nicks]

It, he offered him gonna have like a piece of it, wasn't he?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, I think they offered him like 10% of the gross of it. So it Would have paid him like whatever, hundreds of millions of dollars. And he's like, nah, this kind of sounds ridiculous. And he turned it down. And that would have been obviously the most. The biggest bag he ever made in his life, other than maybe investing in bitcoin. But I thought maybe you'd find that one interesting, but I guess not. Let's.

[Biz Nicks]

Are you a bitcoin guy?

[Yan Stastny]

No chance. He buys sweatshirts off of Instagram.

[Biz Nicks]

He's like, I don't even have a. Like I have. I have a Nokia still. I play Snake on my phone.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Those buddies that drove down to Boston from Winnipeg are his financial advisors.

[Seth Jarvis]

I'm cutting them some checks. Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Are they on the payroll?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, they're on the payroll.

[Biz Nicks]

They.

[Seth Jarvis]

They get taken care of.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What do you do? Like Venmo deposits? Like, how does this work?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, we operate in straight cash.

[Biz Nicks]

Who don't want any record of that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Does one of them get a bigger allowance than the other?

[Seth Jarvis]

There's a couple stages of allowance we have going on right now we got to dive into.

[Biz Nicks]

Guys get suspended, they'll pay cut for a couple weeks.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, it's. It's a work in progress right now.

[Biz Nicks]

How many times will they come out to Raleigh this year?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, I don't know. They're all still grinding through school right now, so not often, but hopefully maybe for playoffs. They can all get down together, but it's. It's pretty tough. They're all working and going to school right now.

[Biz Nicks]

They're all going to be lifeguards.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, here's a proposition. Hey, here's a proposition for you. So we just bought in a landlocked team. What'd you say, Ant?

[Yan Stastny]

He's got seven lifeguards in a landlocked state.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So we just bought a. Well, we're part owners and an ECHL team. The Greensboro Gargoyles. What if you drove up and drop the puck? And we would allow any of your buddies who are decent enough to. To get at least a game, the one that you came to. You could put any of your buddies in the game.

[Biz Nicks]

You get to pick one guys in the line to suit up. We'll have them start 100%. How far is Greensboro from you?

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's in North Carolina. I think it's probably like a few hours from rally, but how many of those guys have played at a decently high level?

[Seth Jarvis]

Well, what do you like?

[Biz Nicks]

Canadian University?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, we got a CIS player in our friend group.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is he still playing?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, he's. He's retired now.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, but we could do something Where Jarvey gets to. He thinks of whatever competition they're going to go through, and winner gets the spot.

[Rick Tocchet]

I like that.

[Biz Nicks]

They could film that.

[Seth Jarvis]

We might need a couple insurance policies written down, but other than that, we're laughing.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Done.

[Biz Nicks]

One of these kids will be taking a dive. Sue in the East Coast Hockey League. It'll be an absolute disaster.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, it'll be like the guy who fought Billy Football. Jose Canseco at fucking rough and Rowdy. His first punch, just taking a dive. But I think that the guy who played in Canadian University. What we should do is we'll.

[Rick Tocchet]

We'll.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We'll pay for the. The rv. They all RV down, and then we do a tailgate with them. You drop the puck, and we'll have them.

[Rick Tocchet]

What.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What position did he play?

[Seth Jarvis]

He was a D man.

[Biz Nicks]

Paul, he's starting seventh D man.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's starting. No, he's starting. Lineup. He's gonna. He's gonna play as much as Matthew Schaefer did for the Islanders the other night. 26 minutes.

[Biz Nicks]

Was he skill guy or was he a meat?

[Seth Jarvis]

He was high off the glass and eat every puck that comes towards the net.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, this is what we need.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, he might sign a deal.

[Biz Nicks]

Imagine this guy gets in and then just is like the best six defensemen in the East Coast Hockey League history. They win. They win it all.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Can you list off their nicknames? Like, who are the guys that came down? We'll put the picture up when the podcast rolls. But what are their nicknames?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, so the guy who might be suiting up for the Gargoyles, his nickname's Fries.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Our captain.

[Seth Jarvis]

Your captain.

[Yan Stastny]

Wendy Peffer. Corn.

[Seth Jarvis]

His name's Friesy. And then we got Brian Hannah, who doesn't really have a nickname. He goes by a bunch of stuff. We got a guy named Sloan Tromble, goes by Doug. And then Lucas Humble, who goes by Hummer. For the most part.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I like Doug the best already. Why is it Doug.

[Seth Jarvis]

Doug would be your kind of guy, I think.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, we got. We got it. We gotta. We should probably ask you a little bit about the team this year that you're playing for. The Carolina Hurricanes. Off to a good start. What's the. What was the feeling in training camp? Did you guys go anywhere and do any of those team bonding experiences, or is that not something that you guys do?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, we talked Roddy into. We got to do a golf trip this year, so just kind of by Pinehurst. Not too far, but we got to spend the night together and hang out, and it's Been fun. I think our teams come together really quickly, which is. Which is good. And everyone seems to be getting along, which is not always easy, but it's going well so far.

[Biz Nicks]

I saw Ehlers doesn't have points yet, but the other night he had six shots on goal. He's flying around, like, right when you saw him in camp, you're pretty impressed.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah. I didn't realize he, like. I knew he was fast, but, like, it's a different level. He is, like, he's got, like, speed and he's got, like, crazy quickness. Like, the way he kind of gets in and out of turns corners and stuff like that, it's fucking impressive.

[Yan Stastny]

Keandre Miller has a nice, nice start to this season. Two goals.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah. Key's been on fire, I think. I think everyone knew he was going.

[Rick Tocchet]

To be really good.

[Seth Jarvis]

And then I think the way he plays just kind of suits our system really well. The way he can skate and kind of move around. He's always kind of surfing the play and stuff like that. So he's. Obviously, the offense is always great, but the stuff he's doing away from the puck right now is. Him and Chatty have been lethal together.

[Biz Nicks]

What does Rod say? Like, maybe not the beginning of camp, but once the team's all set in stone. Like, is he giving you a message before the year begins, or is it more just like game by game standard with him?

[Seth Jarvis]

He likes to talk about the marathon, about how there's, like, different spots of a marathon and, like, sprints and stuff like that. I gotta start paying a little more attention to that because I can't fully break it down for you, but I know there's. There's a first sprint, which is, like, the regular season, I think, and then there's a second sprint, which I'm assuming is the playoffs, and that's kind of the gist of it.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Sick.

[Paul Bissonnette]

ADD works. Is there any truth to the rumor that he partakes in the fitness testing? Is that still a thing?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, he does all our fitness testing before. Like, we do it at camp just to make sure, like, he can still do it.

[Biz Nicks]

Is he beating guys? He's probably dusting you in something.

[Seth Jarvis]

Most of the things. Yeah. Thanks for bringing that up. I. I thought I came into camp.

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh.

[Biz Nicks]

Like, I would have beaten him, but.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, like, he, like, the one big thing in our camp is, like, our bike test, which is just shitty and, like, he still kills it. So it kind of sucks when, like, I come in there and do my.

[Biz Nicks]

Thing and explain what it. Like, what Is the test. Is it how long you can ride or the weights added?

[Seth Jarvis]

We go on the assault bike and we do half a mile and you have to go under a minute, and then you get two minutes off, two or three minutes off, and you do it again. And by that second one, you're. You're running on fumes. Like, your body shutting down. Like, I lay in the cold tub for like 30 minutes after puking. So it's a lot of fun.

[Biz Nicks]

Do you have to have a mask on or.

[Seth Jarvis]

No, no, no mask. I think I would pass out.

[Biz Nicks]

Remember those guys when we had the worst. Yeah.

[Seth Jarvis]

Oh, thank God.

[Yan Stastny]

This is the last year of testing though, right? That's huge.

[Seth Jarvis]

Hoping, Yeah, I might come back.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh. So that was one of the things the players negotiated in the new CBA is no more fitness testing. Oh, my God. Yan's. We used to all do it, and then Yan's would have, like a team dinner at in and Out Burger. We would just go get. Get sloppy afterward.

[Rick Tocchet]

That was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was the shit that Yan's brought to the table.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah. Food.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, just like, just team morale, you know, like, you're. You're dreading the fitness testing, but he dangles the carrot at the end. And Yan's, shockingly, if you looked at his body, you'd be like, oh, this guy's gonna be like one of the most out of shape guys. But Gans, you won most fit guy for like, two, three years when I was there.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, I'm right here. You don't have to make fun of me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, I wasn't. I was saying is, like, I don't. There was guys who were a lot more jacked than you were, but you seem to just like, somehow crush it. Maybe. Yeah, maybe.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, I did. I had to work out with Wit every summer.

[Biz Nicks]

The bike, Junior.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah. Oh, my God.

[Biz Nicks]

Burying us. Hey, did the guys, like, give it to Svetchnikov at all for getting just completely murdered and against the Predators in preseason? I mean, glad he's okay. Like, he's had some brutal injuries. I was like, holy fuck. Like, it had to say something.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah. After we found out he was fine, we. We were just like, kind of wondering because, like, if you watch the clip, it looks like he saw him like, three times. Like, he looked up, like, three times and then looked down and obviously got obliterated. But we were just kind of wondering, like, do you not think you're gonna get hit? Like, maybe not in overtime. Maybe he's not gonna run you, but if you go through the head or Middle of the ice with your head down, someone's gonna hammer you.

[Biz Nicks]

Maybe now, though, it is like, there are times where guys don't get hit. I mean, who knows? That could have been what he was.

[Seth Jarvis]

Thinking, but it must have been, because I don't know what else it would have been.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I was gonna.

[Rick Tocchet]

It did.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did Rod make any more adjustments to your guy's system? You guys play that one on one. That's a lot of teams don't play that. But there. Is there anything different about maybe the approach this year about how you're. You're. You're changing the way that you guys approach the game?

[Seth Jarvis]

Not really defensively. I think defensively has been our strong suit for a long time, so I think he sees there's not much reason to change it. I think you trust the guys on the ice to do their job, and if anyone gets beat, there's guys there to help out and kind of support. But the biggest changes would just be power play, which you're always trying to work on. It seems like it's changed four times already since the season started, so we're. We're still tinkering with some stuff.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is that because Burns. He's gone now and. And I'm sure you sent him a text. 1500 games, man. That's insane.

[Seth Jarvis]

I don't know how he does it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's nuts.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's only 8D, man. All time, I believe, have hit that mark.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah.

[Yan Stastny]

Wild.

[Seth Jarvis]

If you can fire clappers head high from the blue line, I guess you can play for 1500 games.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He does let him fly it.

[Yan Stastny]

He was way worse when he was in San Jose. He was a nightmare. He would just rip everything.

[Seth Jarvis]

It's. It's the worst feeling to be in front of the net when that guy has the puck at the point.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What do you say to him in the locker room? You say, hey, stop letting him fly by our chicklets. And you.

[Rick Tocchet]

What is it?

[Seth Jarvis]

What's his. I go, hey, hit the net. And he goes off. He goes, I'm going. I was like, I'm going, kitty. And he's like, no, you're not. You're missing the net by five feet.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, @ least he's not getting them blocked. That's the. And you're going back the other way. I'd rather take.

[Seth Jarvis]

That is true.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Then back check.

[Biz Nicks]

Let's all do this. The. The seven guys besides Brent Burns to a defenseman to have played 15 hundo.

[Yan Stastny]

Ray Bork, Nick Lindstrom, Zadano, Larry Os, Glenn Wesley.

[Biz Nicks]

Get Nope.

[Rick Tocchet]

Housley.

[Biz Nicks]

So we have. We have Bork, we got Chelly, we got Lidstrom, we got Zadano. Three more.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Ryan Suter.

[Biz Nicks]

Ryan Suterbiz. Bango, two more.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What about Phil Housley? No, I think Al McInnis hurt his eye right before he hit the 1500 mark.

[Biz Nicks]

Not Al McGinnis either. I'll give you a clue on one of the missing guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, you could chime into.

[Yan Stastny]

Jeremy's been a lot of help.

[Seth Jarvis]

Radko Gudis.

[Biz Nicks]

No. He might get 1500 games suspended if he played long enough.

[Yan Stastny]

All time guy.

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, last two. One Biz will get this. I hope you booed this guy's ass out of Toronto.

[Yan Stastny]

I said, Murphy.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, I'm sorry. So we got Murph. So there's one left.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I didn't fucking boo him out. I wasn't even born yet.

[Biz Nicks]

You're a Leafs fan. You're a Leafs fan.

[Yan Stastny]

Oh, Brian Leaf.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He booed Marns out.

[Biz Nicks]

Not fucking last one.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do you see my video apologizing to him? Jarvis, what'd you think?

[Biz Nicks]

I had people reaching out. Like, he said both things. What the. He was arguing later in the episode that he didn't boom out. I'm like, dude, I know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I actually sent him a DM to come on the pod for an interview. And I go, you could also tell me to off. And he sent back the laughing emoji.

[Seth Jarvis]

Oh, she.

[Yan Stastny]

Who's the last one with the last one.

[Biz Nicks]

The clue would be, lit a guy up like the way Svetchnikov got lit up thousands of times.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, Scott Stevens.

[Biz Nicks]

Scott Stevens.

[Rick Tocchet]

Wow.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, round of applause for those men right there.

[Biz Nicks]

What a. No shit.

[Yan Stastny]

That's a lot of chicken parms, man. Holy.

[Biz Nicks]

A lot of guys who know how to swim, too.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Who was. Who was your favorite player growing up? Jarvs.

[Jody Shelley]

Why?

[Paul Bissonnette]

You was a Doug.

[Yan Stastny]

Michael Phelps.

[Biz Nicks]

Michael Phelps.

[Paul Bissonnette]

This is off the rails, actually.

[Biz Nicks]

You probably had to look like, how much older is Taves than you? He must have been a little bit of an idol.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, he played with my uncle actually, growing up. So he was a big one where, minor hockey. Yeah, in Winnipeg. So he was a big one. I watched, like, Pavel Burry's highlights all the time when I was growing up. And then as I got older, like, Braden points become my guy. Like, from when I turned, like, 14, 15. Just someone I thought I could kind of emulate a little bit, you know?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, you played with him, right? At the. At the Four Nations. I heard he's the most simple guy. Like, he doesn't even Have a smartphone. He has a phone. Wears Crocs everywhere. Heard he loves his bourbon or maybe Crown Royal or something.

[Seth Jarvis]

He. I don't know how he lives or survives. Like, he doesn't have Uber on his phone. He doesn't have all the. Like, he can't get a hold of him. He never answers his phone. Diesel's rum and Cokes like a champion. And just like, fl. Like, lives by, like, the seat of his pants. Like, it's like you come to the bus. Like, hair is all messed up. Like, suit ties down here. We're like, going for the gold medal game and we'll go have, like, two points and be fine.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. The gay puck drops and he's going, though.

[Seth Jarvis]

Oh, and then he's on it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's.

[Seth Jarvis]

It's. I don't know. It's crazy.

[Yan Stastny]

Is he a Winnipeg guy?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, he's. He's Edmonton. Maybe Calgary.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Is he really?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, he's a birda boy.

[Biz Nicks]

In the new age landscape of junior hockey, you. You would have played a couple years and then gone to. To college. Where would you have gone?

[Seth Jarvis]

I would not be on a college 100.

[Biz Nicks]

You would. All. Every guy. Every guy. That's. Every guy is.

[Seth Jarvis]

There's nothing wrong with hanging out a few more years in junior and having fun.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Agreed.

[Seth Jarvis]

I don't know. I, like, weirdly, I did tour a couple colleges before I made my decision, and I think I would have gone to Minnesota Duluth.

[Yan Stastny]

Okay.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. That fits you.

[Seth Jarvis]

I just love the area. The place is nice. Rink. There's. It's the only thing going on in that city, so I feel like it'd be pretty sweet to play.

[Biz Nicks]

Random question. I was just at the BU game last night watching this kid rider. Richie.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah. He's a player.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, this kid's gonna be disgusting.

[Yan Stastny]

Who in that tournament at the Four nations, like, stuck out to you that was like you couldn't believe you were in the same locker room. And then just like, the. That they were doing well, like, Sid.

[Seth Jarvis]

For me, was the big one. I sat next to him in the dressing room and I was, like, shitting myself for the first couple days. And then, like, you talk to him.

[Yan Stastny]

A little bit more.

[Seth Jarvis]

Like, I started opening up. We started having conversations. He's like the best person ever.

[Yan Stastny]

Yep.

[Seth Jarvis]

And it's. It's incredible. And then, like, we'd go out as a team and like, you'd expect maybe those guys, like, take it easier, like, go home. He'll be out till whenever. With anybody. And that's what I think I appreciate the most about him is like, he's obviously the best player in the world or one of the best players in the world, and he does everything with the team. You would never think he's like, this absolute legend, superstar, and I think that was the coolest thing for me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What other guys were you intimidated to be around? Because, like, I could imagine, like, all of a sudden you were sitting right next to him. Right. They put you right next to a stall where you. You're probably a little shocked when that happened. And were you a little bit more timid than you normally are as far as how much you're yapping in the room, or were you your normal self?

[Seth Jarvis]

I was definitely timid for the most part. I. I didn't, like, want to mess with anyone's routines or anything, and. And kind of go off and, like, we had the guys like Dewey, who was doing enough talking for the whole team, so there wasn't much airspace in that dressing room. And I just kind of. People talk to me. I'd hang out, whatever, but I wasn't going around screaming and yelling like I normally am.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What about Marchie? Was Marchie pretty? Was he yapping a lot, too?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, he. He was awesome. He kind of opened me up a little bit more as the tournament went on. Just hanging out with him and. And listen to him. There's just shit that comes out of his mouth is. Is golden.

[Biz Nicks]

Did they have any clue what was going to happen in. In the first game? You played us, like, was there an idea that there was going to be madness off the opening puck drop?

[Seth Jarvis]

I don't think so. Like, I don't think anyone expected that. But after the first one, then whoever the first fight was, then you can kind of see something was going on. And then I think Paro was the second fight, and it was like, me, Bennett and Marsh, you're on a line, and Cooper's kind of looking at someone to put out there.

[Jody Shelley]

And he.

[Seth Jarvis]

Me and him kind of lock eyes and like, the. And like, break Chucks out there, whoever he's playing with, and we kind of lock eyes, and I was like, I don't know if I'm the guy for this. And then he just taps Benny. Benny goes out there, fights him. So that was. That was the educated decision, but I don't think anyone knew it was coming. They just kind of rolled with. With what was going on.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, that must have been.

[Biz Nicks]

This guy loves Braden Point. I'll. I'll let him sit this one out.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, man.

[Biz Nicks]

What was it, like last year with all the cameras around you, like, annoying or really weird.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you're great in front of the camera, though, man. Like, you're, you're a natural. Like, we need more guys in the league that were. Are willing to be, like, open and silly in front of the camera and.

[Yan Stastny]

You know, eating cereal.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, yeah, you were let. You were letting it fly. We need a few more personalities like Seth Jarvis in the league.

[Seth Jarvis]

No, I don't know about that. But it was, it was strange. Like, they were like, asking me, like, what do you do on an off day? And I was like, I usually just kind of sleep and watch a movie and like, oh, well, you kind of got to do something for the cameras. And so, like, they had me cooking chicken nuggets in my air fryer and like, I went and played golf and I was like, I don't, like, I don't know what you want me. Want me to do here, but after a while, like, around the rink, it was easy. It was. It was fine. But the kind of off the ice stuff was where I struggled a little bit.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was one of the other takeaways, is you. You kind of eat like a. Like a child. You're like chicken nuggets. And like, at what point do you think you're going to have to change up the diet? Or you think you're just going to keep doing the Fruit Loops and chicken nuggies and Doritos pregame?

[Seth Jarvis]

No, it's. It's already changed. It's changed a lot. It's. Believe.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Seth Jarvis]

Believe it or not, it's taken a lot of steps. Obviously, I still have those things laying around for when I'm going through a slump or I need something tasty. But, yeah, it's. It's gotten better, unfortunately.

[Biz Nicks]

Only guy to eat an uncrustable at Nobu.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What's your guilty pleasure? What's like, the worst thing that you eat on a regular basis? Like, something that's even, like, gross. Maybe a Winnipeg Special.

[Seth Jarvis]

I'll give you a Winnipeg Special peanut butter and pickle sandwich.

[Yan Stastny]

Wow.

[Jody Shelley]

That is.

[Pasha]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Not. That does not.

[Biz Nicks]

That's when people in Winnipeg eat that on the regular.

[Seth Jarvis]

I learned it from my roommate in junior, who's from a rural town in Manitoba, like an hour away from Winnipeg, and he put me onto it. Like these. You know what Grillo pickles are?

[Yan Stastny]

Yep.

[Seth Jarvis]

You get some of those sliced up, you put them on a peanut butter sandwich. I'm telling you, it's.

[Yan Stastny]

Oh, you put it on the sandwich.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Seth Jarvis]

And you just Put it together. It's money.

[Yan Stastny]

Okay.

[Rick Tocchet]

No jelly.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Just the. Just the peanut butter.

[Seth Jarvis]

There's peanut butter and pickles.

[Biz Nicks]

Laurie's uncle.

[Yan Stastny]

I can't imagine trying that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think we have to. I think we have to do it. Like when we. When we. When we go to. Or actually when you come up to. To Greensboro, when you drop the puck, we're going to be selling at the canteen stand.

[Biz Nicks]

That'll be your buddy's pregame meal before his. His. His big spot in the line.

[Seth Jarvis]

He'll be puking it on the blue line.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Can you. Can you tell us a little bit more about this team? Because right now we're doing our season predictions. Obviously, we have you guys making the playoffs. We have you guys winning the division currently. You guys are actually cup favorites at plus 800, right, boys? Is that the case at DraftKings Sports?

[Yan Stastny]

It's a marathon, though.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's a marathon. It's a marathon. What more should fans know about this team?

[Seth Jarvis]

That's a fucking good question. I think we're different than in years past.

[Jody Shelley]

This year.

[Seth Jarvis]

I think it feels a little bit different in the locker room. I think just when shit hits the fan. I think maybe in years past kind of spiraled out of control a little bit more. I think we have so much experience, especially with our younger guys now going on a deep playoff run, especially either in years past or just recently. We have a lot of guys in that room that have been around for a while now and have gone through kind of losing to Florida a few times or whatever it may be in the season. And I think even, like when we played Philly last night, like, we didn't have a good game, but we found a way to grind out a win. I think maybe in years past that hasn't been there. And I think that's something that's a little bit different with this group.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I love that. And then I was going to ask about one of the coolest videos I saw last year was when the Keeshan showed up and his interaction with Rod, the bod. And obviously there's not. There's not a lot of English there. Does he have either of them?

[Biz Nicks]

Rod's like.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What's he been like in the locker room? Because I. He's not even that young. Right. Because he played a decent amount in the khl. I believe he was the captain over there. But what can he add to your group?

[Yan Stastny]

And.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And what's the interaction like because his English is so broken?

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah. I think he knows more than he lets on. Like he's one of those guys. I think he understands a pretty good amount. He just, like, maybe can't piece a sentence together, and he's not quite confident enough to start saying stuff, but, like, his game, it's pretty easy to tell. He's a massive body. He's strong as shit. He moves pretty well, and he's got a fucking bomb of a shot. And so I think once he gets more comfortable with kind of how we play, maybe him and Roddy can communicate a little bit better and figure that whole thing out. I think he's going to be stellar. Like, he's. He really has everything that I've seen to be fucking nasty.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And does he keep that shot down?

[Seth Jarvis]

He's got some control on that thing.

[Pasha]

He.

[Seth Jarvis]

He knows where to put it, which is. Which is a nice little change of scenery.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Nice. Suck on that, Burnsy.

[Biz Nicks]

Sometimes the. At least the baseball players, they'll be like, yeah, I don't know. England, they just don't want to do media. But I guess you guys don't have, like, a ton of media down there, so.

[Seth Jarvis]

No, our four reporters aren't getting a lot out of Nikki, though.

[Biz Nicks]

All right, man. Hey, last thing. You gotta ask Rod.

[Rick Tocchet]

Just.

[Biz Nicks]

Just ask him. Hey, how was Biz when. When you sat down with spitting Chiclets in Fort Lauderdale? I gotta. And then let us know what he says. It was an amazing.

[Seth Jarvis]

You guys interviewed him?

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, yeah, it was great.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So, Seth. So we go and do a sandbagger. It was Thiala and Posternach, and we were down two, I think it was hole 14. We mount the comeback and we win. We didn't even have to go to extra holes. We won it in regulation. And I was on the sauce on the pink Whitneys. I met Whit at breakfast before we headed over, and he's like, what did you say to me?

[Biz Nicks]

No, I. You looked him. He looked amazing. I'm like, dude, you look great. And he just looked at me and I was like, oh, I could.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I haven't slept.

[Biz Nicks]

I haven't slept. And then. And then at the end, like, thanks a lot, Rod. You know, you take a picture and Biz just like, yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, it was. It was a tough performance. But now saying that, I'm off the sauce now. 14 months. Not bad.

[Seth Jarvis]

Nice.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Not bad. Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

There you go, Machine Jarv. All right, dude. Thank you so much.

[Seth Jarvis]

I gotta ask you guys. Yes, this is big.

[Biz Nicks]

How to do the breaststroke.

[Seth Jarvis]

Well, I'm a massive Bob does sports fan. I gotta know how that thing was with you guys.

[Jody Shelley]

And them.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, they're the best.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, I watched it.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, buddy, it's awesome. That was the. The first one we won was the greatest comeback in.

[Yan Stastny]

In our sports history.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, sports history.

[Seth Jarvis]

I just want to make sure, because, like, you know, they say they don't meet your heroes. If I met those guys and they sucked, I would be awesome.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I was. I was at. At In Vegas for the opener, and they were there. They were there for like, 10 days filming a bunch of stuff, and I left the TNT desk to go sit with them in the crowd. That's how awesome those guys are. So, yeah, as far as not meeting your heroes, you want. You definitely want to meet those guys. And maybe, just maybe we could do a collaboration sandbagger where we play against those guys. Or maybe you're on their team and we add one more hockey guy or something like that.

[Seth Jarvis]

Now you're speaking my language.

[Yan Stastny]

We're gonna eventually do a best of seven with them, right?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. We'll get Doug on our team, and then you could play with those.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah, I'll bring my boys down and.

[Jody Shelley]

He can get that.

[Biz Nicks]

Doug, don't go get all those guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Big tournament Offer stands, though. If you'll come drop the puck. We will let your buddy play as our. As a defenseman that night. I'll even throw the fucking C on his jersey.

[Seth Jarvis]

I will be there.

[Yan Stastny]

I will 1000 skip a Hurricanes game for it.

[Seth Jarvis]

Oh, fuck, yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was awesome.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah. Unreal.

[Biz Nicks]

You're the man, buddy.

[Seth Jarvis]

Sweet. Thank you, guys.

[Biz Nicks]

This episode of Spit and Chiclets, as always, is brought to you by body armor. Boom. Body armor. Choose better with body armor. Body armor has great tasting flavors. This is strawberry Banana. My go to. They got peach, mango. No colors from artificial sources. None of the junk. It's a bold new look with the same great taste. Now available in Canada. That's a big deal. All you Canadians. Body armor is now available up there. But whether you're hitting the ice, the gym, or just need something refreshing, grab body armor today at Walmart or a local grocery store near you. Body armor choose better. Strawberry banana. Guys wit, I want to talk about shell. Get more with shell. V power nitro plus premium gasoline. That is V power nitro plus premium gasoline. More performance, more power, more protection. All with shell. And there's more. It protects against carbon deposits, friction and wear for better fuel efficiency. In addition to engine performance. You want to take care of that engine, you take care of that engine with V power nitro plus premium gasoline from shell. Get more performance with every drive. It's their best fuel ever. I put it in my car. A fuel like no other. Learn more at Shell us more performance that Shell us more performance. Get more performance with every drive. Download the Shell app to locate your nearest station today. Shell V Power Nitro plus gasoline compared to lower octane fuels. Actual effects and benefits may vary according to vehicle type, driving conditions and driving style. Thank you so much to Seth Jarvis. Doug. I love Doug. Just a solid group of guys from Winnipeg driving a Boston great crew. You could tell, you could tell that Jarvis. Just one of the guys. Awesome kid and a nasty player. So needless to say, we all have Carolina winning division chant at the Stanley Cup. I will say it's my yearly Like I don't consider them Stanley cup contenders. I think they're great, but not great enough. I'll be proven wrong at some point, who knows. But I picture them against Florida in the Eastern Conference final and getting bullied again. We'll see. We'll see. But a hell of a team and a fun team to watch play.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And look out at the Greensboro Gargoyles games at the Cantina for the pickle and peanut butter sandwiches. That's all we're going to be serving from now on. All thanks to Doug and Seth.

[Biz Nicks]

Will you try one, Keith? Like, will you make one at home?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'll eat one as soon as I get to town.

[Biz Nicks]

Ok. All right.

[Rick Tocchet]

All right.

[Biz Nicks]

The New York Islanders. Way more excitement around the team. Way more. And we'll talk about Schaefer in a minute. But every year I ask Frankie Borelli. People know him. Bareilly's Pizza. Phenomenal place in Long Island. He's a die hard. He's a die hard enough where he's watching every pre every preseason game. He doesn't miss an exhibition game. He doesn't miss anything. So I just asked him, as I have before, what's your thoughts on this year? We're doing the preview. He said, wow, that's a loaded question. I mean, I think ultimately it's going to be a frustrating season in the sense that it feels like they will compete in every game they play. But can they finish them off and get wins? You've got Sorokin, who should keep you in the every game you play with Horvat, Druanne, Paul, Mary Barzy, Heinemanen kid from Montreal. They've got more offensive weapons than they've had in a while, which isn't saying much, but at least we have guys that are putting the puck on net and I think the power play will finally be Competent, huge. To grab the abs. Power play guy as our new assistant coach. I think that's going to be a huge change. We've had the worst special teams in the history of the NHL the past few years. Schaer is insane. He had eight shots on goal and played 26 minutes last night. Once Aitchinson is up, Eklund is up, Yzerman is here. The future is so bright, and it happened overnight. Hard to have patience when we haven't won shit in forever. But it does feel like one of these seasons. One of those seasons where it's like, let's just build this momentum up and keep adding on to it. The pieces are starting to fall in place. Could be a very dangerous team in the next few years.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wow. What a fucking breakdown. Frankie Borrelli.

[Biz Nicks]

Couldn't agree more with him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I agree, too.

[Biz Nicks]

So can I read you a tweet?

[Yan Stastny]

Who's next?

[Biz Nicks]

Biz. Do you remember Rob Rossi in Pittsburgh?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, yeah, Pittsburgh. Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

So he. He's been covering the Penguins since before I was there. He's seen all the Stanley Cups. He's seen all the playoffs. He tweeted the other night. I caught a bit of the Islanders AM morning skate from near ice level on Thursday. I wasn't prepared for seeing Matthew Schaefer in person. In almost a quarter century around the NHL, I've never seen a defenseman skate like him. It's McDavid, like, jarring in terms of sustained warp. And he's seen Cale Makar. I don't know if I'm going to sit here and say, like, I think that this kid skating is that much better than Cale McCarrs, if better at all. But he is electric out there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

What a personality.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It looks different. It doesn't look. Maybe his look is clean, but it's efficient. It gets it done. And I agree with you.

[Biz Nicks]

Choppy like McKinnon is.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

What's that?

[Biz Nicks]

I said he's choppy like McKinnon is when. When Nate told Sid that he's choppy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, I. I don't have much on this team other especially after Frankie did that unbelievable breakdown. I'm looking forward to seeing what Barzell can do. Anthony Duclair, after he had to take that leave of absence last year. Seeing how Patty Raw works with this group and. And will he be the coach of the future for this group? I think that's still a question mark. It feels like his. Maybe his tone, especially with the way that he handled the Duclair thing and how he reached out to him this summer and also how he does have a younger group and how he's able to like manage these relationships. You can't just bark at these kids nowadays. And especially at the fact that Matthew Schaefer to me is. Is worth the price of admission like that makes me want to watch Islander games. You touched on it. He played 26 minutes the other night as a fucking 18 year old D man already has his first goal under his belt. I believe he did have a beautiful assist. I think they played the Penguins their first game and it might have been on the road. It was a beautiful.

[Yan Stastny]

Youngest player to. Youngest defenseman to ever record a point.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Yan Stastny]

Beat Scott Needlemeyer by like that.

[Biz Nicks]

And the youngest player to ever play 25 or more minutes. You know who had. Had the. Had done that prior biz?

[Colby Armstrong]

Is it you?

[Biz Nicks]

He beat him by a minute.

[Paul Bissonnette]

18 year old defenseman entering the league.

[Biz Nicks]

No. Youngest player ever to. To play over 25 minutes.

[Rick Tocchet]

Wow.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Player.

[Biz Nicks]

It was. It was nearly a minute more than the guy who had had the record or the only one to do it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Was it a defenseman?

[Biz Nicks]

No.

[Rick Tocchet]

What?

[Yan Stastny]

Barkov?

[Biz Nicks]

No.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No.

[Rick Tocchet]

What.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What was it? Was it more recent or old school?

[Biz Nicks]

Not old school, but not recent.

[Yan Stastny]

Sid. Sid.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No shit.

[Biz Nicks]

I know which. I was there that year when he. And he was out there a lot. But he played like 25, 30 in one game as rookie year and Schaefer got to 26.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's a lot of center. Oh my God.

[Biz Nicks]

I know Patrick Waugh. He must obviously to play him that much. He's like this kid is. Is unbelievable.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Yeah. And. And just don't. What's the term? Like don't. Don't put the reins on the horse. Let him run. Like that's what has to happen with this kid. Let him fucking play. Let him play. Let him play. Let him play. And they're going to have themselves a future Norris candidate. So I'm happy for the Islanders. You know, I don't like seeing teams be shit bags that long. You know, a little bit is enough. So I think that they are going to be taking steps in the positive direction. This is not a playoff team.

[Rick Tocchet]

Nope.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No chance. And I think that's all I have to say about the squad.

[Yan Stastny]

Do you. Do you think that like just Patty Wall, like the. His demeanor, it seems a little different than last year. You think that has to do with Lou being gone?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think he has to show the organization that these like he has the players trust.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He can't be this like. Like this dictator, Right. And I think that he did a good job of earning his players trust when he went down to the Quebec Ramparts, they won. I think they won the whole MEM Cup. When he went down Quebec League. What's that?

[Yan Stastny]

Beat me in the finals.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I know. But he went back more recently and did it like a few years ago.

[Biz Nicks]

You're right.

[Yan Stastny]

Oh, after he left Colorado. Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. So I think he learned a lot, and I think he talked about that when he. When he came back up and when Louis Lou went and met with him. And I know that some people might have been surprised by the hire initially, but I think you're starting to see a softer, warmer Patrick Waugh. And that's what they're going to need if they want to take steps in the right direction. And it's what he's going to have to do if he wants to stick around. Like, that's just plain and simple. Because remember, Darsh, when you're a new gm, you never want to. Even if it's not working out, he's not going to let go of him.

[Biz Nicks]

Right away because it's one of his bullets.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's one of his bullets. The clock starts on his guy if it doesn't work. But I believe that he will give him this full season and if he shows growth and that the players have his trust, that he will continue to have that seat. So it's exciting times in Islanders land, and I'm not as much of a hater as I've been in the past.

[Biz Nicks]

It's incredible. Celebrity was the same thing. Like, won't watch him. And then one player, and now, now the Islanders are on. I'm like, I want to see this kid play. I want to watch him. It can truly change a franchise. Everyone knows it. But seeing it this up close and personal for a young D man, after his dad's all emotion, I'm giving all emotional, giving him a hug, and he's like, what, are you playing checkers tonight? Because his shirt. Shirt looks like a checkerboard. He's like, I'm sitting here getting emotional. You're calling me a checkerboard. It was hilarious.

[Jody Shelley]

Clip.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's a beauty.

[Biz Nicks]

Another good clip. Oh, that kid's the man. And his brother seemed. It's just an awesome story. He mentioned his mom, you know, looking over him as he gets his first goal. Another cool video is Matthew Darsh was out. It was a clip of him, like, helping build homes. Like something like Habitat for Humanity, something like that. And then someone wrote beneath, like, this wasn't at all like a. A photo opportunity or anything. He was there for, like, hours, helping out at the shovel and the dirt. So he waited a long time to become a gm so good for him. So, Islanders fans, no playoffs this year, but a way more enjoyable team to watch from the Islanders. We're going to another team where we could talk to somebody up close and personal, and that is the head coach, Biz's boy, Rick Talker. We're going to send it over to him right now to talk about the Philadelphia Flyers. Welcome back to a very special friend of the show, a man who had to work with Biz. We know how you feel or felt. Talk. The head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, Rick Talkett. Thank you so much for joining the show. You must be getting fired up back in Philly. Talk ready to go.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He would make me look so stupid that all the teams were reaching out, being like, this guy's a hockey genius. Let's give him a job. And look at you. You're one of the highest paid coaches now.

[Rick Tocchet]

You're welcome. Well, I left there, and then Biz got the old. He got the whiteboard back, remember? He does?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Started doing the whiteboard. But, yeah, no, it's. It's. You know, this is. I don't know, the Angie. And with you guys played Biz. Well, the three weeks before training camp is the hardest part, right? Because, you know, you're training, even as coaches, you want to get started, but you're like, well, I still got three weeks left too. Like, so you don't want to rush it. But yeah, you know, a lot of guys are in skating like other teams. Everybody's skating right now, trying to get ready.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think we were talking to a few guys. The. The dreading, the. The fitness testing. Now, was it brutal when you were playing?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, we do. I did different things. You know, we actually did the blood test on the ice. You know, you had to go back and forth with the beeper, and then they take your blood. So you get. You're getting your fin fingerpricked like at least 10 times, right? They did that. You did the. The treadmill one. We've done them all. And then next year, the cva. No, no more testing. So this is the last year. I'm not, like, I do have certain tests. You know, I'm not a huge tester. Got, you know, you train for the year. You don't train for that three days of training camp. So I think the guys are pretty excited because I'm not Testing as much as they, they had those, that, those skein tests. But it's still, there's still some stuff you got to do. You got to see who came ready and who didn't, you know. You know, after the first couple of.

[Biz Nicks]

Days, you know, even looking at a guy and I think when you played, they could have just forget the finger prick. Just wait till there's a brawl in those Flyers training camps.

[Rick Tocchet]

Grab.

[Biz Nicks]

Grab some blood off the ice and that's how we're going to test your blood. Like once you get your nose broken in a 1986 scrimmage in training camp.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, there was a lot of fights in, you know, there's a, you know, you play, you have to play 7, 8, 9 exhibition games, right? You gotta play a lot of em. And I, and it's a funny story, I had to play like four or five in a row and I thought I was gonna have the, the game off. And it was my third or fourth year pro and I had Keenan, right, Mike, and back then they put the sheet up on the, in the hotel, who's playing. So I'm going, it's no way I'm playing. It's like the fourth game in a row, fifth game run. And lo and behold, my name's up there. We're in Norfolk, Virginia, and I'm mother. You know, I'm pissed. And anyways, the day, the game, before the game, I'm taping my stick and I think, Chief and a bunch of guys weren't playing Scott Melby. And they're chirping me, thinking, you know, you gotta play. And I said, I don't give a shit. I said, the first shift, I'm gonna spear a guy right in the gut and I'll get kicked out and I'm done. So obviously I'm joking around. First shift, a guy named Dwight Schofield, he was a tough guy for Washington. Cross check from behind him in front, I turn around, pitchfork them, go at it with them. I get kicked out. Well, in Norfolk, there's a, I don't know, the visiting dressroom. The coach's room's right there. So Keenan heard me, so he comes flying in after the first period and he goes, get on the bike. Every time these guys are on the ice, you got to do a sprint. So I did, you know, the trainers watch me. I got. So for 40 minutes I'm bagging myself and I told Michael later down there, he laughed. I said, man, I was just joking. Like that just happened organically. I, I wasn't Premeditated. But it's, it's funny how things work out. But yeah, so I did get kicked.

[Yan Stastny]

Out and I mean, even having a coach like Iron Mike and I'm sure other ones that you had, like going into a training camp back then compared to now, like you guys were going to training camps to almost get in shape, maybe in the beginning of your career. But nowadays guys are coming in right away in shape, ready to go, right?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, you're right. Yeah. So the good thing for coaches, we can get right into systems like, you know, and I'll tell you, when I started in 82, 83, like the first training camp, Keenan was ahead of his time. Like he, he didn't really bury us. Like it was hard, don't get me wrong. But you know, we, we had the 30, 40 minute practices, you know. Yeah, obviously training camp's a little different, but he wasn't the guy that I heard some training camps, you know, you're on the ice for an hour and a half, two hours. It wasn't that. So he was ahead of his time that way. But. And mostly guys in our flyer team, I think why we were successful early on, we were in really great shape. But the guys now, I mean, most guys are in good shape. You get the odd guy that, that doesn't. But most guys are in shape.

[Paul Bissonnette]

A few of your first training camps, were there any old school guys where they would just be like slop tarts? They'd not. Like, the only ice they touched all summer was at the bottom of the cooler. Didn't really touch weights. Like, how old school were the guys when you first came in?

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, guys were on the bus or I mean, having a dart. I mean we got testing in two days and the guy's got a cigarette and he's sitting, you know, Bud Light. I mean that, that doesn't, obviously that doesn't happen anymore. I don't think it does. But yeah, it was, it was a, a mixture of the old school and then the, you know, the younger guys like us coming up and we'd have, we'd have our, actually our rookie party in training camp. So after about a week where, you know, we'd do it after about seven days in Philly, they did at least. So we'd be, you know, a couple times they rented out a banquet hall, we had a big rookie party. So that was fun. But yeah, so it was different. A lot, a lot of different, different changes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I want to go back to your comment, why you said like when you look at them, you could just tell for Yans. Like not the chirpy hands. Like you don't have like the best body.

[Yan Stastny]

The worst. Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You would always be the most fit guy in Coyotes can't. Like didn't you win the award like two, three years in a row?

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, because I could skate and it would, it was all that. You remember that skating test that we used to do? I think you invented it. Talk the double dicky. The worst fucking drill of all time. But I could do that like over and I could do it all day if I wanted to. And it was just easier for me as opposed to a guy like donor who is 240 lugging those CCM skates up the ISO. Yeah, just. I mean I wasn't winning like strongest guy, but most in shape. Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yes. I will say I remember to this day I was sitting up in the stands. You were, you're, you're a rookie. Like it was your first training camp and Cliff Fletcher, you know, legendary guy, he was sitting there and he was a huge fan. You go second round, fourth.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He was supposed to go second and then got a little, a little trouble.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, whatever happened, I remember, I remember Cliff Red. You know, you're, you know, you're right. Yan's just flying around. Who is this kid? Because you, you were skating all day and that, I remember that practice or scrimmage and then he, Cliff Fletcher, I swear to God said watch this guy. This guy's gonna play in the NHL. So Cliff Fletcher was a huge fan of yours.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And then Yan's would get like all the whole team after fitness testing. We'd all go to in and out after celebrate the fact that it was over.

[Biz Nicks]

So it was the best meal.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, what a, what a move by Yan's team.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh yeah, talk. You gotta be fired up, right? Like, you know, you, we can go into kind of Vancouver and your decision to step away. But yeah, it was pretty evident the money out there and then the opportunity made total sense for you to go to Philly with where they were at and the career you had there. But how exciting is it for you to be back in such a different role? I mean they, we, we saw the video last year of the new locker room and what they've done and the excitement around the future there. So I'm wondering for you, like it's got to be all excitement right now to get this thing going.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, I mean, you know, you guys know at certain points of your life you get, you know, you get good situations, right? You're, you know, whether it's leverage or not. I had a couple of teams and you know, and, and I looked at the Flyers and I talked to Dan Beer and then when I was allowed, you know, when Vancouver gave me permission to really dive into the game plan and I, you know, I don't know if this is year, whatever you call it, rebuild. It's the third or fourth year and they're sticking to the plant. Right. I think next year they got 42 million in cap space. They, they, they banked up a pretty good. I, I mean I, I, I don't know who the guys it was on the Athletic, they had us rated the seventh best prospect pool. So there's a lot of, you know, there's a lot of things happening and I, I, I kind of like the game plan. Obviously they committed to me five year deal. I mean that's, you know, that's a hell of a commitment from them. Actually, you know, I think that's same as Danny and Jonesy. So we're all at together and you know what. And there's some good players here, you know. You know, I know a lot of, you know, if you look at the odds, I mean everybody thinks we're going to be one of the worst teams. So I like that too. That's a good fuel for the team. I know the city, you know, I've been here before. The only, the only tag I hate is like people critique. Why are they bringing an old flyer back? I've been gone for 25 years. Like I, I mean I've never been back, you know, other than as a visiting team. So I try to tell those guys I've been to other, other organizations stealing their ideas and hopefully with the Flyers ideas we can, we can morph something into a winner.

[Yan Stastny]

And obviously, you know, you know, playing with Danny B and Jonesy like having that familiarity with those guys, like how much easier to that make the decision. Obviously you played there but like you just said, that was a long time ago. Everything's completely different. But just having those two guys there, you know, being in it together, like you said, you all the same amount of years left. Like that must be a huge confidence boost for you.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah. Knowing those guys. And like I said, I play with Danny in Arizona. Obviously Jonesy at the end of my career, great. Like the personalities, everything maxes like you got Jonesy really smart guy. But he is one funny guy. Like, oh well things you know, you know biz like oh, he's so funny. He's, I mean we could, we could do a whole podcast and some of his stories, right. I mean I got a million stories, but the way he conducts himself in a meeting, it's, it's, he's really good and smart but then he'll, he'll lighten it up with jokes and then Danny's a real methodic, you know. Yance, did you play with me?

[Yan Stastny]

No, I never, I missed him.

[Rick Tocchet]

Really methodical, you know, you know, conscientious and you know, he's a, he's a smart guy. You know, he's, you know, he, he analyzes the room. He's not always talking. I don't know. I really like his personality and he, he's really going to stick to the game plan. Like, you know, there was a couple things we were talking about, hey, should we go after this guy, this guy? And he said we're not ready for that guy. And I kind of like that. So he's got, you know, the, his, he's got a lot of confidence in his, in his approach and for Danny.

[Yan Stastny]

Like being an undersized guy when he came into the league, like it was a rarity. Like so obviously his brain for is massive and just like you and Jonesy as well. Like the ideas in your meeting rooms must be unbelievable.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah. And I, and, and as a coach you can't be afraid to pick their guys brains on even like system stuff or. I've asked Danny a couple times because, you know, we got a couple of smaller guys on our team and I've asked them, you know, some situational stuff and what would you do here and here. So he's, he's shared those ideas. So yeah, we've really kind of a lot of meetings, but a lot of directional means which I like. And then they're kind of basically, hey, the downstairs is yours. You know, do what you got to do. So they've, they've kept their hands out of certain stuff, but I, I, I do want their feedback talk.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You did such a good job when you went into Vancouver, but that was a move that was made in the midst of the season. Right. So all of a sudden you're being thrown in the mix where you've now had a lot of time to prepare for this role. Like what are your first orders at a, as a head coach? Like did you reach out to each of the guys individually to have conversations about what your expectations are, what you expect of them and, and obviously to develop a, like more of a relationship early on because that's so important the way that you have to coach in today's game. Where you, you know, you. You. You have to know these guys on a personal level.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, you guys play the game. And I think it's. And I. And. And I. And I play the game. So I try to put myself in a player. Like, I'm the player. I'm sitting now. So my big thing was I told my sister because I want to do a zoom call with all these guys. So we got a big zoom zoom meeting with everybody. It was more me. It was mostly me speaking because you can't have everybody speak. It's hard on a Zoom with 25 guys. It was just messaging, like, you know, for. For my message to the players, our staff, or an organization. So it was that. And then. Then you follow up with individual calls. You know, you know, I'm not a big guy unless the player wants to stay on the phone. To me, it's. It's, you know, talk it out this, you know, if there's some questions. But, you know, let's wait for in person stuff. Like, I didn't want to be on the phone. Sometimes guys are like, I want to be on the phone with a coach where it's just. You're just going around in circles. So I try to go to the point. It's their summer too, right. But I want them to understand what we're looking for, you know, and when they. What they're expected, that those guys want to know the expectation. Hey, what are we doing in camp? How are we going to play? You know, so. So I'll look at analytics a little bit to help out. And in our staff, where there's certain things that we got to improve on. Like, I think the Flyers were one of the better rush teams, but one of the worst possession teams. Okay, so that's going to be a point of emphasis in training camp, is I want guys to hold on to pucks, don't get rid of pucks, make plays under pressure. The games, the best players, you know, you guys know the crosses, McDavid's. They get the puck on their stick. Their heart rate's still 60, right? They're. They're in. They're in the tight gate. Like, they don't throw pucks away, right? So can we preach that? September 18th every day. And then obviously, you know, we'll. We'll tackle some other things, but there are some good things that this team has done last year, and I got to give John Toro a lot of credit. He's built a foundation. These guys work hard, and they block a lot of shots, so that's one thing, the identity of a team. Like when you got to make guys block shots and work hard all the time. He's already done that. So I can move on to that, to other, you know, other identity things for the players.

[Paul Bissonnette]

How. How do you lower your heart rate when you have the puck on your stick? I was trying to figure out that, that my whole.

[Yan Stastny]

Well, you'd have to have the puck on your stick first.

[Rick Tocchet]

You know, when guys, you know, when guys get it and all of a sudden they start to panic and the heart rate and there's people around them.

[Biz Nicks]

And he knows, he knows that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, I know.

[Rick Tocchet]

It's not like I was flatlining when I had the puck. Like, I, My heart was, My heart rate was high too.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So I, I heard a fun fact that they would monitor Joe Thorton, and actually his heart rate would be higher when he didn't have it on a stick.

[Rick Tocchet]

He felt more comfortable yelling at somebody.

[Yan Stastny]

Jumbo'S open.

[Rick Tocchet]

And then you got Phil Kessel, you know, those, you know, the harmonitors. Yeah, everybody have it on, you know, because you. Modern practice, he would just take it and put it right by his stomach. Would never have it on.

[Yan Stastny]

I used to make Mike Matheson wear mine, so he'd have two on.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And.

[Rick Tocchet]

Then the hand went in and go, man.

[Pasha]

Yes.

[Rick Tocchet]

Is flying out.

[Yan Stastny]

Oh, this guy wants it. But talk. Do you think that communication. Because, you know, we've, we've talked about it at length. Like when we came in the league, like, there wasn't that communication with head coach. But for you being assistant for a while, like, do you think that helps your communication as a head coach now? Because I think that's a huge part of the game.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, yeah. Listen, I played. I was an assistant coach, a head coach. Just because you have a title. Right. You know, you're, you're a head coach, not your assistant coach. You know, you're different than a head coach. Why?

[Paul Bissonnette]

You can.

[Rick Tocchet]

I mean, I get. You have make bigger decisions, and I get all that stuff, but you're still the same guy. You know, you can still talk the same. The player the same way. I think sometimes coaches, they get a title and it's, they're more standoffish. I don't believe in that way. You know, everybody, we're all in it together. It's a part. I know. I, I, you know, biz. I always tell you about it. It's a partnership with the players. That's the way you got to coach. Right. They got to have a voice. And like I said, obviously, this is not going to be, it's not, you know, patty cake around here. It's not. They're not going to run the show that way, but they will have a voice and they're going to have to steer the ship, too. So it's just not me. So I'm a big partnership guy and I think players appreciate. And you know what? I think also players, they like to know what's going on. So I usually try to give guys, what are we doing the next five days? Like five days.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay.

[Rick Tocchet]

We're going to practice here. Day off here. We got, we played Jersey tonight and you know, the products before we're going to work on, you know, Jersey's a good rush team, so we're going to work on this. It seems like you get more out of a player when you give them that information. And whereas coaches, I'm not going to tell them when they're going to have a day off or I'm not going to. We're not, we're going to the surprise thing maybe once in a while. I'm not a big surprise guy to the players. I think it's important they're mature enough nowadays, like, just, just tell them what we're doing. Who cares?

[Biz Nicks]

And, and I saw you guys added Todd Reardon in, right?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

And like, how do you go about, you know, getting the job and then deciding who you want as assistants? How are you going to hire guys? Like, how does that all come together?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, great question. Putting your staff together. So I'm a big teacher guy. So I went and I wanted guys that, that are going to, they're going to maximize players talent. So, you know, so I got, you know, if you look at Reardon's track record, he's done a great job with defense. You know, Matt Niskin played. I mean, some of his best years were under Todd. His last five, six years. I mean, he was actually with the Flyers and he, he kind of abruptly retired. He, he, he had a great year, the year, the year before, you know, and you go down. Chris Latang, I talked to Chris Latang about him. Brooks Orpik. Like, like there's a lot of young defense that really, really helped. And I like, I like the way he teaches the D, the slide, slide confronting at the blue. And there's, there's, there's technical things I like about him. And he was a four. You know, he's a former head coach. Then I got Jay Verde out of Detroit, another teacher. He was with Tucson when I was in Arizona. You know, the Connor Garlands and those Kellers, all the. Even Phil Kessel loved him when he was there. Then I got Yogi, our skills coach, who. I promote him, another teacher. So you're, you know, I'm getting guys that are, you know, they're coming in every day excited to teach a player. They're not coming in your motherfucking players. You know, they're, you know, you got to be careful when you get coaches and they're like, the next day, oh, this guy can't play or that you got. You. You need a guy that's going to go in and say, I got him. I got him today. You know, I like those type of coaches, and it helps me, too. They build relationships.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is there anyone who's got to help you translate With. With me, I mean, I'm assuming his. His English is still very broken. And, you know, that's obviously going to be a challenge and an expectation from not only the organization, but the fan base, because this is kind of the one guy who, who's giving you hope right now, especially, you know, I feel like a lot of focus is on him. So what's your. Maybe your approach with him?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, so we got Zamula here, who's a Russian.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He.

[Rick Tocchet]

He helps out, but then they got an interpreter here, a Russian guy, Slava. Jonesy's pretty wired in with some of the Russian people, and so he's around the rink. It's funny, today it's. I saw it, Mitchkoff, and I was talking, but the guy wasn't around, and he was just nodding yes. And I'm like, I don't even know. Like, I don't know if he understood what I was saying. But he. He's. He's. He's a. He's. Apparently he's got a great personality, this kid, and I. I gotta work that out. This. I gotta figure how to do that. And. And I said to him, and I told Zamula, tom, he's been in Russia for two months. You get a little rusty, eh? Because I think he was okay when he was here. But then you go away for two, three months, you don't speak English, and now you're. He's rusty a little bit. So, yeah, it's something we're gonna have to really, you know, a guy like him, I think he wants information, so we gotta get that translation going.

[Biz Nicks]

I. I don't end. I don't envy the spot of like for you as a head coach with a guy like him.

[Seth Jarvis]

All right?

[Biz Nicks]

I want this guy to be creative. I Want him to do what makes him so great with the puck. I need him to be responsible defensively, like, where does the rope go? Like, I'm going to give him a couple chances here, and at some point, like, I gotta sit him down or talk, you know what I'm saying? Like, how it depends on each player. But how do you end up kind of reeling in a talent like that to make sure he isn't cheating the game defensively?

[Rick Tocchet]

It's a great point. I know he, like this the guy, he makes things happen on his. When he has a pocket, I can't take that. I can't take a stick out of his hand. I gotta let him do those things. He just gotta understand there's. He's gotta be calculated, right? So we actually put some stuff together and I'll sit with the interpreter and say, hey, here's scenarios that, like, there's great scenarios or where he's trying to beat a guy. Yeah, the guy strips him, but we're okay. We still got people back. I want him to do it again. I got no problem with that. And there's some times where, you know, you know, he's by himself. There's four guys we're changing. The toe drag at that point isn't a right play. And I'm not saying he's doing that, but those are the scenarios that, you know, we just got to keep working on in September. But I want him to have the puck. And we, you know, the Flyers power play has been the worst the last couple years, three years now. So we got to get him the parking situations, like, you know, so I'm not going to Compare him to McDavid, but there's a lot of set plays in Edmonton where McDavid's getting the puck on his forehand, going downhill, going behind the net. And I think we can adopt some of that with him because he does make some, you know, some Old world plays.

[Yan Stastny]

Zamula's like, hey, if you see a vein and talks forehead, he's mad. So just stay away from him. If you see that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, there's a few of them. I would see him on the broadcast.

[Rick Tocchet]

You get older, you get more veins. You still want the blue ones.

[Yan Stastny]

Yep, that's true. But even speaking of, like Biz said on the broadcast, like, how hard of a decision was that for you, leaving? Because you, I mean, I. I was able to work with you, like, you such a good company man for that, like, helping everybody out and, you know, being a huge part of that show. Like, how hard Was that decision.

[Rick Tocchet]

It was hard. It was emotional because I love Patrick LV and Jim Rutherford was great to me. The, the owner was unreal to me. So it was hard to leave. You know, that's, you know, I don't want to get into all the reason I left, but it was a tough one. I mean, they, they stepped up. They offered me a good amount of money, a five year. So they did what, you know, I thought was very, very fair. So, yeah, something I, you know, personally wanted to do something else. And I, I, I believe that team's going to be good. I think it's a good direct, good, good hands without him. Foot hell of. I think he's gonna be a hell of a coach and I think they got some hell of, you know, some really good. But obviously Quinn Hughes is all world. When you have a guy like that in your team, it obviously things fall into place. I think Pedersen's going to really have a good year. I hear he had a great summer. And then you had a healthy Demko and Lankonen. Probably you guys, right? Top three four goalie tandem in the league with that defense. They're going to be in every game. So they're in good, they're in good shape. You know, they'll be fine.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did you mean him leaving TNT hands originally?

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No. I mean, you answered, you answered probably my next question there, but it was.

[Rick Tocchet]

The TNT was tough. Really. It was really, I mean, you know, you can ask Vin. It's a family. And yeah, as you were there, I mean, the way they do things, it's a lot of fun. And, you know, you stay in the game, right? You're visible and you get the comment on the, on the games. That was a lot of fun, actually. I saw Gary Bettman the other day at the coaches and GM thing and he was complimentary. He said, you know, he really likes the TNT and he liked what, you know, when we did the stuff there and still likes it. So when the big guy likes it, that's a good thing. Biz. I know he, I know he, I tell him that we were laughing. I go, we're text buddies. I know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Does he send you emojis like me?

[Rick Tocchet]

No, no, I get no emojis.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We're emoji. We're part of the emoji gang. Getting away from hockey a little bit. What did you do this summer, like to decompress and get away? I mean, it was a, probably a little bit of a stressful year, like having to make those hard decisions to end up moving on from Philly, you win the Jack Adams with Vancouver. And then obviously there was, you know, the J.T. miller Pedersen stuff, which I'm sure just was like. By the time it was all said and done, you were like, God, this was just a headache.

[Rick Tocchet]

I. I finally. I was supposed to go to Greece. The last two, three or so I went this year. So my son booked it all, went with his girlfriend, went to Athens for a couple days and was in Mykonos for nine days. So just. All I know is I can't party like I used to. That town is crazy. And tried a couple of. Hung out with my son and his girlfriend a couple nights, and my niece, she lives there and did a couple of six amers and that was it.

[Biz Nicks]

What?

[Rick Tocchet]

I think I'm done for about a year.

[Paul Bissonnette]

How the. Did you even make it that late?

[Biz Nicks]

That's our partying late, right?

[Rick Tocchet]

That's Mykonos.

[Biz Nicks]

That's.

[Rick Tocchet]

That's the way it is there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Were you getting the sparkler? Celebrating the new contract? Like, bring out the. Bring out the big bottle.

[Rick Tocchet]

Bring out sparklers. But I know the credit card had to come out every time. Oh, that's the only thing I had to pay. That was a. That was an expensive trip.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But.

[Rick Tocchet]

No, it was. It was fun. And I'll tell you what, the food's great there. That Mediterranean food is excellent. Nice island. Athens is. Actually went to the Acropolis. The history of the, you know, the government, all that was pretty cool. So we did all that. So a little education too. They're just not partying.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Can you describe it a little deeper? Like you remember what you. What you heard on those tours. Did you absorb all that information?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, I mean, it's just the history of it all, you know, the Democrat, how the democratic government, how it kind of originated there. Right? I mean, you put me on the spot. I'm not that smart. This, I mean, I can't.

[Yan Stastny]

Me neither.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's why I'm asking.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, but it was good. I mean, I went to the museum and, you know, stories about the, you know, the. What do you call it?

[Biz Nicks]

Where's Slava when we need them?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, I need English slobber. Anyways, it was good. I learned a lot.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, right. You were still hungover from the 6am or like, get me the off this tour. Yeah, I don't give a fuck what this tour guide has to say.

[Rick Tocchet]

105 degrees, too.

[Biz Nicks]

Are you a guy who. A coach who gets in like, real early and then crushes a workout before every practice? Like, I remember Remember the coaches on the treadmill as you come in you're like, oh, are you always getting workouts in or.

[Rick Tocchet]

No, I switch it up. You know, I'm a switch up guy. Like I tell her, like I'm not a guy. Like I don't tell her. Like I hate when guys, you know, I know a couple of coaches told me the past, you know, the head coach wants them there at 6:30 in the morning. Like just get your work done. You know if you want to come in at 8, I, I really don't care when you come in, get your work done. When it comes to workouts, sometimes I work out before or after and then sometimes in game did so like I do that in Vancouver a lot. Say we had a Tuesday night game. You know, after the game you do your, your, your routine and then every leave I'd go work out. You know you're not going to go out, right. So you just go out. Then you take a steamer after do the cold. So it's 11:30, 12, you go home, sleep like a baby. Right. Because after a game you get jacked up. Even as a coach. So I would work out after a game when guys were gone.

[Biz Nicks]

Wow.

[Yan Stastny]

I was just gonna say you guys, I believe you just had the, you know, the Olympic thing for Team Canada. How was that orientation? All the coaches. Yeah, the orientation, good word. How, how was that? Obviously being around great minds is always fun.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah. So the first two days of the coaches and we, we talked about it, responsibilities like you know, who's doing what. And then we talk about then the GMs. We had meetings that night about roster. That's really cool. You know you have, you have like 45 guys there. I mean names up there and you're trying to put. And people are voting where they're at now that's really, you know. You know it's funny. It wasn't, it wasn't like this guy had this guy way here. Everybody's pretty well on. But there is some good debates. You know, do you get a couple of these young guys? Do you get rid of some old. Like there's really good debates with the GMs and you got to do your homework. Right. So that was cool. And then you go through the. What's to expect in the, you know the, in Milan, you know, the, the travel. How we're going to get the games. Are we going to stay at the Olympic village or you know, are we going to stay at a hotel? Like there's little logistic things. We had a guest A speaker talked about his, his experience climbing a mountain. It was a pretty impressive speech, Inspirational speech. So a little bit of different. Everything went golfing. I don't know if you guys ever played that Canonaskis. It was so good. Really good.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, oh, there's a fire alarm going off.

[Biz Nicks]

Chef Greg having a cigarette.

[Rick Tocchet]

Is that around the Yan's in this place?

[Yan Stastny]

Well, Chef Greg burning something in, in the kitchen.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Jones, he's smoking a bowl.

[Rick Tocchet]

Hey, by the way, I went Danny B. Danny Bond grips Yan's old stomping ground. You live with Hazy, right?

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

So I went to look at, I was gonna maybe rent his place.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, yeah, buddy.

[Rick Tocchet]

I'm not renting a place with five, five flights of stairs.

[Yan Stastny]

That's why my legs were so bad that year. I couldn't skate there. You have to go up 90 flights of stairs.

[Biz Nicks]

You had to do that every time. Keith.

[Yan Stastny]

Well, he, he has an elevator, so I took the elevator. 90 of the time, there is an elevator.

[Paul Bissonnette]

The local fire department does its testing at his place where they lug up all the stuff just to see if they hang with the fire department.

[Rick Tocchet]

It's unbelievable.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Who is that? Like, who is the biggest surprise for you at the Canada orientation camp who maybe you hadn't met, where you were blown away by their personality? Because I know for us, the first time that we had the opportunity to interview Celebrini and just how young he was, but yet, like beyond his years, I was blown away at his personality towards him, right?

[Rick Tocchet]

This unbelievable. That kid, Crosby McKinnon, all those guys love the kid. Handles himself really well. You know, the guys are like, you know, you know, it was really, I, I, I, I didn't really know this shife. Like, he came up to talk to me. He could right away, he's picking my brain on stuff, asking me, hey, this, like, it was pretty cool. Had a good conversation with him and, but the, like, I like the Morrissey, what a great guy he is. Devonte Taves, you know, obviously that I know Sid, so that's without saying, but a lot of good, like really good guys. And if you, and it's funny, Donnie Sweeney said to me, if you look at the bodies of the guys, everybody's like, like, it's like nowadays, everybody's slim. Like, they're all in, you know, I mean, the wiry, they're in good shape. You know, you have to like Sid and those guys and McKinnon. They got the big asses and stuff like that. But a lot of the guys, they looked really good. Like we didn't go on the ice, but you could tell that they're, they're.

[Biz Nicks]

They'Re dialed without being around the team yet. Who have you been kind of told is like not necessarily a leader in the room, but a personality in that room. Like I assume Zegras might kind of insert himself that way knowing him the way I do. But are there any guys you've been told kind of keep it loose stuff like that?

[Yan Stastny]

TK connect.

[Rick Tocchet]

He's a funny guy and he was well liked in the. The four nations and, and for see a funny, funny guy. Sanheim, a well liked guy. So thank God two of our guys. Everybody loves, you know, Deloria, he's a, he's a good guy, you know, and obviously he's tough, but he. Yeah. Were you here with him?

[Yan Stastny]

No, I've hung out with him a few times, but I didn't play with him.

[Rick Tocchet]

Great guy. You know. Then you get the, the guy like Zegrus. I had a good conversation with him. Like I want this guy to smile, I want this guy to bounce around, like be a swinging little, you know, like have some fun, you know. Like I think he's got to get his swagger back, you know, like, you know, we don't want to suppress that. You know, Obviously we lose 10 nothing or something the next day. You know, I'm not saying he's got to be a toting or something but you know, he, he knows he's, he's a good kid and I think he's a guy. He's gonna have a bounce back year personal. He's going to lighten the room up. It's funny. Quinn Hughes called me a while about a month ago about when we got Zegras and said you're going to love this kid because I think he skate. They skate every summer together. So a lot of positive things I've heard from him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's unreal. Great personality. What about when he tries the Michigan for the first time? Are you going to tell him to shove that up his ass?

[Rick Tocchet]

Remember we talked about that years was it three, four years ago? But that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, the Michigan.

[Rick Tocchet]

So here's my thought. If that's the best way for you to score, do it. But if you're doing it for clicks, then I'm gonna have a problem for you. That's all. That's it. That's all.

[Biz Nicks]

Basically have to clicks though.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Come on.

[Yan Stastny]

Well, yeah, it's a lot of gray area there.

[Rick Tocchet]

Hey, that is a gray area.

[Biz Nicks]

I know it's a trick or off.

[Yan Stastny]

If you don't score. We're fist fighting in the locker room. Two men enter, one man leads.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

What's right? You better just freaking score if you're gonna do it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you'll be playing in Lehigh Valley if shove that thing up your ass. No, but he's an unreal kid. We had a sandbagger with him and, and Cole Caulfield when we absolutely dummied them. But just an unbelievable guy, great personality. And he's rekindling with the defenseman there who he played with in Anaheim as well, Drysdale. He's very close to them, so some familiarity. And you guys got some good young studs to look forward to. And do you, do you feel a little bit of pressure in the fact that when you were there, you played a certain way and, and the whole team did. Really? Where people want to see, especially if you're not winning a lot of games, they want to see you beating the shit out of people.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, I mean, listen, you know, we want to be a tough team to play against, like, so whatever, you know, I mean, we, we want to be hard to play against. And there's certain things that, you know, I think we can improve. But listen, I'm going to get judged on it, obviously at the end of day, wins and losses. But I think there's a, you know, I know Danny and Jonesy, you know, whether they, they, the results, you know, they want the results, obviously, but it's more of like, can we maximize everybody's talent? That's really our job. That's why I put the staff together that we have some guys that they got, they got another level in them. You know, a guy like Owen Tippett, you know, I'm anxious to work with this guy. Strong speed, unbelievable shot. Now can we get him to play certain way? Can he play a give and go game? Can he, you know, can he penny like, he's never penalty killed before, so I might experiment with penicillin. You know, guys like him, he's, I think they had him, you know, you know, he's on the second power plane. He doesn't penalty kill. So guy like that who's got a, a good engine, he might sit the bench for five minutes. So can you, can you penalty kill him? I, so I, I actually, I, I got, I'm, I, I'm big on this with Connor Garland. Never penalty killed came into me last summer. Hey, talk. Can you, can you give me a shot or can I sit in the meetings? Well, I didn't. He ended up being one of our better penalty killers. And he's never penalty killed before, so I think you got to be able to think outside the box. And he's a guy that I might try to get on the penalty kill. Fast guy, you know, we'll see, we'll see where that goes with him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What about Gritty?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, you're scared of him. You rather go out?

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's a Seattle guy. Him and Bowie, they're just.

[Rick Tocchet]

You see the bear?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think they're the show what the bear went after. Yeah, that was me in a bear suit got him. Him.

[Biz Nicks]

It's gonna get biz when he goes camping.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Gritty pied me in the face when I was there. So he's on my shit list.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Have you had any run ins with him? He's a. He's a bit of an arrogant guy.

[Rick Tocchet]

No, no. But, you know, hopefully we start winning some games or. So he's not the. Like, when he's the show, we're in trouble. I love the guy, don't get me wrong. But we need, we need to win some games here.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Agreed.

[Biz Nicks]

How much do you coach? Like, different personalities in different ways. Where you have a guy, you know, you can kind of snap on, then you have a guy where it's like, I don't think this guy's gonna respond the way I need him to if I'm snapping. Like, is that just as a coach, you're feeling it out? Like, I always kind of wonder that.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, there's a. It's organically got to happen when you have relationships.

[Jody Shelley]

Right.

[Rick Tocchet]

There's, you know, I learned, I actually learned a lot in Vancouver because we had different personality of guys and, you know, you know, for, for example, a guy like Brock Besser, great kid, great guy. He needs a little bit more one on one time talking things through. That's when he plays his best, you know, you know, you start snapping on him, yelling at him. Not the right thing. Where you can probably snap on certain guys. You know, you can give it to certain guys. Like Big Z Zadoroff. I love Z. I. You could, you could scream in his ear and he could take it. Great guy, Love him. So there's, there's, you know, you got the different ways of handling certain guys and you got, you know, listen, sometimes you talk to guys and it's not even about hockey. You know, they're human too. You know, they got issues off the ice sometimes and you got to talk it through and, you know, and you got to understand that too. So you got to help them out.

[Yan Stastny]

I was just gonna say, like, the. You touched on a little bit just the expectations of the fans in Philly. Like, they're, you know, playing there. It's like, even if you are in last place, like, they're still booing you if you're not scoring on the power play. They're like, they're. They're ruthless. Like, as bad as it sounds, they're ruthless. They care about in. It's all sports, not just hockey there. But is there something that, like, you have conversations with your players? Like, because I remember reading guys Twitters after game and it is bad. Like, right. Is there conversations nowadays where obviously it wouldn't happen before, but you're like, hey, I'd rather you guys nod on social media stuff like that. Like, little things that you have to deal with nowadays as opposed to 20 years ago.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, I'm an expert now. I just get. I just, I survived Vancouver Twitter. If you can survive that, that's like. That's like climbing the mountain.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They're tough, so they're miserable.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, you got to remember, too, like, you know, it's not a good thing, but we're trying. Like the Eagles, they're the, they're the. They're the. In the. In the Phillies, right? They're. They're up here. They're. They're winning. Especially the Eagles. I mean, they run the town, right? We're on the back page. So how do we get. How do we get. How do we get to that level, right? So there's going to be a process to get it outside noise. You guys know, you guys play. I mean, you got. Do you really want to listen to some guy in a comment? You guys get it yourself. Like, you're going to read some comments. These biz you went through with the whole, you know, with these Twitter guys, like, why even. Why even engage with these guys? Why read it, you know, like. And I think that's really one thing. Don't read the comments. I. Hey, listen, you want to read your press clippings, I don't care. But why read the comments? Like, who gives a shit? That's what I think. But you're right. They're. They're tough. Yes. But I think if you can, if you give them a brand of hockey where it's. It's a team that works hard and you listen, you know, you got to be. Can't just be a dump and chase and just hammer guys. You know, that's not going to work either. It's got to be a creative team. And I Think we have some players that can supply us with that. So I think if you give them a good brand of hockey and a good night's work, I think they'll respect that. And, you know, we got a long way to go. You know, we're on the back page. Let's, let's, let's just face it and, you know, what are we going to do to, to get back on top? That's going to be the hard. But, you know, there's a, you know, the Eagles in Dallas game right now. Right now they're playing tonight. I mean, that's the biggest show in town, right? So, you know, can we get to that situation in a, you know, whether it's a few years or whatever, that's, that's our goal.

[Yan Stastny]

You going to the game tonight?

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, actually, I got a buddy of mine, okay, who's got a box with a bunch of Dallas fans and buddies of his, and I'm like, I'm not going to that box.

[Biz Nicks]

I can't sit in that bar. Imagine you on the big screen there, you and Jerry.

[Yan Stastny]

You'd be on the front page, though.

[Rick Tocchet]

Front page. I'd be, I'd be, I'd be tarred and feathered on Broad street. Like, no chance. I'm going, but I'm not really a Dallas fan. I mean, obviously I want the Eagles to win, but no, I, I, I'm, I'm contemplating going. Not on the box, just going. So I'm not sure yet.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Were you rubbing elbows with any, any other athletes around town when you were playing there? Like, who are your guys from other teams? Like, who were the famous guys? Was there anyone for, like, the 76ers? Like, was char, was Barkley there when you were there?

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, yeah. Charles, that was my man. We used to hang out all the time. He was the best. Charles. Jim McMahon was here, actually. Randall Cunningham a couple times. You know, guys, those are, those are the old guys back in the day. But it's funny. I get the job here in. Rob Thompson, the manager of the Phillies. He's Canadian, he's from Sarnia, Ontario, and he was blowing my phone up, hey, I want you to come down and blah, blah. And so I, I took the whole coaching staff. We had coaches. Me, two weeks ago, went in the office, hung out. This is like, this is like before the game, like, like 50 minutes for the game, right? You guys been there, right?

[Biz Nicks]

So baseball, playing cards with the manager and stuff.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Guys were drinking. Oh, yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

So we, like, it was awesome, you know, that the owner gave us his box, you know, we. We're in there. They got this presidential, like, Lounge 8. They're like, it was awesome. And he said, anytime you want to come down, take back. I guess we can go batting practice here next week or if we want.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, I'd love to see that. With your range of motion. Looks like my golf swing.

[Biz Nicks]

Talks whiffing.

[Rick Tocchet]

Listen, you wanted me to get that video, that skills thing, outdoor. Let me get that video back.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, get it. Let's get the boys having a chuckle.

[Biz Nicks]

He worked bedard this year outdoors talk.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I did. I was snapp and back draws on them at the winter classic.

[Biz Nicks]

Talk. Back when you played in Philly, like the Spectrum, which I got a chance to play in against the Phantoms, you know, the hl great old school building. But then the Vet, where they. The Eagles and the Phillies played. Right. That place must have been sick to go to a game. They had a jail in there, Biz.

[Jody Shelley]

What?

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, they have the jail in there? Oh, yeah. They got a judge. A judge and a jail on game day. So, you know, you act up, they get you. You go downstairs and you get. You get booked right there.

[Jody Shelley]

Right, Whit?

[Biz Nicks]

Right there.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right.

[Biz Nicks]

But it must have been awesome going to games there. Eagles games in the 80s.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, if you had a. If you had a. If you, if you went to the Spectrum, you had a ranger or devil's jersey on. I hate to say it, you know, you're. You're not walking out. Yeah. Yeah. And then the, the, the. I went to the vet one time. We were. They were playing the Giants, and, you know, we're in nosebleeds, but I don't know. We're. I don't know how. Maybe I couldn't get tickets. We're in the nosebleeds. You know, the guys with the yellow, the security guys. Back then there were these yellow kind of pet pennies or whatever. Pennies, whatever. You know what I mean? And these guys are making two bucks an hour, and how are they going to break up a fight? Like, these guys got no shot. And it was like, it, it was a free fall back in the day. But that Spectrum, like, I mean, I've been involved in hockey what, you know, probably 40 years. That building to play was the best that in the Boston Garden. I mean, it was just, you know, it was a band box, man. It was. It was probably the. In. The fans are on top of you like the old buffalo odd. You're on top of the bench. It was a great place to play. The fan interaction was Wild. But the Spectrum was the best.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They'd be throwing change at players on the other team. Like, what was the craziest thing you saw at the Spectrum? You ever see like a, like an away player and a fan get into it? Oh, man.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, you saw Ty Domi, but he was chucking in the pelly box with.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That guy that was there. Or is that the new bar?

[Biz Nicks]

No, that was at the new building.

[Rick Tocchet]

Was that the new building?

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. Oh, because I remember it. Was it, Was it Wachovia?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah. Well, you know, just. Well, yeah, I mean, there's, there's, you know, anytime you see visiting, visiting team, the fans, they're getting pummeled, you know. But yeah, I was really lucky in junior, my three years in junior, and I think my first seven, eight years in the league, that 11 year stretch, I was on tough teams. So it's actually kind of nice when you're. You got about eight deep back that can, that can, that can handle stuff. So, yeah, that was a lot of fun. Back in the day biz, I was.

[Yan Stastny]

At an Eagles game and the punter was like warming up before the game while they were doing the anthem. He was just kicking balls, whatever. It must be like a. Guys do that. And the fans took such offense to it, they just started booing the entire time as the anthem's going on. So they're booing for disrespecting the anthem, but they're disrespecting it too. It was just, it's. It's just so typical, unreal Philadelphia fans. And for anyone who hasn't been to Philadelphia for a sport, all the arenas are in the same area. It's the way every city should be.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right?

[Biz Nicks]

I know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Talk. What was, what was your fondest memory as a flyer?

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, man. For. That's a great question. Well, there's a lot of them. A Game 6 against Edmonton, against Gretza. That team was stacked and we, we beat them. J.J. daniel scored late. I. That's the loudest building ever been. I played in some, you know, some big games and that's the loudest, loudest I've ever heard a crowd go. And I would say that was a big moment. Some of the playoff games were epic. You know, we didn't win there, but we had to the finals a couple of times. That's Edmonton. You know, Rod Hexal scoring, You know, scoring that goal was pretty cool. You know, that was, was. Was he. The first goal he was scoring? I think it was that.

[Biz Nicks]

I was just gonna ask you that.

[Rick Tocchet]

I. I Think it was the first one, like legit. I think maybe Billy Smith touched it and one of the other guys threw it down and scored, but it legit. That was pretty cool. But just the. The bond of. Of the players. When I play with. That's probably the closest group there. I actually just went back. We had a reunion. Myself, Mary Craven, Scott Mellony and Craig Bruberman. I went out to Montana and golf for four days with those guys was almost like a. At 80s reunion was pretty fun.

[Yan Stastny]

Wow.

[Rick Tocchet]

Golf for four days and, you know, had some fun.

[Biz Nicks]

Stayed up till 6am I heard stories.

[Yan Stastny]

That like, you guys, that you guys would, you know, you had your local watering holes like everyone did back in the day, where you guys would be hanging with fans and going like, are any of those places still there that you're hanging out at at Broad Street?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, not as much, but. So there used to a place called. Well, it used to be Rexy's back in the day. That was like the Bobby Clark era. And then when, when I got in there in the Brad McCurman's market, we'd go to this place called Kaminsky's. And that was a big watering hole for us. But then the transition of the, like the Bobby Clarks and Billy Barbers and Paul Holmgren's, they would be there with us. So we, we hung with those guys.

[Yan Stastny]

Like, oh, wow.

[Rick Tocchet]

Bobby Clark was my gm. At the end of the year when we lost or you know, wherever, you know, the playoffs road, he would come up with us. Like he was actually at the Kaminsky's having, you know, a beer with us. I thought that was pretty cool that that's the way Bobby Clark was. He didn't really. I mean, you knew he was the gm, you knew he was the boss. But he never acted like, you know, that, you know, he. I really respected him about that. And we, we knew, we knew the pecking order. We respected him. But I thought it was kind of cool him hanging with us and coming out. But that was. Yeah, that was a place. Yeah. I don't know where guys hang out now. I think there's about eight or nine guys that live downtown. You would have a better idea. You played with coots, right?

[Yan Stastny]

I'm not, I'm not snitching on them. I know you'll be there trying to find them.

[Rick Tocchet]

How many guys are here when you play Coots?

[Yan Stastny]

Coots, TK Sanny Mixeeler. So you'll love Seals. Seals is the best.

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, so you got some guys here.

[Yan Stastny]

Owen Tippett. Oh, wow.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, I played with him in Florida and Philly, so yeah, you'll love all those guys. Nick Sealer is one of my favorite guys of all time. Favorite teammate. You will absolutely love him.

[Rick Tocchet]

I heard go through a wall. I heard a lot about him. I heard, I've heard this team and is really close, like a really close knit team. A bunch of guys.

[Jody Shelley]

So.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. Which is hard to do when you've been. We've been losing too. So if you can have that.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

You know, like that. That's probably one of the biggest steps to get to become a winning team. And if you already have it, that's hard when you're losing. It really is.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right. You're right. When it's probably the hardest thing as a coach if you're losing. How do you get. Keep guys together and how do you, how do you get them and keep. Stay on the same page and you know, I know it's an overused word, the process and stuff like that, but you, if you do the right things every day and, and, and, and everybody buys in and, and the, and the coaches and the players have a partnership, you have a better chance of getting out of the hole.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think my advice would probably be don't, don't use the trust the process tagline in Philly. I feel like that one was maybe used up a little bit too much by getting ready.

[Rick Tocchet]

You're right, Biz. But I need another, I need another thing. I, I've been saying it like, what's another word for process?

[Biz Nicks]

Give it to me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I don't know, but you know what I mean?

[Rick Tocchet]

Like I should, I can't. I've used it a couple times and I said I can't use it here, man. The Six, the Sixers had that the whole time, right?

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

So I don't know. I gotta try to. I gotta think of some kind of different messaging. For sure.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I had one more serious one. You're a pretty big self evaluator. Like you're always, you know, in your head thinking about what you can improve on. What would you say the takeaway from, from your Vancouver experience was? Like, what would you like to. Maybe I want to say, what did you like, regret about one of the situations you handled there? But like, what would you like to improve on and, and bring to Philly and, and, and have a. Maybe a new outlook on.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, that's a great question. I wouldn't say regret. I, I know the first month in Vancouver I might have changed a few things, you know, like the hindsight's 20 20. I think I actually should have been a little bit harder that training camp and after training camp. I mean we had a really good year the year before in. In the case that, you know, we turned things around. You know, we had a. We had. We lost in game seven with three two to Edmonton. So a lot of positives were happened. But I, I think it was. I think we were a little loose and I, I think maybe I. I could have stopped the loser. Maybe, maybe not. But you want to give guys rope. I could have did. I could have stepped in maybe a little bit early and been a little bit harder. Maybe that would have helped. Um, you know, and then another thing is I think we were a really good team at what we were good at. And I started kind of listening while we. We weren't the greatest rush team. Even though our. Even though we were on our twos, we'd scored half decently. We weren't bad in the league that way, but we were at the greatest rush team. And I. And I kind of read into it too much. Then all of a sudden training camp, we. All we did was rush drills and we did all these different drills and we got away from who we were. We were. That's a really good team without the puck and we're a damn good 4 trucking team. You know. And. And I, I went away from it. I think that. So I think this. To wrap it up. Sometimes I got to stick with who you are and conviction. I kind of went away from. I kind of listened a little bit. The outside noise. It's something that I preached that everybody who gives a shit whatever he says. So those two things probably have been a little bit harder and probably should have stuck to the. To what I believe and. Or the staff. It's not just me, it's the staff. Everybody. We're all in it together.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That was. And that was your first experience coaching in Canada, if I'm correct. That's a whole different beast. Is that really hard and how you have to navigate with the media and we talk about relationships with the players. Like you're trying to respect the fact that those guys have jobs to do too. But maybe they. They tend to nitpick and it's just like it becomes exhausting in its own right where maybe it takes a little bit of focus off what you're trying to do in the locker room.

[Rick Tocchet]

If you're going to coach in Canada, you really gotta. You almost gotta. It's almost like you should talk it out and talk to people. The best way to do it, like, you know, I kind of went in blind, but, like, Adam Foot's going there, and I gave him some advice, and I talked to Craig Barubi about Toronto. You know, you kind of, you know, you talk to certain people on how you handle that. You know, you got 25, you know, 20, 20 guys every day, right? Report anywhere from 15 to 25 guys every day. They got podcasts, seven, eight different podcasts every day, nitpicking about Vancouver. And I'll be honest with, about 80% of those guys are good guys. I mean, really, as in, listen, you got to take the criticism. You know, you take the good with the bad. But there's the odd guy that I've had to pull to the side, and I did pull a couple guys aside. It was. It was cheap shot journalism. What I thought one guy went down a river. That was just asinine. And I'm a guy that can't let it go. So we had to talk about it. I was pissed, and he was nervous, I'll tell you that. But once in a while, you got to do that, though, right? You got to do that. Like, I don't like doing it in front of the. You know, I don't want to bark at the guy with everybody. I. I think that's grandstanding. But pulling aside guy aside, say, hey, that's why not. And you just got. Did he.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Did he respond well? Was he, like, nice about it, or was he. Did he try to.

[Yan Stastny]

Probably shovel down.

[Rick Tocchet]

He tried to say he. He meant it this way. He was totally wrong. And he. You know, but he. He apologized. And I said. I said. And. And I said, the guy, you know me well enough, grab me to the side after a scrum, hey, why did you do this? Or. And I don't want to get into why, because they'll probably know. You'll probably figure out who the guy is. And I'll tell you, like, I'll be honest. Yeah, this is the reason this happened. But he tried to put. Paint it like it was, you know, we're disrespecting the player, and the management was disrespect. Everybody was disrespecting the guy, and it was, like. Like farthest from the truth. And the guy he was talking about, we had a great. I love the guy. The guy loved me. We had a great relationship. So my point is, don't be afraid to pull a guy to the side. Just. Just don't, you know, just don't embarrass him. In front of the media. I think that's what you got to do. But, yeah, it's a tough. It's a. You know, it's a pet. Listen, you know, another thing. How can you complain? You're getting 24. 7 coverage, right? Other cities don't get much. Much coverage for hockey. We're getting 24. So how you can complain, you know, and they're filling the seats. I mean, obviously the media is doing a good job of. Of creating interest, right? Biz.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You.

[Rick Tocchet]

I mean, you live there in. In the summers, you know, the way it is in Vancouver, you know, and guys, you played there. Great place to play. Risk Award. I'll tell you, if you can win that place.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, oh, isn't there. Oh, my God. I believe there's a plaque at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and it might have been a quote. That is a. Pressure is a privilege.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. And I guess, like, you gotta look at it like that, right? It's like there was a reason you're sold out every night.

[Rick Tocchet]

We went to the. We just went to the second round, and it was like they acted like we're in the finals. Like, I mean, that people are put. Like, Surrey is a kind of a smaller suburb, I don't know, half hour from Vancouver and game days, they have a Surrey party during the game. Like, there's two streets. And they'd have, I don't know, 20, 30,000 people just on the streets watching the game. And this is like a half hour from the.

[Paul Bissonnette]

From the home of the Surrey Eagles. I went there to do a little thing with Scotty Gomez.

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, you did?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, yeah, yeah. We went and trained with the kids.

[Rick Tocchet]

So, you know, like that, that's like. I don't know. It's probably good. You guys, I'd like to hear your. Or for another podcast. But if. What cities would have the best, if you want, would be the best, like where the, you know, the turnout, the passion and all that stuff. I mean, a lot of cities can claim that, but I, I, for hockey, Vancouver, for me, has got to be in the top five. I know Philly will be. I mean, Philly had. What do they have, 2, 3 million people when they won the Stanley Cup? I mean, I, I put Vancouver in there with, With. With Philly for sure.

[Pasha]

Yeah.

[Yan Stastny]

Montreal is another one.

[Biz Nicks]

I don't want to admit it, but Toronto would be bananas. It would be fucking ridiculous.

[Rick Tocchet]

Of course.

[Biz Nicks]

This would be on a float, naked, the leaf on his chest.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'd have a bottle of pink Whitney shoved up my asshole, just butt chugging. It. Yeah. Let's go boys.

[Yan Stastny]

Got NHL head coach. This is Biz. And you know him just as well as we do. You got any good biz stories from your time with him at tnt?

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, we might have talked about it, but I still remember the time me and him were arguing like we couldn't get over. Remember Biz?

[Biz Nicks]

The back checking. The back checking argument.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, it was, it was, it was like a two on two.

[Rick Tocchet]

It was, it was, it was. But whatever. The. Yeah, you can explain, but remember, and I think. Were we in. I think we're having a couple of drinks and we're in Gretz's room after having a few drinks.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh yeah, shocker. We were just. Yeah, so.

[Rick Tocchet]

But then we were so busy. We're leaving and we're in the hallway yelling at each other like it was.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Like 2 o' clock in the morning. One lady opened up her door to like peek out. She thought there was gonna be a fist fight in the hallway. Still arguing about this.

[Rick Tocchet]

Two on two, 55 year old, like, like supposed to be a mature guy. And I'm screaming at biz.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, Mr.

[Rick Tocchet]

Cleaning him in the hallway. You know Biz, it's not you point at you, it's not the Mounties. You don't play the Mountie rule. Hey, this is your man. This is my man. And Biz goes, well, yeah, but he's trying to identify. Anyways, we were screaming and yelling. It was, it was, it was actually pretty funny.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It was. I believe it was, is Harley from the Dallas Stars or.

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, was it?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I thought it was Dallas in a preseason game, but that was a good one. But we had so many good times and the, the, like. I'll say. One of the reasons I stopped drinking is because after games we would go up and like, next scene, you know, it'll be four and like the stories would keep flying and like I had to fly out the next day at 7am and I wasn't getting any sleep, so I had to be like, all right, I'm done. I'm. I'm taking a break here, boys. But there were some unreal nights where I never thought I'd hear these stories and didn't even know that they existed.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, as you know, biz, like, like I watch like every, you know, Biz, obviously a funny guy. And, and I remember, I remember Biz, I sat you down. This was a couple years ago. We're on the tell. I go Biz, you know the game, like, like Biz knows the game, right? And I said, man, start Start showing these people. These are people say you're a clown. You don't know what you're talking about.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, that, too, I.

[Rick Tocchet]

He actually knows the game. But before, like, the tell, you know, the three minutes before you go on, like, he's locked in. If you watch biz, he's not, you know, I'll be talking to HC A little bit or asking Liam what we're doing and business. He's dialed in. He's got his stats, he's got a steak, and he's, you know, hey, Morgan, you're gonna have that thing for me. Like, she's a. The. The producer. Producer. Whatever. So he's dialed in that three minutes before. He's not just, you know, chucking things around. He's. He's dialed in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I appreciate that. Talk.

[Seth Jarvis]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

No, how about when he orders meals, though?

[Yan Stastny]

Talk.

[Biz Nicks]

You've been to dinner with him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't think I was ordering two steaks when talks. There I was. I was mixing it up.

[Rick Tocchet]

Okay. You went on a steak run. I mean, I did that. I was there for three nights. You had steak every night. Like, you eat a lot of steak, man.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know. I. I got goat from it.

[Yan Stastny]

If it's free, it's from me. That's business motto.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yep.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, my. Oh, get me two steaks and a gift card.

[Pasha]

Talk.

[Biz Nicks]

Thank you so much, man. Spending some time with us should be exciting. Flyers fans, I know, are very fired up when. When you took that job. And it'll be exciting to see where the team goes. And it's nice to have that long contract that you mentioned Jonesy and. And Danny have as well, like, do it all together. And I guess my last question would be, like, when. When it comes down to lineups, like, that's on the coach, but.

[Rick Tocchet]

Right.

[Biz Nicks]

How do you talk to. To Danny about, like, what he wants? Is it. Hey, that's kind of my thing. You know what I'm saying?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah. Danny's been unreal. We've talked about that. And even part of the interview process, like, he basically, like, hands off. But I actually. How do you not ask a Danny Beer Keith Jones what they think? You know, even in Vancouver, they may.

[Biz Nicks]

Have a lineup that they. I mean, a line matchup where you kind of didn't think. You're like, oh, I trust you on that.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, like. Like, I'm going a little bit blind. But, you know, Kate's, Brink and Forester played last year near the last half of the year, and that apparently. I mean, not apparently, they're an identity Line. They were a really good line. Really good. So do I move people around? Like do I want. Because I want to get forced her up because he's a hell of a player. Do I get him up the lineup or do I keep that line together? That's what I got to rely on. Those guys, what do they think? Like it's okay to ask your GM or you know, I know at the end of the day it's on me and I make those decisions. But, but I will pick a bit, I will pick their brains on that because you know, they've lived it. They've been here for what, three, four years and they know these players. And you know, I, I, I'll tell you what. The, the last month I've been here a few times. The prospects. There's always like 10, 12 guys here working our skating. This skate zone's beautiful. They got, you know. Yeah. Yance, you were here.

[Yan Stastny]

It's awesome.

[Rick Tocchet]

Three rinks. You know, the they, they got, they got it pretty dialed in here.

[Biz Nicks]

They got.

[Rick Tocchet]

Did you ever go in the, the hyperbaric chamber outside?

[Yan Stastny]

No, it was there. I never went in it though. I'm all natural guy.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, I was wondering like I, I used to go back in the day, is that thing still. Is that good? I mean I'm like.

[Yan Stastny]

They say it's supposed to be amazing for like recovery and yeah, people swear by it.

[Biz Nicks]

I forgot to show amazing sponsor of us, it's Roback. They have us asked the last question presented by Roback. Use code chiclets on roback.com right now for 20 off all hoodies, polos, everything you can get. C H I C L E T S on R H O b a c k.com I guess last question for you in, in the discussion about how they're lengthening the season. Like, I know you don't want to really speak against the league, but wouldn't it be nice if the cup was handed out end of May? Do you not see that point of view from the fans?

[Rick Tocchet]

Shorten the season, you mean?

[Biz Nicks]

Shorten the season or started earlier? Biz wants to go against the NFL. I'm not saying Sundays, but if you started earlier and you stay away from Sunday, you finish earlier.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I want Goodell's head on a platter.

[Rick Tocchet]

No, I. Well, next year they're going to have four exhibition games, which I'm a fan of. We don't need, you don't need a lot of exhibition games. Like, like Jan said, they come into shape. Like let's, let's, let's tighten up training camp. You know, we don't need the long training camps. Let's get into it right, you know, fairly right into the way. I get it. You want to see young guys play and draft. I that's the one give you're going to have to give. But I think when you get in the middle of June and late June, it gets a little bit, you know, you lose interest. Right. I think the. So maybe that shorten, shorten that September up and start earlier. Yeah, yeah, I agree with that.

[Biz Nicks]

Well, can't wait to see how this season goes and we appreciate you spending the time with us. Good luck with everything talk.

[Rick Tocchet]

We appreciate it. I appreciate it man. Thanks for the support and love listening to you guys.

[Yan Stastny]

Thank you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Love your talk.

[Yan Stastny]

Good luck talk.

[Biz Nicks]

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[Yan Stastny]

Great team.

[Biz Nicks]

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[Biz Nicks]

Thank you very much to Rick Talkett. Awesome guy. We'll see what the Flyers do. I think it's safe to say none of us have him as a playoff team.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, no.

[Biz Nicks]

And none of us had the balls to say that to talk it either, but that goes without saying.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Absolutely not. I would never say that to his face. He's watching this.

[Yan Stastny]

I got him in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. Yeah. It's just giving it the. But hey, he's got five years to work his magic, man. You can't just create a culture overnight. Like he's going to be working with these guys and you know, just like the Islanders, they got work to do. Right. He's. And, and he's got a little bit more, I guess, a little bit more difficulty in the fact that his up and coming superstar is. Is Russian. Right. There's a communication barrier. So. So hopefully he's able to get through to him and he's able to show like growth signs from what we saw last year. And hopefully wit doesn't insult his stride because then he's going to have Flyers fans threatening his life online.

[Biz Nicks]

I'll tell you something about him is I actually, I knew Michkov was crazy skilled. I was excited to watch him play. Then I mentioned that there was a clip where you could be an incredible player, but your stride can look a little funky and not look effortless like some NHLers and Flyers fans went so crazy on me and sent me every little wraparound goal that now I don't like Mechkov. So now it's turned into, you've made me not like him. I can't stand Philly. And then I got little birdies everywhere, and I'm hearing that he didn't come in and Grace, he's out of shape.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's out of shape?

[Yan Stastny]

Really?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I heard that.

[Biz Nicks]

You heard that too?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, not from talk, but I heard he's out of shape.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah. So obviously that's people we interviewed.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Talk, like, what was it like? Like three weeks ago?

[Yan Stastny]

It was before training camp.

[Biz Nicks]

No, that was like. I think that was like, who is. You got late, early September birdie. Who told you I got birdie? I got birdies in Philly. Great coming out of Philly. Some of the best golf in the world in the Philadelphia area, I'll say that. But yeah, I mean, so now you've made me. You've made me have, like, a guy, a player I don't like because of you guys, even though he is magical to watch with the puck. But he came in out of shape. And if you're not a fluid, incredibly gifted skater and you're out of shape, it's not a great combo. I'll just say that. But I love talk, and hopefully he doesn't listen to this. We gotta probably put the warning on now as we get to the New Jersey Devils and people. People chirp and crush Pasha on the Internet biz. They can't stand this guy. I love him. I love him. Well informed on the Devils.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Absolutely.

[Biz Nicks]

A complete lunatic. Loves gambling and basically is truly deranged. But I love talking to him about devil's hockey. So we're bringing him in now.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I can't wait to hear these covered wagons, boys.

[Biz Nicks]

Look at them in the dark in Vancouver. Just what are you thinking right now? What are you doing?

[Pasha]

I'm actually in business. Neck of the woods. I'm in Victoria.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What are you doing over there?

[Pasha]

I'm here for a little Thanksgiving dinner with the girlfriend's family.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wow.

[Biz Nicks]

Good for you.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Serious? It's getting serious.

[Biz Nicks]

Are you. Are you gonna say grace before the meal?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, he's gonna say a prayer at the Thanksgiving dinner table about how Luke Hughes has been lighting the lamp since he's got his new ticket. They're like, who's lap?

[Biz Nicks]

The whole family's like, she's dating. And Todd from Wedding Crashers. What the hell's up with this guy? The painting was a gift.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

So, Pasha, what Do you think so far, two games in, what's your excitement level? I know you have them as a playoff team, but give us a breakdown of your squad.

[Pasha]

I would say excitement levels. 10 out of 10. It was a tough start in Carolina. I mean, the team has now lost 11 straight games in Raleigh. Something about that building. They just, it's tough place to play, curse for them. And I think Dougie after the game said it best. He goes, we're going to have to learn how to win in that building. Unless, like, we're not going to do anything meaningful until we learn how to win in Raleigh. So, I mean, that's a solution that they can fix down the road, like, bigger picture. But I think a lot of good things I saw in that game, a lot of good things I saw against Tampa yesterday. So excitement is. Is 10 out of 10. I would say the biggest thing is Jack looks like Jack last year, coming in first 10 games or so. He did not look like himself. Bobbling pucks, just. You could just tell he was coming off surgery this year. Again, it's only two games, but he looks like himself skating. He actually threw a hit on Gensel, knocked Gensel over. So good to see him throwing the body around. So he looks engaged. That's obviously without him, you know, being jacked, they're doing nothing. I would say another X factor was Nemetz. He has looked really good early. He looked, he looks like he's gained a staff in his skating. He's assertive, so they need him to be, you know, continue his development if they want to do anything. And then I would say the biggest surprise has been Arseni Gritsuk. This guy, like, you know, everyone knew about his shot. He was kind of sold as this big, like, Russian sniper. Not big physically, but big time sniper. But I've been really impressed with his skating, his playmaking, even his physicality on the boards. I think the sky's the limit for him right now. He's playing third, fourth line minutes, but I could easily see him sliding up the lineup. Tough bounce. Dad in awe. Broke his hand, game one. So he'll be out for a while. So I, you know, he was playing with Jack and Brad. I could see Gritshu sliding up there if they need to shake things up. So I think he's going to have a huge impact on this team for sure. So excitement for him is through the roof.

[Biz Nicks]

I need to come out and say, Luke Hughes, four points in two games, looks phenomenal. So you've, you've been on that train for A while. He looks great. I'm interested to see what Connor Brown can do because if you remember the. The whatever, 70 games, whatever it was, without scoring a goal. He also played some incredible hockey for Edmonton, especially in the playoffs. He's got two goals already. Like, he could actually be a guy with a hot start if he plays top two lines.

[Rick Tocchet]

He.

[Biz Nicks]

I could see him getting 25 goals.

[Pasha]

He's looked great. Yeah. So shout out you wit. Thanks to you and your Oilers for Connor Brown. I was surprised with his speed. Like, the guy can move and you know, he's. He's shown he's had a nice shot. He has chemistry with Gritsuk, actually. They've been playing on the third line together and last year the Devil's bottom six was. Was the death of them. They had zero offense from their bottom six. So if Grit Tuken Brown can chip in like you said, 20, 25 goals each, that's going to go a long way. And he kind of replaces what Holla did on the PK Hall. It was great for them on the PK. So he's. Connor Brown's one of the better PKers in the league. So, like, again, small sample size, but I've loved what I've seen out of him so far.

[Biz Nicks]

Would you say yes or no, that if. If Timo Meyer doesn't have a good year, they're fucked?

[Pasha]

I wouldn't quite say that, but they. They need him to be. They need him to play like he does later in the season, the last couple of years, and he's looked really good. He's got a goal already. He's using his body crash in the net, but for some reason he always has slow starts. So if he can be what he's been late in the season and in the playoffs, in the playoffs, he was one of the best players for them. So I wouldn't like, say it's make or break. If Timo is not having a big year, they're fucked. But they need Timo to be Timo for sure.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do we already talk about Palot?

[Pasha]

We have not talked about Palo.

[Biz Nicks]

He doesn't bring up the stuff that doesn't look great. He only brings up the stuff. Oh, no, I'll bring.

[Rick Tocchet]

I'll bring up.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, no, no, no, no.

[Pasha]

I'll bring up the stuff that doesn't look great. Yeah, Palat's not what it used to be. You know, obviously he brings what he brings in the room and that's invaluable, but he's lost a step. He had a tough Groin injury.

[Biz Nicks]

He's.

[Pasha]

He's just not what he used to be. And for 6 million bucks, like I would rather spend that. That's a lot. I'd rather spend that elsewhere. So. Yeah. And I think Mercer is a guy who really struggled last year. They need Mercer to go back to what he was a couple years ago and continue that development. If he stalls at where he's been and his ceiling is what we saw last year, not good enough. And that's. That's going to hurt their chances because they need Mercer to really continue to develop. And honestly, Markstrom's looked a little suspect these first two games. So you want to talk about negative things? You know, I know it's two games. Whatever I'm. Holy word.

[Biz Nicks]

We'll take them in Edmonton if you don't want them.

[Pasha]

No, we'll keep them. Thanks.

[Biz Nicks]

Okay.

[Rick Tocchet]

They.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He had the chance to sign there.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, I think. Wasn't it. Wasn't it like. I think it was very close to happening.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It was there. Calgary. And he chose Calgary.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

They offered more money in. In Edmonton as well. And a lot. Maybe even a longer term. But so.

[Pasha]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

What.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So what. What's the. Then you gu. The backup. It's Elliot, correct?

[Pasha]

Jake Allen or Allen.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Allen.

[Pasha]

Yeah. And actually speaking of Edmonton, I just want to say that Corpus Al. Suggestion by G. Brutal suggestion. Corpus alo is not an upgrade over Skinner. Brutal suggestion. But G doesn't know Puck, so it's all good.

[Jody Shelley]

Oh, whoa.

[Paul Bissonnette]

We're getting chippy.

[Biz Nicks]

When you tell people they don't know Puck, it hurts. Time out. All I was saying was if he can get back to where he was a few years ago, then you make.

[Jody Shelley]

The trade for him.

[Colby Armstrong]

You.

[Jody Shelley]

You.

[Colby Armstrong]

Pasha.

[Biz Nicks]

Where.

[Pasha]

Where was he a few years ago?

[Yan Stastny]

He had a good.

[Biz Nicks]

He was great in Columbus.

[Pasha]

One year.

[Biz Nicks]

What are you talking about? For like one year? Yeah, and he looked great that season.

[Rick Tocchet]

You.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's all you needed? That's all they needed for one year? Posh. They just got to needed one year.

[Biz Nicks]

He's thinking a draft spring. Hey Pasha, there's no way Dawson Mercer's last year and the year before that is what? Like he had 27 as a 20 year old. Like I. There has to be that game in him. I. There's no way he popped off for 27 goals his second year. And like now you're saying he will.

[Pasha]

Get back to that?

[Biz Nicks]

I think.

[Pasha]

I think so too. Honestly, the thing with him, his usage has been whack. Like when he plays with Jack, his numbers are great. Like under the Hood, his numbers are great, but for whatever reason, he never plays with Jack and actually he started this year on the first unit power play because Nathan's hurt. Last year, Nason was the net front guy lighting it up. So he's taken that role for the start of this year. So, so I'm sure that'll help prop his numbers up. But you know, if you're, if you're playing third line and you're not playing much power play time, it's hard to put up numbers. But yeah, he's, he, I, I am optimistic. I think he's, he's, he's got that dog in him. He's really good around the net. So yeah, I'm bullish on Mercer for sure. It's a good buy. Low stock right there. Dawson.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Mercer is Sheldon Keefe the coach behind the bench at the end of the year.

[Pasha]

Yes, definitely.

[Yan Stastny]

You got deboer coming in there, don't you, Biz?

[Pasha]

I, oh, fuck. I would love DeBoer, honestly, like love them. Last time around in Jersey.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm just asking if they don't take that next step, like, what's happening?

[Pasha]

You can't. He hasn't even had one crack at taking the first step. Like, look at the injuries on her. It was not, that's not a fair shot. He did not have a fair shot. Okay.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm just asking the questions. I don't know what the I'm talking about.

[Colby Armstrong]

I don't know.

[Pasha]

He will be behind the bench.

[Biz Nicks]

I, I, I think Jersey for me at least when you talk about one guy makes you want to watch a team. Jack Hughes makes me want to watch the Devils. I like watching them play. It's exciting hockey, it's fast. I, I don't know what you guys think. We know Pasha has him in. I'm kind of between them.

[Pasha]

Are you high on crack?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm kind of with wit. I'm, I got him.

[Pasha]

You think?

[Biz Nicks]

You know, I knew that you'd have him in the playoffs. You, you think it's crazy to think that there's a chance they missed the playoffs. They do you want to bet?

[Pasha]

Who has more points, Columbus or New Jersey?

[Biz Nicks]

I'd probably want some odds.

[Pasha]

What odds do you want?

[Biz Nicks]

It's more on my mind that like they're not a lock. They, they have trouble staying healthy.

[Pasha]

They're as much of a lock as any team if you're not factory in health because like obviously any team.

[Biz Nicks]

What a, what a non factor that is. Hey guys. They're, they're in. But that's to say that if no one gets hurt in a speed where Sport you guys 24 miles an hour running into each other.

[Pasha]

But you could say the same thing about Colorado if nature of McKinnon.

[Biz Nicks]

No, they don't have the history. They don't have the history.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Hey, let me ask you this.

[Seth Jarvis]

They're a lot.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Would you look at last year?

[Pasha]

Look at last year. They literally lost team and they still made playoffs.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Would you bet wit if Columbus was getting six points? Like bet the even money but Columbus. Would you take that If Columbus got six?

[Pasha]

The Devil's finished with 100. Columbus is at 94. It's a tie.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Correct.

[Yan Stastny]

That's how it works.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wait, do you think that's enough points?

[Pasha]

Six points. A lot of points.

[Biz Nicks]

A lot of points. And I.

[Yan Stastny]

And it's three games. It's nothing.

[Biz Nicks]

No, wait.

[Pasha]

You started this off all oh, I'm torn in Columbus versus New Jersey. So you obviously think it's close. Call me straight up like a man.

[Yan Stastny]

Go him.

[Biz Nicks]

No, because I. I. 91 points last year versus 89.

[Pasha]

I'll give you two points. I'll give you two points dot give me two points.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think you settle at. I think four points.

[Rick Tocchet]

They were in the Atlantic.

[Yan Stastny]

They wouldn't make the point.

[Biz Nicks]

Well, no, guys, guys, this is to say if nobody ever gets hurt in the NHL.

[Pasha]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Rick Tocchet]

Forget that.

[Pasha]

No, we're keeping health a factor. Go me two points.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I'm. I'm. I'm gonna say they're in.

[Biz Nicks]

I'm gonna say they're in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Of course they're gonna be a wild.

[Biz Nicks]

What are we doing here?

[Pasha]

You just talked about how bad.

[Biz Nicks]

I think I'm switching it to Columbus as that final conversation that. That third spot in the metro. Because I'll tell you, we'll get into them. The Rangers aren't making the playoffs. They. I actually think they will. Look, Sturkin might do it.

[Pasha]

Oh, he's my Vezna pick. I think he will drag that corpse of a team in. They're not gonna do anything. But I do think Shusterkin drags them in.

[Yan Stastny]

What did the in laws think about that cardigan you have on?

[Biz Nicks]

They bought it for him.

[Pasha]

It's Kev, Buddy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's the old man's. He got out of his closet. He's wearing. He's wearing his mother in law's drawers too.

[Biz Nicks]

He makes his girl wear her mom's drawers. It's weird. Weird shit. It's.

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, whoa.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It's Todd the granny panties.

[Biz Nicks]

Zip that up all the way.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Catchers I got him in. Now get this fucking guy off my screen.

[Biz Nicks]

I got him in too.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Seriously great breakdown by Pasha as usual. He knows his team, knows his team.

[Biz Nicks]

That's all about all right. Leads us into the Rangers. Maybe I'm more thinking of that home opener where I was like, oh, but the tro trochecks hurt. TRO checks, I think week to week, you know.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Obviously not just lost one nothing tonight to Washington.

[Biz Nicks]

They didn't score tonight. It looks a lot of the same. So Zad Mika with the dry hair. Sean Avery calls him. He hasn't scored yet, but Mike Sullivan was actually like pumping his tires saying he's been unbelievable defensively. Said he's completely been driving his line. He got what could be the save of the year in the first season today by Lindgren on an unreal one timer that Lindgren got his across and got his glove on it. Bright side, Adam Fox looks awesome. And we talked about him before the season. I actually saw a tweet where some guy was talking about how he was like 20 to 1 to win the Norris. It's already down to 15 to 1 after like three or four games. That would be enormous. That could be like Shisterkin a guy who could drag him in. But I don't know. I'm not sold either one of you guys want to take it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

But I got Rempe winning the Lady Bank.

[Biz Nicks]

Okay, I like that.

[Yan Stastny]

I think with that good of a goaltender like Shusturkin is so fucking good. Like even tonight they lose one nothing and it's they're going to score at some point. Like they at least got to figure that out. Whether it's power play, scoring five on five. Like you have to find a way to score goals in this league. But I think eventually they'll figure it out. Like a lot of new faces there this year, guys that have left that have been there forever. So it's probably, you probably get a little bit of a new coach too, right? So a little bit of a leeway. I'd give them like a 10 game leeway for me just trying to figure out everything and then after that is when I'm really going to start judging them. But that first game, man, they look dog, but I, I, I, I think they get in.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You said Zabanajad didn't have a goal. Was that you wit? Yeah, he does have one. I don't know guys. I, I just, I agree. Shusterkin could get them in. I just kind of want to go against the grain and say they don't make playoffs this year. I don't, I don't. I, I've watched, I've watched like a, a game and a period of these guys and I'm just not that impressed. I hope game one is not indicative of what we see all season for them because, like, it gets pretty gross there in the media if they're going to be sandwiches like that. But you mentioned Trocheck being out. He touches so many areas of their game. Penalty kill good in the face off circle. I feel like he takes well now that JT's there. Maybe not as many, but majority of their defensive zone draws.

[Rick Tocchet]

This is.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I feel like this is going to be a tough sledding season for the New York Rangers and I have them missing playoffs.

[Biz Nicks]

So.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And I don't really have much else to say. Cause I'm tired.

[Yan Stastny]

You got them in?

[Biz Nicks]

I got them not in. They are not in for me. No. I mean, who knows? I, I, them in Washington confused me. I can't believe what Washington did last year. We can kind of go to them. What a story. The OV goal chase they get in. The thing is, for me now, all these guys had career years, like a ton of, a ton of guys now. I think some of them could continue and keep building on it, but there might be like a fallback from others. I, I love chicken there. Sandine. Smooth biz. You, you kind of wish you still had Sandine in Toronto, right?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, he's too small. But I, but I like him as a player. Just what, not what we need.

[Biz Nicks]

I, I think Ryan Leonard's gonna be nasty as a rookie. You saw him hop into the playoffs and that's an enormous jump. He scored already. He looks good. That's a guy like youth coming into that lineup. I don't know, Ovie, you guys think, does Ovi get his standard, like 40 again?

[Paul Bissonnette]

I think Ovi's gonna get 35, 40 goals. I think it's gonna, this year it's gonna be a little bit more on the, like, it's going to take a little bit more from the guys around him. He is slowing down. Like, it's, it's visible too. Like, I know even like the second half of last year, I know he was scoring a lot of goals, but he's just not moving around like he once was. And then, but the four other guys in the ice with them don't mind doing the work. But I think that you touched on it like the fact that Ryan Leonard's there and they've injected a little Bit of young life into that locker room. I think coaching has a lot to do with it where I feel like Carberry's young, energetic, he can always, he can come with a new message that doesn't become redundant and, and just wear on the guys. I love what they got on the back end. Like I, I, I. You mentioned Sandin. Like I like them in that lineup because I feel like they also have like each pairing has a good offensive player. Like you have Carlson on one, sanding on the next and then Chickren on the third pairing where like that Matt Roy, like he's a good stay at home defenseman. Good young up and comer. I think he's like middle age at this point. And then I just look up front like, like Stromer, reliable center, proven Dubois. I thought that, you know, now that he's a year more comfortable with that team, that produce, like he's a fucking unit nasty Wilson. I felt like when they made the move for Bevillier is how you say it. Beville Bavillier.

[Biz Nicks]

Yep.

[Yan Stastny]

You're the French one.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I felt that he fit in well. I think he actually had the winner tonight in that one nothing game. And you talk about that young energy too. Like McMichael. Like he had a, he had a pop off year last year where he still, he still got those young legs. So I trust that fourth line too. Like I played with Nick Dowd. Want to call their couple them not a big deal. And he's used to playing with that Duhame. So although a lot of, a lot of the same. They injected a little bit of that young life and I still, I also feel just like they played last year for ovi's goal chase. I feel like this year they're playing because they probably know it's always last year.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So I do think that they're going to squeeze in and that's my third team in that, in that division and that's all I got.

[Biz Nicks]

I got, I got a, I got him in over, over Columbus. Thinking of Ovies last year. I think Dubois. I don't think last year was like a fluke. He just, I think maybe coaching he bought in like over 60 points. Strom. Strom had 82 points last year. Maybe he takes a little step back. But I, I like what you say Biz just reliable. Carlson's still got game.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's still got game.

[Biz Nicks]

Based on Lindgren last year, the save I saw tonight, he gets a shutout in New York. Like I got him in. I got him in.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

I shouldn't have been. I got him in saying those things.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Boys, this has been a long one. Holy shit.

[Biz Nicks]

Well, we got more teams. Bizarre.

[Rick Tocchet]

Who do we got?

[Biz Nicks]

We got Pittsburgh.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, my God. Oh, fuck off.

[Biz Nicks]

It's. It's unfair that OV goes in that goal chase and they have this incredible year and they win their. Win the division and nobody saw it coming. And Crosby, who it is not his last year, but he's got to be on this team and. And they've started off okay. Malkins look good. They had the big win against the Rangers on opening night. The Rangers then waxed them. But it's not fair that Obi still playing this meaningful hockey. And Sid probably won't be as long as he's, you know, on the Penguins still. So I don't really know. Army's coming on in two minutes. I guess we gotta leave it to him because I will say this biased. Keith knows. Keith's old high school coach, Dan Shea. His son Ryan Shay's on the Penguins. He was with the Dallas Stars AHL team for a long time. Got a chance. I just want to shout him out because he's looked great. The. The first game against the Rangers, he was incredible. And having a new coach Dan Muse in there, right? Like maybe Sully wasn't playing. Young guys didn't love his game, but he's getting more of a chance. So I know this is a. A defenseman that a lot of people don't know about, but keep an eye out on him. He's nice player. He's getting a chance now.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You know who looks unbelievable?

[Colby Armstrong]

Who?

[Rick Tocchet]

Gino.

[Yan Stastny]

Gino.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah.

[Yan Stastny]

He must see the contract.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Awesome.

[Yan Stastny]

Like he's seeing these contracts. He's like, fuck, I'll play three more years, get 12 million bucks. Why not?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, true that.

[Biz Nicks]

I know last year he started off very hot as well. He has five assists through three games right now. Yeah, I don't know this team. G's X factor. Brazo has three goals already and some of them are nasty. G, that was the guy. That's why the Bruins were going to win the cup and beat the Panthers that year. They had Justin Brazo, who was the.

[Yan Stastny]

Other kid too, that they had. He was in Tampa.

[Biz Nicks]

Tyler Johnson.

[Colby Armstrong]

I ended his career, I said he.

[Seth Jarvis]

Was going to be the X factor.

[Colby Armstrong]

For their season last season, and then.

[Seth Jarvis]

He retired three weeks later.

[Biz Nicks]

Yep, yep, you buried him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I will remember you.

[Biz Nicks]

Sid's not gonna let him be a lottery team. Granalli says.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah, I mean, Sid's going for what, his 21st point of point per game season, which is.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, you're the best.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah. Not. Not much to be happy about.

[Biz Nicks]

How do you do that? How do you get that many points? Hockey must be so fun. Every game you just get points. And he's, like, doing it, like, playing defense. Number one matchups, guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Old.

[Biz Nicks]

Getting old. 38 years old. Humming around out there, training his dick off with pictures of the Stanley cup winners that year to motivate himself.

[Yan Stastny]

That's different level.

[Biz Nicks]

Straight up, just wired different. Just wired different.

[Yan Stastny]

He isn't getting a show run by his wife.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's how it's done. Bingo.

[Biz Nicks]

That's why he's waiting till. Waiting for marriage till post trial. I'm not getting my show run while I'm still one of the greatest athletes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

All he talks about in his hall of Fame speech is getting his show ran by his wife. Now that he's married, after he.

[Yan Stastny]

She didn't see one game.

[Biz Nicks]

Like, she treats me like a. Like a biz. Like a grocery stick. Like a four career goal.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, the good news is we actually have someone coming on who can break down the squad because he watches him every single game. There he is, ladies and gentlemen. Colby Armstrong.

[Colby Armstrong]

What's up, boys? Great start to the year for you guys. Holy.

[Jody Shelley]

Two.

[Colby Armstrong]

Two shows a week.

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, Game Notes Wednesday.

[Colby Armstrong]

Game Notes. Yeah. Game Notes is popping in right in the middle of the week. 12 noon, live on Chiclets, YouTube. Get those subscribers up to keep busy, boy. Rock hard all year long.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, baby. Got my hand in my pants. Get the chat going, baby. Get the chat on the road.

[Colby Armstrong]

First road trip of the year, boys. First road trip of the year for the old arm dog Newport out here in Anaheim, boys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You get the cookies, boys.

[Colby Armstrong]

You know who I'm out here with.

[Yan Stastny]

Double trees anymore, biz.

[Colby Armstrong]

You know that.

[Pasha]

Yeah.

[Colby Armstrong]

We're not with the Coyotes.

[Seth Jarvis]

Come on, Biz.

[Rick Tocchet]

Sorry.

[Colby Armstrong]

You know the guy that you guys had out here?

[Rick Tocchet]

You guys came. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Colby Armstrong]

Austin, the guy at the hotel here. He took care of me. I got a sick setup. He got me in the suite. I've just hooked me up second year in a row. This because. Because of you guys.

[Seth Jarvis]

He loves you guys.

[Biz Nicks]

That place is sick, sick, sick.

[Colby Armstrong]

Pendry.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, Pendry.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Even got a sexy name. Army.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah. Yes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What's going on with this Penguins team? I feel like they're playing above expectations right now. And they got some goaltending going on.

[Colby Armstrong]

Right now while they've got a little rotation going.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yes, they do.

[Colby Armstrong]

She loves. Lost the last game. Beat down by the Rangers. They got their sweet revenge as Mike Sullivan came back to town. They honored him and gave a little wave, of course, back to back Stanley cup champions. But they, they have. She loves. They have Jari. They're rotating right now. They each have a win to start the season.

[Yan Stastny]

She loves the minors that I'm hearing about.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah, this guy, this Russian tendee, he's. He's gonna be sick. He just, he, you know what he does? I don't know what it is with goaltenders. They just look. Well, it's just anybody, right? Like guys that look young, they just look like they don't move like a veteran, you know? You know what I mean? Yeah. Like baby deer style. And he, he has a little, a little bit of that. Miroshov is his name.

[Biz Nicks]

How big is he?

[Colby Armstrong]

He's like six, two.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, okay. I thought he was like perfect size.

[Colby Armstrong]

Like actually like perfect size. But he, he played through some preseason games. He played really well. He had a good year last year. Up and down Wilkes and in Wheeling a little bit. And they're pretty high on him, but I think he's just going to take some time. He's young. I forget his age. I think he's like 21 years old or something like that, but. But actually exciting this year with your boy Yan's, by the way. Dan Muse, great guy. And I know Yan's told me he would have quit hockey if it wasn't for the Muse family and Dan Muse's father kind of bringing you along, I believe that's what you told me about his uncle's family. It was his uncle. Okay, yeah, his uncle, but just a, just a, like a people person guy. Some new blood that's in here. He's got a whole new coaching staff. Bunch of young guys, except for Stutzy and Todd Nelson they brought. Stu's a beauty, man.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Stutzy's the best.

[Colby Armstrong]

Hey, you should see this guy at practice. Like, this guy, he's like 21 years old every day. He's unbelievable. Like full blown energy monster. Every day in practice, just. And he is a monster. He's a huge guy.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Does he bang his stick on the glass sometimes?

[Colby Armstrong]

Banging his stick off the glass, like.

[Biz Nicks]

That'S his move.

[Colby Armstrong]

Oh, buddy. He's yelling, he's whistling, he's bagging his stick. Yeah, he gets it going.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He gets it going, especially with the young guys. He's not doing that to Sid, but he's fucking getting the young guys going.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah, and, and they do have young guys here for once. Like they've never really had this. So it's. It's been. It's been pretty good. It's been kind of refreshing in a sense, to have, like, kind of like a fresh group of coaches. And then also, you know, when you go to camp and they're like, hey, guys, like, everyone that's here has a chance of making the team. Like.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It'S like the Red Wings when they had 11 hall of Famers on their team. It's like, oh, yeah, okay. I'll be a fucking Toledo playing for the walleye.

[Biz Nicks]

You already have an apartment in Grand Rapids.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, yeah.

[Colby Armstrong]

You had your three roommates lined up and had the futon rented and everything?

[Seth Jarvis]

Everything's ready.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Colby Armstrong]

But you know what? I give them credit. Like, they had some guys come in. They had a lot of guys under contract, and a lot of guys like, where are you going to fit them? Like, Matt Dumba hasn't played yet. They've got guys sitting in the weeds waiting to come in. Hazy's banged up and out, hoping to get him back soon, probably. But in the meantime, they've got this Harrison Bruinick, who's 19, scored his first goal a few. Few games ago, and he's, like, so confident. His legs are unreal. Like, this kid just gets up and like, what's with these guys that can skate like this? It's just crazy. Like, the pop in their legs, but also, like, the confidence to go with it. Crazy. Watching him right now, he looks. He looks really good. And, you know, to have. Have guys come in and be like, hey, we got a chance, an opportunity, and things have opened up and, you know, Ben Kindle, 18 years old, they just drafted him, scored his first goal the other night against the Rangers. The only goal in a 61 beatdown. But to fit those guys in, it's.

[Yan Stastny]

It's.

[Colby Armstrong]

It's been. It's been nice. They haven't had, like, any picks that have, like, over the last. How many years that have hit, because they've been going for it every year. You know, they've traded everything away, and there hasn't been much there in the cupboards. And, you know, they're trying to corral picks, and Dubas is trying to do that with the draft right now, and a couple guys from last few years are now in the lineup, which is. We haven't seen that in forever with the Penguins.

[Biz Nicks]

That Kindle kid looks like he's 15.

[Colby Armstrong]

I know he's got, like, a little cut on his nose, but that's it. He looks so young, but the Thing about Brunic and Kindle, Western leaguers, just full blown Western leaguers. So, you know I'm loving it. You know I'm loving these guys coming in here. Western leaguers.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Plus they picked the kid they got for Gensel.

[Colby Armstrong]

No, they drafted him second round a.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Few years ago that scored. I think he got one.

[Colby Armstrong]

Well, Kindle's the only guy that scored that's a 18 year old. They have a kid in couple. They have some guys in college I think in Arizona there.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Okay. I think somebody was a draft pick.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah, somebody.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Somebody tweeted at me that one of the guys they got from. From the Genel track, I think.

[Colby Armstrong]

Is that Chaz Lucius? Is he on the airs asu? I think he got like a house name. Yeah, it's a great name. Dirk. I hope I'm right about that. By the way, I could be wrong.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What a name.

[Yan Stastny]

It's like Val Venus.

[Biz Nicks]

I saw a hawk son who was a first rounder.

[Colby Armstrong]

He's Cruz Lucius. Is that what it is? Yeah, Cruz Lucius.

[Paul Bissonnette]

That's a pretty sick name.

[Colby Armstrong]

I don't get him.

[Paul Bissonnette]

How is that Billy Koivonen?

[Colby Armstrong]

Koivan and just got sent down to Wilkes the other day. He got taken on a lineup. He got pumped down. Yeah, he's. He's good though.

[Yan Stastny]

He'll be good.

[Colby Armstrong]

He'll be good. They just have a lot of guy like, you know the one thing they got like Manta in here, they got Brazo. Big, big X factor Brazo. Two game winners in a row. He's got three goals in three games. Didn't pot one last game, which was weird. You know, we're starting it off. You just score in every game. But Matt, how about this line? Manta, Brazo and Malkin.

[Biz Nicks]

The Malkin line.

[Yan Stastny]

Some big boys, man.

[Colby Armstrong]

I call them great. Six, six and others. It's six, five. Both of them like they're just monsters out there on the ice. And Geno's skating real well. Yeah, he's on it, but I think those guys give him a little extra space, you know, Give him a. You know, he likes to barrel through everybody and plow through kind of. And. And those guys kind of slow guys down, get in the way a little bit. But they've been, they've been a really good line. They've been good through the preseason and have started the year pretty good together. So Gino's had a good start. Five assists this year. So far through three games, the line's been good. They had one game where like the play, the power play really popped. And.

[Pasha]

But.

[Colby Armstrong]

But that line is like, kind of like this monster line. Like, we. They haven't had guys like that in a while or, like, they're huge. And so, yeah, they got some monsters up front that. That's the one line that's. That's big and. And can make things happen. Brazzo's been like, Brazil's like, surprising to me. Like, he's just such a big guy.

[Jody Shelley]

He.

[Colby Armstrong]

He kind of seems like just like a. Like a big power forward kind of. I don't know. But then his hands. He has, like, sick hands. I don't know if you guys watched him last year or whatever with Boston and a little bit with Minnesota, but, yeah, he has, like, some really good mitts in and around the net and can make great little plays. I had a call guy that coached him in Providence to message me and be like, that coach. This guy, like, never turns a puck over. Never turns it over. Just loves him. So he's been a.

[Pasha]

He's been a.

[Colby Armstrong]

He's been a really good fit. He's been a good fit here on them.

[Biz Nicks]

Crosby. The. Crosby's goal. He's just. Oh, my God, did you see it Biz? He went down on where he's been. Had it on the power play, like, down on the goal line. He just got inside the defenseman. I think it was poolock on the Islanders.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Went down on one knee. Just stuck his stick against the post like you. It was basically a statue. Couldn't move him. And then Malcolm just fired. Just hits him like he. He just angled himself and got himself so strong and low. He just knew it would hit him and go in. It was not. He's just.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah, he just went one knee down with that skate there, and then his paddle there. Like, built the wall, you know, Just had to, like, shoot it in off him, you know, but, like, you know, when he gets body position. No. 1, even though he's not like the tallest guy, but he's just so strong. He just, like, hunkered in on his stick and he. It was game over. But you know what? It reminded me of wit back in the day. Remember Johnny LeClaire? Big Johnny, but he was so good in front of the net. Totally different style. Right? Like, so big, big body, and he would. He would get on behind guys. And then you couldn't. Like, if you were a D, you couldn't get like. Remember how you guys used to box out so much? It's so different now. Like, they. They front you now instead.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah.

[Colby Armstrong]

Where Johnny would like get behind him. He was so big. And then, and then he would build that wall with his body and use a stick right there or clear a straight lane across the crease for like a backdoor tap. And. And he would do that on his own. So it kind of reminded me of an old Johnny leclaire move, although totally different.

[Yan Stastny]

Remember his Sid, Johnny leclerc's curve.

[Colby Armstrong]

It's like my nose.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. I was in training camp with him and. And Flurry was in that. This is when Flurry was in as like an 18 year old after getting drafted first overall. And we were playing the rebound game and LeClaire was doing full blown clappers from the, from the house. And even like Flurry was like. You could tell. Flurry was like kind of pissed, but like he's got so much respect for him. He didn't anything. He was going bar down zipping them by his ear with that, that paddle, whatever. He had it.

[Colby Armstrong]

It was almost both ways with it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It was like. Yeah, it was like almost like a Nick Lidstrom like where it opened up and. Oh, he was just letting him fly right by his ear.

[Rick Tocchet]

It is a double curve.

[Pasha]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

It was uncomfortable because you could see Flurry was uncomfortable and Le didn't give a. That he was uncomfortable. So I was like, oh, Jesus.

[Yan Stastny]

Blocking the show.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, a bright side I did see Sean Horkoff's son Will plays at Michigan.

[Colby Armstrong]

First round for him.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, dude, he. He's been dominant.

[Colby Armstrong]

Huge.

[Biz Nicks]

They crushed Providence this weekend for. I think they beat him twice. But that's a guy coming up, right? You're looking to the future.

[Colby Armstrong]

My son was at the game the other night in Providence against Michigan. He was sitting down by Michigan's bench, had tickets down there, had the night off. School took him. One of the parents came, picked him up, brought him down to the Providence game. Got to watch those guys up close. So that was. That's pretty cool. But good start for him with the hat trick on opening night. Right. Right out of the gates for. For Horkoff. Some prospects in. In the holster coming up for the Pens. It's been so long, guys. It's just been so long. They haven't had. They haven't had the cupboards filled with any kind of good young talent. And. And you got guys in college that are coming up. You got guys that are developing still. Yes, but then you have Bruinick and Kindle that, that have. Are on the team right now and scoring goals. They both have scored their first NHL goals already through three games. So pretty Impressive players. They'll be really good NHL ers, and I don't know if it'll last nine games or what their plans are with them. I'm not sure. But I love the fact that they didn't go with the old fucking. You can make the team. Everyone's here. But, like, we know it's not true. Like, they actually took some kids, they actually changed it up and went, you know, another way. And maybe that's a new coaching staff. Maybe that's a fresh face. Maybe that's Dan Muse and his staff that just said, hey, these guys.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you need guys competing.

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Working hard in practice. Like, they're, you know.

[Colby Armstrong]

You know what?

[Paul Bissonnette]

You might be going down to Wilkesburg to eat soggy subs, and we're going to pull the next guy who's been grinding his off down there.

[Colby Armstrong]

And you know what, too, like, this team is, like, easy to cheer for right now. I think the one thing I've noticed about them, and it started in camp, too, is they work hard. Like, Muse has been out there barking every through camp every time. Like, he, I think he lost his voice a couple times through camp, but he was on every session. He's out there, he's leading the charge, he's in every drill, but he's setting, like a, like this new tone. You know what I mean? And when you have a guy like Mike Sullivan who had been here a long time, and, you know, you get that same message and the same things all the time, sometimes a new face, and you guys know what it's like that you get a new guy in there and it just changes things up. So it's been kind of. I'll be honest, it's been kind of, like, refreshing in a sense and kind of exciting. It has, like, a good energy. And talking to Penguins fans, too, they're kind of like, you know what? This team's, this team's fun to watch. Like, they, they work hard. They got, they got beat the other night by the Rangers pretty good. Won the first two games of the season. And. But at the same time, like, it was kind of a frustrating night for them, but. But not because they, they weren't working. You know what I mean?

[Biz Nicks]

Like, it was like, there's something there, that skill sometimes.

[Colby Armstrong]

But if, Sometimes they might get beat. Yeah, but it's, But I, I, I love the kind of approach and effort of the team this year, which, which you never know what could happen with them, but you have enough guys in there. Like, Rust didn't play the first two Games. That was his first game. Back up on Crosby and Raquel's line as well. Nursing an injury through camp and just came back coming off a career year 30 goal season. And so you know, you get him going a little bit better with that chemistry on that top line. You get the mutant line, the Malkin line going and then you have some young kids scattered through this lineup. You never know what could happen every night when you got something like that. But as long as they work harder and are are going, I so far so good. Honestly, like watching them has been kind of exciting, like above expectation I would say.

[Rick Tocchet]

Let's go.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I still don't have make them playoffs.

[Biz Nicks]

Arm Dog, you look, you look like you live in Cali.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you do.

[Colby Armstrong]

It might be bad lighting. Am I red?

[Rick Tocchet]

No, you look good.

[Jody Shelley]

You look great.

[Colby Armstrong]

Thanks boys. Look at this.

[Rick Tocchet]

Look great.

[Biz Nicks]

So enjoy the road trip and Wednesday noon YouTube spitting, Chiclets Channel game notes.

[Colby Armstrong]

See, I'll be in LA with that one. See you boys.

[Pasha]

Thanks for having.

[Paul Bissonnette]

See you in the chat, baby.

[Biz Nicks]

Arm Dog, always, always well informed, our guy. Now time to the last team.

[Yan Stastny]

Team.

[Biz Nicks]

A team easy to root for and a guy that's going to help us out with them. Jody Shelley, tough as nails, gets in them. Always got in the mix and he's still there in Columbus.

[Paul Bissonnette]

My first ever fight as a as an Arizona Coyote. Jody Shelley, really?

[Biz Nicks]

Here we go. Welcome back, special guest, Jody Shelley, the Columbus Blue Jackets. I'm not going to say the voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets, but maybe the voice of the fans. That's how we'll put it.

[Paul Bissonnette]

He's got the nicest teeth in the league.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh yeah. He spent big money on those jibs post retirement.

[Jody Shelley]

No, I did not. I was, I wasn't playing much when I was still in Philly, so I, I got the work done then.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, that's a risky move too.

[Jody Shelley]

No, I could see the writing on the wall. One game with Laby my last year. So I was like, I gotta get some work done here. Lip, couple teeth.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You legit only played one game your last year?

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, one game. One game. That's when I fought Mike Rupp at the end of the year.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh.

[Jody Shelley]

Remember he came into Philly and he, he gave the auger salute after yacht.

[Yan Stastny]

Oh yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Yes.

[Jody Shelley]

I had to take it back at home.

[Biz Nicks]

So what's the vibe in Columbus right now? I feel like it's excitement, great fan base. We've talked about a lot, looking to make a big step. But how'd it go in camp? Like what did you notice like, how's everyone feeling? I guess.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah. You know what the biggest thing that stood out is that the guys were pretty calm and confident and you know, they just missed the playoffs last year. They, Dean Evanson has been here for one year. So they understand kind of the landscape of what they're heading into. They're just a group that loves each other. And you know, you hear that out of every group, right? Every, every camp says that. But this team went through a lot together last year and a tragedy that they, they really got to, they bonded together and got to know each other and went through it all together and it just kind of feels like an extension of lacks last season. That's how Warinski put it. Like, and just watching them get together, they're confident what they can do. You know, Jack Reeves, their goaltender, comes in here last year and did some great things and create a competition there and just, they're all, they all know their roles. They all kind of. It's a boring cam in the sense that you knew who was going to make the team, you knew what positions they were going to be in. And I think that just created a real quiet confidence among this group.

[Biz Nicks]

What is the Jet Griefs like story? Like where. I don't know where he played. He wasn't drafted. I saw that. But when did you first see him in the mix?

[Jody Shelley]

Couple years ago. He got called up for a few games. You could tell like he was young, he was, you know, a little jumpy, just, you know, really inexperienced. Went to the American Hockey League and was their stud there. And every time someone came up, they would talk about Jet and how great he was as a person, how hard he worked and you know, you'd hear reports and they were winning so many games in a row because their goaltender, Jet and the way they played. And then last season at the end of the year they called him up and he went five and all with two shutouts and I think he gave up four or five goals in that five game span. And like it was just a little bit too late for this team that they could have used him a couple weeks earlier. But you know, he really just grabbed the net. He's calm in the net. He's a guy that's just a part of the team. He's a guy appreciates everything. He's, he's been to the East Coast Hockey League, he's had to work his way up and this year in camp he comes in and he really got the sense that he was going to push for the number One spot. He started game number one, which was exciting for, you know, him and everyone else on the team, because a guy that earned it, right. They didn't just give it to him. They didn't just give it to Elvis either. They made them. They made Jet earn it. And then Elvis played, getting number two. But he's a smaller guy. He's quick. He played baseball as a kid up in Ontario. He's got a great glove, and his level of appreciation is something that, you know, you guys have seen it in a number of block rooms. If he's. He's that guy, like, he's got something that just kind of lights up a room for these players.

[Biz Nicks]

So I think bringing in some veterans was a big deal. Like Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle come in as just older guys. They've played in the playoffs. You look at it the same way.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, and they got size. Like, that's something that Don Whittell wanted. Here was some size. And these guys are pros. Like Charlie Coyle. He hasn't missed the playoffs one year in his career. You know, he's. He knows how to do it, and he's accepted a role. Third line center. He's playing with Kent Johnson right now. It's a really skilled guy, is the guy who's a little maybe perimeter, but I mean, he's got such intelligence with the puck. And Coil is accept. You know, he's going to work with him on that. And Matthew Olivier, who's a great veteran. And then Wood, to me, like, if he can stay healthy, this guy's value is, like, in the locker room. He's just one of those guys that, you know, guys love him because he's just a hockey guy, grew up under his dad played. He's. He's one of the guys already, and. And he's. He's one of the fastest guys in the league. So I like their size. I like that they bring experience. And they're both guys that, like, appreciate where they're at here. And, you know, this is a group that's young, but not really like. Cole cylinder's 22. It's his fifth year in the league. Like, it's kind of time for these guys to take that step. So putting those bigger veterans around him I think is a really good move.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, you kind of nailed it. It's that blend of guys where I feel like a lot of the future of this team is going to depend on Fantilli. Veronkov. Is that how you say it? Veronkov? Marco Fantilli was On a line with him and that Marchenko, they kind of. Would they call him Fantilla or something like that. So they had, you know, they, they had some like, inner jokings and. And then you mentioned Kent Johnson. So I think a lot is depending on those. Those five guys mixed in with Cole Cylinder on taking that next step in order for this group to hopefully make playoffs. Because right now it's kind of a bubble cusp team right now.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, Yeah. I think they're in that group of teams that if you may, if, if they made it, you wouldn't be surprised. If they don't make it, you're still going to be disappointed. I think there's a lot of teams in that group. You know, the, the bar has been elevated here and the group knows it. Going through a playoff miss is something that is motivating them. I mean, when you have a Boone Jenner, every team would love to have this guy. He is, he's that guy. You know what I mean? All the time. Zach Warinski, Erica Branson, these guys have been here for a while now. And then you throw in new guys. These guys that come in now, you know, you remember when you get to a new team, it's like, how does it work here? Who do we follow? How do the. How does this operate? You get on the bus, like everything. Them, it's these, these get new guys have figured it out who to follow. And, and I think that guys like Cyliner and Johnson, you know, they bring their own kind of leadership in a young way. There's a, there's a way that younger guys do it. I think the older guys now kind of. You used to be like, come on, we don't do it that way. I think now it's like, okay, yeah, I see what you're trying to do. Maybe I can learn from that. And I think there's a lot of that in this locker room, too. It's a really good room for a lot of reasons.

[Rick Tocchet]

But.

[Jody Shelley]

But it's. To me, it starts with Boone Jenner, the captain.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Do you think it helps too, to. To have like a bunch of Russians, like they brought in Provorov, like, as. As more of the veteran who used to be in Philadelphia. Like, it probably helps those younger guys because when you have one, it feels like they're almost like on an island. It's unique having that many.

[Jody Shelley]

You can go sideways, right? I think back in the day, we could see it going a little sideways, but Provorov played in the. In North America for a long time. Like, he Played junior over here. He left home at a young age, and. And his English is impeccable. You know, he's. He speaks the language, but he's got a certain way about him that's just business. You know, it's not about being Russian or being English or from wherever. He's just. He's just a hockey player. And Voronkov, this guy is fascinating. Like, the players adore him because last year he spoke no English, but he was still one of the funniest guys in the locker room. This year, he speaks a little more, and he's even funnier.

[Paul Bissonnette]

So why. Why was he so funny?

[Jody Shelley]

Just like his. His approach to the games, how he would, like, just grab. He would grab the smallest guy, maybe Ken Johnson. Put him in a headlock, you know, and drag him around the room. Didn't talk to him, but he would, like, just mess with guys all the time. He had Marchenko as his interpreter, and, you know, there'd be messages going back and forth, but always smiling. He was a little. A little bit more out of shape last year, and, you know, he kind of poked fun at himself, but always giving guys some kind of crack all the time. Just almost like a Vorcheck type guy that couldn't speak, I think.

[Biz Nicks]

You know what I mean?

[Rick Tocchet]

Kind of character.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I just got a text from Voracek yesterday asking if I'm going to the Olympics. He's probably looking for a drinking buddy, isn't he?

[Biz Nicks]

Borcheck on Twitter.

[Yan Stastny]

He's a goat. He's a goat boy, too. Like you biz?

[Paul Bissonnette]

No.

[Jody Shelley]

Is he?

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, I think he missed games one year with gout. Couldn't get his boot on too much caviar.

[Jody Shelley]

But Jake's doing TV over there, I think, isn't he?

[Rick Tocchet]

For check.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No shit. Okay.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, he'd be electric.

[Jody Shelley]

But, yeah, the Russian thing, it's interesting. Chinnikov's kind of falling out here, so he's still in the Russian group, but he's a heck of a player. You know, he's got a lot of skill and talent, and he's just kind of waiting to see where he's going to end up here. But the five Russian things works right now, I think it's the character of each of them. And Marchenko, I don't know if we've ever seen an interview with this guy. He is like. Like, oh, he's just always smiling. He's always saying thank you. He just wants to talk about hockey. It's broken English. But you. You understand what he's saying? So It's a, it's a unique Russian group.

[Paul Bissonnette]

You keep reinforcing that. It, it seems like they've really emphasized just bringing in good people who enjoy being around the rink and guys who love each other. So that seems to be the, the, the theme here. Unless you're really just kind of spouting off for the theme. No, I'm not.

[Jody Shelley]

And I, I can, but I, I, I, I, I'm being honest. Like Monahan. I don't know if you guys have ever met Monahan. He was, he was a different person last year, understandably. I mean, he came here to play with his best friend and, and that, you know, everything unfolded and there was times when you were wondering how I don't know, how he got his gear on for game number one. And this year, you know, we watched him. We never really got to talk to him. We didn't get to know him. This year he's a different person. He's smiling, he sits around and talks for 30 minutes to, to, to everybody. He loves being at the rink. You know, he's got a, a young family. He just seems like a lot of guys in that room are just kind of at peace with who they are and how they fit in with this team. And it's, it's, it's fun to watch. I'm not just spouting off. I mean, come on, this is real.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Well, you're on the payroll. I just didn't, I didn't know I was. You're saying everyone's the happiest. Everyone's the happiest guy in the world. But just, just, just double checking.

[Jody Shelley]

Oh, they're good people. You'd like them all.

[Biz Nicks]

Do you ever hear Biz talk about the Coyotes when he worked for him? That's why he's asking. He knows, what did you call it, biz? Polishing a turd.

[Jody Shelley]

82 games here.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Polished the best of them.

[Jody Shelley]

I saw him up there with his game notes, getting ready to do the radio notes.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Come on.

[Biz Nicks]

It was like a hustler. I bet.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Park you ticket, maybe phone numbers from.

[Yan Stastny]

Chicks he met on the way.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, exactly, exactly.

[Yan Stastny]

Even like another, another kid like that Dante Fabro, like kind of got pushed out of Nashville. And then he comes over last year, he's playing Warrensky Warensky has one of his best years ever. Like, to go like what you're saying, like everyone's a close knit group. For him to come over like, and just be a part of that must have been huge for him.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, he was, you know, last year at this time he put seventh D in in in Nashville and before that he was playing with Roman Yossi. So he just kind of fellow took a chance on himself, got put on waivers, we picked him up and he just signed a four year deal here in Columbus. So yeah, when you see guys like that come in here and kind of understand their role but also guys like that who appreciate where they're at. Right. Like last year he was wondering what was going to happen and he gets paired with Rensky and he's just that perfect right hand shot fit with Zach who's a left handed shot, just gets in the puck and stays out of the way and defends when he can and understands how to play that. So he, he's been a really good pickup too. Quietly the waiver wire has done pretty good for this team. Like, like Zach Aston Reed's another guy that comes in here. You know he's a bigger guy, you know, appreciative just to have a, a contract and fit in on a team. But now with Dean Everson he knows his role. So you know you look at all those things and, and it's. I think it's, there's so much value in the veteran players, you know, especially guys that are kind of been there and don't know what's going to happen next, they accept the kind of a different role or a role that they'll take any role. And then you, you see guys grow a little more within your team and I think they have a little bit of that going on here.

[Biz Nicks]

I look at the D and you know Warensky's all world. You talk about Favro G Branson signed and some people were kind of like ah, they didn't like the contract. But that's to me more veteran like leadership guy who's played a long time. But I more want to know about the Denton Chuck and I mean like he lit up the ahl. He was up for half the year last year I think but you know he's got some offenses game they don't need the first power play guy they go, they have Zach but, but that's something where you can add in as maybe a top four D man, five on five in that second unit. The little time they get.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, you know right now it's Sean and Prover off but I wouldn't be surprised if you see Tuk move in there because kind of like with Hudson last year, remember Matheson was running that number one power play for the Montreal Canadiens. This is a young player in his second year. He Had a, some kind of little injury in camp, so he's not really up in that top, top four yet. He's playing with good Branson, but, man, I tell you what, he's good. He's smooth. You know, when you, he's a guy, you don't notice and you hear about guys like that all the time. Makes a good pass, gates out of trouble, attacks when he can. I think when he gets a little more courageous, you're going to see him in the offensive zone a little more because he has the skill in the mind to do it. But right now he's just taking what's given him and it's, it's really served him well. It's like he came from the America League last year. He could have made it out of camp, but they wanted him to, they want him to be in the American League a little bit and feel even better about himself. And then he came up and just like it was plug and play with this guy and it's, that's a, that's a really good, low maintenance, good talent. So right now he's number five, but I think he'll be moved up in that top four spot here soon.

[Biz Nicks]

Do you think that Fantilli basically doubled his numbers from rookie year and not even saying double him again because that'd be like 110 points. But you think this is you. He think this is a year he could be, you know, 80 to 90 point guy?

[Jody Shelley]

I think he's, I think he has it. You know what I mean? Like, he's got the drive. Like this guy wants to be at the rink all the time. He watches hockey, he studies hockey, he pushes himself. I saw him get comfortable with who he is in the locker room last year. I think when he came from college, you know, he wasn't sure kind of where he fit in or how he, you know, what, what kind of role or who he was going to be. It's comfortable in his own skin. And, and I think, you know, he learned that from Zach Orinski, who also went to Michigan. Kind of took him under his wing and just let him kind of, you know, everything's going to be fine. Monaghan, Monahan got hurt. He jumped up on that line last year with the Russians. That's when they were calling him fan till off or whatever you said there biz. And, you know, he kind of grew into that and, and, but he's the guy that wants to puck on a stick of the big moments. And when you see guys like that at 19, 20, I think he's 21 today or something. When you see guys like that at that age that want it, I mean those are things you can't really teach. So I think there was moments last year where they had to pull him back a little bit as a centerman. He was too anxious in the defensive zone and work his way out of position. Now he's got a maturity to his game so I think he can improve and he's in good positions now. This year he's starting on the second power play unit which might affect those numbers a little bit here to start start. But we'll see what, what happens when you know, the power play seems to be clicking here after a couple games but he's always a really good option.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Why is he on the second unit?

[Jody Shelley]

Well, because not only have they've got Boone Jenner healthy, he's the guy in that front. I think it's just a matter of the depth they have. Marchenko's a shooter, they've got Warinski in that top spot. Kent Johnson's a good left shot on the other side for creativity. So the, and Monahan's the bumper. So you know when you maybe he moves into Kent Johnson spot, we'll see. You know, Kent is. Got really good chemistry with Zach at the top of the zone and he's excellent on entries. So I think with everyone in their position there, I don't know who you're going to take out right now that.

[Biz Nicks]

Seems a little bit like not a pee pee whack but going into the year I'd be shocked if he didn't consider himself in that spot where Ken Johnson had a huge year. He had a huge year last year.

[Jody Shelley]

But I would agree with you but, but you know that's the kind of competition they have and I think Kent Johnson is there for the entries. I mean it's such a big part of the power play. He is slippery and when him and Zach Barinsky, you know, when, when, when one of them gets cut off they sling it to the other one to get in. So I think that'll evolve a little bit. We're only a couple games in here, but yeah, I would say that it's up to Fantilly to push as well because that second power clay unit, you guys just said it that don't get a lot of time, you know and it's 2D out there. It's, it's more when that penalty expires to be ready for five on five. They do get a couple chances but they only get 25 maybe 20 seconds each game.

[Yan Stastny]

Each time he seems like a guy too. That can create 5 on 5 and put up numbers 5 on 5 where a Kent Johnson probably needs to get more touches on the power play to get feeling good about his game.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, you know that Fantilly is on a good line too. He's got Boone Jenner. They need to get offensive zone time.

[Yan Stastny]

They had.

[Jody Shelley]

They had some moments last night. They picked up a goal off of Face off and they also generated one off the rush where, you know, they've got the skill and the poise with the puck. I mean, you watch some games, you see plays die because the pass is mishandled or someone's not in the right position or someone rushes it. All three of those guys really hold the puck long enough to make the next play and he's in the middle of the ice and he drives it like he's. Yeah, I agree. He's a guy five on five is going to collect a lot of points just because the way he plays, how smart he is and he's got to me, the Boone Jenner factor. I know I mentioned it earlier, but Boone goes straight ahead through people and he gets to the net and you can give him the puck and he'll get it back to you. And Fantilli knows how to play that game as well. So that. That's where he's going to pick up most of his points. I think even more when he's out there with Zach Barents.

[Yan Stastny]

He.

[Jody Shelley]

I think that that's when you see more. These guys get more of an opportunity. That's a guy like when McCarr is out there with McKinnon all the time. I mean, you think of McKinnon, you think what that does for McKinnon and he's got that great option back there. I think all these guys when they're out there with. With Warinski, they try to have those shifts a little bit longer.

[Biz Nicks]

Yeah, seeing a defenseman lead his team and scoring like in this time of the game, it's just crazy. He was. I'd love to see him win a Norris Choke trophy.

[Jody Shelley]

Yeah, I mean, he was in the talks of it last year. You know, things kind of fell off at the end and McCarr heated up a little bit, but I think it's on the front of his mind. He'll never say it, but I think he's a guy that wants to push to get that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Who's your favorite player on the team if you had to pick one?

[Biz Nicks]

Olivier.

[Jody Shelley]

Well, besides Boone Jenner, who I've mentioned already three or four times.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, yeah. Well, he's just like, he does it all right. Like he'll fight if he has to. Good net front guy. He'll block shots like he's just a complete Swiss army knife.

[Colby Armstrong]

Beats people, right?

[Jody Shelley]

Listen, after the, after the game the other night, they battled against the Minnesota Wild.

[Rick Tocchet]

It.

[Jody Shelley]

One of the trainers, Dusty here, his daughter Quinn is in, in the battle in the hospital and they give out the donkey hat because Johnny Goodrow called everyone a donkey. So they have a donkey hat. He looked around the room and he said, we're giving this to Quinn because she's in a fight. She's back in Columbus. I mean, this is a 6 year old or 9 year old girl here in Columbus. Columbus. And just like he, he thinks of people, he treats people right. It's just another level of being a, an NHL hockey player and he goes above and beyond. So he's my, he would be my favorite person and player on this team. But I also love Zacharysky. I mean, this guy is. Last year he got thrown into a leadership role and I watched him do things like in a TV timeout when Olivier was hot about a player on his own team who didn't make a play to kind of get the third line into the zone, Zacharysky hopped over the boards and skated with this, skated with Olivier for the full TV timeout and calmed him down. And then when Olivier got back to the bench, he patted the, the player on the, on the pad and said, nice try. You know, he, he just a leadership moment where he's got the temperature of everything and, and to see Zach do those things for the sake of the team and understand, like, you know, relationships and where guys fit in and what guys are thinking. Just another wonderful person as well. He, he's these very special leaders in this group.

[Rick Tocchet]

Jody.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Is that why you love being between the glass? Like just so you can kind of see things like that?

[Yan Stastny]

So you can smell Boone?

[Colby Armstrong]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Jody Shelley]

I don't like smelling the game. I tell you, it gets stinky down those, those guys. Those guys just rip them down there at the end of the bench. I don't like that part of it.

[Biz Nicks]

Smell like roses.

[Yan Stastny]

No one can fart except for Boone.

[Jody Shelley]

No, it seems good to be down. I like talking to the refs, actually. Those guys are great guys. You know, just like anybody that'll say hi. I'm like, oh, hey, hey, good to see you guys. Yeah.

[Biz Nicks]

Remember me?

[Jody Shelley]

No, no.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah. You used to get in the way of me trying to get to the other guy. You. Yeah, but you do such a great job. Who else are you doing work for this year? Like what other networks? Like, you're always bouncing around and staying busy. Obviously, you're. You're at your home in Columbus, but who will you be working with other outside of Columbus now?

[Jody Shelley]

I'm very lucky.

[Rick Tocchet]

I'm.

[Jody Shelley]

I've got the Amazon gig in Canada on Monday nights. I'm not going to see you this Monday because. Taking that one off. But I got 22 Mondays up there and then I'm doing TNT as well. TNT is doing a little more, so I picked up some extra work with them and that's. That's enough. That's over 100 games this year, so.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wow, that is a lot.

[Yan Stastny]

Yeah.

[Jody Shelley]

Started doing some work about a month ago watching games and trying to watch as much hockey as I can now, but it's nearly impossible to watch everything at once. So I do it mostly the day before. But, yeah, you know what it's like. It's awesome. We're lucky to be in this league. And the greatest part about this whole thing is the relationships. I don't know if you guys agree. The relationships we've created when we played and then after staying in this business, the people that we run into that, you know, want to talk hockey and the people we use as resources. So that's the fun part of doing what I'm doing now, man. Just talking to people that I never thought I would meet. And, I mean, look at you, Biz. You're hanging out with Wayne Gretzky.

[Rick Tocchet]

I mean, that's something that.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Wow. He doesn't really hang out with me. He just kind of has. He's forced to when we're working on the panel together.

[Jody Shelley]

Hey, well, looks like you guys are good buddies to me.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Yeah, looks can be deceiving.

[Jody Shelley]

I.

[Paul Bissonnette]

No, you and Boone, but yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Biz Nicks]

Hey, guys, I think that this. This might be an angles, like, talking me, these guys into the playoffs.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I know. And that division.

[Biz Nicks]

And they have to be top three in my mind to get in. You got him in, though, Jody.

[Jody Shelley]

No, I mean, I. I do, but a lot has to go, right.

[Rick Tocchet]

You know what I mean?

[Jody Shelley]

Like, there's a lot of guys that had career years last year and you kind of sometimes wonder. They come in and think that everything's just going to be, you know, because you hear all, oh, you had a great year. You scored 31 goals. That's awesome. Like, it's going to be awesome this year. You forget sometimes how hard the league is and how teams are pushing to also get in the playoffs. So their goaltending has to be right, their special teams has to be better, their defending has to be better. They were one of the best teams last year, goal scoring. But, you know, they had a lot of high scoring games, individual games that were high scoring. So I think they have it in the room. I think they have the intangible of understanding that, like, everything matters, everything counts. And I would. I would bet on them before I would bet on some of these other teams. They don't do things to hurt themselves, and I think that is a value. You know, I watch some of these teams that just give the puck away or. Or take a dumb penalty or do these things. I feel like this team can collect itself and find way. Find enough ways to win hockey games.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What a fucking breakdown. Couple clips, Shelley. What a legend. Nicest teeth in hockey right there. Thanks, Fly.

[Jody Shelley]

They. They need some work.

[Paul Bissonnette]

What do you mean, buddy, Send me your dentist number. I'd go there tomorrow.

[Jody Shelley]

I haven't seen your teeth.

[Biz Nicks]

Like, it's not a nose doctor.

[Paul Bissonnette]

My bridge is kind of a little loose right now, too. Like, one of these days you're gonna see on the panel, I'm gonna have like three baby teeth up there. I'm. My bridge fell out.

[Jody Shelley]

I love the mustache you had on that Amazon series.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Oh, yeah, that was greasy.

[Yan Stastny]

What's with the. What's with the rowing stuff, Jody? Is your wife a rower or something?

[Jody Shelley]

No, that's.

[Rick Tocchet]

You always got to have a paddle. Yes.

[Jody Shelley]

Always got to keep paddle.

[Paul Bissonnette]

Keep paddle Creek.

[Jody Shelley]

I was up in Banff this year and this lady was selling paddles, so.

[Rick Tocchet]

I was like, you know what?

[Jody Shelley]

I'm going to take that back to the United States. And it is. Yeah, a little pain in my hair.

[Biz Nicks]

I'm going to take it back to us and I'm going to give it to Boone.

[Yan Stastny]

This would look either good in Boone's house or my house.

[Rick Tocchet]

I do have a Boone bobblehead. No, you don't, do you?

[Biz Nicks]

Oh, all right, Jody, thank you so much, man. We'll see you around.

[Rick Tocchet]

My pleasure.

[Paul Bissonnette]

And happy Canadian Thanksgiving, my friend.

[Jody Shelley]

You too, buddy. Thanks, guys.

[Biz Nicks]

Thank you very much to Jody Shelley. I got my three teams. I got Carolina, I got Washington, I got the Devils. I don't have Columbus getting in. I don't have my bet with Pasha, but I still am going to enjoy watching that team.

[Jody Shelley]

So.

[Biz Nicks]

So, guys, long episode. We got one more. We got the Pacific. My Oilers shout them out. Evander Cain came back into town and just steamrolled, steamrolled some new defenseman. His name? I can't think of it. I'm exhausted. I think everyone's tired. Thank you so much for listening. We will be back to you Friday this week. Friday and Saturday. Get your tickets@greensboro gargoyles.com Saturday Night Home opener against the Jacksonville. Iceman. Iceman. We will be there. Love you all. Peanut butter. Bye, Peanut butter. Bye.

[Rick Tocchet]

Bye.

[Biz Nicks]

Bye. Bye.

[Rick Tocchet]

Bye.

[Biz Nicks]

A bad habit worth breaking, but it's taking time.

[Paul Bissonnette]

I don't know.

[Biz Nicks]

It don't matter. It's going to happen. It's going to happen again.

[Rick Tocchet]

J.