Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 589: Featuring Tripp Tracy

October 20, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette (“Biz”), Rear Admiral (RA), “G” (Mike Grinnell)
Special Guest: Tripp Tracy

Episode Overview

This jam-packed live episode sees the Spittin’ Chiclets crew recapping their adventures as minor league hockey team owners, breaking down the early NHL season, debating hot-button team and player storylines, and welcoming Carolina Hurricanes broadcaster Tripp Tracy for an in-depth Canes discussion. The episode also includes the long-awaited announcement of Rear Admiral’s return—and plenty of the crew’s trademark banter and irreverence.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. The Gargoyles’ First Home Game & Sabres Minor League Adventures

(00:41–11:00)

• The hosts dive into their experience as owners at the Greensboro Gargoyles inaugural home game (ECHL).
  • Ice issues: Humidity, puddles, and a left-open Zamboni door led to a messy rink.
  • Atmosphere & crowd: Over 11,000 fans, impressive for minor league hockey—“The building was rocking.” (Whitney – 03:03)
  • Mishaps & mascot antics: A record for people-on-an-ice-mat, weak-sounding goal sirens, and club-level hilarity abound.
  • Whitney’s “ownership high”:

    “It was such a natural high. I would probably put it on par with like, having your first child born. Although I've never done that.” (Whitney – 08:02)

  • Team performance review—praise for grit, talent, and the community’s appreciation.

Memorable Moment

• Whitney jokes about “threatening a ref’s life” (for disallowing the Gargoyles’ first home goal) and later monologues about his over-the-top reactions as a new owner—taking away players’ sticks, demanding accountability like minor-league Sutter.
  • “After the game...I took all of their sticks away and gave them wood sticks, kind of like Sutter did back in the Red Deer Rebel days. So I definitely probably have to start taking Xanax before I show up.” (Whitney – 08:23)

2. NHL Hot Topics: Oilers, Leafs, Player Contracts & Early Surprises

(11:00–28:38)

• Oilers Start & Bouchard Drama

  • Discussion surrounding Edmonton’s rocky start but noting comparable struggles in prior successful seasons.
  • Host finger-pointing over defensive issues, especially Evan Bouchard’s turnover-prone, “hungover-looking” play—

    “I think Oilers fans ... understand you’re going to get... six to eight regular season games a year where you’re like, the guy’s crippled. He’s definitely been drinking. But the playoffs, he is so, so dominant.” (Whitney – 14:39)

  • Heated debate on whether Bouchard’s $10.5M deal is reasonable or inflated ("he ain't a ten and a half million dollar defenseman without Connor McDavid." – Whitney, 18:01–19:01)
  • Noting eventual acceptance of the contract due to restrictive cap, offer sheet risks, and timing.

• Leafs’ Team Grit, Goaltending & Culture

  • Toronto’s lack of physical response after Stolarz was run prompts a discussion on team toughness and culture.
  • Bissonnette gets reflective:

    “I would be out of line to not take some form of accountability because ... I’ve been jerking.” (Whitney – 26:34)

  • Eddie Sutter’s coaching mantra—“If your goalie got touched and there wasn’t a fucking melee ... oh my God, he would have lit into you.” (Whitney – 31:35)

3. Around the League: Standout Teams, Players & NHL Trends

(28:38–51:24)

• Ottawa’s Shane Pinto Contract Year Exploits (35:24–37:58)

  • Praise for Pinto’s fast start and negotiation leverage, speculation on his upcoming contract.
  • “That’s going to be the going rate for a quality third line center in the league.” (Ryan – 37:21)

• Red Wings Rise & The Iserplan (43:35–49:47)

  • Fawning over Detroit’s patient rebuild, breakout youth (Emmitt Finney, Sandin Pellikka), and veteran blends (Larkin, Patrick Kane).
  • “So much on those four, there’s four guys that are under the age of 22 ... Wow, are things ever coming up.” (Whitney – 48:28)

• Sabres, Habs, and the Next Generation

  • Buffalo’s emergence, Josh Doan’s impact; Montreal’s Cole Caufield vs. Alex DeBrincat for Team USA Olympics; the difference in skillsets and tenacity.

4. Interview: Tripp Tracy on the Carolina Hurricanes

(51:24–66:10; Recurring through 74:00)

Key Insights

• Hurricanes’ hot start *despite big names (Svechnikov, Ehlers) not producing yet; praise for the Jordan Staal–anchored checking line (“magical”—Tripp, 54:12).
• The “Rod the Bod” training camp effect—pushing team fitness and buy-in.
• Blockbuster trade analysis: Dealing Necas for Keandre Miller (and others) as a calculated culture move.

  “The Hurricanes did a heck of a job... You get Stankoven and you get Keandre Miller and you lock him in for the long-term ... the Hurricanes came out of it just fine.” (Tripp Tracy – 63:43)

• Behind-the-scenes tales: How Carolina’s scouting excels at finding NCAA impact players (Poirier, Nadeau, Serato—70:13); Tripp discusses his personal relationships with players, team travel antics (Jarvis wanting Danny DeVito to play him in a movie—58:56), and Hurricanes wedding stories.

Notable Quotes

• On Svecnikov’s adjustment to a fourth line role: “His attitude’s been good. The game’s just a work in progress...” (Tripp – 59:33)
• “I develop personal relationships with the guys and I have a close personal relationship with Marty Necas. Can’t wait to see him ... but ultimately, the Hurricanes did a heck of a job [in that trade].” (Tripp – 61:48)

5. Rear Admiral Returns!

(106:28–111:19)

• After much speculation, the crew officially announces RA is returning as a weekly mainstay on the new Friday “RA’s World” shows, to be recorded Thursday.
• Format: RA drives the discussion—hockey or (more likely) whatever weird, hilarious, or infuriating topic is on his mind.
  • “We want him to be him, and he will be that. ... We’re a whack pack. Like, everybody deserves a second chance, and this is his chance to return and blow everybody out of the water...” (Whitney – 110:14)
• Monday shows may feature RA via Bruins or other segments, but Fridays are his domain.

6. Odds & Ends, Entertaining Tangents, and Ad Reads

(Various, esp. throughout 51:24-94:15, 111:39–close)

• Neilander’s Back-checking & Accountability:

  • Discussion of using the media to hold teammates accountable for effort (esp. in Toronto), with panel agreeing it’s justified.

• Mascot Wars:

  • Discussion of new NHL mascots (Tusky vs. Gnarl vs. Gritty); Gritty described as “new money from the TikTok era, piece of—no morals, no values...” (Whitney – 105:28)

• Gambling PTSD & Merls’ Bonus Bet Heartbreak:

  • Merls recounts (amid much static) losing a $29k parlay in gut-wrenching fashion; crew pokes fun, then acknowledges his contributions to the pod.

• Hockey Skills & Injury Discussion:

  • On player awareness, head injuries (Heedle): “You should be able to understand where everyone is, and you should also be able to brace yourself when you need to.” (Ryan – 101:00)

• Brad Marchand's “Innovator” Fines:

  • Bruins’ agitator fined for helmet antics in the penalty box after a physical altercation vs. Buffalo.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Owners’ Emotions:
  “I wanted to murder him. ... I'm signing Donald Brashear to our team to murder that guy who just touched [our goalie].” (Ryan – 06:03, 08:02)
• On Minor League Atmosphere:
  “The character of the barn ... what we've been able to be partly in creating. ... You were born to be an owner.” (Whitney & Ryan – 09:57)
• Tripp Tracy on Hurricanes scouting:
  “The amateur draft is what (Darren Yorke) spoons with at night, and he’s doing a heck of a job.” (Tripp – 71:21)
• On the return of RA:
  “He is a specimen, and we want him to be him ... The warthog is back and he's got his own spot.” (Whitney – 110:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Greensboro Gargoyles Recap & Ownership Banter: 00:41–11:00
• Edmonton Oilers Early Struggles & Bouchard Debate: 12:25–19:01
• Leafs Team Grit & Locker Room Culture: 26:09–34:10
• Shane Pinto’s Breakout, Red Wings’ Rebuild, Sabres/Habs: 35:24–51:24
• Interview: Tripp Tracy on Hurricanes’ Start & Team Culture: 51:24–66:10 (plus scattered cameos to 74:00)
• Mascot Wars: 104:05–106:28
• Rear Admiral Returns!: 106:28–111:19

Tone & Vibe

• Language: Outspoken, hilarious, sometimes R-rated, deeply passionate about both hockey and self-parody.
• Energy: Electric, frenetic, friendly chaos—typical of Spittin’ Chiclets, balancing hockey insight with banter, big personalities, and inside jokes.

For New Listeners

Even if you missed the episode, this summary covers the chaos, hot takes, inside stories, and memorable moments—including debates over contracts and player value, minor league shenanigans, deep-dive guest appearances, and the promise of more off-the-rails Friday episodes with the return of Rear Admiral. The Spittin’ Chiclets crew remains an absolute must for hockey fans who love the game just as much as the culture and comedy that orbit it.