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- [00:00]
A
Hey, Spit and Chiclets listeners. You could find every episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is barstool sports.
- [00:15]
B
I brought it toward the coyotes and I asked them if it was okay if I joined the Spit Chicklets podcast full time.
- [00:22]
C
Ryan Whitney's got a Pink Whitney out there now. The song commander is a full time member. Marley just got an assist from Chris.
- [00:35]
D
Whoa. We're buzzing right now.
- [00:40]
C
Welcome to episode 612 of the Spitting Chicklets podcast, presented by Pink Whitney. I love talking about Pink Whitney Biz. You were in Buffalo. We're going to talk about that. I know Pink Whitney was there. I know Pink Whitney's going to be at Foxboro for an enormous game between the Pats and Texans on Sunday afternoon. And I hope Pink Whitney, wherever you are, wherever you like to enjoy a little alcohol, Pink Whitney's by your side.
- [01:07]
D
It's.
- [01:08]
C
It's a beach right now in Florida with yads. It doesn't really matter. It doesn't really matter if you're. I'm going skiing this weekend. I'm going to be shredding. I'm going to take a video. I'm going to ask your guys opinion on what you think of my shredding abilities. But I'll be having Pink Whitney top not. I told you the last time I went skiing, I bring a bunch of nips and I start chucking them around. I actually make sure that kids are 21 too. I asked to see IDs at the top of the mountain. That's, that's the correct thing to do with your name on the bottle. So shout out Pink Whitney showed out New Amsterdam. And shout out you two guys. It's great the way I got it.
- [01:40]
B
It's just not to drink. You can rub it on your ass cheeks and it helps when you have black and blue ass cheeks as well. So it's a multipurpose drink.
- [01:47]
C
Those look like they hurt Biz. And for anyone who doesn't know, Biz said a while back he'd be between the benches for flyers sabers on January 13th. And if the Sabers won, Rob Ray was allowed to paddle him at center ice while the Sabers won again. All they do is really win, it seems like. And you took not one but two days to confuse paddles to the ass cheeks.
- [02:11]
B
The first one was a little light, so I said, all right, give, give one more big one for the fans that stuck around to watch this and The. The. The challenge was, was not only did they have to win the game, but they had to be inside of a playoff spot. Well, who do they fucking leapfrog the Toronto Maple Leafs to bubble bottle of the wild card? So it was a great night for Sabres fans. And I will say I am not hopping on the wagon, but you are a wagon. And what a. What a great night. So I guess I. You want me to start off with a thank you, Jans?
- [02:43]
D
Yeah, yeah, we got 40 minutes.
- [02:47]
C
Who were you thank, besides every fan at the game?
- [02:49]
B
Well, first of all, you guys like part of the. The storyline and everything originated on this podcast. So you guys, Tyler Lasseter is a guy behind the scenes at TNT who when we come up with these ideas, like, he helps put them to life. So he's got to organize the camera crew. He's got to account for the shot list. He comes in with like, humorous bits. Like where, like I'm saying, hey, I think we should go at. Talk it from a different angle and not just interview him normal. Like, let's maybe go the between two ferns angle and like add some and like, see if we can get talk buzzing. And tog was incredible, man. He was so good. He was coming in with so many bangers. He's always on his toes, so he helps with facilitate all of it. And when you're doing a shoot day like that. So we film that in the day before the game and then half of the day of the game to get the. All the bits right, like go around town, get the B roll, know, get me walking, get my parents there, get the bus there and like coordinate all that stuff. So it's not easy, man. So credit to Tyler and he's been involved in like, all the bits like the. The Iser pan, the. The Hank's children's book. So, yeah, I thought that, like, he's helped out so much and I thought that everything turned out amazing. And what did you guys think from a viewer standpoint, if I could hand off from you guys?
- [04:09]
D
Well, I said it on the group chat. It was. It was funnier than anything SNL has done in 25 years pro. I thought it was amazing. Obviously the chem with you and talk is great, but even you and Razor, I thought Razor was unreal with the. Was that actually the player shooting on you did that? Did they come out and do that? Yeah.
- [04:28]
E
That's awesome.
- [04:29]
D
That's great. So the guys even beat some real pucks.
- [04:33]
C
Why? Why? It was watching with me, he. He was. He thought. He. He thought you Were done. He's like, he used to go to the hospital. He's go to the hospital. I'm like, no, I think they're fake pucks. Then I'm like, I wish Darlene grabbed a regulation real puck old school and just ripped one right off your nose. But I did think it looked like it could have hurt because you did fall on the ice with your arms taped to the chair. That didn't look like it felt great.
- [04:56]
B
I think I cockied myself. I felt with my. Felt my hands tied on this side of my head. And yeah, I was. I went black for the quick second, but that's happened probably a hundred times throughout my career.
- [05:06]
D
You just called Barrett Jackman, Tim Jackman for 45 minutes. So, yeah, you might have a concussion.
- [05:12]
C
Yeah, we have Barrett.
- [05:13]
B
When did I. I called him Tim at the end. Joking.
- [05:16]
C
I think he thought you thought he was Rick Jackman. Then we went into Tim, but it was Barrett, the newest member of the St. Louis Blues Hall.
- [05:26]
B
Are you, buddy. We. We. We brought up Tim Jackman from the time in Pittsburgh. That's why I called him Tim.
- [05:32]
C
Oh, that's Rick.
- [05:34]
B
Oh, oh, Tim's the one from Calgary. That's right.
- [05:38]
C
Definitely con.
- [05:39]
B
He's.
- [05:41]
C
He's definitely conky.
- [05:42]
B
Yeah, I got. I got a black and blue ass. I got no brain cells left.
- [05:46]
D
How many hands am I holding up?
- [05:50]
B
5. They're all five of them on the screen right there.
- [05:56]
D
I said hands.
- [05:57]
C
Oh, Biz, I gotta ask you, did you give talk the line of about the Irish, the Houstons?
- [06:05]
B
That was all talk.
- [06:06]
C
That's pretty good. That's pretty good.
- [06:08]
B
That's all talk, baby. That is all talk. Hey, but you mentioned it too. Rob Ray, man, he was great. He played an incredible villain in that with the. Well, I guess he would be the hero in this game.
- [06:20]
C
You were the villain.
- [06:21]
B
Yeah, Yeah, I was the villain. Oh, and it worked out perfectly because when we were thinking of a bit, I'm like, ah, I feel bad because, like, when I come in between the benches like now, he gets like, pigeon tossed to the top broad Ray, man, this guy's in the sabers like ring of honor. And you know, you fucking nailed it on the show, so I gotta make sure. So I mentioned. I said, hey, why don't we reach out and see if he can play this bit? Well when we get there? And I'm like, why don't we tee it up by being like, how the hell is this guy in the ring of honor? He was the last picture on the wall. So we're going through the list. And it just so happened. So it just kind of was all meant to be and came together perfectly. And look, once again, just thank you to not only like that Tyler Lassiter, but everybody at tnt. The panel for playing into the bit. We had Arm Dog on the chair. Panger, it was actually supposed to be Rick Bonus, but then he got hired. So Panger had to do a back to back in that chair. But. And, and thank you to the Buffalo Sabers also for playing along, man. They rolled out the red carpet. They got a suite for my mom and dad. They had the charcuterie boards out. Like, my mom and dad were like, holy shit. We got treated like kings and queens in there. So all in all, a great night. And I don't know if there's anything else you guys wanted to ask about.
- [07:31]
C
It, but a couple other things.
- [07:33]
B
Okay.
- [07:34]
C
Did you see the Goodell clown nose bissonette version up in the. That was amazing. It said online that you got booed when you were on the big screen. I couldn't really hear it that well. There was a loud boo.
- [07:47]
B
Oh, yeah, it was, it was loud enough. There was. You couldn't, you couldn't hear many, if any cheers. It was all mostly booze. And that was a section of St. Samuelson. They got the big, the big Saint Samuelson up there. It's one of the top sections all the way to the end in the upper bowl. And then they put the same size biz, clown nose. So yeah, they were not, they were not holding back. And rightfully so. It was, it was a great night.
- [08:12]
D
How did, how did you enjoy being in between the benches? I know that's the first time you've done it right.
- [08:16]
B
It. It was fun. So I'm glad you brought that up. Brendan Burke, a guy that I was, he was doing play calling when I was at the east coast my second season with the Wheeling Nailers. So. Talk about coming full circle. You got a guy who went from the coast. He was unreal back then. And he always had a great, like a great voice to call play by play and obviously very professional. And how he prepared crazy at the fact. And kind of like we talked about with Bob Heathouse, when you go in at the ECHL level, you're booking hotel rooms, you're selling ads. So very cool to see him start at the bottom and climb his way all the way to the top and. And then forget to get to do my first game between the benches with him. So that was very special and obviously like, just like Barrett Jackman, making Revo's life easier as a veteran, as you're going to hear in these. These interviews coming up, like, him and Jody took me under their wing. So thank you to them. And. And Jody's obviously a, A, A pros pro. And shockingly enough, talking about first. He was my first ever fight when I play with the Phoenix Coyotes. We were in San Jose, buddy. I was scared shitless to fight that guy.
- [09:26]
E
Wow.
- [09:27]
B
That was my first. That was big, dude. Oh, dude. And he caught a rut like halfway through the fight and fell. And I was. I fell on top of him. So I'm like, oh, God, yes, it looks good on camera. That's all I needed. The guys think I'm actually tough here. And then boom. Yoinky, two year deal. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Thanks a lot, Jody.
- [09:44]
C
People were wondering, army brought up, like, I wonder what's on his notes. I can let everyone know who are watching on Netflix. This was his note. You know the thing. This was what Biz had on his notes for the game. Will you be doing more in between the benches? And second thing, congrats. Big announcement by tnt.
- [10:04]
D
Oh, yeah.
- [10:04]
C
I thought you resigned last year, but you've. You've resigned with tnt.
- [10:09]
B
Yeah, it happened in the summer and I don't know if. Thank you, boys. And once again, like, that doesn't happen. If not for you. And then once again, all the other amazing people at TNT to keep this thing going. Yeah, it happened in the summer. I feel like they thought that was the time to announce it. I'm not really one to, like, want to care to announce that type of stuff, but once again, like, honored to be a part of it and a crazy. A crazy run it's been with them and just grateful. Grateful for everybody I get to work with.
- [10:36]
C
What about in between the benches? Is that better? Not better. But will you do that more than in studio?
- [10:43]
B
I don't think so. And I have so much respect for guys that do it. I know army does it a lot with the Penguins. And then also army does it. He's a Swiss army knife where he bounces between the panel and that. I definitely view that. Again, I think it's harder because especially when you don't get a good game towards the end of the game where maybe you're running out of steam a little bit. If they wanted to do something like that, that we just did maybe three, four times a year, I would. I would love it. But I like being in the chair in studio and once again have a ton of respect for guys who call games like Ed Zoe, probably at the top of the game. Boosh, Jody. Like, I mean, we have amazing people at TNT. ESPN's got great people, but that is like what they do in game. Breaking down the clips, you know, putting it on the talk back, being like, cut this for me right now while still consuming the game. I don't think people realize how much brain power goes into it. And I would. Anybody online like, you know, Yan's, you always say these people are fucking miserable and all they do is tweet negativity. I would love to see somebody who tweets negativity towards these guys who do it, pick them up, yoink and in there for a game and just fucking let the other miserable fucks on Twitter have at it with them to see what it's like.
- [12:02]
C
You, you had the ability to do it with Brendan and Jody. So you're third. Like, when you're doing it as when. When it's play by play and then you're the color guy and between the benches, that has to be you, you know, because then you, you're. You're talking that much more, right? Like you were kind of throw it down to you as opposed to like, when it's just two guys. So great job. Great job by you.
- [12:22]
B
I would love to see you do it. I think that you would be great at it.
- [12:26]
C
FDNY versus nypd. And I was able to swear, I believe so I don't. I. That it was a lot of fun. I'll say that being down Ice Level was really cool, but I don't know.
- [12:39]
D
I would love to do that.
- [12:41]
C
Yeah, it's something that just like, seems pretty fun and you did a great job. Final thing about that was actually going.
- [12:47]
B
To Yan's about Yan's doing it. Well, even you too, like, especially when it comes to, like, power play and stuff that you specialize in the little things that you can explain to fans that, like, I wouldn't be able to be. Or let's say there's a little bit of a lull and you're talking about a certain play, then bring it back to, like, oh, I remember when, you know, Ed Giovanoski pulled me aside. And sometimes when you get these lulls in the game, filling it with storytelling and personal experience goes a long way. So that's why I'd love to see even more, like, more current guys that are coming in, coming out of playing and into retirement, try it out. Like, try to get in there, even if it's at Like a college level for a game to get your feet wet, like just, just to try it out. So yeah, that's true.
- [13:33]
D
Because even like there was, there was a little play, I think they scored and whoever it was on Buffalo in front of the net, like the Demon.
- [13:40]
B
Yeah.
- [13:41]
D
Got open and like the way that you were able to. People don't see that. Right. Like how the guy got open. It was like a good little breakdown.
- [13:47]
B
Oh yeah. For like Quinn like coming out, like just not staying. What's the word I'm looking for? Like complacent, like where he was at the top of the crease or stagnant complaint. Yeah, stagnant. And then popping out to give that lane. Also the other one where like Samuelson. I thought that connect me did a good job of like basically showing pass to the guy in the slot. And although the that strong side forward was dropping down to help Samuelson, he went from protecting that pass back door to Zegras to then just quickly moving it to protect the slot pass and then connect knee as soon as he noticed that he had Samuelson biting back door to Zegra. So being at ice level, you just have so much more respect for how fast these guys are making these split second decisions. That and just it's Tage Thompson looked like he was seven feet tall just out there like a gazelle. I was like, holy spot.
- [14:40]
C
He might be on skates. I think he's. What is he, six, six, ten on skates, man.
- [14:45]
B
It was crazy seeing him move out there. Samuelson is huge. And not only tall, but thick. He was just, he threw around Meech Gob. That one shift just like a man. Beast own power. Very impressed. And if we, if we want to kind of hop into what I'm seeing from the Buffalo Sabers boys, I think like I, I, I was critical of them about their D being soft early in the season. I was like, they gotta get. And I think they've drastically improved on that. But I feel like the teams realize of how much skill set they have and when they jump in the play how hard it is for other teams forwards to be like, who the fuck is who? And where are all these guys going? Where the forwards cover so well for the D, where there was a shift where Byram hopped in, he was below the goal line. And normally guys will, you know, once that opportunity is over with and it's on the other guy's stick as a D man, you tend to sprint back to your point and then the guy who's covering then hops in well there's probably about two, three seconds where you might not have that support from the guy where then it's easier for that defending team to close, get it turned over and boom, move quick where no Byron would stay in on the play and that D man would know to just stay playing D at the top. Like you saw it with Darlene, where a couple times he was by the goal line and he wasn't really in a rush to get out. So it's, it's, it's one thing to have like an Eric Carlson 1d on a team who does that, but to have Byram who's comfortable doing it. Samuelson was doing it maybe not as much, but definitely joining in the rush for sure on power does it and then of course Darlene. So they got four guys, boys who played kind of like you guys did where free reigns have at it and all those forwards are no like no to, to back them up. So I really think it helps them in, in realizing that to now they're pumping in three, four goals most games.
- [16:39]
D
That, that's probably like the old school mentality of Lindy Ruff. Like remember the coaches, you know, always having the third guy high, the you know, top guy has to fill in for the Demon. But also like him knowing how the game is now where you need both the active guys, you know, it's basically a five man unit. So good for him. But for you know, adapting, you know, doing stuff differently and keeping some of.
- [17:03]
B
The old school and a nightmare for weak side forwards in the D zone. Just you're, you're just constantly head on, on a swivel and then you're, you're in that like oh, do I go stage or do I not the defenseman's like oh, do I roll up with that like that forward. Where exactly does the switch go off? Like playing against the Buffalo Sabers, I would understand why you would be like Rob Brindemore in Carolina and go strictly man on man. Just let's take the confusion right out of it and go man to man.
- [17:34]
D
But yeah, same example is on, on that Darlene goal, the, the goal that he scored when he came down the wall. Like that's kind of that in between area. So that's a prime example of where the forward can get lost, don't know where to go and then he makes one move and scores.
- [17:49]
C
It's a special atmosphere in Buffalo right now. Very happy for those fans. Final thing I'll add, they've talked a lot about culture building something in Buffalo. We want Guys who actually want to be there. Sign Alex Tucker. Sign Alex Tuck. I know he wants a lot of money. Yeah, he's a little bit older. So the contract, it's not like signing, you know, a 25 year old, 24 year old. I think the way he plays, the way he skates the contract, it won't age great the last couple years, but with what you're trying to build there, he loves it there. He's from New York. Like sign Alex Tuck. And I, and I, and I really think that if you trade him, it goes back into these past few years of Buffalo where you're getting rid of good players. They go on to have success. I know it's a lot of money. I'm, I'm thinking if I'm yarmo, I'm signing this guy.
- [18:43]
D
Yeah.
- [18:43]
E
All right.
- [18:43]
C
So I, I, I, you made that face Biz, I, you gotta have guys that want to be there. And he does.
- [18:50]
D
No, it'll be the next Reinhardt or I, I go move if they do it.
- [18:54]
B
Yeah. So no doubt I'm in 1000% agreement with you. He's able to get the eight year deal before the new CBA kicks in. I think that if, if 10 or north of 10 is what he wants, he has them by the balls because they need him more than he needs them. If I said that correctly with my cte, you're right. And, but, but if I would also thi. Because of that extra year and you said it, the contract's not going to age great. You're getting, we're, we're providing you with an eight year contract with, with comfort. I feel like if he could give him a bit of a hometown discount in the 9 range, that's where it should land. Because you know, I culture guy, great guy in a top six, can play with the big time players, is not intimidated, comfortable there. He's a New York guy. I just think 10 is, is extremely high for, for what I feel like you could be, you should be able to drive your own line if you're making 10 and I don't know if that's where he's at in his career. I feel like he's an incredible fill in piece. I think he's a, I think he's a 30 and 30 guy type guy that should be making. If he got, if he gave him a hometown deal of like eight times eight and a half, I think that that would be great for both sides.
- [20:09]
C
Here's the thing. They, they are the same. Him and Kempe are the Same age. And if you look at the numbers, kempy has a 41 goal season. He's only got 15 this year. Like.
- [20:23]
B
I think that, I think well one like Kempe has playoff experience. He's like played he, he did, he did with Vegas. But I'm saying is like the last three years like you've seen what Adrian Kempe is able to do not only in the regular season but also in playoffs. Speed wise he's faster. Um, I, I, I'm pretty sure Kempe penalty kills pretty aggressively. I believe Tuck does as well. If you want to say they're the, the, the same player. Sure, sure. I got. It's hard to argue. I think Kempe is maybe a little bit more dynamic and being impactful. Just him like solo. I think he could drive his own line. But good, good comp, great comp. The other one thing I was going to mention like outside of the obvious for them, I suck to see Norris not come out for the third period. You, you can't, you can't lose him. I know you, you shake your head like that wit. I saw him after the game. I said, I said hey, I, I hope, I hope it's not too bad. And he's like yeah, we'll, we'll, we'll reevaluate tomorrow. It didn't sound promising the way he reacted but not something that would be long term and just Josh don't. So he, Josh Doane leads the the NHL and takeaways. Some people might be like, ah, that's like a, you know, hard to keep track of. Blah, blah, blah, whatever your fucking excuses. But if you're watching games, you saw the one against Anaheim. Ozone led to a goal and then in the neutral zone yesterday where he picked off, I believe it was Trevor Zegras to go the other way. Like his 200 foot game and what he's doing right now like that is seeing him shift and shift out. That's the type of guy where if he ends up being like an 80, 85 point guy, he could end up with a selkie on his side. Just how hard he plays the. What do you think, Yance?
- [22:14]
D
I agree. It's just like the hustle that he shows on the back check. The commitment to playing the 200 foot game is very impressive from a young kid. But I think it's also he's been around the league so long his whole life that he knows what it takes but to buy in and do it and you can tell it's wearing off on other players too. Other Guys are doing it. He's not the only guy on the team doing it. So I, I think what he's doing defensively, offensively, helping that team out has been amazing. And I completely agree with you that it could translate into a Selkie nominee type player.
- [22:49]
B
And you just said it like, what's the one thing with that? Like, you've probably looked at like Buffalo. Oh yeah, like high flying can score but like, man, they open the game up and it's, it's pretty one dimensional. As far as the offense where you just said it. Yance, how do you have a guy that you trade for in the offseason? He's never played a full season in the NHL. Now he's leading the league in takeaways and you're seeing him do it every shift where he's like, you know, you think he's, you think the play's dead, it's going back the other way. Three quick strides, lifts a stick and then boom, you're back playing offense.
- [23:19]
D
Well, I mean, like Tage Thompson told us that Yarmo said nobody's safe and Josh is playing like that. And, and I think majority of the. Actually their whole team's playing like that right now. So it's the, the message is getting through and you can tell every, everyone in the locker room and then up in the management box, they're all on the same page right now.
- [23:39]
B
And when he's doing it, you're a 10 year vet, you're looking, fuck, I gotta do it.
- [23:44]
C
So sticking with the other team that took the L in Philadelphia, this whole situation with Meov, it's. It's bizarre. Kevin. Curse is a curse. I hope I'm saying that right. As a writer, he wrote an article where he talked to talk it. He mentions in the headline of the article that Mechkov hasn't scored a goal with a goalie in the net in I think over a month and a half, maybe since November.
- [24:11]
B
I think it's close to 20 games, if not 20 games now.
- [24:15]
C
And, and he me and. And talk it mentioned sometimes it looks like he's skating in mud. I think that was the quote. Flyers fans, we've talked about this a lot.
- [24:24]
B
I.
- [24:25]
C
There's a couple things here. They. They think that like we hate Meech Cop. They also think we're mouthpieces for talk.
- [24:33]
B
That's insane.
- [24:34]
C
Literal tweets like talk. It's texting biz and wit. Like crazy, like truly crazy stuff. They think I hate him. I mentioned one time, I didn't think he had a great stride, like a, you know, a high end, big time stride which you don't need to have. Right. Like there are many great players that aren't McDavid and McKinnon out there. It's turned into now talk. It is ruining Mechkov. I'm, I'm here to say, without knowing, I don't know talk that well, I don't have his phone number, that he would be playing enormous minutes in a top six role if he deserved to play him. Their argument is just give him the ice time. Give him the ice time. Well, the Flyers had no expectations up until this three game losing streak. They were sitting in the playoffs and there wasn't a person in the world that watches hockey that considered them a possible playoff team going into the year. So if you think that he's burying this guy on purpose, or if you think that this guy isn't getting ice time that he deserves because talk, it doesn't like him. You're, I'm telling you, you're insane. You're a truly insane person. And Flyers fans, they want a superstar.
- [25:46]
A
I get that.
- [25:47]
C
I respect that. They kind of pinned this guy in the hopes of this guy as their next 9,000 point guy. Right now it's not there. And I, I actually give the kid credit because in the article he talks about like, I'm really looking forward to Olympic break. I'm staying around Philly, I'm going to be skating, I'm going to be working out. Obviously there was something in the off season that either happened or he didn't do where he wasn't ready to go. He wasn't in great shape. And right now his game shows it. So I'm just trying to tell Flyers fans like, nobody wants me to light it up and become a superstar more than Rick Talkett. Yeah, he's. He just signed on as the coach. He's got a long extension, he's got a long contract. He needs a game breaker. He wants this kid to be a game breaker. And back in the day when we came into the league, people weren't handed things. Like, I've seen comments talk. It would have Celebrini on the third line. It's like, no, he wouldn't. Because he would be seeing the 200 foot play, he would be seeing turnovers, not in spots you can't have them, or he wouldn't be seeing those. And celebrity would be getting the minutes that he gets in San Jose. So this whole story, it's like, it's crazy.
- [26:58]
B
It's Crazy. Yeah, well, it's. Buddy, there's, like, probably, like, 10% of Flyer fans who are online and the same thing. And it's crazy because they'll be. Oh, they're just a mouthpiece for talking. And they'll be like, yo, 30 likes on it. So there's a. There's a strong group of them that believe that. I can promise you this. Before talking to him before the game yesterday, I hadn't asked them one mech. Gov question, not one time. I never text them during the season. These guys are fucking. These guys are working 20 hours a day. And if anything, when I talk to him, I asked him, and he goes, and. And before, like, we. We. We break Nichkov down, like. And this is exactly what Talk had said. It's like, you got to feel bad for the guy because there is a. Still a pretty massive language barrier. Like, some of these guys who come over from Russia, they're Russian guys. Like, hardcore Russian, where we're talking, they might have a hundred English words in their. In their vocabulary, not even dude. And. And they're. They. They do have a translator. But you also go from being over in Russia, where it's just. If you are a highly skilled guy in Russia, they just care if you get points. Like, if. If you end up getting 80 points in the KHL and you never even cross your own red line, they don't give a fuck. I remember when Whit went over there, he said he had one of the best games of his life and he didn't have any points. And I'll hand it over to you, Whit, you tell. You tell it.
- [28:20]
C
Well, the coach was just like. He's like, what happened last night? And I wish I could do the rush. And I said. I was like, I don't know. I played 24 minutes plus two, breaking the puck out with ease. No points, no points. I was like, I know, but, like, I kind of, like, had a couple third assists. Do those count here? You can't even get second assists over there, let alone third. I started a bunch of breakouts that led to goals. I had three or four shots on net. Like, really solid game. Like, I know my game. No points. It was literally Soros's commercial.
- [28:56]
A
No goals.
- [28:56]
C
Just replace it with points and add a Russian accent. So I think that Mechkov has found that this league's a lot. Probably harder. And here's the problem. Last year, he. I mean, dude, there was offensive genius in some moments, right? And he did have a good amount of goals. And. But he probably dealt with the same types of thing with torts, right? Like and now second year in the league, no matter what happens in the summer and off season, training guys figure you out a little bit more. There's veteran defensemen that, that understand some tendencies. You see more clips, you got more film on a guy. There's a lot of sophomore slumps in the NHL. Well, add that with being out of shape, which is a fact. This is not mouthpiece stuff. That's a fact. Then, then you kind of see what's going on right now. This does not mean that this kid can't be a 40 goal fucking 85, 90 point guy. But right now he's not there and that's why he's not playing. Ok, so fires fans. I thought you'd kind of be happy that you're in the mix and yeah, three game losing streak, but no, they're just, I think that they would rather have him on pace for 50 goals and 100 points and be in last place. And that's the fans that I'm talking.
- [30:08]
B
And that's not how you build a culture and that's not how you build a winning team. But the best part of that story where I don't know if I don't think you ended up finishing it wasn't at the next game. You had the fucking worst game of your life. I think you were minus four and you had two assists. And then he came up what he.
- [30:24]
C
Great game, Great game.
- [30:26]
D
Pouring water bottles on his head.
- [30:27]
C
I had three pizzas, I had two of the shittiest assists you've ever seen. Like off the glass and out, guy takes it and nice points, two points. Nice game.
- [30:39]
B
Yeah. I was like, okay.
- [30:41]
C
I'm like, all right, well, I like this.
- [30:43]
B
And that's the difference of like in Russia, the mentality and maybe growing up in that type of environment where he's okay playing like Riverbowl gambling and in the NHL and in really good winning cultures and I'm sure in Rick Talkett's locker room, the play that Josh Doane makes at center ice, even if they don't go back and score, is just as valuable as him making an unbelievable offensive zone saucer pass back door. And that's because now all of a sudden instead of playing in your own end, you're playing in the offensive zone and you're investing in the game and wearing the other team down. And that's eventually how fucking games are won. So it's, it's this part of the fan base that like I, I think Me is going to get there too. I believe in his skill set. But if you're telling me that that player, the way he skates and how good this league is in an Olympic year where everybody knows you're hitting the ground running, there's no ease in process to an Olympic year. You're playing night in, night out. There's also no practice days for you to get back in shape when you came in out of shape. So a guy who needed to have a big year for that team, I don't want to say made a selfish decision. But I'll tell you what, Connor Bedard, they had to tell him to calm down, don't train as hard or as much. I don't necessarily think that was the case with this Mechov guy where I think he kind of built his own. He dug his own grave in a sense. And also if you're that good of a player, if you're even playing 15 minutes in a game and not power play time and not with a top six, you're going to five. You're going to find a way to generate five on five. Like I don't if you're that fucking good. And last night you saw that shift against Samuelson where he just gets pushed off the puck below the goal line with ease. Those are the little things. Being a smaller guy would not break away speed. You think Sidney Crosby was too good to work on his down low play? That's where he makes his fucking bread and butter, boys. That's where the real skill guys can get it done.
- [32:43]
C
And Yance. So the quickly Yance the tweet Kevin Kerr is on. This is the article on Matt VAY Mechkov, who hasn't scored a goal in a man net in a month and a half and who is simply not improving more than halfway through his sophomore season. I retweeted and wrote wrong talk. It just doesn't play him enough. Trust me. Ask Flyers fans. Mechkov is as good as Celebrini. He's just getting screwed by the coach. I had a legendary so I get. I just figured everyone would know how sarcastic I was being. I had a legendary NHL player reach out to me and say you're way, way off on Mechkov and talk it. I said that's sarcasm. And I didn't get a response. I had people you're comparing him to celebrating. And then I had people Flyers fan saying I know Whit. Seriously, can you believe this? So sarcasm doesn't work great.
- [33:38]
B
I think the Flyers locker room caught wind of it and didn't realize you were also being sarcastic. So I had to clarify when I saw him.
- [33:45]
C
Oh, really?
- [33:46]
B
He was 100% around. Yeah. Oh, and. And once again, this is a young kid who came over from overseas and can barely speak English. Like, I think he's gonna figure it out. But regardless of a language barrier, the worth, he's got to want it more than anyone else. And as Whit said, talk it wants that to happen more than anyone else because that's just going to result in more wins.
- [34:09]
D
Right? Like, you look at a guy and you poked fun at it with that. Sit down with talk. Like a guy like Trevor Zegras probably isn't a Rick Talkett exact player he. He would, you know, say he would want on his team, but he's playing a ton. He's having the best start of his career. He's playing awesome, but he's earned everything. He's earned the trust from talk. He's earned the trust from the other coaching staff. So there, there are certain coaches, especially if your team's in a playoff spot or trying to win, that you have to earn your spot ain't just given to you like other people want it or fans want it. But the biggest thing that you guys have said is you're saying this kid, this kid, he's still a kid. He's got time. He's got time to figure it out. No one figures it out in their first year or two. Maybe some dude that you know, the, the certain unicorns, like celebrity Sid, you know, these guys. But he's got time. You got to give him some time to figure out the game. Figure out the 82 game schedule. You know how guys play. So don't, don't jump off the bandwagon if you are a fan of his. But also, you know, understand that he's got to earn some. Earn some trust in his coaches and in his teammates too. Right? Because you have to have the trust in the guys that you're playing with that they know what you're going to do, they know where you're going to be. So give them some time on both sides.
- [35:23]
B
And you're also going to have to take away ice time for a guy who probably deserves it, like a guy like a power play time, like a guy like Trevor Zegras where he has made adjustments to be able to play. And I'm going to look here boys like they are bitching. Have you seen his time on ice averages? Like, I'm going to check it out right now.
- [35:42]
D
I Bet it's over 12.
- [35:44]
B
I mean I'll, I'll give you the last five games. 16 minutes, 16 minutes, 17 minutes, 15 minutes. And the one before that was 13 and a half.
- [35:54]
C
So yeah, I think the fans on the crazy side want, want like 21 minutes a game.
- [35:59]
B
And to be fair, the one, the last game he's had a point was the game he played 13 and a half minutes. So maybe it's even benefiting him playing less.
- [36:07]
D
Yeah, less is more.
- [36:09]
B
And guess what? The la. The last game before that he had points was two assists against Vancouver. He played 12:30. So fuck it. I'll keep digging, I'll keep digging.
- [36:19]
D
No, you found the sweet spot. 12 to 13 minutes playing that shout out.
- [36:24]
C
John Cooper, 600 career wins, the Lightning 11 straight. I believe it's tied, if not the biggest win streak the Lightning have ever had. Maybe tied for their longest in organization history. An incredible team, but brutal news. You saw Braden Point go down and at this point in the year when the teams have been named, that's the first thing you're thinking is oh no, like Olympics. And this is a big time, highly trusted forward for Team Canada. So like I, as a, as a guy I mentioned a few weeks ago I got to replace Paul Martin felt horrible for him. So I kind of really feel like right away for a guy and this would be his first Olympics for Braden Point. I just thought right away, oh my God, I hope this isn't serious. Coop came out and said we, we kind of dodged the worst case scenario here. But he is out week to week. You start thinking like, can he come back? You gotta think you're gonna need to play two, three games. I think they go over on the 11th, I believe maybe the, maybe the 8th right around then. So I hope for Braden Point case he is okay. That would be an enormous loss for Canada. But I want to ask you two guys, if and, and we don't want this at all. If he is out, who are you replacing him with?
- [37:41]
D
I think it's a no question. And it's Sam Bennett. I mean we talked about, wow. We talked about, you know, him being the biggest snub and you know, I think it'd only be right to bring him another guy. Swiss army knife can do everything for you. I don't think you're losing, you know, much between him and Braden Point. He's proven, proven big game player, you know, last year in four nations, what he's done in the playoffs the last few years. So I think it's a no brainer. The only thing I was thinking, Whit, do you think, like, you know, he gets named to the team even if he can't play? Like, I feel like he should have the opportunity to even go over there just to. Obviously he won't be able to play and his name won't be on the roster, but just to be a part of that team, like, if I was that guy, I would still want to do it. I'd be like, hey, just bring me. I don't want to take away from somebody's spot on the team. Bring Sam Bennett, but I want to be around that team. You think they would be able to do that or it's too.
- [38:34]
C
If you're not on the roster, I assume that you could fly over, be a part of the team. I don't know about the Olympic Village. Like, I don't. I don't. I don't even. I don't even know if you definitely want to, because it's your time.
- [38:45]
D
All right?
- [38:45]
C
Because if I'm out on the team.
- [38:47]
D
All right.
- [38:47]
C
At least. And you're coming off injury, I can, like, get treatment and stuff, but I know what you're saying, Biz, who's your guy? They replace him with.
- [38:55]
B
The reason I agree with Yan's is, like, we obviously know Sam Bennett's a serial killer, so you piss him off by not naming him to the team. And then now you bring him so he's like, okay, you didn't think you needed me? So now he feels he have to prove something. And then I would just keep him in, like, a cage over there until the game, Scott, to where they're like, this means something. And then you just Hannibal Lecter, like, Hannibal Lecter cover. Bring him out to the rink and the.
- [39:20]
E
In the.
- [39:21]
B
What was it? The paddy wagon, like Yan's did at Chiclets Cup. But just him in there. Yeah, it would. Honestly, you know what it would be like? It would be like in the first Jurassic park when they bought the T. Rex. Was it the T? Oh, no, no. It was the philosopher Velociraptor. Yeah. And then all of a sudden, like, they didn't close the gate enough and it. The guy up. That's kind of what I envision when they bring him out to the ice. That's true. That's why they don't have seats on the glass on the one side. So they can wheel that thing in there, and then it goes right to the door latches on. And then you open it up, and then Sam Bennett comes out and it's Gold medal. So you guys are fucked. I think it's going to be Sam Bennett. And great job by them.
- [40:01]
C
It could be Bennett. Bedard's name's thrown out there. If this, if this happens to be Case and he can't go, I'm going to keep kind of beating the drum of. I know that Braden Point's a center. You got enough centers on that team. Hyman is playing incredible. Like, I, I, I would not hate that Canadian. And, and he's fresh. And then you got him with McDavid. Some people would really disagree on that considering, you know, Scheifele's there, Bennett's there, Bedard's there. But Zach Hyman would be a complete animal over there for Team Canada. We have to show. I just want to mention Utah quick, the amazing start. Cooley gets injured. They cool off a little bit. No pun intended. They're five one on one in their last seven games. They're looking very good. I mean, Clayton Keller is just an incredible player. Schmaltz looks great. I think that their D's been like sugar Chevs. We talked about how good Moser's been for Tampa Circuit. Chev's played really good. He's got a lot of points at least. And then I looked like their, their prospects are nice. Dude, they, they have a nice future set up there. And G was telling me that, I know somebody told him that they're looking to be very active around the deadline.
- [41:16]
F
So Johnston, he came on game notes and said the owner wants to win right now. He wants to capitalize on the, the momentum that they have, especially with the outdoor game coming in next year. He wants to win right now, so he thinks they're going to be very aggressive.
- [41:28]
C
Well, don't trade again list son, because that kid at the world Juniors on my own, that guy, that guy is. You got a future stud on your hands there. And then I think they have that. Caleb. I'm saying Caleb Dione, Don Donaire. So pretty cool for, for Utah, right? This season they're flying along and they lose one of their best players and they have figured it out. So I wanted to shout out them and biz another team that we texted about. I think they were on your dead list. As as recent as this week. The Nashville Predators are not dead. They are not dead at all. Are you looking at them like, hey, you may not be dead in this run of 16 and 8 your last 24 games looks great. You're one point out of the playoffs or are you like, no, look to trade O'Reilly look to really kind of rebuild this thing while still holding on to a few pieces.
- [42:24]
B
Well, yeah, it's, I like you. They sign those older guys like Stammer, martisault. They have O'Reilly like, like if, if that's what you want to move forward with fucking rights. Like if, if Trots wants to stick to his guns on that and think, and thinks that it maybe just took a little bit of time for them to, to figure things out, you know, bond with the systems and kind of get the group all figured out. Sure. But I, I also said that because the games that I've watched them play this year, it's brutal to watch. Very slow or at least the ones I did. Very slow. Having a ton of, a ton of difficulty generating. I think Ryan O'Reilly right now, like if, you know, maybe I would say third line center on a Stanley cup winning team, I feel like he would slot in perfectly there. I think he would tell you himself it's probably difficult keeping up on the first and second line and playing against some of these horses night in, night out.
- [43:22]
C
Producing too.
- [43:23]
B
He's doing, he's doing, he's doing a hell of a job. Right. But is like would you rather get off of those guys to then do you want to be stuck in mediocrity? Like you want to be on that bubble? Like, I don't know what, what they're looking for because like by the time if these guys do figure it out, I don't know, I think they're kind of, their window is closed. But hey, who the fuck am I? I would never doubt out a guy who's won a Con Smite, won a Stanley cup and did everything in his career that I couldn't even dream of accomplishing. But I think it's the time to sell and maybe the games over the last, how many ever you said have gotten more entertaining and they're finding ways to generate and they're, they're spending time in the ozone. But that start of the season put me on the no watch list for them because I was forced to watch them.
- [44:08]
D
Nashville's never been a team that has done a rebuild or even said that they're rebuilding, have they? Even when they got rid of Suter and you know, Weber, it was kind of like they do it on the go. Right. So I don't see, I don't see them in a position where they're, they'll just get rid of guys to get ready for the future and, or do.
- [44:29]
B
They keep these guys around to, to like build and rub off that winning culture. Like, if they're okay being in this, in that position by the younger players, getting that hands on experience, having those guys around, then fucking rights, man. Do it. Yeah, do it. I just figured there's going to be a lot of teams that are hungry to get a guy like Ryan O'Reilly to play on their third line. Maybe fucking may, maybe maybe back to Colorado or maybe, maybe he doesn't exactly play at that pace. Maybe not. Maybe I'm fucking crazy. Like, who are some other teams that you think are going to push their chips? Like you're telling me New Jersey couldn't use him and be wouldn't be willing to offer something up?
- [45:07]
D
Well, they could use anything. I could see him honestly, on a team like Florida, where they're not as fast as the other teams, they play a little bit heavier game, but it's just, yeah, it's all whether they want to, you know, say that they're doing a rebuild and get rid of these guys, which I just don't see Nashville doing it.
- [45:25]
C
It's an interesting question. I did not see this run they're on right now either.
- [45:28]
D
No.
- [45:29]
C
So, but yeah, I see what Biz is saying. Like, okay, so you somehow get in as the eighth seed and Colorado works you in like six days. So fun, fun series. Good job, guys. I want to quickly go to Vancouver, who apparently they're listening to offers on everyone or not offers, but they're willing to kind of do business. Like Elias Petterson's name's out there. I, I still think based on what I've seen from that guy in the past, that if he goes some like that hundred point Patterson, I think is, is in there. I, I, I mean, I can't imagine, like, gee, you come on quick. Would you not want the Bruins to get him?
- [46:14]
F
I would take a guy like Elias Pederson in a second because you have the, the bullies on the team that, like, this team's already a bunch of bullies. So you bring in a guy like Elias Pedersen, go be the skill guy that you are. We don't need you to be anything that you're not. So I would love a guy like that, but it depends on the cost. I'm not giving up James Higgins. I'm not giving up some of those. We have like four first round picks over the next two years. I'd be hesitant to give up a few of those.
- [46:37]
B
Yeah, I don't, I don't disagree. They're probably going to have a ton of cap Space coming up next year too, right?
- [46:42]
F
They do, yeah. I believe just under 20 million.
- [46:44]
B
I mean, yeah. I mean, it's better question for you guys because you guys were the skill guys. It is nice when you have a tough team or you're the 18th guy that we even have to consider dropping the gloves.
- [46:55]
D
Yeah. Oh, I love even, like when you were there, I loved having a guy in the lineup that can fight. It just settles everybody else down. You know you're going to get hit less because there are guys on the ice that can take care of that, that aren't going to put up with guys getting, you know, they're better players getting run at. So I think it's. It's something in the game that hopefully never goes away.
- [47:16]
B
Like, even this one last night on the broadcast, I'm like, oh, like Sabers had a. Like a bad start and they were flat. And then that Benson was out there and I'm like, oh, yeah, he's going to be running around being a little bit of a rat. And then Jody's like, no, he's like, delore's out there this shift.
- [47:30]
E
He ain't gonna do.
- [47:32]
B
I was like, touche, touche.
- [47:37]
C
But Pasha, once again, wrong in saying that Vancouver will not go full rebuild. Apparently, from what's out there, they're. They're finally willing to maybe do that. So Garland, Petterson, would they ever trade Haronic? There's a lot of options there, right? If they're willing to go rebuild and really do this thing, then I guess every single person be on the table. Right. Like, that's kind of how you got to do it if you want to really rip it down.
- [48:05]
B
I don't think there's a chance that there's no way that Sherwin is there after the. No, there's no way because a team is like, who doesn't have much cap space. Say we need to fill that hole in on our third line and, and that would be a great spot for him to fucking for line matchups and what he would be able to do. I, I doubt Garland's there. So those are, Those are two names for sure that I think are off the list. And then you just, you just said Ronick, that would be a. Another good pickup where a lot of. I never really thought about him. Is he a righty, too?
- [48:40]
C
He's a righty. He has a cannon.
- [48:43]
D
I think Toronto would be a good fit for him on the power play, hitting one timers.
- [48:47]
B
I'm. I'm hearing a little bit of how Dougie Hamilton would make sense at half price.
- [48:53]
C
Or I got, I went on with Rose Hill, buddy. I see Larry Murphy, boobirds from blocks away. Dougie Hamilton, Toronto Maple Leafs vibes.
- [49:05]
B
I don't know, man. I, I listen, I would hope that they like the way they're buzzing right now and the way their culture is. You would hope they'd be able to take in a guy like that where maybe it hasn't worked out other places. And maybe he's, you know, known as a little bit of a quirky guy who is a little bit like, what's the term I'm looking for? Like, not everybody wants to go for beers with all the boys all the time.
- [49:27]
E
Right?
- [49:27]
B
So a little bit of a recluse. Say maybe he goes to a place like that and, and, and make they make him feel comfortable. Buddy. It's all about the fit. I've heard of guys before, like, oh yeah, like guys didn't like him here and then he goes to another team and, and, and guys love him and they embrace him, so who knows?
- [49:44]
F
But I. Elliot did say on first shift that he would be hesitant to see Dougie go to a team in Canada. He doesn't think that's going to let be likely.
- [49:52]
B
Well, he's playing better now. I mean, Pasha's been sucking him off online after ripping them.
- [49:58]
C
Yeah, he always sent him an apology. Last thing about Vancouver, crazy Brock Besser hasn't scored 21 games. That's nuts to me.
- [50:07]
B
That's why I.
- [50:09]
C
They've lost eight in a row. You said don't resign him, didn't you?
- [50:12]
B
I. No, I just thought that when I heard what his number that he was asking for, he. Listen, I think he had a 40 goal a year two years ago. And I get it. Like, those aren't growing on trees, right? I just, when I remember hearing the number as to why he wasn't resigning in Vancouver, I was like, whoa, that's what he's expecting. But then I believe once he got the free agency and signed with Van, he basically got what he was hoping to get. So fucking good for him. But great guy, like guy that you want you now. But though with that contract and the way he's playing, like he ain't gonna get to go to a winning team. Maybe he wants to stay in Vancouver and wants that wants it. But yeah, that's, that's just a salary where it's, it's not gonna work.
- [50:54]
C
Now on to St. Louis before we get to Barrett. Tim, Rick Jackman.
- [50:58]
B
Oh, here's the thing though. Is what Groundy's right. He said Jim Rutherford said that he thinks Quinn trade has impacted Besser. So even from like a friendship standpoint, and if you're hanging out with a guy every day, maybe that's fucked him up too.
- [51:11]
D
So even getting a tape to tape.
- [51:14]
B
Pass, that could do it. That could do it. Yeah.
- [51:18]
C
I'm picking it up off the wall every game now. The Blues been a disaster season also open for business. I'm kind of feeling like with how many teams are in it, we could see we could. We get like a lot of trade magic this year. Could we?
- [51:36]
B
If.
- [51:36]
C
If Nashville's unloading guys and Vancouver's unloading guys and St. Louis is unloading guys, I mean, I don't see how you trade Robert Thomas, but if he's out there. Braden Shen, I gotta think Braden Shen's on another team at some point this season. Not sure. I'm guessing he has a no move, but imagine adding that guy to a. To a fucking playoff team. Like, I feel like the ask is.
- [51:59]
B
Going to be too high again though.
- [52:01]
C
Yeah, it's going to be too high. The ask be for Pareco.
- [52:04]
D
Yeah, that's what I was going to say. He. He would be my one guy because I don't think you can trade Robbie Thomas. Right. You have to have something around.
- [52:11]
C
Like he's there.
- [52:12]
D
Right.
- [52:13]
B
Like, I could see parade go in Dallas.
- [52:16]
C
Oh, Dallas hasn't been great lately either.
- [52:20]
B
They got to shake.
- [52:21]
D
Maybe they do something. Yeah. Maybe they do something sooner rather than later.
- [52:25]
C
That's a fit in.
- [52:26]
D
Right.
- [52:26]
B
They gotta make a move.
- [52:27]
D
There's gonna be a roster freeze for Olympics. Right. And you can't do anything during then. So I wonder if teams will do it in the next week.
- [52:34]
C
Deadline's the sixth march.
- [52:36]
B
I would love to see Kyru go, like, get moved. I feel like it's so hot and cold there all the time and just. I want to just see him on a. On a team who's maybe, maybe more willing to allow him to play his style. Maybe he. He hides a little bit more and maybe not as much expectation, but I don't know. I just feel like it's time. No.
- [52:56]
C
Yeah. And if he was on a team. We've talked before about guys who, if they're the fifth best forward on the team, you'd be like, holy. Kind of Phil Kessel. 4th, 5th best forward in Pittsburgh. Those cup teams. Like, if all of a sudden Cairo is like just a weapon that you don't think about right away when you think of a team you're like, oh my God. That's how good this, this team is. Wherever he could go. But I mean, I don't know where the. I do like Pareco in Dallas. I would not love that. As an Oilers fan, Morrows brought up.
- [53:23]
F
A great conspiracy theory. Otto Stenberg, potential Iver Iverstemberg's brother. The kid who could go first overall. He's in the Blues prospect system already. Right now Alex Steen's the new Swedish gm. He thinks they're going to go full tank, try to get ivar Stenbarg into St. Louis and become the new Swedish hub of the NHL.
- [53:45]
E
All right.
- [53:45]
B
Okay.
- [53:46]
C
Okay.
- [53:47]
B
I kind of blacked out when you were talking. Can you repeat that?
- [53:50]
C
So he said, I have our Stenberg's brothers in the Blues organization. He's Swedish. Steen's Swedish. Philip Broberg, Swedish. So they're going to tank Biz, then they're going to get Stenberg and then I believe G said they're going to be the Swedish what? Of the NHL.
- [54:08]
F
Of the NHL.
- [54:09]
A
These are world.
- [54:11]
B
Yeah, not if Stevie Y. Has anything to say about that. Nick Lindstrom's probably listening to that saying this. You can have you merked.
- [54:20]
C
I didn't see this coming from St. Louis this year. I expected more, but a guy who played many years hard nosed hockey, great dude Barrett Jackman. We just sat down with him right before we recorded. Let's throw it to him right now. We are now pleased to be joined by the newest member of the St. Louis Blues hall of Fame, former first round pick Calder trophy winner for rookie of the Year, Barrett Jackman. What's going on, bud?
- [54:48]
E
How you guys doing today?
- [54:49]
C
We're doing great, thanks. We appreciate you coming on. We saw you just on with, with Holly and the Ice Guardians and, and Chaser. So that was, that was a reminder for us. We got to get this guy on. And how you been doing? What's, what's been going on these days?
- [55:04]
E
Not too much, just kind of enjoying retirement. Just started with the Blues alumni. I'm now the director of that. So I get to babysit and wrangle a lot of old hockey players and then coaching my son as well, his 16U team here in St. Louis.
- [55:22]
C
For people who don't know the, the Blues alumni, we've mentioned it. Probably the strongest alumni in the league. A lot of guys stay in St. Louis and that locker room you have that we got to go and I believe it's at the Prax facility. I think there's beers in there. There's coaches. So are the boys, like, going in, just hanging out there, like in the mornings, like as if. As if they still play?
- [55:43]
E
Yeah, we have skates three, three times a week. So, you know, we could have, you know, a couple to 10 alumni that are out there skating. I usually go for breakfast after on our Monday, Friday mornings, and then, yeah, it's Wednesday evening. We got beer and, and pizza. So, yeah, it's just guys in there. We're, you know, after a skate, if something stupid happens out there, we live, barn it and, you know, clip the video and it's just, just like when you play it. So we're. We're extremely lucky to be having that. And, you know, in St. Louis, in.
- [56:19]
B
The dressing room there, where does it get posted? You guys just send it to the group chat or do you guys, like, put it up publicly?
- [56:24]
E
No, no, no. Just group chat. Yeah, we don't want everybody to see how slow we are now.
- [56:28]
B
Who, like, so when you go to these skates, like, who are the guys in the locker room that are just always, always chirping, always barking?
- [56:35]
E
Yeah, Bam Bam is. He's always running his mouth.
- [56:39]
B
Who's Bam Bam? That's Jansen. You call him Bam Bam.
- [56:42]
E
Bam Bam. Yeah, he's. It's funny, he goes in there, you know, about two hours before the skate. He's. He's stick hand away with the ball and everything. It's like he played. So. But yeah, no, there's. There's a ton of guys. We got a lot of local guys, too, that aren't alumni that, you know, are just part of our, our friend group to come out just to make the skates, you know, a little bit more fun. It's like the, you know, the Harlem Globetrotters, we, we kind of stack one team and then the, the gray team usually has a tough time out there.
- [57:12]
B
Jan said for a guy who rarely touched the puck, he worked on his hands before the game more than I think any guy. He would always be stick handling with that ball.
- [57:21]
E
Yeah, it's. It's incredible. He gets the, you know, the stick handling ball. He's got to go in a different room because he's. He's way too loud. Those, those hands aren't that soft.
- [57:29]
D
Jacko. I know Whit had mentioned it earlier, you won the Calder Trophy and, you know, as a stay at home demon, like, do you think that'll ever happen again? And were you shocked when you won it? Obviously you had a great year and, you know, what you did was amazing, but was it one of those things where you were kind of like, oh my God. Or you knew you were winning it tough.
- [57:48]
B
It was about.
- [57:48]
E
I had no clue. Yeah, it was a terrible year.
- [57:51]
C
It was Zetterberg and Nash.
- [57:53]
E
Really, those guys aren't that good. So they, yeah, those two guys kind of had a, you know, a slow first half of the season and, you know, we're really racking up the points and I was lucky to play with, with Al. So you got Al McInnes, one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the games on your right side. It made things so much easier for me. And yeah, I definitely did not think I was winning it. I just remember Brian Burke. He was the GM of Vancouver at the time, and he came up to me in the green room at the awards and just kind of said to me, he goes, hey, you know what? You might not win this, you probably won't, but you deserve it more than those other guys. So, you know, I hope you get it. And, you know, that's something that, you know, kind of really stuck with me over the years.
- [58:36]
B
Did you even think that you would stick in the NHL in training camp? Like, I know you were a high pick and stuff like that, but like all of a sudden you go from going to your camp and then you're playing with Al McInnis.
- [58:46]
E
Yeah, I, I kind of knew that was the year that Prongs was out with. He had knee surgery and, and wrist surgery. So, you know, I, I was coming in and I, I played two games a year before and, and you know, they put a lot of faith in me. They, they put me on the ice quite a bit. And we played against Detroit and it was the last game of the season and then I played game five of the, the second round of playoffs with Joe Louis. So I kind of had a, an idea and I, you know, I worked my ass off as much as I could to get the opportunity. And then, yeah, being paired with Al, you know, got in training camp and a few different partners and I just kind of ran with it and I didn't want to go back to the minors. It was, you know, the always hungry league is Worcester too. It's a tough time. Yeah, Worcester, Mass. So no, I love my time with my boys in, in, in Worcester. But you know, I wanted, I wanted the NHL so bad and, and had the opportunity.
- [59:42]
C
You were just like nails, really. I mean, you had so I think over 250 pimps that rookie year in the AHL, then 190 as a rookie defenseman. I remember like you know, that was like before I came into the league. But I remember like, oh, this rookie defense, been fighting a lot. You really took on kind of anyone, right? Were you staying within your weight class? Because you're only, I mean, you're six foot, you're thick, but not enormous. Like, were you fighting Heavies that first year?
- [60:07]
E
Yeah. What's true? I was, you know, and they sent me down. Larry Plow kind of told me, he goes, you weren't a prick enough in camp and that's why we're sending you down. You didn't do your role. But it was, you know, it was during 9 11. We had no exhibition games. I wasn't going to fight guys, you know, that I wanted to play with. So I went to Worcester and, you know, I told him, okay, you want me to be a prick, I'll be a prick. So I think I had 100 Peli minutes after 12 games. And then Larry Plo came down to have a meeting and he goes, okay, you know, we just wanted you to play and become a player. Stop fighting.
- [60:44]
C
You proved your point.
- [60:47]
E
Yeah, I had the, the target on my back. So, you know, back then, you know, no YouTube showing clips. It was more of a, you know, you get into the building, you see the guy with the most penalty minutes and the tough guys were coming after you. And now I had Matt Walker, I have Steve McLaren, Eddie Campbell had some tough guys to help. But, you know, I, I wanted to prove myself and I really enjoy fighting.
- [61:12]
B
I mean, you played in the Western League. I would imagine you were probably doing a lot, a lot of that in junior. I read that you were the youngest captain before Connor Bedard for the Regina Pats in the history of the organization.
- [61:23]
E
Yeah, I was pretty rude that he took over that he was the youngest captain. But yeah, we traded away a bunch of guys my second year and yeah, they kind of saw that, you know, I could take over the helm and yeah, they gave me the city which, you know, the Regina Pats, the oldest junior hockey franchise in the world. So, you know, that stat was, was pretty cool growing up.
- [61:46]
D
It's.
- [61:47]
C
So you're from Trail bc. What, what's that area like? Is that. That's where Hawks from, right?
- [61:52]
B
Fucking God's country.
- [61:53]
E
He's right down the street. He's from Castlegar. It's Steve McCarthy, Ray Ferrero, Kevin Sawyer, you know, Greg Adams is real close by it. There's a huge list of, of guys that are just kind of in that, you know, probably about a 30 mile radius. And yeah, it was just small town hockey. I've played single A growing up and I've been playing the Jungle B, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and for the Beaver Valley Nighthawks. But yeah, it was just, it's a cool, cool spot right in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains on the Columbia river. And you know, small town mentality. It's kind of like, you know, letter canning where, you know, you get the local tough guys that are fighting all the time, you get the hockey players, junior hockey players that are coming in. And so it was, it's a great, great place to grow up and you know that. Yeah, unbelievable place to play hockey.
- [62:49]
C
I just googled Trail BC Keith, and the first picture that pops up, I mean, it's beautiful. Like, I didn't realize it was stunning.
- [62:59]
B
It's like you're on a different planet. It's like almost like you're like in New Zealand or something. It's so green mountainous, right?
- [63:04]
E
Yeah, it's, it's basically, you know, you, you, you can get an airdrop right in the middle of, you know, the mountains in, in B.C. and that's. Yeah, you see some iconic pictures of, you know, Niedermeyer at the top of a mountain with, with a standing cup. Yeah, he was a, you know, a few miles down the road. But yeah, it's basically that, that's the same type of, you know, landscape you'd.
- [63:29]
D
Figure you guys from, you know, such beautiful places would be a little more calm. And then you go to the dub and it's just straight guerrilla warfare. And like, were you playing in the dub when there was no, like, teams were warming up at different times because of the fighting going on and all that shenanigans.
- [63:44]
E
Yeah, no, I was there. It was, it was kind of after, you know, the fact that, you know, Tony Twist is stealing the other team's net and warm up. But yeah, we had separate warmups. I remember one of our playoff games, Regina in Moose John, we won our overtime and a guy jumped up on the glass, he threw a beer at our goalie and Todd Fedoric, Kyle Frederick, all the guys just started jumping on the glass. And there's a couple bikers by the exit where we're going out and you know, guys were, you know, swinging their stick to get through the crowd to get to the, to the dressing room. And in Moose Shah, they had a, a beer garden that was just down the hall from, from the dressing room. So, you know, we got our assistant coach who was also on the SWAT team. He was coming down Grabbing bikers and choking them out and. And, you know, grabbing my wrists and wrist locks. So, yeah, it was. It was crazy. Yeah. And then as I get a little bit older and Moose, it just kept chanting, you know, about 3,000 people chanting Jack off every time I was on the ice. So it's. Yeah, it was, you know, a different time and different era, but it was fun.
- [64:56]
B
So when you were like, going through that, like what. Like, what were your emotions? Were you, like, nervous? Were you, like, kind of like, hey, I'm just used to this type of. That's just the way it is in the. In the dub. Like what. Like what are you going through? Because I would imagine it makes your skin pretty thick in order to do the things you were ended up doing in the a. In the NHL.
- [65:11]
E
Yeah, you just kind of went with the flow. It was. It was fun. It was entertaining. You know, you got your juices going so, you know, you felt like you play better when. When people all over you. And, you know, I came from the, you know, the junior meeting BC too. And that was. That was a master's. You know, people throw firecrackers at the goalie during the game. Yeah, just be. Be all over you, waiting outside to try and fight you. And when it was the. When the snow was out, you get pelted with snowballs as you're leaving the rink and driving the bus. So it was just. It was fun. It's entertaining. You know, those things don't happen anymore, but, yeah, that's just part of the, the stories.
- [65:49]
C
What was your dad like growing up in. In your hockey life or your mom? And. And did you have older brothers? You kind of. Do you guys agree? Kind of strikes me as somebody who had older brothers.
- [65:58]
E
Two sisters, one older, one younger. And then, you know, my mom was, you know, single mother and she was. She was tough as nails. So, yeah, MJ was, you know, looked up to her because she had bigger arms than I did. And, you know, she was, you know, a nurse and work with, you know, in the extended care of the older people that, you know, were kind of going crazy. And my mom was taking punches and, you know, people were biting her. She's trying to change the, you know, the elderly diapers. So, you know, watching her and just how tough she was growing up was pretty cool. And then I was playing with older guys. I was 15 when I was playing junior B and 14. And, you know, the guys just took me under. Under their wing and really took care of me. And, you know, so I was near if I got my. My ass kicked on the ice. I had to lose teammates. You know, like everybody did that. You're going to pick you up and, you know, dust you off and then go get the guy that got you.
- [66:55]
B
You mentioned single mother. What? Like, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your father?
- [66:59]
E
My parents just. They split up. I've divorced. My dad went away to. To work, so didn't see him a lot. And. Yeah, so my mom just kind of ran things and yeah, I had to be, you know, kind of the. The man of the house pretty. At a pretty young age. So that was part of, you know, what kind of, you know, built the character that, you know, hopefully I have right now.
- [67:21]
D
Yeah, a couple of guys that I reached out to, you know what they said it was like you were almost like a father figure and taking care of young guys when like Oshi and those guys came up. But you got to credit that to, you know, as a kid, being the only man in the house. You kind of being the being there for your mom and your sisters.
- [67:38]
E
Yeah, it was a huge part of it and, you know, just a lot of father figures. Yeah, I had a guy by the name of Hank Deadmarch and Saddam Denmarsh's dad, that was their gm and really, you know, kind of helped me out when I had those tough questions about whether to go to junior or college. And so when you have a guy like that and then, you know, I looked up to Debtor Dare was a couple years older, but, you know, I watched him, you know, his career kind of take off and, you know, you got role models like that in the, you know, small hometown is a pretty special.
- [68:08]
C
When I look at the roster of your rookie year, when you won the Calder, I know a couple of the guys, but this has to be one of the most old school lineups like Doug waite, Scott Melon, BE, Keith Kachuk, Al McGinnis. I know prongs was out most here you got Tyson Nash, Sean Podine. I can't imagine that room. And as a young guy, like, that's kind of when you. I would say that you had to have a lot of respect then coming into the league. You had to. You had to kind of keep your mouth shut a little bit. Those guys must have made sure of that.
- [68:39]
E
Oh, yeah. Be seen, not heard. You sit in the corner. And you know, the greatest part about that team, we hung out, you know, almost after every game. We go to the bars in St. Louis and, you know, sit at a little pub. And these the older guys be sitting there telling stories and, you know, Dougie Wade was usually, you know, holding court, and Big Walt was just sitting there, you know, chuckling and, and getting chirped. And so, yeah, it was just, it was great. You just sit there. You never wanted to leave the bar. You're never here. I was always the last one to leave because I just couldn't believe just the things that were going on. And yeah, we had Dally Drake, Pavel Demetria as well. Yeah. Corey Stillman. Like, we had so many unbelievable guys. Jamal Mares, Bryce Salvador, Reed Lowe. Yeah, so, like, the list goes on of, of characters that, you know, it was so much fun to go to the rink every day. You know, you're gonna get chirped nonstop, but, yeah, you're, you're, you're dying laughing at all times.
- [69:38]
C
That team's a hell of a team.
- [69:39]
B
Sorry.
- [69:40]
C
Quickly Biz, who'd you went to seven games? Who'd you lose to that season?
- [69:43]
E
We lost the Vancouver. Yeah, we were up three games to one and, you know, Al separated his shoulder. I think prongs got sick. We had a bunch of guys that got the, the flu or food poison or something like that, and a bunch of injuries. And yeah, I, I really felt like that was the, the best team and the best chance I ever had to, to win a cup. And, you know, unfortunately, it didn't happen.
- [70:06]
B
When you got there, who was your first. First coach in St. Louis? Was it Quinville?
- [70:11]
E
I had Q. Yeah, Quinville. Jimmy Roberts and Mike Kitchen were kind of ran the D. And so, yeah, they were amazing. You know, Q was on the ice every day after practice. And, you know, me and Bryce Salvador would play a little pig in the middle and. But he was so good with me. And I remember I went to a football game on a day off, you know, walk into the suite that the blues have, and all of a sudden I'm like, oh, the coach is here. So, you know, I'm not going to have any beers. Just kind of relax and sit in the corner and not get in trouble. And, you know, as soon as Q saw me, he cracked a beer, he cleared my hand and he goes, hey, we're going to have some fun today. And then I think it was every 15 minutes he cracked another beer and put in my hand. So just, you know, just a guy's guy, just, you know, his knowledge, his way to treat people. He was, he was amazing.
- [71:05]
C
Was he still then adamant about not being on your backhand as a defenseman? Because Keith always Talks about that from his time in Florida. Was he doing it then?
- [71:14]
B
Well, the good thing about Jacko is he didn't even know he had one either. So that's like he didn't even have to tell him.
- [71:19]
E
It was off the glass and out every time, so it didn't really matter. And I was always on my right side so I just had to turn the hands over and pass it over.
- [71:28]
D
We used to call Mike Pitchins a little ball of hate. Was he the same way? Like you'd be at the rink at seven in the morning and you get like sucker punched in the, in the kidney and you turn around, it's Mike Kitchen. He's like, good morning. You're like, what dude, it's eight o'.
- [71:40]
E
Clock.
- [71:40]
D
Oh yeah.
- [71:41]
E
No, you always had brought the energy and always enjoyable. He, you know, he, he was so passionate about the game and you know, so good at, you know, clipping some, some things. Jamie Coppon was the, the video coach on the, you know, the VHS and VCR is going back then. But yeah, how catch was. He was awesome. He was really good to me too. And, but yeah, brought the energy and brought the kidney punches and you know, sucker and every once in a while make sure you're awake and, and ready to go.
- [72:13]
B
I thought that Q story was going to end up like him basically teen you up. Next day at practice we got guys being unprofessional, showing up hungover, get on the fucking line and then bagging like what, what just happened? Mind games, 3D chess.
- [72:27]
E
We had some of the crazy older guys that were doing that anyway, so it was, it was all good.
- [72:33]
B
Al McInnis just going back to him like as a veteran and playing with him, like what are the things that he taught you? And just being around him and I mean I'm sure you were aware of him and watched plenty growing up to know how big of a legend he was. But just like what was your experience in getting to be around him?
- [72:48]
E
No, he's so professional. Best shaped guy. You know, you jump on the VO2 bike and you know, I think it was about five minutes in, like, okay, you're, you're going to break this thing. So. But just the way that he handled himself around, you know, he handled the trainers, media, you know, the coaching staff, all that and you know, one of the stories was on the ice with him. You know, it was probably a couple games in and I'm sure I, you know, served the pizza for, for a dash and get back to the bench and I'm Thinking I can get, you know, you know, just berated by. By Al McInnis. But he sat down beside me, he looked at me, he goes, hey, you know, I think I was in the wrong spot there. You know, where do you want me to be? And I just kind of laughed. I go, you're fine. Like, you know, I just made the worst play of my life, and you're good, so. But he just made you feel comfortable as such a legend and such a, you know, an aura around him. But he just. He really just let me kind of relax and play my game and, you know, owe him a ton of my career because, you know, trying to treat people like that, too, where, you know, he. You know, the guy's down, you pick him up, and you try and figure out a way to get out of it together.
- [74:00]
B
So obviously a very calm guy if he's telling you, hey, I need to be in. In a different spot, being a veteran like that. So he probably was never snapping at all in the locker room then.
- [74:10]
E
Oh, he snapped all the time.
- [74:11]
C
No, really?
- [74:12]
B
Okay, so he had a quick wick.
- [74:14]
E
No, it was. No, he had a. He had a temper on him. He was. He was nasty to the. You know, his nickname was Chopper, and he. He was pretty good with the stick. But, yeah, when he. When he got pissed off. Yeah, no, everybody was at attention, and he did do. Didn't do that often. But no, when he. When he spoke and we got pissed off, you know, guys were, you know, sitting down and listening and pretty quiet.
- [74:41]
B
So is that where prongs got it?
- [74:43]
E
I think prongs developed that at a young age.
- [74:46]
D
Born with.
- [74:47]
E
It was. Prongs was awesome. He was hard on guys. He was. Especially the young guys. But he wanted to, you know, make sure that you, you know, he. He was so good, so intense. He wanted to make sure that he had the guys in his corner that, you know, were battle tested and weren't going to fold under pressure. So, you know, prongs is really good at just, you know, you know, figuring out the character, guys. And, yeah, he. He wanted to win so bad, and. And, you know, apparently wherever he went, they went to the final. So he's. He's. He's pretty good at that.
- [75:19]
D
I was just gonna say another guy that, you know, I heard you speak a lot of and probably that a lot of guy younger listeners don't know a lot about is the guy behind you, Bob Plager. And from what I hear, you have a tattoo of him on your chest. Is that true?
- [75:33]
E
Yeah, right here over My heart. So what did he mean to you?
- [75:36]
D
And you know, just obviously you wearing his number as well. Like it must have been. Been an honor for you.
- [75:40]
E
Yeah, I came into training camp and, you know, you guys talk about all the, you know, high numbers in training camp, but I had five sitting in my stall. And then you, you get to, you know, knew a little bit about him when I got here, but you start hearing the stories, see how he is in the community. You know, he signs his autograph. I don't know if you can see it up there, but he signs it with a little happy face in there, beloved by everybody. And he just kind of, you know, he. You sit and have coffee with him. You just tell the stories. And you never seen a guy that was more proud to wear a blue note and be a blue than. Than that guy. And so, you know, I had some pretty big shoes to fill, but, you know, every day and he, you know, passed away a few years ago and, you know, every day, you know, wake up and I see that, you know, the number five of the heart and, you know, the, the wings on it and, you know, think of him. So he is, you know, told jokes, told stories and, and just loved by, by everyone.
- [76:41]
C
The late 90s, early 2000, when you came in, there were some great blues teams. Then there was a couple lean years and then all of a sudden like, oh, she back. Is Petro. All come in. And at that point, you're the veteran, you're the leader. Like, I remember Biz and I at camp, it was like, wow, like, this guy is so respected here. This is kind of his team. It must have been cool for you to. I mean, it's hard going through the struggles. But as these guys started coming in, did you realize they were building something pretty special right away?
- [77:07]
E
Yeah, you know, like Osh coming in. You know, you see what he can do with the puck and how hard he competes. Burglar this big, you know, smooth, silky, you know, forward Petro, Eric Johnson. Yeah, just you could see what their vision was. We had a, you know, ownership change during the lockout and shipped off some older guys. But, you know, you got big wallet in the locker room too, for so many years to teach those guys. But yeah, no, you see that vision of what could be. And he kept adding little pieces that, you know, we really thought were, were going to make us elite. So, you know, took pride in trying to, you know, teach the culture and continue on developing those boys and, and, you know, we had some success but could never get over the Hump until, you know, after they traded, you know, I signed in Nashville. And then also they got good.
- [78:04]
B
Whoopsie. Could Chuck. I mean, Walt, having Walter around, and especially Matthew and Brady at that time, could you have ever imagined that those kids would grow up to be the players they are now?
- [78:16]
D
And why did they call you Timmy Torso?
- [78:20]
E
Well, Tommy Torso, Big Walt, I'm sure, fed you that one. But short legs, long torso, so built for hockey, nothing else. But, yeah, Matthew and Brady, they, you know, I felt like they were never in school. You know, we'd be out there for, you know, they. They come to the rink, we'd practice, they'd be on the ice after. They'd be on the ice before. Queenville used to have to kick them off the ice because, you know, they'd be skating around. We're probably five minutes into practice and they're still buzzing around. But the first time I ever saw those two, it was. I was a black ace, and. And I was sitting in the locker room after. After a game and just kind of waiting to see what the story was the next day. And sitting in the, you know, kind of the. The change room, and all of a sudden, these two little kids, they. I don't even think they could talk yet. Came flying in. They got gloves on, they got their sticks. All of a sudden, they dropped their. Their gloves and they just start teeing off on each other, punching each other straight in the face, you know, sitting there. Don't have kids myself. I'm like, you know, we step in, do we not? You know, it was with Walt's kids. And Walt turns around the corner, hey, knock it off. The kids pick up their stuff. We'll run back in and. And play some more mini sticks.
- [79:30]
B
Nothing's changed, eh, boys? That is so cool. One of the stories we heard from the Ice Guardians podcast that they just posted, literally like 5 minutes before I came on, I saw it was the TJ Oshi story and the fact that you were roomed with them. Let's start with that one. But, like, who were all your roommates, like, throughout your time there?
- [79:50]
E
Started off with Matt Walker. He was, you know, a good friend of mine. And. And we started off, and then actually my first. First year was Sean Podine. Just. This is an absolute legend. Great guy, taught me a lot, just about life. I had Murray Barron for a short stint, and then, yeah, TJ Oshi, he got a little trouble a few years ago and maybe missed. Missed practice or a meeting. And so I'm like, hey, you know, let me Know, the kid who's a roommate, and it was the best time ever. Yeah. The story we were at, you know, I think it was pregame meal in Columbus. Our first road trip together, and, you know, he comes by the table, hey, Jax, is there anything I could do for you in the room? Fluffy, your pillow and all that. And so I just told him, I go, hey, you know what? While you're up there, can you just warm up my bed for me? And, you know, a couple minutes go by, I. I go up to the room, not thinking anything of it, and all of a sudden, open the door, and O jumps out of my bed and goes, hey, I've been doing snow angels for the last, you know, 10 minutes. So, you know, bed's all warm for you. He's just. And then he did that, you know, every time he got in the room and I wasn't there, he would warm up the bed and. But, yeah, we had so much fun. He was. He's like a little brother to me. And, yeah, I love the guy. And, yeah, he's had an amazing career, and, yeah, just good to call him my friend.
- [81:21]
B
Better than warming up the toilet. Hey, boys. Oh, yeah, the toilet seat. I think I would have preferred that more than a guy doing snow angels in my bed, to be honest, but that's just me. Now, you said he got in trouble and you kind of wanted to take him under your wing. Like, what had happened? Like, was he just one of those guys who would forget to set his alarm or.
- [81:40]
E
No, I think we're just, you know, all the boys were out one night, and I think he lost keys for his car and, you know, maybe his cell phone at the same time, so couldn't get anywhere. And, yeah, he was just a little bit late for practice, but, yeah, they. Yeah, it was just, you know, Ospec. He's, you know, one of my. One of my favorite people. And, yeah, it was something little, but, yeah, I just. I felt like I need some more entertainment in the room. So.
- [82:09]
B
Is that a nickname he gave himself, Osh Babe?
- [82:13]
E
I think it was his dad, his coach, so. But, yeah, no Osh Baby. Hear him say that all the time. And he's, you know, brings the energy, and I love having him.
- [82:22]
C
For anyone who doesn't know, like, at the peak of TJ Oshi's career, how hard he played, like. Like he was an animal. He crushed guys, and when he got after it, that's how hard he got after it, too. The time I got to be with him in Brainerd, I'M like, oh, this is how he plays.
- [82:40]
B
Like the Russians.
- [82:41]
E
Yeah, he, he doesn't do anything half ass. He's a full send at all times in every part of his life. And unbelievable family man, unbelievable friend. And, you know, just, just an animal on the ice, too.
- [82:55]
D
Another guy that you mentored and you, you just were on the father's trip with him, Ryan Reeves, like, what an honor that must have been. And how cool is that to get that phone call from a guy that you played with to come on the father's trip with them?
- [83:08]
C
And before you answer either resemblance with.
- [83:10]
E
Me and Revo.
- [83:13]
C
Do you remember when he fell asleep on the massage table? I love that story.
- [83:17]
B
I was just going to ask. And where were you to mentor him there?
- [83:24]
E
Yeah, I think, I don't know if I walked in. I think it was Bryce Salvador. And he goes, who the hell is that on the, on the massage table? And he was just, he was sitting there snoring. I think Revo was hurt at the time, wasn't taking part in, in camp. So, yeah, that was, yeah, he, he gave me that call, you know, I think probably what, a month ago and asked me to go on the, on the mentors trip. And, you know, it was an amazing honor. I, you know, I didn't even look at my schedule. I'm like, yep, you know what? I'll make it, make it work if you're, if you're asking. So, you know, another guy is just a huge character coming in, tough as nails, great person. And, you know, he's. For a guy to, you know, stick in the league as long as he has, being one of the toughest year after year and then, you know, adapting his game and, and getting better every year. So proud of him.
- [84:18]
C
What did that San Jose vibe seem like? Because shocking year they've had. I don't think anyone really expected this unless you talk to the guys in the room. New celebrity was this good. I mean, good, not this good. That must be a fun team to be around. Like, they're rolling. They got everything going on there. Did you enjoy that time? Like, seeing how close must almost make you miss the game even more being on a trip like that.
- [84:42]
E
Yeah, it did. You know, you see a different side of it, too. You go in there and be obviously Prada re will, but, you know, kind of sitting back getting, you know, getting the chills when he's squaring off against Olivier and just, you know, so proud. And you see all the dads around, but yeah, that, that group is. It seems very Special. And it starts with Revo. And I think every one of the coaches pulled me aside and just said how much Revo means to that team, how he keeps everybody loose, keeps them accountable. And so, you know, that even made me even more proud that, you know, down pro father stuff. But, yeah, now that team, you know, sitting talking to, you know, celebrity too. What a special kid he is. You know, talked to his dad a little bit too, and just told him. I go, yeah, just so you know. You know, your kid is special, and it's not just on the ice. He's. He's a great person, treats everybody very well and. And really enjoys the game.
- [85:36]
B
What was his dad like? Just in talking to him, like, did you pick his brain at all? What a fast.
- [85:41]
C
What'd you do with these kids?
- [85:42]
B
Yeah, what lab you make?
- [85:44]
E
He was awesome. Yeah, he. He kind of came a little bit later. I think he had a, you know, a friend pass. So, yeah, he was only there for a short time, but yeah, he was great too. You know, a couple guys on the plane were asking questions about, you know, the warriors and. And, you know, what those guys are like and. And kind of how he works with them, but very humble guy too. And you can see, you know, how he, you know, just kind of raises some amazing people.
- [86:12]
C
I gotta ask, is there any other mentors or dads that kind of stood out? Like, who got the most? Like, oh, that guy. That guy was a fun, fun time.
- [86:21]
B
I remember Wayne Simmons, old man, when they did one, I think it was in Toronto or something like that. Like, he looked like. He looked like Drake's dad. He had like, the pimp suit on and stuff like that. It was unreal.
- [86:31]
E
Yeah, they're all great. You know, the. The Swedish dads are. Are pretty funny. We were actually in la, went to Santa Monica Pier, sat a couple beers before the game, and took us 20 minutes to get there, and it took us about two hours to get back. So there's a couple of the Swedish dads. You know, halfway through the trip, you can hear them talking in Swedish and. And then all of a sudden, another one of the dads just kind of goes, guys, I gotta take a piss. Like, we gotta pull over now. Going to the Taco Bell, you know, nobody was smart enough to actually buy a taco, so they wouldn't give him the key for the. For the. For the restroom. All of a sudden, five guys come fly out of the place. They're pissing in the parking lot. And so it was trip. Yeah. Yeah. So it's Just, you know, that, that part of their trip, just hanging with the dads was, was entertaining.
- [87:24]
C
We always love asking guys who played for Hitch some memorable Hitch moments. And I think it's a little more special for biz and I just seeing the interactions in camp and guys giving it to him and him giving it back and I mean, you're a soft spoken guy, but there are. Any times you guys went at it a little bit or there. Anything, any moments you remember being like, oh boy, this, we're in one right now with Hitch.
- [87:48]
E
Oh, yeah, no, there's. There was one game, I think it was probably, you know, about 30 seconds left in the game. We're up by a goal, we kind of get hemmed in the, the D zone. So I'd fire one off the glass. It hits the partition and kind of comes back in the middle of the ice. Scoring chance. You know, they didn't score. And then all of a sudden you get back to the bench and he's just staring at me and, and I just looked at him and I just, I went off of him and he make a better play and I'm, I just, I lost it. I've. I, you know, I actually, I think it was a tie game because we would go into overtime and the entire break I'm sitting there and just yelling at Hitch and he's not saying anything back. He's just kind of taking it. Bradshaw was the, you know, the D coach. He's trying to calm me down and yeah, I did not, did not stop yelling for probably a full minute at Hitch. And looking back, it was pretty bad. But, you know, the next day came in like nothing happened. We're. We're good. And you know, I think he enjoyed the fire, but yeah.
- [88:51]
C
Was he even looking back at you or just looking straight ahead, just listening to you berate him?
- [88:56]
E
It was a little bit of a side eye, but yeah, no, everybody was completely silent on the bench and didn't go over any plays for overtime or anything like that. It was just me straight on, you know, dropping the F bombs and yelling at, at, at Hitch.
- [89:12]
B
Like, could he not help himself with, with like, just like nagging like that? Like, what was it? I understand maybe an off. The boy who some games is like turning over at the blue line where it's like, oh, this guy's a notorious slow starter, but you're laying out, blocking shots, fighting for your teammates like you're the one guy where it's like if he tries to make the safe play, like shut the up, shut the Fuck up. Could he not help himself?
- [89:38]
E
No, I think it was just, you know, whatever came to his mind, he just, he just said it. And you know, he's obviously a brilliant, you know, hockey mind and some guys have their things and, and Hitch love getting under people's skin, especially his own, his home players.
- [89:55]
D
Did the young guys come up to you after that? Because obviously you don't seem like a guy who flips out all the time when they will. Were they like, what the fuck was that?
- [90:02]
E
Yeah, they. I think a couple of them might have pissed their pants on the bench because they've. I might have scared him a little bit. Yeah, it's. Yeah, I had a screw loose sometimes. Typically it wasn't towards my own teammates or, or the coaches, but yeah, they were, you know, and everybody knew that Hitch got under everybody's skin. And there was, you know, Ravel had a couple of those with Hitch. I think Osh back is Steener. I think everybody that really cared about the game had a, A good. You match with. With Hitch.
- [90:38]
B
Any like, any ones in particular that really stand out? Like, is there one?
- [90:43]
E
Geez. I think they're just so constant that, you know, you kind of forget about most of them. But yeah, right now I can't really think anything off the, the top of my, my head to mention the antics.
- [90:58]
B
That were going on when me and Whit were there. Like the minute he would step on the ice for practice, he barely tied his skates, right? He were just like slip ons. Guys would just start like taking half clappers at his feet. Then the trainers would obviously put the board on the bench side because he would walk on and he would just go up and down the bench side holding the boards and never go to the other side. So I think it was Otter still in camp when we were there.
- [91:23]
E
I think so.
- [91:24]
D
Yeah.
- [91:24]
B
I think it might have been Otter. When he came on the ice, if he grabbed the board from the bench side and then moved it over to the penalty box side just so he had to skate across, and then that's when they could fire the pucks at his feet. So this is just like happening every day.
- [91:36]
E
And I'm like.
- [91:37]
B
But when he got to the video sessions and he came in and addressed the team, for somebody who never played, I was blown away at how he was able to articulate and simplify what he wanted out of his team.
- [91:50]
E
Yeah, he, he, he was so good. You know, the hockey blind side of it, the identifying, you know, just different, you know, defensive schemes, you know, little plays that might get you ahead and, you know, you have some of those video. Video sessions that were, you know, you look at the bottom of the. The screen and it says 76 clips. And, you know, he kept the video guy up all night. And then he'd show two of them. They see the video guy in the background, like, you know, what is they doing all this work when he showed two clips. But, yeah, he was really good at teaching the game. And, you know, the. The one common goal for him was to, you know, to have, you know, just have everybody fighting for the same thing. And usually it was against the coach. So he, he accomplished that all the time.
- [92:37]
C
Jax, those. Those. Those Blues teams in like, 2012, 13, 14, they were. They were so hard to play against. Like, you'd go into St. Louis, it was Hitch talking about, like, puck control, they'd wear you down. It just so happened the Blackhawks and, And the Kings, those years were incredible. But in 14, I believe you guys were up. You're up two zero after you scored the. The OT game winner in game two. Right. Like, do you remember that series at all? Because they ended up winning four straight. But you had. You kind of like, had that a stranglehold on it.
- [93:09]
E
Yeah, we did. Steener scored, and it's kind of the same, you know, two years in a row. Dinner score. The. The winner in game one. I scored the winner in game two. And it just seemed like just the bounces we weren't getting. I think we got, you know, game three in both series, I think it was a 2:1, and we outshot them. It just seemed like everything kind of went wrong. A couple injuries, too. The second year in the LA series, I think we had three defensemen out with concussions. It just, you know, it's so hard to win in the league. And, you know, those two teams, too, Chicago and. And la, both went on to win. And they. They had the timing, they had, you know, the grid, and we just. We got unlucky, I think, in both those years, but, you know, and lost the two unbelievable teams in your career.
- [94:00]
C
Like, the way you played, you know, you're in the west. Your entire career, was there one guy that you battled with, like, more than anyone else? Like, was there a guy every time you played, you might be a fight, might be a battle and fight front, or was it more just kind of anyone you played, you were just a prick to.
- [94:15]
E
Yeah, I tried to be a prick to everybody, but that first year, Bertuzzi was. Was my guy. We. He had a little bit of height and weight on me. But I went after him so hard. He came after me. The seven game series in the first round in Vancouver and it was an all out war. And then I got to meet him in the summer after that and we were in Vegas for an award show and he was one of the. My favorite people. So, so nice to me, you know, took me and my girlfriend at the time with him and his wife and I just made sure that I was included and. And then the next year he ended up, you know, ending my season by. By smoking me and dislocating my shoulder, so. And he was the first one in the tunnel after the game too to make sure I was okay. So, you know, those battles respected, you know, the hell out of him. But he was, he was so good that year too. I think he was up for the, for the MVP of the league. And he, he was, he was dominant and I took a lot of pride in, you know, trying to, trying to stop him.
- [95:25]
D
Now were you one of those guys? Did you have to like hype yourself up for something like that or it just kind of came naturally to you where you knew for you to stick around to be the player that you were, you had to play like that night in, night out.
- [95:36]
E
I had to play like that every night. I didn't have to hype myself up to do it. But, you know, I just, I took pride in the defensive side of the game. Every time that you, you know, you get to play some of the best players in the world, you. You want to, you know, kind of compete with them. So, you know, playing against, you know, Patty Keane so many times too, try to make it hard on, you know, matched up against him, you know, every shift. And I remember one time, like maybe got. Got away with a cheap shot. I hit him in the, in the back. I've written a kidneys probably a little harder than I should have after a whistle. And he turned around and, you know, just kind of had that surprise look on his face like, what did you just do to me? You know, it was the one time I maybe felt a little bit bad for maybe a second or two, but, you know, feeling went away.
- [96:23]
D
It kind of shows the evolution of the game too. Like the beginning of your career, you're going against guys that are 6, 4, 6, 5 battle and then by the end of it, smaller guys like Patrick Kane. So the evolution of your game had to change as well, right?
- [96:35]
E
Yeah, he had the, you know, I went, went to the lead with the clutching and grabbing and, you know, you had to bench press, you know, 350 pounds to, to compete to, you know, a lockout, rule changes, you had become a better skater, you know, handle the puck more and just be a, you know, an all around player. So I struggled a little bit, you know, right after the lockout. But yeah, figured it out and you know, I had a pretty decent career after that.
- [97:04]
B
I would imagine you're probably watching a lot of Blues games. Like are you like how many you think you watch a year?
- [97:09]
E
Yeah, well, between, you know, coaching and all that, I don't get to a lot, but yeah, I try and you know, follow. So yeah, the Blues, you know, I'll probably, you know, catch probably 40 to 50 of them and but yeah, just try and you know, keep up with the times here, you know, being in the office, you know, enterprise and you know, sneaking out for practice once in a while, pregame skates and stuff. So yeah, we're around is Steener and.
- [97:36]
B
Like the rest of the guys in the organization like asking you like, what you, what you think here, what you think there. I feel like for like maybe a small place and not a big market, it's one of the most that guys stay in. Like I think it's actually like a, like a stat or the most guys who have played there for a certain amount of time end up just residing there. So I feel like you guys got like a great boys club and, and a lot to like bounce like stuff off each other. Like having a bigger round table is better, right?
- [98:02]
E
Yeah, no, there's, you know, trying to think all the guys, you know, we got Portuzzo, you got McInnes, Scott Melon beat, you know, Steener, you know, Otter, there's so many guys that have played that are actually working for the organization. So Steers got a lot of people that you know, you kind of realize on and you know, he bends my ear every once in a while but you know, he's, he's got a pretty good support staff that's all in the hockey ops. And then you know, Big Walt, sue is going to give his opinion no matter, you know, whether you like it or not.
- [98:34]
C
Tell me about being a, a hockey dad now. I see your son Kaden play. He's played USHL games this year. It says for the U.S. national team and then obviously for the team you're coaching in St. Louis. Like does he, does he have that edge like you played with? Like, what's it like coaching him and, and just coaching kids in general now?
- [98:52]
E
It's awesome. I've been kind of with the same Group, core group of kids for five years now. Yeah, we U16 team. We're number two in the country behind shadow. Have all these, you know, everybody on our team except for the one kid from OMaha are all St. Louis, you know, born. So.
- [99:12]
C
No.
- [99:13]
E
Yeah. You know, for us to be, you know, highly ranked like that with a small group is, is awesome. And you know, coach my kid, it's, it's great. And the assistant coach and yeah, he's, he's a great kid. He's got way better skill than I have. He could skate. He's got hair. But you know, he's, he's a good kid. He's been, you know, working his ass off for years and he's, he's got that, you know, starting to get some recognition and you know him playing a few games in the, in Waterloo. He's, he's done well. So, you know, looking forward to watching him grow and you know, see what next year holds.
- [99:52]
C
Wow, that's pretty. He. And he just loves the game. Like you could see the passion that, that you almost remember that you had.
- [99:58]
E
Oh, yeah, he loves it. He's. He's pretty hard nose. He goes to the net. Yeah. He's digging at the goal at all times and you know, he gets punched in the head probably about 10 times a game. So he's definitely, he's got some of my, you know, kind of, you know, hard nose. But yeah, he's, he's good. He's. He's a very smart, smart kid. Smart on the ice, smart off the ice. Actually a really good baseball player too. And he just loves all sports wherever you, you know, he could be in the, in the backyard the, with his boys and they're always doing something.
- [100:32]
C
When does he have to, like, how can he keep playing baseball now? Like, that's the thing we talk about on this show a lot is like every guy who played seems to say they played a bunch of sports growing up as long as they could. And then you see, I'm sure you've seen some kids just doing hockey when they're nine and it's like, ah, I think you got to do some other things here.
- [100:52]
E
Yeah, he's, you know, this year coming up is going to be. Be tough. So he's playing high school baseball again. Had a lot of fun doing that last year. He's, he's only a sophomore, but yeah, he's going to do that and then he's going to focus on, on his training this summer. So no travel ball. It's, it's you know, at this age, the travel, baseball, they go on week long tournaments and you know, bounce from city to city. So he's really going to focus on the, the hockey training. But, but he's still, you know, hopefully, you know, another year from now you could probably, you know, still play a little bit of baseball.
- [101:30]
D
Any crazy hockey story, hockey parents stories that you could share with us or.
- [101:34]
C
Is everyone seen Jack a guy out on Live Barn?
- [101:38]
D
Yeah, everyone's seen his clips and they're like, we don't want that smoke.
- [101:42]
E
Yeah, no, try and stay off the, you know, the Live Barn. But yeah, no, there's. It was crazy parents at all times, you know, hasn't directly happened with our team. I think our parents are, you know, are pretty respectable. But you know, I've been at the rink a few times where, you know, the police have been called on some parents going at it and you know, yelling across the ice at the coaches and you know, kid gets hit and you know, the parents are on the glass just losing their mind. So, yeah, nothing, you know, like the, you know, the, the brawls and the stands. But there's definitely some people that just take the game way too serious and, and don't know how to separate, you know, the rink from reality.
- [102:25]
B
Way to go, Paul. So G wrote in here you fought some, some pretty big heavyweights. It has Luch here. It actually has Cam Jansen. So you fought him and played with him.
- [102:37]
E
Darren Downey went after Jansen, dropped his gloves and Jan skate away from him. So I came off the bench and you know, went after him to, to kind of show him up a little bit. But yeah, fought, fought a few tough guys. Luch. Yeah, you knocked me out. So did he. Yeah, yeah, behind the ear. Pretty good one. And yeah, that's okay. Now you want to bring up.
- [103:05]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, the fact that I scored a goal when you were on the ice, probably the lowest point in your career, loser. I thought that might have kept you out of the hall of fame in St. Louis.
- [103:16]
E
Like you could. You sent it to me.
- [103:19]
B
What do you mean you haven't seen it? It was with Ryan Miller. You, I think you slid on the ice. Revo was on the ice. Revo bent his head back like, oh my God, I'm gonna get sent down to the Miners. This guy just scored on us. I was gonna ask though, you said you had battles with Bertuzzi. Was there anybody that you like pre lined it up, maybe even in warm up where you're like, we're going tonight, like that like, that's how angry you were at the guy or were mostly them like net front battles in like in the moment type of fights?
- [103:48]
E
Yeah, it was. Well, I think in the moment there was some guys that I really hated that I knew maybe I'd go after them. But yeah, for the most part it was either, you know, protecting my teammates or, you know, just maybe I'm not playing good. So, you know, you got to get in a fight to try and make a difference.
- [104:08]
B
Hate's a strong word. Like who, who were the, like the guys who were like, I want to kill this guy.
- [104:12]
D
You? Yeah.
- [104:14]
E
No, you didn't get on the ice enough for me to.
- [104:18]
B
Exactly. I remember one time I tried to get to the net on you and you boxed me out and I was like, I can't even get through, through this guy. So that's when that's where I knew.
- [104:26]
E
We'Re well guy, right? Yeah. Andrew Shaw, he was a guy that got under my skin at all times and yeah, he would never fight me. And then I, I think it was with, it was either in Nashville or my last year in St. Louis. He finally looked at me and he smiled. He goes, okay, it's time, I'll fight you now. And I just, I think I was just shocked one of the penalty box and I think I said over him, like, I've hated you for so long, but thanks for finally fighting me. He's kind of had a chuckle and you know, I kind of knew the end of my career was coming. So, you know, respected a lot of, you know, guys that I battled against and you know, he was one that, you know, he, he always played the game the right way and I respected him, but I, I, I, you know, despised him.
- [105:14]
B
You know what that is, boys? That's Mayweather, Pacquiao. He's like, I'm going to wait till he's right out of his prime in the fighting department and then that's when I'm going to go and What a smart guy. What a smart guy. Couple clicks for Shawzy, eh?
- [105:28]
C
Hey, Jax, like I gotta ask. Cause you know, you played your whole year career with St. Louis and then finished in Nashville. Probably difficult, right? Like moving on. But what was cool is you guys, you won first round in game seven with Nashville, lost second round game seven, San Jose goes to the Cup Final. So kind of take me through leaving St. Louis and, and how hard it was maybe at the beginning of, of being a predator.
- [105:53]
E
Yeah, it was tough. You know, you've, your, your life's kind of you know, you're in a parallel universe where, you know, you're playing Nashville and, you know, you kind of hate them, but, you know, you just wear a blue note for so long. But at the end of my career, I kind of knew what was coming. They had some, you know, Edmondson and Bertuzzo were. Were kind of playing that same role that I was. Had Paraco coming up from the. From the Miners, and I was. You know, I wasn't stupid, and I. I understood. They decided not to. To resign me and army was. Was great about it and very respectful. We had great conversation, and, you know, I had no hard feelings. And he was so, you know, what he. He did for me over the years, I. I really respected what he did. But, yeah, you go to Nashville, and I was excited. You know, he's part of a decor that I thought was probably the best in the league. You know, Weber, Yoshi, Ellis Ekholm and Seth Jones. And, you know, he was coming in. They wanted, you know, they kind of told me that, you know, I want you to be a penalty killer, maybe take a few minutes off those big guys. And. And. But, yeah, we. It was a lot of fun, you know, getting to. To know Fish, you know, Ribeiro and, you know, just a lot of the older guys that really had a love for the game and. And, you know, did so much. So I went there and, you know, had to use GPS to get everywhere the first time in a while. But, yeah, no, it's. Nashville is a great time, and it's nice to see a different organization, to see how they run things and, you know, really make you appreciate, you know, the league even more.
- [107:37]
D
Did you just say ribs and love of the game.
- [107:41]
E
Well, love of the boys, maybe.
- [107:45]
C
That was. Actually, I'm looking at that team that was Forsberg's, like, second full year. That guy you must have been right away, like, holy shit. I love watching him play.
- [107:56]
E
He's. He's one of the most talented people I've ever been on the ice with. You know, I played with some pretty good players over the years, but the things that he could do with the puck in practice or even in games, he would beat a guy and then he'd turn around and just to do it again and. And, you know, go through his legs and his hand. Eye coordination. Just what he could do with a puck and. And just an unbelievable person, too. You know, he. He had so much fun. He was always smiling and just. But, yeah, no, the talent that he has and still showing it is. Is pretty special.
- [108:31]
B
I was with him in Colorado and, like, got to meet him for the first time. And Holy, man, what a cool cat he is.
- [108:37]
D
He's just like, no, no, he's Wrong Forsberg. Wrong Forsberg.
- [108:41]
B
Oh. Oh, fuck. Well, he was in Nashville, too. I was like. I mean, you could basically say the same thing about both guys, right?
- [108:47]
D
Yeah, for sure.
- [108:49]
C
One's a righty, one's a lefty.
- [108:51]
E
Yeah.
- [108:53]
D
Yeah.
- [108:53]
E
Oh, okay.
- [108:54]
B
Well, it was a long night last night.
- [108:57]
D
Oh. Tell us how you feel about Peter, though.
- [108:59]
E
Yeah.
- [108:59]
D
Biz.
- [109:03]
E
Did you know Rick Jackman or Bear Jackman, who you've been prepping for?
- [109:10]
C
How was I?
- [109:12]
B
Pittsburgh. Well, you were, too, weren't you?
- [109:15]
C
Yeah, he was the guy. Jocko. I have. I had, like, seven points in my first four games in Pittsburgh. Came out to me. He's like, it's not this easy, buddy. And then I loved him, though. Love that guy. Classic. But, yeah, we're interviewing Barrett. This is Barrett.
- [109:32]
B
Oh, thanks.
- [109:33]
C
Did you know. Did you know that was it, like, you decided to hang him up? Could you have maybe signed with somebody? Like, what, told you it was time?
- [109:40]
E
Well, Nashville bought me out, so I knew if they're going to pay me to stay home, that maybe I should.
- [109:45]
B
That was another one from G. In the. In the shot here.
- [109:51]
E
Hey.
- [109:51]
C
Yeah, that's why I hung him up. I was told they'll pay me to not be on the team.
- [109:56]
E
Yeah, my dog died yesterday, too. Do you want to bring that up or what?
- [110:02]
B
Oh, God. That was like, Tyson Berry, when he's like, I kind of knew it was time when, like, literally no one would answer my calls. Like, not one team would answer the call. So that's like.
- [110:12]
C
Yeah, I was trying to play, man. I was trying to play.
- [110:15]
B
It wasn't my. It wasn't my idea.
- [110:17]
C
So you. But you might have been able to get a deal, I guess. Just. I don't want to move again.
- [110:21]
E
Yeah, I had. I had a couple calls, you know, one tryout, and then, you know, I had one offer, but I had a torn labrum in my hip and didn't realize how bad it was. So I had surgery, you know, a few months after, you know, kind of deciding what, you know, the, you know, home life was calling and, you know, just. Just wanted to be, you know, a good father and be around when my kids were. Were young. So, you know, grateful I played for as long as I did and, you know, just. Yeah, it was just. Just time. I. I kind of knew it and, you know, enjoy my. My family time and, you know, just hanging out in St. Louis.
- [111:03]
B
Was it the short legs? Why the hip stopped working? Like, what was the. And when we're. When. When you're saying short, like, what are we talking for an inseam here? How tall are you exactly?
- [111:12]
E
Well, you know, when I sit down, I'm. I'm still 6ft, but my legs are dangling under the desk right now.
- [111:20]
B
What type of everything? A 30 inch?
- [111:23]
D
34 12?
- [111:26]
E
Yeah, 33 1. So it's not too bad. I don't look that awkward. Not like Walt. So.
- [111:32]
B
Okay.
- [111:33]
C
I looked up this luch fight. Not to bring that up. You had him. You had him. The whole. He caught you with the one, right. I just watched it.
- [111:40]
A
You.
- [111:40]
C
You were kind of giving it to him for a minute.
- [111:43]
D
So.
- [111:43]
C
Yeah, we could bring up the dog's funeral and stuff and anything else tragic.
- [111:48]
E
Happened that we want. Yeah, well, that Luke's fight. Yeah, he just caught me in the right spot behind the ear. But, man, he hit me so hard right before that behind the net. So, you know, I knew I had to fight him, that we got done. And, you know, Walt comes out to me, he goes, oh, yeah, my brother told me that guy is pretty tough, that nobody should fight him. Well, yeah, you're about, you know, 30 minutes too late for that. They're.
- [112:12]
C
Thanks for the note.
- [112:13]
E
Yeah.
- [112:14]
B
Do you have any type of strong opinion on, like, where the, like where the game is right now, maybe with like, the development of kids in. In minor hockey, like, just like the way there's like, anything as far as. As far as how these kids are being taught nowadays?
- [112:27]
C
Yeah. Do you notice the lack of maybe hockey IQ a little bit?
- [112:31]
E
Oh, absolutely. You know, I think a lot of these kids are doing, you know, private lessons and, you know, they might be working more one on one instead of doing the, you know, the, the team stuff. And, you know, like you mentioned before, both playing different sports, I think these kids are specializing way too young and, you know, getting advisors when they're six years old and, you know, kids moving away from home, you know, at 10, 11, 12, chasing the, the best team in the country. You know, I think there's a lot to be said about, you know, developing homegrown talent, being with your family, you know, learning how to be a good person and. But yeah, I know the, the hockey iq. I. I really think that these kids should, you know, it's. It's more about team sports and, and. And less on the, the individual. So. Yeah, that's, that's my opinion. I know, you know, all these skills coaches are probably pissed. And I think there's a, you know, a place for skills, individual skills, but I think there should be a lot more, you know, team, you know, practices, you know, playing scrimmages, small area games where you're, you know, you're competing and just learn. Learn the game that way.
- [113:43]
D
Yeah, the whole one on one thing, I don't think people realize that people in the NHL rarely get beat one on one, especially playing against a guy like you. But I just got a text from Oshi and he said, ask him about the rookie party in San Francisco.
- [113:58]
E
Oh, the rookie party, San Fran. Yeah, we. We ended up, I think we were playing in Edmonton or something the night before, so we ended up flying into San Fran and, you know, just kind of having a. A day off. Boys, you know, spent a lot of time at the pub and then we went to a nice restaurant after and DJ King and Cam Jansen decided that they. In the restaurant, we're gonna see who was tougher. So, yeah, there's. They're pretty banged up and you. You punch me first. So they punch him in the face and, you know, they laugh. Didn't hurt. And, you know, the other one hits each other and they go back and forth or the manager comes up to me, he's like, they can't do that. This is a nice restaurant. Can you. We tell them to leave. So they went outside and yeah, they were, you know, got a few more punches in, nothing bad. They. They were just, you know, one for one and, you know, very calm about it. And then he took the bus back to San Jose right after. And, you know, Big Walt was sitting there pissing off Kinger and Kinger was trying to go after Walt, and Walt kept calling her a pussy. So I'm sitting there hanging on the King or. So he doesn't, you know, kill Big Walt and. Yeah, so. But just, you know, you know, thinking about the. These stories that, yeah. Makes me miss the game.
- [115:29]
B
Are we talking almost like, like OG Slap fight type thing where. Except punches where both hands were pretty much the guys on the guy's side and boom, whale away. Wow. Yeah, I think Dana White owes these guys a few bucks.
- [115:42]
E
Yeah, those two are tough individuals and, you know, not all there in the. In the mind.
- [115:48]
B
But DJ King was one of those guys where you were like, ah, Colt Moore. You're like, please, healthy, scratch me tonight. Please tip. Just please don't have me in the same lineup.
- [116:00]
E
Yeah, these guys are tough as nails and, you know, just great, great people too.
- [116:05]
B
Is there anybody that you were Afraid of, like, was there. Was there a fear with. With anyone? Like, one guy?
- [116:11]
D
Luch.
- [116:12]
E
Not really. I think, you know, just kind of the lore of, you know, Robert Little Rock Brushier, you know, kind of getting in the league. Yeah, you. You said so much respect for him. You stayed away from him. And we had guys that, you know, were doing that on our team, so I didn't really have to be. Be afraid. Yeah, there was nobody that, you know, I was a decent fighter, you know, grew up. Yeah. I started fighting when I was 14, 15 years old in Junior B and knew how to protect myself. I wasn't going to win every fight, but just I knew I could protect myself even against some of the bigger guys, so. Never, never had that fear.
- [116:52]
C
Well, Jax, this has been awesome, buddy. We appreciate it. It's so cool you've done with the alumni. Look at that.
- [116:59]
B
Oh, my God. Where the fuck did you get.
- [117:02]
C
He grabbed. You grabbed that out of the trash.
- [117:05]
E
It's been hanging in my house ever since you left, so.
- [117:08]
D
Wow. That's an honor, Wit. Basically, you're in the hall of Fame.
- [117:12]
C
Oh, it's over his fireplace. He sent me a picture before. It's pretty sick. I didn't think you'd break it out for this, man. That's nice. You.
- [117:18]
E
I took it out of the glass for you, so. Yeah, I'll put it back.
- [117:22]
D
Holding it there the whole time.
- [117:23]
B
There's people who are listening right now who have no idea what we're laughing about, but Jackman here, Tim Jackman just held up. Orion Whitney, St. Louis Blues, number six, Jersey signed. Now, where. Like, where did you actually get that?
- [117:39]
C
That was in two preseason games. Minus.
- [117:42]
D
He did a sad face underneath it, not a heart.
- [117:48]
E
Oh, this has been hanging the hall of Fame trophy case here since Whit left.
- [117:53]
C
Yeah, no, it actually, they. Him and Caruso, they switch every other week. They give it to each other for their. Oh, so, yeah, they're good dudes. To represent my beautiful experience with Hitch and Biz.
- [118:06]
B
No, he uses mine to wipe his cornhole. Especially after I walked him. And then he got dealt the fucking St. Louis or to Nashville and bought out. That was the end.
- [118:18]
C
That was the final thing when Army. Yeah, Biz, put one in off your shin pad. That's it, buddy. Thanks for your run.
- [118:26]
B
Imagine Hitch when you get back to the bench after Biz walks you. Oh, my God.
- [118:29]
E
That was a healthy scratch Left draft, missing that. What the fuck was that? Think it's time to hang him up.
- [118:36]
B
Rick or Tim?
- [118:38]
C
Rick. And then he said, tim. Oh, Barry Chocolate, thank you very much, bud. Thank you so much. To Barrett Jackman. What a player. What a guy. We appreciate him sitting down with us for an hour there. So, guys, things are going well for the Rangers?
- [119:00]
E
Yeah.
- [119:02]
C
Holy shit. The. The. The chant, the fire, Drury chance being down 6 nothing to Ottawa. It seems like they're getting trounced every single game. I don't know, man. Like, this is a disaster. So you got. Panarin will be out. I don't know who else they move. I don't know how long. You know, hopefully Chris Drury get.
- [119:22]
E
Get.
- [119:22]
C
Rangers fans want him out, but personally, I'm friends with them. I'm not hoping the guy gets fired. I hope he gets a chance. It just seems like everyone's turned on him. I get it. That's how it works. You lose games and. And, you know, you make this big trade for J.T. miller. He's captain. He's talking to the media after. When asked what was up with the first period, he's like, I don't know. That's not great.
- [119:46]
B
I mean, kind of love the honesty.
- [119:48]
C
Yeah.
- [119:49]
B
I wasn't really paying attention. Tim.
- [119:51]
D
Remembering playing.
- [119:52]
C
I was never a captain. Sometimes you really don't know. I got no fucking clue.
- [119:58]
B
Well, Rick, I wasn't really paying attention.
- [120:02]
D
Clearly you didn't watch, because I wasn't either. Yeah, it's tough sledding it, and I feel bad for them because, I mean, when I played there, we were unreal, you know, one, I would say majority of our games at home, but listening to that crowd, like, that's tough sledding. And then, like, it was dead quiet at some point. I mean, they were down for Cobb at, you know, in the first period. So it's. It's tough for the fans to get into, but that's a tough building to not be feeling your best and. But, man, it doesn't look like anything's even in sight there. Like, you know, obviously Lucian to Sturkin's brutal. Quick's been hung out to dry. Like, just. I feel horrible for him.
- [120:41]
C
800 start. He got pulled.
- [120:44]
E
Yeah.
- [120:44]
C
And also.
- [120:45]
E
Also.
- [120:47]
C
Was it eight? Yeah. Was it? Oh. Somebody was saying, like, it shows that how nasty Shusterkin is. Like, this is right? This is how bad they are.
- [120:57]
D
What do they call. Put a band aid. Putting a band aid on. Like, he put a band aid on that team. You thought they were okay. They just couldn't score for the first, you know, 20 games. But when he's not in there they are the. The Hartford Whalers or whatever. They're the Hartford Wolf pack. They are not a good team right now. Tough to watch. But you look at their roster, right Biz, like there's, there's talent there, there are guys who can play. Like they got two guys, at least two guys going to Olympics, right? Oh, no, probably even more. Is it Ben and Jad? So I mean there, there are guys there that know what it takes. They, they're big time players. It's just finding a way and I don't know, like, it just seems like one of those years that nothing's going right for them. I feel bad for them. I feel bad for Drew. I don't think it's his fault. But yeah, tough sled in there at.
- [121:42]
B
MSG for based on expectations, this might be the worst team a t a team has ever been at home for at least. I'm not saying I thought that they were going to, you know, be world beaters, but I think we all saw him on like the playoff cusp line of like fighting for a wild card. Like you would expect a team that was getting a lottery pick to be this bad at home. And it just so happens it's the most famous arena on the planet. That's got to be brutal. True regulation wins all season at home. That is imagine pains for seasons and.
- [122:16]
D
It was probably one nothing.
- [122:18]
B
They beat San Jose or was San Jose beat them? Oh, I think they beat San Jose 6 5.
- [122:24]
C
That might have been their first one. I think that was. Yeah, you're right back, right?
- [122:28]
D
Yeah. Those interviews.
- [122:31]
C
Yeah. Guys, coming up on Monday, it's Prime Monday night hockey. We talk about this on the second episode each week. Wild versus Toronto. That's a one. That's one. I'm excited for. 7:30 Monday, January 19th. Our listeners in Canada can watch Monday night's game on Prime Video. If you're already a Prime member, you're all set. If not, sign up for a free trial@prime video.com Prime Monday Night Hockey. It's on Monday. It's on Prime. Prime Monday night hockey is available free to prime members in Canada. Start your free trial@prime video.com and for the full Prime Monday night hockey schedule, visit prime video.com SALP NHL biz. If, if you guys the way you've turned things around, I forget that I, I throw out that Utah loss. You beat Colorado. Yeah. Yeah. Then you're on a back to back. That's going to happen. If you can beat Minnesota at home. That's a statement win, buddy. That's a statement win. And Matthews, I don't know if he was ever hurt, but something clicked and he now looks dominant. He looks faster, but I. I don't.
- [123:32]
E
Think I got my swagger.
- [123:36]
C
That little, that little hand movement he did. The double birds being given to him was classic.
- [123:42]
B
That was aura. They call that aura farming the kids these days. He's got aura. He does. I like, I might get a fucking hula hoop earring like him. Like, he's the coolest guy in the world. No. Yeah. He's the fucking man, dude. Imagine the amount of pressure playing in Toronto. You lose your. You lose your top end guy and then he's fucking putting on the second half he's been doing. I don't know who his doctor is, but whatever vitamins he's on, I want him because he is a different player. It looks. You know what he looks like? It's looking. When OVI went back home a few times middle of the season, and all of a sudden he came back and it was like, whoa, who's this guy?
- [124:21]
C
Whoa.
- [124:21]
B
Whoa. Jesus. Pissing out diesel fuel.
- [124:24]
C
20 goals in 22 games.
- [124:26]
E
You're like, whoa, whoa.
- [124:27]
C
Little trip back to Moscow and ov's humming again. But I don't think Matthews went anywhere.
- [124:33]
B
But the best part about what you said, Whit, is I don't think you can deny they look different. And that's what's. That's what's pumped about. So going to go into Minnesota Amazon prime Monday, get the job done.
- [124:45]
C
Let's go and biz. I would like to see wondering your opinion. Does anyone on Toronto take a run at Mitch Marner in Vegas tonight?
- [124:56]
B
No. And the best part about all this is the way they're playing is people can start realizing that there's a life past this guy. He did so much for the team. I'm sure it's going to be an emotional game. He was so like, he was obviously fired up for Matthews and beating the Leafs record. And I'm sure he fucking called him and had a good chat with him. He's like the main reason assisted on the most goals. So I'm sure it's like, you know, I'm pumped for that, for it to be over with probably for everybody. It'll be emotional and, you know, people say what they'll say online, but he's happier by moving there and. And I think that the Leafs are going to be better off in the end without them. That's it. That's all I got to say. Is that fair? What do you guys think?
- [125:39]
D
That is very fair. Yeah.
- [125:41]
C
That Is fair. It's now time for the rear the man Rear admiral. He's known. First appearance on Netflix. Let's throw it to Ra's World.
- [126:02]
A
Hello, everybody. Welcome to Ra's World. Here in the Spitting Chicklets podcast boys. How's it going, Biz? Want to go to you first. Congrats on the new deal. Awesome job between the benches last night. Great. Does this mean you're buying another house?
- [126:17]
D
Maybe.
- [126:18]
B
We'll see. Yeah, yeah, by you, Ra. I'm gonna buy. I'm gonna buy the place next door to you so we can hang out more.
- [126:25]
A
Would you ever have Minty House sit for you? And how much would you charge him for it?
- [126:29]
B
Oh, fuck. Min. I would give Mincy one night stay at my house per year and that's it. That's it. He gets one night. And next time I'm. I'm gonna put him in Sam Bennett's cage with nothing. He can't touch anything. It's gonna look like a prison cell.
- [126:47]
A
Yeah, he. He's a bit of a farm animal. I love the stuff at the end of the game last night with Rob Ray. You look like Kevin Baker from Animal House. Thank you, sir. May I have another? I got a funny story. It was probably 25, 26 years ago. Whit, Keith, you remember the Rock? The bar in town? Like all the athletes used to go there back in the day after Bruins game. Yeah, he owned a piece of it. Dave, Andrew, Chuck, Dougie Gilmore and Rob Ray were there when they all played for the Sabres together. And you know, I was. I'm a big hockey guy. I walked over to say what's up? And totally unprompted. Ray looks at me and he tripped. I had a silk button down from Structure. It was like fancy silk shirts. He's like, yeah, nice shirt. And I went right back. It was no wonder why you always get your ass kicked. And Gilmore and Andrew checks out a pissing themselves laughing. He laughed too, but it's like I didn't bust his balls. He kind of chirped me off the hop, so it was pretty funny watching that last night. You guys just mentioned my. Not actually my Netflix debut. Of course, the town was streaming on Netflix before, so I haven't on Netflix now. This time you'll know it's me. It's not like blurry white fashion.
- [127:44]
B
I love that. I love that. Thank you for the correction.
- [127:48]
C
That's a big time RA line right there. Just reminded me it's been on Netflix before, guys.
- [127:53]
A
It. It's. I mean, it's Wild time flies. I remember 22 years ago, waiting patiently for the next DVD of the Wire. That's how I first watched the Wire. Like, you had to get one DVD at a time. Banged out the whole series in a few months. So, yeah, to be on Netflix now. It's awesome. Great stuff. A little more Netflix chat later. But by the time this episode drops, Big Zadano Char will have seen his number 33 join 12 other franchise legends in the TD Garden Raptors. First since Willie O'Ree back in 2022, I'd say. I mean, one of the two best free agent signings in Boston sports history. Big Pappy, David Ortiz, the other. Not going to fight over who's number one. They're going to be giving out bobbleheads. Hopefully G ended up at 1, but this is going to be the first number retirement. I've missed the new barn. I was there for Bouck O'Reilly, Neely Middleton, and Willie O'Ree.
- [128:41]
C
Why aren't you going?
- [128:43]
A
I'm still. Still kind of a wounded duck right now.
- [128:48]
C
So you're just, like, laid up for weeks now?
- [128:52]
A
Yeah, I have an MRI scheduled next week. I started physical therapy. It's definitely not science. It's something my PT guy said. It's definitely not sciatica. I probably have. It could be my L5S1 could be a herniated.
- [129:04]
B
I think you gotta activate some muscles. Ra. Like, you gotta do some glute exercises.
- [129:09]
A
You need.
- [129:09]
D
You gotta have muscles activated.
- [129:12]
B
Okay.
- [129:12]
A
And especially my ass. I said it before I left my ass in the womb. But no, I. I've been doing that. My PT guys give me some exercise to do, and I'm feeling a little bit better. But, like, I don't want to be walking around the God with a cane, out of breath, hobbing around like Yoda for three hours. So, yeah, I mean, I would have been nice to have been there, but, you know.
- [129:28]
D
All right, you should call President move it for you.
- [129:31]
B
Yeah, they should. It should. Yeah, they're gonna.
- [129:35]
A
But.
- [129:38]
B
You should have Mincy fly there and wheelchair you into the game. I just.
- [129:43]
A
No, yeah, he'll probably leave me.
- [129:49]
E
Street.
- [129:50]
D
He'S going Jeep and wheelchair you.
- [129:53]
A
He'll wait. He'll. He'll auction me off to, like, the highest bidder and be like, yeah, you could babysit him. I'll. You know, they'll. They'll pay him before.
- [129:58]
B
I mean, we're close enough with big C's now. I'm sure he'll lend you his chair. You ain't got to need any money? No, yeah, we're boys. Say that.
- [130:09]
A
Yeah. No, absolutely, absolutely. I, I, I met him down there. Well, the, the, the cup final that we won't mention. But yeah, I met him before the, the disaster of game seven. Before the game. Had a nice little chat with him. But back to the, the retired numbers. The Terry O'Reilly. When he retired his number, it was October 24, 2002. That was a rough night. Afterwards, I lost my task bobblehead and one of my buddies got shanked that night. We went to the Irish embassy. I don't know. You guys went.
- [130:34]
D
Keith, what were you more upset about? What were you.
- [130:37]
C
The bobblehead.
- [130:38]
A
Ah, I'm still bummed out.
- [130:39]
C
I don't care if Ricky got stabbed.
- [130:41]
B
I lost my bobblehead.
- [130:43]
C
I lost my liver.
- [130:44]
A
My boy. PMAC from cell. No, like, we went there every before every game, after every game. We didn't start trouble at all. A couple of, you know, meatheads. After the game started, I was shock. I was, like, pretty much legless. So I, I was useless as far as the fight. But, yeah, my, my buddy was scrapping, and he looked down, he was, you know, cut up. He was bleeding. Had to go mass general around the block. So, yeah, pretty, pretty wild, wild Terry O'Reilly night, I guess. But he was all good at the end of the day. I heard you guys talking about the preds earlier, and we showed a fantastic hockey photo last week of Trevor Zegra celebrating his goal. But Steven Stamkos, I mean, look at this picture. I mean, look at that photo, man. That is incredible.
- [131:20]
D
That looks like wit and flurry.
- [131:22]
B
Yeah. Yeah. I wonder if Pasha would trade for him now.
- [131:27]
C
No, still doesn't want him.
- [131:28]
A
He said, yeah, washed up behind 20 goals. But he said, well, it was a good pole vault. Never pole vaulted before. It was a little scary. You don't want to land on your head. But no worse for the wear. Yeah. Just a phenomenal photo by the president's team photographer, John Russell. And there's so many great team photographers out there. I know Brian Babineau. He's been here in Boston for years. His dad was the photographer back in the 70s. His dad, Steve. So I think, you know, it's no doubt, Bob, you are flying through the air. The best hockey, most iconic hockey photo ever. But what is, like, some of your favorites, Keith, I'll go to you first. What's your favorite or your most, you know, beloved hockey photo of all time?
- [132:01]
D
I'd probably say the one with Wayne Gretzky and gordie Howe with the hook around the stick around his neck. That's probably my. Besides the Bobby or one. That's probably the one I probably think of the most.
- [132:12]
B
Wow. This is a great. I. We should do Mount Rushmore of, like, sickest hockey photos. I would definitely say Wayne and Gordy with the stick.
- [132:21]
A
Is.
- [132:22]
B
That's insane. The Bobby or one leaping through the air.
- [132:26]
D
It's Googling.
- [132:28]
C
Well, dude, I actually wanted to see the picture that I was thinking of, and it is as good as I remember, but go ahead, Biz.
- [132:35]
B
I would say you'd have to almost put Bobby Clark with the Philadelphia Flyers holding the mug, smiling, with no bolt.
- [132:43]
D
Is front.
- [132:45]
B
No teeth there. Like, that's as hockey as it gets. Is. Is there. Is there, like a Michael Jordan with him? Like, crying with it, like, in the shower type photo that hockey has?
- [133:01]
D
Yeah.
- [133:03]
A
I can't think of one of the top of my head, but I do think now might be the time to bring up Tim Jackman instead of Barrett Jackman, the wit dog, the headless defenseman. That. That's kind of an iconic photo.
- [133:13]
B
That's a good one.
- [133:14]
C
Since That's a good one.
- [133:15]
A
That's. That.
- [133:15]
B
That's a good one.
- [133:16]
C
I was thinking of.
- [133:18]
D
Is in Mangiapani's in the stands.
- [133:21]
C
No. Is Whoever's hugging Jack O' Callaghan after they beat Russia in 1980.
- [133:27]
D
Oh, when he's down on the ground over him. Yeah, that is a really good one.
- [133:31]
C
Yeah, that one is kind of right. And the other one. And I thought of this one, too, because I just listened to the audiobook of Ken Dryden's memory of the 72 Summit Series. Is Paul Henderson being hugged. You can see one Russian defenseman. It looks like Cage.
- [133:50]
F
Is.
- [133:50]
D
Is.
- [133:51]
C
Is there instead of the Glass 72 Summit Series. And the guy who's hugging Henderson. It just. There was no names on the back. It was just Canada. So those are two international photos.
- [134:02]
B
Did you also say the. Did you also say the. The miracle one?
- [134:06]
C
Yeah, yeah. I think it's Jack o'.
- [134:08]
D
Callaghan.
- [134:09]
B
Okay.
- [134:09]
C
I don't know if he's down on his knees or he's standing up, but.
- [134:14]
D
He'S resting his arms on the. Resting himself.
- [134:18]
B
I think we're looking at all the same images right now.
- [134:22]
A
I think maybe one of the funniest ones ever is Mark Messi with a face cloth over his dong, sitting there with Gary Coleman drinking, like, unbelievable.
- [134:31]
D
Yeah.
- [134:32]
A
Probably the funniest picture ever. And also old school, too, I think. Yeah, yeah. One of those old, like, stubby like, you know, like old school. Cause bottles. But also Maurice Rashad. The handshake with sugar. Jim Henry, where he's got the. The band aid on his face with the blood. I. I think it was somewhere in the 50s. I think it was the semifinals.
- [134:50]
C
Another one. RA after one of the devil's Stanley Cups. Scott Stevens and Goldberg, the wrestler, shirts off in the locker room, and Stevens is just as jacked as him. It's pretty sick picture.
- [135:03]
A
Yeah. And I mean, I was. I. I mean, everyone likes pitches, but I. I was like 8, 9 years old. I used to have a. A Life magazine subscription. Do you remember that?
- [135:10]
C
Playboy.
- [135:11]
A
Yeah, I am Playboy. Playboy first Playboy as well. Yeah. Brought me into manhood. But no, I've always had, like, a huge thing for, like, photojournalism and Life magazine. That. That was like, sort of a pioneer. And I think, you know what, everyone has a camera on their phone. I think sometimes it might even be taken for granted. But, you know, photography, it's timeless. It documents history. And it's great to have these pictures. You know, like I said, the Maurice rashad from the 50s, man. It's just awesome to have, you know, these snapshots of historic events. So shout out to all the guys and gals taking pitches out there.
- [135:43]
D
The Vancouver riot one after they lost to the Bruins. That's a pretty iconic one.
- [135:48]
C
Oh, the guy making out with the girl.
- [135:50]
D
Yeah.
- [135:50]
A
Guy was getting it in right in the street there. Would. I found it all around him stuff.
- [135:54]
B
I found the greatest one of all time. Drinking the water by the King's bench and the water squirting out the other way. Do you guys remember that one? And then. Yeah, yeah.
- [136:08]
A
And that's. You know, some of them are just. They're. They're sort of simple, but they're like, kind of like the one of Stevie Eisenman. I think it's 1984. And I. I don't know if he's in the penalty box on the bench. He's just kind of leaning over. It's just this like, you know, sort of plain shot. But it's, you know, become iconic given, you know, his career and stuff. So again, you know, shout out to all these folks who like hockey or wherever, taking. Taking pitches, man, especially people who do it in tough areas, you know, like war, correspondence. And, man, those people put their ass on the line to take pictures, you know. You know, again, to document what's going on in history. So give a little shout out to the photographers. We're just talking about Barry Jackman. I want to just mention him. When we went to the all star game, I think 2020 in St. Louis, that was the first that I met the Gretzky boys. Literally knew them for 10 minutes, and they're like, oh, you're coming to our father's surprise 59th birthday tomorrow night. I was like, is this. Is this really going on right now? Like, I literally know that for two minutes they invited me to their dad's party. But after. I don't know if it was the first night with the skills or the. After the game, but we went back to Barrett Jackman's house. And you know, in St. Louis, they have those, like, sort of man cave garages behind the house. You have like. You ever seen. You best to see in a couple of those biz. No, they're like, it's a garage behind the house, but it's like a. Like a giant man cave.
- [137:14]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [137:16]
A
They're like, not particular like St. Louis, but I've never seen anything like that.
- [137:20]
D
But like a shed off of the garage.
- [137:22]
B
Yeah, like it's.
- [137:23]
A
It. It's like a. Yeah, the garage behind the house. But like, I mean, it's basically like a glory, like a glorified man cave.
- [137:30]
B
Oh, it throws it away.
- [137:32]
A
Yeah. We went back there and I never met Barrett before that night, and he was just such an awesome dude. Showed me an incredible hospitality shot the all night. Just an awesome dude. So I just wanted to mention that, like, well, we had him on the interview today. Just a great dude. And obviously he got in the blues hall of fame the other night. And also we want to congratulate our pal Kelly Chase. He got the true blue award at the hall of fame induction ceremony. And Garth Brooks is a buddy of his, and he was there to honor his friend. And he gave him a little chirp as well. Fish, we're going to cue that up. Little dig was pretty funny.
- [138:03]
E
Can we lastly just clear the air?
- [138:05]
C
Chaser's been telling everyone that you wrote.
- [138:07]
E
The song friends in low places after him. Is that true or not?
- [138:11]
B
Yeah, I mean, you don't get any lower than that.
- [138:17]
A
Just good shit, you know, ball bust and hockey, like, that's such a huge part of the hockey. College is Boston balls. And I know Goth Brooks didn't play, but it was nice to bring a little levity. Levity to the situation. And again, congrats to our buddy Chaser on getting the true blue award. But moving along today in NHL history, some pretty good shit happened. Biz. 66 years ago today, Gordie Howe had a Goal and an assist at a 31 win over Chicago to pass Maurice Rashad and takeover as the NHL's all time lead point getter with 947 points. He'd hold the record for 29 years until guy named Wayne Gretzky passed him 1851 points. Pretty good stuff there. And then 58 years ago today the Leafs beat the NHL All Stars at Maple Leaf Gardens. This was back the All Star game was the Stanley cup winner from the previous year. Would play a collection of all the other All Stars around the league. Something that we would never have today. But obviously it wouldn't happen. But would you think Keith would defending cup champs, regardless of what team it is, would even have a chance against the best of the rest of the league these days given the the talent in the league?
- [139:20]
D
No, just because it would be played more as like a pond hockey game. Right. And it's just you're taking all All Stars, but maybe if like you played it.
- [139:28]
F
No.
- [139:28]
D
I mean.
- [139:29]
E
No, no, no.
- [139:30]
A
Yeah.
- [139:31]
D
No.
- [139:31]
A
Yeah. But it's kind of wild that they did that. But that was actually the last year they did it. 19. 1968. Obviously the last time the Leafs won the cup is I believe was 1967. Not sure if you do that.
- [139:41]
E
67.
- [139:42]
A
This is the. And this is a wild one. 20 years ago today, Ovechkin scored probably the most dazzling of his 917 goals versus the Phoenix Coyotes. What's wild though, Gretzky was coaching the Yotes at the time. His, his and your TNT coworker Brian Boucher was in the net. And this is the wildest pot. 8 year old Auston Matthews was actually at that game. No way that while ago. Yeah, yeah. I started in a YouTube. I started in a YouTube comment. I. I was like, I don't know, I better double check this.
- [140:10]
D
And yeah, yeah, I've heard him say that.
- [140:12]
A
Yeah. Pretty. Pretty wild stuff. So. Yeah. Pretty interesting day.
- [140:15]
B
Crazy that he's gonna end up passing him too, obviously.
- [140:18]
A
We mentioned Netflix. I've been a long time subscriber and you know, I've been watching a few things lately. You want to share what I've been seeing? Jay Kelly. I don't know if any of you guys seen this. It's George Clooney. He stars. He's an aging actor with, you know, kind of like not really a midlife crisis. Just a guy who probably had a lot of regrets in life. You know, he's basically sort of almost playing a version of himself. Adam Sandler's in it. He plays his manager. But I thought it was pretty good. I don't know any of you guys see it. I know you busy. You're busy as a late. You probably haven't. Keith, I don't know if you watch.
- [140:46]
D
No, I haven't seen it.
- [140:48]
A
It's obviously, you know, not everybody can relate to an actor, but, you know, I'm obviously a little older than you guys. I thought just as a. As a person getting older, I. I related to a lot of just, you know, you get to a certain stage of life and you think back of decisions you made. And that's, you know, sort of the theme of the movie Noah Bombach directed. It's, you know, sort of a drama comedy, but I definitely recommend it. Man. I. I thought Clooney was excellent then. I don't know if he's gonna get nominated. But again, it was just more of like, you know, I think the older you are, the maybe more you can relate to it also.
- [141:15]
B
All right. Did you watch the Golden Globes?
- [141:18]
A
I did, yeah. I had. I had the Patriots on the state. The main stage, and I had the Globes on the side stage behind me on the other tv.
- [141:25]
B
What'd you think?
- [141:27]
A
I was entertaining. You know, they. They kind of cleaned it up a little. Like they. They basically, years ago, they had not that many voters, and they were basically on the take. They were getting sort of. Not bribe, but they were getting gifts and they were swaying votes. But, yeah, it was pretty good. I'm not surprised. One battle after another one. I think that's probably the Oscar favorite, but, yeah, it's entertaining. It's nice to watch. Everybody's all dolled up. What you think?
- [141:48]
D
I. I liked it a lot, but I'm a huge Leo guy, so like any.
- [141:52]
B
I'm a big Leo guy too.
- [141:53]
D
Like so. But I thought it was good. I was actually wondering who directed that. I didn't even look before. Or.
- [142:01]
A
Oh, yeah, Paul Thomas.
- [142:02]
E
Yeah.
- [142:06]
B
He'S married to Apatow.
- [142:09]
A
No, he's married to. Oh, my God. Jesus Christ. Brain Fog on Saturday Night Live. Amaya Rudolph.
- [142:16]
B
Oh, that's her name. Okay, I got the wrong name.
- [142:20]
A
Saturday Night Live. She used to be on. Yeah, yeah. Her mother was actually a singer back in the 70s. Remember that song, Loving you?
- [142:26]
D
Yeah.
- [142:29]
A
Her mother's saying that song. I got a great, great voice, but yeah, I enjoyed it. You know, I like the Oscars. I got some futures on the Oscars too. So. Shout out DraftKings also, that new Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro directed. He's a great imaginative, direct, imaginative. Director Oscar Isaac and Jacob. Jacob Elordi Stodden. You know, it's an old story that's been done a bunch of times, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. It was sort of a different take on. On Frankenstein and the monster, but highly recommend it, man. It was just a classic story about, you know, a mad scientist who basically makes this sort of monster. But you have Empathy Farm and a huge, huge fan of the movie, I'm sure.
- [143:06]
B
I'm sure the ladies love that Jacob guy. Is it Jacob Elordi?
- [143:10]
A
Jacob Lord.
- [143:11]
B
And then him and that. Who's the Aston Butler or Austin Butler?
- [143:16]
D
Oh, the kid who was in Austin.
- [143:18]
B
Austin Butler. Oh, the girls are all over these guys.
- [143:22]
F
I got a funny story about Jacob Elordi. I was at a restaurant in New York City one time, and we walked in and Alana just lost control. I don't know what happened to her. She just.
- [143:33]
E
She.
- [143:33]
F
She just took. It's a dark restaurant. It's one of those restaurants where you're really not supposed to take out your phone. Takes out her phone immediately, and she's.
- [143:40]
E
Like, get away from me.
- [143:41]
F
Get away from me. Flashes. Snaps a picture of Jacob Elordi, who's waiting in line for the bathroom. The flash goes off.
- [143:47]
B
Oh, no.
- [143:49]
F
Jacob Elordi. Then what? Just stops. Stops in his tracks, doesn't say a word to us. Walks around to his table, probably sitting at a table with, like 10 people. Waves to the table, says, I'm leaving. Walks right out of the restaurant. It was a tough look. I still give her shit to this day for it.
- [144:06]
B
I get it. I get it. Like, yeah, you're just. You know, I. I personally would never, like, if Leonardo DiCaprio was at the table next to me. I wouldn't bother. I wouldn't say hello because I. I could only imagine how fucking annoying it is for him to be alive.
- [144:21]
F
Oh, yeah.
- [144:22]
D
Could you imagine it happened to me? We were in Vegas, playing in Vegas, and JWA was sitting at the table next to us. And Jersey Shore is my favorite show of all time. And I'm like. To all the guys on the team, I'm like, can you guys do me a favor and go over there and say, hey, we're NHL players. One of. One of our teammates is a huge fan. Do you mind taking a photo with him? And I'll never forget Aaron Eckblad looked at me and he goes, you are the biggest loser I've ever met. And I was like, all right. And I just finished my sushi and didn't Get a photo.
- [144:52]
B
No.
- [144:52]
A
You never took down Snooki.
- [144:56]
D
I wasn't playing with biz at the time, so no one.
- [145:00]
B
But I love, first of all, love jwow. Like, yeah, that's my pattern.
- [145:05]
E
Jury.
- [145:06]
B
Little Chris Drury with a square toe.
- [145:09]
A
Do you ever watch that show Euphoria? Jay? That's. Yeah.
- [145:12]
B
No, I never saw that.
- [145:13]
D
Unbelievable show.
- [145:14]
A
There we go. My classic recommendation. It's not too old, but it's definitely a classic. Brock Meyer, awesome show. It's unbelievable. You've seen.
- [145:23]
D
Oh, yeah, it's great.
- [145:25]
A
Awesome show. Hank Azaria, who's, you know, brilliantly, he's one of the voice actors on the Simpsons, does like 15 voices on there. He plays a baseball announcer. He loses his. His career, like, bottoms out and he has to stop from the bottom. But it's hilarious. It's very sharp, like, you know, like critical about, you know, pop culture and the Internet. It. It's brilliant script, has an awesome cast. Amanda Pete, Tyrell, Jackson Williams and I praised it when I hit on Netflix and I got a retweet and a follow from the legend himself, Hank Azaria. Man, he actually quote tweeted me. I was pretty fired up. I've been watching. Oh, there is. Right?
- [145:57]
D
Yeah.
- [145:57]
A
Appreciate that. Everybody go watch on Netflix.
- [146:00]
E
Their.
- [146:00]
D
Their relationship and their chemistry. And that show is great. It's an awesome show. Like light hearted. Easy, easy. Watch.
- [146:08]
B
You watch a lot of TV Hands?
- [146:10]
D
No, I mean, I've seen one show that he said, oh.
- [146:15]
B
No, we've been.
- [146:16]
D
Doing this segment for like four weeks.
- [146:20]
B
Like, don't you watch Below Deck? You are.
- [146:23]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [146:25]
D
Mindless. Anything Mindless I watch. But yeah.
- [146:27]
B
How much. How many hours of TV do you consume a day?
- [146:31]
D
Probably from 8 to 10, 30, 11. But a lot of it now is hockey. I. I honestly haven't watched a ton of reality lately because you got me.
- [146:44]
E
Working so much biz.
- [146:45]
A
If you are. If you are looking for a show, though, Brock Meyer, absolutely hilarious. Brilliant writing. And Amanda Pete as well. All right, I got a couple picks for you before we sign off here. Saturday afternoon in Calgary. We don't know the lines yet. Obviously. Still got a couple games to go. I'm on the Islanders. I don't know what the line is. I can't imagine they're going to be more than minus 150, but they've been playing well lately. Calgary's just kind of middle middling. Not doing much, not impressing me at all. So Saturday, take the Islanders. If they're not more than a buck 50 and NFL pick Patriots moneyline minus 170. I think it's going to be a tight game and there's nothing worse than laying three points and the team wins by one or two. So we'll risk the 170 for a Pats win. And weather report just come out today too. There's a storm coming. Snow is going to be coming to New England. So I think that's going to benefit New England under Houston Southern team, you know, as a stereotype. Teams don't do as well. You know, Southern teams coming north. And I think that may play as a factor here. But Pat's Moneyline and Island is on Saturday. Boyce. That's ra's world for today. Any final thoughts? Questions?
- [147:48]
B
That was awesome snapping around with you, buddy.
- [147:50]
D
Unreal. Unreal.
- [147:51]
F
Just want to promote. We got the Penn State merch dropping drops this week. Got a little deal with Gavin McKenna. So a little nil deal for Gavin McKenna. Just what he needs, a little bit more nil money. But Penn State merch releasing it I believe today and then it's going to be sold at the game at the outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. So Hockey Valley, we got you covered.
- [148:10]
D
Gee, I sent that picture to all my Penn State's buddies and I know you're getting a package read are floored with how it came out. It's amazing. Got my packages. Can't wait to rock it in in Death Valley. Hockey Valley.
- [148:24]
A
Actually biz, I do got one one addition to the wall here. That's my 2011 Stanley cup press pass Bram Bast back home. So I found that, dug it out of somewhere and stuck it on the wall.
- [148:36]
B
That's when you only if you had.
- [148:38]
D
Your Terry Orion, Terry O'Reilly. Bob, he's got the knife that his buddy got stabbed.
- [148:48]
A
Just gotta wipe it off with the, with the, with a cloth so I don't get. Get the fingerprints off it though.
- [148:52]
B
That is so good.
- [148:53]
A
All right, boys. Always a blast cutting up with you guys. Can't wait till we do it again and enjoy your weekend and what else is going on.
- [148:59]
D
Love you boys.
- [148:59]
A
You're a busy. You're a busy beaver lately, man.
- [149:02]
B
I've been busy. But no, I appreciate you coming on RA and bringing some energy and yeah, going back to what I said at the beginning of the podcast, just thank you to everybody in Buffalo who made that a very special night, including you guys. And yeah, I thought it was successful and looking forward to just keep doing more and maybe we can get a little RA cameo in the next one like at TNT when we went there.
- [149:25]
A
For the alt cast, I'm always down.
- [149:28]
B
Oh, yeah, that awesome.
- [149:29]
A
That's a thespian. All right, everybody, have a great weekend and we'll see you soon.
- [149:36]
D
It won't happen Won't happen Won't happen.
- [149:40]
A
Again it won't happen Won't happen Won't.
- [149:46]
D
Happen again A bad habit worth breaking.
- [149:52]
C
But it's taking time I don't know.
- [149:56]
E
It don't matter it's gonna happen it's gonna happen.
- [150:22]
G
Out on the course, they're the PGA Tour's best players. But in the arena, they're prime time. And season two of TGL, presented by SoFi, is back with lights, cameras, action. We're talking big moments, big personalities, big names in the stands, all on the big screen. Big time matchups with shot clocks. Hammer drops timeouts, overtime and playoffs. It's city versus city, Squad versus Squad. This sport just hits different under the lights. It's TGL, presented by SoFi.
- [150:48]
C
Keep up. It's golf.
- [150:49]
G
Tune in to every match, only on espn. Out on the course, they're the PGA Tour's best players. But in the arena, they're prime time. And season two of TGL, presented by SoFi, is back with lights, cameras, action. We're talking big moments, big personalities, big names in the stands, all on the big screen. Big time matchups with shot clocks. Hammer drops timeouts, overtime and playoffs. It's city versus city, Squad versus Squad. This sport just hits different under the lights. It's TGL, presented by SoFi.
- [151:22]
C
Keep up. It's golf.
- [151:24]
G
Tune in to every match, only on espn. Out on the course, they're the PGA Tour's best players. But in the arena, they're prime time. And season two of TGL, presented by SoFi, is back with lights, cameras, action. We're talking big moments, big personalities, big names in the stands, all on the big screen. Big time matchups with shock clocks. Hammer drops timeouts, overtime and playoffs. It's city versus city, Squad versus squad. The sport just hits different under the light. It's TGL, presented by SoFi.
- [151:55]
C
Keep up, it's golf.
- [151:56]
G
Tune in to every match, only on espn.