Spittin' Chiclets Episode 630: Featuring Pat Brisson, Lanny McDonald & Dave Babych

Summary

Spittin' Chiclets Episode 630 Summary

Date: March 20, 2026
Guests: Pat Brisson (Superagent), Lanny McDonald (NHL Hall of Famer), Dave Babych (Former NHL Defenseman)

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Episode Overview

Episode 630 of Spittin' Chiclets is packed with classic irreverent banter, NHL news, and three standout interviews. The Chiclets crew—Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette (Biz), Keith Yandle, Rear Admiral (RA), and Producer Mike Grinnell—kick things off with stories about their lives, hockey happenings, and iconic guests: superagent Pat Brisson and NHL legends Lanny McDonald and Dave Babych. The episode explores the magic of hockey legacy, the business of player representation, grassroots initiatives, international hockey controversies, and behind-the-scenes NHL stories.

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Main Discussion Points and Segments

1. Opening Chatter: Hockey Life, Family, and Cats (00:36–07:20)

• High-Energy Banter: The crew jokes about their Barstool days, Pink Whitney, and USA-Canada hockey rivalries.
• Marchand Story: Whitney’s sons meet Brad Marchand—Marchand covers up their "USA" logos, joking around with the kids.

  "He blocked the USA in the picture, but he was just joking. Just getting the boys all fired up." – Biz (02:55)

• Whitney’s Cat Dilemma: Ryan’s new girlfriend flies her cat on planes and walks it on a leash.
  • Whitney: "The thought of a litter box in my house drives me mental." (05:29)
• Teeth Trouble: Running joke about Biz's dental health.
• Leafs Optimism: Whitney shares his irrational hope for the Toronto Maple Leafs, based on receiving a custom Wendell Clark metal statue and channeling “What would Wendell do?” (07:32)

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2. Surprise Guests: Dave Babych & Lanny McDonald on Legacy Hockey (13:22–35:44)

Guests: Dave Babych, Lanny McDonald

• Outdoor Rink in Delany, NWT:
  • Babych details building an outdoor rink on Great Bear Lake for the 200th anniversary of hockey’s origins. Tough conditions—minus 31°C, frostbite, but “well worth doing.” (13:46)
  • Babych: “We had a pretty good crew. All the boards and glass were up in a day... There’s 600 people here and it’s fly-in only.” (14:13)
• Hockey Alumni All-Star Game:
  • Legendary list: Ray Bourque, Gino Odjick, Lanny McDonald coaching, Tiger Williams, Joey Kocur, Dougie Gilmour, Billy Ranford, and more.

    "Lanny McDonald’s coaching. We got legends coming; at least I won’t be the ugliest guy out there." – Babych (16:45)

• Old-School Camaraderie:
  • Lanny shares tales of facing off with Babych, mustache legends, and passing down hockey’s torch.

    "You make those [Hall of Fame] calls and now I know what Santa Claus feels like." – Lanny (22:44)

• Why Give Back:
  • Both legends talk about feeling indebted to hockey and growing the game in remote communities.

    "It’s easy to give back, because the game has been so good to all of us." – Babych (21:08)

• Leafs Debate:
  • Jokes about donating Whitney's Wendell Clark art to the Leafs' locker room for inspiration:

    "Are you out of your mind? I paid five grand for this thing!" – Whitney (12:42)

• Lanny’s Memorable Cup Story:
  • Winning 1989 Stanley Cup in Montreal, flying home at 3am, and begging the coach to land in Winnipeg because they’d run out of booze:

    "Cliff said, 'Guys, Winnipeg closes at 9:00.' We kept going. We made up for it once we got home, I can guarantee it." – Lanny (27:27)

• Adversity and Community:
  • Importance of hockey’s legacy and alumni in building culture.

Timestamps:

• [13:22] – Babych intro, rink building in Delany
• [16:44] – All-star roster revealed
• [17:06] – Lanny McDonald joins
• [20:34] – Giving back to hockey
• [27:06] – Lanny’s Cup flight story

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3. Torchbearers and Team Identity (35:55–43:44)

• Wendell Clark Statue:
  • Whitney fights to win a tribute piece at charity auction, connecting his Leafs fandom to the “WWWD—What Would Wendell Do?” mantra.
• Team Canada GM Discussion:
  • Armstrong out, Dubas rumored as a successor. Hosts debate on GM power and Toronto’s corporate structure.
• Dubas and Penguins:
  • Dubas praised for his work in Pittsburgh, the challenges of Malkin’s contract negotiation, and if he should be awarded Team Canada GM if he signs Malkin before playoffs.
  • "He earned every century that he was paid in that contract. I'm… holding, even if there's a full on crash, I'm a Doobie till I die." – Whitney (45:06)

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4. Current NHL Headlines (43:57–62:26)

• Oilers Injuries and Playoff Landscape:
  • Biz on Edmonton’s chaos: “It was never going to be easy…it was always going to be chaos.” (40:21)
  • Bouchard’s Norris snub, Ingram’s playoff upside.
• Penguins and Crosby:
  • Crosby’s scoring chase (“10 points shy of Iserman, 7th all-time,” 49:09); Eric Karlsson’s resurgent play.
• GM Meetings and League News:
  • Heated Bettman exchange with Carolina’s Tulski about headshots.
  • Debate over playoff format; split between business needs and competitive fairness.
  • Biz: "Our first round is the greatest" – referencing the league’s focus on TV ratings and drama. (51:16)
• World Cup of Hockey:
  • Outrage that U.S. cities won’t host games; host cities went to highest bidders (Calgary/Edmonton).
  • Debate rages online about ‘political’ reasons vs. pure economics.
  • “You’re not going to Afghanistan. Have you turned on the news?” – Biz, lecturing on travel fears (64:01)
  • Concerns about Russia’s status: If Russia is permitted, Sweden/Finland/Czech may abstain.
  • Hosts hope for best-on-best, want Russia included for hockey’s sake.

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5. Superagent Pat Brisson Interview (72:25–154:28)

(Timestamps restart at main guest segment)

Overview

Pat Brisson shares his journey from a hopeful NHLer to becoming the league’s preeminent superagent, representing stars like Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Nathan MacKinnon, Kopitar, the Hughes brothers, and prospects like Gavin McKenna. The interview covers youth hockey, contract wars, the business of player endorsements, family influences, and the shifting landscape of agent-player-GM relationships.

Highlights

Early Days

• Started in LA, slept on Luke Robitaille’s couch, co-founded a carwash.

  "Luke took care of me for five years. I started a little car wash business…my biggest client was Bruce McNall. He had 12 cars!" (76:01)

• First “pinch-me” moment: Fedorov’s $40M deal to Anaheim. (77:04)

Crosby & Big Deals

• Met Sid Crosby at age 13, recognized his special maturity and drive.

  "He came in and looked at me in the eyes and started asking me really great questions—about the business, about development. Like, I was talking to a 13-year-old kid, but he was asking questions of an 18-year-old." (92:52)

• Navigating Sid's contracts, superstition behind the 8.7 million/year, long deals, and the franchise-saving impact in Pittsburgh.

  "This guy should be making 50 [million a year]." (89:47)

Changing the Business

• MLB agent influence: Learning to push for transparency in player salaries and grow player leverage.
• Early days were adversarial; modern agent/GM/player relationships are now built on mutual respect and good communication.

  "We do drop the gloves at times. But the communication is way, way, way better." – Brisson (135:25)

• Push back on recruiting 13-14-year-old players; praises Sweden’s 16-year-old minimum recruitment rule.

Managing Modern Prospects

• On the struggles of managing “youth phenoms” and the dangers of early accolades:

  "If you think you've arrived, you're as good as gone." (100:34)

• Comparing Crosby and MacKinnon as kids (Celebrini is the next one to watch).

Endorsement Deals

• Biggest deals in history: Vitamin Water (regrets not taking more equity), Whoop.
• Modern NIL (name/image/likeness) deals and how they factor into recruiting young talent; warns that college decisions shouldn’t be made only for short-term money.
• “Sometimes you go stocks…if one pops, it’s crazy. But you rely on your experts; even they aren’t always right.” (128:58)

Parent Influence

• Importance of parents not pushing too hard; how Crosby’s and Kane’s families got it right.

Mental Health & Sports Psychology

• MacKinnon’s early career struggles; how sports psychology played a role in unlocking his potential.

  “[MacKinnon] was always on like…the valves are on 110%. He learned to manage himself better and apply the proper energy in the right areas at the right time.” (118:42)

• Historical stigma around therapy for players, now more accepted.

Jack Hughes' Gold Medal Puck

• The controversy about whether Hughes should get the Olympic game-winning puck or if it belongs in the Hall of Fame.

  "Jack was bombarded with…He didn't even know." (143:36)

International Hockey: Russia Debate

• Brisson: Disappointed the U.S. isn’t hosting World Cup games; believes Soviet/Russian players should generally be eligible for international tournaments.

On Sabermetrics & Agents' Future

• AI and future of agency; importance of focusing on what’s “in your lane” and not chasing every trend.

Notable Quotes:

• "Kopi is autopilot. Stellar career, low maintenance, consistency to another level." (121:23)
• “You want to be happy at the rink. Once you have your contract, you want to be happy in the locker room, practice...that is important." (137:53)

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6. Wrap-Up, RA's World & Hockey Nerdism (159:48–end)

RA’s “Hockey Culture Report”

• On seeing Macklin Celebrini play in Boston, comparing the excitement to Michael Jordan-era Bulls.
• NHL trivia: obscure rules, fans picking refs in an official no-show, brother vs. brother goalies, and goal stats.
• Emotional shoutout: Story of Colin Dorgan (Rhode Island high school player who scored to win a championship after losing family to tragedy).
• Lighter side: Airplane! movie recommendation and jokes about “What Would Wendell Do?” (173:03).
• Quick hits: Mario Lemieux’s records, Cup chaos, Flyers player avoiding a fight (Philadelphia fans’ reactions).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Deadly Effective Alumni:

  "You guys have kind of passed the torch on to that generation…like, I feel like I’m also indebted. That just keeps getting passed down to the next." – Whitney (24:28)

• On Canada/US Hockey Dynamic:

  "We come together as one. Let’s forget…The disaster of the Olympics for you, and the hatred right now. No—we’re together in this." – Biz (01:28)

• On the World Cup Bidding Controversy:

  "You’re not going to Afghanistan…in 2025, 77 million international people visited the United States." – Biz (64:01)

• On Hockey Parents:

  "If the dad’s all pumping his chest, what the hell do you think the kid’s gonna do?" – Biz (105:32)

• On the Sidney Crosby Franchise Effect:

  "When Pittsburgh won the lottery, they changed the price to $140 million. With no pun intended, when the ball dropped, everything changed." – Brisson (86:17)

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Key Timestamps for Segments

• 00:36 — Introductions, Pink Whitney, family stories, Marchand tale
• 04:09 — Ryan’s Cat Story
• 07:32 — Whitney’s Wendell Clark statue (and Leafs rebrand)
• 13:22 — Babych & McDonald interview: rink project and alumni game
• 35:55 — Leafs optimism, Dubas, Penguins contract drama
• 43:57 — Oilers news, Ingram rise, playoff outlook
• 50:11 — NHL GM Meetings: Bettman, headshots, playoff structure debate
• 61:34 — World Cup of Hockey host controversy
• 72:25 — Pat Brisson superagent interview
• 159:48 — RA’s World & Hockey Trivia

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Episode Themes & Summary Takeaways

• Hockey’s Lifeblood: The passage of tradition from veteran stars to young fans, from the sandlots of Delany, NWT, to international scandal and billion-dollar contracts.
• Business Evolution: How agency, contracts, and endorsements have changed; the “superagent” role; NIL; mental health progress.
• Hockey’s Global Challenges: Politics and the World Cup, Russia’s status, economics vs. fandom, and the importance of inclusion in international tournaments.
• Personality & Fun: From mustache battles, custom statues, cat dilemmas, and artwork auctions, to the high energy, self-deprecating style of the Chiclets crew.

In sum, Episode 630 delivers a quintessential Spittin’ Chiclets mix: nostalgia, insider stories, big interviews, and debates about the future of hockey on (and off) the ice.

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Listen to This Episode If You Want…

• Firsthand stories from two Hall of Fame NHLers about growing the game far up north
• An in-depth look at how superstardom, contracts, and agency business works in hockey
• The latest chatter on NHL playoff races and World Cup controversy
• Classic barstool-style laughs about hockey lifestyle, sporting rivalries, and offbeat pet stories

Find the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Netflix, or Amazon Music (ad-free for Prime members).

Transcript

[Ari]

Hey, Spit and Chiclets listeners. You can find every episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Biz]

In sports, winning takes more than talent. It takes strength, reliability and the drive to go the distance.

[Pat Brisson]

Sound familiar?

[Biz]

That's the same DNA you'll find in a Chevy Silverado.

[Pat Brisson]

As capable and dependable as a winning team.

[Biz]

Chevy Silverado shows up and gets the job done.

[Pat Brisson]

It won't flinch when the pressure's on.

[Biz]

It doesn't take plays off when it comes to trucks.

[Pat Brisson]

Chevy Silverado is football guy approved.

[Biz]

To learn more about Silverado, visit Chevy.com

[Ari]

Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is barstool sports.

[Ryan Whitney]

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

[Biz]

Ryan Whitney's got a Pink Whitney out there now.

[Pat Brisson]

Sandbagger. Get that on camera.

[Biz]

Keith Yandel, the song commander, is a full time member martial agent. Got an assist from Chris.

[Keith Yandle]

Whoa, we're buzzing right now.

[Biz]

What is up, folks? Welcome to episode 630 of the Spitting Chicklets podcast presented by Pinkies Up. I'm getting it everywhere. This has crushed it. This has absolutely taken two nations by storm. Yes, Biz. Two nations together. We come together. Together. We come together. We come together as one with.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yes, that's the one.

[Biz]

Let's forget. Let's forget. Bygones be bygones. The disaster of the Olympics for you and the hatred right now. No, we're together in this. Pinky's up. Shout out Pink Whitney.

[Ryan Whitney]

When somebody cuts you off on the highway, you don't the middle finger.

[Keith Yandle]

Dude, I'm driving. Yesterday, me and Whit played golf. Driving behind him, I see some guy finger out the window. I think he's giving him the finger. I speed up.

[Biz]

I'm like, I'm out of here.

[Keith Yandle]

He's giving him this one.

[Ryan Whitney]

Get the out of here.

[Biz]

Imagine he took a big swig of the bottle as he was driving. I was like, whoa, whoa. That's a joke, guys. That is a joke. Do never drive. Just give pinkies up. So shout out Pink Whitney. Shout out ramp Sh. We appreciate Pink Whitney's Pinkies up packed episode today. We just sat down with super agent Pat Brisson, Jerry Maguire. If you're. If you're a fan of Sidney Crosby, some Sidney Crosby porn involved in this. Just hearing the stories. He's been with them since he's, as he mentions, I believe, 13 years old. That's a great interview. We'll be dropping that a little Bit. Lot of news around the hockey world. We got RA Coming on in a little bit. So we're packed. We're ready to go as March Madness is happening right now. Biz, I do have to mention something to you. I just got a picture sent to me because the family. The family's not allowed in the room right now. I'm recording. I'm doing my job. Without this job, we're not sitting on this. In this room. We're not sitting at this vacation. And I said, hey, what's going on? Oh, boom. This is what I got. I don't know if you guys can see that. That is Brad Marchand with my two boys, who happen to have on a USA Baseball jersey and a USA Hockey hoodie. Ryder ran up to him, asked for a picture. And Marshawn, you know what he did at the beginning? He blocked the USA in the picture, but he was just joking. Just getting the boys all fired up.

[Ryan Whitney]

When did you see him?

[Biz]

I didn't. This just happened while we. While we were doing the interview.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, my God. He's missed to steal your girl, too.

[Biz]

I know Wyatt. I guess after she said, he won't stop saying, wow, he's a really nice guy. And I like his haircut. I like his. I like his haircut. I.

[Pat Brisson]

His haircut.

[Biz]

So I guess Wyatt was asking him questions. One of them might have been, did you score in the gold medal game? I don't know how that. That might have gone over like a fart in church, but Marshy's the man. And then he took a picture of the boys. I hope he's.

[Ryan Whitney]

Did you tell Wyatt that that's my arch nemesis?

[Biz]

No, I haven't seen him yet.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm. I'm the lisp guy with Wyatt. We're like this now.

[Biz]

Yes.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're together as one.

[Biz]

Exactly. Now, Canada and America joining forces. Exactly. Not being able to say their S's correctly. Now Wyatt's. We'll figure that out at some point.

[Ryan Whitney]

You.

[Biz]

You need to get your teeth fixed. I think some people thought the teeth would be fixed by now. The teeth are still meth addict, homeless guy teeth, but that's okay. Maybe tomorrow, getting fixed, you got a hair.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think tomorrow we're going to get them glued back in.

[Biz]

I might.

[Ryan Whitney]

I might keep it for a couple more weeks. Yeah. Yeah.

[Biz]

Okay. Okay. Now, Biz, I got a question for you, because on the outline here, it says, we got a biz cat story. No clue what that means. Don't understand.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, no. It was more of just like, I just Wanted to bring it to the, to the, to the panel here. And I just been talking with a girl lately and I told her I was going to bring this up on the podcast and so she has a pet cat and like, I'm not like fully anti. Against having a pet cat. Okay, let's go ahead. Yes.

[Keith Yandle]

Least you know, if you guys do get together, she won't steal your dog. That's a good sign. Go ahead.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay, good start. Good start here. All right, continue. If she'll go, she'll be going somewhere for a couple weeks. She will take the cat on flights and like fly with the cat and like in some cases have the leash on it and you know, walk it like it's a dog. So I was just curious to know what your guys thoughts were on like having a cat girl.

[Biz]

I don't, I don't have like a feeling whether negative or positive towards cats. I guess if I'd have to pick one, it'd probably be negative. They seem a little annoying walking a cat on the leash. That's. I don't know if I've ever seen that.

[Ryan Whitney]

Happens a lot. Happens a lot now.

[Biz]

Okay, so now would you be in charge of taking care of the cat?

[Ryan Whitney]

Absolutely not. I want nothing. I just, I don't. I. The thought of a litter box in my house drives me mental.

[Biz]

That's disgusting.

[Keith Yandle]

What if it's kinksy and uses the bathroom?

[Ryan Whitney]

It smells like my flipper.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I'm, I'm not a big, I mean, I'm just not a cat guy, so. But I mean, people are. And I'm sure she's a great gal,

[Ryan Whitney]

so, I mean, she's awesome.

[Keith Yandle]

Don't judge her on the cat.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're like, if you're going on a trip for 10 days, it's like, oh, we gotta fly with the cat.

[Pat Brisson]

Like,

[Ryan Whitney]

Ra hates when you fly with pets. He thinks it's very selfish. I kind of, I would be like, oh, this thing's like, meow, meow, like the whole time. You're fine though. Sorry, guys. I'd rather have a leaning kid.

[Biz]

I, I would rather. And I'm not a cat guy. I'll say that. I'm gonna, I'm now gonna go on record. I'm not a cat guy. I would rather somebody sit next to me with a cat than somebody who has red wine in a body armor bottle and a bag of like 4,000 crush up goldfish.

[Keith Yandle]

Well, that was a house cat. Ra is a host cat.

[Ryan Whitney]

Ra is not here to defend himself. He will be.

[Biz]

We'll bring it up to him. We'll bring it up to him.

[Ryan Whitney]

We'll have to bring it up. So I just thought I'd run that by you guys, but that was kind of the little thing I was going to bring up. The other thing was I have, like, probably the biggest surprise in. In Chiclet's history, this podcast.

[Keith Yandle]

And how have you held this together so good?

[Dave Babich]

What?

[Keith Yandle]

How have you held this together so good?

[Biz]

Because I know he texted us last night. I have a surprise.

[Ryan Whitney]

My, My joy and. And optimism for the fact that the last couple weeks have been very difficult as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and it's been pretty depressing. But the good news is, is I can guarantee all of these nations that we're going to win a Stanley cup in the next five years. And you're probably saying, biz, how is that going to happen? Well, it's going to happen with a complete rebrand, and the rebrand is WWW D. What would Wendell do? What would Wendell Clark do?

[Biz]

And you're probably over the team.

[Keith Yandle]

I'm hoping Wendell's going to enter the chat.

[Ryan Whitney]

He doesn't have to be.

[Biz]

He.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, he, he always is a member and involved with the team. Right.

[Pat Brisson]

He's.

[Ryan Whitney]

He's a alumni. He's a true ambassador. And I'm going back to at least a glory days for me as a Leafs fan when you got to be proud of your team. Wendell Clark, Doug Gilmore, right here. This was my first ever jersey I ever got. I got it signed by Dougie G. So I told you guys about that charity event I went to. Okay. And so when I, I had, I had no idea what this charity was. Christine Simpson invited me and I was kind of like, ah, you know, I got a lot going on. And then Christine goes, they're honoring Wendell Clark. And I said, they're honoring Wendell Clark. Okay, sure. Tell me the details. I'll. I'll be there. So, sure enough, I end up going to the event. And when I get there, this gentleman comes up to me and he goes, hey, I made you something. I want you to come over here. I want to show you what I made you. And I showed you guys what it was. I sent a picture to the, to the group. It's right here. Do you want. I'm going to bring it a little closer. Give me one sec.

[Biz]

Okay. Get it. Yeah, get it. Closer. Dougie Gilmore.

[Keith Yandle]

Is that the actual jersey he got as a kid?

[Ryan Whitney]

He made me. This.

[Biz]

This guy thinks they're going to win the car.

[Keith Yandle]

He's absolutely insane.

[Ryan Whitney]

What do you mean, I'm insane?

[Biz]

Somebody else?

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, no, we were talking about someone else.

[Ryan Whitney]

So he made me this beautiful metal statue. And it's a. It's a. It's a skull. It's got the Chiclets as the teeth. And of course, the eye is. Is like, blackened out. So I think it's like the missing tooth. It's got the Canadian leaf. It's got biz on the top, and it's got the star as the base. So it ties in the American.

[Biz]

Whose tongue is that?

[Ryan Whitney]

That is just a tongue. And it says spitting on it. Right? And then it's got the spit and chicken.

[Biz]

That's what got you. That's what got you into this.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's. That's. Yeah, that's the greasy tongue. So he brought me over and showed me that. And I. I looked over and there was two other things that were there. And I said, well, what's that? And he says, that's something I made to honor Wendell Clark. And they brought it up during the auction. And I said, there's not a chicken dick's chance. I'm. I'm. I'm leaving this place without that.

[Biz]

And here, you're not like a guy who's looking to spend money at auctions. That's not really your thing. So I know that this meant a lot for you to say. I'm not getting outbid a litter box.

[Ryan Whitney]

I felt at first, I was like. I was like, is it weird that I'm outbidding people? But I think it slowed down around 3,500 to $3,800, and I just said 5K, it's mine. And then nobody else outbid me. And this is the new monument and statue that will lead us to a Stanley cup in the next five years.

[Biz]

Thank God.

[Ryan Whitney]

Look at how fucking beautiful that thing is. Why? Look at how beautiful that thing is. Dude, are you Illuminati make that? No, no, no. Perry. Perry Lanson made that. And you could check him out. But, buddy, this is. It's all individual metal leafs, and it's constructed, constructed, constructed. Did. Into a jersey. And look at this. It's got all. Look at how freaking cool that thing is. It's metal. It's got all of his old pictures on it. And here I'm going to.

[Biz]

It is pretty sick.

[Ryan Whitney]

It is unbelievable. He autographed it right on the crest. And then you got the C. And then I'm going to turn this bad boy around.

[Biz]

So every time does it say Clark?

[Ryan Whitney]

Every single player moving forward. Who. Who Plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Like for instance, when your captain gets hit and he's on the ground grabbing his knee, you gotta ask yourself, what would Wendell do? Well, he wouldn't sningle till the referee, hey, call something. He would jump in there and pump the guy's eyes shut because you touched his teammate, regardless if it was a goddamn captain. So let me turn this thing around.

[Biz]

Imagine it breaks.

[Keith Yandle]

I would do anything.

[Biz]

Careful. Careful biz.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, no.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's right next to Wayne Gretzky's stick too, by the way. Look at that. Look at how beautiful that is.

[Keith Yandle]

Unbelievable.

[Biz]

Holy. Oh, more pictures on the bottom too. Let me see.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's got all old school pictures. Look at Saskatoon Blade. Wendell, right here. And by the way, I went to a sas Saskatoon Blade game for an appearance one time and it. It just so happened Wendell was there that same game and we were going out to drop the ceremonial face off. And he hands me the puck and I'm like, buddy, buddy, buddy. I said, you played for the Blades. You're a Saskatoon legend. You're a Maple leath. I said, I'm not dropping this puck. And then he looked at me, he says, no, you're dropping the puck. And I don't know if you guys have ever seen one of Clark's fight tapes. So I ended up dropping the puck.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah.

[Biz]

That's not a guy you're arguing with,

[Ryan Whitney]

but just a cl. That's how classy this guy is. So for you, Toronto Maple Leafs, whether you're there right now or you're going to get drafted or you're going to sign with him, you better start asking yourself, what would Wendell do?

[Keith Yandle]

I feel like you should donate this to the locker room. And it should be in the locker room in the guy Willie could wear

[Biz]

that to a game, actually.

[Ryan Whitney]

Are you out of your mind? I paid five grand for this thing. If you try to steal it from me, I'd kill you. I'd shoot you with my shotgun.

[Keith Yandle]

It's about the Leafs. It's not about you. Do you want a cup or do you want a centerpiece?

[Ryan Whitney]

Who the gonna pray to it every night in order to bring a Stanley cup back to Toronto, baby?

[Keith Yandle]

Good point.

[Ryan Whitney]

This is my idea.

[Biz]

What if that girl's cat end up like using that as a litter box? Then you're fucking done.

[Ryan Whitney]

Then I'll have PETA coming after me because that thing's going to be in my stew the next morning. That's what's going to happen. So I just want to butte. It's Unbelievable. And another thing too is I, I got another surprise for you guys coming.

[Ari]

One guy is ready right now, so we'll bring him in first.

[Pat Brisson]

We got Dave Buyback.

[Biz]

Babich.

[Ryan Whitney]

Babich, baby. What's going on?

[Biz]

Dave Babbage, what is going on? How are you hooking this up?

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm hooking this up because they're open in, in. In somewhere very special. And I'll let you give all the details. David, we gotta, we gotta talk about what you guys are doing right now for the game of hockey.

[Dave Babich]

Well, we're up in Delany, Northwest Territories, which is probably further north than most have been.

[Pat Brisson]

It's.

[Dave Babich]

It's up on Great Bear Lake, kind of the southwest corner. It's way it. It's. It's an hour and 15 minute flight out of Yellow Knife. So that's ghost to Joy. And it's. Well, it's probably three hours from Vancouver where, where I live, but we're the last few days here. We, we just set up a, an outdoor rink. I don't know if you guys have seen.

[Ryan Whitney]

Look at that, boys.

[Biz]

Holy.

[Dave Babich]

I'm the guy in the, in the orange overalls down there.

[Pat Brisson]

Oh, we decide.

[Dave Babich]

And yeah, you know what? We had a, we had a pretty good crew. We, we put this thing up. Well, the, all the boards in the glass were up in a day, which is unbelievable. There was one fellow that, that came out to kind of oversee the whole project from the company we got the boards from. He says, well, usually they take 14 days. And I'm like, hey fella, we, we don't have 14 days. And there's a few of us. Well, we slept pretty well last couple nights, not gonna lie. Some of our fingers are still burning from, you know, the frostbite. But it's been, it's been like kind of a great experience here. My brother and I actually were. We're building a golf course for the community here. Believe it or not, there's 600 people here and it's flying only in the summer, winter roads in the wintertime. And you know, so they kind of trusted us to do that. And that's kind of how we got hooked up with, with Danny Goddet in the community. He's the chief out here. So when, when Danny said he's, he's. He's a bit of a dreamer and a big dreamer when he said, you know, we want, we want to celebrate this 200th anniversary of the birthplace of hockey in Canada. And we want this game to be outside. You got to set it up. I think he gave us what, maybe I don't know, three months. So, so it's been a bit of an animal and my son, my son Cal and Andrew Jackson are kind of spearheading, you know most of, the, most of the work behind the scenes but you know the grunt work is always goes to the, to the dad here. I'm going to ask for, for father dues coming up after all this work. But, but these guys have worked extremely hard getting the players in. We, we got like 22 ex NHLers coming in and I, I, I know we sent them a note to dress warm, but the last few mornings here we were out on the, on out on the lake working. It was minus 31 I think was without the wind and there was a little bit of a breeze. So we were, Jesus, freezing a bit. But, but you know what, it's beautiful out here and, and this is going to be well worth doing.

[Ryan Whitney]

And what a list of guys that are there too. I mean Wendell's going. I, I think Dougie Gilmore said he was going to be going like can you list a few more of the guy? Oh, there's a, there's a list right there.

[Dave Babich]

Ray, Ray, Ray Bor's going out. Geek Cardinal Sandy McCarthy. I, he, I was actually living out here for, for a few years and he's back and forth, you know, get Slab, Tiger Williams. I don't know if you, if you guys know him. At least I won't be the ugliest guy out there.

[Ryan Whitney]

Joey Kosher.

[Dave Babich]

Lanny McDonald's coaching. Dave Elliott. I don't know, you guys must have ran at them. Billy Ranford, Martin, Jelena Li, Frady.

[Pat Brisson]

Guys, Speaking of Lanny McDonald, I think it's time we bring in the legend.

[Ryan Whitney]

Bam. Who's got the better muzzy.

[Biz]

Is that Iceland?

[Lanny McDonald]

Just getting ready.

[Biz]

Okay.

[Dave Babich]

You're gonna dress warmer than that, Lanny.

[Biz]

Oh my.

[Lanny McDonald]

Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh man. How fun is it for you guys getting together with all the old old school guys and just rekindling, telling all your old fun stories.

[Lanny McDonald]

Oh my gosh. Dave and I faced off against each other a couple times and it was like drop the gloves or what? And we always looked at each other and thought, no, someone's going to lose half their mustache. So we never went.

[Dave Babich]

Thank God there was no mustache pulling back then. Not like the beard pulling, you know. But you know what? This, this, this is a crazy story. So Lanny and I played at Team Canada one year World championships. And I for Some reason when I was 18 or 19, I. I grew a mustache. And I don't know why. It was one of those PR ones. Maybe it was a. It was kind of a. An. An 80s porn thing, I guess. I don't know. Had this thing going and I remember we're having team dinners and every time, you know, Lanny's. I mean, it's all coiffed and beautiful and. And every time he'd take a bite, he would take a napkin and wipe his face and why the hell would you want to grow it that long? And of course, I just trim this too, and it's. It's a little. Little unruly, but I. You know what? I. Mac, you look better than me with it. But. Yeah, I don't think I can shave it off.

[Ryan Whitney]

Leonardo DiCaprio took a page out of your book, Lanny.

[Biz]

That's why he said it. He said it. Lanny McDonald.

[Lanny McDonald]

There's only room for a couple of us and that's bullshit. That's got to go. Dave, I saw yours was a little frozen up the other day up north. Hopefully that's not the case for me.

[Dave Babich]

Oh, everything was frozen. I had one of those, I don't know, Bella clavas or whatever. It looked like my face was just a pure icicle. But no, we're dressed warm. We're ready for it. I got a few pictures like that. At least my wife will know I'm working.

[Biz]

I mean, that rink is straight out of Mystery, Alaska, Even cooler. And I think as the snow is melting in Boston and some areas.

[Pat Brisson]

Nope.

[Biz]

You're not even close to springtime up there, huh?

[Lanny McDonald]

It looked fantastic.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah. Oh, it is. And you know what?

[Pat Brisson]

It's.

[Dave Babich]

It's not. It's not supposed to get any warmer for another month, believe it or not. Like, it's. It's been. Been a little cooler than. Than what they usually expect. But you know what? People are great here. We're.

[Ari]

We're.

[Dave Babich]

We're just happy to work for them and get this thing to. To be an experience that. That none of the people around here will forget as. As, well, us.

[Lanny McDonald]

Well, when you think about 200 years ago, it looks like that's where it first started. That's absolutely amazing. And to be able to center in on that community and leave behind a legacy that they will have forever is pretty darn cool. And how about that lineup that Andrew Jackson put together? Oh, my God, unreal.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, we gotta thank Andrew Jackson for facilitating all this. I believe he represents Wendell and that's how we ended up getting connected. But one thing, even from that charity event that I was at, Lanny and Dave, you guys can both answer this, is it feels like you guys almost feel like indebted to the game where you have to continually do this type of stuff in order to not only grow it, but like pay homage and just be so thankful that it's kind of, you know, provided you guys with the amazing lives that it has. So, like, how do you feel about it and kind of what, like, you know, I guess, I guess I'll just leave it to you to answer that.

[Dave Babich]

Obviously we're, I mean, we were lucky and grateful that like, I had a pretty good run. I think I got 19. I think Mac, you must have, you must have got close to that.

[Lanny McDonald]

And I got 16.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah, but, yeah, so we were real fortunate, you know, and, and, and every place we, we go, I know my brother and I, we've, we've been lucky too. We've been doing hockey clinics, you know, throughout the north, a lot on, you know, western side, Hudson Bay, like Rankin Inlet and those places. And every community is, I mean, they're so welcoming, first of all. And the kids are all the same. Like, you can go to the city, you can go up north. Kids are all the same. They're excited. There's, there's the goofy buggers in the group, there's some quiet ones and then there's, you know, the harder working ones. But it's, it's the same wherever you go. And, and it's funny too, every, every community you go to, they, they have their favorite team in the NHL. And it doesn't matter kind of where you are, east or west. Sometimes like here, it's kind of split between Edmonton and Vancouver. So there's, there's rivalries here. I mean, there's people, they're driving around trucks and there's only really one looper out town and they got flags on their trucks, you know, showing off and mo. And a lot of the Oilers, because the Vancouver Cocks really can't, you know, boast too much on what they're doing. But, but no, it's been, it's wonderful. It's, it's great experiences too. Like for us, we, you know, it's easy to give back because I know, you know, the game has been so good to all of us. I mean, and look at you guys. I mean, you get great careers, but you guys, you guys have what, the biggest podcast, like, biggest one I know. Anyway, and honestly, we are so thrilled to be on with you guys. And congratulations on the success too.

[Biz]

Oh, thank. Thank you so much. We can't thank you guys enough. And, and I think players that are coming up and players who are playing, when they see veterans, guys, you, you both have over 1100 games and you're still doing these types of things. It makes other guys want to give back. And Lanny, for you, like the old saying, it's better to give a present than it is to receive. You have the job title now of calling guys and letting them know they're in the hall of Fame.

[Dave Babich]

Wow.

[Biz]

To give that message and to be able to relay that news. You know, Jeremy Roenick tells the story of him ball and crying in a Starbucks. And how special is it for you to give guys some of the greatest news they'll ever receive?

[Lanny McDonald]

That was so much fun. You can only do it for 10 years. It was the greatest 10 years that I could possibly be involved in the game. After your playing days are over, you never think about even getting into the hall, let alone being chairman for 10 years. And those phone calls, I know now what Santa Claus feels like. You make those calls and you look at a guy like Joe Thornton, holy doodle. About 10 times after we gave him the news. One of my all time favorites was Rohi vashan. He waited 37 years to get that call and he finally got that call and it was so much fun to be able to be on the other end of the phone. Going back to the alumni and you guys do an unbelievable job. Like Dave said, Vancouver Canucks are a great alumni and do so much in the community. We like to believe here in Calgary we have one of the greatest alumni. Marty Jones is coming up. Tiger lives part time in the city. He's going up. We were all skating Yesterday with the 55 and 65 and over crew over at Crowchild Arena. Having so much fun still playing the game and having the opportunity to come up to Dell and A and pass on the love of the game that we have had and being so lucky to be a part of all these years.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's a reason, like I talk about Kelly Chase often. It's like you guys have kind of passed the torch on to that generation where now like growing up now I just turned 40 years old. Like I feel like I'm also indebted. So it feels like it keeps getting passed down to that next generation. And I think that's just what makes hockey so special. I mean, Yance and where you guys probably feel the exact same way.

[Dave Babich]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

I mean, even for me like in high school, my freshman year of high school, Ray Bork had just won the Stanley cup, and then came that next year and coached us. Like, the stuff that you guys do just to give back and to keep the game where it is. And, you know, just even seeing all your guys's face as, you know, we heard stories about you from our parents growing up and, and, you know, hockey fans over the years. It's amazing. And to see those mustaches in person is beautiful. Who. Who would be your guys's Mount Rushmore for mustaches?

[Lanny McDonald]

Well, thank. Thank goodness you didn't say your grandparents

[Pat Brisson]

told you all about us.

[Lanny McDonald]

We're very happy about that.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's awesome. Yeah, I like that question there, Dave. Who would you be? Your Mount Rushmore of stashes?

[Pat Brisson]

Well, you know, Wendell was.

[Dave Babich]

I just saw like a video of Wendell. His is a little. Little too much. It's too clean. I think it's a little Fu Manchu ish. But still, Wendell's Wendell, he can do whatever the hell he wants, you know, so you're right. This.

[Biz]

He's.

[Dave Babich]

He's. He was pretty tough. Like, if you were. If you were looking or talking, he was throwing. So you really. You had to be ready with him around.

[Lanny McDonald]

Some of those battles that Wendel had with Probert, God bless him, were legendary. And for Wendell, a guy like him to take on all the tough guys, regardless of when they were heavyweights or not, he just believed that I'm taking one for the team, and he usually ended up giving one for the team. So much fun to watch that guy.

[Dave Babich]

Hey, that could be. That could be a T shirt. What you said about Wendell there. What would Wendell do?

[Ryan Whitney]

What would Wendell do? I feel like that whole organization needs to take on that model moving forward.

[Lanny McDonald]

Yeah, I have a small tattoo on one cheek and a bigger tattoo on the other. The small tattoo is getting worn off with the Leafs right now. But, man, it would be fun to see Wendell in that dressing room. He would certainly snap everyone to attention right away.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, Lanny, I guess I'll save this one for you. This might be a stupid question. When you guys won your Stanley cup in Calgary, was it at the Saddle Dome?

[Lanny McDonald]

No, it was actually in Montreal. Quick story. We got halfway home from Montreal. Five, five and a half hour flight. We asked, and this was like three o' clock in the morning. We asked Cliff, can we land in Winnipeg?

[Pat Brisson]

We're out of booze.

[Lanny McDonald]

And Cliff said, guys, Winnipeg closes at 9:00'.

[Keith Yandle]

Clock.

[Pat Brisson]

We're only two hours from Calgary. No, we're Keeping going.

[Lanny McDonald]

Well, we made up for it once we got home, I can guarantee it.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's awesome. Obviously, probably sad to see the old barn going, but how excited are you for the World cup of Hockey coming to Calgary? The new building and, and I'm sure it'll be a pretty emotional say bye to the Saddle Dome though.

[Lanny McDonald]

Well, it will be, but you know what, it's the oldest building in the league right now. Obviously there's some shortcomings in it both from concerts and even entertaining the people each and every night when they go to games. It's so exciting to turn the corner on 12th heading for the Scotiabank Saddle Dome and see how far they've gone around the corner. And we're looking forward in a couple weeks we get to do a tour of that. They've already got the sales center open and it is phenomenal. So we can't wait for it to open. How cool is it that Calgary and Edmonton got the World Cup? It is. You talk about being a showcase to open a new arena. Doesn't get better than that.

[Biz]

And Dave, for you, I'm wondering, I mean 19 year career, like I said, over 1100 games, you were so close in 94 with that Vancouver team. You played a huge part. I lost in the cup finals too. So I guess I don't feel as bad asking about a tough memory. But what do you remember about that team? And I remember the Bure run and just the magic in that city for, for a team right now who's kind of looking to get back to some, some days of winning.

[Dave Babich]

Well, they, yeah, they're, they're a little ways from that. But, but yeah, that team, that team that we had, we, you know, first of all, we had a tough team. We had guys that cared about each other. I think this, I mean that's pretty good example of, of how success starts. But we had like a very talented team. I think there was, there's a lot of guys that were traded in, but I think there was 13 or 14 that were, were first round picks around the league. Sometimes, you know, things just don't work out. But, but Pat Quinn brought us all together and seemed to bring the right guys together because there were, there were good people, like good, good guys, like I said, good tough guys and that could play. And we, you know, we didn't have a great regular season but we, we probably had a better team the year or two before. But we just, you know, you run into the, the right team at the wrong time or hot goalie or, or Whatever or just don't play good against that team. And, and we, we didn't make it very far. But something clicked that year. We beat Calgary, I think in seven in overtime.

[Lanny McDonald]

Oh, you throw that in, didn't you?

[Dave Babich]

I did, yeah. Because you know, Kurt McLean says, you know, it was, they call him the save or that was the save. He, I think he stopped Reichel on a two on one and he stacked the pads, the old stack, the pads thing. And I always tell Matt, I go, you know, I think you fell when you made that save. And, and, and sure enough we, we came back, Pavel got, Pavel, you know, got a breakaway in, in second overtime and scored and, and away we went. We started rolling. We beat the hell out of Dallas and then, and I, I may, may hurt you guys feelings, but we beat the hell out of Toronto really bad too. And Wendell was on, I think Gilmore was on the team too, Elliott. And it was, it was one of those things, it's a great joy to beat Toronto, I'm not gonna lie.

[Biz]

And that was, that was the beret after that goal. I think he flung his stick. Kind of a legendary celebration.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah, no, we, but, but it was a great run and, and you know, like just, just making it to the finals. I mean everyone says, you know, you know, it, it really doesn't define my career. If you had a nice long career or a good career not winning the cup. But I think that's a bunch of bullshit because would have sure been nice. And you know, every other team I played, like in Hartford we played, we had a terrific team. Even in Winnipeg we had a great team. But then you're playing against Calgary when Lanny was there and Edmonton and all, all three teams had over a hundred points in regular season when there, when there was no like, I guess, what do you call them, loser points or whatever.

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Dave Babich]

And you know, we beat Calgary the first round and then you play Edmonton, so every game's like 7 5, but they just outscore you and it's just that's the team they had. So it was so difficult to come out of that division because it was tough, you know, and then Vancouver, like I said, we had other chances and just didn't work out. But I, I still hope one day, you know, if, if the Cox ever make it, they'll, they'll include me somewhere and you know, in management or ambassador or anything. Anything to just be part of it would be terrific.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'll tell the Leafs to hire you. We got to get, we got to get, we got to get you in the mix.

[Biz]

Anyone could be an ambassador there.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, they hand those things out like candy. I got one more left for Lanny. And boys, I want to say, like, this was obviously a quick thing because we wanted to promote this unbelievable game. 200th Anniversary All Star game up there. But Lanny, you got a chance to hoist the Stanley cup in your last season playing like how, like we talk about the icing on the cake. David just mentioned it. Didn't really feel like it. Like he had that stamp on, on the final part of his career. But what was it like for you in your final year to finally get over the hump and get it done?

[Lanny McDonald]

Well, we thought even when we lost in 86 to Montreal, we thought the very next year we were going right back. But Dave touched on it when you had three strong teams like there was back then. And it reminds me right now of what is going on with Dallas, Colorado and Minnesota. Like, they're in the same boat. And two of the top teams are going to be out of it after two rounds, which is too bad. But you know what? That's the way it was back then and it seems to have worked pretty darn well. People forget that when there's 32 teams, you should only win it once every 32 years. And then when a team wins a couple in a row, all of a sudden that throws everything out of whack. And when we were lucky enough to win it in 89 and to be able to walk away on such a high note at that time, it just made sense to walk away from the game that I loved and being able to be a part of the alumni and continue like things like this, like the Hockey hall of Fame, it's been such a blessing. And when you love the game and love the history of the game, it's so great. And that's why you're going to see, it's going to be colder and heck, but everyone's going to have an unbelievable time up north and we are going to make sure that the fans remember that forever.

[Ryan Whitney]

Boys, we need to get you guys back on for, for long interviews. Like to talk about your entire career, but.

[Biz]

Oh, there it is. Fourth place of hockey 18:25 Holy boys,

[Ryan Whitney]

we, we can't thank you enough for taking the time, especially with your busy schedule, to hop on and promote this and, and talk about how special it is and, and from our podcast to you guys, thank you for everything you've done for the game in order to grow it to, to give us opportunity as we got to step in the league. So you guys are legends. As whit said, over 1100 games each. Absolute fucking weapons you guys are.

[Keith Yandle]

Had we known we were you were coming on, we would have shaved out of respect. We would have mustaches. Biz surprised us. Surprised us. But out of respect, we would have had mustache.

[Ryan Whitney]

I went clean shave because I didn't want to compete. I was waving the white flag going against these two legends.

[Lanny McDonald]

Well, we love everything you guys are doing. Keep up the great work and thanks for having us on.

[Biz]

Thanks, Lanny.

[Dave Babich]

And guys, when we're doing another one of these, you guys will get an invite and you'll see. You'll see what it's like. These are. These are real special. I hope you guys get. Get involved wherever you guys are too.

[Biz]

We'd love to.

[Ryan Whitney]

You mean I'm gonna get in the lineup?

[Biz]

No.

[Dave Babich]

Well, you never know.

[Pat Brisson]

Hold it here.

[Biz]

You need a guy to push the ice. You need a guy to clean the ice for you guys.

[Lanny McDonald]

Just say no and cut him off.

[Keith Yandle]

I had to play with him. You guys don't want to see him on the ice.

[Ryan Whitney]

Lady's going. Don't over promise.

[Biz]

And this interview, boys, I think my

[Ryan Whitney]

wi fi is cutting out.

[Keith Yandle]

There's no intern.

[Pat Brisson]

Sorry.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah, yeah, There you go.

[Ryan Whitney]

Enjoy yourself. Stay warm, boys, and, and appreciate everything you've done for the game. Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

Take care, guys. Thanks.

[Biz]

See you later, boys.

[Pat Brisson]

Thanks, guys. Appreciate you.

[Biz]

Biz coming through. Yeah, just.

[Keith Yandle]

I thought the big surprise was that Toronto Maple Leafs garbage can.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was the big surprise. The two legends were the smaller surprise Cup. Hey, Leafs fans, Cups back on. Rebuild starts right now. Five year plan. If Vegas Gold Knights can do it in five years, we can do it.

[Biz]

Babich has a voice on him. That guy broadcasting. Oh, yeah, Great guy. We gotta, we gotta sit down with those guys. I think we've actually, we've had Lanny on before, I believe. But, but Babich, that's a. That's gonna be a long form one for sure. You could tell he's got a great sense of humor.

[Ryan Whitney]

This all kind of just came to B boys, because like I was. I was talking to Andrew Daxson, who is basically the representation for Wendell Clark. And he's like, hey, like I was talking on the phone yesterday. He's like, we're going up north to do this game where we're like, most of us are here. Andrew Jackson helped build that ring. Just like Babish. Some of the guys are heading up today and tomorrow before the game gets going. But he was able to Facilitate those two guys coming on. I said, why not surprise the boys? And. And on top of that, I got a brand new shrine. So Wendell. Wendell is going to come on the podcast for an interview. And I think that it is on the table that potentially we could go this summer to Muskoka, an okay boating place, and do a sandbagger, maybe. Imagine him, Dougie G. And Jeff o'. Neill.

[Biz]

Oh, that could get the Leafs back. That could do it.

[Keith Yandle]

You would just want to play with them, though.

[Biz]

Yeah, I know. I know. He'll be on their team against me and you.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'll be like. I'll be missing putts on purpose, walking our pots.

[Biz]

I actually. I can also picture Biz as. As he's. As. He's bidding on this. This Wendell Clark statue behind him. He's like, I'll go up a little bit more for Babich. And then he adds another grand for Lanny. And then he's like, what about Wendell? I'll go 10 grand. The guy's like, no, no, no, no, no. That was the actual bidding process, but awesome.

[Ryan Whitney]

So when I got it, I go up to Wendell to shake his hand. I said, you better sign this thing. And he goes, hey, you're. He goes, bet you think you got this thing already sold for double the amount that you. I said, triple.

[Biz]

He knows about you.

[Keith Yandle]

He knows you.

[Ryan Whitney]

So let's let the betting begin. Five and a half out of five and five or five.

[Biz]

Well, Biz, for a guy with your team down in the dumps, you seem to be pretty happy. A positive guy. For me, I lost. I lost the superstar for the rest of the regular season as well. And, you know, your guy being out the rest of the regular season in Auston Matthews, that's it. There's no postseason, but I sent a video out, and I kind of changed my ways. No negativity, positivity. Leon will be back. I said that before Stan Bowman came out and said, no, no, no, he's going to be okay. I think he's gonna be ready. Right at the beginning of the playoffs, when the news broke about Leon, it was a little bit of panic. I'm not gonna lie. The hit didn't really look like anything. That's the worst part about it. Nice. I'm not. I'm not gonna say anything about Ozzy Wiseblad. It was a good body check, but you didn't see anything that maybe could be, like, season ending. He comes back into the game, leaves, and then all of a sudden, the next day or two, it comes Out. He's out for the next rest of the regular season. What do the Oilers do? They respond with a big win.

[Pat Brisson]

Right?

[Biz]

It's something that I said in the video. The Oilers are madness. The Oilers are chaos. It's never easy. It's never going to be easy. And I've also come around now to Ingram, our goalie. He's going to start his fourth straight tonight. It's Thursday, 4:10 Eastern. Right now recording. This is our guy. And Dwayne Rolson might have had he had he was a more well known figure, right? He'd done a lot in his career but when he went over to Edmonton, nobody saw him becoming the brick wall that he was in that run to game seven and 06. I'm now on the Ingram train and Leon will be back. That's rest, guys. That's rest. Are you rehabbing from injury? Yes, but it's also rest and he's going to be ready to go. I've also mentioned to many people that if you remember, Leon sprained his ankle I believe against the Calgary Flames are right before that series. I want to say at 35 points. Unbelievable that so the guy can play through injury. He's a horse. MC Jesus is still there. Savoy looks awesome. Evan Bouchard, we can get into that later on when the awards get announced, which he probably won't be a top three finalist in the Norris, which is a complete disgrace. Oilers fans, stay positive, stay calm. It was never going to be easy. It was always going to be chaos and this is kind of how we're going through things. So thank you for everyone listening.

[Pat Brisson]

I love that.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well said.

[Biz]

Yeah, I appreciate it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Now with Toronto out, my focus is obviously on Edmonton. I'm not hopping on the bandwagon wit. All right, I'll be supporting you from a distance but I've also though been on the Ingram train for a while when he's with the Coyotes. I was very impressed by him. I also think that he dealt with, I think some mental health struggles as well. Like he was very vocal and open about that stuff. So such an easy guy to root for and I'm hoping that he is. He turns into a liquid duo and and gets the job done for the Edmonton Oilers. But awesome to see and also I think a little bit of adversity before playoffs with is probably a good thing for the Edmonton Oilers. It's going to make everybody elevate their game, wake the fuck up and get things going here.

[Biz]

And he talked about if they win tonight, they're in first in The Pacific. So a hell of a division too. One of the strongest divisions we've seen in years. And to be in first place with 14 games to go, I mean, that's. That's something you, you know, you tip your cat to a. Tip your cap to a team that's gone through as much as they have.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, you tip your cat.

[Biz]

Okay, true, true. You tip your cat. That's what we're tipping you. Legit, like instead of cow tip and we're cat tipping and biz. Also, there was rumors you were going to hop on the Penguins bandwagon. Now. The Penguins Wednesday night, buddy, this team, they ended up losing to Carolina. I felt bad. Carlson is Eric Carlson of 10 Years Ago. I don't know what was up with maybe Mike Sullivan coaching him, something there. But he is a different player this year. He scored the most old school Eric Carlson goal. New age Caleb McCarthy tie it up. And then super rookie Kindle comes down, buries it. They got the lead in Carolina. They lose an ot, but they get a point. But reason I bring it up is you were going to get on the Penguins bandwagon, but now until Malkin is resigned by them, you're not.

[Ryan Whitney]

It was brought to my attention that they kind of agreed that they were going to handle it in the off season. But Gino was at least early on adamant about he wanted security and he wanted to be signed before the season was up. Then he kind of said something in the media, which I reached out to army and I'm like, it seems like he said something after that they had that kind of agreement, something would get done in the off season. And Colby laughed. He kind of said Geno just beats to his own drum. So maybe he was stirring a little bit up like via media. But I think at this point now they have agreed where they're going to revisit in the off season, where if I'm a Penguins fan and things have been going this good for the Penguins and Geno up at this point, why not keep him a little hungry for that off season contract where he can keep getting that number up and up and up. Now I don't know how many years we're talking.

[Keith Yandle]

It's a money thing for him.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know. I just think it was more of like he wants to feel the love man, loyal to his team. And I think that I would like to see like a two year deal

[Biz]

around like four maybe wants two years. I think maybe that they're like maybe they're offering one. This is total guessing and he's like, give me the two years here.

[Ryan Whitney]

So I did make a proposition on game notes, but then it turns out I guess I was wrong in the fact that they've agreed that they're going to settle it in the off season. But if that isn't the case and Gino wants it done before playoffs, you gotta. I think you gotta appease him, given the performance he's put on this year to help them and lead them to where they're at right now. But with that said, the Pittsburgh Penguins are my first love. And as much as I love to hop on the bandwagon, it seems like the feeling from the fan base is not mutual. They're telling me, stay the fuck away. We won't want nothing to do with you.

[Keith Yandle]

And I get that, and I understand that, too.

[Pat Brisson]

Who?

[Keith Yandle]

The Leafs fans have been saying that for years, too.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's not true. You're buying more Metro. That's not true. No.

[Biz]

He's gonna have a Geno Russian bobblehead that's made of diamonds in the next month.

[Keith Yandle]

Here his host looks like the arena.

[Biz]

He moves into the igloo. They can't knock it down.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I have better park in here than the ppg, that's for sure. But I'm not going to do it. It just doesn't. It doesn't feel right. And you know what? With that all said, I was critical of Dubas and maybe some of the moves that he was making with when, with Toronto now the way that things have played out, maybe he wasn't even in control. Maybe he was just a little puppeteer. You know, maybe he was being nixed on some of the stuff that he wanted to do. The job he has done with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he earned every century that he was paid in that contract. And as a guy who bought Duba stock very early on and it's reaped the financial benefits of it. I'm.

[Biz]

I think you sold it at one point or you were paper hands. Whatever it is. He never sold it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Never sold. I talked about. I talked. I said that there was a few things that he was maybe doing where I was considering selling.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like the Geno contract. But it seems like they've. They're aligned. So he is touching all the right buttons from hiring the coaching staff to getting Chinken off to getting all these other guys on their team outplaying their. Their contracts. Bravo to Kyle Dubas. I'm. I'm officially back to being a doobie. I am on the Duba stock. I am holding and just like Pasha with the crypto I'm holding, even if there's a full on crash, I'm a doobie till I die.

[Keith Yandle]

But Biz, don't you think, like when a player says in, in my opinion, when a player says I'm not going to talk contracts till the end of the year, they're usually not coming back. But then when a team says we're not going to talk contracts till the end of the year, that usually means they don't want them. Like you feel any of that with Gino? Because like we've talked about, there are certain guys in the league that if they want to play on that team with a team that what they've done so much for, they should be able to just do it right. Like, do you think 100% will get done?

[Ryan Whitney]

I think that if Gino right now is internally saying, I want ink to fucking paper before we hit playoffs there, that would, I would tell Dubas, sign this man right now. Yeah, do it. And I think that just show. But in this, I'll throw it to you guys. Do you not want a pissed off Gino going in the playoffs?

[Biz]

It's a, it's a double edged sword because, yeah, pissed off Gino, we've seen that sickle mode. But then if he completely lights it up and the Penguins go on this magical run, then maybe the money that he's offered somewhere now he's made $151 million. If he wants to be.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's it.

[Biz]

He's going to be on the. That's it. Yeah. You could buy a bunch of Wendell Clark trash can statues with that much money. And I think that he ends up with the Penguins. And you're right, you know, a motivated Geno out to prove people wrong, whether it's creating his mind or not, that's, that's a scary sight. I mean, he's looked great since he came back. And I'll get, I'll get more, I'll stay with you even a little bit more here because your guy, our guy, actually the guy who kept us in the league for one minute longer with those PTOs in St. Louis, Doug Armstrong. He's no longer in charge of Team Canada. He stepped down. What are you showing me right now?

[Ryan Whitney]

I DM'd Malkin.

[Biz]

Okay.

[Ryan Whitney]

I said, I said, gino, how much do you want for contract? Would 2 times 4 equal 8 million total? Get it done. And he just never responded.

[Biz]

Yeah, you just see red and no answer ever. But Biz, army's out. He said that it's time for a change. I've enjoyed every aspect of it. Obviously you wish could go out on top, but it would be selfish to want to do it again. It's such a great experience and I think more people should enjoy it. That's pretty cool. Also, he was the GM of the 2016 World cup of Hockey. They won that. They won the World Championship in 2023, four nations. He was on Yzerman staff for the gold medals in 20, 2010, 2014. And a name popping up to take over is Kyle Dubas. So I wonder where they go with that. I see it at one point if you said that, you know, the way Toronto had gone down the beginning of Pittsburgh, people, what are you talking about? But he has earned the right to be in the conversation now.

[Ryan Whitney]

I would say if he signs Gino before playoffs, I would allow him to be GM of the Canadian team biz.

[Keith Yandle]

I think you made a good point with now he has the reigns like. I think there's something in Toronto where the GMs aren't getting a fair shake at it.

[Ryan Whitney]

It's. It's a little too corporate for my liking.

[Biz]

Okay.

[Ryan Whitney]

And once again, let's go back to wwd. What would Wendell do? They should. They should bring him as part of the round table. Him and Dougie G. Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Just him.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Them two.

[Biz]

Sid coming back. Boys, that was just enormous. I thought it might be a little bit longer. Shocking. That sarcasm not just came back.

[Ryan Whitney]

He was going out. It was fans from the penalty box buzzing.

[Keith Yandle]

He had punching guys in the face.

[Ryan Whitney]

What do you have? 1 and 1. Is that what he finished with or 1 and 2?

[Biz]

He is now 10 points shy of surpassing Steve Iserman. 7th all time. Like now we're getting into numbers. It's like holy. And I love the person's coming on because of the Crosby stuff we talked about. We should have brought that up. That like you knew he was going to be special. But he's climbing the numbers now. He's climbing the ranks. We're looking at what could be the own. The second only player to touch 2000 points. Does he get there? I believe he can. I mean considering that when he came in you, you. You didn't even think this was possible. Even if he was as good as advertised. It wasn't this with the game, the. The way the games change and how offensive it was back then. So Pittsburgh in a great spot. Even though a loss. It was an OT loss and. And they're just not slowing down. So it's a cool story.

[Keith Yandle]

Carlson in his last 10 games with five goals. 11 points or 11 assists. 16 points plus six. Like that's fucking elite numbers right there. And that Walther Spoon that he's playing with too. Like they complement each other really well. He looks so good for them. It's the, the old guys there to just taking care of business. I love it.

[Biz]

So also some news came out of Florida somewhat near, near you and I, Keith, in that the GM meetings went, went down and Mike Russo and Pierre LeBrun did a joint article on the Athletic. Apparently there was a. Now I don't think it's that crazy. I think that there's been instances of GMs and Gary going at a little bit. I guess it was Tulski. Sorry, excuse me. In, in Carolina where Bettman mentioned that there's an owner unhappy with lack of protection for players with the headshots type thing. And, and he said, does anyone have anything to say here? And Tulsi, he's like, yeah, me. He's like, I guess we know who the owner is in terms of Tom Dundon in Carolina. That was an aspect. Gary, another aspect. Just stick it to his guns on the playoff format. I, I, we've been over this. I don't agree with it. I know year by year you're just going to get certain instances of the Minnesota, Dallas or Minnesota Colorado matchup this year. But it just doesn't make sense. But he is adamant that they're all about the first round. That's kind of what he's saying, that our first round is the greatest.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay, so listen, like, I don't, I think we can all agree that, that from a business standpoint and the way the league's been ran, Gary has done an exceptional job to get it. Oh yeah, it is now. Like no one's done it. Just I think it would be hard to be him in a sense of how much criticism you're taking all the time. Fucking we were chirping last podcast with the fact that the Stage isn't getting a game in the World cup of Hockey. Right. So you're constantly dealing with that type of criticism. So I could understand why in some cases he would be a bit on edge and pissed off of that now as far as the headshot stuff, I kind of, I can't be a hypocrite here. I'm actually happy with the median place that it's arrived to because going back like what, five to eight years ago, that window of time where every guy was getting suspended for touching somebody, it was like it Was painful. And, like, Tulski's obviously a bit of a puppet for that owner. Yeah, right. And like, I mean. Yeah, he's like, at Dundon, he raises his hands.

[Biz]

I guess we know the owner is.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, exactly. So, I mean, as far as the headshots, like, when's the last time a guy in Carolina's got a headshot that. That's gone uncalled?

[Biz]

Where we're like, no, it was one earlier this year. Shit. It was in the article. Pitlick hit somebody.

[Pat Brisson]

It was Jalen Chatfield.

[Biz]

Jalen Chat. Jalen Chatfield got one.

[Ryan Whitney]

But it's. Oh, you mean the guy who fucking judo slammed the other guy in playoffs last.

[Biz]

What they've done is they've. They've made it so that if your first point of contact is the shoulder, the chest, and then it runs up and buries the guy in the head. All right, we're not. That's not a headshot. No, I like that. I like that. If you're not. If shoulder directly to the face, you're still in trouble now. Yeah, I think. Right. But get a guy somewhere else first, and then, you know, whether his movement or your finishing of the hit gets him in the head, it's like, well, that wasn't the first point of contact, and we're not gonna take hitting out of this game. So that's something that, like, fans are probably like, I'm with Gary now. The fans, I definitely think, aren't with Gary on the playoff format. And the first round field.

[Ryan Whitney]

Didn't get one game for that. That. That body slam.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

And the guy's helmet was off, too, right? Wasn't his helmet.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Like. And keep in mind, like, I don't want to see guys get injured from headshots and stuff like that. I'd love to see the hit that he's talking about specifically. But, I mean, I might do an Afro. Afroman song with a surveillance of. Of Tulski standing up.

[Biz]

That is your song. Because I Got High. You sent it and I couldn't fall. I didn't know who it was till you said, he's the guy who sang Because I Got High. I know that song. I do not know the story.

[Ryan Whitney]

So Afroman, like, I think he was just at home chilling, and next thing you know, his doors get broken down and cops come in because they ended up having like a. What do you call that when you can go in?

[Biz]

A warrant.

[Ryan Whitney]

A warrant and basically saying that he, like, he potentially had, like, he was drug trafficking and had somebody captured there,

[Biz]

like, had like a. Oh, the old kidnapping.

[Ryan Whitney]

The kidnapping. And so they got in there, and they were, like, going through his suit pockets. Apparently, they took money from him. So after this all played out, and Afroman's obviously, like, all I'm doing in my house is smoking weed, and I don't have anybody kidnapped. Like, I'm not breaking any rules.

[Biz]

I have a cat, though.

[Ryan Whitney]

What's that?

[Biz]

He had a cat. That was the problem.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh, catnapping that case. Throw him in jail. Put him on Guantanamo Bay. Reopen Alcatraz. Get him in their solo mission with all. Catnip, catnip, chicken liver. Catnip, catnip, please deliver.

[Keith Yandle]

That was an Afromance, huh? That was. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, he wrote those bars. So after seeing all the surveillance that he had set up in his house, he must have had those ring lights everywhere. He basically created a whole album clowning all these cops who are flexing this fake warrant, and. And then it ended up going to trial because the cops wanted all these defamation, these defamating lyrics and music videos taken down. Well, when you're suing someone on defamation, like, obviously you're saying that the claims are. So the one guy gets brought to the stand about how Afroman was singing the song that he. His wife, the one cop's wife, they asked him, well, did Afroman fuck your wife? And he was like, I don't know. So completely nicks his own own case. So it ended up getting, like, thrown out. The defendants didn't win nothing. Afroman's allowed to keep all these songs and this whole album up, and. And he's just clowning on every single individual cop that came into his house. Like, whether it was a female cop. You got to go through and watch all these music videos he made, clowning on all these people. And obviously, these cops were morons, and he clowned them and. And they're not happy. But the whole Internet is having a field day with it. So if you don't know.

[Biz]

Together. I'll get the kids together. We'll watch the videos tonight.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, Marty already watched it with them.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, the Afro calling you Ryan when you get back.

[Ryan Whitney]

Next podcast wit's like, no, it's Marchie. Marchie. Marchie stole my life.

[Biz]

I don't know. I don't know. I'm not sure.

[Ryan Whitney]

My wife.

[Biz]

Sure. My kids have Team Canada jerseys now on.

[Ryan Whitney]

What the.

[Biz]

Oh, my God.

[Ryan Whitney]

How do we even get there?

[Biz]

I have no idea.

[Keith Yandle]

Afro man.

[Biz]

The other thing I took away from Wednesday night was another Hudson is in the NHL, Boys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Hudson they're taking over.

[Biz]

Cole Eiserman also signed with New York. I think he's going right to Bridgeport. But Cole Hudson, he's right into the Capitals lineup. They beat the Senators 4 1. He scores his first goal. Empty netters. Funny, because I think. Was it McMichael? He was looking to pass it. McMichael's like, no, shoot it. Shoot it. Which I get.

[Keith Yandle]

That was like this, though.

[Biz]

I know, I know. I'm like, oh, fuck. He looked off.

[Ryan Whitney]

I would have been sprinting to touch it before I went in the net. Like Chuck on the back check from a few years ago.

[Biz]

But the kid looked. He looked nasty. Just a different player than Lane, but. But dominant in his own right, at least in college. I'm interested to see how his career plays out. I will say this. There. There's a difference, I think, between being confident and cocky. I think he might be a little cocky, but.

[Ryan Whitney]

But bring it on.

[Biz]

That works for people.

[Keith Yandle]

That he's American.

[Ryan Whitney]

Who cares?

[Biz]

Yeah, that can work. That.

[Keith Yandle]

Andy's Canadian, too.

[Biz]

And, oh, yeah, his dad said Lane could play for Canada, so who knows where Cole could play. But these are world junior gold medal. He's a world junior gold medalist. Incredible player to the caps. With Leonard himself, the other protoss coming when OV does move on, I think their fans are pretty excited about the future. So it was good to see him, another BU guy, make an immediate impact.

[Keith Yandle]

Would you want your first goal to be an empty netter? I know you just want to get it over with. You see an empty net, but I mean.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I'm gonna say I know from a guy who. Who scored on Carrie Price, his first NHL goal. Not a big deal. I wasn't looking at the puck and. Or the net. It just hit my skate and went in. So I. I don't really have a dog in this fight.

[Dave Babich]

Me neither.

[Ryan Whitney]

Cat.

[Biz]

It's. As long as you get more right. If it's a guy who got a call up and gets one NHL goal, it's empty netter. Yes, you have one NHL goal, but in your mind, you know it's an empty netter. This kid's gonna score plenty of goals. So I don't think it's.

[Ryan Whitney]

I do want to put us on alert, though, that I will be getting a surrogate mother and I'm gonna start dumping some loads because I'm sick and tired of all these. These brothers, the Kachuk brothers. You got the Hughes brothers.

[Biz]

Yeah, but what if all you. What if all your. What if all your sperm produces bouncers at strip clubs and guys who work at Abercrombie for the discount, and then other guys who maybe go to Davenport and flunk out. Like, what if it goes the other way?

[Keith Yandle]

I think you're. I think you're over hyping your genes.

[Biz]

Yeah. I think you. All of a sudden, it's like, yeah. Oh, your hands and your vision. It's like, what if it's just your knuckles and your teeth?

[Ryan Whitney]

That's a good point. That's a good point.

[Pat Brisson]

Unless you know what my rebuttal is?

[Keith Yandle]

My rebuttal is maybe you could find a surrogate mother who is a really good hockey player or.

[Biz]

Or at least athlete good at something.

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, but you got. You got the size. You're big. You got the hockey frame, but you got to find some skill in there.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm going to counter your argument with. We got. We got a brotherhood coming out of Canada and Papa talks about it. Rick James Celebrini, RJ Celebrini coming up. You guys are absolutely.

[Dave Babich]

I know.

[Ryan Whitney]

And we're going to follow suit. So all you Canadian fathers out there, make sure you're having at least a couple boys. Maybe you even, like. Can you, like, program it to have twins now?

[Biz]

Yeah. It's a computer. You just put in the code. That's what AI is for. HTTP twins.ca.

[Keith Yandle]

dude, Rick James Celebrini might be American, though, because he might have been born when his family.

[Ryan Whitney]

Don't even start, man. Don't even start. I'll. I'll stomp on your couch.

[Biz]

I will say that celebrity, I think, has said that. That RJ's better than he was at that age.

[Ryan Whitney]

You guys are.

[Biz]

Yeah, we could. We could be in trouble, but we. You know, we got past Celebrini once already. Best on best. So I'm going back to Canada and

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm just going to start. I'm just going to start dumping loads. You guys are absolutely fucked.

[Biz]

Oh, I mean, that happened. Yeah. All right, with that, let's throw it over to Papperson, super agent.

[Ryan Whitney]

I thought we were going to talk about the World cup of hot.

[Biz]

Oh, I forgot. I forgot. I missed something.

[Ryan Whitney]

Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?

[Biz]

Biz? I think it's crazy.

[Ryan Whitney]

You guys are. How much money do you guys have? And you guys are going cheapo mode on. The NHL won't even outbid Canadian teams. Given your dollar. It's a. It's a buck 37. You got. You want American dollar is a buck 37 Canadian. And you guys are getting outbid by The Canadians. You guys need to look in the fucking mirror before you start bitching about why you're not a host city.

[Biz]

Okay?

[Ryan Whitney]

That's what you need to do.

[Keith Yandle]

I didn't even know there was a bid. I would have put a bid in

[Ryan Whitney]

made. You should be hosting the World cup of Hockey in your backyard on that ring.

[Biz]

Yeah, I know, I know. That's like the old style Bingham. That's like the size of the Binghamton rink. We used to play in the shoebox. But I, I think people may be confused. It did turn out or I, I, maybe it was known by everyone. I didn't know until Jeff told us that it was a bidding process. Calgary and Edmonton had the highest bid. I guess that by the way, we never argued games in Calgary and Edmonton. Edmonton, awesome spot. Yeah. I guess the. Some of these cities they now granted like the amount of concerts at msg at the Boston Guard. It's not like they need it as much as Calgary and Edmonton where in the summer I know they have concerts in the new building in Calgary will have plenty going on, but there's just a lot of stuff happening in the city of Boston. Who is giving the bid out? I'm guessing in terms of like we don't necessarily need this or. Oh no, it's not even in the summer though. It's March, so that didn't make any sense.

[Ryan Whitney]

February.

[Biz]

I got nothing to say there. I got nothing to say there. I wish we bid more. I think there should be games. But I do have something to say to the people who are like, well, look at the world Junior crowds. It's a. Are we serious right now? We're comparing World Junior crowds in Minnesota.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's some of the Internet crowd has been pretty stupid with the response on this one. I would say that that has like a maybe, maybe like a half a percent factor, maybe less.

[Keith Yandle]

Zero percent.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah.

[Biz]

I don't see.

[Ryan Whitney]

Listen. I will say though, it is a bit of a difficult look that the state of hockey is getting 500 people to like a Sweden check game or whatever it is in World Junior. That's a bad look. I think a lot of them were at the leaning center when the games are going on. So that is like that learning.

[Biz]

No, there was no r. There was no end.

[Ryan Whitney]

They're leering.

[Biz]

Leaning center.

[Ryan Whitney]

The leering, the leaning and the leering. But that's a bit of a tough look do though I think that they took that into account. I don't, I don't. I think it was probably decided on before that. I Think it's actually crazy that they didn't at least throw up a strong enough bid to compete with keeping some games, not, not even half the tournament, just even getting like three or four of them. Also, the other thing, and we talk about it at the end of the papa thing, the amount of people that want to tie in politics to the decision making, I think is so. It's so dumb. I'm so sick and tired of people being like, look at the political state

[Ari]

of the United States.

[Ryan Whitney]

Why would people want to go play a hockey game there? I mean, people wanted to go when the, the four nations was there and that was literally at the heat of it. So it just, it's just annoying. I think that people who answer with that themselves are kind of, they're telling on themselves. They're so wrapped up in it online all day, every day, just like, ah, like people saying, like, oh, you think people would want to travel there? Guys, you're not, you're not going to Afghanistan.

[Pat Brisson]

Have you turned on the news?

[Biz]

Turn on the news. In 2025, 77 million international people visited the United States. So I'm going to go with the fact that it's a pretty desirable place to come visit still 50 different states

[Ryan Whitney]

and maybe even people, hey, they're, they're booking trips to Cancun, in Cabo and, and Puerto Vallarta. Meanwhile, the cartel's taking over half the city and they're talking about coming to the States that it's not safe. Like, come on here. Like, like turn your brains on. Some of you, it's not even. And then you'll get the odd. A couple tweets like, oh. And they're just. It's, it's just, it's fucking mind month. It's. It's.

[Keith Yandle]

If I was, if I was playing in this tournament, though, I would be begging and praying to be in that Prague division because what a city. How much better would that be to be over there than in Calgary or Edmonton?

[Ryan Whitney]

So he. I don't know. I would, I would push back on that. If you're like a hockey truist and you want to play and in, in like a heart, like, I mean, I went to the Stanley cup finals, like Edmonton was playing. It was insane. That was the best hockey atmosphere I've ever seen in my entire life.

[Biz]

I agree, I agree. But, but Prague, in terms of how nice the city is, you don't get to go there like you do every season. And if you're.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know, man. Have you seen the ice District.

[Biz]

Oh, yeah, that's coming. That's coming.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, I'm saying it's already there in Edmonton.

[Keith Yandle]

What's the ice district?

[Ryan Whitney]

That's the arena around the whole area.

[Biz]

Some great bars. Awesome. That's one of the Moss pit is. I mean, you know, the Moss pit. Who does?

[Ryan Whitney]

And I would also put Edmonton women on par with. With women from Prague.

[Biz]

I don't think you're gonna get a ton of agreement on that one. I don't, I don't.

[Ryan Whitney]

I love Canadian women. I think they're very natural and very beautiful. And I'm gonna stick to my guns.

[Biz]

I know you're going to stick something else around Canada too, based on your earlier. Your earlier comment. But the other thing that came on, I think was it Andy Strickland, gee, correct me if I'm wrong, that reported that Sweden, Finland and Czech won't play if Russia's in?

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, that's correct.

[Biz]

Okay, so that's. That's big news, right, in terms of the IIHF having no say. They've banned Russia. Right. With the war with Ukraine, now it's the NHL's turn to say we can do whatever we want. We give anyone who's going play to play. Russia should be in. I. I love Sweden. I love Finland, I love Czech. I would rather Russia in than those countries that. That may. But to see Buddy, I'm saying obviously we want them all in. I want Russia in. I want to see Kucherov. I want to see the goaltending trio that they have. I want to see Panarin, I want to see Caprisov. I want to see Russia back in a best on best. If those countries say they're not playing. If that's true, then Russia ain't playing. They might not play even without those countries saying.

[Keith Yandle]

Who said that from those countries, though? Like the head of their.

[Biz]

I don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know. But if that's their opinion and that. And hey, I. I can agree with that because they're a lot closer over there.

[Biz]

Yeah, we don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

And that's fine. And we're trying to be respectful of that. But once again, I'm not going to say sorry that the fact that I want to watch the Russian hockey players play in a best on best. Like, I don't the. I'm separating the two.

[Keith Yandle]

And if.

[Ryan Whitney]

If I. I want to watch Russian best on best, I don't give a. I'm not going to apologize for that.

[Keith Yandle]

That's why we watch sports, is to get away from your real World, like, whatever's going on, you watch sports to get away from it. To have those guys in there, like, we've missed out on them. The last two best on best. Right. And, you know, it stinks not watching them because they're so good, they're so entertaining. And, you know, as an American fan, I'd rather them not in it just because they're such a good team. And, you know, that's another team that could beat you. But I think as a, you know, fan of hockey, you want to see the best teams playing with the best players. And, you know, it'll be a blast.

[Biz]

So we'll see what happens. I also am down. Final thing before Bresson. I'm kind of down if we're looking to figure out what teams will be in there. The World cup of hockey in 16 had the young Stars team. I think I'm like, down with that again. I would remember when they beat Sweden. Biz, I know you made the look and it's not. Then you're not dealing with every country, but. But just to get a couple young guys who are nasty, that wouldn't necessarily make their national team. I think it could add a lot. I don't think it'll happen based on them really going with the countries, but I kind of was, like, against that. And then thinking back to that One game when McKinnon scored, that was fucking incredible. So we'll see what happens.

[Ryan Whitney]

Or just put Russia in and just give them the jerseys that don't say Russia. Yeah, no, they did. They did that at the Olympics, didn't they?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, they were called, like, they.

[Biz]

I forget the name. Olympic athletes. Something I don't remember.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, Smelly Traxito wearing lovers.

[Keith Yandle]

Wait, didn't. I thought I saw something that if Russia is in, then either, like, Switzerland or Slovakia will be out.

[Biz]

I don't know what they're gonna do because you have Canada, us, Sweden, Finland.

[Pat Brisson]

Right.

[Biz]

And then when you're talking about Germany and Switzerland, like, I don't know, like, you can't. Can they compete like they compete? But it's like if you can combine something and then check in Slovakia. Very good. But imagine them combined, which I don't think they'd ever want to do. No, I don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

I want to. I can't wait to get Ra's opinion on what he thinks if. If Russia should be in it.

[Biz]

Like, well, after Bresson, we're going to throw it over to ra. So let's throw it to Patrick Passon right now. Great interview. Everyone please enjoy him and then we'll go to over to ra's World guys. Ordering lottery tickets have never been easier, thanks to our partners at Jackpocket. Whether you like to order Powerball Mega Millions scratch off tickets, you can order them all on the Jackpocket Lottery app. Jackpocket makes ordering tickets quick, simple and secure. I'm a Powerball guy. Very easy to go on Jack Pocket and order your own. And if you like scratch off tickets, that's some people's choice. The Scratchies Jackpocket has those as well. And here's the best part. If you're new to Jackpocket, they've got a special offer just for you. Stoolies Download the Jackpocket app. Sign up using code PUCK2P U C K2 the number two and new customers who deposit $5 will get $10 in lottery credits instantly. That's right, get $10 in credits instantly when you deposit $5 on Jack Pocket, America's number one lottery app.

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[Biz]

We are now pleased to be joined by just the only way I describe him as a super agent. A straight up super agent. The man Paton. What's going on, Pat? Thanks for joining the show.

[Pat Brisson]

Thanks for inviting me, boys. I was looking forward to it.

[Biz]

Yeah, it's been a long time coming. So many different questions to kind of ask you. I guess we could kind of start with what made you become an agent? Like where did it all begin? How did you decide you wanted to do this and then kind of take.

[Ryan Whitney]

That's your first question. I thought we were asking when Jack's getting his puck back.

[Pat Brisson]

Oh, I'm gonna give it a. I got it somewhere, guys. I didn't want to tell you, but it's somewhere here.

[Biz]

I was gonna warm him up. Biz I was gonna like with a massage.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're not warm and up, buddy. When we get these agents. I know how you agents treat these owners and the. And these gm. So we're not warming nothing up.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, okay.

[Ryan Whitney]

You know what, Ike?

[Pat Brisson]

It's interesting because all of us here, I mean we. You guys had great careers. You played in the NHL and all that. I didn't play in the NHL, but my goal was to be an NHL player. I grew up, I was a pretty good hockey player. Played major triple A. Played four years in the Quebec League and I played in Europe and all that. But my goal was to be a. An NHL player and to fast track. I, I had an opportunity to play with Luke Robitaille and we were on the same line. Pat Burns was our coach and actually Wayne Gretzky owned the team in the whole olympics. Yeah, in 1986. Geez, I'm aging myself now. And then we, we. We went far. We lost the Memorial cup final. Then I went to play Peru in Europe for a year and then I came back to North America and I came to visit Luke actually during his rookie year and he. I enjoyed Los Angeles. I enjoyed what I saw. I knew I wasn't going to become an NHL player at that point. My dream, I, I was still dreaming about becoming a pro player, but then I saw some opportunities when I was here. It was a year before Gres got traded here, but there was a lot going on. Bruce McNall just bought the team. And so I made a decision a year or two later to, to, to move here in 87 permanently and, and quit hockey for, you know, as far as my dream to become a pro player. And I started, I mean I did so many little jobs like car wash business, teaching hockey and all that stuff. But I found quickly that I knew, I knew the game. I grew up with the game. I grew up with the playing the game. And after each games was with Luke or Steve Duchene or back then Bernie Nichols, all those guys who were there. We talk hockey after games. I was hanging out with him and I knew, I understood the locker room very well. And I said this is my connection to the game because this is what I know best. Because I was trying to find out what I was going to become, what I was going do to, to do. I was dabbling in so many different things, but every time I came back to players used were opening up to me, you know, after games and talking, I was able to talk the game and, and back in the days too, we were able to go in the locker room after games and sit there and shoot the, with the boys, you know, have a beer and eat pizza and all that and, and, and oh, in la, it was great. Cause you know, one day, you know, after a game sometimes you have John Candy visiting the locker room or, or Tom Hanks. And I sat there next to Luke. And then a year later when Gretzky came, it was a whole different package. But I connected very well to the locker room, the players well in. And then obviously with Luke's, you know, help in terms of believing in me and, and quite frankly, Mario Lemieux. And he gave me an opportunity to start doing their marketing deals. And then I, that's basically how I jumped into this in 1990, 91. So a long time ago.

[Ryan Whitney]

Is it true that you were sleeping on Luke Robitaille's couch for a little bit?

[Pat Brisson]

Oh, I, I sure did. I mean I sure did. I, I, I went there, I, I, I, I, I came here actually and I, I, I didn't have the, like Luke, Luke took care of me for five years. I, I, I stayed with him and, and I started a little car wash business with a buddy of mine, Gene Smith. And we were washing cars, watching the players cars. And actually my biggest client was Bruce McNall. He had 12 cars.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh for Christ's sake.

[Pat Brisson]

Thousand dollars a month. And, and when you don't have anything, man, you start you, you, you, you know, you grind. And so yeah, Luke and Steve Duchene and all the young guys who were there we hang it out, and that's how it's.

[Ryan Whitney]

I want to know what kind of cars McNall had with. What did he have? Like, are you a big car guy?

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, he. He had. He had the Mercedes.

[Biz]

He had Toyota, Honda.

[Pat Brisson]

I remember, you know, he had a driver bringing those cars in. Actually, 12 cars. I remember that. It was a big account. It was a thousand bucks a month for us. It was. It was a lot of money.

[Biz]

I can't imagine for you, like, you. You're now, I think, at 1.4, $1.5 billion in contracts. And, like, for a guy, the way you started out, like, when you hit that billion number, it's got to be. There had to be a moment of kind of reflection. Like, I can't believe where this has brought me at this point.

[Pat Brisson]

You know, we have a great team. You know, I don't do it on my own. I honestly have a great partner and have great partners here with 32 people. It's. It's really a team effect. I know people see it's magnet. Oh, Pat Berson, Represent X or JP Barry. But it's really. And I mean it. There's no cliche. We approach every file as a team. First time I really pinched myself, actually, was when I. I did Sergey Fedorov's contract when he. It was a hard one out of Detroit. I. We didn't want Sergey to leave Detroit. Didn't want to leave Detroit, but it was $40 million in. In Anaheim. That's why I pinched myself the first time. I said, this is crazy money. And, you know, when Cindy went first overall in 05 was a very special moment. First overall. I mean, I may never get a first overall again. And knock on wood, we've had nine in the last 19 years. Wow. Oh, like it's been. But I say we. It's not only me. I mean it sincerely. We have a great team.

[Keith Yandle]

So did you. I mean, I. I played in the Quebec League. I know the schooling isn't, you know, the main priority there. So did you have to go back to school and get your law degree and stuff like that, or did you just kind of start?

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, what I did is in Quebec, you have something called CJEP. You know, you go to CGP for three years before you go to college, and your 2, 3C. Three years at CJEP gives you two years of college, essentially. So I did three years of CGIP and then I went to Ottawa University. When I played for the Hall Olympics for one year, I did not finish. I went to Ottawa University for a year in marketing actually. And then that's when I had four or four years of school back. You know, I felt it was fine, you know, and, but I went to play Europe and then when I came back here, when I decided to move to California, I didn't know what I was going to do, but schooling was, I thought about going back to, you know, working with Tom Rich and Steve Rich. They were highly educated lawyers. Tom was a pioneer in baseball, one of the best in history. I learned so much from him and Steve. Unfortunately they both passed and Steve passed last summer. They were great examples for me and I learned, I looked up to them a lot. They were great lawyers and I thought at one point to go, go, go back to school, try to do a law degree. But I, by virtue of what I've been doing for 35 years now, I've learned a lot. And through what I'm doing, essentially I, I, at times I would say I could probably teach a law school in business, a class in, in law school somewhere after all the experience I got. But you, you learn on, on the job as well too.

[Ryan Whitney]

I mean like early days you said you were grabbing beers in the locker room with the guys even before Wayne got there. Like how much from that point to now has the industry changed? And just like, I mean the money involved and just like how crazy it is with, with the growth of the league.

[Pat Brisson]

It is crazy like everything else, like every other sports, because I remember we used to look up the baseball and how the baseball players were not only the money they were making, but it all started there actually when my first real deal actually for Luke was baseball players were making, I would say seven to ten grand for like a two hour appearance to go sign autographs in the mall, in malls and shopping centers and all that. And Luke got a call from this guy and he said, he said I'll, I'll pay you 500 to come and sign for two hours. Luke said, geez, this is great. Like, you know, and I said to Lucas, you know, I was hanging out with those baseball guys in the form club and these guys are making at least five to seven grand cash. And you know, I mean you, you, you rookie, rookie of the year, you look robot high, you should be making at least two, three grand. And so he said, why don't you call the guy back and just see, you know, tell him you represent me. And I couldn't even speak English probably I remember like calling a guy and I probably didn't understand right. So all I Said to him, I said, Luke is worth $2500 for any guy. Said, I can't do that. I said, well, unfortunately, Luke won't do any. He says, well, what about. What about $2,000? Would you come and do it? I said, yeah, we'll do it for two. So I went to Lucas. He went from 500 to two grand. So we went to do the appearance.

[Ryan Whitney]

So these agents aren't completely useless.

[Pat Brisson]

No. Well, really, actually, he gave me. I remember we left and he gave me half. He gave me immediate. He gave me a thousand bucks and a thousand bucks. It took me two weeks to make a thousand dollars back at least. I almost start crying. I said, oh, my God. I said, this is amazing, Luke. I said, I want to do this. He said, I'm not going to give you 50% going forward every time, you know, but, yeah, it changed everything. I mean, hockey's going in the right, right direction where it was. And, you know, when Wayne came to California, it changed so much. I mean, I used to go to games where the place was pretty much empty and you could buy a seat, I mean, and I'd have to buy seats, you know, had free tickets from Luke and the. And the boys, but. But you could buy a seat for 20 bucks and then find a. Find a good seat in the Forum. But when. When Wayne got traded there and the place was packed all the time, and who's. Who was in the Forum Club, all the business people, all that music, television, you know, the Jerry Brock Armors, the Tom Hanks, the Tom Cruise, everyone was there, and there was such a vibe. And then. And then Anaheim came to fruition in 92, I think, or 93. And then there's such an amazing buzz. I was able to build our business here, too. People, you say, well, you should be on the east coast or you should be in Montreal to be in a service business for representing players. And I said, well, you know, California is an amazing hub because you guys remember when you used to come here, you didn't fly private, you flew commercial all the time. You were here for three, four days, sometimes, like even longer. And we were able to, after games, go out the next day, spend more time here with players. Actually, I spend some quality time with players, and that's how I was able to recruit and, and build our business. And. But things obviously change now. Everything's quick, but still, it's still an amazing hub. And San Jose came after that. So California. And not only that, the roller hockey in California was a huge. They're so impactful and that's why you see so many young players now from California making it to the NHL as

[Ryan Whitney]

well too, to follow that one up. Like around the time when you said that you got there, when Luke was there, was it still really faux pas about the players kind of interacting about what they were actually making? Because I feel like maybe that was holding back the players a little bit that they were told not to kind of disclose to each other what each other were making. And therefore, like, was that the case in baseball or is that something else that you took from baseball where it's like, hey, let's open up the floodgates and put a little bit of pressure on these other teams?

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, it's a great question. It's something that I learned watching Tom dealing with baseball players because it was a lot more open and. And make it a more public. And, you know, he came. It was a time also where Bob Goodenow came in and you guys dealt with Bob a little bit too. He was all about, you know, revenue. No, no revenues. Player salaries and making sure that everyone knows what you're making. So we're disclosing. So it was a time other sports were ahead of us for sure in baseball.

[Ryan Whitney]

Good.

[Pat Brisson]

Now was pushing hard on making sure to disclose. And my first real interaction actually locally here was when Dave Taylor. That's a long time. Dave Taylor, that Charlie Simmers and Marcel Dion line, they. They were just about to retire when I came here. Ron Seltzer was an agent, started Daniel. Ron. And Ron was really. He pushed them. I think Dave was making 600 grand a year, which was huge. He was able to raise the tide right there. That was a really first sign. And all this happened, I would say, because of all the noise that we were able to go through in California, in a foreign club, like with other sports. It's changing information. So to answer your question, because that's exactly how that started. And in Maguna came in, it was about every player's contract had to go up. And he used to give us shit when we didn't. You know, why you should have got seven fifty instead of seven and a quarter. What the fuck were you doing? You know, like, okay, you know, so.

[Ryan Whitney]

No way.

[Biz]

So. So, I mean, I need to hear about your experiences with Sid. Obviously. That's a big part of kind of why I'm doing what I'm doing, for sure. And just the 8.7 number is so funny. It's like such a great storyline with his career because I imagine at times you're like Sid Please.

[Keith Yandle]

Who owes Sid more? Whit or. Or Pat?

[Biz]

Me. I'm like, Sid, you must have been Sid, please, please. But he is that superstitious that it's just been funny. That's always been the number.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, he's very superstitious. As you. You guys know. You played with him and the number. Yeah, 87 playing with that. But the first contract out of entry level, the first one out of entry, elbow. We're looking at everything and remember, Mario and Ron Burkel were actually not happy with us because they wanted to do a 10 year deal. I don't blame it. Back then you could do 10, 12 years and such a great asset like Sid. And it was at the time also the Penguins were potentially selling because they sold to this guy, boosted BIAJU at one point and they fell through. And I mean, it was a hundred million. Can you imagine? It was a hundred million. And when Sydney, when Sydney's ball, the lottery ball came, you know, with no pun intended. But when Pittsburgh won the lottery, they changed the price to 100, 110 million to 140 right away on that day. But, but to fast track here, when we negotiate out of entry level, I remember they want us to do a long term deal. And then we decided to do short term. And 8, 7 made sense out of entry level because it was about 6, 16% of the cap, which is in. We were looking at 8, 4, 8, 5, 8, 6, 9. That's the first time the 87 came again from a financial standpoint and you know, made sense the second time around. The second time around. Sidney had a major concussion as well know. He was out for almost a year. He came back, he played 15 games or so. So then his contract was up, he was able to extend. He came back. So we sat down in the office in Pittsburgh. I remember Mario was there, Ray Shero, David Morehouse. Ron was on the speakerphone. We're going back and forth and people think it was easy, but not that easy and never is because they couldn't insure Cindy's contract. The second leak on insurance is headed. So we go in and we're. We were talking about certain numbers and certain time, length of time, and we're talking 60, 70 million or whatever. And then, and then we decide. Cindy and I were having many conversations and he says, you know, I'm 25 years old. Am I going to play at 35 years old? I don't know where I'm going to be in 10 years from now. He just came out. Big concussion. The way he Plays the game, guys, you know, he grinds it. He goes, traffic. He said, why don't we do a longer term deal? We'll lower the AAV and I'll be happy. So then we're starting to talk about a hundred million, 104 million for 12 years divide. Then it. Then we're again, we're close to the 8, 7. But then Ron Mario and then. Well, well, well, this is a lot. Not that it was a lot of. It was a lot of money, but it's a big guarantee when God forbid he gets in, he gets hurt because of a concussion. It happens. Sometimes it happens again and my career might be over. Then ownership's on the hook for a hundred million. So there was a debate during longer term, short, shorter term, or. And at the end of the day, we, we've all agreed that this is what Cindy wanted to. And this is what we all wanted. It made sense. And with all due respect, this is the building that he helped building the team would be. It'd be Kansas City now. The team would. No one, no one debated that. And. But ironically signed a 12 year deal in the last three years because we front loaded the contract. He's making 3 million a year because we didn't know if it wasn't. And then last three years, he's making 3 million a year. This guy should be making 50.

[Biz]

Yes.

[Pat Brisson]

And he did well for himself, marketing and all that. He's never, you know, I mean, I, I do believe that superstars in our game.

[Ryan Whitney]

2k assigning still. Is it 2k assigning still for Sid. Can I take the page out of Luke's book? 2K. 2K for a signing.

[Pat Brisson]

Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

A.

[Pat Brisson]

Is.

[Ryan Whitney]

Is it a fact that that team was moving to Kansas City? Like, no doubt if, if Sid's not there.

[Pat Brisson]

Oh, A. The team was sold. The team was sold, guys. For. I. I think it's about 100, 110 million it was sold. And then remember, that's the year of the lockout. So they had a pure lottery draft and Pittsburgh had balls and, and they had five balls in. In the thing there. And they ended up winning the lottery. So it was on July 22nd. I remember I was in Halifax.

[Ryan Whitney]

I remember exactly where I was when I moved.

[Biz]

Me too. My brother ran out, ran out to the front yard. He's like, Pittsburgh just won the lottery. Like they're getting Crosby and I'd already been picked. I was like, what? Like it. Everyone remembers that.

[Ryan Whitney]

I was like, I'm gonna. I got a new linemate. I Said the minute the ball hit, I said perfect, let's go. We're gonna win a cup.

[Pat Brisson]

Oh yeah. And while busy almost ended up in Kansas City that year. Man, if it was, he went. That's where the team was somewhere for sure. Boots Del Biao had the rights of the purchase price. He was lagging to find the. The a bonus. I mean not a bonus but a payment of some sort. So they kept pushing the date and July 22, if I'm not mistaken occurred. Oh, they won the lottery. Ron and Mario talk and all of a sudden, oh, the price went up, right. It's a different story. Ron was like he's a business great businessman. He says, boy, unfortunately he's. He's missed a couple payments. He paid on time. We wouldn't have a choice. But now we have to. The deal's got to change. And now the ice went up and, and so the price went up and. And then it's that old thing when the Valsealy from BlackBerry got in the mix too. You guys were all part of it.

[Biz]

Yeah, I watched movie.

[Pat Brisson]

It's true, true stuff. And then so again they were talking about selling the team, signing the team. So why, why would cindy commit to 10 year deal even out of entry level when there's a lot of turbulence not knowing if there's going to be a new stadium. And so they had to get the casino right. Casino license in order to get the rights to build that stadium. And then fast forward again. The team went from 140th what they sold three years ago, nine. Nine and a quarter now it's work. It just sold for 1.7.

[Biz]

Oh my. It's great. The numbers and what you've seen is just so wild. But quickly back to Sid, was it, what was he, about 14, 15? Like I'm wondering about how you ended up getting him. And that's like the. Because that kid, I mean you heard about him when he's 12 and all of a sudden the race to sign this kid, it was on and it was on early, I'm guessing. So take me through, you know, meeting Troy's father and kind of meeting him as a kid and seeing how he was wired because it was different from the start.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, we totally agree. I mean he was actually 13. He played in the tournament in Toronto in a spring tournament. He was playing two age two age up. He was in 87 playing with 85s. And so someone called me and said you gotta come and watch this kid. He's unbelievable ball and how old is he's? 13. 13. It's. I, I don't, it's too. You gotta see this kid and his father's Troy Crosby. You played against Troy Crosby? Yeah, I played against Troy. He was a goalie in, In Verdun. And I knew, I knew Troy a little bit. So I see. Really. So I went to the tournament. I get there. Sid's the smallest kid's got a jersey going down his knees and he's short. They won four two. I remember four two. Yeah, he had, he had three points actually are going to assist. And he dominated the game. He had the puck on his stick, goal game and he was driving every place. And so I spent some time with his dad during the game and after the game I got to meet Sid. He came in and looked at me in the eyes and started asking me really great questions. Like not so much about the cba but about the business and about, about development. Like I'm Talking to a 13 year old kid and he was asking questions of an 18 year old kid, like way ahead of his time, aware of everything. Like, you know, the eyes, you see it. And I gotta admit, the second kid I saw like that was Macklin Celebrini.

[Ryan Whitney]

I was just gonna say that we interviewed him. I was like blown away by his maturity.

[Pat Brisson]

Same age. And I got to see Macklin too. I chat up with my younger son in the Chicago steals and I gotta, I gotta see the steps. But I saw SID point 2.0, you know, that focus, determination. I must admit that most kids first, second overall, they, they do have that special chip young, they do have that. But yeah, Sid had that amazing drive and knowledge both on and off the ice, how to conduct himself. And he hasn't changed. That's what's remarkable.

[Biz]

I know, it's crazy.

[Pat Brisson]

38 years old, he's the same, same, same pattern, same ways. So then we invite him to a camp in LA and then he turned 14, he came to. And that's where Gretz saw him because Gretz came to watch one of our skate because Eddie. Neal was working with us. And Eddie said, Gretz, you should come and watch this kid. And that's where Gretz. Oh my God. And everyone, I mean you could see he was three years ahead of his time. Then we put him on the ice a year or two later with pros. I mean, Shelly was on the ice with him. I remember that at TSC here. And Shelly called me after and he says, I mean, I gave the kid the gap to jump in, you know, as a D, I Gave him. He didn't. He didn't bite. I bit first and he.

[Ryan Whitney]

Fuck.

[Pat Brisson]

He went around me and. And Charlie slashed him, though. He gave him a shot. He was, you know, and. And he's. I. I've never. Shelly told me. I've never seen is. I don't see NHL players taking that. Usually they take that space. Like, he's a smart guy. He gave him. And at 15, Sid didn't bite and got around, you know, a Hall of Famer, Chris Chellio, in a sense, you know, probably last time he went around him that way. And then we had our camps in la, because we did our camps here, we did our development camps where we bring our prospects here to teach them about nutrition and development office everything. Expose them to a lot of T.R. goodman at his memory guys. T.R. goodman in a Gold's Gym there with Blake and Glenn Murray, all those guys. And so we brought Sid into that environment, was very good. And Sid was already starting to work with Andy o'. Brien. Andy was learning too, and Mario used to come in and train also. There's an amazing environment. But again, Sid was absorbing like a sponge, everything. And he all. He made us all better. He made the game better. He made me better. I mean, you guys as well, playing with him. You know what I mean? And so it's been a fascinating ride.

[Biz]

Then when you.

[Keith Yandle]

You get a guy like Sid, and I'm sure everyone wants to be, you know, one of your clients, right? Is there one guy that maybe you said no to that, like the one that got away, that you kind of kick yourself a little bit?

[Pat Brisson]

I have a few. Oh, my God. I. I mean, I could say. I mean, I remember Nick Suzuki, Bob, his father was in a tournament with. With me, and we were. His son, his younger son Ryan was playing. He's in 01. My son Brendan's in 01. They're playing a tournament in. In. In Sweden with the. The. What do you call, the Select. So we're in the tournament together and Ryan's playing with Brandon. Good, good player and all that. And Bob, his father was talking and we're having great conversation that week. I have an older son. He says, Nick, he's two years older, he's a good player. He says, he's probably going to need an agent. People are calling. And I said, let's wait a little bit, Bob. How old is he? I think he was again, 14, 15. I said, we should wait, Bob. And then six months later, he calls me, he says, you know, he says, I think he's Becoming more and more serious. And we weren't even sure yet. We were, you know. And then a year later, Cycle Bob, he said, path too late. I got an agent now. So I ran into him in Montreal six months ago. We're talking. I said, was I, was I wrong or what about your son? I'm so happy for you guys. And we already talk. It happens. And I listen. It's hard enough on NHL club to draft 18 year old. It's. We got cool after 14, so I, we made a lot of bad and good ones. Obviously. That's.

[Biz]

That's the thing that I'm curious about. And I've talked to different agents now about before, you know, yeah, superstars. 14 years old, even 13 with Sid. But now it's everyone at 2012, 13 years old. And. And it's like, nobody wants to do it, but you guys all have to do it. And I get it because it's like, all right, well everyone else is doing it, but I guess the toothpaste is out of the tube. It'll never really come back. But then it creates this like all of a sudden, sudden the kid's 16, he hasn't developed, and you're sitting there like, you know, I imagine there's some issues with that for, for all agents.

[Pat Brisson]

Oh, sure. Because we also make a commitment. You make a commitment? We made commitments. The kids who were 14, 15, never got drafted. They ended up playing in Europe or the East Coast League. And we, we follow through with our commitment because that's, it's. It's our business. We're in a service business and it's important. Our words are, are, are important. But, but to your point, it's too young. My opinion. In Sweden, they have a great law, great rule, which they follow very religiously. 16 years old. It's January 1st of the, the year that the kids are turning 16. So we have viewings in November, December. We. We have our development group there in Sweden watching these prospects. And then we go in on the 1st of January, we make our presentations. We target four kids. We end up with two or three sometimes. And that's. We're happy with it now here it's your point.

[Keith Yandle]

Crazy should be.

[Pat Brisson]

We wish. We hope that at one point it could change. 16 would be a good age. 15, 16. Let the kids be kids. Like I was telling someone, I was at a peewee tournament in Quebec with my kids when they were 12 years old and people were saying, are you here to watch this kid or that kid? I said, I'm here to watch My kids and shape. Shame on anyone who's trying to talk to 12 year old right now and let them be kids for a little bit more in game and other games than hockey. But at the same time by call it 14, a 15 year old kid. Where were you two years ago? So we have to manage that expectation. It's. I don't want to use the word pray. Madonna stupid. Some of these kids that they become too also they think they're arrived. And my, my biggest cliches is if you're, if you, if you're. If you think you arrive, you're as good as gone.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

And I apply that on me as well every day. You know, you never arrive. So these kids at 15, they think they're arrived. Good luck.

[Keith Yandle]

That view in your background. I think you arrived.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

You ain't going anywhere.

[Pat Brisson]

Weather's been nice this year.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. You mentioned that rule overseas. Like so if, if an agent over there or anybody tries to reach out to them like what type of penalty is there? Like how do they enforce it?

[Pat Brisson]

They are. All the, the agents are all licensed in, in Sweden. So all our agents are so. And they take it very, very seriously.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like so you can't even talk to the parents or like how does it.

[Pat Brisson]

You talk. You could talk to parents say hey, on, on January 1st you'll be getting a call from us. You gotta be very careful. And you know they follow the rule extremely good. It's arable. They've had it for I would say 10, 12 years at least. And every year we talk about internally, well why can't we do this here in North America as well and look at their development.

[Biz]

And that's just a small aspect of, of a country with what, 10 million people having 100 NHL ers. It's like it makes you, you look at everything that they do over there and that's something I didn't even know about. It's like there you go.

[Ryan Whitney]

I feel like they just wit. They just don't get wrapped up in all the.

[Biz]

Exactly.

[Pat Brisson]

They're excellent culture. Excellent culture. You're right about. They don't get wrapped up in all the. And they're loyal. Once you make a commitment of Fantastic. To work with. And they have an amazing platform. Platform. I, I agree. And, and the stuff. Because here we have too much stuff coming at the kids all the time.

[Ryan Whitney]

Sensory overload. That. That's actually like I was talking to like, to somebody about even the like the Bedard stuff where someone said that he toned it down a little bit on his Training because they see all this other stiff stuff that all the other kids are doing, so they almost get like overstimulated. They feel like they need to do it all in order to get to that level. So like it kind of just goes back to what you're saying. It feels like they say a little bit more, more just focused and, and, and do away with a lot of the nonsense we talk about all the time. I've never played with a bad Finn or a bad Swede. Never. All good character, wit.

[Biz]

But it goes back to Sid too in that like he's never switched. He's just stayed like you're saying, like I, I have, I can get better. There's more for me to do. So for you to have that as your guy, it's like, hey, hey, listen everyone. You guys want to play in the NHL? This kid has never ever like thought he'd made it. And, and it's crazy. And then you could show that in.

[Pat Brisson]

When he was 17, we had brands coming at us. He made, he was making pretty good money. You know, he put the most for a kid before turning pro. Big brand, good brands. As you know, Tim Hortons, Gatorade. He was with Sherwin at the time. Then he switched the Reebok pump. That became a big thing and he had a press conference sitting during the lockout. He had 25 riders that showed up in November 04. And he made an amazing, he was 17 or 16 at that time. An amazing presence presentation. But I remember having a meeting with him after that and he says, you know what? It's time to tone down a little bit. He said, I haven't played a game in the NHL. What do you think the NHL players are going to think of me yet? Like, I, I, I haven't earned, I'm not there yet. So I learned, we learned from him. Like, wow.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

As a young agent telling me these things like he's, he's thought about. And so that's how he views now. He's more open minded today when we talk about the younger generation, about it's a different world, social media, kids, branding, more. He understands that and most older players understand that a little bit better now because it's inevitable. It's in our lives every day. Like how we approach Gavin McKenna or, or macro Celebrini. They're entitled to start doing, but as long as it's managed, as long as your priorities are in the right place.

[Keith Yandle]

But Sid obviously was raised the right way. If he's even thinking like that at such a Young age. I feel like the onus has to be on the parents a little bit more nowadays with my kid needs an agent, my kid needs this. It's like just let your kid develop a little.

[Biz]

They get caught up.

[Ari]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat Brisson]

They get caught. The parents get caught up at Troy and Trina did not get caught up. They were amazing that way. They were hard. I learned a lot from them. And you remember, I mean Dan, your dad we used to, I used to sit down with you that and Troy, we had practices. Sometimes you get your dad and talk to him and Troy was there. He watched everything. But he very humble, very. He knew what he had in his hands. But he also never got ahead of it. I mean you got emotional like we all do. But it start. The parents are extremely important.

[Biz]

I appreciated Troy because like you said, he knew that this was different. But he was, he was never at all cocky or, or arrogant about it. He was there and he was focused. But he presented himself as very normal guys because that's what he is. So it was like that definitely is to what Keith's saying that matters because if the dad's all pumping his chest, what the hell you think the kids are going to to do?

[Pat Brisson]

100%. He was always even feel that way.

[Keith Yandle]

Have you had to talk to any parents? And over the years I've been like, hey, you got to settle down a little bit.

[Pat Brisson]

100%. 100%. I, I, I do it more than ever like in obviously very comfortable what I do been doing for a long, long time. So I, I'll tell the truth. I'll tell them the way I think I, I believe it should be and they respect that for the most part. You know, if you tell them the truth, I mean they'll, I think where it's coming from as well. I mean we have a lot of experience in this business and so we give them good examples of why we think it's important to, I mean, back off. It's, you know, we want them to be close to our kids. It's not the issue we're never going to replace. We're not here to replace it. But they have to understand their role at times and we give them examples. And I've had situations where I didn't, we didn't see eye to eye and we prefer to stay away and, and it's not worth our time either.

[Biz]

I'm wondering about, about Kaner because the fact that like he breaks the record most points all time for an American. Right. But when Sid was coming in, it was evident to everyone. I don't think anyone thought, oh, this kid's not going to light it up. It was, everyone knew but Kane, there was questions, right? He was a little bit smaller, more like slight. But you yourself, were you like, oh no, this is a no brainer. Just like I'm seeing the same type thing.

[Pat Brisson]

I, well, I can say, I can't say it's a no brainer, but I do remember. It's a great story too. I do remember because I used to spend more time Pittsburgh. Mario. Sidney lived with Mario. I went to see Kaner play in London and he scored a goal. He comes in the slot, he's a lefty. He comes in the slot, he's about 15ft from the slot and he puts the puck like, you know when you have an orange ball in your stick and he could go whatever you want because it's light, he's got the puck and he roofs the top shelf. Not, not moving his body but just going like this. And I'm like, I don't know if people see what I just saw that I, I could do that with an oil. But you know what I mean? Just like. And he's. So I came back, I was going to Pittsburgh because they win the playoffs and actually went to dinner at Mario's house. And we're downstairs, it's a great scene and I, I, I was privileged to see Sid is sitting there with Mario. Two legends. And I walk in there, I said, guys, I just saw a kid play last night. He did something. I'm not even sure if any of you, you, you two can do the pocket. He looked like.

[Biz]

Excuse me, excuse me.

[Keith Yandle]

It's a guys drug test.

[Pat Brisson]

You what, what I just witnessed is, is sick. And he kept doing on the eyes that I, you know, Mario's got crazy hand and eye coordination but just the way and they both look at. Oh, really? I said, no guys, I said it, you know. So Kaner, we all know what he became also. He became that, you know, I'm sure. Of course, Cameron Kaner and the Taves and all that, they looked up to Sid and how he did things. But Kaner became the guy that a 15 year old kid wants to, wants to watch because the way he plays the game. And when he was 20, when he was 25, 30, 35. Even at 37, Kaner is still Kaner. The same slip like the, you know, the skill, skill. Even with our endorsement deals with Bauer. Like at times, you know, players towards the end of career, they're not as attractive to the younger Crop they're looking up to buy skates and sticks. Kaner never changed because he's always been such a, a target for a young audience to look up to because he's so skilled, so special. Now he went to Chicago perfect timing. You know, obviously had a good team around him but he was able to and great coaching and he was able to do what he, you know when cups and all that. And he had his setbacks and all, but he, he, he managed this extremely serious. I mean is. Is an amazing example for all players. Work ethic, determination. What guys. What he had to go through last surgery. The hips resurfacing.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

We spoke to six doctors and he ended up with the rehab and he was working four to five hours a day rehabbing this thing to make sure that he could play it. It's, it's. It's remarkable the fact that he. At his age, you can still do what he's doing. He broke the all time record. He keeps going and amazing career. It's a privilege.

[Ryan Whitney]

Did they document it?

[Pat Brisson]

We, we, we do have. We documented more Jack Eichel's surgery. That's an all different bike. We documented a little bit more footage but we have a lot on. On Kaner with the rehab with Ian McIntyre actually and with Eichel we had Mark Lindsay is. The rehab is key surgeries very important, don't get me wrong. But the rehab, the determination. These guys in McIntyre shout out to these guys and Mark Lindsay what they did with those guys in terms and the players, you know, willpower to make sure that they rehab correctly. Those are amazing examples because they were far out. I mean the two surgeries are talking about Caner hip resurfacing.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, I look at the list of guys who have done it like, like, like nobody's really come back. Like Backstrom tried to never look the same elbow like who, who, who is he pretty much the only guy that's ever had a successful like recovery and being able to perform at the level that he has by far now he

[Pat Brisson]

is the only one. Yes, by far. And he knew going in though he said he knew it was going to be a tough one and he was so committed to this. He moved to Toronto. He was there like he was so focused again. We're witnessing greatness. When you see these guys not only breaking records, but they have that. You can't teach that almost. It's, it's, it's fascinating.

[Ryan Whitney]

And how many more years you think Kaner's gonna play?

[Pat Brisson]

I'm comfortable saying a couple years.

[Ryan Whitney]

You know, Jesus Christ.

[Pat Brisson]

I'm comfortable as long as this guy, we're gonna have to think about, you know what I mean? He loves the game. I mean, so much.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, if Detroit doesn't want him, we got a team in Greensboro. We can, we can put him on. We need a little help. We're in the basement. If he wants to put an investment in too, we'll take that as well. We're trying to get some better sticks and helmets for the players.

[Keith Yandle]

I let him know Kaner is one of those guys, right? Like you mentioned, he had some setbacks. He's. He just broke the record. But you look at every single one of those guys in the Team USA that just won it. Like, he's pretty much every guy's favorite player going in. And obviously with the shit that happened, you know, earlier in his career, like, how proud are you of him now? Like, just the man that he's become because you see all the clips with him and his son before games and, yeah, you gotta just be. Have a sense of pride.

[Pat Brisson]

So proud of him. And again, we're talking about family. We're talking about the parents influence about Donna and Pat Senior. Fantastic parents, fantastic family, sisters, the family environment there, the support that he had during these tough times and, And. And the willpower of making sure that he makes the right decisions and does the right thing going forward in the support of his. Of his wife, Amanda. I mean, he's. He's an amazing example. We were talking about him the other day, too, and all our players. One of the most responsible is Patrick Kane. Like, if you text him, if you. It's. It's. It's like clockwork. Clockwork. So he's an example both on and off the ice is an amazing. Again, for a young American, no young hockey player to look up to him. And that's why I keep saying that his style of play hasn't changed. It's. It's so attractive to that generation of players who won the gold. They were all looking up to Kaner, but if you look at all the kids coming up that even. Even Gavin McKenna, I know they. They look up to Kaner still.

[Ryan Whitney]

You know, Pat, do you have a story that you can share and, And. And a player that you maybe once represented would be okay with you sharing where it was a crazy deal that you had basically had teed up, that it never ended up going down? Like, what are some of the, like, the craziest contracts and moves maybe fans are unaware of, where they're like, wow, that guy almost Signed with this.

[Keith Yandle]

Almost like a Klingberg type thing where.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, yeah, I'm thinking a quick. Quick on that one.

[Ryan Whitney]

Well, it's also hard too because you like if you don't know if the person.

[Dave Babich]

There are.

[Pat Brisson]

No, there are stories for sure. They are like, you guys are retired today. There's so many.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like another one like. And one I could think of too is like when Wayne I. I heard he told us that he was offered 20% of the Vancouver Canucks. Like, I don't think we'll see a player ever get any type of equity in a team which if I was Connor McDavid, I would probably at this point be asking Edmonton for some.

[Dave Babich]

Yes, but.

[Ryan Whitney]

But is there any like any equity stories that you have or.

[Pat Brisson]

No equity stories other than before? Before, before. Before. When it first started when, when. When Luke came here. Bruce McNall got Luke an apartment in Malibu on the beach, you know, that year, rookie year. So that's where we. That's one of the reason why I'm still here too, by the way. We had an apartment in. In Malibu on the beach where he put Steve Duchene and, and. And Luke and I there. That's the couch that I borrowed. It wasn't a bad couch at all. But. But at the time owners were able. Allowed to do give cars or pay mortgage and all that. Since the CBA was, you know, and I'd say probably 94 after then the whole 4 after that it was probably changed completely. The craziest. The stuff that I. We've had situations where players had great options. They decided to. I mean like a tough one for Danny Briere was when he decided to go to Philly. Montreal was in his heart and it was a big offer as well. I remember that out loud. I'm thinking out loud and thinking about Danny because the Flyers are in town this weekend. That was a tough one. Grew up in Montreal. They had a huge offer on the table, probably a little bit more money. Actually. One point he was making, he signed 52 million. I think 6.5. Might have had an extra million on the table per year. Danny Brier was one of those kids player at the time who almost quit and went to Europe when he was 22 years old. He had an offer for 200 grand and he turned it down. I actually met a meeting with him at that time, said let's give yourself another year. And he ended up playing another year and he ended up playing.

[Keith Yandle]

So.

[Pat Brisson]

But that's. But there's. I'm sure there are more biz great Stories.

[Ryan Whitney]

I put you on the spot. I didn't know if there was like a rabbit out of your ass and give us a story for all time.

[Biz]

I got a question about a guy and, and that's, that's the dog. Nathan McKinnon. Now, when, when Sid agreed to sit down with us, it was, it was huge for our show. Like it was a big moment in, in spitting Chiclets. And because of Sid, you know, Nate agreed to do it up in Halifax. And I was amazed at the interview. He's so open and honest about when he went through the struggles. Right. Like he ended up seeing a sports psychologist and the difference that made. And I'm wondering for you, with the expectations, when he wasn't lighting it up and it was the 50 point years, how was it for you dealing with him? Because the pressure he puts on himself, I can't imagine, you know, the phone calls you're getting in those years of him not becoming the Nathan McKinnon we see today.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, well, he, he was also very young. He started, he's a late, he's a. September 1st. He came to the league, he was turning 18. High expectations. He's put all a lot of pressure on himself to start with. And being around Sid was a great thing too because Sid was there with training together, competing against and with him the first two years in the NHL, he had higher expectations for himself and he, he put a lot of pressure on himself. And, and in year three, that's when we did that extension. And I remember meeting with him and he said something that, I know I can be very good in this, I can be good in this league, but I, I, I, I gotta be great. I gotta find a way. And we're talking about, you know, and then I know you got the heart, you got the will. No one's gonna push you. He's one of those, tame him a little bit. He's the opposite. You know, you never have to push him. It was for him finding a way to, to apply the right energy in the right areas that he figured out on himself with his sports psychologist and his, he figured himself out where. When is it time for me to apply the right amount of pressure? Because he was always on like, you know, the, the valves is on 110%. And he was able to, he learned to manage himself better and apply the amount of not only efforts, but, you know, focus and determination was there, but just, just managing, I would say schedule in his amount of focus in the right areas at the right time. He learned it pretty much on his own and with this person he was talking to. And within a year he went from 47 points or something because we did a deal. He was 47 points and he had 52. And he went from there to 95 points. Points and he f. He took over to another level. I mean again, he was young, 18, 19, 20. He was figuring himself out. There's never been a question that he, he wasn't pushing hard enough. It was just. He was pushing hard on all cylinders all the time. But then he learned how to channel the right proper effort or proffer energy in the right areas at the right time.

[Ryan Whitney]

Had you ever had a client prior to that to take that path as well who was maybe having some, some mental blocks and need a little bit of guidance? Like had you ever seen it before that time? Because I feel like maybe it was a little bit like not, not frowned upon, but maybe old school guys weren't as open to talking to a professional.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, they usually. We found it with players who didn't have his talent. They were applying a lot of pressure on themselves just to stay in the league or like, you know, like to. But for him, he was, we all know that he's, he's got a special talent, he's got a gift, but he had both of them and, and the approach was different because, because again, he had high expectation. First overall, super talented. And so the difference that I've seen in the past with players in a similar situation, they didn't, they weren't first overall. They didn't have the same expectations in themselves. They were more trying to kind of stay in the league a little bit more. It was. But to your point, Dubiz players didn't open up much. Only if they had a few beers back then like in the like, like I've had situations are very confidential where I've had players like meet me there and anybody and we, you know, we had 10, 12 beers in front of us and we just talk, talk and back. That's how I used to be our therapy, you know. And just before he got off the bus, he was all. He had a few of. The player had a few already. He was already. It was the way for us to cope with at least getting the essence of the message in which he, he was trying to express to us. Things have changed and now we, we and we welcome good voices with our players. Like I don't have all the answers. We don't have all the answers. They're professionals that don't know anything about hockey, but they're Just they understand other pieces of life that makes them connect in that bucket that they need to connect in order to balance their life. So our responsibilities goes there as well to finding that person and helping. Sometimes it's an uncle something. Someone who actually the most part they don't even know shit about hockey.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, interesting.

[Keith Yandle]

You know, being in L. A for as long as you have and you know, having a guy like Anze Kopitar, that kind of two part question. Did you have him before he was even drafted?

[Biz]

No.

[Pat Brisson]

We got Colby here and after his entry level contract, we got to see him a lot here and build a relationship. And so we got him in his third year here just before his second contract.

[Keith Yandle]

What's it been like just being around him and you know, he's another guy. Seems like a, you know, no maintenance guy. Just goes out there, does his job every single year, leads by example. Just a great ambassador for the game as well.

[Pat Brisson]

Amazing. I call it autopilot, like you were talking about. Stellar career, low maintenance, consistency to another level.

[Dave Babich]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

From a 1 to 10, he's a 10 plus, like taking care of himself, taking care of his teammates, taking care of his family, producing winning cups. I mean, come on. I mean Kobe is by far, he's in that bucket with, with Crosby, like he's right there, he's right there, like low main. Like I said, auto autopilot, like, like rarely need. He'll take care. He's extremely smart and again, I find that most, if not all those guys are brilliant. They're smart guys. If they, if they weren't any players, a lot of them, they be doing something. They have a gift. I, I, I call it the chip. A lot of times, you know what I mean? They had that special. So Kopi again, I've been privileged to be working with him the past 18 years. It's been unbelievable. It's kind of sad he's retiring, but we understand where he's at and he's such a first class everything about him. And Ellie's going to do a lot for him once he retires. I mean he's arguably been not the best, most consistent asset they've ever had in this franchise in 60 years.

[Ryan Whitney]

I know another phenom you have, Gavin McKenna. And I don't know if you saw this pitch on the podcast, but after that incident that went down.

[Pat Brisson]

I did, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

This is the fishing lure idea, the right hook by Biz and Gavin and actually we have some prototypes here.

[Keith Yandle]

Are we going on Shark?

[Ryan Whitney]

We get that number one lottery ball because that's a Toronto Maple Leaf one right there. I know it has my name in the middle, but it will be Gavin's when we end up launching these. What does he think of the pitch? And. And what do you think of a revenue split for. For my genius idea?

[Pat Brisson]

Well, you, you know, I like the 50. 50. You know that from the get.

[Biz]

That's how you started.

[Ryan Whitney]

Me too. I love 50. 50. Just like, just like a marriage.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah. And he, he, you know, he grew up. You know, he got. He had him on the show. He told you about his fishing experience and all that, so. So I think it's a no brainer biz. We gotta, we gotta focus on that after the season's over before. And I'm saying it publicly out loud. We gotta, we gotta, we gotta. I love it.

[Ryan Whitney]

Clip this.

[Keith Yandle]

Be careful, though. Be careful.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're gonna do a personal guarantee off of Gavin's first contract too, by the way.

[Keith Yandle]

He might not want to play. He might have too much money with the Right Hook, but you. So be careful.

[Pat Brisson]

Hey, guys. He's offering a minimum guarantee that. You've heard this. He's starting with a minimum guarantee, so that was a good start.

[Ryan Whitney]

What I thought was crazy, though, is the fact that he has to travel and not be home in the summer because they don't have an arena that has ice in the summer. So what better idea if we ended up doing the Right Hook, where maybe all proceeds go to like building a rink in his hometown named after maybe his grandfather, who he idolizes. The. The light bulb's going off over here.

[Pat Brisson]

Busy got me sold. It's a great pitch, honestly. And you touch all the right buckets. He wants to give back to his community, wants to build a ring there. It's very important. We've talked about it. So now we have to. We got to find the right distribution, the right deal. First of all, right, distribution. And then we got to start a campaign.

[Biz]

Forget body armor and Bauer.

[Pat Brisson]

Tim Horton.

[Ryan Whitney]

Right backseat.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah. I think it's a category we can explore. It's not equipment. It's not quick service restaurants, something fishing. We know we should definitely look into it. And, and, and biz knows how to pitch. I remember his. His bucket challenge there off the helicopter. That was. That was genius, man.

[Biz]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

In the banana hammock.

[Biz]

I remember that he still got loans out. He's got to pay on that Ice Bucket Challenge helicopter trip. But I'm. I'm wondering for an agent.

[Ryan Whitney]

I had to pay for therapy for all the people who saw me in my banana Hammock. That's where all the money went.

[Biz]

Draft weekend's kind of wild, right? I, and, and I remember, you know, my experience and I, I wonder for the agents, right, like Gavin McKenna this year and probably goes first overall, but are there times where you know it's going to happen with Sid and stuff? But there's other times you're like, hey, you might go first, you might go second. And are you always kind of doing your best to figure out you're able to tell them where they're going to go before the actual event?

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, I would say, I would say 90, 98% of the time we've known who was first.

[Biz]

Okay.

[Pat Brisson]

When John Tavares went first, Edmund went second, Duchenne went third. We represent Duchenne and Tavares. I remember regard Snow, Garth, not that he wasn't telling me, but I was trying to find out, you know, Garth, you know, it was hard to read and we, we, we felt John was going to be first, but other than that, we pretty much have a good idea. I wouldn't say four months in advance, but within a week or so. So. Yeah.

[Keith Yandle]

Has any guy ever said, I don't, I don't want to go there? You know, like an Eli Manning type thing?

[Pat Brisson]

No, I haven't had situation where the, well, Lindross I didn't represent at the time where Eli Manning that we didn't never had in juniors. We've, It's a different draft. We manage that different. But not NHL.

[Ryan Whitney]

You mentioned that Sid kind of was like, hey, we're doing a lot too many endorsement deals here. Let's just kind of stay focused and maybe minimize it. What is the craziest pitch other than the right hook? What's the craziest pitch for an endorsement deal and, or what's the craziest amount of money that you were offered from a, for a client perspective for an endorsement deal?

[Pat Brisson]

I, I had a, we had an amazing deal. Well, it's hard to mention the money and the, I mean, around the Olympics we had an amazing 2010, a year before with a pretty good brand, offering a lot of money. And, and it, it didn't work out. I mean, I'd like to give you more specific. I'm trying to help you here. I know your question is going like, like, like eight digits.

[Ryan Whitney]

Like, like.

[Pat Brisson]

Well, there, there's been some deals where we should have took equity. Let's put it this way, like Vitamin Water. Like, we did a small deal where we should have gone all equity, you know, but sometimes what Are these deals you go equity. Most of them. You go equity. A lot of them. That's why we want a minimum guarantee. The fish on the hook here, that one debating if I want to go equity, if I want to go.

[Ryan Whitney]

What do you mean? We're going to own this mother. We're building it the ground up. So. So Vitamin Water was the one that you guys got involved with that you think eventually popped off the most. Based on what it's.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, we had a couple players doing fine with it. It's amazing. If they were to convert their. Their, their stock into their cash into equity, even if it was 150 grand or 200 grand, that 200 grand could have been 3 to 5 million. Yeah, yeah. But if you do that all the time with brands and most of them are startups, they. You gotta be. That's why you go in with a minimum guarantee or if it's worth your time. But it's like now all the AI, well, they don't need us. Right. But the AI, there's a lot of opportunities out there. But if you only go stocks, you never know if one pops. I mean, it's crazy. So. Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

You might end up in the same place based on like all the. Yeah. What was the craziest product?

[Pat Brisson]

One. One. Another one that we could have gone in with. Equity was a whoop.

[Ari]

Oh.

[Pat Brisson]

You know, like they were looking. I remember they had a second phase of investor investment. So we could have dove a little deeper into that and then. But could have.

[Lanny McDonald]

Should.

[Pat Brisson]

I would either. Those are two out of 500 and the other 500 probably didn't go, you know, so. But we also rely on our experts. A lot of times our experts, which are financial advisors. They're no experts either because most major venture capitalists, they'll invest in 20 companies and two or three will pop high and probably 15 of them won't work as much. And the average. So we're trying to stay in our lanes.

[Keith Yandle]

What do you think a number would have to be to get Sid to change his jock strap?

[Pat Brisson]

He's a creature of habits, man. I. To change that. I. He's had many opportunities to change. I mean, look, he still has everything the same crazy. Yeah.

[Lanny McDonald]

Yeah.

[Biz]

It's stitching it together still. What about with.

[Ryan Whitney]

What about do like a junk. Do like his junk molded and like that's the cup. You guys don't like that one?

[Keith Yandle]

Yeah, I love it. Keep pitching.

[Ryan Whitney]

You like that one.

[Biz]

I. I actually am coming around to it right now.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay.

[Biz]

I just needed a second to think about it. But I'm wondering for McKenna, this new kind of crazy age of nil, like, how did you even go about approaching that and figuring out, yeah, we're going to leave Medicine Hat, we're going to go to college now we can make money in college. Like, yeah, how did you figure that out? And now it's a, it's a uncharted territory. Probably become a little bit more comfortable with.

[Pat Brisson]

So, yeah, again, our team with Matt Williams and Barn Richie and our team around Gavin. We start talking to Gavin a year ago when he was in Western Hockey League about, hey, you know what, a lot of players at 19 years old will be playing NCAA. You've been in the, you know, CHL for, for a couple years now. Probably time for you to move up. And once he made the decision to start exploring schools, we all knew he had many offers. It never came about the nil. He. We ended up talking to four schools. He had his mind set on Penn State so much. Some personal reasons he made it. Again, I go back to the chip like, he made it. He did his own home, his homework. We talked to four schools with good offers, you know, good money. And it was never about that. I mean it sincerely. It had to be within the ballpark at the end of the day. But the first determination focus is for him to pick the right school. There were other schools offering really good money with and, and, and also really good environment in order for him to continue to become the player that he. He is or he's. He continues to become. But more importantly for him, was the, the, the overall package more than the nal? Now, nil is important to a certain extent. We're. But it's not like I was talking to a basketball guy yesterday. I mean, just even basketball, women basketball, they're talking about three to five million dollars. We're not there in hockey. We're not there. But. But we're navigating this world right now. What players should be getting. Some of them should be in 50, 75, 100. And why not? I mean, it's. But it's, it shouldn't be. It. The decision shouldn't be made on that because your goal should become the best player, best version of yourself to become the best NHL player, say. And then at that point, if you make a decision to go in a different market, make less money or more money, if you have the ability to do so, then it's fine.

[Biz]

I'm wondering about Quinn Hughes this season, right? It's a crazy deal. He decides, all right, like I'M not going to resign in Vancouver. The madness around that behind the scenes must have been crazy. Cause I'm sure there's wary. All right, well, what are they going to think about me? I don't really care. I don't want to be here anymore. That part for you had to be difficult along with. You're probably behind the scenes figuring out different spots. Right. Like it's not just the GMs doing that or you and involved in that at all.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, we were very involved in this case. He didn't have a no trade clause or no move clause. But we. Our relationship with the Vancouver with Rutherford And Alvine and Mr. Aquilini, I mean we. We were very transparent from that. I wouldn't say from the beginning, but from the beginning. Once we made a decision in October, I would say that he's got two years left before an extension or before a year before an extension that we wanted to. Quinn wanted to explore another market. We were very transparent with them. We did in a very professional manner. And they work very closely with us where we knew which thing they were talking to. We were also privileged to know a little bit what package was offered to a certain extent. Not that it mattered to us as much. Was more important to know where he was going to end up. And once Billy showed a lot of interest in getting Quinn, he didn't mess around. He made a really good offer right away to his credit. Remember talking to Billy and he said I'm interested and I'm not going to. I'm not going to, you know, waste any. Anyone's time. Whereas we were talking that there were other teams who were taking a little bit more time perhaps in their approach. And Billy knocked her socks off. And Quinn was looking forward to go to Minnesota based on the other teams who were there as well. He respected the fact that Billie G. Went hard, quick and that's also a great team. So that's how with no promises, you know, we were very clear with that because can't verbally promise he's up this summer to extend and we'll cross that bridge once we get there.

[Keith Yandle]

The. The communications with GMs I'm sure for you has changed a ton. Even in the beginning of our careers, like even talking to the GM. I remember GMs coming in. Don't have your agent be calling me if you're not getting like shit like that. But it seems like it switched a little bit, maybe more. It's because you were around these guys, you kind of grew up with them, but you know. And did you have any run ins with Lou?

[Pat Brisson]

Well, great question. We, when I first started this business, it was taboo for us. Just GMs didn't want to talk to us like Harry Cinder man, I started Bob Pulford. These guys were tough. They didn't give a shit about you. And he told the players as well, don't have you. Like you said, don't have your agent call me. I ran into a lot of tough ones that made me stronger. That actually it built my, I mean my character. I, I had a lot of fuck you fights with, with them and owners. Tough ones, like really deep ones with them.

[Ryan Whitney]

Would you, would you get fired and you tell them to off right back.

[Pat Brisson]

I'm a kind of guy, I'm pretty even keel. But when, when I go there, I go there. Like can I on behalf of my players or what I believe 100% I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing today if I didn't have that.

[Ryan Whitney]

No wonder where Gavin got it.

[Pat Brisson]

You can't, his grandfather was a Golden Glove, remember?

[Ryan Whitney]

That's true, that's true.

[Pat Brisson]

I, I, it's important so you, you have to and, and, but the general managers today, ownership group, team presidents, everyone communicates way better, differently. We do drop the gloves at time. You have healthy debates. You have, you still have your debates too. But the communication level communication is way, way, way, way better. Coaches. Pat Burns is my coach at Junior. He's, you know, and, and we remain friends. I mean we, we had an amazing relationship after, you know, I retarded it. But coaches today, even they're way better with players. I mean everyone communicates better. So as long as you make your point across straight and you're, you believe in, in, in your arguments, but you got to debate the right way and you have to. But both sides are now more, in other words, we earned a respect more in the past 15 years or so than we did when I first started. It was we didn't have a voice, didn't listen to us. They didn't give a shit.

[Biz]

I'm wondering now we've talked a lot about the cap and where it's going and what we're hearing it could be in three years you've done, you know, the McKinnon eight year deal, you've done long term deals. Are you telling superstars, hey, in my opinion, sign the four year because God knows where this thing is when that ends or is it more the security of the eight year all up to the player. Like do you see where people are now? Saying hey, if you're the best of the best, why you sign in eight years almost.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, yeah, that's a great question again. So the business of hockey is going the right direction. We all know that. Now we are 50, 50. The revenues are going up, the Caps going up. And because for years we had players in the early 2000s who were making 9, 10, 11 million a year and then we went from here to there and now we're going up again. Our, our biggest focus for player coming out of entry level most of the time who has leverage, who should have a great career. Forget the potential injuries. You want to make sure that that player is financially set. Hopefully God forbid have you know. So when you add a player like whether Sid or Kane or Thaves the various out of Antoineville signing a five year was six years at six at that time 35, 40 million, you're set for life. If you, if you make $40 million and you, you, you spend it all. If you, if you're broke after that, shame on you.

[Ryan Whitney]

Now shout out OBJ.

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

No no, the same 40 million you can probably get in 3 in, in 4 years. So you could do a 4 year deal for 10 now. Why not? And so we're all now hockey is a very physical sports. There's potential injuries and all that unfortunately. But you also have, you can have disability insurance packages. So I, I like the shorter term deal with the higher AAV now depending also where you're at financially and where you're at on your team. You guys know better than, than me going to the rink unhappy is not fun. Going to the rink to practice once you have your contract, you don't even look at your paycheck everywhere you know you look but you, you're going to rink. You want to be happy in the locker room. You want happy playing the game about a lot. So that is important. Very important. But financially being set, being able to now because I cap going up taking 12 million instead of 8 times 6 take 12 million times 4. Why not? And it's going to be more and more of that.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Like you like maybe if not saying this is the case but if you're Leon, you might like be looking at the, the Caprisoft deal and might say I want a bit of a redo and should have maybe went to the Bouchard route with the four years times ten and a half. But I was going to ask you. So you have Jack Hughes as well, correct?

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

And you have Sidney Crosby. So we have a very interesting situation that just happened I joked about it off the hop where Sid was cool with it going to the Hockey hall of Fame. And then Jack Hughes is kind of like, well I kind of want the puck. I'm not taking a side here. Ice. It's actually a, it's actually a really good conversation to figure out like does Jack Hughes deserve that puck? Like obviously I think to grow the game and have it on display at the Hockey hall of Fame is nice but and then also the rule is, is like the, the double ihf at least the Olympics, they always hand off the memorabilia to the Hockey hall of Fame. Like they have a worked out agreement. I'm just interested to get your thoughts on like what you think should happen. And you're, you have two clients on both ends of the spectrum at this point.

[Pat Brisson]

Yeah, it's a great question. I mean I'm glad you're asking it because I want to make it clear too. Very clear to it. So, so when Jack scored the goal two weeks ago, three weeks ago, a few days later we start talking. He say hey, where, where's the puck? And where. Who has the puck? You know what?

[Ryan Whitney]

Let me look.

[Biz]

Pronger does got it.

[Pat Brisson]

And I, I, I said let me look into it. So I called the league, they said, you know, it's, it's the hall of Fame has it but the league doesn't also control the hall of Fame when it's non NHL stuff. So took three, four days. It wasn't a priority. Jackson, where's the puck? Who just wanted to know it just. And then we found out a few days later that the IIHF and the ioc, I guess they, they do have a, some sort of an understanding with the IO hall of Fame. So spoke to the PA as well spoke to Marty. Is it true? Because we just want to understand what the process is. When Jack was interviewed a few days ago, someone asked him, where's the puck? Yeah. He said, I'd like to have my puck. Once Jack was explained last night after the game when we spoke. Oh, Jack the puck. Is that the hall of Fame? Because there's an agreement with the ioc, the ihf. Oh great. I'm honored to know that there's an agreement in place and it's there. I'm fine. And he said it publicly after the game last night. It was, it was, it could have been our fault too. We didn't inform him correctly. All he was asked, where's the puck? I'd like to have my puck. But he was so honored and he said it publicly last night. Oh it's on the hall of Fame. And Sid was asked a question, not knowing where we came from either. So Sid wasn't taking a shot at Jack.

[Ryan Whitney]

No.

[Pat Brisson]

And I didn't know. I actually dove deeper yesterday. I made a few calls. So Sydney's puck in 2010, because, you know, it's 16 years. I don't. I was tired of Brianworth at Frameworth. And I said, brian. He says, pat, remember, it's the hall of Fame because they have a deal as. Okay. It's something that we didn't know really. You know, it's the process. Now we understand that I guess they have an agreement between the IOC and the IIHF that the puck or certain pieces of equipment, including the net, maybe in the netting, who knows? I don't know. It goes at hall of Fame. So for us, we're good. Jack is good. He's fine with it. Now, if it wasn't the case, if the puck was just somewhere else and no. No rights were given or granted. Now you probably want to.

[Ryan Whitney]

Absolutely. I just. Sometimes it's a little frustrating because, like, people say, oh, we want hockey players to be a little bit more animated and. And not robots. And then this guy who just scored the biggest goal or one of the biggest goals in America hockey history, I think he said originally maybe he wanted to gift it to his father to, like, show love to his family for what they did for him. So I didn't really understand why everybody jumped down his throat. I just was more of like, wondering, like, oh, like. And also, like the. The fact that that was a pretty good agreement. The double IHF slash Olympics get to use all the NHL players for free. And then in return, they get the. They get the puck. That's kind of a good deal. Yeah, that's a hell of a deal.

[Keith Yandle]

That's a deal with right hook.

[Ryan Whitney]

And Luke Robitaille was negotiating it in.

[Pat Brisson]

In light of this conversation. You're right. It might become a topic going forward. Who knows? Between the IIHF and the. In. In this next agreement with the Olympics. They may. It may. They may bring it up.

[Ryan Whitney]

I. I don't know.

[Pat Brisson]

But, you know, so. But I just want to clarify because, yeah, Jack was bombarded with. He didn't even know crazy.

[Keith Yandle]

It reminded me, remember the Red Sox wit it. I think the first baseman was that Miller guy. And when the Red Sox won their first World Series and whatever, and he caught the last ball and just put it in his pocket and he's like, I'm taking this more Dougman Cabage. So I wonder if he even still has it. But, like, why can't they just give it to the players and then put a replica in the Hockey hall of Fame? Like, they scored the goal. I don't know. I feel like they should have it.

[Biz]

I didn't know how animated this would become. Like, it just became. It had a life of its own. All of a sudden, people are throwing shots at Jack Hughes.

[Ryan Whitney]

No, I think it's just a sensitivity of the fact that America is like, basically they're. They're flexing on Canada right now because they did the clean sweep and Canada is a little bit sensitive to everything right now. So they use that as like, oh, look at our guy. Oh, he's all about growing the game, where Jack's just like, dude, he's like, he's busy with super superstar icon pop stars right now. I mean, give the guy a break.

[Keith Yandle]

But you like, when I broke the record for consecutive games, they told me before, they were like, we're gonna take your stick, your gloves, whatever it was. I forget exactly what it was, but they had told me before. But how can they tell 40 guys before the game, hey, if you score, your sticks come in, the puck's going like. It's going to be hard to figure that out.

[Pat Brisson]

I believe the NHL could have. They have the rights also say, hey, we'll give him the gloves, we'll leave. Yeah, but apparently. Apparently. Don't quote me on this. The IHF and the IOC have an agreement with the hall of Fame. That's what it is. Yeah. It may change. It's the process that now we know now with clarify the next buck where it's going. We don't know yet.

[Biz]

Who has his helmet? He chucked his helmet 400ft in the air. I wonder where that ended up.

[Pat Brisson]

I don't even know that.

[Ryan Whitney]

See, he likes to throw things. He threw his stick in the crowd after an OT winter early in his career, and he's chucking his bucket.

[Keith Yandle]

Don't start. This is what he's American hero. He's an American hero. Don't take. Don't start.

[Ryan Whitney]

See, there's this hands is jumping down my throat, just like all the Canadians did to Jack. I. I was pumped in his tires.

[Pat Brisson]

Jack is colorful. You can back it up. You saw him on McAfee. He did a hell of a job.

[Biz]

Yeah.

[Pat Brisson]

And now everywhere. The kid, he's got it.

[Dave Babich]

He.

[Pat Brisson]

He's still comfortable. He's got swag. He can speak. It couldn't have happened to better spokesperson for a game.

[Ryan Whitney]

Do you think We've ruined our opportunity to get him because of all the Tate McCrae stuff. I was. I was kicking up. Like, did I. Did I. Our chances?

[Pat Brisson]

Oh, no, no, you're.

[Ryan Whitney]

You're right in there.

[Pat Brisson]

Biz.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think he's gonna.

[Pat Brisson]

He's gonna come on an item, though. We got to come up with another item that we can probably partner with you.

[Keith Yandle]

What if we get. What if we go. What if we break into the hall of Fame, get the puck, and then give it to him? Will he come on?

[Ryan Whitney]

Done.

[Pat Brisson]

They're looking business.

[Ryan Whitney]

Done.

[Keith Yandle]

He's already going.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'll just pretend to be a crackhead and, like, walk in there and, like, next thing you know,

[Pat Brisson]

where it leaves jersey, though, you're gonna have to put something else.

[Ryan Whitney]

Actually, you know what? We'll get RA to do it. So I would imagine, though, since that goal, the amount of. Of brands and. And companies coming at you for Jack must be like you've never seen before.

[Pat Brisson]

No, I. It. It's gone, you know, tenfold for him in every category. There's a lot of demands. Also memorabilia. You know, that special moment with the flag and picture with the smile and the broken teeth, and that's why I did it.

[Ryan Whitney]

I actually just ripped mine out to be more like Jack, so.

[Pat Brisson]

A lot of blood there, too. Yeah, he. Yeah, it's. It's. It's. It's been great. It's been. It's been good. And so we're reevaluating a few things now, and the team's playing better since they're back from the Olympics. Obviously, it's going to be hard to make the playoffs, but he's been playing a great brand of hockey, and there's a lot going on, not only about the concept of endorsement deals, but also the story. The story behind the scenes. There's a lot of things we're exploring right now. We're looking here, obviously, at ca. We're having a television division and motion picture. There's a lot of vibes. What's interesting here, guys, is I walk into the building and non. Hockey fans, people know, really hockey. I mean, I would say. I would say 8 out of 10 people that I talk to right now, they know what I do. They're amazed with. With the Olympics and the story of the. Of hockey and in. In what. It brought so much attention to our game. It's so good for our game, the Olympics. And again, in this market here, not in Canada, but this market here, there's so many other options for people to watch and see in this building here. I mean it's been so strong the, the, the, the, the level of attention for hockey since the Olympics.

[Ryan Whitney]

What, what's your opinion here? Because we're going to be like we, we talked about it earlier in the podcast. What's your opinion when you saw that there was going to be no American buildings hosting any of these World cup of Hockey games?

[Pat Brisson]

Honest, I was disappointed. I looked at the market. I know Calgary and Edmonton, I mean they'll.

[Ryan Whitney]

No brainer.

[Pat Brisson]

No brainer. I was, I, I was surprised and I don't know what took place, what, why I was very, very surprised. And at least on the east Coast I understand it hard to, to.

[Lanny McDonald]

I don't know.

[Pat Brisson]

Maybe Vegas might have sold out like crazy.

[Keith Yandle]

Everywhere would have everywhere.

[Ryan Whitney]

So, so couple things. Apparently that the bid wasn't strong enough for many of the American cities which I was also shocked to hear considering the US dollar and and, and where it's at. People like you always get the Internet idiots who say that the, like the do you think that the world junior and the fact that the state of hockey outside of Team Canada and Team USA Games were drawing horrendously. I don't, I think you're comparing apples and oranges but you feel like they, they, they valued that at all on, on basing that decision.

[Pat Brisson]

Well, I think this decision was probably made prior to the Olympics going to the Olympics in my opinion. And to your point about the world juniors disarray disappointment of the crowd that we had in Minnesota. I was there this year. It probably played a factor I'm assuming again I'm not part of these conversations at the By December or 2025 they had pretty much a good idea of where they were going and they were looking at revenues and say you know, well, juniors or but post Olympics right now I bet you that the revenues would be much higher and they would re. If they had an opportunity. Again, I'm just giving you my opinion to reopen this. They probably throw in one or two American cities in there. There's no doubt my mind Vegas would sell or another American. I mean of course the east coast for sure. Boston for sure in New York. And there's so much excitement after the Olympics in the US on the hockey front. I'm seeing it here in a non really hockey market more than I've ever seen.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. And call me naive. You, you also get this one too where the people I I love these comments like oh turn on the news like oh, you're like it's just like I could give Two about the political climate of, of the United States or what's going on. And when talking about hockey, some of these people are so wrapped up in it where they're like oh geez, turn on the television. That's why they're not playing any games in the States where it's like oh, oh my God.

[Pat Brisson]

Well, there's too much. And that's a climate we live in, unfortunately. It's in our face every day and everyone's got that, that opinion and I, I stay away from it as much as possible. And I, and our players, and if you saw a lot of our players handle this situation extremely well in their comments, don't get trapped into that.

[Ryan Whitney]

They're just, I feel like they're just in their little, the little, little political world online where it's just like non stop or it's like hey, nobody care. We're talking about hockey here.

[Pat Brisson]

Exactly. The positive side of things.

[Ryan Whitney]

That was awesome, dude. I don't know if you guys have any other ones.

[Biz]

Yanzer with no Pat, thank you so much. I, I appreciate our hour, 20 minutes. You gave us your time and congrats on everything. We, we, we appreciate having you coming on with us.

[Pat Brisson]

Well, I appreciate you guys. You're doing a great job. I have a lot of respect for what you do. Watch your show and you guys are doing fantastic and I'm very proud of you guys too because you had great hockey careers too. Hockey gave you everything. Well, you did something even more, you have even a better, I mean better career going forward. You had a lot ahead of you. So congrats boys for your time and

[Ryan Whitney]

two quick ones on the way out. Is there anything that we didn't ask you that you, you kind of wanted to talk about? And the last one, you talk about these 13 year old phenoms like Crosby. Is there any that we should be looking out for right now? 12 or 13 year old where you're

[Pat Brisson]

celebrating his brother I, RJ. RJ. RJ celebrity. We were sitting there when, when Macklin got his Hobey Baker last year, two years ago. And we're sitting there with, with Robin and, and Rick the parents and then RJ sitting there. Aiden is older brother but RG today with a little tie, he looks just like Macklin and he's observing. I go back to the eyes, he's watching his brother and I turn around, I was at Matt Williams and, and Rick. I said this kid is going to be there one day. I and the way he's playing the game, the way he's Approached. It's just carbon copy. It's unbelievable. I think he's got 150 points in 30 games.

[Keith Yandle]

Right.

[Ryan Whitney]

Where does it stand for RJ?

[Pat Brisson]

I don't know.

[Ryan Whitney]

James.

[Keith Yandle]

Rick James.

[Ryan Whitney]

Rick James.

[Biz]

Rick James. So brainy.

[Pat Brisson]

He's unbelievable. And you know, they had a daughter, Charlie. She's a great tennis player. One of the best tennis player in Canada now she's 70. They have four kids. You know, they're fantastic athletes. Aiden's the oldest, is drafted by Vancouver, working hard on his craft and you know, hopefully becoming an Indra player one day. We know about Macklin. Charlie is amazing tennis player. And, and, and rj and, and, and Rick is the head sports scientist for the Golden State Warriors. And Rick was a great soccer player and Robin was a great tennis player from. I understand. And great athletes. Who family again. We go back, you guys asked a question before. The leaves don't fall too far from the trees. You know. Amazing.

[Ryan Whitney]

Is RJ looking for representation?

[Keith Yandle]

He's already got him. Right?

[Dave Babich]

You're looking at him or you're pitching biz.

[Pat Brisson]

You may, you may have a chance to get. To get at him before me. I don't know if he. Well, you know, you don't do. You don't need his freaking agency business.

[Biz]

The right hook should have a fish hook.

[Ryan Whitney]

We're going to be billionaires.

[Pat Brisson]

I'm so hooked to this now I don't have a choice.

[Ryan Whitney]

Look at that. I'm exactly where Macklin's going to be. Or not Macklin. Exactly where Gavin's going to be playing. You laugh. I'm going to rig that draft.

[Pat Brisson]

Wow.

[Ryan Whitney]

Tank. And that's why we got rid of Bobby McMahon. He's got fucking 10 goals in four games of Seattle. We're just giving everybody away just to get Gavin.

[Pat Brisson]

There's a chance right there.

[Biz]

All right, Pat, we appreciate it.

[Pat Brisson]

Thank you guys.

[Biz]

Have a great one.

[Keith Yandle]

Yes.

[Pat Brisson]

Thanks for your time, boys. Thank you, guys.

[Keith Yandle]

Thank you.

[Biz]

Let's just take a moment here and talk about Lucy. Lucy is the obvious choice for true nicotine pouch connoisseurs. That's why they're the official nicotine pouch partner of barstool sports. Lucy Breakers. Incredible. You pop this little thing on the inside. Flavor galore all over the place. Lasts so long, it tastes so good. And every other pouch is the same. But Lucy breakers are the ones that are doing it differently to give you the longest lasting flavor in pouches. The pouches go up to 12 milligram strength and have a unique shape. That feels great. Lucy is in stores nationwide now or get Lucy delivered to you ASAP on apps like DoorDash and GoPuff. Lucy is the only pouch that delivers long lasting on demand flavor. If you haven't tried it, I'm telling you, give it a shot. Go to a store near you or Lucy Co stores to get it shipped with 20 off your first order at Lucy Co Chiclets using code Chiclets Lucy products are only for adults of legal age and every customer's age. Verified warning. This product contains nicotine and nicotine is an addictive chemical. Guys, we're going to take a minute here and talk about prime Monday night hockey. Coming up this Monday, it's prime Monday night hockey. The Senators versus the Rangers. Monday, March 23, 7:30 Eastern Biz the Senators are in one. They're in one. I don't know if they can lose more than two games the rest of the way.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think that they are buzzing right now and they are as hot as a pistol. And my prediction is they are going to make playoffs. They're going to, they're going to mop the floor with the New York Rangers

[Dave Babich]

and their rebuild or whatever letter they're

[Ryan Whitney]

sending to their fans this week and Ottawa is going to spank them and send them back home packing.

[Biz]

Okay, well the, the Rangers have been playing pretty good. I know Jack Hughes put a beating on them. The Devils beat them the other night. Ottawa, tough loss against Washington. They had been hot before that. But it's prime Monday night hockey. 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 the free trial@prime video.com Prime Monday Night Hockey. It's on Monday. It's on Prime. Thank you very much to Papa Song. That was an awesome interview. Good time chat with him. We forgot to mention Cornelli calling Dave Babich. Dave Bayback was an all time music. Yeah, it's a babyback music.

[Ryan Whitney]

Ricky Rose.

[Biz]

Dave Bayback. So boys, do you want to get right into Ari's world right now? I could, I could shout out a couple things. Quick business. Bobby McMahon completely heating up. Six points in three games. That's very funny. Cooch is on a pace unlike anything we've seen since Mario Lemieux. Basically he has. He's got 111 points. With his five point outing on Tuesday night, he became the seventh player in NHL history to post four straight 110 point seasons. Gretzky, Bossie Lafleur, Esposito, McKinnon and Marcel Dion, that is.

[Keith Yandle]

And you don't want to see that guy playing in the World Cup.

[Biz]

I know. Geez, he's a freak of nature. And Cole Caufield, he scored his 24th go ahead goal of this season. The only players with more in a single season are Brett Hall, Pavel Bure and David Poschnock, along with Sakic, LeClaire and Neely. But he's at 24. Neely, LeClaire and Sackic all did it 25 times. Pasta did it 26. Burry did it 28. Hall did it 39 times. In 1991. He also recorded his first career 40 goal season. The first Canadiens player to reach that mark since Vincent Damfoose and the first American player to score 40 goals in a season for the Canadians. Patchy Ready scored 39 in 2013-14. That's pretty cool for the history of the Canadiens to do that. So. So I, I want to. I want to shout. I wanted to shout out those guys.

[Keith Yandle]

I had a bad, bad stat that I heard. Did you realize that the Colorado avalanche is the 30th in the league in that power play? That's going to be worrisome going into it.

[Ryan Whitney]

It doesn't make any sense going into playoffs, though.

[Keith Yandle]

Like, you have to score on the power.

[Biz]

I know Kadri was asked about it on the bench in one of his first games. Like the pregame intro in terms of you think you can help out and you know, he's just like, yeah, I hope so. But it is weird. Like with those.

[Ryan Whitney]

I got a bad feeling about Colorado also.

[Keith Yandle]

Of a sudden, boys, I. Dude, when I heard that stat, I had it too. I'm like, it's Dallas's year.

[Biz]

Dallas beat him in the shootout on Wednesday night. McCarr actually scored a power play goals his 20th night. Three straight years, 20 goals or more for. For Makar. That was incredible. So maybe that gets him going. But biz, that's interesting. That's interesting. I mean, would you have that. Will you have that bad feeling in the first round if they get Seattle or San Jose? Are you more talking the run to the. To winning at all?

[Ryan Whitney]

I fear if they run into Bobby McMahon. Yes.

[Pat Brisson]

Okay, okay.

[Biz]

Fair.

[Ryan Whitney]

The way things have been going for my Leafs, I really fear that all of a sudden he wins the Con Smythe. We gave him away first.

[Biz]

Yeah, maybe. Maybe you resigned them, though. Let's go to our race.

[Keith Yandle]

It turns into a third.

[Pat Brisson]

Hello

[Ari]

everybody, and welcome to Ra's World here in the Spitting Chicklets podcast. Good to see you Boys, as always. Biz, you sound like Buddy Hinton from the Brady Bunch. That's a wicked deep cut. You must have watched a Brady Bunch he throw.

[Keith Yandle]

No, I did.

[Ari]

Well, I know you didn't in Canada, but So Buddy Hinton was. He used to make fun of Cindy Brady because of her list. Baby talk. Baby talk. It's the one to Yuka Walker, her brother. Suckers. Not suckers. He drills him and then buddy him like, oh, you loose my tooth. And I'd say, hey, you sound exactly like Buddy.

[Ryan Whitney]

Okay.

[Pat Brisson]

All right.

[Ryan Whitney]

The Brady Bunch, baby.

[Ari]

Little deep cut. Went to the Bruins last week like I mentioned. To see Mac up close. Sat right in the glass man, the kid, he didn't. It wasn't his, his best game of the season. But like, honestly, I know we said it before, he is Sid 2.0. I mean I, I don't know if he's more skilled than. But what he's doing at 19 years old right now in this league is unbelievable. And I'll tell you, I've been to you know, a zillion games at the old guy, the New Garden, all kinds of teams in town. I have never in, you know, 30 years of the Garden, that New Garden never saw that many San Jose shirts and that much cheering when, when, when they scored.

[Keith Yandle]

Like, you think it's because he went to bu?

[Ari]

No, absolutely not.

[Keith Yandle]

It's because of how good he is.

[Pat Brisson]

He's.

[Ari]

He's the ma. It's the Mac factor like this. You know, people like to jump on teams with superstars. I mean, Jordan was awesome. Everyone was a Bulls fan back then, but I, I had never seen it like that. Like I said, this kid is unbelievable. Special also too. They played Montreal the other night. I don't know. Fishy got the picture there. And other awesome photograph. When he scored his first goal in Montreal the other night, he was like giving it to the crowd, right?

[Biz]

Oh yeah.

[Ryan Whitney]

He taunted them.

[Ari]

Dude, you gotta after the show like grab that picture and zoom in on every friggin face in that picture, dude.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, look at the mustache guy. He's unbelievable. Kind of looks like your dad, bitch.

[Ari]

Is the beer vendor dude here. There's like.

[Biz]

Or the one guy with his girlfriend or wife, like she's like, oh, he's like mad. She's like, oh.

[Ryan Whitney]

She's like, damn, son.

[Ari]

Yeah, look at it later. So just like I said, I love to highlight some of the photos that these guys take and gals take. I couldn't find the name before the show, but also congrats To San Jose's assistant equipment manager, Tim Leroy. He worked his 25th hundred game that night. 2,500 games.

[Ryan Whitney]

There was three guys who did. Oh, you said refereed.

[Ari]

No, no, this is assistant equipment manager.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah. Okay, so there's been three equipment managers. The guy from Minnesota who we had Detroit and Detroit, and wow, there's been three for 2,500 in the last, like 10 days.

[Ari]

Crazy stuff, man. Also too. And it did end up coming to fruition. But there was an E bug at that game as well. The Delkovic played. I don't know what Askarov. I don't think they could get there, like minor league guy in town. So they got ebug. This kid, Kyle Chavet, he finished his college career Wednesday night. I want to say he went to unh, took a test that Thursday. And then was the E bug for the game Thursday night. Like, literally played his last college game the night before. So no, he didn't get in the game. But, you know, we always love those ebug stories. But pretty good stuff there. And speaking of weird rules, actually, did you see there was this woman last week, Nicole Sherman. She unearthed, like this weird rule I don't think anybody knew about. She said, today I learned that if the officials don't show up to an NHL game for whatever reason and nobody can agree on replacements, both teams just pick a player. The player from the home team acts as the referee while the visiting player gets to be alignsman. This is an actual NHL rule and she shared it. If this is hilarious through misadventure or sickness, the referees alliance persons appointed are prevented from appearing. The league will make every attempt to find suitable replacement officials. Otherwise, the managers or coaches of the the two clubs shall agree Referees alliance persons. If they're unable to agree, they will appoint a player from each side.

[Biz]

They need. This needs to happen.

[Ari]

This is like I it do. It did. Actually, it did. It happened back 1983 between New Jersey and Hartford. For the first period, guys, I don't think they were in the lineup that night. They were refereeing lines. But then the referees showed up before the second period started. So just some wild shit. So it became sort of not like a real life meme. A lot of people were asking teams, like the social admins were asking players like, who. Which guys would you want to ref or not ref? So I don't know if you've seen anything. It was pretty cool. You know, a little tweet gave us some nice content. But like, when it was Dallas, every guy was like, not Ranting, not ranting. Like who would you want to ref? Like, they all dump it all over ranting and so pretty good stuff. This other stat too, what you probably saw it after 135 games, Macklin and McDavid. Mack led to 60 goals, 98 assists for 158 points. McDavid had 50 goals, 107 assists, 157 points. Like again, I know we're always there's the kids say glazed and whatever, but this, this is glaze worthy. It's just, you know, when these young kids are getting mentioned with these like, you know, legends, it's good stuff. So I mean, actually one more point in the first 135 games. So shout out to the Mac Band. Great team in person the other night. I know you got. You mentioned Cole Wiseman a little while ago. Whit. I just want to give him personal congratulations. His family was very nice to me. We're out in Vegas for the draft that year. You already mentioned the Cooch stuff. Here's another one though. 93 points in his last 45 games since November 19th. That's more than the top score had on 25 different teams for the entire 20, 25, 24, 25 season. It's the best 45 games since Mario back in 95, 96 with what Cooch is doing. Just like unbelievable stuff. OV Tide. Gordy for the most 25 goal seasons. Sebastian, I hold the just the 8th fin to hit 700 points. Sergey Bobrovsky, undrafted, became the 18th goalie to hit 800 regular season games. You mentioned Cole Garfield, first Canadian to score 40 since Vinnie Danfoose. And best of luck to my old pallet, North Adams. David Flint. He's the coach of the Northeast women's team. They're playing Today, Friday afternoon, 4 o', clock, the Frozen Four with the ladies and hopefully win.

[Biz]

They're in the Frozen Four.

[Ari]

Yeah, yep. They won last week. Yeah, yep. They're playing out today. Well, today, Friday at 4:00 and then Wisconsin, Penn State at 7:30. And the winners play this Sunday and they just played last week. And this is something I think the men's Frozen Ford needs to do that whole week off between, you know.

[Biz]

Yeah, but that's, that's the final four for the basketball.

[Ari]

Yeah. Moving to Sunday maybe just, you know, I mean, I just, I think that's a too much long of a layoff. I know the super bowl does it, but I don't know.

[Biz]

All right. Did you win any money at the Oscars?

[Ari]

Sean Penn was My only cash, I got him at minus 150 back when I hit that Jerry Jersey, Jerry Palay. He actually went up to 350. And I love. He wasn't there. I guess he was over Ukraine and. And what's his name? Culpa was like, sean Penn couldn't be here tonight. Uh, he just didn't want to come. So I'll accept that on his behalf because, yeah, he's like kind of an abrasive fellow, so, yeah, I only hit that, but, uh, Amy Madigan. Did you watch Weapons? Any of you guys that.

[Ryan Whitney]

I saw it. It was awesome.

[Ari]

What'd you think of it? Busy.

[Ryan Whitney]

I thought it was great. I don't watch a ton of movies. Like, I was actually surprised, but somebody said it was really. I think Jeff recommended it and, and yeah, I thought it was great. I thought that she was good in it. It was very suspenseful. It. It. It brought you in right away. Like, it was very quick at bringing you in and getting you invested. And. Yeah, I don't think the movie was too long. I thought she did a great job. It was a freaky character. I was surprised that she won it, given how little she was in the movie.

[Ari]

Me too. They in the Academy typically doesn't award horror. And I, I watched it. I, I thought it was so. So it didn't, like, tickle my fancy all that much. She was great in it, but it felt like one of those, like, career awards, you know, like she's been around for 40 years. I mean, she was in the field of dreams. Amy Madigan, she's, you know, Hollywood legend at all. But I, I thought the, The Ladies and Sinners and One Battle did, you know, a little bit better work.

[Keith Yandle]

Oh, that girl from the Ozarks is a good actress.

[Ari]

Oh, Julia Ghana. Yeah, yeah, she's. She's good. But did. Did you see the opening with Conan o'? Brien? I don't know if you guys watched that, Any of it at all?

[Biz]

No.

[Ari]

So he, like, he. He came out, like, the, like the first thing. He had that makeup on. I don't. Did you see the. The makeup the lady had on with any of the previews from Weapons? It's like wicked pale white with, like.

[Ryan Whitney]

Yeah, it's weird.

[Ari]

So Conan come out dressed like her, and all of a sudden, like, the Beastie Boy sabotage comes on. All the kids are chasing down the street and he runs to, like, every nominated movie. It was. I mean. I mean, I just smoke with my brother, so maybe that's why it was so funny, but I thought he did a pretty good job as a host. You know, he's a funny bastard, little. Little quirky. So yeah, Sean Penn, my only cash. We got to do this one today in hockey history. Happy 78th birthday, number four, Bobby or. Absolutely. And on his 21st birthday back in 1969, the blue liner scored his 21st goal the season setting the single season record for goals by a defenseman. Way back then he beat a guy called Flash Holland. That's a hockey name. Back of that with Detroit in 45. Coffee is the current leader. He had 48 goals in 86. But Bobby was also number two. 5, 6, 9, 10 and 19 on the all time goals. Gotta give Bobby's props also I got a few other happy birthdays. Charlie Simmer, Dennis Wyman, Nick Letty, Dick Paul, Justin Fox, Trevor Zegras and more props. Mario Levieux. On this day in 1993, Mario scored four goals for the second game in a row and a 93 win over Philly. Four goals, two in a row.

[Biz]

He owned Philly. I don't know if he's owned. I don't know if he owned him like Crosby has, but that it's four game, four goals, two games in a row. All right.

[Keith Yandle]

Thing to see who has more points versus Philly. Cuz Sid is only.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think Sid's all time leader.

[Biz]

Yeah, I think he is. I think it's two points a game on.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think he's all time leader against the Islanders too.

[Keith Yandle]

Hey, speaking of Philly, did you see Meof running away from that fight like if.

[Ryan Whitney]

From the other Russian?

[Keith Yandle]

If the Philadelphia Flyers back him on this, their fans have really changed because that's not.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh yeah, no, all, all the, all the ones are like oh look how funny he baited him into a penalty. It's like they both, both went to the box and then oh, he set up. He set up the game winner in overtime like okay guys, okay. Bobby Clark's probably spitting at his television watching that.

[Biz]

That's not, that's not Broad Street Bullies hockey right there.

[Ari]

A couple more quick ones and I'll get to my Russia. Take that. You were asking for biz on the same day that Mario did that. I got to give this one. Adam Oates set the Bruins season record for most assists by a center with this 78th. He finished out with 97. Only Barb your has more assists in the season for a broom with 102 back in 71 and 55 years ago, brothers faced each other as opposing goaltenders for the first Time in NHL history when Ken Dryden and the Canadiens beat Dave Dryden in the Sabis 5 to 2. Now, neither brother started the game biz. Ken was called into duty after Rogatin rogue Vashon was hurt in the second period. So then the Buffalo coach, Punch Imlak immediately pulled the starter and put Dave in to make a good move.

[Biz]

But yeah, good move by Punch.

[Ryan Whitney]

It goes back to our brother's theme, too.

[Ari]

Yeah, absolutely. Now, yes, Russia should 100% be in the World cup of Hockey because it's an NHL event. It's an NHLPA event. How does the union tell. You know what, 20 guys, you guys can't do this. Everybody else is in this. Now, I know there's all the geopolitical stuff going on, but, you know, like you said, don't put a Russian shirt, make a Commonwealth of Independent States, whatever. But I just don't know how the.

[Biz]

The.

[Ari]

The union will justify excluding these guys. And again, I know there was report what, Sweden, Finland. And I don't know if it was Czech that wouldn't play. Now, it was an. I don't know if it was a source report. I don't know if it was a lot of validity to it. And again, it's up to the players. It's not. It's not the nations, it's not. It's not the presidents or the premieres or whatever country you're talking about. It's these guys. It's a union. NHL issue. So if. If the Swedes. And I can't imagine. I mean, you guys all played. I mean, a cup of coffee, street hockey, but no, but like, these guys have to want to play each other, right? I do. I mean, do you honestly think with that?

[Biz]

All right.

[Ryan Whitney]

I think that's a hell of a point, dude.

[Keith Yandle]

Great point.

[Ryan Whitney]

I'm on your side.

[Ari]

Like, I can't imagine like this. And dude, the Fins and the Ruskis, they had pretty rough history together, but they've played in all these tournaments before. I can't imagine there is a Fin in the NHL who doesn't want to fucking go take a Russian's head off in the World cup of Hockey.

[Biz]

Let's end it on. On some uplifting news out of a tragedy, we brought up Colin Dorgan last week who played for Blackstone Valley High School in Rhode Island, Division 2 state championship. He scored in overtime to have his team move on to the finals. This kid who lost family members in that horrible shooting at Senior Day a month ago, he scored with less than a minute left in regulation to Tie it. And Blackstone Valley won it in the fourth overtime to take down the D2 state title in Rhode Island.

[Keith Yandle]

So unreal.

[Biz]

Such a senseless tragedy.

[Pat Brisson]

And.

[Biz]

And they end up on top. And he played an enormous role in it. So happy for that kid and that team. And it's pretty crazy about calling too wit.

[Pat Brisson]

Like he, he only scored two goals

[Ari]

all season and then once the playoffs started, he scored four goals like that. That's.

[Pat Brisson]

I mean there was something bigger there. There was something bigger there helping him out. And he said that he.

[Ari]

His press conference after the game, like to. To have that maturity at 18 years

[Biz]

old was so incredibly impressive.

[Pat Brisson]

And how he, how he touched his.

[Ari]

The initials on the shoulder, that was just. It'll bring anyone to tears.

[Keith Yandle]

You should do like a 30 for 30 type thing on him.

[Pat Brisson]

We should be absolutely sure.

[Ari]

That's a great idea.

[Keith Yandle]

I get a live reaction on that thing. I just texted you guys.

[Ryan Whitney]

Biz. The, the neighbor Leafs playing. Simon says or something like we're talking

[Keith Yandle]

about what would Wendell do? And that you got your team playing. Simon says on the ice right now. Like, like, what are we doing?

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't even know what's going. You sent that

[Keith Yandle]

When Simon says on the ice. NHL arena. Like, come on,

[Ari]

jump back on calling Dorgan. I just want like the, the poise on that kid after the game. Like the maturity after what he's been through. I mean he lost his. His mother, his brother's grandfather and to go through that emotional stuff. I, I just, I don't know. The kid is mature beyond his years, so I just, I just want to give him a little shout out the way he goes afterwards. And I don't know if you guys maybe mentioned Briar before, but Chris Jelios's mom had passed away. I just, you know, a friend of the program, he's a buddy of ours, just want to give our condolences to Chelly and his family as well, so. Charlie, we love you, bud.

[Ryan Whitney]

Oh no, that's terrible.

[Ari]

Yeah. And. But we'll have a little. Have a little end up with some fun. Classic recommendation. I know you guys probably did watch Master Command. He had. Hopefully some of the. The listeners did. But this week, one of the top three comedies of all time. Airplane. The movie. Absolutely hilarious. If you never seen it come out in 1980. It's. It basically sort of the 70s disaster movies. It kind of spoofed all those. But what's interesting about it, it was actually they bought the rights to a movie. It's called Zero Hour. It come out in 1957 and it's the same plot as Airplane, but it's a serious movie. So they bought that rights to that and used all the lines because if you watch the trailer for the zero hour, the guy goes, I took the wrong week to stop drinking and like, but it's like a serious line. So, you know, and back on the airplane, the guy's like, oh, Lord, I took the wrong way to stop sniffing glue like every like half hour during the movie. So anyways, if you guys never seen it, have you seen that playing with. You're looking at me.

[Biz]

I have seen it.

[Ari]

I have seen it legit. Top three funny movie of all time. And finally one pick for this weekend. Toronto, Ottawa. Always a goal fest. I don't know what the line is now. If you can find six and a half Saturday night, pound it over. Six and a half. Toronto, Ottawa. First two games, 12 goals, then seven goals. So get at it. Hope everything's good. Love you guys.

[Biz]

All right, all right. Appreciate you stalking right through here. And Biz, thank you for your surprises. Your beautiful Jersey, the Lanny McDonald, Dave Bayback, I mean Babich and everyone, thank you so much for listening. Have an awesome weekend. We will be back to you on

[Keith Yandle]

won't happen, won't happen again.

[Biz]

It won't happen, won't happen, won't happen again. A bad habit worth breaking, but it's taking time.

[Ryan Whitney]

I don't know.

[Pat Brisson]

It don't matter.

[Biz]

It's going to happen. It's going to happen again. In sports, winning takes more than talent. It takes strength, reliability, and the drive to go the distance.

[Pat Brisson]

Sound familiar?

[Biz]

That's the same DNA you'll find in a Chevy Silverado.

[Pat Brisson]

As capable and dependable as a winning

[Biz]

team, Chevy Silverado shows up and gets the job done.

[Pat Brisson]

It won't flinch when the pressure's on.

[Biz]

It doesn't take plays off. When it comes to trucks, Chevy Silverado is football guy approved. To learn more about Silverado, visit chevy. Com.