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- [00:00]
Mark
AI agents are everywhere, automating tasks and making decisions at machine speed. But agents make mistakes. Just one rogue agent can do big damage before you even notice. Rubrik Agent Cloud is the only platform that helps you monitor agents, set guardrails and rewind mistakes so you can unleash agents, not risk. Accelerate your AI transformation@rubrik.com that's R U B R-I K.com we all love our.
- [00:32]
Trusted House Sitters Representative
Pets, but we love to travel too. And sadly they can't always come along for the ride. Don't stress. Trusted House Sitters connects you with verified sitters who will stay in your home and care for your pets, all in exchange for a place to stay on their travels. So while you're off exploring, your pets get to stay safe and happy at home, right where they belong. Find a loving in home pet sitter today@trustedhousesitters.com Morning Zoe.
- [01:03]
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?
- [01:06]
Dana
Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you teach me.
- [01:11]
Jeff Bridges
So Dana oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at T Mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.
- [01:24]
Dana
Wow, impressive. Let me try. T Mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.
- [01:32]
Jeff Bridges
Nice Jeffrey, you heard them.
- [01:33]
Dana
T Mobile is the best place to.
- [01:35]
Kevin Kerr
Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on.
- [01:37]
Sean Gentile
Us with eligible traded in any condition.
- [01:40]
Dana
So what are we having for launch?
- [01:42]
Jeff Bridges
Dude, my work here is done.
- [01:44]
T-Mobile Announcer
The 24 month bill credits on experience beyond for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 device connection charge credit same and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1099.99 and new line minimum 100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oaklifts B test intelligence data 1x2025 visit t mobile.com foreign.
- [02:13]
Kevin Kerr
This is the Athletic Hockey Show.
- [02:27]
Haley Salvian
What's up everyone? Welcome to the Athletic Hockey Show. It's Haley Salvian and Sean Gentile here with you. You for the Thursday edition of the show. Kevin Kurz is going to join us today from Philadelphia to discuss the Flyers. 3 Two in one start and Matt Vay Mechkov playing some catch up to start his sophomore season. We'll jump around the league a little bit today too. But first of course let's bring in Sean who joins Me now from a very dim Scotiabank Saddle Dome. Are you having lighting issues today?
- [03:01]
Sean Gentile
I so badly wished that what happened in Calgary last night would have happened when they were playing the Chicago Blackhawks. And I wish it would have happened when Mark Lazarus was on the catwalk walking over to the press box. Because that man hates that setup in the Calgary press box more than anybody.
- [03:22]
Haley Salvian
Okay, Anything.
- [03:23]
Sean Gentile
So for the lights to go out when Laz was walking over there, that would have been my. That's one of my greatest dreams. The fact that it didn't is. Is a missed opportunity.
- [03:33]
Haley Salvian
I need to say something though, because all these media people. I lived in Calgary. I worked in Calgary. You do not have to walk across the catwalk. People do it for fun. The only people on the other side are team staff and broadcasters. No print media ever has to walk across the catwalk. They do it for the picture, they do it for the photo op. And it's fake news. There is no need for the catwalk. I need to say that as somebody who would see every time someone came into Calgary, like, no, no. Every time someone came into town, they were like, oh, I'm scared. I'm taking this video. I'm like, why are you on the catwalk then?
- [04:13]
Sean Gentile
You don't sit over there for attention, right?
- [04:16]
Haley Salvian
If you're afraid of heights, don't cross the catwalk.
- [04:20]
Sean Gentile
It's a good bit. It's a good bit.
- [04:22]
Haley Salvian
No, it's no. Sitting in my little press box seat, never having to go there and seeing the videos of everyone crossing the catwalk and freaking out. I'm like, you didn't have to do that. You didn't have to. You just chose to.
- [04:36]
Sean Gentile
They wanted to. For attention. That's the way it goes.
- [04:39]
Haley Salvian
Anyways. It's actually me who's sitting in a dark room. Something's going on with my lighting. I need to speak with. With the manager because it's not dark in here, but I'm having a lighting issue similar to the Saddle Dome. But just like the Flames and the Habs, I will continue on.
- [04:59]
Sean Gentile
Professional segue. Little Frankie Corrado over here with the segues.
- [05:03]
Haley Salvian
Yeah, it's my professional segue after crashing out on the non recording part, being like, I don't know how to work this. Somebody's gonna help me. The show goes on. The Flames, by the way, off to a very bad start to the season. I was going to say pretty bad. It's not just bad, blanket bad. One win in eight games. Just one point above the San Jose Sharks, who don't Even have a regulation win yet this season. It's going to be a long season at the Dome. We talked about this already. We were selling our stock in the Flames. We've already been saying, like, you need to just pick a lane. Saw this from Elliot Friedman yesterday. One of his big questions in Calgary is, like, how are the veterans, like a Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, how are they going to handle a rough season? And how is Craig Conroy, the general manager, going to navigate all that? I don't know about you, Sean. I think it's pretty simple. You get a bag for Nazem Kadri, trade them, lean into the skid, get what you can. Because Kadri could still be like an elite one, be in the postseason. I want to see that guy back in the playoffs. Trade him, get what you can. Just. Just end it.
- [06:11]
Sean Gentile
I think you nailed it. I think we as a culture need Nazem Kadri in the playoffs. Calgary needs to do the right thing. Send back to. I. Send him back to Colorado, send him to Montreal. How about that? Nazem Kadri, second line center behind Nick Suzuki for the Montreal Canadiens, playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the Atlantic Division playoffs. Like, let's go. Make it happen. Pull the plug immediately because that team stinks. They should get worse. Dustin Wolf is the eraser, the cologne for whatever happened last season. It would have been unfair to expect him to do it again.
- [06:51]
Haley Salvian
Yeah.
- [06:51]
Sean Gentile
And he's, you know, I don't want to say regressed. It's too early for that, but he's not standing on his head and doing. And doing tricks and keeping that team, you know, in the. In the wild card chase at this point. So if. If this is what they're going to get from him this season, man, time to do something. Because I am. I am tired of watching them already do the right thing.
- [07:14]
Haley Salvian
Yeah. Flames lose 21 and OT last night to the Montreal Canadiens. You know who didn't lose? The New Jersey Devils. They beat the wild 4 1. They extend their early season win streak to six. Sean, you pulled this stat. It's been three years since the Devils have even won four in a row. They're at six already this season. What do you think? Seems to be doing well in Jersey because this is the team that, like, everyone's been picking. But then maybe this year was the first year where it's like, I can't keep doing this now. Maybe they're. They're showing all the pieces coming together. What are you liking about The Devils early on.
- [07:52]
Sean Gentile
Yeah. Shout out to all about the jersey. The, the Devil's blog, they, they wrote about that extensively. The, the four game streak finally happening. So I, so I just, I just swiped that right from them.
- [08:01]
Haley Salvian
Okay, great. Because I was like, I don't know if I trust you with this stat, Sean, but I'm glad you got it from elsewhere.
- [08:06]
Sean Gentile
Yes. Right. So you know all, all credit and, or, and, or blame to all about the jersey. I, and whatever the streak did. Six now too. Right. So, so it's, it's only, it's only more, you know, kind of more dramatic and more drastic. This is a team that for the last two seasons has struggled big time to string together wins. And I think that was a big, a big reason for skepticism about them, about them coming into the season. You know, this is a 112 point team three seasons ago. There is a reason that people like them as much as, as much as we do. And it's because the bones from that team, your Jack Hughes is your Nico, he shares your Jesper Bratz on and on. They're still there. They're still certainly in their primes and there's still a reason to think that they can, that they can get it done. The issues around that team though, goaltending, health, legit contributors on, on the, let's say third line, I think all of those were reasons for concern and what we've seen from them early is that all of those questions have been answered kind of in a positive way. Right. They're getting more from Dawson Mercer. He stunk down the stretch, especially after Jack Hughes was injured. He's a point per game player. He's centering the third line in a really effective way right now. On and on. Right. So what we're seeing is all the questions we had about them heading into the season that was making people kind of sell, maybe not sell their stock, but certainly not buying any more of it. And then as a legit contender, all those issues, Luke Hughes looking like a number, like looking like a, you know, a true top pair defenseman this year. We can just go down the list and talk about all the ways that they've kind of positively answered all these questions that we've had for them and it's been, it's, it's been, it's been great. They're the, they're the, the best record in the, in the league pretty comfortably here.
- [10:03]
Haley Salvian
Yeah, it's the New Jersey devils in the ABs at the top with 12 points. They're 6 and 1 already to start the season.
- [10:13]
Sean Gentile
I met the Eastern Conference.
- [10:14]
Kevin Kerr
It's okay.
- [10:14]
Sean Gentile
I misspoke.
- [10:15]
Haley Salvian
It's okay. I'm just letting the ABS fan listeners know that I see them, I hear them. I see you at the top of the standings too.
- [10:24]
Sean Gentile
You're. You're holding space for them.
- [10:26]
Haley Salvian
Yes, I am holding space for the ABS fans who are listening to the show. I think one of the things that stands out too is, you know, they are doing this without Jacob Markstrom. He is out right now. He's missed the last few games. Jake Allen's been good. That's why they have him as a. He's not a 1B. Because when Markstrom's healthy, you expect him to play a lot, but you've got a guy waiting in the wings who can take on that role and, and get them some wins when needed. Nico Dawes had the win last night pretty comfortably. I think it was 29 saves. I apologize. I don't have it right in front of me. But they've got some depth in the crease and it seems like they should be okay with their goaltending as long as this doesn't turn into a long term thing. Markstrom is already on the ice skating, so it shouldn't get to that point. But I know when we first saw the Markstrom injury, I think we talked about it with Jesse last week and it was like, is this already the start of the injuries happening for, for the New Jersey Devils? Because every year, as long as they can stay healthy, as long as XYZ can go right, they're going to be fine. And then two weeks into the season, Markstrom's hurt. But so far, a week into this injury, it's. It's been all good. 6 and 16 game win streak and they've gotten some wins even with Markstrom, you know, sitting out.
- [11:45]
Sean Gentile
Yeah, and I mentioned, I mentioned Luke Hughes kind of in passing earlier. I think we do need to make special note of what we've seen from him so far this year. He's top 20 in scoring among defensemen. He's paired with Brett Pesci and Pesh. He's also been fantastic. That's not, that's not an accident. Right. He just, he just looks like a guy that's ready to level up. He's got the contract stuff out of the way. He's. His defensive impacts have improved a lot. He's also a big part of the power play, which has been Great. It's top five in, in conversion rate. It's top five in, in goals per 60. So any, any way you slice it, that's been a really effective unit too. I think if they can get those kind of minutes from him on a consistent basis, man, they're going to be, they're going to be interesting. They're going to, they're going to continue to be interesting. And it all comes back to where we started here. You know, a six game winning streak would be impressive for any team, right. But when you look at the problems that they've had stacking those wins over the last couple years, they had 14 different chances to turn a three game streak into a four game streak and they could, and they couldn't get it done. That's also from all about the Jersey. The fact that they've gotten that kind of weird random monkey off their back, you know, and really started to play high end hockey for a protracted amount of time. And that's a, that's a good thing. And it's a good thing for anybody who thought that they, you know, had a chance to look more like the 112 point, you know, super exciting, well balanced team that we saw a couple years ago. I, I think we've, I think we've seen plenty of that so far.
- [13:22]
Haley Salvian
GM Tom Fitzgerald did an interview with Pierre LeBrun, I guess on Wednesday. That's on the athletic.com or I guess it's newyorktimes.com now. I keep forgetting that, but you can check that out on the app. It's, it's an interesting conversation. They go into like the devil's next level. Jacob Markstrom's future. There is only one year left. I think his contract ends this season. Some Dougie Hamilton buzz. Obviously the big Hughes question about, are all the, all the brothers going to play together? But one thing right off the top I did want to mention here is just like the Sheldon Keefe of it all too. This is his second year behind the bench. They're off to a good start. They had a good training camp. This is something that Tom Fitzgerald discussed with LeBron. Like, Sheldon's a very good coach. He's demanding a lot more out of these players. Like there is a new standard in Jersey and Fitzgerald said the guys know about it now. There's no secrets, there's no surprises. Guys came in, in great shape. We worked extremely hard in training camp and like this group is maturing like they're not kids anymore. It's a young core and they've realized they're not getting any younger and they're maturing on and off the ice. So I think we've got this mix of like, this is just kind of the next level for the New Jersey Devils and they have a coach who's kind of helping them get there too. And I mean, it's also just nice, I think, to toot Sheldon Keefe's horn sometimes because, yeah, you're always just, you're.
- [14:45]
Sean Gentile
Always look, you're always looking for an excuse to do that.
- [14:48]
Haley Salvian
He. People were, Leafs fans were still poo pooing on him all year last year when the Devils weren't playing well, like, that man just can't get a break from Leafs fans who hate his guts.
- [15:00]
Sean Gentile
So also, we'll see what this does for the Dougie Hamilton trade market.
- [15:05]
Kevin Kerr
Right.
- [15:05]
Sean Gentile
We've kind of heard. We. It seemed like the writing was on the wall for him once they got the, the Luke extension done. Yeah, I don't know if you want to trade Dougie Hamilton off a team that looks like it could, it could make noise in the playoffs. Like, do you hold serve with him and just, you know, see what happens? That's a, it's going to be an interesting thing to track.
- [15:27]
Haley Salvian
Yeah, but do you have like, I, so I saw this in LeBron's piece and this idea of, well, you have two $9 million defenders who are like top power play unit guys. Like, do you really need them both? It's like, well, why would you just put Dougie Hamilton on your second power.
- [15:42]
Sean Gentile
Play unit and maybe have two really.
- [15:46]
Haley Salvian
Good offensive defenders on your roster?
- [15:49]
Sean Gentile
You can have more than one guy. And you can also take some notes from things that have happened over the last couple of years where this is just one of the most snake bitten teams we've seen in the league. Whether it's, whether it's Jack Hughes, who we haven't even mentioned, who's been incredible. Yeah, Jack Hughes, like struggling to finish out seasons. Whether it's Dougie getting hurt last year, whether it's all the goaltending issues, like you can have more than one good guy. You don't, you don't need to say like, all right, we're, we're licked here. We got Luke Hughes playing legit top pair of minutes. And on the power play like Doug, he's completely redundant. I'm. If that's my team, I'm not, I'm not doing that. I'm holding that guy for, for whenever Luke Hughes misses a handful of games or whatever because Dougie still as a second pair guy playing against maybe some easier defensive, some, some easier defensive competition. You know, he's. He's still capable of giving you good minutes even though he's overpaid. So, yeah, unless that's. Unless they really need something somewhere else. And I'm Tom. And I'm Tom Fitzgerald, man. I'm. I'm holding serve on that.
- [16:51]
Haley Salvian
They're also different players, too. Like, Luke Hughes is the sky, skating finesse. Make a play at the blue line. If you want to pinch on him, he's going to skate around you. Whereas Dougie at this point is like, he's got the bomb from the point shot. Like, so they're different offensively gifted players. So I think teams can use both. And it seems like Fitzgerald wants to just let things stabilize and be like, let's just have our. Let's just have it. Let's just play the games. It's October. We don't need to talk about trading Dougie Hamilton yet, but it's an interesting conversation between Tom Fitzgerald and Pierre Lebrun.
- [17:32]
Sean Gentile
And that's where we've landed to trade Nazem Kadri Yesterday.
- [17:36]
Haley Salvian
Totally different teams.
- [17:37]
Sean Gentile
I completely agree.
- [17:39]
Haley Salvian
In totally different situations.
- [17:41]
Sean Gentile
Like I said. Like I said, Kadri. Montreal Canadiens. Pick up. Pick up the phone. Gordon Kent Hughes. Call Craig Conroy. Make it happen. He's your guy.
- [17:53]
Haley Salvian
You're upsetting producer.
- [17:55]
Sean Gentile
I'm saying this specifically to throw producer Jeff into overdrive. Like, he's. He's going to. He's going to. He's just going to shut that. He's going to turn his laptop off.
- [18:04]
Haley Salvian
He's having a tough time with the Sheldon Keefe and Nazem Kadri conversation specifically.
- [18:11]
Sean Gentile
Enjoy the World Series, my man.
- [18:12]
Haley Salvian
I think if we want to twist the knife a little harder, we can have a discussion about how great Mitch Marner has been in Vegas and how the Leafs. The Leafs might just, like, not be very. They don't look great. I saw this tweet. I think it was from J. Fresh being like, when are we going to have a conversation about how the Leafs are playing and look exactly like. Like people have been wanting them to for the last 10 years of like, I want Dump and Chase. I want big hockey, man. Maybe what they are right now and it's not been good or fun. So congrats.
- [18:49]
Sean Gentile
Just save it for the Leafs report, please. Please. Mac and Do. And Frankie snuck something in on me yesterday. I'm still. I'm still mad about it. So we don't need to. We don't need to play this game.
- [19:00]
Haley Salvian
It's the Athletic Hockey Show, Sean. We're obviously going to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'm contractually obliged to discuss them every single show.
- [19:07]
Sean Gentile
If this could be a 31 team show, I'd sign up for it.
- [19:11]
Haley Salvian
The T in the Athletic Hockey show actually stands for Toronto. No, there's a silent T. The Athletic Toronto Hockey Show. And I just said Toronto. Like someone who doesn't live in the.
- [19:25]
Sean Gentile
City, doesn't live there.
- [19:26]
Haley Salvian
Time to go, Time to go. Let's take a break. We can get to Kevin Kerr's lots to get into with the Philadelphia Flyers. That's coming up next on the Athletic Hockey Show.
- [19:39]
Mark
AI agents are everywhere, automating tasks and making decisions at machine speed. But agents make mistakes. Just one rogue agent can do big damage before you even notice. Rubrik Agent Cloud is the only platform that helps you monitor agents, set guardrails and rewind mistakes so you can unleash agents, not risk. Accelerate your AI transformation@rubrik.com that's R u b r-I k.com emoji moment from Mark.
- [20:12]
Haley Salvian
Who writes I just want to thank you for making GLP1s affordable. What would have been over $1,000 a month is just $99 a month with Mochi. Money shouldn't be a barrier to healthy weight. Three months in and I have smaller.
- [20:25]
Trusted House Sitters Representative
Jeans and a bigger wallet.
- [20:27]
Haley Salvian
You're the best.
- [20:28]
Trusted House Sitters Representative
Thanks, Mark.
- [20:29]
Haley Salvian
I'm Mayra Amit, founder of Mochi Health. To find your mochi moment, visit joinmochi.com.
- [20:36]
Trusted House Sitters Representative
Mark is a Mochi member compensated for his story.
- [20:40]
Dana
Morning Zoe. Got donuts.
- [20:42]
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges why are you still living above our garage?
- [20:45]
Dana
Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you teach me.
- [20:50]
Sean Gentile
So Dana.
- [20:51]
Jeff Bridges
Oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.
- [21:03]
Dana
Wow, impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.
- [21:11]
Sean Gentile
Nice.
- [21:11]
Jeff Bridges
Jeffrey, you heard them.
- [21:13]
Dana
T mobile is the best best place.
- [21:14]
Sean Gentile
To get the new iPhone 17 Pro on us with eligible traded in any condition.
- [21:19]
Dana
So what are we having for launch?
- [21:21]
Jeff Bridges
Dude, my work here is done.
- [21:23]
T-Mobile Announcer
The 24 month credit is on experience beyond for well qualified customers plus tax and 35 device connection charge credit sending balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs 1099.99 A new line minimum 100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oklahoma Speed Test Intelligence data. 1H 2025 Visit Team Mobile.com.
- [21:43]
Haley Salvian
Okay, the Philadelphia Flyers are off to a 3, 2 and 1 start to the season. They haven't played since a 52 win against the Seattle Kraken on Monday. But we'll catch them again tonight on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. To break it all down, Kevin Kerr, our Flyers beat writer, joins us now. Kevin, what do you do in like a week like this? Just hang out at practice? No games, couple days off?
- [22:07]
Kevin Kerr
Well, yeah, they flew to Ottawa yesterday. They didn't have practice, so I haven' seeing them since Tuesday. I. I am working on a. A bigger feature, so I don't mind when they go on these one offs because it gives me a couple days to like, set up interviews and wait for people to call me back and so I'm fine with that. And honestly, a day trip to Ottawa is a complete pain from Philly because I'm sure there's nothing. So I'm, I'm happy here in my apartment tonight.
- [22:33]
Sean Gentile
I would love to know, like, the door to door time on Philly to Ottawa. It's. It's way longer than it. Than it should be.
- [22:40]
Kevin Kerr
Yeah, I mean, especially because the. You guys all know where the rink is there, right? So you land and then you're probably taking an hour bus ride.
- [22:47]
Sean Gentile
So. Second, second consecutive show with Ottawa rink location slander for me. You know what we were make. We were making fun of Frankie Corrado yesterday about it because he was stuck somewhere in the middle.
- [22:57]
Kevin Kerr
Well, the, the only road game I ever skipped is when I was still covering the Islanders and, and me and Andrew Gross were staying downtown and we went to the morning skate and there was a snowstorm and we took an Uber ride back and the Uber driver was like, he was a little bit older and he's driving in this snowstorm and there's tractor trailers passing us on either side. And once Andrew and I got back to the hotel, we're like, I don't know if we're gonna make it back for the game. So. Yeah, yeah, we. I'm not sure what we did, but.
- [23:26]
Sean Gentile
You took him. You took him. You took a mental health day. Yeah, we can just call it that.
- [23:30]
Kevin Kerr
Yeah, it was. Watch right off the. One of those. Right off the TVs. We were lucky because we actually had spoken to Lou Lamorell that morning. So, like, that was the content for the day.
- [23:38]
Haley Salvian
Perfect.
- [23:39]
Sean Gentile
Easy peasy.
- [23:40]
Haley Salvian
Yeah, I definitely had days because I lived in Ottawa and I. But I didn't live in Kanata, so I definitely had days where it's like, I don't think I'm actually gonna make it home safely. Driving home from the ranks, the snow and the traffic and everything was so bad. Like, just white knuckling it down the highway. Canadian winters are super fun, but let's get to the Philadelphia Flyers. I could fine start to the season. Three, two and one. That's, like, middling. It's as, maybe as mid as we can get. How surprised are you, Kevin, by this start? Like, scale of 1 to 10? Is this where we thought they would be? Is there a disappointment in Philly? Have there been, like, positive or negative surprises? Like, what's the general vibe to the start of the season here?
- [24:24]
Kevin Kerr
Well, I, I was. I didn't really like their training camp, so I think this, the, the start has been a little bit better than I expected, especially when you consider the first five teams they played. They had Florida twice, Winnipeg, Carolina and Minnesota. So right off the hop, you're starting with five really good teams. And then, you know, the first team that I think we can all say we don't expect to make the playoffs in Seattle comes in on Monday, and they got them pretty good. So that was a positive sign. You know, they. They've steadily improved throughout the year, other than maybe the Winnipeg game, which was their fourth game in the season. So, you know, I think when you consider some of the things that they're hoping will come around haven't quite come around yet. So the fact that they're still three two and one. I'm talking about Matt vay Mechkov, who I know we're going to talk about. Trevor Ziegler has been fine, but I don't think he's exactly lit the world on fire yet. The power play has shown signs of getting better, but I think they still only have three goals on the season, on the power play. So, you know, they're getting some contributions, I would say, from some expected sources. When you look at the Noah Cates, Tyson Forster, Bobby Brink line, that was a line that John Tortorella relied on a lot in the second half of the year. They were really solid, so that's been a plus. And, you know, Sean Couturier, I don't think we really knew what we were going to get out of him. It's. It's really just a yearly basis with Couturier. It's like this before the start of every year. You think to yourself, well, is this the year where his Multiple back surgeries from a couple years ago is going to catch up to him. It hasn't this year. He's been, Rick Tockit has relied on him really from day one of camp. It's been obvious he's going to put him in a, he's going to really rely on him to be a key contributor and he has and Katori stepped up and done that. So those are some of the more positive signs that I, you know, I think you have to look at it a little bit optimistically if you're a Fires fan because you're waiting for Trevor Zegras, you're waiting for Matt V. Mechkov to come around and if those guys do, then, you know, this could be a team that hangs around the playoff race.
- [26:20]
Sean Gentile
You mentioned Mechkov. I, we, we have to, we have to focus on him to, to some extent here. I, I feel like we're a little bit outside of like the true fever pitch stuff that was surrounding his start. You know, there's questions about his conditioning. Hasn't played in, in, in a few third periods or at least has been. You know, seen his ice time limited down the stretch at certain points scored against Seattle, which is good first goal of the season. But where do we stand on that? How it, like what is the status of, of Michkov, you know, in Rick Talkett specifically today? Like how is the, how is the rhetoric kind of shifted over, over the last five days, if at all?
- [26:59]
Kevin Kerr
Yeah, well, Seattle was his best game by far. I don't even think it's, it's close and you know, the one thing that Talkett has reduced his ice time late in a lot of the early game, earlier games before that Seattle game. And I don't think anyone watching him would say that was the wrong decision. Mitch cough just wasn't very good. It was, you know, we, we, we, we've seen him. He's always going to be a guy that's cheating for offense a little bit. Right. That's what he brings. And I think Rick Tockett is fine with that, but he was doing it a little bit too often. And then we've just heard enough from Talkett over the last little while to, to figure that Mitchkoff just wasn't in shape when he came into camp. Now they've partly attributed that to an off season ankle injury that he had on the ice late in the summer in Russia. You know, I, I would think that the organization probably was hopeful that he was going to return to the area a little bit earlier than he did. So, you know, that, that's, that's probably affected him. But Talketts also mentioned, you know, he, he's got to take care of himself off the ice a little bit better. And that's in terms of recovery. He's mentioned the word eating, you know, at least three or four times. So that seems to me that's, that's something that any, anybody can appreciate. I think we can all understand. You know, if you've got a poor diet, it's not going to work out so well. But, but that said, I don't think anyone's worried about him in the long term. I think they just view this as a short term thing. They've consistently praised his, his work ethic since he's got here. His desire to get better is something that no one's ever questioned. Keith Jones has talked about it often. Danny Briere has even talked, has mentioned that in practice he's still working hard. So this is just something he's going to have to work through. So, you know, it was, it's, it's obviously coming off of the Seattle game is a hopeful sign that maybe he's starting to turn a corner because, you know, they're going to need him. Right. He's still the most important individual when it comes to this rebuild. He's got to be, if not a superstar, at least like a 40 goal all star level player if this is going to work. So, you know, that's why you talk about the start. And it's been pretty good 3, 2 and 1. But that's sort of the dark cloud that's been hanging over this start, this encouraging start, is that, you know, he's got to get going here.
- [29:20]
Sean Gentile
Yeah. And, and we, you and I had talked, I, I think the three of us talked over the summer when we were doing the, you know, postmortem on the Flyers previous season. And kind of the, the look ahead to this one, you'd, you'd praise his work, his work ethics and his work habit and his, and his desire. I'd heard that from people around the league too. Honestly, when we were doing player tier stuff, like there's, there was no question over how much Mishkov wanted it or whether he was wired the right way for it. Right. Like there was, it seems like consensus is like this, this guy, this guy does everything right. He shows all the, all the traits that you want to see. And I think that's kind of, that's certainly been in the back of my mind as we've seen the way Things have started here. But like, my takeaway from a lot of this is talk it. I think he's. I think he's threaded the needle pretty well in terms of finding, you know, levying legit criticism in Mitch. God, being honest about what he's. What he struggled with and where he needs to get better, but also not throwing gasoline on a potential fire early on. Like if, if this was a different guy or a different temperament at head coach, you know, we're hearing a lot more about. It's certainly framed differently about as far as Matt. Matt Fame is starting the season and maybe not the best of shape and blah, blah, blah. I think talk it is, you know, been as. As advertised there with him in terms of, yeah, there's some tough love, but also he's framing it the right way to stop it from turning into something. Something sillier than maybe it otherwise would have been. Yeah.
- [30:48]
Kevin Kerr
I think it's safe to say that if this still was John Tortorella in charge and he was mentioning Mitch Coffee.
- [30:52]
Sean Gentile
I don't want to name. I don't want. I don't want to get specific there.
- [30:55]
Kevin Kerr
Yeah, the rhetoric would be far worse. I can't even imagine what social media would be looking like because, you know, I go back, I think John Tortorella handled Matthew Mitchkoff great and, and I think Mitchk, that it's, you know, we haven't talked to him much because we're still speaking through an interpreter, and I think he's a little bit reluctant to open up with the interpreter there. But you, if you go back and read some of his Russian language interviews from on the off season, he had a good relationship with Torella and they conversed, I think over text message after Torch was fired. So, you know, the, the, the, the part of it right now that I push back on is I think you hear some criticism from afar about Mishko saying, oh, well, he had some character issues coming into the draft and now they're all kind of bubbling to the surface that here, at least from what I could see, you know, if you go back, the, the criticisms of Mechkov where before he was drafted was maybe he was a little bit not a great teammate, maybe he didn't act great or, you know, on the ice if he wasn't getting his ice time or if he wasn't getting his goals. But, you know, part of the reason the Flyers drafted him is because in those draft meetings in the lead up to the draft, he admitted to them, sometimes I don't act great around my Teammates because I expect them to be so good and they're just not as good as he is. So it's, and, and, and you know, he's a 16, 17 year old kid at the time, so. Yeah, you know, and, and as far as Taka goes, he's mentioned a couple times that Mechkov has come to him, he's wanted to do video, he's, he's taking the time off the ice to, to, to try and get better, to try and fix this. And, and so I have very little doubt that at some point he's going to start to pick it up. And, and you know, I, I covered a guy in Eric Carlson who was notorious for coming to camp out of shape. Yeah, or maybe, maybe that's a little too harsh. I, maybe I should say playing himself into hockey shape.
- [32:40]
Sean Gentile
Yeah, that's a very, that's a very generous way of putting it. Yeah, it's very diplomatic.
- [32:44]
Kevin Kerr
You know, I remember his first season after he got traded for Ottawa to San Jose. I mean he was brutal for the first couple months and then he got himself into shape and by, you know, mid November he was Eric Carlson again. So I fully expect Michkov. I don't know if it's going to happen tonight or you know, next week, but at some point I think he's going to get it together and, and he's going to more resemble the guy that we saw in the second half of last year.
- [33:06]
Haley Salvian
I mean he's also a kid too, right? Like he's 20 years old. I think we maybe take it for granted when we see like respectfully, the hockey robots that are like Connor Bedard who go into the draft and they're already this like well oiled machine of like I eat the right way, I train all the time, I'm on the ice all the time, like hockey, hockey, hockey. So then when we see a young kid who's maybe not like working with Gary Roberts and has the best nutritionist on North Vancouver and da da da da can be like, oh what's wrong? But like they're also just a kid who are, they're figuring out how to be a professional athlete in real time, like that's okay too.
- [33:47]
Sean Gentile
Philly's a great food city man. As long as he's making some better decisions when it's late, like he'll be fine. He's a 20 year old who's figuring out that you can't just eat straight garbage after games and expect it to pay. Like it's fine. I'm not worried about that. This kid at all.
- [34:03]
Kevin Kerr
And he had, you know, it was his first off season where he's got a pocket full of money. And let's not forget all of the things this kid has gone through in his life already. You know, he. He loses his father right before the draft. He's got to go through the complication of getting his family over here to the US after he comes and joins the Flyers. Like, he's had a lot going on. He's probably had to grow up really quickly off the ice. Did he? Did he. You know, is there a chance he had a little bit too much fun this summer? Maybe. But again, like, as you said, Haley, he's a kid. He's. He's going to figure it out. It's. It's a. It's a. Probably a lesson he'll take with him in the next off season. And, yeah, I. I don't think there's any worry long term about him at this point.
- [34:42]
Haley Salvian
All right, let's move on. We did kind of touch on the head coach in Philly this season. It's Rick Talkett. There was obviously quite a bit of chatter. I mean, there was a lot of different B writers saying why Rick Talkett is perfect for insert team here, but Philly obviously was one of them. Where people were talking about this could be a really great fit. It's still early, Kevin, but how are we seeing the Rick Talkett Philadelphia Flyers kind of partnership working out in practice?
- [35:11]
Kevin Kerr
Well, yeah, obviously Rick Talkett is known more for his M.O. is sort of the defensive aspect. Right. And he's talked about that a lot, how he wants the goalies to only play half the net. And, you know, for. For the Flyers goalies, even if they had half a net behind him in the last three years, it probably would have been a struggle. So defensively, that's where it's been encouraging. He's leaned really heavily on Travis Sanheim, and Sanheim has stepped up and been, you know, other than maybe Danville. Dar has probably been their team MVP to this point. Cam York, he didn't have Cam York for the first three games after an injury late in camp. Cam York, for me, was the Flyer's best player in camp. Someone that's, you know, moving on from. From not seeing eye to eye with John Tortorella and looks a little rejuvenated. So he gets back in the lineup as their top pair. They've been great. Jamie Drysdale skating well, you know, I know the hope with him is that eventually he's going to become More of an offensive type that, that hasn't quite happened yet, but he's at least moving well. Him and Nick Sealer are a pretty good second pair. The third pair has been kind of a work in progress and not in a good way. That's where they really lack the depth on the back end. Rasmus Thrust the line is, is out at least another couple weeks. He's a guy they'll welcome back. But, you know, defensively they've been pretty good. They've. They've. They've allowed very few shots in the league on average. I think they've made it a little bit easier on their goaltenders, but the goaltending has been better. I know we want to talk about that, but you know, defensively, any coach will tell you, right, they'd rather have the defensive structure in place and wait for the offense to come around than vice versa. That's sort of what's been the fly. What, what, what the reflects what the Flyers have been so far. Defensively, they've been fine. Offensively, they've been a little dry at times, but, you know, they hope that comes around with, you know, and Trevor Zegras and whatnot. But defensively, they, they're, they're doing some encouraging things.
- [37:05]
Sean Gentile
Kev, We've talked at length, I think in very, in various spots about who, how brutal their goaltending has been really for the last two seasons, last season in particular, if they get anything even approaching league average, garden variety mediocre play from, from their goalies last year, I think the shape of, of the rebuild looks a lot different. I think we're, I didn't. I think we would have spoken about them in different terms coming out of last season. We've seen Dan Vladar play well thus far. He's got.929 save percentage, a few goals saved above expected, and four starts already. Whether it's him, whether it's Sam Erson, like what is the state of things moving forward is, and it has Vladara, you know, kind of put his flag on the ground in terms of taking, taking more starts and maybe emerging as a, as a legit. You know, if not, if not a 1B than A, than a 1A in a timeshare sort of situation.
- [38:02]
Kevin Kerr
Well, right now he's emerging as the guy as, as the guy that's going to get the bulk of the work. But, you know, you guys know how it works now. No goalie is going to start 60 games, right? And, and I would assume Sam Harrison is going to, is going to play Again very shortly, whether it's in Ottawa on Thursday or Saturday against the Islanders. But, but Vladar has, has earned his playing time. He's earned the, the right to be the guy that's sort of taken the lead in that race. And you know, Sam Erison's only played two games and neither of his games have been terrible and they were both again, you know, they're against Carolina, Winnipeg, so two pretty good teams. But you know, with Vladar, he saw an opportunity as a free agent for a chance to become what he at least right now seems to be becoming. And that's, that's a guy that's willing to take on more of a role now. You know, you have to take it with a grain of salt a little bit because this is still a guy that's never started more than 29 games in a single season.
- [38:55]
Haley Salvian
Yeah.
- [38:56]
Kevin Kerr
So is he going to be able to, you know, maybe not double that, but is he a guy that's going to be able to start 41, even 41 games? That's pretty significant increase over 29 games. So you know, it's, it's, it's, it's looking good for him so far. And, and as well as the Flyers have played defensively, Lidar has certainly done his part. Mean, he has looked very good. The numbers reflect what at least I've seen from watching him play. He's, he, he, you know, he, he's a big guy. Right. He, he looks like he's aggressive at the right times. So you know, that's a hopeful thing. And, and Sean, I mean you're right, it's. Anyone can look at the Flyers team say percentage over the last couple years and, and yeah, if they get, if Ladar is even just, you know, if Lenar and Ersin combine to have just a league average save percentage, I mean that, that's a double digit increase in.
- [39:47]
Sean Gentile
Points was at 883 last year in between him and Fedatov and Kolasov. They, that group allowed almost 50 goals above expected. I mean that's, that, that is abysmal. So they don't need Dan vladara to be at 9:30 for 60 games to be better here. If they get a decent stretch from him for any amount of time, like things are going to look a lot different from them. Like you really can't overstate and Kev, to your credit, you haven't, you can't overstate how bad that goaltending has been. And I think the fact that they're getting and anything that looks even Halfway competent here is. Is a major change for sure.
- [40:21]
Kevin Kerr
And you have to look at it from Sam Erson's perspective, too, that he's still a young guy and, you know, midway through two seasons ago, midway through the year, Carter Hart goes away, and then it's Sam Marson, and literally for the last. This is not. This is. This isn't overstating at all. For the last year and a half, it's been Sam Erison and no legitimate NHL backups. So that's a lot of pressure to put on a kid who. I think he's 24 or 25 right now. Top. That's a lot of pressure to put on a guy when, you know, he had to know that he was the only guy that could stop the puck on a regular basis. When you've got Felix Sandstrom, Cal Peterson, Alexi Kolasov, Ivan Podotov. I mean, these guys, none of these four guys is in the NHL right now. So, you know, with. With Erison, I think you have to be a little bit patient with him, too. And like I said, he's going to get a chance to play some more. I think taking the pressure off of it, you know, Vildar taking the pressure off of him and also increasing the competition a little bit. That is going to be a good. Is going to be good for a guy like. Like Sam, because we've seen him pressure situations, not so much in Philadelphia, but on the international stage. I mean, he played well in the Four nations tournament. He only got one start. He shut out the Americans and, you know, a game that didn't mean anything to the Americans, but still he shut them out. And then he played very well in the world championships, too. So, you know, Danny Briere and Keith Jones both voiced their support for Sam and their belief in Sam before the season started. They're going to let this play out. You know, he's going to get his playing time. It's up to him now to see what he does with it, because his playing time might not be as much as he may be anticipated early if Lennar keeps going the way he did or way he is.
- [41:55]
Haley Salvian
All right, final question for you, Kevin, before we let you go. Owen Tippett, he was someone who was not happy with his 20, 24, 25 season. Only 20 goals in 77 games. That's fewer than the year before. Already has five this season through six games. Do we think we're seeing an Owen Tippett offensive emergency here this season?
- [42:15]
Kevin Kerr
Yeah, Tippett's an interesting guy because it seemed like throughout camp, Rick Talkett and really Torello last year was trying to do the same thing. Just trying to figure out where he fits because he's, he's a unique guy because he's got a ton of speed and he's got a great shot. But just, it was difficult for, for Tortorella especially to find anyone that he really had chemistry with. And I, frankly, I think Drake Talket is still trying to do the same thing. He's still trying to figure out which pieces fit in the top six, whether that's, you know, Trevor Zegers, he's moving around a little bit. He's got Christian Dvorak there now, played a little bit wing center. And Tippett's a guy that, you know, he, we've all seen the flashes of his offensive skill and you know, he's, he's even added a little bit of a physicality to his game. He's, he's, he's, he's a decent sized guy, so we'll see. But, but Tippett's a guy that, yeah, he, he struggled last year. I think it was a couple things. I think it was the lack of chemistry with anyone on the roster and, and I think, you know, he admitted he was pretty, he was pretty emotionally, I think he sagged a little bit when the Flyers traded some of his good friends, you know, Morgan Frost, Joel Friedby to Carib, to, to, to Calgary. Those were maybe his two closest friends in the dressing room. And Scott Lawton too, is a guy that everybody loved, so he did struggle with that. But yeah, he's, he's a driven guy. He signed here long term. He's an interesting case because the Flyers do have a lot of wingers and they've got, got another one coming next year probably in porter Martone, the 6 overall overall pick in last year's draft. But you know, for a guy that if he can become a regular 30 goal scorer, I think his salary, 6.2 million, I mean in a couple years, if, if he's, if he becomes a 30 goal scorer in a couple years, those guys are going to be making a whole lot more than $6 million. So it's going to be interesting to see what happens with him because he does have something to prove. I think this year he knows it because of his step back last year and, and, and he's, you know, right now he's one of the parts driving this offense.
- [44:16]
Haley Salvian
Lots of chew on for the Philadelphia Flyers this season. Thanks so much, Kevin. I think if you guys are listening and you Want to get more? Kevin has a great story what he's seeing from the Flyers after six games, a little bit more depth. I read that story and came up up with all my questions for the show. So if you were interested in those topics, just read the story too. Thanks Kevin.
- [44:35]
Kevin Kerr
Thanks guys.
- [44:39]
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- [46:16]
Haley Salvian
All right, welcome back to the Athletic Hockey Show. So we're just gonna go around the league the Jeff actually put the like title of the segment around the league Goofy. Kill time and show. That's the that's our plan here for the final segment of the Athletic Hockey Show. We actually do have a couple little news items that we can get to we don't need to be super goofy this time. The New York Islanders fired their goalie coach Pierre O. Greco on Wednesday and have brought in Sergey Nuamovsky, who has a history with starter Ilya Sorokin firing a goalie coach midseasons and this early it's not even mid season like early in the season is is a bit unusual, but it's pretty clear that the organization is trying to get Ilya Sorokin back on track. A 2, 3 and oh start 3.90 goals against average and an.873 save percentage. Sean, you had a lot of folks talking about how he was maybe technically the best goalie in the NHL. The stats haven't proven that and it seems pretty clear that the Islanders are trying to get that guy back.
- [47:22]
Sean Gentile
Yeah, across the board over the summer when we were doing the player tier stuff, didn't matter who we were talking to. Didn't matter whether it was a GM or a data, a data analyst or a coach or like everybody was on board with Sorokin being who. Maybe not the best goalie in the league, but closer than not. Right. Like a top, top tier guy. And I think what people were willing to do was look past the season he had last year. Right. A lot of that blame went to the Islanders overall as a team. I know someone like people continually talked about not just the amount of shots that he faced, but the quality of shots that he faced. That was a pretty poor. I think people still have it in their minds, maybe people who don't pay super close attention to the Islanders that this is the Barry Trots, Lou Lamarello, you know, choke you out defensively teams of a few years ago. And it's not like that's it. This is a team that, that struggles with structure and it struggles to, you know, limit, limit not just quality but, but, but quantity in, in front of Sorokin. So I think people were willing to, you know, look at that as an explanation for the, for the mediocre overall numbers that we saw from Sorokin last season. But clearly, man, Pierre Greco was on a. Piero Greco was on a, was on a short leash. Life as a goalie coach under Patrick was. Seems like it might be, might be difficult. I don't, I don't think I would want to be the goalie coach working for one of the greatest goalies to ever live. Right. So we, but we, we, we do see, you know, it is an interesting time to make a change, but I think it's also an indication really of, of how important Sorokin is to the overall state of things there. Like that guy is as close as they have outside of, outside of Matthew Schaefer, obviously to, to a franchise player. And if he's at his best, they're going to have a chance to contend for a playoff spot. And if he continues to play the way that he has in, in the first five or six games of the season, they're not going to have a chance a prayer. So I think they realize how important he is Obviously, and I, I think this is an interesting way to try to get him going by bringing in, you know, a, a coach who he's got some, some real experience with.
- [49:34]
Haley Salvian
GM Matthew Dar said that the change in the goalie coach was 100% his call. Like he didn't, he didn't necessarily address whether he and Sorokin had had a conversation about the move, but he said it was his decision. Like the players will never tell you I want this coach or that coach, but I think Matthew Darsh obviously knew that those two had had success together in the khl. They have a history, so we'll see if that helps out. Let's stick with the Islanders for a second here. First overall pick Matthew Schaefer is having a nice start to his rookie season. He's leading rookies in points with seven. He has two goals, five assists. Also leads all rookies. When we were doing our draft in the first week of the season with Dom, I was sitting here for the Calder and thinking like no one's picked Matthew Schaer yet. Maybe I should do that. You know what? I'm going to go with Z Bouyam just because maybe the Islanders aren't going to be good and no one's going to be getting points and Schaefer's not going to, not going to pop offensively.
- [50:35]
Sean Gentile
Yada yada, yeah, etc.
- [50:37]
Haley Salvian
Etc. I'm dumb. We're all dumb. He's having a great start again leading all rookies and he's also putting his skating talent on display. This is from Dom.16 stats and they track stats and skating and speeds and all this now through the NHL. So since the NHL's tracking era started in 2021, 22, there have only been 11 seasons in which a defenseman has had two or more 20 plus mile per hour speed bursts per game. Kale Makar's 2.6 per game in 20, 22, 23 is the highest Schaefer is averaging.5, 5 speed bursts. I'm doing that because like, whatever that means. He skates quick for a birth. It's like my dog Bono. He's got a quick speed burst. He said five speed bursts of 20 plus miles per hour.
- [51:36]
Sean Gentile
That's incredible. And that's, and that's was the book on him coming into the seat season. You know, if, whether it's Corey or Scott or any of our prospect guys, but also just, just generally scouting like that is his superpower. Is that, is, is that skating. So the fact that, you know, he has, you know, he's had the opportunity to show that off and really just generally be more. The fact that he's this dynamic just straight out of the gates is, it's, it's incredible. Like I, I and you know we talked about it a second ago Like 18 year old defenseman, like you think there's going to be some kind of learning curve and that's obviously true.
- [52:11]
Haley Salvian
We're just like a timidness but there's.
- [52:14]
Sean Gentile
There'S nothing but what I, what I will say is 18 year old defensemen who are picked at that point in the draft, there aren't many of them. Right. That's, it's, it's, it's Victor Headman, you know, it's, it's guys, it's guys like that, they tend to hold their own because it's an indicator of like, like high end talent and high end quality. Like those guys, you don't maybe are they gonna is do those kind of players lead rookies in points? Like maybe not necessarily but they also tend to tread water pretty well just because it's such an indicator of like extreme talent. Right. So I'm not surprised that Schaefer's doing well. I think there's enough track record of, of players with his profile doing something similar. But man, the fact that the production is where it is in the fact that he has the confidence and in usage and the confidence of the coaching staff to just be able to dial it up that far that frequently during games is wild in man, if we have a couple more Cale Makar clones running around the league league over the next couple years, I am not going to complain about that because there's nothing more exciting man than seeing, than seeing a defenseman, you know, pick up steam like that through the neutral zone and, and get to that level. So yeah, I'm psyched, I'm psyched about the Matthew Schaefer era so far.
- [53:40]
Haley Salvian
Yeah, that's just game changing. Break the game wide open kind of speed and also from 16 stats this isn't just all flash and speed. We mentioned the points. He also is 16th among defenseman and net rating to start the season again. 18 year old rookie who when you get a first overall pick like you expect they're going to be great. But I do think it's fair to say that he has exceeded expectations. Early in the season here Bo Horvat was on the NHL Network podcast with Mike Rupp hosted, I think it's called Players Only. And Bo Horvat said he's been phenomenal. In my opinion he is one of our best, if not our best player right now.
- [54:27]
Sean Gentile
Okay. Like Horvat says it, that's that. That's good enough for me.
- [54:30]
Haley Salvian
I agree with you. Bo Horvat, he looks great. Great start for Matthew Schaefer. They had a oh and three start to the season. The Islanders did. They've won three straight. So if Schaefer can keep this up, if Sorokin can get it together, maybe the Islanders will be a bit more interesting or just a little less bad this season. Let's get to to one more thought. We haven't really talked much about the Western Conference since the start of the show when we were poo pooing on the Calgary Flames. I do, I am sorry for that. With all the chat about the New Jersey Devils to the Colorado Avalanche. They are also at the top of the standings. And I want to mention The Martin Nathan McKinnon chemistry here. Yeah, through seven games, Natures has five goals and 11 points. Nathan McKinnon has six and 10. Basically all that damage has been at five on five and 84 minutes on a line with Arturi Lekkan. And Colorado's top trio has already outscored teams nine to one scoring six and a half goals per 60. That's courtesy of Dom16 stats. Again, just a great start for the Aves in general, but also their, their top line here. And because there was a lot of worry about what are the ABs going to do without Miko ran in. It's like, well, Martin Natures can slide in there and they're gonna look great.
- [55:49]
Sean Gentile
And they just was fantastic for the most part, especially in the regular season at least after, after they acquired him last season. Yeah, he'd been certainly had been good with Carolina. The issue for him always is following up great seasons with, with something similar. Right. He's, he's, he's had the chance to do that at a couple different points throughout his career. Hasn't happened happened. I think what we're seeing there, what we're seeing now with him is, you know, that kind of consistent, sustained play over multiple years that we haven't seen from him. And it's coming at a very fortuitous time for Martin niches because Martin Naches is a pending unrestricted free agent. So there is no better place to be if you're a forward of his type than riding shotgun with, with, with, with Nathan McKinnon during a contract year. So man, I'm, I'm watching this closely. I think everybody who has any any interest in, in the free agent market is as well. Like, I'm fascinated in seeing how much money Martin Nagis is. Is going to be worth on his next deal, whether it's in Colorado or elsewhere.
- [56:53]
Haley Salvian
The Colorado Avalanche play the Carolina Hurricanes today. Team we didn't really mention. But if the Devils are a team that want to be a top one in the east, like the Canes are, maybe the more obvious choice. They've had a nice start to the season. That is. That's a good hockey team too. Obviously that is probably the game to watch is avs. Canes tonight, as always. There's a ton of games on Thursday, 12 tonight, but I think that's the one I've circled today. Not Blackhawks, Lightning, Ducks, Bruins, Penguins, Panthers.
- [57:27]
Sean Gentile
Nope. Nope. No, thanks. This is gonna be. Yeah, this is. This is a Hurricanes. This is a Hurricanes Denver night over here.
- [57:34]
Haley Salvian
Yeah, Denver.
- [57:35]
Sean Gentile
The Denver Avalanche.
- [57:36]
Haley Salvian
Oh, what happened there? Yeah. 5, 510 start for the canes. 502 for the abs. That'll. That'll be a good game.
- [57:44]
Sean Gentile
Background. That's background during power rankings when I'm in hell dealing with the hated domestician.
- [57:50]
Haley Salvian
Yeah. It starts at 9:00 Eastern, though, so.
- [57:54]
Sean Gentile
It'S usually when we start writing. Honestly, it's fine.
- [57:57]
Haley Salvian
I thought you started writing at midnight.
- [58:01]
Sean Gentile
That is when I start to think about. Starting to think about writing. Is it? Is it? Is it 9 o'? Clock?
- [58:06]
Haley Salvian
Two years away from being two years away. Bruno Kabuclo. The gift that keeps on giving. All right, thanks everyone for listening to this episode of the Athletic Hockey Show. Thanks to Kurz for joining us. A good chat about the Philippines Philadelphia Flyers. Sean has once again done his job fine today. It was a fine effort.
- [58:25]
Sean Gentile
It is adequate. Thank you. We aim. We aim for adequacy.
- [58:30]
Haley Salvian
Passable podcast by the two of us. The Prospect boys have the next show tomorrow. Sean and I will be back next Thursday. Thanks everyone for listening. We'll see you next week.
- [58:44]
Mark
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