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About this Episode
Bare Knuckle Sports Talk 3_7_26
Transcript
Are you ready to know what you don't know about sports?
Well then, you are in the right place.
This is the Bear Knuckle Sports Talk Show, bringing you all fact, no fiction, and a little
bit of prediction.
And now, here's your host, Aaron Samuel, keeping it raw and real.
Welcome to Bear Knuckle Sports on your host, Aaron Samuel, how's everyone doing today?
All right, let's kick things off.
I got a lot to talk about today, lots on my mind.
But first thing, I got a couple of show-dots here, and the first one, this is going out
to Team USA hockey.
History was made in Milano, Cortino.
We all saw it.
2026 Olympics were the first time ever the United States swept Olympic gold in both the
men's and women's hockey.
That's right, men and women.
Both the teams had identical two-one overtime wins over Canada in dramatic fashion against
their biggest hockey rival on the planet, the Canadians, the men's victory.
It was especially historical, really.
It was their first Olympic gold medal in 46 years since the legendary Miracle on Ice
Team in 1980, where they beat the Russians.
And we all remember that.
It was a huge, huge game.
But this also was a huge, huge game, especially after the four nations last year when they
lost an overtime in dramatic fashion as well to Canada.
This time they get revenge over their rivalry, which I'm sure makes it even a little more
sweeter.
Was incredible.
We've got new kings and queens of the hockey world for at least the next four years.
So a big shout out there, men's and women's in the United States of America.
Great job.
Great games.
If you didn't get to see them.
It was a heck of a tournament just right down to the wire, nothing but excitement there.
It was amazing.
I also have a big shout out off in Cleveland, the Norwegian cross-country skier Superstar
made winter Olympic history becoming the all-time gold medal leader in winter Olympics ever.
He has 11 gold medals.
He won 11, 11 in his career.
Think about that for a second.
That is a whole lot of gold.
And he got six in Milano in 2026.
He sealed the record with a dominant performance in the 50 kilometer cross-country race to
maintain his place in history as the most decorated gold medalist.
The winter Olympics has ever seen.
He put those six with the three that he got and pie a giant in 2018 Beijing.
He got two, 2022, and then an incredible six.
There's nothing this guy can't do on cross-country skis.
There's nothing that anyone can do to stop him on cross-country skis.
It is absolutely incredible what he's done.
He's a beast.
He's got 11 gold, so a big shout out there.
Take a bow, Mr. Johannes, Norwegian cross-country skier.
I also want to talk.
I'm just going to throw this out there.
I know I'm a little bit late for the party, but hey, better late than ever.
I've had people email me and they want to know what my thought was on the half-time show
that Bad Bunny gave at the Super Bowl.
So I might be late getting to the party, but hey, let's get the party started.
The question was asked, I will answer.
I thought the Bad Bunny Super Bowl half-time show was more like a global party.
Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl half-time show into a full-blown international celebration.
Delivering a performance, I believe, absolutely a full-blown international celebration.
That's what it was.
Delivering a performance that he blended, music, culture, I thought it was absolutely unique.
It was the most unique half-time show that I can ever remember.
And think of this too, myself.
I don't even really know his music that well.
I know who he is, but I don't know his music, but I found myself vibing to it.
He had promised a party and a party you got the crowd.
If you looked in the crowd, they were having a good time.
They were dancing.
To me, it just proves that music has no boundaries, no language barriers.
It was different, yeah.
But it was a party, and it was a good time.
People were enjoying themselves.
The stage, yeah, I paid tribute to his Puerto Rican background and Latin culture and his
themes of family and football, and we even had a marriage going on.
So that was a real marriage.
When I say a marriage, there was an actual marriage that took place, and he had a couple of surprised
guest performers, Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, which added to the celebrity power and
star power out there.
I would say by the end of the show, it was proven, just brings people together.
Regardless of the language, it doesn't matter.
It felt like it was entertainment at its finest, and I already said it, when do you get an
actual wedding taking place at the time of the show?
I thought it was a good performance.
I thought it was a great performance.
I thought it was a good international.
I know some people were upset about it.
I didn't look too far into it in that sense, didn't really matter.
And I barely even knew the artist.
So, yeah, for me, to answer the questions that have been thrown my way, I think it was
a good halftime show.
I enjoyed it.
I think I am ready for another rock and roll halftime show, though.
And that's not to say that the reasons haven't been good.
It's just that it's been a while.
Let's have a rock and roll halftime show.
I don't know who we get, who we go after, but I do believe it's that time again.
We'll see what the NFL does for next year, who they bring on, but it was a good time.
It was a party.
It looked like people were enjoying themselves.
It was a good entertaining show.
So let's talk a little NHL.
We got the NHL trade deadline.
It's about to come and go.
There's been a lot of moves already.
Today's the last day the teams can try to strengthen themselves for the playoffs and for
the future.
And there's been a lot of big moves.
A lot of players have moved.
So I want to dive into some of the things that have gone on and see who's strengthening
themselves for this upcoming playoff push because that's what's going on.
We've got a big playoff push and teams want to want to get nuclear in time for the playoff
to see who has the best chance out there at Winnie and I stand in the cup and it's that
time.
So let's see what's going on.
Let's talk a little bit about some of the true contenders out there.
And I'm going to start off with a team that has struggled this year and they struggled
mightedably.
They haven't been able to put together any consistency whatsoever.
Their defense has been horrible.
They can play offense with anyone.
They can score bazillion goals.
That's not their problem.
Their problem is so they went out and they made two trades and I'm talking about the
Emerton Oilers.
They made two trades.
Goes is fishing to his old team.
The Chicago black hawks and makes the first move to pick up the fence man corner Murphy.
This is a shutdown to fence man.
Where's the letter?
War letter in Chicago.
Was their main guy?
What's he do?
He kills penalties.
The oilers are at the near the bottom of the league when it comes to penalty killing.
He's physical.
He's not going to get you many points.
That's not why they brought him in.
That's not the problem with the Emerton Oilers.
It's playing defense.
They haven't been able to do it at all, very well, very consistently.
They made a separate move as well, later on, center Jason Dickinson from the Chicago
black hawks as well.
Again, his numbers aren't going to well you.
That is not why they brought him in.
They didn't bring him in to score.
They have enough guys on their roster already that can fill the net on a regular basis.
What they need to do is stop their net from getting filled and then maybe they got a
true chance.
Let's talk the Pacific.
I mean, it's wide open.
Who's going to get it going?
Because no one in that division has got it going this year.
No one has grabbed the bull by the horns.
Whether that's Vegas and I'm it just doesn't matter.
Nobody wants to own that division Seattle and it's a dog fight.
So the oilers get better defensively, which is what they needed to do.
Does this solve their problem?
Well, I'm going to say kind of that's not really a good answer.
It's not the answer most people want to hear.
They should be better defensively, but the existing roster needs to learn to play better
defense as well and it's something they haven't done very well this year.
They just haven't.
Unless the rest of the team can pick up their defensive game as well, it doesn't really
help you.
It helps you a bit, but it doesn't overall turn the needle.
Now can this team maybe find their defensive merit?
They recently brought back Paul coffee to coach the defense after he left last year.
He's now back.
Will this make a difference?
I think it will make a difference.
They need to get more consistent between the pipes as well.
And with some of the names that were available for goalies out there, I was really hoping they
might somehow make a big swing and try to go out and get Bob Rossi from Florida, who has
been a stud.
I understand he's 32, 38 years old and he's having a bit of a down year when the chips are
on the line there.
And they're throwing it all in.
This is a guy you can go to war with.
So I was hoping they would do that and they're familiar with what he can do.
Heck, he went out and beat them the last two years in a row at the Stanley Cup final.
That would have been the sort of move I was hoping they were going to make.
But they had themselves handcuffed and they did do some maneuvering with what they did
for one, they got rid of Andrew Mag Mag Mag Japanese contract.
Now it cost them their 2027 first, but I don't think that matters.
I really don't.
It makes no difference at this point in time where the oilers are about futures.
They're not concerned about futures.
Conor McDavid said it himself right now draft picks where they are.
Doesn't matter.
This team is in their window.
They've got two more years after this year with Conor McDavid after that, I believe
he's gone.
So I only signed a two year deal.
I don't think there's any chance that he's staying here.
I do believe the only chance you got of possibly him staying is if you can go out and win
a Stanley Cup.
And there's no guarantee there.
So I like what they did.
They still got to get better defensively and they got to figure it out quick.
Like I said, it's a dog fight.
You're a couple points out of first, you're also a couple points out of missing the playoffs.
And I don't think there's any chance that this team misses the playoffs, but you don't
want to be one of the two wild cards and have to go up against say Dallas, Minnesota
or Colorado in the first round.
It's a much easier path if you can come through the Pacific and worry about one of those teams
when you get to the conference final.
Do you think that the Oilers are a team that anyone wants to face in the first round?
This is a team that has been to back to back Stanley cups.
Like they get in, they could become a fire wagon real fast if they learn to play defense
because they can score goals like a machine.
If they can figure out the defense, there's nothing stopping this team from going on yet
another deep run.
I really see it that way.
They could go out and they could cause havoc.
I don't think anyone wants them in the playoffs, not in the first round.
They get in.
There's no way you're looking at them and saying, oh boy, this is a soft match up.
No, in a seven game series, this is the sort of team that will give you nightmares
because they can score so many goals.
And if they figure out a little bit of defense, I think they went out and did a good job.
I think it was a nifty bit of shopping, shopping done by Bowman.
I really do.
Like you can talk about July 1st, all you want in the mistakes he made.
But this was a nifty bit of shopping needle.
He looked at the team he could see as everyone could wear the problems lie.
The defenseman a righty that he can slot in into that second pairing and got that right.
Connor Murphy, that's right.
He's going to do well there.
I think he really is.
And Jason Dickinson, his metrics tell you he is one of the best shutdown centers out
there.
And he was playing on a not very good team for the last couple years in Chicago, which
is big because that means when you've got face offs in the defensive zone, you can put
someone else out there and feel comfortable other than Connor or Leon.
So it takes away some hard minutes there.
I think Jason Dickinson was a good pick up.
Yes, the price was a little steep, but they got what they were looking for.
And I haven't even mentioned the fact that Colton Doc comes home.
He's from Fortes of Saskatchewan.
He might not make an impact this year, but this is a young player that will help you
down the future.
He's just figuring out his game.
He's a second round picked back in, it was at 2022, yeah, 2022.
So he gets thrown in there as well.
I think it was a nifty bit of shopping done by the Edmonton Oilers.
They fell some holes.
We'll see if it helps them.
If they can get hot, get on and run.
Look out.
That's all I'm going to say.
We'll take a quick break.
We'll be right back with more.
You're listening to bare knuckle sports on the breastroom media network.
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Welcome back to Baronuckle Sports on your host Aaron Samuel NHL trade deadline.
We're talking about what some of the teams out there have done and hasn't been enough.
Isn't it?
Who's done the most?
Increase their chances to push deep and possibly win a Stanley Cup because let's be honest
as well.
You look at the east.
There's no Panthers.
They're not making the playoffs this year so you don't have to worry about running that
gauntlet and having to worry about maybe facing Florida who's been riddled by injuries
this year.
I think this is the year that everything is wide open and I want to talk about a sneaky
good pickup I feel and that is when I look at Utah.
They went out Mackenzie Weeger from the Calgary Flames for Olimata and three seconds that
are all be in 2026 so this is a big haul for the Calgary Flames.
It's a big haul.
I think they did did well there Calgary but Mackenzie Weeger he's having a bit of a down
year but this guy is a real deal on the blue line too and Utah they're saying hey we
recognize that the west is achievable.
We recognize that there's a possibility to get out of this and really do some damage.
I think Mackenzie Weeger he strengthens that blue line a bad blue line already and I
just feel like it was a sneaky sneaky good pickup to go out there they had the draft
but why not get it done right Mackenzie Weeger will make a difference to the Utah.
I'm telling you right now that they will they they will make a legitimate to me that's
a good one that's a great pickup Utah they go oh they get it it's solid defense man
and yeah they're they're better team for it they are a better team for it Tyler Myers
this is a guy Detroit tried to go out and get and he used his power of no movement clause
and said I'm not going to Detroit he didn't want to be a red wing so they end up moving
him someplace it was more to his liking and he goes to Dallas Dallas gets Tyler Myers
who should really help an already really good hockey team I have no doubt about it he's
a tower back on the blue line he has roots in Texas he grew up in Houston so in a sense
it's a bit of a homecoming for him he's still got family and friends out there in the
state of Texas and he's a tower at six foot he's a big man with a big wing span he is
going to help that team and they are a wagon already Dallas who has lost the last two
years in a row in the conference final two damage and oilers are trying to get over that
hump and I think they're right there they're they're right there so Tyler Myers that's
a good pickup and waves is no trade says I'm not going to Detroit so they end up shipping
him off and he heads out Dallas is a really good hockey team they are the team in my opinion
in the West they they are the best team in the West I know Colorado got off to their
hot start their number one hope in the West and I look at recent play the team to beat
is the stars they are that good they're that good and there was talkable that moving
Robertson I think they might move him but it well you knew it wasn't a move that was
happening today that's not something they're doing at the deadline why would they try
to eliminate their chance of the winning the Stanley Cup it makes no sense to me whatsoever
just none it just didn't make any sense to me Colorado's been busy they bought him Brett
Kool-Ack this guy here he he comes comes in from Pittsburgh Pittsburgh picked him up
earlier in the year from Edmonton he's been to the Stanley Cup final the last two years
in a row and he's been solid he was solid in the playoffs reliable nothing flashy it
cost him what it cost him Samuel Gerard in a second for for Kool-Ack which again we're
talking a depth defenseman you can never have enough defenseman for a playoff push you
just can't it it's the way it is when you're talking about the playoffs you need defense
there's injuries that happen you cannot have enough I can't stress it enough you can't
have enough defenseman so Brett Kool-Ack is a good pick up in Pittsburgh I like what
they're doing there they go get Kool-Ack pick up and then they weren't they weren't
done shopping there Colorado I talked about what they've done this year and this team got
off to such an amazing amazing start to the season it it looked like no one was going
to be able to stop them well they haven't been the same for a while now and I said that
the stars are the best team so they go get Kool-Ack to help and then they bring in a third
line center and they go out and they get Nicholas Roy this is a guy that has a Stanley
copy played on Vegas for a long time and he's still got one year remaining on a five year
contract so this is more than just a rental this is a guy that makes three million a year they're
bringing him in and they recognize that maybe they're not the same team so they've strengthened
their blue line they've strengthened their third line center I think was a great pick up I
really do I think I think that was a great pick up I was kind of hoping the Oilers might go
after them but I wasn't disappointed when I saw that they got Dickinson because I do think
Dickinson is just a shutdown specialist and the Oilers needed help but we're talking Colorado
they got it done they're making making things happen and they also brought in Nick Blankenberg
for a fifth from from Nashville which is again it's just the depth it's the depth and he's having
his best year ever in the NHL as well so Colorado has gotten better they knew they had to get
stronger get tougher and play better if they wanted to be the team that they look like at the
start of the year and get by Dallas and Minnesota who I haven't even mentioned right and and they did
they did I really like I like both those pickups I like the fact that they went out move for a
third line a third line they got a depth defenseman who's gonna play on your third pairing which
a heck of a deal so we'll see if uh if that can help help them win another Stanley Cup
because that's the goal in Colorado it's Stanley Cup we're talking about contenders right now
what the contenders have done thus far because we're not done there's still time out there
for these guys and do more and that's exactly what'll happen Minnesota Wild they got shopping early
this year we saw what they did brought in Hughes probably the biggest move of the year you're
gonna see I mean that one was monstrous but what else have the wild done because they're
writing that group as well that central is crazy when you're talking Colorado Minnesota and Dallas
like those are three really good teams so they went out got veteran defenseman as well and they
went out brought in 38 year old Petri from the Panthers gives them a right shot defenseman with
some depth he's been around he's got the experience that is worth worth note that is worth note because
Petri has been pretty solid for a long time for a long time so that that to me is a big deal
I also wonder though about the rumors out there surrounding when it comes to Vincent Trochick
of the New York Rangers now apparently there were some teams out west that had a deal in place he
used his no trade he said he's he's not interested in going out west he has I I think it's uh
16 team no trade clause but Minnesota has been linked to him in multiple rumors now for the last
week and a half and I wonder I wonder would he go to Minnesota that's really not that far west
if Bill Garen could get that done that would be a monstrous monumental move for the Minnesota wild
so I'm keeping a close eye on that one can Bill Garen close a deal can he get it done I'm not sure
if he does or if he doesn't but it's something to watch it's absolutely something to watch they
also went on got to Michael Karen so Michael Karen is a big body rugged player and when it comes to
playoffs I've said it many times before you can never have enough big bodied tough players the
reason being the playoffs are different beasts you're playing every night every other night seven
game series against the same team things get ugly they get nasty that's just the way way it rolls
right so you need those big it is just hard of what is going on out there so Minnesota have they
done enough when you look at that central I said you know to me the Dallas stars are the team to be
but how much how much separation is there between the wild the avalanche and the stars I don't
think there's a whole lot there's very little that separates these two these three teams sorry
my math is a little bit off I can't count to three today these three teams so it'll be interesting
to see and I expect I was talking about whoever can come out of this Pacific I think it's obviously
much easier route to the Stanley Cup than going through the central and I think these three teams
are gonna beat the heck out of each other right what sort of shape are they gonna be in by the time
whoever emerges makes it to the conference final which is why depth again will be so important
so important for for these teams so I I look at it they're they're loading up they know they
got to go through each other it's gonna be a gauntlet it always is we'll wait and see what happens
we're gonna take another quick break we'll be right back with more you're listening to bare
knuckle sports on the brushwood media now time out oh right remember we're a team that placed
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to bare knuckle sports on your host Aaron Samuel parking NHL trade deadline because it's some it's
upon us today and is the last day that you can make a move and what about the upstart Buffalo Sabers did
anyone have them on their bingo card as possibly being the best team in the east this year are right
there with the Tampa Bay Lightning there's no one that saw this coming since December they have
played amazing hockey that's just just what they've done they have been that good and now they've
gone out and they've added to more on defense they might have in the whole NHL Logan Stanley big
defenseman who's having a heck of a year a heck of a year they got him to strengthen their back in
and Logan Stanley is the real deal he is big and mean if you haven't watched this guy play
he might not get enough love he really might not but he's that big nasty that you don't want to
mess with you just don't so I think Logan Stanley I look at the Buffalo Sabers and I'm like is
the number one who is there who's the biggest foal that they got to run through I think it's wide
open this year I really do I just I think going out and getting Logan Stanley and they got oh
and they got Luke Shen as well Luke Shen and Logan Stanley from Winnipeg so these are two big veteran
defensemen I think that they probably have the best blue line in the NHL I really do the best blue
line in the NHL the Buffalo Sabers they had tried to get Colton parakell that one fell through he
said no I'm not going to Buffalo which really surprised me I thought he might wave that even
though it's Buffalo just because of the way they're playing maybe you know they might be able to
entice him that was that was a move that I found would have would have been incredible but they still
got two solid defensemen and he's still at three years left they might be they might have also
dodged a bullet because parakell has not been the same player that that he was earlier in his career
we can say that he's still a big strong solid defenseman you you could protect them in his role in
Buffalo so I think it would have been a good fit I just I like what they did I really do they pivoted
they went okay parakell you're not coming to Buffalo we're going to find someone with Buffalo
Sabers man could they win the Stanley Cup this year like how crazy is that to think of could they
win the Stanley Cup well they could they are that good and they got better they they just did they
they go out it just shows how important it is to get solid defense in the NHL especially going to
the NHL playoffs and their defense looks pretty darn good now I mean they got all in power as well
uh ramis ramis delin born buyer uh metsa who is pretty darn good they're they're just you look
at their team they now have Logan Stanley Luke Shen this is a really really good blue line and
they are going to put the fury into people they really are and they're big it's a big blue line
and they got more physical by bringing in Shen you know there's a little something that that
you're you're getting there that you really didn't have that Shen Shen has a mean streak I don't
care what his age is at he's still got a mean streak and when when the games matter the most this
guy has been there and he is dangerous absolutely so big shout out there he got to be how how can
you not be rooting for the sabers after all they've been through after all they've been through in
recent years and I say recent years it it seems to have run forever how how can you not how can
you not can you imagine if the Buffalo sabers all son make the playoffs this year and they go out
and they win the Stanley Cup like that would be absolutely crazy right but it might not be that
far fetch a team that has been pretty quiet out there so far which is surprising to me and I don't
I don't expect that they will be is probably the other team that I'm watching closely out east
which is the Tampa Bay Lightning so far they haven't really gone out and made that hand turning
sort of move that you're like oh here we go they're they're strengthening their team but they're
connected to there's all sorts of rumors out there got lot of the Toronto Maple Leafs and all
of our Ekman Larson of the Toronto Maple Leafs and this makes a lot of sense to me give you depth
on your forward with Lawton tossing plays pretty good defensive game which I've talked about is so
important but then all of our Ekman Larson at 34 year old years old this guy is really supposed to
be past his prime but he's having one of the best years of his career and he just wrapped up
in the Olympics with Sweden where he was teammates with Tampa Bay's victor headman and he looked
pretty good playing the blue line for Sweden as well so we'll see if this comes through or if it
doesn't I just think it makes a lot of sense plus he's want to Stanley Cup that experience you can
never ever look at and say well it doesn't matter because it does he want to Stanley Cup in 2024
with the Panthers Panthers so he knows what it's like to win he knows what it what it takes to win
and he's trustworthy he's trustworthy out there and then you got Lawton if they can get that done
a bottom six center it will definitely increase their chances as well so I'm keeping a close eye on
that one because it just makes a lot of a lot of sense to me it makes a lot of sense and you've
got to know the Tampa Bay they're not going to sit down and sit there well everyone else around him
is getting better that's not how the lightning go out and do business I could see that just what
how big of a move are the lightning going to make another team that hasn't done anything yet
and I guess the question is should this team do something and it's the Montreal Canadian I'm talking
about this is a team that has turned the corner they made the playoffs last year they went on
the first round they're right there in the thicket things again a couple points from a wall card
or a couple points from division lead where do the Montreal Canadians go where are they right now
as an organization in the overall scheme of things I think the way this team has played they got
to go and do something to help this team they got to go out and say you know what guys you did it
again this year we've taken another step and we have as management are going to help you
I'm just not sure how they go about it if if I'm Montreal and I think Montreal is a pretty good
team I don't know how you package this together but does surgery but bubrowski makes sense to the
Montreal Canadians to me it does this is a move that makes a lot of sense to me I just don't
understand if they'll do it and what the asking price might be you know the Florida's going to want
a huge haul if they're giving away bubrowski but this guy's a U of A at the end of the year
and he hasn't had a strong season so I don't know if they'll go make a move like that and just
don't know if the Canadians go that way it's because that's a big move there's a lot of moving parts
that would happen I just don't know if they've got the got the appetite right now try to pull off
a move like that again I think the east is wide open for anyone so if I'm managing if I'm
can use and I'm running the Montreal Canadians I'm going well why not us why not us why can't we
break through and go on and run why can't we get back to the dance and I I think it's time I think
they have to go out and do something and I think you have to reward your team for what they've done
thus far I I would do it I've heard the name white cloud in trade rumors connected to
Montreal I think we've all heard that right Calgary picked him up earlier in the year would he
make sense he would I could see that I don't know I don't know what happens they picked him up in
the Ramassanderson trade the flames did earlier this year I just don't know if it makes a whole
lot of sense I would like to see him go make a big splash I don't think they will I like what the
Canadians have done this year though this is a good young hockey they are ready I haven't even
touched on some of the moves that have happened around the NHL and more to come as they weaponize
and get ready for their big playoff pushes I sit here and I take a look at a team like the van
Cooper connox who are selling everyone they are selling everyone they can they're in complete tank
mold and that's all right I guess that's all right he's a name that has come up time and time
again I don't think he's getting moved not at the deadline why would you handcuff yourself and move
this guy at the deadline when if you wait until the summer then you can talk to everyone every team
I don't think he's going to be in van Cooper per se next year I could see this move happening I
just think it is a move that happens in the offseason just makes more sense to me there Jason
Robertson is another one I kind of touched on that there was talks about Dallas moving off him
now I'm not saying no way as into it's never happening it just wasn't happening right now when
they are this close to possibly you know winning the Stanley Cup and the playoffs haven't started
but they have to be one of the strong favorites to get them so you hold on to them that's a move
that takes place in the offseason it just it just does there's no way that happens right now
and Nazum Cadrian Calgary been on everyone's top trade list for I don't know how long now
it has not happened is it going to happen I don't know it sounds like the flames they're willing
to move him he's got a not sure if it's a full no trade or a partial no trade but he controls at
least his destiny somewhat but they don't want to retain any salary and I don't blame him there's
another three years left on his deal why would you want to retain that salary for the next three
years and give someone a gift for this reason alone I have my doubts whether or not
cadre gets moved I I could see him possibly getting moved in the offseason again these are some
of the moves that that you might see in the offseason Jordan Beenington who has struggled
mightily this year in St. Louis he's been on that sort of trajectory that he might get moved
well it doesn't look like there's any takers there either and yeah he looked good at four nations
he looked good at the Olympics but look at the team he's hand in front of him I understand
he's won a Stanley Cup and he's a big game player but there's a lot of risk with that and what
is the asking price St. Louis wants I mean it's probably through the roof we know that Robert
Thomas's name has been out there again for all sorts of rumors that he was getting moved but
apparently St. Louis everything and more for this guy and I kind of get it I understand he's
he's a true number one center they don't come along very well but he also comes with risk he's
not having quite as good a year he's had injury issues but he's young these are all moves to me
that makes sense that happen sometime in the offseason not now at the trade deadline so I think
the big players we haven't I also didn't talk about Carolina and Carolina just seems to be lurking
in the weed someplace I'm waiting for them to make a move they've been right there with a really
decent team for the last I don't know how many years but they can never really get to that next
level with the east as wide open as it I feel it is this year it really is watch for them I don't
know that they don't they just seem to be sitting there waiting that haven't done anything yet they
don't seem to get the guy they want for whatever reason I'm not sure why that is but they're lurking
in the weeds and I'm waiting to see what they do before the end of the day as well I'm sure they
recognize that the east is wide open and if there's ever been a better chance to get to the Stanley
Cup it might just be this year so we'll wait to wait and see what happens in the offseason could we
be looking at some bigger moves like I mentioned some of the guys out there already but I'm going
to throw this name out there and I spoke about it it must have been two months ago I was talking about
it is time for the Toronto Maple Leafs to move off of Austin Matthews and get what they can for him
so after this season there's two years left on his contract he says he he says all the right
things he wants to be in Toronto loads being there well you're going to love being there when
they're rebuilding could Toronto ship and everyone out they've had a horrible year they never could
get over the hump when they had their core together as good as they were and never came together so
is this the time when you see what you can get this summer and you move off of Austin Matthews I
think it is if I'm the Toronto Maple Leafs I'm pulling the trigger I'm sending them down the road
someplace this summer you just you just got to move off it I really do and I wonder I don't know
Dallas would they have an appetite for Austin Matthews say for Jason Robertson and however they
work that deal does that make some sense it kind of does to me it kind of does to me and I could
I could see that going going on out there I really could I think this offseason is going to be
really interesting as I think there's going to be a lot of big names in the news getting moved
and a lot more in the rumor mill I want to throw a Brady Kitchuck now here's a guy I think
that his days and Ottawa are numbered people might call me crazy I just think Brady Kitchuck
and Ottawa have have run its course now what sort of trade would you make for a Brady Kitchuck
where's he going I think your suitors would be lined up around the block and you could probably get
a pretty big haul for a player like Brady there's no doubt about it I don't know who the best
suiter is for or where you go I could speculate all I want but at the end of the day I have a
sneaky feeling Brady Kitchuck you might not be an Ottawa senator at the start of next season and
E.L.S. Pederson and Van Cougar does this thing have finally come to an end do they move off of him
well he comes with that 11.5 million dollar price tag now who are you getting are you getting the
guy who got a hundred points a few years ago are you getting to who he's been more recently a new
senior for this guy I think would make all the difference in the world I really do and I do
think there would be enough takers out there interested in them there's enough upside but it does
come with it comes with a pretty big risk I don't know where you go I'll have more next week I
can't wait for this deadline to come and pass and we can see all the moves that have happened
out there I still think the Pacific run through Edmonton and Vegas I don't know if Seattle even makes
the playoffs I think they're a team that could follow I really do I look at them and I'm like
are they in Anaheim Anaheim is a good young team but you're not going to sell your future yet
you got to let these guys get their feet wet get into the playoffs and see where it goes from
there that's my take Anaheim is is real close but they're not quite there yet they're just
just taking that next step so we'll see where they go in the off season if I had to pick I'm
going Dallas right now my my gut tells me Dallas is the team they've looked so much better they've
added some pieces they recognize just how open it is to win a Stanley Cup this year they've got
solid goal tending salt they play a solid defense of game they've added added some pieces to make
them better look out for them I I think they're the team to watch them in the oilers I want to
mention the oilers as well because if this team figures out defense they just might finally get
the prize that they've been chasing for so long and come up just short getting it the last two
years this might be their opportunity and out east it's it's open for interpretation let's see
what everyone does I really like the Buffalo Sabers and how can you not not only are they finally
going to make the playoffs they have a chance to win it be the top seed in the east and go on
to represent the east in the Stanley Cup this is not fairytale storytelling time this is the
reality and I'm telling you nobody had this nobody had this other bingo card at the start of the
year if they say they did I say they're lying there's no way so we keep it close I on what goes on
you got to love this time of the year all the all the moves and there's been so many lots of
little moves that I didn't talk about I just wanted to key on a couple teams and the reason that
I did that is because I think there's a couple teams that are just have a little better shot
you know to to get it done Vegas and I Vegas is another team in the Pacific I want to
just before I get off this topic biggest issue like the oil is this season has been golden in
is this a team Vegas always seems to get their their man they somehow move stuff around and make
it happen could they go out and get Bob Rossi from Florida if they did look out they really need
a goalie or would they take a fire on on a Jordan Bennington I'm not so certain they go that way
we'll have to see I I think they're they need a goalie if Vegas is to do anything even with the
moves they've made they're much like the oilers their goal-tending is way too inconsistent way
to meet a car be able to do what you need to go on a deep run so it wouldn't surprise me to see
them go out and try to get a goalie I don't know how they would make it happen but they always
seem to be able to make it happen and I scratch my head and go how did Vegas do that again how did
they pull that off they it's just just what they do we also got the NFL free agency coming up
right away moves about to happen in the NFL and I haven't even touched on it but I do want to say
is this the year that the Dallas Cowboys actually spent some money in free agents they went out
and reworked the contracts of Dak Prescott CD Lam Tyler Smith they they've they've tried to
free up as much money as they can freeing up that money is great it'll help you out now next year
it'll put you in a in a worse place they went out do the franchise tag on pickings I I would
love to have seen them get him signed and it would have given you more flexibility but that's not how
the Cowboys do business we all know that that's just not how they go out and do things I'm really
curious if they actually spend some money to try to help out that defense which was not very
good this year to say the least down around the bottom of the league in almost every category so
they they they talk a good game they say they're ready to do anything Jerry Jones the owner whatever
it takes he's willing to do anything well that's great for the media sounds great but come for
agency is he getting day three day four day five players or is he actually going to go out and
spend money and what about the rumors about Max Crosby is this guy out of Vegas played as
asking I believe he is and I don't think Vegas wants this to hang around and sit over top of
their head while they try to figure out what's going on they're about to hopefully draft their
franchise quarterback we know who they're taking first overall they're in transition they're moving
in a different way and what sort of hall could they get for Max Crosby is this something that makes
sense for the Dallas Cowboys could they even make it happen I know they've been rumored out there
with many others would they do this can they do this I'm interested to see where Max Crosby goes I
think Dallas look out maybe this maybe this is a splash that Jerry Jones makes this year I don't
think that the hall would be as big for Vegas as it was for persons for a couple different reasons
numbers aren't as good he's a little bit older but his overall defense of play might be better like
this guy is attacking machine he gets after the quarterback he gets the rush he gets his double
digit sats he's a real deal I would love to see him I don't know makes a lot there's a lot of
teams out there that make sense when you're talking Crosby when you're talking a guy this good I mean
you look at the Chicago Bears who just moved DJ Moore to Buffalo which I think is good for Buffalo as
well they got DJ Moore they finally go get their receiver I don't think they're done there I think
they're gonna add another receiver as well you know that's that's that's the play but Max Crosby
what about the Chicago Bears to me that makes a lot of sense this is a team that has their quarterback
under their entry level contract right now we've seen the steps they've taken they are true
contenders they're really good team that was on the rise last year and I suspect they'll be even
better next year so Max Crosby there the Patriots that's another place watch for the Patriots to
get active in that one everyone who has a team should be making the phone call to Vegas to see
what the asking price is see if they can make something happen because players like this they're
not available that often they just are not so when they're when they're around you got the
opportunity you got to get it done does Aaron Rogers reunite with Mike McCarthy and Pittsburgh that's
something if I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers I don't want any part of it you got to move on from Aaron
Rogers it is time you know maybe he goes to Minnesota there's been talk about that I don't know
but I'm not sitting around waiting on my hands for Aaron Rogers to make up his mind whether he's
playing whether he wants to come back to Pittsburgh like you have to move on you just have to
and I talked about Buffalo they made a trade they're good DJ more I really think they should go out
and make a big push to sign Mike Evans as well DJ more Mike Evans give Josh Allen some weapons
like he's never never had before I really believe that and Kyla Murray where's he going well
I just talked about possibly Aaron Rogers goes to many but maybe Kyla Murray he's the one that
he goes to many and rekindles his career he's the next you know former number one that goes
someplace and just lights it up and what about AJ Brown is he getting moved from Philly it just
feels like that's time like it it's it's it's now it should happen right now you got to move on
from AJ Brown so I I actually expect I know they say they're oh they're not shopping them they're
not moving them well I I'm not so certain that's the case I think AJ Brown will not be an eagle
at the start of next season I think they're gonna move on and then Kirk cousins what can he get
on the free agency market this year he always seems to land something I'm not sure what what
happens with him this time around and then you got the reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker the
third he didn't sign the Seahawks didn't sign him so where's he going that'll be interesting
to watch too we'll talk a little bit more about that next week that's about all the time I have
for today thanks for listening you've been listening to bare knuckle sports on the Brushwood
Media Network do it again next week any questions comments hit me up you know how to get hold of me
bare knuckle sports talk 99 at gmail dot com you've been listening to the bare knuckle sports
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