Playoff Outlooks with Eddie Olczyk + Golden Knights Slide

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All right.

Let's get her going.

It's a real kipper and born show, it is our national edition of our show.

We're live on SportsNet, 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary and streaming always on SportsNet

Plus also available on Spotify Apple Podcast and YouTube where we appreciate the chats and

the thumbs up for our boy, Sammy and JB.

None for me.

I got to behave this today.

Is that right?

Yeah.

That's fine.

Yeah.

We got guests.

We can let the guests do the talking.

And we got a good one in Eddie Old Chuck, former NHLR, does a great job now on TNT.

He'll join us in a few minutes as a reminder, this hour of real kipper and born, brought

to you by bet, three, six, five that Kipper Hill is Justin born, Sammy McKee.

All right.

Boys, where do you want to go?

I want to talk.

Did you guys happen to watch Montreal Ottawa last night?

I did.

Yeah.

It was a really good game.

Great game.

I mean, one that electric sequence.

And a really, really good goalie in Montreal last night.

Yeah.

And Valor was fantastic.

It was great.

I actually was going to bring up the other goalie who made some big saves early.

Yeah.

That's second goal of the wrap around.

Could you have had less equipment on the goal line?

Could you have gotten out of the way any more than he did?

I'm just saying he's been good.

I know.

Ottawa has been good.

But this is the thing where it's like, you just need, I didn't like the game winning

goal, for sure.

Damn it off.

I know that they only gave up three goals or whatever, but it's like, you just need that

one more.

And this is Ottawa season in a nutshell.

Can't give out their rebound.

No.

To me, that's the equivalent of being tied late and getting three guys caught behind

the net.

Right.

That's a bad pitch that caused a two on one, like that's, that is, that is the mistake

of that rebound.

What's worse about the rebound is he acts like he's got it or he thinks he's got it,

which might be even worse for so long because he's not feeling it right or something.

Did you get, do we have any sound of his post game interview?

Yeah.

No.

Okay.

Yeah, we'll play it a little later.

Find it.

I mean, if you ask me like any time today, I know, I know what he said, I was just really

standoff, standoffish with the, the, the media and the questions, like it's like,

uh, you just try to like, I can't remember the term that he used, but it was like, uh,

it was a, it was a reply I've never heard in any post game interview in my life.

He is.

And it was just like, yeah, good point.

Yeah.

That's a good point too.

And then I was it.

They just let him off the hook.

Well, no, I don't know if they let him off the hook or it's just he's, he's just one

of those guys where it's like, you, you want, you'd rather be a million miles away than

answering your question and no matter whether or not you threw him a softball or anything

you otherwise, this was his answer.

That's a lot of his petters and I just, yeah, that's exactly what it, it was.

It was like, I have no time for you guys.

Let's get this over with.

And I'm moving on.

But boy, was that game fast back and forth?

So we showed the, the, if you're watching on poor setter and YouTube, they showed the,

the crowd pop in the Montreal, Canadians like, they make fun of the leaf fans were taking

over.

But I mean, that has fans.

It's like, that's a joke.

I got, I mean, that's in Ottawa.

In Ottawa.

Well, they, they used to court those fans, right?

Like they're supposed to go back and it's, you're in a playoff race.

It's a big game.

Everybody's talking about how big a game is your own building.

And that's the pop.

It's like, God, that's embarrassing.

No wonder people make fun of the sense.

Like that's, how do you let, like, that's crazy.

It's tough.

They've been not great.

They're in a tough spot to get people in the, they're in the playoffs the first time in

the forever last year.

They got two young players.

That's, that's a bad one.

I know, I know it was a tough loss, but they're still trending up and Detroit's trending

down.

Oh, I know.

Detroit, uh, two weeks without Dylan Larkin and Cobb and two weeks, that ended up.

Yeah.

Two of your best players right there.

There's not a lot of time for, there's not a lot of time for another, for other teams,

but I, I look at Ottawa with their loss last night and I still go there, there's time here

guys to, to make the playoffs.

They're absolutely is.

And that's why it's tough to watch those games where they just keep, I'm like by expected

everything.

They're just one of the best teams, top five defensive team of my buddies.

As this ends fan just keeps texting me, Valley was right.

Valley was right about all Mark Valley, Valley called it before the season.

Yeah.

I'm pretty sure he called it last year when he signed there.

Yes.

Then he was like this guy.

If you get him away from the, the, the, the duo, see how it goes, blah, blah, blah.

I'm not sure he wanted to be the guy to be in the, blah, blah, blah, I didn't, shouldn't

say that about Valley.

Yeah.

No, but it's the Yadayata.

The other news with the Ottawa Senators is that they're getting their

first round pick back that was taken away from them in the Donov trade, which was done

by Pierre Dorian.

Dorian to Vegas.

I'm going to file a claim to the league to get the least picked back from the carload

trade.

Pierre Dorian.

Pierre Dorian was very loyal.

Um, Pierre Dorian, obviously Mike and Lauer has been very public about this.

Yes.

I guess stated a strong enough case to get them to change their minds.

I, I think it's a real win for Ann Lauer, you know, he was outspoken about it.

There was precedent with the Koval Chuck deal.

They wielded it effectively.

He's willing to pay the million dollars to get another pick.

I think Kudos to him got a pick back.

Do you think there's a little bit of, we got to help these guys out?

I think there's more a, we can't cut their legs out from under them.

You know, they just paid what he paid almost a billion dollars for the franchise.

You know, we can't then come in and say you didn't do this, but I know, I, I like it

for Ottawa.

Right?

I like it for Ottawa.

It's, it's still really hard whether it's Ottawa or maybe some other teams in Canada,

but I know they tried to get a few guys to come and they got shut out a little bit.

Is that right?

See, this is tough to run these teams where people don't want to come.

Yes.

And I, I think the league threw them a bone a little bit here and I, I gotta be honest

with you.

I'm okay with it.

Yeah.

I am too.

I mean, I, it's tough here in that, you know, because again, he wants these to be loaded

teams and competitors.

The opposite of that is that, is that the next time we hear of somebody losing a pick,

I know.

You're going to say, oh, you know, give it a couple of years and we'll see.

But you, you need to make the case that, hey, it was someone else who did it.

It wasn't me.

Yeah.

It's a different ownership.

That's the, that's the smoking gun.

That's the ability to be like, hey, look at this.

It wasn't the same ownership.

It wasn't.

Same token.

You're buying the team knowing that's there.

Right?

Yeah.

Listen.

I mean, anyway, I told you.

All right.

Let's welcome him in.

Just give me a chance.

Just give me a chance.

Give me a chance.

Eddie Old Chuck, former National Hockey Liger, TNT Hockey expert.

Give me a chance.

Where are you right now?

If you can't see him, he's on Zoom, he looks like he's been bobbin for French fries.

What like, you've been in the sun all day?

What the hell is that mean bobbin for French fries?

Your face looks a little red.

Have you been out in the sun?

Oh, no, I haven't.

Actually, I've been inside all day.

Okay.

Okay.

I thought maybe you're in Florida, California.

Well, I can't disclose where I am right now.

So I'll just be with it.

Okay.

I'm pretty close then.

Oh, not really.

But you can't disclose where I am.

What's going on?

How are you guys doing?

How are you, man?

We're hanging in.

We're hanging in.

I'm not talking to you, Kipper.

I'm already in Sammy right now.

You know, who's in charge?

Whoever's in charge there.

He puts Sammy where it is.

And she's Sammy and Barney.

Oh, that would be a hell of a line.

That would be a hell of a line.

You just fired us.

You just fired me.

Actually, we did play a pick up game earlier this year.

We were a line.

And I'm not.

And I'm not tuning our own horn.

But I think we finished with 17 points.

Yeah, we were pretty good.

Put up some numbers.

What was the last time you were on the ice?

Oh, man.

I'm going to say it was in the peg.

I think when Edmonton was there for one of the heritage games,

I think that was the last time.

So I think that might have been before I was sick too.

So I mean, that's got to be probably 70 years ago if I'm not mistaken.

So that was the last time.

And I'll probably just say this for the record.

That will that that will always be the last time.

That's the retirement.

Right.

So the only the only thing you miss about the game is the 16th

and the 31st then, right?

When you got paid.

Not funny at all.

Not funny.

It's not funny.

All right.

Well, let me ask you about the national hockey league, Eddie.

All right, Barney.

The fascinating team to us here in this show Buffalo Sabers.

First place in the Atlantic division.

Are they real?

Is there something to this?

Or is this just a little flash in the pan as they turn things around?

I mean, I think it's a great unknown.

I think a lot of people felt coming off the Olympic break that.

Would the break.

Break their momentum and Lindy's got them going the same way.

And they might even be better right now with how they're playing.

This last little while and they won a lot of different ways.

Have they not?

They want some low scoring games.

They want some high scoring games.

They want one some games that if you turned on the television.

And there was no score bug or time in them in the corner of your television.

You might have thought it was 1978 or 1980.

Now, I know the Tampa Bay Lightning weren't around back in those days.

But I think you guys know what I mean.

They.

They're standing up and you look at the trades that, you know,

that Yarmul was able to make at the end and at the trade deadline.

And you've added some some grit and some leadership in a guy like Shen.

And then you bring in a guy like Stanley.

So they've really.

I don't.

Why would they slow down?

Now, maybe the playoffs are going to be a different animal.

But I think that they answered the bell that the break wasn't going to be.

You know, wasn't going to slow them down at all because the break has affected a couple of teams around the league.

There's no doubt about it both in a positive way and a negative way.

But Buffalo has been obviously a great story and I'm happy for so many people there.

And I made mention the other night doing one of our TNT games down here in the States.

We were talking about Buffalo.

And you got to know that the legend himself, the great Rick Jenner would be smiling down on what his old team was doing right now.

Because I think people have been waiting for this and and give Lindy rough credit.

They've they've turned this thing around and there.

There looks like there's a lot of belief from the outside.

And that's obviously something that we all know something about is that when you got guys that can believe in one another

and you start getting on this train going downhill, you could put two teams out on the other side of the ice.

You're not going to beat us.

And that seems like they're playing with that kind of, you know, kind of an air mindset right now.

You're you're watching and listening to any old Chuck from parts.

I think he was going to call you Ed and then he realized he couldn't do it.

I was going to get really big trouble, really big trouble.

Hey, one more on the Buffalo Sabers.

If do you have a vote on general manager of the year?

And if you did with Kevin Adams beyond your your list?

I look at I think that there's a lot of there's a lot of meat on the bone there considering.

Before they went on this heater that.

They had won a couple in a row and then, you know, Yarmul comes in and he hires Burjie Mark Burjavan and and now they've.

I mean, they've been the best team in a national hockey league.

I don't think that you can argue that and you could argue Tampa was until the break and, you know, they've had a tough time here since since the Olympic break.

No, I would probably say no just from the fact of.

Not enough, not enough in that office in that chair for this year, Kipper.

It is incredible though. I don't think we've ever seen this before.

It is. It is uncharted. It is. It is territory that you sit there and you shake your head and go.

Honestly like, would they be with they be a different team now?

If Kevin Adams was still in charge?

Well, the thing that I would say is that in.

I'd like to think to people that I've talked to that this is pretty close to.

Being legit. I think that.

Once that happened, it got everybody's attention and then it was reaffirmed by the new management

team to a lot of people within the front office and around the eye surface and maybe that

had something to do with it as well.

So a combo of Yarmol and Kevin Adams, I would say I wouldn't have a problem with that

at all because you see what's going on here.

It's been pretty amazing.

A quick Lindy rough story.

There's a time when the islanders were spinning their wheels and just giving out like questionnaires

to alumni to fill out for the next head coach.

They're like, I don't know, we just need someone Clark Gillies took one of them and he had

Lindy fill it out and it was so well done that they invited Clark for a head coaching

job interview.

And he had no idea what had been on the sheet that he had filled out.

So he didn't get the job.

Bernie, Bernie, you know that Sammy filled out Kipper's questionnaire here when you guys

got this gig.

You know that, right?

You know that.

He's all over you today.

I do.

I deserve it.

I don't expect anything less.

I come on.

I come on.

I take some time out because I love you guys and somebody probably canceled on Kipper first

off.

I don't mind coming out of the bullpen.

I don't mind being that.

But you're a starter.

Okay.

But then you you attack the the color of my face.

That's not a good thing.

I don't think that's a good thing.

So for future, just in case they don't rip on somebody's appearance when they get them

to do it at the end of the show, not at the beginning.

Listen, I'm in my 26 year broadcasting.

I learned something new today.

Oh my gosh.

Hold on.

Hold on.

Let me let me let me hear folks.

This is what he's doing.

Okay.

26 years.

Here's Kipper born in the fish line here.

Get a ref.

Get a ref between these guys.

10s.

Um, but I was transitioning to Islanders because I do want your thoughts on the Islanders.

They, uh, they've been fascinating, you know, with the shaffer turn around, but they

did kind of make a surprising move, getting shen at the deadline.

Some people in Long Island think little soon, maybe not quite ready for that sort of

ad.

What did you think of what they did there and the direction?

Why not?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, look at the, look at the goalie, look at the goalie set they got there.

Yeah.

You play the Islanders in a seven game series.

Why can't, why can't Sorokin be that guy to go ahead and win, you know, win 13 of,

of 15 or 16 games like he has that ability and all of a sudden, you're, you're right there.

So I like the aggressiveness and, uh, when you, when you, when you met, you mentioned

the shaffer, I mean, when you watch this young kid play, like it just, it's so awesome

to see, especially a guy on the back end to be able to just kind of control what goes

on out there and, and it forces them to play faster when he is on the ice and we did,

and I think we did two Islander games a little bit earlier in the season.

So before the Olympic break and talking to Patrick about him and just, you could just

see the excitement, Borne and Kipper, you know, talking about him and just how, you know,

how much he has grown in a short period of time, but just to know that there's probably,

you know, another couple of steps to be able to take because you get more experience

and you do get around the league a couple of times and this, he may be one of those guys

where you go in the next year and I'm just thinking off the top of my head here.

Here's a young guy that comes into the league and what do we play in an extra three-quarters

to seven-eighths of a game more a week because of the condensity of the schedule and because

of the Olympic break?

Could you imagine him in a normal setting or in a normal season where he gets all this

little extra time off and think about that, like he would be the type of guy that, like

a lot of players because they're all great condition athletes, but to think that, wow,

next year, man, this isn't as, this isn't as hard as it was last year.

Here's your hard to give, yeah.

And all of a sudden, he may be even better just because of the schedule.

So I think there's a lot to it, but I like what the Islanders have done.

I think Lou Lamurlo deserves a lot of credit for going out there and doing some of the moves

that he did and the signings he did, but also being able to convince Patrick a lot to

come to the Island and you could say he's done, he's done a really, really good job with

this team and this is a team that I think becomes dangerous if they can stay in a spot that

they are because I think that the East, I think that the East has a chance to goal sideways

at some point very early in a playoffs and then why not?

Just get in and I think that they can get in and with the goal-tending, why not?

And so when you talk about certain teams that maybe take a chance that aren't quite ready to win,

there is that danger of depleting the draft pool, that's what happened to the Toronto May beliefs

and they find themselves in quite the predicament right now.

What would you do if they were smart enough to hire you?

I said what I would have done three playoffs ago, I think it was the Nick Paul, the Nick Paul

game, I think game seven, right? I'm not sure if it was three years ago or not, I'm being totally

honest, I'm not sure if it was three or four years ago, it doesn't matter. I thought that was the

time to go ahead and make those hard decisions and figure out who your core was to be able to do a

quick little rebuild and retool on the fly and go from there. That opportunity I thought presented

itself then and now you see what has ended up happening and I think that anything should be on

the table moving forward. That would be front and center. Now again, we understand the way that

players have their contracts and there are certain things you can and can't do as a manager and

whether or not you were the manager that gave out these contracts or not, I think that anything

should be on the table moving forward for the Maple Leafs because think about how close they were

last year and I know Maple, I know Leaf fans don't want to hear it and you could be talking about LA

two here guys, right? Yeah. They had to have been to an over a barrel. They were up in their series,

they were up two games and they weren't able to close them down. The Leafs are up on the floor

to Panthers. They weren't able to shut them down and look at it, look at all of a sudden where they

are. Even go back two years ago to Vancouver. Think about it. They had Quint Hughes, JT Miller,

Rick Tockett, Coach of the Year, you had Patterson there and then my understanding was as that

Marty natious was available for the Vancouver Canucks to move Patterson for natious in some sort of

a deal and they didn't. Look at what has happened to Vancouver and sometimes it just goes that way.

I understand that. Patterson gets a long term deal. Tockett leaves JT Miller is out for a lot of

different reasons and where is Quint Hughes now? Well, you saw what he did at the Olympics and

now he's getting almost two assists that came in Minnesota. It changes very quickly but I think if

you're able to have the right people and the right positions, regardless of where it is in the NHL

that have the autonomy and the ability to be able to go and do what they think, is that you'd

I think you'd rather be aggressive than to sit back and just say, well, it's going to get better,

it's going to get better. So boring to go back to what you asked me about the Islanders. I like

the aggressiveness. If you have to give up picks or whatever, when's the last time the Islanders have

made a run? Like it's been a long time. Like they deserve it. The guys in the room deserve it. The

fan base deserves it. Toronto was no different, Kipper. I'll go back to what we were talking about

with the Leafs. I know what I would do. Nobody's asking me my opinion, which is fine, but at the end of

the day, anything should be on the table because I think that that window, the last couple of years,

it's getting to the point where if you don't fix it quicker, that window is going to be completely

shut and all of a sudden you're going to have guys leaving town and you're not going to get anything

for them. You know, there's a lot of guys who have had opinions on a couple of teams. The Leafs

are always won. There's lots of opinions on that. The other in Canada's the Oilers, right? Everyone

has had their solution. What should have happened? What might have happened? This year at the

deadline, they get a couple of defensive specialists, Dickinson, Murphy, right? Even Doc, I don't know.

You've seen them in the postseason in big spots. Is this enough? Do they have enough to be better

than they've been in the past in playoffs? I'm a little concerned with the journeys that they've

been on the last couple of years. That's the first thing for me. I saw them the other night and

they're win in Colorado. We did that game down here on CMP. The Oilers Avalanche game the other

night. Well, I saw them in person for the first time in a while. I liked their team. I think

obviously like a lot of teams, there are some holes, but my biggest concern would be with them

because the two big boys in Bouchard, they can say, okay, let's go guys. We're going to make

another run in what have you. But the only thing I would be concerned about is at some point,

all the hockey that the Oilers have played, and in particular, when you look at the foreign

nations for Connor, and I know he's the best player in the world, and sometimes it takes his toll.

I would just be a little concerned is can they get through a couple of rounds in order to give

themselves a chance to get back to the conference finals? I don't know. I don't know the answer to

that, but I don't mind their team because I think especially in the Pacific, if you get the right

matchup, why can't, you know, why can't the Oilers go on another run when you look at the teams that

they're going to be battling Vegas has holes, Anaheim has holes. How about the job Joel Quinnville's

done in Anaheim? I mean, man, oh man, you talk about somebody that should be nominated for coach

of the year. Buddy, you not start out with Joel Quinnville and think about where Anaheim is

in all the changes that they've made and all the injuries that they've had, certainly his resume

speaks for itself. So Edmonton, my biggest concern would be, yeah, you want to look at the goal-tending

Jari has been not very good, but he came in and relieved the other night and did a hell of a job

when Ingram got run over by Nathan McKinnon. So for me, I would be concerned about all the hockey

the Oilers have played, especially the big boys. Now, will Chris Noblock continue to go to the

big boys and play them together because when he does that, obviously, you know, they become a

little bit more or a lot more short-handed when you put all your eggs in one basket, but it's worked

the last two years. It's going to work for a third one. I would probably lean more know than yes,

just because of how much hockey the big boys have played here. Because at some point,

it's just going to run out of gas. That's just my opinion.

Still wide open here, Edzo, really appreciated. Hey, we need a shout out for our buddy,

Mike Hartman, who had a bit of a health challenge here the last couple of weeks. So just thinking

to him, you know, absolutely. Hardy, one of the best in the inventor of give me a chance,

give me a chance. So Hardy, we love you, man. And also, I do want to make mention of two things,

one on a positive and one, obviously, on a big negative. But congratulations to Paul Coffey,

a back with the oilers on the coaching staff and going to be honored by the NHL Alumni Association.

So way to go, Coff is man of the year and just got a chance to play with Coffey for a short

period of time and just a world-class guy, both on and off the ice. And we lost a great one,

in Troy Murray, a longtime NHL or Selkie Trophy back in the 85-86 season with the Chicago Black

Cox longtime broadcast or Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche. We lost Troy a few days

ago and I've known Troy Murray for 44 years of my life and there was a mentor, a great teammate.

We were in each other's weddings. We both married former flight attendants. We were broadcasters

of the Black Cox for 16 years and we both battled the big C and he was there for me for day one.

And I said my well wishes to the family out there and the suburbs of Edmonton and all his

family and friends and former teammates. Played in Ottawa, played in Winnipeg, former captain of

the Jets and just a tremendous guy and more importantly a great person. So we're going to miss Troy

and I love them. I love them like a brother and this was a hard one. This was a bad loss

for the National Hockey League and a community. Troy was one of the best. So thanks for letting

me give those shout outs and thinking about Hardy and you guys keep up the great work and when

somebody cancels again on your kipper just to make sure you give me a call, right?

Sorry Ed, so thanks so much, pal. Your class act, man. You're a class act. That's all I got for

you, buddy. Thanks for doing this. Thanks Ed. So have a great day. Thanks, pal. Love you.

Love you guys too. Eddie Old Chuck. One of the best.

Real Kipper and Bore Hall of Fame. Oh yeah. First battle. First line. No greater emotional range during

our interviews with him than just the man. Eyes and lows. So it just just picture that

all season long. I know. Every day. Morning stretch. Relentless. Buses, hotel lobbies,

after the game. Do you ever tell him just to leave you a look? Just turn, turn it off.

I couldn't keep up. He's too sharp. He is as sharp as we get. We had seven of them. Yeah.

We had Glenn Healey. Oh my god. We had Phil Bork. Yeah. We had Mike Richter who would never shut up.

God, that must have been some dressing. Oh my god. It was amazing. It was so much fun.

I love microphone to go around. It was the best. That's how that's how you get thick skin.

Yeah. Quickly. Oh yeah. Yeah. That's how you can handle a market like Toronto and

add tentative Vancouver. Anything in those rooms. I probably my strongest memory of hockey

dressing rooms and vibe is just like you just don't get away with anything. Not a thing.

No one cuts you any game time. Game time. So I just want to put this out there. I was talking

with this a little bit at the end of the lease hour, but my foot is in extreme pain.

And Borne gave me some stuff. And I forgot I had a foot. So it's just

Advil and there I be profan, which is the same thing. No, actually, it's an extra strafe cocktail.

It's all on the side. There was a stuff that put you under a bridge. I think about what,

seven years ago. I forgot. I forgot to have a foot. I don't know. Anyways,

it's game time presented by bet three six five is that the athletic styles was the 19 plus

interior only. Please play responsibly. The Leafs hosting the ducks tonight. And I just want to

give this one out because I haven't not been more sure about on any time goal score.

Beckett Sanica played for the Oshawa generals Toronto Ontario native first game back here

in the NHL. Well, first game here in the NHL period. He thinks he's got 20 goals already this year.

He's going to be super excited tonight. Leafs can't defend. And he's going to shoot one in the net.

The number there is plus 240. So I really like that number. Can't bet on Pizzetta pins, can I?

I probably could, but I'm in no mind set to dig that up right now.

Looking elsewhere, the Emmitts and Oilers are in Dallas to take on the stars.

Really good game there tonight. The Oilers schedule recently has been pretty tough. And this

is another one for them. They are plus 105 on the Moneyline Dallas stars minus 125.

Oilers look really good in two games in a row. Don't mind the Oilers at plus one.

He there. Jari is the starter ingrown actually on the bench backing up. So he's

all right. Alive after getting his head knocked off. That's a great sign by David.

What does that mean? Carolina, Colorado, Vegas, Dallas.

Big one for the Detroit Red Wings to get back on track tonight. They're playing Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is huge favorites in that game. Minus 220 on the Moneyline Detroit is plus 180 on the road.

That was game time because I know I bet three six five. Visit the app for the latest

osmosis 19 plus antenna only. Please play responsibly.

All right. I just pulled this out of my ear. I've done like three quarters of the show with this

thing in my ear. I don't even notice. I did a hit on with the sports center or now sports

central. I can't even remember what they're called anymore. And I had the I had them in the whole

time. And I do you ever do that? Yeah, but I have to forget because you're flying open all day

and probably I had thought about it till this second. All right. All right. Okay. We'll take

a quick break here. Do some vagus after the break. Ken Bolkey from what's sinbin Vegas.

You got it, buddy. We'll catch up on the golden nights and what is going on with them.

That's more when we return.

Capriol's Justin Warren's Emmy. Mickey. I am Eddie Olchick's favorite analyst.

But he wants you in my chair. What is that? Well, you did say he was bobbin for french fries

before you said hello. So like he looked like he was in the sun. Listen, I'm standing up.

You also said that the dug out is strong one. So you're not afraid to say it to people.

That was legit though. He was he was caught. He was caught in the sun. All right,

let's go to Ken Bolkey who covers the Vegas golden nights does a terrific job. Sinbin Vegas.

Ken, we look at the standings. It went from first to third to a situation now where

the golden nights have a four game homestead is there. I say it is could the playoffs be in

jeopardy here? They still play in the Pacific division. We're getting there. We're getting there.

But either the kidneys or the sharks have to knock them out. Like, do that realistic? I don't think so.

Right. Yeah. It's been fascinating. I think a lot of us just thought, you know,

addition to Mariner and then addition to Rasmus Anderson that this was thing was kind of going to

take it to the next level. And it hasn't quite happened yet. Why is that?

I still think they're trying to kind of figure out how all these pieces fit together. And I think

there might be a legitimate argument that they don't. They don't have a bona fide legitimate

scorer. And then their defense is kind of repetitive, I would say. Anderson, Theodore,

Hannathon, they're all kind of good at the same things. And they're all kind of not great at some

of the same things. And I think that's kind of what we're seeing to this point.

As far as Mitch Mariner is concerned, everybody knows him as one of the key guys for the Leafs

all these years. Now he's in Vegas. He's playing center, which we didn't really see throughout his

career. He's not necessarily on the ice a lot with Jack Eichel or Stone over the years.

Yet he's finding himself as a point of game guy. But overall, what's it look like for you watching

him make the transition from being a leaf to a Vegas goal tonight? I really thought you'd get

more dominance more often. There are certain times where you do see it. There are certain times

where he does take over the game and really is key in every single situation. They get the

puck across the offensive blue line. But then there's other games that it's like, is Mitch

playing tonight? And to me, it's like you would have fought for the amount of money they spent

for what the plan was. They exited last playoffs with 127 consecutive minutes of not scoring

against Edmonton and then went out and bought a scorer or at least in a sister, I guess, is

probably more likely. And they're not scoring. They have scored seven or 13 goals in the last seven

games. So they're still trying to kind of figure out exactly how he fits. And again, kind of similar

to what I said at the beginning, 65 games in there might be an argument that it doesn't fit that

well. The fascinating thing with Vegas is like they're defensive metrics are fantastic. They

look like one of the best teams by expected goals against, I think sport logic has them as the best

team. So they're not the best in terms of pure goals against the goal. Tending then gets called

into question. How is this going to end up shaking out as they head towards playoffs?

It's definitely not been good enough. But I do think we have to have some context in that number

that the golden nights are 31st in the league and time spent trailing. Like that goes a long way

in expected goals and shot share and a lot of that because they're behind more often than not. They

very rarely have the lead. So a lot of times it ends up being them pushing late in these games.

And now does that go back to goal tending? Yeah, probably. Why are you down all the time? Well,

your goalie doesn't stop the puck from going in the net. That's a good way to get down more

often than not. I do think like Hill's been kind of getting better over time. I think a

Kirish mid kind of is what a Kirish mid is. And then they've had the other guys that have been in

their heart. It was in there and got injured. Wasn't particularly great. I just think they are

similar to what it was before when they were great. When you're an excellent defensive team,

when you're an excellent team, Aiden Hill can do it. When you're not, he's kind of just another

one of the guys that are in the mix of being halfway decent to good goalies in the NHL. He's not

the broski Vasilevski whoever's broken pick a great goalie. He's not that.

You're watching listening to Ken Bulky who covers Vegas founder and writer of Sin Ben Vegas.

So okay, he's not broski and he's not Vasilevski, but he is a guy that got us six year deal. I think

it's six and a half million. And we've seen Vegas over the course of, you know, their inception

to be what have you done for me lately? If it's not good enough, we find a way to move on.

Was there any ink linked at all that they were looking at it? Maybe a shorter term goal-tending

scenario here or even they couldn't pull something like that off? Well, they already did one. They

did the Carter heart thing. So I don't, I don't know what we're going to say about other than he

got injured fairly quickly. It wasn't particularly greatest 12 games. But like when there's smoke,

there's got to be some fire. I know Kelly McCrim and kind of came out here and threw some insiders

under the bus saying they had to justify their existence, which that he likes to make comments

like that anyway. But there's no doubt they were looking at goalie. They had to be looking at goalie.

Nobody looks at the metrics this season and doesn't think at least it has something to do with

what's going wrong. Now you have to be able to find that match and then it have to be a better

goalie that Aiden Hill. And I think there's an argument that Jordan Bennington's not. Maybe he's

similar, but I don't know that he's like a massive upgrade over Aiden Hill.

The Brodsky probably would have been, but we don't know what the cost would have been on that.

And don't forget the Golden Knights don't have a first round pick this year next year or maybe

the following year they win the cup. That one's going to Calgary too. So there's not a lot in the

cupboard to deal with. Plus all the other first round picks are gone too. You know, it's a weird

watching Vegas who always makes the big move always gets the player at the deadline be like,

Nick Dowd. That's going to be, but I do want to know how has it fit? Does it, does it plug a hole

that you feel like Vegas had? I don't think it plugs a hole necessarily because Colton Sizzle is

kind of his Nick Dowd. He was just injured. They're very similar, solid to good fourth liners.

I think they were looking to do something. We got to get better in some way. Let's try and do

something. It reminds me a little of last year with Riley Smith. The year they won the cup,

they did Teddy Bluger. You know, they've looked at kind of trying to upgrade that. I don't think it's

gone great or poorly. He doesn't really score. He's not going to generate offense. They've been a

little bit better for checking since the deadline, but they're also one in six in their last seven

games. So how much better has it actually been? It happened. It's Nick Dowd. It's not in the splashy one,

but it's also they also did Rasmus Anderson about a month before and that one not really working

all that well and he doesn't have a contract yet. Ken the payoff for trading for Mark Stone with

with Ottawa years ago certainly is paid off and we know that. But this is the time of year that

looks familiar, right? Where he just kind of disappears. And then comes back into the playoffs

and looks fantastic. Are we just to assume that that will happen again? He's got one more year left

on his deal. I think that would open up another chance to go get another $10 million player,

but in the meantime, can he come back and still be a key cog here? Man, he's been awesome this year.

Like when he's been on the ice, he has been so good. He scores a point in like 90% of games.

He did it in the Olympics like the guy's been phenomenal all year, but like you said,

it's March. He usually disappears for a little while and it happened. And now today he comes back

the morning skate wearing a red no contact jersey, but then participates as if he's playing.

So I don't even know what's happening tonight later today. He might play. He might not play.

Cassidy's answer was not particularly good. We haven't ruled him in and we haven't ruled him out.

That's not helpful at all, Bruce. So you know, I still think if he's in the lineup,

Mark Stone's going to be great as long as he is at least close to the full health.

Now, is he rushing himself back? I don't know. We really don't have a lot of information

because the NHL doesn't like to give it. I actually asked specifically, is it his back?

And the answer that was given was and I quote, it's upper body.

Hey, a back is in the upper body. A good portion of it.

But can I get a no?

Or yes, what if what come on?

If you figure out how to get a no or yes to those questions, you let us know. We would love it.

Last one for me, as you mentioned, the Anderson thing that he doesn't have a contract yet.

Are we at the point where we're concerned that that that he might not stick or not that can.

I don't think so. I mean, it hasn't it hasn't been like the perfect fit.

You look at the offensive numbers, not been all that great defensively. It's been a bit of a struggle.

But you know, he's got a figure in figure out how to deal with four fewer minutes.

I think the bigger piece is like he's just not going to get power play time here. He's not going

to get six on five time here. They use a five forward unit and he's just not going to be that guy.

So can you get the same impact out of a Rasmus Anderson when you're not getting that offensive impact?

I don't know. But the Golden Knights knew that going in. They knew where he was going to slot in.

They knew what they were going to get. I would be shocked. They've really never had a guy that they

wanted to hang on to or done this type of deadline deal and not been able to get the extension

across the line. Rasmus, it's pretty well known secret. He wants to be in Vegas. Now he's here.

I don't see why it wouldn't happen. There has been some questions of like, does he deserve more

than Theodore and Hannathon, which is probably what it's going to have to be. And I think that's

a fair argument because I don't know that he does. I would argue probably does not.

Just one more on the line up that looks like Mitch Marner maybe going back out to the wing

with hurdle in the middle here. Bruce Cassidy, like how much is he feeling to find that rhythm,

that mix, that chemistry here. We're getting down a crunch time here.

Yeah, he likes Marner as a center and he like goes out of his way to say how much he likes

Mitch Marner as a center and to a degree, I get it. He's really good defensively. He's not

good in the circle, but he's always in the right place. He's always the highest forward.

He's never on the wrong side of the puck. Like I get it, but he does seem to have more

to more impact. You guys have seen it for years in Toronto. He's way more impact on the wing.

He's going to generate more offense on his wing and he should be there probably more than likely.

I think the bigger problem is like, hurdles been bad at five on five. I don't have a better way

to say it. He just isn't very good at five on five. It's not a power play. He's not doing anything.

So they're trying to find like, all right, can we get him going with Marner back on the wing?

But then now you've got sizzards and doubt as your other two centers. That's not exactly the best

depth down the middle that they've used to have in the past and also out and playing on a wing

and he can play center. So I do think they're kind of still searching for answers. And then also

Markstone in the lineup, Markstone out of the lineup. Do you want stone with Michael? Like there's

a lot of moving parts here. And meanwhile, they can't keep losing because otherwise you start the

question by asking me if they're going to miss the playoffs. You got to win at some point. Yeah.

Well, you got to win at home for at home. This is a big home stand starting tonight against Pittsburgh.

It can't great stuff, man. Thanks for joining us and best of luck the rest of the way.

Yeah, thanks for having me. Yeah, thanks your time. Appreciate it, man. Ken Bolkey, founder and writer

of Sin Ben Vegas. Pittsburgh tonight for Vegas, followed by Chicago Buffalo, Utah. Hey, at home.

I just remembered this detail. Erwin Eddie said that they almost traded natures for Patterson. Yeah,

is that it was out there? Was I crazy that it was like, wait, what? Is that news?

I certainly never heard of it. So Eddie just dropped a nice little nugget on our show.

Max fans, natures for Patterson was was there. Did you know that? Maybe they're all going to be like,

yeah, we all knew that. I mean, I think natures is a great player. Don't make total sense by the way.

Few years ago, for sure, I'd have been like, yeah, total sense. Yeah. I just think that natures,

I mean, him and McKinnon is such a dynamic pair that I'm not sure natures is the same guy without

McKinnon, but he natures pretty decent in Carolina. Yeah, lots of points on the playoffs. I don't

know. I've, you know, that's the thing that I keep pointing to with that trade is that everyone

always takes the victory lap and then rent and has a hat trick in the seventh game to put you out.

Right. Right. Yeah. So that's that. How do we go from like two games yesterday? It's a 14-10

tonight. That's how we roll to these Thursdays Saturdays. Unbelievable. That's a lot of hot games.

You know, I think we as a good show. Okay. I was fairly focused, right? Yeah. Of course, man.

But I am watching the golf. Oh, the player is just beautiful. I'm watching the golf out of the

corner of my eye. And if I shot around there, I would shoot a thousand every whole shape like this.

There's water on the left. Bunkers on the left. There's nothing but water and sand everywhere.

And it's like circling every green that looks like a posted stamp to me left. He's would have

made a bit of nightmare. My boy's Andrew's dialing up the darts though today. He's kind of good start.

Yeah, it wouldn't be it would not be fun out there. No, it looks like of course not well suited for

amateurs like us. So the Buffalo Sabers going for their ninth straight victory tonight at home

against the Washington capitals. God, how long was the other streak there? Nine.

I think it's windy rough Jack Adam. How open is this Stanley cop? Because it

it's like November. November. December. We're talking about like five teams, six teams. But

you're like, somebody gets on a roll. Somebody gets hurt. Bad goal tending. Totally.

There you know, we had tears of teams and it was like Florida, maybe Tampa. David Amber was in

yesterday. If Ottawa finds a way to catch Detroit. And by the way, like one game in hand,

there're just four points out. Yeah. Like lots of time here still lots of time. But big,

big hockey game. But if I offered you, like you say, it's wide open. But like if I offered you,

you're like, yeah, it's me, Tampa and Colorado. Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's like there's

really great teams are going to be likely. But you know, when we've seen teams of the 130 points,

losing the first round, all it takes is one weird sideways bounce and it's no, no Colorado or

no Tampa. I don't play in the first round this year. See, to me, the West is different because one of

Dallas, Colorado or Minnesota is going to be in the conference final. Yeah. So you're going to have

a very legitimate cup contender in deep and whoever comes out of the Pacific is going to be in

tough. But injuries happen. Who knows, man? I, I look at Boston and I know to your point, like

can you, can you win now? Like you, are you believe the best line is Middleston, Zaka and

Ardvetson? I know. Right? But they worked their asses off and they play hard. Yeah,

pasta. They're totally a good team that is fine to me. You know what I mean? Like they don't

blow me away. They're not bad. So yeah, it would be tough to beat them in a series. But if

playoffs started today, they'd be playing Carolina in the first round. Yeah. I like that for six or

seven games. You know, a lot of people yourself included question Carolina. Yeah, I do. But this

is going to be Carolina. I think I think Boston would know Florida. Carolina is going to win the

East. They'll presumably have home ice. Yeah, the whole way through. No, Florida has been their

bogeyman. And Anderson in playoffs, what do you think? Here's it going to be Busy. I'm trying to

think if I've had any memories of Anderson in big games, the Leafs, if these gone well. Did you ever

have a bus driver in your entire career that wasn't called Busy? Like everything is just, hey,

Busy, what time we leave? And like every year, they were always Busy. It was auto.

I don't think it's been auto. Always Busy. And her share Bus driver was like, was a like an

adopted trainer too. Like he, yes, I'll load the bus. No, no, I'm talking track suit, everything on

the bench. Sometimes. Yes. I can't remember them. Oh, I missed those days, except on the 16th and 31st.

Minor league pay. No, good. Not fun. Yeah, I have more experience of that. Wow, Jim Pack today are

thanks in our first hour to Scott Neetamire. Edzo Eddie Oldcheck. And Ken Bullkey. Thanks for

watching. Thanks for listening. Back tomorrow with Doug McLean.