Jeff and Elliotte discuss the Evander Kane situation and how the Canadian Border Services Agency is involved, the Ken Holland press conference, Bobby Clarke’s comments on Ron Hextall, the Panthers and Kodak Black, and All-Star snubs.
The conversation around Evander Kane is still top of mind for many hockey fans. Elliotte tells Jeff why he contacted the Canadian Border Services Agency and how they are involved in the Evander Kane investigation (2:00). The guys also touch on the Ken Holland press conference, his interest in Kane and if they should make a trade to save their season (4:30), Bobby Clarke’s comments on Ron Hextall as heard on the Cam & Sticks Podcast (21:00), the Panthers and Kodak Black (36:00), All-Star snubs (39:45), the Iowa Wild signing Eric Staal on a professional tryout (46:00), and they wrap things cup by taking a few of your questions (47:00).
Full transcript for the episode can be found here by Medha Monjaury
Outro Music: Teen Daze - Nite Run
Listen to the latest album by Teen Daze on Spotify
This podcast is produced and mixed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman.
Audio Credits: Cam & Sticks Podcast, NHL Network and Sportsnet
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.
OPEN //// Jonas Brodin [00:00:00] Hey Jeff and Elliotte, it's Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild. I love the backward skating skill challenge idea. I just want to say thank you for your listeners for reminding you that my skating skills are pretty good, especially backwards. Happy to show you one day. Now let's start the podcast.
Elliotte Friedman [00:00:20] Oh no.
Jeff Marek [00:00:21] Uh... I'm telling you man, the idea's catching on! I know they're not gonna do it, but the idea's catching on Elliotte.
Elliotte Friedman [00:00:29] Hey if enough people want it! Like I said, there were a lot of people who reached out to me who said that that idea's not bad, they don't wanna watch a lap.
Jeff Marek [00:00:36] Hmm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:00:37] But there's gotta be something there that they can do to make it interesting.
Jeff Marek [00:00:41] You know, I had Aaron Ward on the radio show today, and I asked him that question, he said, well I don't know about today, but back in my day, the fastest backwards skater? You wanna take a guess?
Elliotte Friedman [00:00:51] Okay I'm trying to think of who he played for.
Jeff Marek [00:00:52] He overlapped with this player briefly in Detroit is your clue.
Elliotte Friedman [00:00:57] Steve Duchesne?
Jeff Marek [00:00:58] No, I think Kings when I think Steve Duchesne. We gotta play that game one day. Whose jersey do you think of when you say a player's name?
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:05] I'm trying to think... Jiri Slegr?
Jeff Marek [00:01:07] Nope.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:08] Was it someone who was in Detroit for a long time or quickly while Ward was there?
Jeff Marek [00:01:12] Ward was briefly with him.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:15] Chelios?
Jeff Marek [00:01:17] No.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:18] All right, you got me. Who is it?
Jeff Marek [00:01:20] Paul Coffey.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:21] Oh my god, I can't believe I didn't even think about that.
Jeff Marek [00:01:26] Paul Coffey.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:26] That's terrible.
Jeff Marek [00:01:28] But I think it's a legitimate curiosity. But the thing is, here's the thing about this question.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:32] I should be banished from an episode of the podcast for not guessing Paul Coffey.
Jeff Marek [00:01:37] Please.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:37] It's embarrassing.
Jeff Marek [00:01:38] I think that it's a question that people don't realise they're curious about until you mention it. If that makes any sense. Like I've thought about this for a long time, I don't know how many other people have, but what, but once you mention it to them, they started thinking about it.
Elliotte Friedman [00:01:53] Okay, we are spending way too much time talking about backwards skating.
Jeff Marek [00:01:57] Okay, let's start this then, with the podcast. Okay. Serious topic. The Evander Kane situation.
Elliotte Friedman [00:02:02] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:02:03] We all know about the investigation right now with the NHL and, as a sidebar to it, today you reached out to Canadian Border Services. What did they tell you?
Elliotte Friedman [00:02:15] Well, I should say that somebody gave me a tip saying, you should look into this with the Canadian Border Services because they indicated that an investigation was going on internally too, about Kane specifically crossing the border and whether or not that was processed and handled properly. So I reached out and I got an official response saying that there would be no details on specific cases bound by the Privacy Act in regards to personal information, and no details on specific cases. But what they did do was say, okay, here's how you can cross the border. Basically, if you're a Canadian citizen, you can get in by right. But all travellers must provide the required information through ArriveCAN. And for those of you who aren't familiar with that, that's the app you need to use to cross the border, within 72 hours prior to arriving, including a negative COVID test or a positive test taken between 14 and 180 days before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border crossing. Look, I'm not doing any guessing here. Obviously, you know, I've heard Border Services is looking into it. The NHL is looking into it. We'll see where this goes. But, you know, Border Services wouldn't give me any specifics, although like I said, I heard they were looking into it too.
Jeff Marek [00:03:46] And so obviously right now, all negotiations are frozen, are on pause, there is nothing going on with Evander Kane. Do you think that's accurate?
Elliotte Friedman [00:03:56] It's not that there's nothing going on, it's just that everybody's gonna wait and see what the NHL decides to do here and if the NHL decides to do anything here. I think people are aware there's the possibility of a suspension, but I don't like guessing in these kinds of cases. You know, obviously there's been a lot of guessing this week about what Kane's gonna do, especially because there's a legal issue here.
Jeff Marek [00:04:17] Yes.
Elliotte Friedman [00:04:17] You know, was he correct or incorrect? Did he have the proper medical clearance or not to get across the border? And I think it's stupid to guess when you're dealing with legal issues.
Jeff Marek [00:04:28] Okay, so we'll pause on that conversation but the one thing that he was married to most and more than any other was the Edmonton Oilers. And we spent a lot of time, a lot of bandwidth and a lot of airspace talking about Evander Kane and the Edmonton Oilers, even to the point where Connor McDavid surprisingly commented on it. I thought he would have chosen the route of, I'm only here to talk about players in our room or on our team. But Connor McDavid commented about him as well.
Jeff Marek [00:05:55] You know, the Edmonton Oilers are in an interesting spot right now, it's not a great spot. Ken Holland had that press conference where he confirmed publicly what you've talked about for a couple of weeks which is, at this point we're not interested in trading our first round draft pick. And then on Thursday, they're greeted with the news that Mike Smith has a thumb injury and that will be one to two weeks.
Elliotte Friedman [00:06:21] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:06:22] How do you feel right now about the Edmonton Oilers and their situation, all in light of a couple of things: the Evander Kane situation and the Ken Holland press conference from earlier this week?
Elliotte Friedman [00:06:33] Well if you look back, the day that Evander Kane was put on waivers to be terminated, it was Saturday. On that day, Edmonton was in the second wild card spot. As we tape this podcast on Thursday evening. They're three spots out of the wild card position. They're three points back of San Jose now. Now yes, they have games in hand. They have three games in hand on the Sharks, who have played 37. But all of a sudden, look at this. Calgary will play after we record this. They have four games in hand on San Jose. Dallas has four games in hand on San Jose. And Winnipeg has four games in hand on San Jose. I think the thing that's good news for Edmonton, Calgary, and potentially Vancouver, if they start winning some of these games on this big road trip they're on, is that at least in the Pacific division, the math says you have a chance if you win your games of catching L.A. and potentially Anaheim. In the Central, and that's a problem for a team like Winnipeg or Dallas. You know what, those three teams are pretty set at the top. Nashville, Colorado, St. Louis, and Minnesota because in Minnesota's in good shape with the games in hand too.
Jeff Marek [00:07:55] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:07:56] I think it's a little easier in the Pacific than it is in the Central? But Edmonton's dropping through no fault of their own, they can't play games. You know, I think everybody can see the desperation out of Edmonton. We've talked about this. They simply cannot afford to miss the playoffs. It is not an option. So now, you don't wanna to make a panic trade and this player comes available for free. It doesn't cost you anything except the salary to get them. And he's only gonna sign for the rest of the year. Look, we know this is beyond a second chance for Evander Kane, but this is what happens in situations where you're desperate. The Oilers have to make the playoffs. They do. Not making the playoffs is not acceptable. It's gonna lead to big problems and a lot of questions about where they go from here. That's where we are and that's why they're involved.
Jeff Marek [00:08:56] So here's my thinking on it, because I was a little bit surprised at your report, to be honest, that the Oilers did not want to move or had no desire to move their first round draft pick.
Elliotte Friedman [00:09:06] Not for anything shorthanded.
Jeff Marek [00:09:08] Correct. I look at it like this. You tell me whether you think this is folly or not. I look at the Oilers right now and I say, their Stanley Cup window with these two Ferraris that they have is the next three years. So, to me, I say to myself, whatever is going to maximise our chance of getting close to the Stanley Cup or winning a Stanley Cup in the next three years is what we have to do. And I look at a first round draft pick and outside of the obvious, you know, number one pick who's gonna come in and, you know, maybe like a Connor Bedard who comes in and, you know, starts to light it up in the NHL. That player's not going to help you during a Stanley Cup window. So in my mind, that's a resource. You use that. Period.
Elliotte Friedman [00:09:55] You know I like to make fun of you about some of your ideas. I will politely disagree with you in this. I think your reasoning is flawed.
Jeff Marek [00:10:04] Why is that?
Elliotte Friedman [00:10:05] Ever since Washington won the Stanley Cup in 2018? I disagree with the idea of the window being that short for Edmonton. This is the question that the Oilers all have to worry about. McDavid and Draisaitl, their window could be open for another 10 years. If you sign them. I don't think the Oilers' window is three years away.
Jeff Marek [00:10:29] You're guaranteed a window of three years.
Elliotte Friedman [00:10:31] That's better.
Jeff Marek [00:10:32] Okay, so now okay, now we're gonna do a little semantic dance. So they're guaranteed a window of three years.
Elliotte Friedman [00:10:38] I think that's big.
Jeff Marek [00:10:40] So to me, everything that doesn't help in the next three years is a resource to help in the next three years.
Elliotte Friedman [00:10:45] Yes and no. But those are the kinds of mistakes you make. You know what that is, that's... and this is a baseball metaphor. That's Larry Andersen for Jeff Bagwell. And for those of you who are not familiar with that, August 30th, 1990, Red Sox had a terrible bullpen, they wanted someone to fortify their bullpen, they traded for a right-handed reliever, a decent pitcher named Larry Anderson, but it was a terrible trade because they traded him for Jeff Bagwell, who went on to become a Hall of Famer for the Houston Astros. And when people talk about panicked short term moves.
Jeff Marek [00:11:25] Mhm?
Elliotte Friedman [00:11:25] That one is often recognised as one of the worst. Now I realise it's not as hip to this current generation as me quoting a line from Euphoria or something like that.
Jeff Marek [00:11:36] Okay.
Elliotte Friedman [00:11:37] But that's the trade that, you know a lot of people quote when they talk about shortsighted, awful short term deadline deals.
Jeff Marek [00:11:46] Okay, let me throw another trade at you, and I'll stick with the the sport of choice for this podcast as we go trade for trade here to try to prove our points.
Elliotte Friedman [00:11:54] Yeah?
Jeff Marek [00:11:55] Who won the Nieuwendyk for Iginla trade?
Elliotte Friedman [00:11:57] That worked out great for both teams.
Jeff Marek [00:12:00] Hang on a second here. Who won a Cup?
Elliotte Friedman [00:12:02] I was having this debate with someone the other day. Is it Jarome Iginla's fault that Calgary didn't win a Stanley Cup?
Jeff Marek [00:12:08] No! Jarome Igi--no! No, look, the--Calgary got a Hall of Famer. Calgary got one of the best players. I'm not knocking drum--a drum against my favourite player. Who--how can you not like Jarome Iginla?
Elliotte Friedman [00:12:18] I just think I heard you say that Jarome Iginla does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Do not--did any of our listeners hear that? I think we just heard that.
Jeff Marek [00:12:27] It's one of those trades you make like, you know, does Dallas wanna let go of that player? No. But you know your window is open and like, ugh, okay, and we're getting a real good player who's going to push us over the finish line here, and we're gonna win a Stanley Cup because our window is open right now. That's how I look at it, and you give up a future Hall of Famer, yeah, but it doesn't mean you lose the deal.
Elliotte Friedman [00:12:47] You also got a Hall of Famer. But let me just say for a second, I'm gonna concede your point. Who's Joe Nieuwendyk here? Who are you looking at and saying that Edmonton's getting that's going to be Joe Nieuwendyk here?
Jeff Marek [00:13:00] I don't have a magical trade right now, I'm just talking about the philosophy of it. You use that as a resource for this window right now. Like I don't have in my hip pocket, the Nieuwendyk-Iginla hardy deal here, I don't.
Elliotte Friedman [00:13:13] Okay, so--
Jeff Marek [00:13:14] But I'm saying like, they realise, okay, the Dallas wanna give up Jarome Iginla? No. But are they going to win a Stanley Cup while Jarome Iginla's developing? Hmm, maybe not, but by moving him, you bring in someone who's gonna bring you closer to the Stanley Cup. That's all I'm saying. Like, here's a window who's bringing you closer to the Cup?
Elliotte Friedman [00:13:33] All right. Let's just say for a second that I want to agree with you on this.
Jeff Marek [00:13:37] You really trying hard not to agree with me on anything, and I love it.
Elliotte Friedman [00:13:42] I don't know what's happened to me since the new year, Amil says I'm very angry. I guess the point I'm trying to make is, I think there's a big difference between trading for the hockey version of Larry Andersen.
Jeff Marek [00:13:56] Right.
Elliotte Friedman [00:13:56] And Joe Nieuwendyk.
Jeff Marek [00:13:57] See here's the one thing that I--
Elliotte Friedman [00:13:58] if you're trading your number one pick for Ben Chiarot, who I think is a good player but you don't have signed? Doesn't make any sense to me. Now, if there's a Joe Nieuwendyk player that you can get--.
Jeff Marek [00:14:11] Yeah! Yes!
Elliotte Friedman [00:14:12] Okay, so who is it?
Jeff Marek [00:14:14] I don't know who that is, but I'm saying to say we're taking it off the table does you no service, because that player you're gonna draft this year in Montreal is not gonna help you while your Cup window is open here--well, sorry, while your guaranteed Cup window is open. That, to me, is a resource you use for the next three years.
Elliotte Friedman [00:14:33] Would you trade the first rounder right now for a rental?
Jeff Marek [00:14:36] If I thought it would bring me close to the Cup? Yes.
Elliotte Friedman [00:14:38] Ooh, uhh.
Jeff Marek [00:14:40] Well, that's what I'm saying. Why limit yourself like this? Like, there's a couple of things in Edmonton that I really didn't understand. I mentioned Connor McDavid talking about Evander Kane when all he had to say was, I'm here to talk about our team.
Elliotte Friedman [00:14:51] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:14:52] I'm not here to talk about someone who's on our team, okay? And I couldn't understand Ken Holland definitively, unless it's a ploy to drive up the value of that pick, like, maybe it's the long play and Holland publicly say, no, we're not letting go of that pick, and they're long playing and eventually, they'll let go of the pick but they've raised the value of, because, oh, you're not gonna get the first round pick from Edmonton.
Elliotte Friedman [00:17:11] I don't think he actually said, we're not trading the pick I, what I got the impression from what he said was, they're not trading the pick for any short term fix.
Jeff Marek [00:17:19] Ah, but what if a short term fix can help get you close to the Stanley Cup?
Elliotte Friedman [00:17:22] When you're battling for a playoff spot? I mean, if you take a look at it, how many teams that were in their position have made a trade that won them the Stanley Cup? I can think of one.
Jeff Marek [00:17:36] Who?
Elliotte Friedman [00:17:37] Jeff Carter. And that year the Kings were an elite defensive team. They were an elite defensive team and they were one of the worst scoring teams in the NHL, and they won the Cup. But other than that, how many teams can you think of that were like Edmonton, and Jeff Carter wasn't even a rental.
Jeff Marek [00:17:57] He had term, yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:17:58] He had term, he had a big contract.
Jeff Marek [00:18:00] So does that player exist for a first round draft pick? I don't know. But the only point that I'm trying to make here through all of it is, that is something you use to bring yourself closer to your finish line.
Elliotte Friedman [00:18:13] Okay, let's try this one.
Jeff Marek [00:18:14] Knowing full well that that player who you're gonna to pick this year is not going to help you while this window's open.
Elliotte Friedman [00:18:20] Okay. If you were Edmonton, would you trade the first rounder for Hampus Lindholm?
Jeff Marek [00:18:27] You know how I feel about Hampus Lindholm. I would really think about that. I would really think about that. See, now, now. Now I'm getting the soap and warm water feeling. It's one thing to say, first round pick for Ben Chiarot, it's another to say Hampus Lindholm. Or if I'm Edmonton, am I looking to put that first round pick in, into a package for Jacob Chychrun?
Elliotte Friedman [00:18:51] At least that is a player who's got term. But we've both heard that we're not convinced Edmonton wants to do that for him.
Jeff Marek [00:18:59] Correct. Which again, I come back to the idea of why not?
Elliotte Friedman [00:19:03] Which is really interesting to me because Tippett and Jim Playfair had him in Arizona.
Jeff Marek [00:19:09] I was just surprised by a lot of things coming out of Edmonton this week. That's all. That's my only point, and a lot of them didn't make sense to me.
Elliotte Friedman [00:19:17] Anyway, I would just say this. That if I was them, I agree with Holland that I'm not doing a short term fix because I don't think right now, right now. Now in two months, I might feel differently. You might have straightened yourself out, your team might be going better, if you heard Holland say there, he said. I know our team's not the 16-and-5 but I don't believe it's the 2-9-2 team. They're gonna go three months now without needing to be tested. COVID's wiped through them. They're coming back on Saturday night. He's gonna get the best chance to find out how good his team is. Now, if you come back in two months and you're on a good little run and you say, okay our first round pick's back and play because I think we've got a chance, I'm willing to do that. But right now, I think if you do that for anything short term, you're doing Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell.
Jeff Marek [00:20:15] Okay, Amil, write it down. Technically, Elliotte agrees with me. On that we'll start the podcast. Welcome to 32 Thoughts presented by the all-new GMC AT4 Lineup.
Jeff Marek [00:20:50] It's good to be finally correct here on the broadcast, really gonna take time to enjoy this one and just savour it.
Elliotte Friedman [00:20:57] I gotta tell you, can I tell you something else? I'm gonna tell you something else where you're correct. You're having a great week.
Jeff Marek [00:21:03] Oh, great.
Elliotte Friedman [00:21:03] Backward skating has really done well for you, we'll see how people feel about this Edmonton debate.
Jeff Marek [00:21:08] Yeah?
Elliotte Friedman [00:21:09] But I will tell you somewhere else where I was told you were totally right about something. And that is that one of the reasons that Bob Clarke is annoyed at Ron Hextall is the Trevor Lewis thing.
Jeff Marek [00:21:25] Oh!
Elliotte Friedman [00:21:26] And even though I think it went away for a while?
Jeff Marek [00:21:28] Yeah...
Elliotte Friedman [00:21:30] It's still--
Jeff Marek [00:21:31] These guys have long memory loss.
Elliotte Friedman [00:21:34] Long, long memories.
Jeff Marek [00:21:34] These guys can be vindictive. Okay, so just for everyone listening understands, and maybe you've heard this story before, I'm not sure if I've told it on the podcast or not. So 2006 draft, it's Vancouver. So that's the Eric Johnson draft. That's the infamous one where Bobby Clarke, you know, forgets the name he was gonna say on stage. And it turns out that it's Claude Giroux. Homer! Who're we taking!
Jeff Marek [00:22:08] So a few weeks before, I can't remember the exact time frame, but Ron Hextall had been working for the Philadelphia Flyers. Part of all the draft meetings, scouting meetings, all of it, had the lists, everything. Before the draft shows up, he goes to Los Angeles to join Dean Lombardi, right, so he leaves the Flyers organisation. So the Philadelphia Flyers Bob Clarke really wanted to take Trevor Lewis from Des Moines. Now did Bob Clarke see a lot of himself in Trevor Lewis, you know, strong centre, to a guy, maybe, but that's the player of the Philadelphia Flyers wanted, and they were drafting 22nd. And that was right in the spot where everybody expected Trevor Lewis to go. The Los Angeles Kings are drafting 17th and they take Trevor Lewis, and Bob Clarke, as I was told, was livid and is, you know, staring daggers at Hextall, who in his mind had, you know, left the Philadelphia Flyers after being part of scouting meetings and seeing draft lists and everything and essentially taken his guy. Now the further salt on the open wound, there is one pick before the Philadelphia Flyers, the Rangers took someone who Philadelphia had on their list as well, took him one before Philadelphia that's Bob Sanguinetty, who was a defenceman from Owen Sound, so now all of a sudden, Trevor Lewis has been taken by someone who used to work with the Flyers, and then their choice number two Bobby Sanguinetty was taken by the rival New York Rangers, so Clarke is livid by the time he gets on stage, and that's why he forgot the name Claude Giroux, and which is why Elliotte and this is something that I think you and I have talked about. I'm always sensitive about executives leaving one team for another that close to the draft because they've been there, part of the intellectual process of the selection and thoughts on the picks and I don't know, and maybe it's just because of this one example. But that is the reason why Bob Clarke A, forgot the name Claude Giroux and by the way, what a great bout of fortune for the Philadelphia Flyers, they got Claude Giroux.
Elliotte Friedman [00:24:10] Oh that worked out pretty well for them I would have to say.
Jeff Marek [00:24:12] That worked out fantastic.
Elliotte Friedman [00:24:14] Not bad getting Claude Giroux.
Jeff Marek [00:24:15] Yeah, sometimes not getting what you want is a blessing. See the 2006 draft for the Philadelphia Flyers, but I'm always sensitive about executives leaving that close just because you've been privy to so much. I don't know that you can do anything about it, I'm not sure if there's anything you can put in there to make sure that it doesn't happen I just know that it's kind of uncomfortable, but from my understanding, that is either the route or the beginning of the route of the animosity between Bobby Clark and Ron Hextall.
Elliotte Friedman [00:24:42] You know, I think that actually kind of went away for a while.
Jeff Marek [00:24:46] I do too.
Elliotte Friedman [00:24:47] Especially when Hextall came back, but someone wanted me to tell you that that was an issue. And, look, I think this week on this one that I made the right call. That the reason Clarke did this is to step up on behalf of Chuck Fletcher.
Jeff Marek [00:25:00] I believe that.
Elliotte Friedman [00:25:01] There's a lot of stress in Flyers land, and I think that right to the top of Comcast which owns the team, there are real questions about, you know, where this is going to go and what the next path is going to be. They tried a short term fix last summer, it's not working, now what? And I think Bob Clarke, who has a long history with Chuck and Cliff Fletcher.
Jeff Marek [00:25:25] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:25:25] He will do anything to defend a friend, and he has gone out here to defend a friend because he feels that Chuck Fletcher has not been there long enough to wear this and he deserves the opportunity to rebuild the team. You know, not surprisingly, I've heard from a lot of people over the past couple of days on both sides. Ron Hextall has chosen to stay quiet, but I've had people reach out to me on his behalf. You know people who back Bob Clarke on this have reached out to me on his behalf. Basically, you know what it is? As with any team, there are decisions you make that are good and there are decisions you make that are not good. Hextall has always been very, very tight and the fact that he had a very small circle of people that he confided in. That is definitely his way. I think everybody knows that. He made good moves in Philly, he made bad moves in Philly. But you know, the one thing I kind of do agree is that, if you're gonna say that, and I do think that Comcast played a role in what Chuck Fletcher did in this offseason. People were coming out of a pandemic. They wanted fans to come to the games.
Jeff Marek [00:26:40] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:26:40] They felt they weren't far away a couple of years ago. Fletcher's plan was, let's make a couple of moves, and we don't have to risk what our fans think about a rebuild. And they bought it. So I think if you're gonna change now, I understand that, I understand exactly why Clarke's saying what he's saying. But what is clear here is Jeff. I don't think we realised the split, the level of the split between the Flyer alumni and Hextall. It had been talked about at the time.
Jeff Marek [00:27:13] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:27:13] But it really obviously there were a lot of wounds ripped open there. But again, this week was all about Bob Clarke protecting Chuck Fletcher. That's what this was about.
Jeff Marek [00:27:25] One thing I think we should do is give credit to the Cam and Stick podcast, Cam Janssen and Andy Strickland.
Elliotte Friedman [00:27:31] Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Jeff Marek [00:27:31] That's where Bobby Clarke made these comments.
Elliotte Friedman [00:27:33] Yes.
Jeff Marek [00:27:33] Well done, gentlemen. That was a really great podcast and did a lot of work.
Jeff Marek [00:28:58] One of the things that I don't like about this is some of the historical revisionism that we get now on the Nolan Patrick pick. Nolan Patrick has had an awful time with injuries, but at the time of the draft, I mean, it was Patrick, it was Hischier. Now sure, Miro Heiskanen jumped up there and so did Cale Makar and for some teams Elias Pettersson as well, Vancouver ended up grabbing him at five. But a lot of that was framed around going into it, which way is New Jersey gonna go, is it gonna be Hischier, is it gonna be Patrick? And for those that don't recall, Nolan Patrick as a junior was a stud. He was phenomenal. Western Hockey League, you know, playoff MVP, star of the powerhouse Brandon Wheat Kings, like he was a remarkable player. So what I always get an uncomfortable feeling about is when injuries become a factor and the player gets devalued in the NHL, and then all of a sudden you measure him up in his draft or against other players that have excelled. I don't think that's fair, and I don't like it. Nolan Patrick was number two legit, and most teams in the NHL that was coming down to Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier.
Elliotte Friedman [00:30:10] Again, I'm gonna disagree with you on this, too. There's a lot of disagreeing on this podcast.
Jeff Marek [00:30:14] Good.
Elliotte Friedman [00:30:16] We're like in a couple that's going through, what was last week, the fourth anniversary of the podcast?
Jeff Marek [00:30:20] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:30:21] Well, you and I are going through our seven year itch right now. We're, you know, get the divorce lawyer on retainer because the two of us are starting to argue a lot. I don't agree with that. And again, I have no interest in disparaging Patrick. That's not what I'm trying to do here. But that draft privately was all over the map. There were some teams that really thought highly of Pettersson. There were some teams that really thought highly of Heiskanen. And then there were some teams that thought really highly of Makar. I remember publicly, Jeff, I think you're right, in a lot of the public models, whether it be Sam Cosentino or Craig Button or anyone like that, I think it was a lot of Hischier-Patrick one-two. But I think privately there were a lot of teams who felt differently. And you know, and one of the, I mean, the weird thing about this is that some of the people who were directly involved told me that Clarke got the wrong player or wasn't Makar it was Heiskanen.
Jeff Marek [00:31:15] Heiskanen, yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:31:16] I do think that draft, if we ever got a situation where we could see what teams' private lists were. I think you'd see they were all over the place. There was a public consensus, but there wasn't a private one.
Jeff Marek [00:31:28] See the thing about that draft that I remember as well, and this is where I kind of look at some of the Bob Clarke comments about Cale Makar and Nolan Patrick sideways is, you know, the Flyers were supposed to draft, what, 11th or 12th?
Elliotte Friedman [00:31:42] I remember how angry some of the really bad teams were after that draft.
Jeff Marek [00:31:47] Well--
Elliotte Friedman [00:31:48] Because the whole odds on that draft of New Jersey, Philly, Dallas were like, one in 11 billion.
Jeff Marek [00:31:54] Yeah, that was the one where everyone started saying, okay, maybe we need to change the draft lottery here, because New Jersey, Philadelphia, Dallas should not be drafting in this order.
Elliotte Friedman [00:32:03] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:32:04] Right now. I understand it. And I do understand Bob Clarke trying to protect his friend. You know, you and I talked about this on the radio. Bob Clarke is a very loyal person to his friends.
Elliotte Friedman [00:32:16] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:32:16] Sometimes that's very uncomfortable with certain people. His friendship with some people has been very uncomfortable for a lot of people, and I think, you know what I'm getting at here Elliotte.
Elliotte Friedman [00:32:30] Mhm.
Jeff Marek [00:32:30] But he is loyal. He is loyal for his people, and he is standing up here for Chuck Fletcher.
Elliotte Friedman [00:32:34] I think Hextall was hurt, too. I do. He might never admit it. You know, Hextall, he loved being a Flyer. He loved being the GM of the Flyers. He was really surprised and shocked when he was fired as GM of the Flyers. You know, I told you the pizza story.
Jeff Marek [00:32:53] Oh yeah, go over the pizza story for those that didn't hear it on the radio show.
Elliotte Friedman [00:32:57] If I remember correctly, the Flyers' first win the first game after Hextall was fired was in Buffalo, and there was video that they put up of the players winning that game and they were gleefully eating pizza like they were making a point of eating pizza in front of the camera. And I was like, what is that? It just looks weird. And I reached out to someone and they told me that Hextall had banned pizza after the games and people didn't like it.
Jeff Marek [00:33:26] Now, why was that? There's a very specific reason.
Elliotte Friedman [00:33:28] I asked someone. I said, okay, well, why would why would pizza get banned, because, you know, as you know, Jeff, when we were doubleheaders at hockey night, we get pizza in the middle, and if somebody banned pizza, I would be, I would be unable to work. I would be furious!
Jeff Marek [00:33:44] What kind of god would allow that?
Elliotte Friedman [00:33:46] I know! So, and I was told that Hextall did it for a very legitimate reason. He asked, I don't know if it was a team nutritionist or who it was, and he or she told them that that kind of eating after a game was bad for inflammation. And Hextall said, well if that's not good for us, we're not doing it. So it came from a good place. But I think it just shows you the level of trouble that that whole relationship got to it. And for me, on, on a level, like Bobby Clark is a Flyer. Ron Hextall is a Flyer.
Jeff Marek [00:34:21] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:34:21] The NHL has changed so much. I think I've bet you this on the pod before but, you know, hockey is a game of intimidation. Intimidation matters. You have, there's a puck there, and only one of the two of you can get it, and what are you going to do to get that puck? I think intimidation matters. And, you know, the game has changed a lot because we know more now about the toll that it can take on the athletes involved. But I look at markets like Philly and I look at markets like Boston and I, I look at markets like Buffalo, and they took so much pride in the toughness of their teams.
Jeff Marek [00:34:59] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:35:00] And you know, the game has changed a lot and in a place like Philly and Philly's got a lot of problems right now, like not having, you know, Ed Snyder's birthday recognised and I just think that there's a disconnect there and, but, you know, to me, Bob Clarke is a Flyer, Ron Hextall is a Flyer, and it's, it's kind of sad to me that this happened because those guys are Flyers. Bob Clarke will always be the first line centre Flyer and Ryan Hextall can't be the first line goalie Flyer because they have Bernie Parent, but he's on the team, right?
Jeff Marek [00:35:36] Oh, big time. '87 Final. For that, and that alone.
Elliotte Friedman [00:35:39] I think it's really too bad, I do.
Jeff Marek [00:35:41] I'm with you on that.
Jeff Marek [00:35:57] Okay, so those were two... well, three, really heavy stories that we started off the podcast with. So let's use the classical Shakespearean device. After really heavy emotional scenes, you come back with something a little more light-hearted.
Elliotte Friedman [00:36:13] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:36:15] Elliotte Friedman?
Elliotte Friedman [00:36:15] The comedic interlude, yes?
Jeff Marek [00:36:17] Kodak Black.
Elliotte Friedman [00:36:22] You know, look, there's so much going on in the world that's really problematic.
Jeff Marek [00:36:28] Yup.
Elliotte Friedman [00:36:29] You know, we're going through a worldwide pandemic and everything else that's going around. I find it very hard to get worked up about this. I notice the Panthers have been silent about it.
Jeff Marek [00:36:41] Yup.
Elliotte Friedman [00:36:42] If I was in charge, this is what I'd be doing. I'd be reaching out to our fans and our sponsors, and I'd be saying privately, how are all you guys doing? The people who really matter. People who pay to get in the games or the people who pay to advertise at our games.
Jeff Marek [00:36:58] People that keep the lights on. Got it.
Elliotte Friedman [00:37:00] People that keep the lights on, and the people that really care about the Panthers. I'm reaching out to those people and saying, how do you feel about this? And if they're really upset, then you speak to them and say, you know, it's not gonna happen again, and how are we gonna make this right to you? And if the people are not offended, you say to them, we're glad that you feel okay about it, it's not gonna happen again, and what can we do to give you a little something just to make you feel a little bit better about us?
Jeff Marek [00:37:33] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:37:33] Like, like I remember one of my friends who was one of the best at customer service. I remember he always told me that one of the biggest mistakes he learned was, sometimes you only take care of the people who complain. You don't remember the people who don't complain and how valuable they are too. So if I'm Florida, I'm just reaching out privately and I'm not doing anything publicly. Let it go. People are moving past it. But how do we make sure our fans and our sponsors are okay? And even if you are okay, what can we do to make sure that, you know, we appreciate the fact that you're okay? That's what I would do.
Jeff Marek [00:38:10] You know why I like that?
Elliotte Friedman [00:38:12] Why's that?
Jeff Marek [00:38:13] And on this podcast specifically, I really don't want to agree with you. Here I go. You know why I like that? Because eventually Bill Zero's gonna have to say something or someone from the Panthers organisation is going to have to say something. Further to that point, because eventually it will be asked, and right now, I can imagine like that night at that game, I'm sure everybody is thinking, okay, cancel all interviews for tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that happened. That shut everything down. We need to, you know, this is crisis team time, how do we do this? Here's why I like your idea because eventually Bill Zito or someone's going to have to comment on this, about what happened. And right now, that allows them to say when the question is asked, we talked to our season ticket holders. We talked to the fan base. We talked to our sponsors. Here's what they think.
Elliotte Friedman [00:39:08] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:39:08] This is most valuable to us. That gives them room to do that instead of coming right out with the statement. That's why I like that from out from a PR strategy point of view. Because it's obvious that right away and in the couple of days following the incident, they wanted nothing to do with this hot potato. They wanted to be as far away from it as possible.
Elliotte Friedman [00:39:30] I don't think that's a bad strategy.
Jeff Marek [00:39:32] I think it's fine.
Elliotte Friedman [00:39:33] Don't give it air. You know, if Bill Zito's asked about it, he just says, look guys, we dealt with it internally. People do follow ups, they say, look guys, we dealt with it internally. That's it. Don't give it air.
Jeff Marek [00:39:44] Elliotte let's get into the All-Star Game and the people that are playing in the All-Star Game and our favourite conversation around the All-Star Game, the All-Star snubs. Now keeping in mind, these are not always snubs. Sometimes players request not being chosen to go to the All-Star Game for various reasons. Maybe they just want the time off. Maybe they've, you know, they've, they've represented their team a number of times and they wanna hand it to someone else so... things aren't always as they appear when it comes to All-Star games and All-Star players, but a couple of names stand out now that aren't there. One of them being Sidney Crosby.
Elliotte Friedman [00:40:24] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:40:24] And the other being the human highlight reel for the Anaheim Ducks, Trevor Zegras, who probably did as much, if not more, for marketing the game in that move against the Buffalo Sabres with Sonny Milano, then any multi-million dollars slick marketing campaign anybody could have come up with at the NHL. What stood out for you for the All-Star nominations here?
Elliotte Friedman [00:40:48] Well Crosby, there's no question that that stood out for me first. I'm very curious to hear, well, first of all, he's playing, right?
Jeff Marek [00:40:56] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:40:56] And he's not even the last man in. The last man in vote for Pittsburgh is Guentzel. So I'm very curious to see how they're gonna explain all this because I can't imagine that ESPN wouldn't want him involved in some way. See, I don't have a problem with a guy like Crosby not playing, but you almost have to say, can we involve you somehow. Right?
Jeff Marek [00:41:20] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:41:21] So I'm curious to see where that is gonna go. The thing about Zegras, I actually was surprised to see that not only is he not there for the Ducks, but he's also not their last man in vote. That's Troy Terry. So this is what I think happened here. In the Pacific, they needed a goalie. And Markstrom when they were on their Eastern swing last week? Vladar had to play back to back, right?
Jeff Marek [00:41:49] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:41:49] You know, [unclear] reported there might be something there with his health. That's what this is. I think that Calgary said, look, our goalie isn't 100% healthy. Goodrow is having a great year, can we have him go instead? And I think the league was fine with that. But now you've gotta figure out where you're getting your other goalie from. Edmonton, no. L.A., eh, maybe?
Jeff Marek [00:42:15] He's had a heck of a season. He really has. Quick's been really good.
Elliotte Friedman [00:42:18] Yup.
Jeff Marek [00:42:19] We were all handing this thing to Cal Petersen and Quick went, yeah, not so fast.
Elliotte Friedman [00:42:22] Yeah. Sharks, no, Kraken, no, Canucks, you've already got the other guy.
Jeff Marek [00:42:26] Thatcher Demko, yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:42:26] And Knights, you want Pietrangelo and Stone, right? So where's your other goalie gonna come from? And all of a sudden you're looking at Anaheim and saying, we need Gibson, who's deserving. I think the other thing there is, I think the Ducks wanted Troy Terry there.
Jeff Marek [00:42:40] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:42:41] And he deserves it. A thousand percent. He deserves it. I think Terry is... he's their last man in, and I think that hurt Zegras. But, you know, I mean, it's tough. This is one of those things where, you know, there's the divergent ideas, right? I'm sure the marketing people want Zegras there, I wouldn't be surprised if the TV people want Zegras there, but the Ducks might say, you know what? Troy Terry's our deserving guy, and the league might look at it and say, you know what, Troy Terry's pretty deserving, but we also need a goalie. Like I understand how this happens. The other thing you could do, Jeff, if you're that determined to have him there, bring him for the skills.
Jeff Marek [00:43:24] Who, Zegras?
Elliotte Friedman [00:43:25] Yes.
Jeff Marek [00:43:25] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:43:26] And then put him on the show or something like that, like have him talk about the, nobody takes the All-Star Game seriously, have him be a commentator or something.
Jeff Marek [00:43:33] Listen, I'm with you. I think that players, even if you don't want to play in the game because, let's face it. And again, I wanna, and I see this every year and I really want to keep reinforcing this. My life got a lot better Elliotte when I realised that not everything has to appeal to me and that just because I may not like the All-Star Game doesn't mean you do away with it. Like, I hate that kind of arrogance. Oh, I don't like the All-Star Game. They should scrub it. Well, no, because you look at the kids' faces and they love it and the sponsors think is pretty cool and it's a great way to say thank you so, even though it's not for me. That's okay.
Elliotte Friedman [00:44:04] People who say the All-Star Game should--I mean, I don't even go anywhere with that.
Jeff Marek [00:44:07] You hear it every year, oh, they've gotta scrub this, this is terrible. Well, just because you don't like it doesn't mean that it's not for--like, not everything is is built around, you know, pleasing and tickling you, gentle hockey commentator. But I think that that is an event where, as we talked about before, this is cool for young fans to see all the stars in one place. And it's a great way to say thank you to sponsors, to sticking with the NHL, especially now in a really tough time and keeping this league going and keeping the lights on. And I think that for that, even if you don't want to play, even just to go, and to go, and I understand right now the situation that we're all in right now with the pandemic. But even just to be there so a kid can see you or a sponsor can get an autograph or a photo or something, even if you're not gonna be putting skates on like, leave your bag at the rink, you don't even have to be on the ice, but just be a presence at the All-Star Game.
Elliotte Friedman [00:45:01] Yeah.
Jeff Marek [00:45:01] I'm a big supporter of that. To your point, even if Zegras isn't planned, be there! Second of all, the guy's hilarious, he would be great on the mic.
Elliotte Friedman [00:45:10] Mhm.
Jeff Marek [00:45:10] That's another sidebar to what Ziegler brings. He's hilarious, and he appeals to a demographic that's going to be renewing this game and is your next wave of season ticket holder? Get him there. Put him on TV. Doesn't have to be wearing skates and hockey gloves and a sweater. Put him on TV. Let him talk. I'm with you on that one, 100%. You know, the one area where I always, I always, it's weird we were just talking about goaltenders. The one position that I always, I always worry about if I'm a general manager in the NHL is the goalie position. That's the only one, like my, my guy is going to go to the All-Star Game, okay, it's gonna be fine, he's gonna have like those skate around. But goalies are still the ones that have to work. And if you look at, okay, I don't want you to get injured at an All-Star Game, yeah, you're not going to unless you're the goaltender. And it's happened before. But anyway, that's my only point about positions at the All-Star Game. Really quick. Eric Staal signs a tryout agreement with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, a prelude to joining Team Canada for the Olympics, should be about zero surprise to anyone who listen to the Devan Dubnyk interview Elliotte.
Elliotte Friedman [00:46:16] The one thing I'm curious about is, was Staal, does he go to the Olympics or does somebody sign them first?
Jeff Marek [00:46:23] Hmm! How much of that would come down to whatever Staal wants to do?
Elliotte Friedman [00:46:27] I'm sure, probably almost because everything.
Jeff Marek [00:46:29] Cause he's done everything. He's done everything in hockey like.
Elliotte Friedman [00:46:32] That's the one thing someone said to me this morning when it got announced is, they're wondering if someone signs him.
Jeff Marek [00:46:37] Right.
Jeff Marek [00:46:49] Okay let's get in some emails here. 32thoughts@sportsnet.ca. A couple of GM questions here from Marshall in Edmundston: "In your vacant GM discussions on the part. I did not hear Sean Burke's name amongst the suggestions. I remember a few years ago he, along with Drury and Guerin, were questions of when, not if. It seems like his quest for a GM gig has stalled despite good work with Team Canada, etc. is there any reason he's not getting more serious consideration aside from his present employment? Speaking of which, is he possibly in line for that vacant seat?" That would, of course, be Montreal.
Elliotte Friedman [00:47:25] Well, first of all, when you say vacant discussions about GMs. Is it because the openings are vacant or because Jeff and mine's conversation is vacant?
Jeff Marek [00:47:35] I prefer the term empty calorie conversation that Elliotte and I have on a consistent basis.
Elliotte Friedman [00:47:40] It is suspected that Burke is in the mix in Vancouver.
Jeff Marek [00:47:44] All right, another GM question, this from Scott. "Lou Lamoriello is approaching 80 years old and just wondering how long you guys think he will be working and who will replace him in the future? Would his son, current GM of the AHL Islanders and assistant GM, get the first look or would the Islanders go for someone with experience from outside the organisation?"
Elliotte Friedman [00:48:09] I think that's impossible to say. First of all, I don't get any sense at all that Lou Lamoriello is ready to retire.
Jeff Marek [00:48:16] I'm with you. I don't think anybody gets that sense.
Elliotte Friedman [00:48:18] I remember when Ray Shero went into New Jersey, we all thought Lou Lamoriello was getting ready to step back, not be involved, semi-retirement, Ray Shero's gonna have the say, and then we learnt very quickly, no, no, no, that's not the case. Lou Lamoriello is not ready to retire or take a backseat. I'm not making that mistake again. You know, this pandemic, people are leaving jobs, deciding they want to do different things with their lives. They're getting burned out. I totally understand all of it. Not that Lou Lamoriello's gonna tell me, but I get no feeling from anybody. After, you know, Paul Maurice basically admitted that burnout was part of his decision to step down as coach of the Jets.
Jeff Marek [00:49:00] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:49:01] You know, I started asking around, you know, hey, is there, I totally understand but is there anyone else like this? And nobody mentioned that name to me. I think he's gonna be around as long as he wants to be around. And he has brought so much stability to the Islanders. I don't think that they have any desire for him to go anywhere until he's ready. I think the Islanders would be happy with him for as long as he wants to do it.
Jeff Marek [00:49:25] You know what I find interesting about Lou Lamoriello? A number of things, but one thing that I like to point out on the podcast, I think you and I have talked about this before but I'm not sure, all these podcasting conversations all run together. When you look at the safest choice or most conservative choice for a general manager, someone who's sort of put up as the modicum of how you do things, how you run a team properly and professionally, you can make the case that that's Lou Lamoriello. But what I find interesting about Lou is, do you remember Elliotte, because we're both the same vintage, how controversial his hiring was when the New Jersey Devils hired him? That was considered, you know, we always could say, oh how they hired Kyle Dubas from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, this is ridiculous, what's he going to know about running an NHL team? Lamoriello is hired from Providence Friars, and the conversation around it was, oh, hold on a second here, this guy is gonna go from college hockey to the NHL? There was always that vibe, going back to Ned Harkness right? Oh a college guy, college. But when they hired him, that was considered out of the box out of the world, what are they doing or who do the New Jersey Devils think they are? Like that was one of the more unconventional hires in the NHL at that time. And look what's happened. And I'll tell you, Elliotte. I always think of that when I think of new general managers. That here we are with Lou Lamoriello, you know, the modicum of, you know, hockey conservativism and how you, how you run an organisation that's the safe pick and he's the model for--when he was hired that was radical. That was a radical decision by the New Jersey Devils. So the next time anyone says, oh, this person can't run an NHL team, that's a radical hire? Just remember, Lou Lamoriello was a radical hire once upon a time.
Elliotte Friedman [00:51:26] Well you know what that is proof of? It doesn't matter where you come from.
Jeff Marek [00:51:30] 100%.
Elliotte Friedman [00:51:30] As long as you have a plan,
Jeff Marek [00:51:32] 100% true Elliotte, 100% true. One more from Adam. "As one of the few Nashville Predators fans living in Atlantic Canada." Is that true? There are few Preds fans in Atlantic--I didn't know that.
Elliotte Friedman [00:51:44] There's at least one.
Jeff Marek [00:51:45] There's one. It's Adam. "Just wondering if there were any rumours or updates on Filip Forsberg's contract status with the Preds. Are talks happening at all, possible numbers and term?" Man, they're playing so good right now. Did you watch that Colorado game the other night?
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:00] Yeah that was a great game. I wasn't crazy about that.
Jeff Marek [00:52:03] Oh!
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:05] About that too many men call, but.
Jeff Marek [00:52:06] That was a terrible call, but what a game!
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:09] It was a great game. It absolutely was a great game.
Jeff Marek [00:52:13] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:13] You know what? At some point in time, you've got to admit that they're for real.
Jeff Marek [00:52:17] I keep waiting for the bubble to burst. I'm with you, I'm like, okay, this is cute, little three game win streak, okay. Well whoa, hold on a second. They ripped off five of the tops in the division, what? They're playing great. And I think you and I have said collectively here on the show like we'll, we'll get a good sense of where David Poile thinks his team is by what happens with Filip Forsberg. Do we still believe that?
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:40] Look. You know what Forsberg is gonna want.
Jeff Marek [00:52:43] Oh yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:44] He's gonna want a big deal and he's gonna want protection.
Jeff Marek [00:52:47] Yes.
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:48] I think the protection scares the Predators more than the numbers do.
Jeff Marek [00:52:54] That's always been David Poile though, he's always been shy of--
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:57] But he did it for Josi.
Jeff Marek [00:52:58] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:52:58] Look, the way it's going, it's very difficult for the Predators to walk away from this. And, you know, the biggest challenge and one player said this to me is that the Predators have always been very good at saying, look, you're in Tennessee, it's a no-tax state. Well, now Johansen's got the deal, Duchene's got the deal. Josi's got the deal. Forsberg--and Forsberg, I said this on Nashville radio, the hit I do every week. Forsberg's a Predator. Just like Josi's a Predator, I know Forsberg was drafted by Washington, but he was traded there very young in his infancy as an NHL player. He's a Predator, okay? That's a guy you have to find a way to take care of. The other thing is Ryan Ellis signed and he got traded. So it's not that I necessarily think that Nashville did anything illegitimate there, but players remember. They say, okay, you have to risk if you agree to a deal that maybe is a bit less than you would get elsewhere because Nashville's a no-tax city in Tennessee that you have to have the protection, because if you get traded, maybe now you get traded somewhere where it is a big tax state. So that's all part of it. And I think that's a bigger issue for the Predators than anything else. But the fact is, you did for Josi, he's your best player, you're gonna have to do some level of it and you can say, look, can we do it for, if we give you an eight year deal, we'll give it to you for six years and then we'll figure out something on the end.
Jeff Marek [00:54:32] Mhm.
Elliotte Friedman [00:54:33] The way it's going for them right now, if it continues to go that way, it's tough for the Predators to sell it.
Jeff Marek [00:54:39] Yeah.
Elliotte Friedman [00:54:40] Really tough.
Jeff Marek [00:54:41] And by the way, speaking of tough, the toughest shot block I've seen this season?
Elliotte Friedman [00:54:46] Borowiecki?
Jeff Marek [00:54:46] Borowiecki in that game against Colorado. And he, that guy is super tough and I was like, legit frightened because that guy doesn't stay down? And he went down and stayed down. And that's not Mark Borowiecki. Oh did he eat that one! Toughest shot block I've seen all year. All right, on that lovely note, taking us out is a producer from British Columbia who is self-taught in software and recording programmes that help him create his sonic and very heady sound. Jamison Isaac, stage name Teen Daze, has an impressive discography. That's a fine mix of synth pop and romantic electronica. From his latest album, Interior, here's Teen Days with Nite Run on 32 Thoughts the Podcast.