It's Game Day Baby!

[00:00:06] Hey everyone, Mr. Devil here, Kenny Danico, three-time Stanley Cup champion of the New Jersey Devils.

[00:00:13] You're listening to The Uncle Puckers, New Jersey Devils Podcast with Chris, Dan, Bobby, and Tony, The Uncle Puckers.

[00:00:20] Let's go Devils!

[00:00:24] Hey, Bob.

[00:00:26] Yes, sir.

[00:00:27] So, it's real.

[00:00:30] It is.

[00:00:31] It's real.

[00:00:32] Yeah.

[00:00:33] It's tomorrow.

[00:00:34] The beginning.

[00:00:35] This is actually episode one of season three of The Uncle Puckers.

[00:00:40] Well, that's debatable.

[00:00:42] It is not debatable.

[00:00:43] We go from the start of the season to the start of the season.

[00:00:47] Episode 20-something.

[00:00:49] I'll go with you.

[00:00:50] I'll go with three.

[00:00:51] Episode one.

[00:00:51] If you want to end the season whenever the Devils or whenever the Cup is awarded this coming season, we can.

[00:00:58] But right now, this is the beginning of season three.

[00:01:02] Fair enough.

[00:01:02] And so, all the talk, all the bullshit, the whole summer, right?

[00:01:06] We went and we looked at every Cup-winning team.

[00:01:09] We just regurgitated as much as we can just to keep hockey in our lives.

[00:01:14] Some people are very thankful for that.

[00:01:16] Definitely got some notes.

[00:01:17] People appreciate it.

[00:01:18] Kept them going.

[00:01:19] And we were happy to do it.

[00:01:20] It was a ton of fun, but just let this sink in.

[00:01:24] It's been 171 days since the Devils played a game that mattered.

[00:01:31] 171 days.

[00:01:33] That's it.

[00:01:34] Hello?

[00:01:34] Housekeeping?

[00:01:36] It's going to sound funny, but it probably didn't come through on the podcast.

[00:01:40] No, probably not.

[00:01:42] 171 days, Bob.

[00:01:43] That's very long when you look at it that way.

[00:01:47] April 15th was the last game that mattered.

[00:01:50] That is legitimately like half a year, yeah.

[00:01:52] And tomorrow it starts.

[00:01:54] Game one of 82.

[00:01:56] Yeah.

[00:01:56] And we're going to dive into that.

[00:01:58] Got a whole bunch to talk about today.

[00:01:59] It's exciting.

[00:02:00] It's unfortunate that as cool as it is that they're over there, like me for one, that's

[00:02:06] just not going to be a live game.

[00:02:07] Just it can't happen.

[00:02:08] Like I really want to just turn away from my work computer and put it on.

[00:02:12] But in all honesty, that's not how it's going to work.

[00:02:14] So unfortunately, I'll be on a delay, but I will watch it.

[00:02:17] Same one with Saturday.

[00:02:20] But yeah, it's still super exciting.

[00:02:22] It's just a little unconventional to have games.

[00:02:25] And I get it because this is how my whole weekend goes with my teams, right?

[00:02:29] So the Devils play at one o'clock Eastern time tomorrow.

[00:02:33] I'll watch that one at work.

[00:02:34] I'm not going to watch it on a delay.

[00:02:36] I'll watch both of them at work.

[00:02:37] I'll tape them too in case I just get busy or I miss something.

[00:02:41] I'll go home and watch it.

[00:02:42] 1030 in the morning on Saturday, the Devils are on, which is just a stupid time to watch

[00:02:48] hockey.

[00:02:48] And then on Sunday, the Vikings are over in London playing the Jets.

[00:02:52] That game's on at 930 in the morning.

[00:02:54] So it's like bagels and coffee to watch all of my games this weekend.

[00:02:59] I didn't know that football was going back to Europe again.

[00:03:02] They started there.

[00:03:04] No.

[00:03:06] Didn't they?

[00:03:07] Oh, no, it wasn't Europe.

[00:03:08] No, that was Brazil.

[00:03:09] Brazil.

[00:03:10] Yeah.

[00:03:10] That's slightly different.

[00:03:11] Yeah.

[00:03:12] Just slightly down the road.

[00:03:13] A couple miles from Europe.

[00:03:15] South.

[00:03:16] So yeah, they started in Brazil.

[00:03:17] So yeah.

[00:03:18] So now they'll play like, I don't know what the NFL does, like three or four weeks in a

[00:03:22] row that they have one game.

[00:03:24] I think this year they go to another country too.

[00:03:26] So I think they did Brazil.

[00:03:28] I think they're doing Germany and then they also do London.

[00:03:31] Yeah.

[00:03:31] So I don't like the global series.

[00:03:34] Like I love the fact that like the Devils are playing real hockey tomorrow, but I hate

[00:03:39] the fact that it's not in like our building.

[00:03:41] I hate this travel.

[00:03:42] I don't like any of it.

[00:03:44] I hate that it's on at one o'clock in the afternoon.

[00:03:46] I hate even more that Saturday's on at 1030, but yeah, at least it's hockey that matters.

[00:03:52] Yeah.

[00:03:52] Listen, it does put these two teams in a slight disadvantage one way or the other, shorter

[00:03:58] camps, extra travel coming back and then kind of starting up and then pausing for a little

[00:04:03] while.

[00:04:04] It's not optimal, but it's early enough in the season where you're not going to be in

[00:04:07] a groove yet anyway.

[00:04:08] So it's exciting that they're out there.

[00:04:10] You know, I'm Jack.

[00:04:11] I would love to be there too.

[00:04:12] Um, but at the same time, you know, when it comes down to business and just flat out being

[00:04:17] concerned about your team, just straight up getting wins, it does, you know, put a little

[00:04:21] wrinkle in there.

[00:04:22] It does.

[00:04:23] And all right.

[00:04:24] So there was some, some negative news today.

[00:04:27] I don't know if you saw this, um, that Luke's not healing as he's supposed to be, or at least

[00:04:35] along the timeline that they intended back in early September or whenever the injury was,

[00:04:41] as they were saying like around six, four to eight weeks.

[00:04:44] And now it's looking like the first week of October that it's still five to seven, about

[00:04:49] another seven, eight, eight weeks.

[00:04:50] Yeah.

[00:04:51] Like I called, I see this being the end of November.

[00:04:54] I know this is jokingly pessimistically saying because of the devils, the injury will go longer,

[00:04:58] but I actually kind of meant it too.

[00:05:00] Like, I do feel like this is going to take us probably really close to December.

[00:05:04] Um, very fortunate.

[00:05:05] That's a lot of games.

[00:05:06] Yes.

[00:05:07] And right now our defenses, you know, that is a, that is a big question.

[00:05:09] Um, you know, speaking of defense, I heard on the last show and I was hoping when he would

[00:05:13] bring that up about Seamus Casey saying, I'm going to make this team with all the odds

[00:05:17] stacked against them.

[00:05:18] He did just that mostly I'm guessing because of the two injured players, but even if not,

[00:05:25] from what I gather, maybe he would have made it anyway.

[00:05:27] So kudos for him, but that is not the defensive lineup that anyone thought was going to be.

[00:05:32] So it's a little interesting to see how this is going to work for a few weeks.

[00:05:36] Do we know when Brett Pesci should be back?

[00:05:39] So I saw a report from Fitzgerald today who said there's a positive indications that he

[00:05:46] could be ready for the home opener.

[00:05:49] Now that's huge.

[00:05:50] Yeah.

[00:05:50] He's not guaranteeing it, but the way he's skating, he said it's, it's definitely.

[00:05:54] I just heard you say Tom Fitzgerald guarantees Brett Pesci will be in October 8th against

[00:06:02] the Leafs.

[00:06:02] That's what you just said.

[00:06:03] Stamp it.

[00:06:04] It's done.

[00:06:04] All right.

[00:06:05] Because I think, look, if he's back, even if it's, you know, the first week of the season,

[00:06:11] first five, six games of the season, I think that I'm, I was more concerned about Brett

[00:06:16] Pesci being out than Luke being out.

[00:06:18] So, you know, you need that stead.

[00:06:21] He's, he's our best defenseman.

[00:06:23] I'm not saying he's our best goal scoring defenseman.

[00:06:27] He's our best defenseman and we got to have him in.

[00:06:31] So, all right.

[00:06:33] It sucks that we don't have Luke, but if you had to pick one, who would you rather have?

[00:06:37] You have Pesci back fast.

[00:06:38] Well, Pesci because Luke's skillset can be replicated to a degree.

[00:06:43] And I'm not saying Luke's not going to wind up being one of the best defensemen possible

[00:06:46] down the road, but for right now, for today and for opening day, you need defensive defense.

[00:06:52] We've, we've shown that last year.

[00:06:53] We need that kind of structure.

[00:06:55] So, yeah.

[00:06:56] But we're going to get them both back at some point and this team will look great.

[00:07:00] But yeah, for right now, I'm really happy to see him get back.

[00:07:03] It's going to be, if he is skating as well as they're saying, at least when they come back,

[00:07:08] you know, from Europe, they do have that break.

[00:07:11] Right.

[00:07:12] You know, get some reps because he hasn't really been skating with the team on drills

[00:07:15] and stuff.

[00:07:16] So, it's going to be exciting.

[00:07:18] Now, anything that you want to touch on news-wise before we dive into some of these numbers from

[00:07:24] the game coming up?

[00:07:25] I've got a couple of things that we can go over.

[00:07:27] A little bit of house cleaning, just because I brought it up two shows ago.

[00:07:31] You guys re-talked about it last time.

[00:07:32] And I want to make sure we give our due diligence there to Pucks and Pitchforks, that article

[00:07:37] regarding Hughes and Meyer not really working together.

[00:07:41] I kind of slandered it the first time and didn't really, I told you it was beyond my intelligence

[00:07:45] the way they wrote it.

[00:07:46] And I think everybody should read it.

[00:07:47] Why?

[00:07:47] Was it in English?

[00:07:48] Yes.

[00:07:50] It's by Nick Villano.

[00:07:51] And again, it's Pucks and Pitchforks.

[00:07:53] It's New Jersey Devils must separate Timo Meyer and Jack Hughes.

[00:07:56] So, I just highlighted a couple of things here.

[00:07:57] What they really dove into was kind of the advanced matrix look at this.

[00:08:01] And in general, their defense is down when they're together.

[00:08:04] The offensive stuff, we already talked about, you know, how they both like to play.

[00:08:07] That still stands true.

[00:08:08] But they brought up some really good points as far as, you know, their general defense

[00:08:11] and how it's down.

[00:08:12] Basically, it's like they're allowing more high danger chances against than four when

[00:08:19] they're together.

[00:08:19] And you definitely want that to be in the other way.

[00:08:21] And they cited a particular one with seven high danger chances against in 13 minutes of

[00:08:26] ice time together.

[00:08:27] So, that's the kind of stuff that they're looking at, how it's just not, frankly, gelling.

[00:08:31] So, for anybody who wants to, you know, again, read it and get what they say for it,

[00:08:36] that's what we should do.

[00:08:37] I just want to make sure that we weren't slandering too much because we did bring it up a couple

[00:08:40] times.

[00:08:41] Well, I mean, I still didn't read the article.

[00:08:44] And I just feel like if you're...

[00:08:49] I'm willing to take everything from last year and throw it out.

[00:08:54] I don't care what Lindy Ruff thought about the team or what, you know, was going on.

[00:08:59] Like, if Sheldon Keefe believes that, hey, this is the right move, I think you have got to

[00:09:04] give it ample time.

[00:09:06] I mean, if we're watching the games and these guys are getting lit up with odd man rushes

[00:09:11] every shift that they're out there and nobody wants to play defense and they're looking at

[00:09:15] each other like they're balancing their sticks on their dicks, then yeah.

[00:09:19] All right.

[00:09:19] Let's split them up.

[00:09:20] But I think this can be a very dynamic line.

[00:09:24] And I think you've got to give it a legitimate chance to work.

[00:09:28] I don't care about the numbers from last year.

[00:09:30] I mean, that's just...

[00:09:31] I mean, it's going the same way.

[00:09:33] Like, everyone is like, oh, that Mercer-Tatar-Heesher line is going to be quick right back off where...

[00:09:40] I hope they do.

[00:09:41] But how many times have we seen it where guys get...

[00:09:44] You know, a guy goes out on injury.

[00:09:46] The line is going great.

[00:09:48] The guy gets back.

[00:09:49] The line gets put back together.

[00:09:50] And there's just no chemistry.

[00:09:51] For whatever reason, they lost it.

[00:09:55] So, you know, look, it's all going to be, I think, in a perfect world.

[00:09:59] There's not one NHL team that's going to start their season this week that has set lines that are going to be set.

[00:10:08] Right.

[00:10:08] That, you know, for the remainder of the season.

[00:10:10] Of course not.

[00:10:11] Like, we know that they're going to be juggled.

[00:10:13] But I loved, just love, in theory, Meyer and Hughes together.

[00:10:17] Yeah, I do too.

[00:10:18] And, you know, it is awesome that kind of the lines we put together, to a man, are exactly what we said.

[00:10:24] Right.

[00:10:25] Again, not that we're predicting anything crazy.

[00:10:26] It's just what seemed to make sense as far as literally everybody.

[00:10:29] The only thing, and I want to get to this later after we do some other stuff we have to do,

[00:10:33] is I do want to talk a teeny bit more about Meyer on the left side versus the right side.

[00:10:39] A little bit later after we talk about the upcoming games.

[00:10:42] And one final piece, just to pick up some news here.

[00:10:47] Swayman.

[00:10:47] This thing's getting really deep.

[00:10:50] So, Spittin' Chick, let's put out a little thing today.

[00:10:55] And it's from Swayman, apparently.

[00:10:57] It's a quote.

[00:10:59] And this goes back a little bit.

[00:11:01] It says,

[00:11:19] This guy is just not happy.

[00:11:24] Last time we all wrote, I said, no, he's going back to Boston.

[00:11:26] It won't be a problem.

[00:11:27] They're doing eight and eight.

[00:11:28] He's going to be fine.

[00:11:28] I don't know.

[00:11:30] I think this is over.

[00:11:32] Jeremy Swayman will never wear a Boston Bruin jersey again.

[00:11:35] Yeah.

[00:11:36] I just don't think so.

[00:11:37] They royally screwed up.

[00:11:40] Yeah, they did.

[00:11:41] And apparently, they just, what it seems like to me is that they assumed way too much.

[00:11:47] Yeah.

[00:11:47] And they didn't have a dialogue with Swayman and his agent when the free agency started,

[00:11:54] when they shipped Olmark off to Ottawa.

[00:11:57] Why did they not have a, like, before we do anything.

[00:12:01] And I love how they're, no, no, we definitely would have shipped Olmark off anyway.

[00:12:04] Even, no, you wouldn't, you morons.

[00:12:07] Of course not.

[00:12:07] You want to save some face.

[00:12:09] I get that you're saying it.

[00:12:10] But we all know it's bullshit.

[00:12:12] I'd much rather a general manager come out and go, yeah, well, if we knew this was going

[00:12:16] to happen, we'd have him here, Olmark.

[00:12:18] But they literally thought because he was a younger guy with less experience, they were going

[00:12:22] to get him for less money.

[00:12:23] Period.

[00:12:24] And look, he wants, what, eight million a year?

[00:12:26] Is that, is this what we're looking at?

[00:12:27] Eight by eight?

[00:12:28] Is that what you?

[00:12:29] That's what's been going out.

[00:12:30] I don't know that that's what he wants.

[00:12:31] We're not hearing a lot from their camp.

[00:12:33] We're just basically hearing that he's disgruntled at this point.

[00:12:36] I think Boston, now I don't know what their cap space situation is.

[00:12:40] I really don't.

[00:12:41] I have no idea.

[00:12:42] But the bottom line is you have a top flight goaltender, a guy that, look, you made it

[00:12:47] to, what did they make it to?

[00:12:48] The second round of the playoffs, seventh game, right?

[00:12:51] Against Florida, I think they went seven.

[00:12:53] Yeah.

[00:12:53] So you made it to seventh game of the second round.

[00:12:56] It got beat by the team that ended up winning the cup.

[00:12:58] And your best player was Jeremy Swayman.

[00:13:01] Right.

[00:13:01] Your best player on the ice was Swayman.

[00:13:03] Now you're going to go into it with Mjornis Korpisalo as your number one.

[00:13:07] Right.

[00:13:08] I like Korpisalo, but he's not Swayman.

[00:13:10] Yeah.

[00:13:10] And this is a team with a little bit of age and some turnover and some future turnover.

[00:13:14] You'd think this is the one spot that you can lock up.

[00:13:16] You want to do that.

[00:13:17] Because like you said, he's top five.

[00:13:18] Yeah.

[00:13:19] And this is legitimately, I think, the last year that you can look at Boston as a contender.

[00:13:25] You don't know if Marshawn will be back next year.

[00:13:28] You don't know what kind of issues that they're going to have.

[00:13:30] And like you said, they're older.

[00:13:33] They're...

[00:13:34] I just think that this was, yeah, a complete and total foul up.

[00:13:37] And where does Swayman go now?

[00:13:39] You know, because they're going to dump them.

[00:13:41] Yeah.

[00:13:42] And, you know, a team's going to...

[00:13:45] Look, I would love it to be the Devils.

[00:13:47] I would.

[00:13:47] If we had a 24, 25-year-old guy locked up for eight years, I don't even care if it's at $8 million a year.

[00:13:54] I think Swayman's worth it.

[00:13:57] I would do it in a heartbeat.

[00:13:59] And I would say to him, hey, you've run...

[00:14:01] Look, we got you for eight years.

[00:14:03] The next two, we're going to run you with a legit tandem between you and Markstrom.

[00:14:09] When we get into the playoffs, whoever's the hot hand, we're going to go to.

[00:14:14] And we're going to do that for two years.

[00:14:15] And after the two years, you're our guy.

[00:14:17] And you'll be the main starter in this net.

[00:14:20] 60-plus starts for the next six years.

[00:14:23] Well, I mean, I would love to have him.

[00:14:24] If you...

[00:14:25] You know...

[00:14:25] Yeah, I'm sorry.

[00:14:26] The way it's trending now with goaltenders, too, is that that'll be one of those deals that,

[00:14:31] in the second half, we're underpaying him.

[00:14:34] You know what I mean?

[00:14:35] First four years, all right, get a little over.

[00:14:37] Second four, he's going to be underpaid.

[00:14:38] Because that's the...

[00:14:39] You know, it's just...

[00:14:40] Sirkin's going to set the market.

[00:14:41] And it's going to change how goaltenders are paid, for sure.

[00:14:44] It already kind of is.

[00:14:45] It's already happening.

[00:14:46] Well, let me ask you a question right now.

[00:14:48] Let's say that the...

[00:14:50] It was...

[00:14:53] Jake Allen, Andre Pallott, and...

[00:14:58] Yes, yes, yes.

[00:15:00] Seamus Casey.

[00:15:02] Yeah.

[00:15:02] Okay.

[00:15:03] You threw something.

[00:15:04] Okay, first of all, probably not going to happen because...

[00:15:07] Yeah, that's the type of moves we have to make.

[00:15:09] Obviously, you have to take Allen.

[00:15:11] You have to do something with a guy like Pallott.

[00:15:13] Whether it was trading him, eating some salary, whatever, you got to cut down the six million.

[00:15:17] I've heard things like Bastion and his 1.3 going.

[00:15:20] And then a guy like Casey would definitely sweeten the pot.

[00:15:22] And I do not want to get rid of Casey.

[00:15:24] We've mentioned that plenty of times before.

[00:15:25] But we are dealing from a position of strength in defense and youth defense.

[00:15:31] We could survive that.

[00:15:34] And then you have a true ace for almost a decade.

[00:15:39] Yeah.

[00:15:39] I would do that trade.

[00:15:41] What about Nemich?

[00:15:44] Considering the emergence of Casey, I would probably do that too.

[00:15:47] One of the three, I would...

[00:15:49] Out of Hughes, Nemich, and Casey, honestly, I think the only one I would prefer to keep would be Luke Hughes.

[00:15:56] Yeah.

[00:15:56] I'm the same way.

[00:15:58] I don't think I would do it for Luke.

[00:16:00] But even for Nemich, just...

[00:16:02] I mean, look, we said it two years ago.

[00:16:05] Swayman was the guy.

[00:16:06] Like, we thought that they should have gone after him.

[00:16:08] Yeah.

[00:16:09] You know, two years ago.

[00:16:12] He's a heck of a goalie.

[00:16:14] And I just don't know how...

[00:16:15] Is his attitude shit?

[00:16:17] Is this part of the problem?

[00:16:19] You certainly wouldn't think so, right?

[00:16:20] All the behind-the-scenes stuff you see with him.

[00:16:23] And even at the All-Star Game, he's like doing his little hug thing with all the other players.

[00:16:26] Like, he just seems like a genuinely good guy.

[00:16:28] Maybe he is just like the best guy in the world, but just knows fair is fair.

[00:16:33] This is what I deserve.

[00:16:34] Regardless of my age, this is how good I am.

[00:16:36] And I'm not asking for 10 or 12.

[00:16:39] I'm asking for 8 if that's what it is.

[00:16:41] I don't know.

[00:16:42] I mean, sports do get messy.

[00:16:44] And it is a business, right?

[00:16:45] Now, does Boston just not have the salary cap space?

[00:16:49] Or are they just digging their heels in and saying no?

[00:16:52] Because...

[00:16:52] I don't know.

[00:16:53] It just doesn't make sense.

[00:16:54] Pay the freaking guy his $8 million.

[00:16:57] Like, it just...

[00:16:58] Why are you letting this go?

[00:17:00] You're about to start hockey next week.

[00:17:03] You have a legitimate chance to compete for a Stanley Cup.

[00:17:07] Or at least, you know, good playoff position.

[00:17:11] A deep playoff run.

[00:17:12] Yeah.

[00:17:12] That goes bye-bye.

[00:17:13] That goes bye-bye without Jeremy Swayman.

[00:17:16] Sure.

[00:17:18] Now...

[00:17:19] Not right.

[00:17:20] I don't particularly care because it's Boston.

[00:17:23] But, you know, I like Swayman.

[00:17:25] Get him over here.

[00:17:26] Let's do it.

[00:17:27] Tom, really go and hit another home run.

[00:17:30] That would be amazing.

[00:17:31] Right before our home opener,

[00:17:32] we hear that Jeremy Swayman is now a New Jersey Devil.

[00:17:35] Oh, that would be awesome.

[00:17:37] We have the depth in the minors

[00:17:41] to replace two of our top 12 starters,

[00:17:44] preferably two from the bottom six, of course.

[00:17:46] Mm-hmm.

[00:17:47] And to be seamless with one of our, you know,

[00:17:52] defensive prospects.

[00:17:53] We really do.

[00:17:54] Now, that would definitely constitute big game hunting, huh?

[00:17:57] That would be the biggest game hunting.

[00:17:58] Now you've got Markstrom and Swayman.

[00:18:00] And Swayman.

[00:18:01] Markstrom and Swayman.

[00:18:03] I mean, that's an embarrassment of riches.

[00:18:05] We think we have an embarrassment of riches with Markstrom and Allen.

[00:18:09] Yeah.

[00:18:09] You know, imagine it being Swayman.

[00:18:11] But...

[00:18:11] Something else.

[00:18:12] As of now, he's still a Boston Bruin.

[00:18:15] And we do not have him.

[00:18:17] But what we do have is Lindy's revenge starting tomorrow in Prague.

[00:18:22] Let's break it down.

[00:18:23] Let's go through some of these numbers.

[00:18:25] Game one of 82.

[00:18:27] Like I said earlier, it's been 171 days since New Jersey has played a game that mattered.

[00:18:32] Tomorrow that all changes.

[00:18:33] So the horrible preseason.

[00:18:36] Everything that, you know, the Mercer holdout.

[00:18:39] All the other bullshit is now behind us.

[00:18:42] We are fielding a team.

[00:18:44] And tomorrow is day one.

[00:18:46] New Jersey Devils last year.

[00:18:48] We all know 23-24.

[00:18:50] Last season was...

[00:18:52] We went 38-39-5.

[00:18:54] Seventh in the Metro with 81 points.

[00:18:57] Buffalo was actually better than us last year.

[00:18:59] They went 39-37-6 for 84 points and sixth in the Atlantic.

[00:19:04] According to DraftKings, the odds to win the division right now, the Atlantic division,

[00:19:09] the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs are tied at first to win the Atlantic at plus 230.

[00:19:15] The Sabres have the six best odds to win the Atlantic at plus 1600.

[00:19:21] Vegas doesn't like Buffalo.

[00:19:23] I don't like Buffalo.

[00:19:24] Sure.

[00:19:25] Metropolitan division, the Rangers and the Canes are both tied to win the Metro at plus 245,

[00:19:31] where the Devils come in second at plus 250.

[00:19:34] It's basically chalk.

[00:19:35] So it's three teams that...

[00:19:37] So I think our preseason knocked us down a little bit.

[00:19:41] It must have, because otherwise I don't really understand that.

[00:19:44] Um, well, I don't understand.

[00:19:46] We'll let it go what it is, I guess, but...

[00:19:49] Look, Vegas also said that the Vikings were going to win six games all year this year, too.

[00:19:53] And, uh, you know, I don't think they're losing.

[00:19:56] They're winning just two more.

[00:19:57] Uh, you know, so...

[00:19:58] Not likely.

[00:19:59] To win the East, Florida is also favored.

[00:20:02] To win the East at plus 550.

[00:20:04] New Jersey is tied with the Rangers for third at plus 650.

[00:20:08] Buffalo is 12th at plus 2500.

[00:20:13] To win the President's Trophy, Oilers are number one at plus 600.

[00:20:17] New Jersey is seventh at plus 1300.

[00:20:19] And Buffalo, I didn't even count down that low, is plus 7500.

[00:20:23] To get the least points this year, the San Jose Sharks are number one with a plus 185.

[00:20:30] And Buffalo is tied with Seattle at ninth for plus 4000.

[00:20:34] Now, if you think that everything is going to crumble so bad in New Jersey that they're going to end up dead last 32 out of 32 teams, throw a few bucks on it.

[00:20:44] Because that's plus $30,000.

[00:20:47] Jesus.

[00:20:48] So, for every hundred you bet, you win $30,000.

[00:20:52] Wow.

[00:20:52] So, um, yeah, that's pretty awesome.

[00:20:55] To win the Cup, Edmonton is favorite at plus 800.

[00:20:58] New Jersey is plus 1300.

[00:21:00] And Buffalo is plus 5000.

[00:21:04] All that doesn't matter.

[00:21:06] In this game, New Jersey is favored by one and a half goals.

[00:21:10] And the over-under on goals for this game is six and a half.

[00:21:14] So, Bob, does New Jersey win this game tomorrow?

[00:21:17] Outright?

[00:21:18] Or do they cover the spread?

[00:21:20] What are they doing here?

[00:21:22] They will win outright and cover that spread.

[00:21:26] Go on a half?

[00:21:26] Okay.

[00:21:27] Go on a half.

[00:21:28] You're saying Devils win by two or more?

[00:21:30] Yeah.

[00:21:31] Okay.

[00:21:32] The over-under is six and a half.

[00:21:34] What are you going with?

[00:21:40] Yeah, I'll go over on that.

[00:21:42] Go over?

[00:21:42] I think they can hit it.

[00:21:43] Yeah.

[00:21:44] Okay.

[00:21:45] I'm going to go New Jersey to win and cover.

[00:21:51] I'm going to go under on the goals.

[00:21:54] Because when we get to a score, I'll tell you where I'm thinking.

[00:21:57] Okay.

[00:21:58] All right.

[00:21:59] So, Bobby, tomorrow, who wins?

[00:22:04] Devils win tomorrow.

[00:22:05] Devils win.

[00:22:06] All right.

[00:22:06] So, I got Devils.

[00:22:07] You got Devils.

[00:22:08] You say Devils cover.

[00:22:09] I say Devils cover.

[00:22:11] Yes.

[00:22:12] All right.

[00:22:13] Who scores the first goal?

[00:22:16] So, put some thoughts to this, right?

[00:22:18] Because I really wanted to make it kind of a storybook thing.

[00:22:21] And I'm thinking, you know, who's from the area?

[00:22:23] Palat.

[00:22:23] Who gets a lot of crap from me?

[00:22:25] Palat.

[00:22:25] Say, oh, how cool would it be for him to get that first goal?

[00:22:28] But he's not going to do it.

[00:22:30] It's going to be the guy who's going to have a monster year.

[00:22:32] Mr. Clutch in these beautiful, huge games, just like he did in the stadium series.

[00:22:40] Nico Heischer starts us off.

[00:22:42] All right.

[00:22:43] Tony took Tomas Tatar to score the first goal.

[00:22:46] Dan took Timo Meier to score the first goal.

[00:22:49] You're taking Nico Heischer to score the first goal.

[00:22:52] I was going back and forth on this for pretty much the whole summer.

[00:22:56] I was saying to myself, if Mercer gets signed, I'm going with him to score the first goal.

[00:23:03] And that's where I've been pretty much up till just now.

[00:23:08] I just think, you know, with the way that last season ended and everything that went down last year,

[00:23:15] I just think that he's going to be on a mission.

[00:23:17] I think he's about to have a huge year.

[00:23:21] I'm going with Jack.

[00:23:22] Yeah.

[00:23:23] It's going to be Jack.

[00:23:24] It's a great pick.

[00:23:25] He will get on the board.

[00:23:28] I'm with you on the Mercer thing too.

[00:23:29] I was leaning there too.

[00:23:31] That and, of course, trying to, you know, pick a defenseman because that's a little bit more of a ballsy pick.

[00:23:36] I like to pick a defenseman sometimes.

[00:23:38] And then, you know, the whole story with Palapia.

[00:23:41] In the end, I got Nico for my reasons.

[00:23:42] You got Jack for yours.

[00:23:43] And they're good calls.

[00:23:45] Now, last year, who scored the first goal?

[00:23:48] I don't recall.

[00:23:49] I'm trying to remember.

[00:23:50] Because two years ago, it was Alex Holtz.

[00:23:53] Yes.

[00:23:53] I remember that because you picked that one right.

[00:23:55] Second unit power play.

[00:23:56] I think it was Dawson Mercer last year.

[00:23:59] I feel like whoever it was, didn't they score the first two?

[00:24:03] That I don't know if I'm making up.

[00:24:04] I don't know.

[00:24:05] All right.

[00:24:06] All right.

[00:24:06] So, I just laid two goals out as an over-under for Jacob Markstrom.

[00:24:11] Does Jacob Markstrom allow two or more goals?

[00:24:14] Over or under two, Bobby?

[00:24:17] So, how do I push?

[00:24:18] I think he's going to let in no more than two.

[00:24:20] Okay.

[00:24:20] So, you're going to go with the push.

[00:24:22] Okay.

[00:24:22] That's fine.

[00:24:23] I am going with the under.

[00:24:25] I think that this – all right.

[00:24:28] Give me your score.

[00:24:29] Five to two, Devils.

[00:24:31] Five to two, Devs.

[00:24:34] I'm going to go – you ready for it?

[00:24:37] I'm ready.

[00:24:39] Four nothing Devils.

[00:24:41] Well, that's really going to hurt Dan's fun for the entire year, picking a shutout.

[00:24:47] Jacob Markstrom, in his debut in Devils Red, will get the shutout.

[00:24:54] Wow.

[00:24:55] So, I already answered the next question.

[00:24:58] I will let you answer now.

[00:25:00] Who scores the first goal?

[00:25:02] This was such a fucking monkey on our back last year that we just couldn't do it.

[00:25:08] I see.

[00:25:09] So, I do think that if I'm watching this game tomorrow and Buffalo scores first, I might stab myself in the frigging throat.

[00:25:17] Just because – come on.

[00:25:19] They got to score first.

[00:25:21] So, who do you think?

[00:25:21] Is it going to be Buffalo?

[00:25:23] Listen, the one nothing them, right?

[00:25:26] Oh, my God.

[00:25:26] So comical last year.

[00:25:28] It will absolutely make people pull their hair out if Buffalo scores first.

[00:25:33] So, yeah.

[00:25:34] Buffalo is going to score first, and then we're going to rattle off five before they get a meaningless second.

[00:25:38] All right.

[00:25:39] I can live with that.

[00:25:40] I just worry that Buffalo scores first, and we just wilt.

[00:25:48] And, you know, that's the thing.

[00:25:50] Like, we have to get – I think our brains accustomed to what it is that this year is going to look like.

[00:25:58] Because all we have on reference is last year.

[00:26:01] And it's like that every year, right?

[00:26:02] You know, like I even went into football season, like, just kind of like, you know, a little PTSD about last season and every season before.

[00:26:10] Like, what are the Vikings going to do now that they're doing well?

[00:26:13] They've won four games in a row.

[00:26:14] I can sit back a little more comfortably.

[00:26:16] I know what kind of team they are now.

[00:26:17] Sure.

[00:26:17] I don't know what kind of team this is, but I'm still going to go Devils.

[00:26:22] I do think that there's a – that they will be able to turn it on.

[00:26:27] I think they're going to take it very seriously tomorrow.

[00:26:30] I think they're done fucking around.

[00:26:32] I think they absolutely do not want to lose to Lindy Ruff.

[00:26:37] I just think it's great for the chaos it's going to cause because we didn't score first almost ever.

[00:26:42] And then we get our goalie, and our goalie is going to let one in.

[00:26:45] And, you know, Twitter is going to be in a flux, and then the devil is going to turn around and kick their ass.

[00:26:49] Do I honestly feel the likelihood of us scoring five – if I really think it's going to be five to two, do I honestly feel that we're not going to get the first goal?

[00:26:56] No, probably not.

[00:26:57] But for this game, I'm going to go give it to Buffalo.

[00:26:59] And here's the other thing too.

[00:27:01] Like, two years ago, we lost the first two games.

[00:27:05] And we lost them bad.

[00:27:07] I think both games we lost five to two.

[00:27:09] I think one was against the Flyers.

[00:27:11] I don't remember who the other team was, but it doesn't matter.

[00:27:14] Right.

[00:27:15] And both – you know, Mackenzie Blackwood got lit up, and I don't – was it Jonathan Bernier maybe, the other goalie that was in the second game or whatever?

[00:27:23] And he got lit up, and it was like, wow, here's more of the same.

[00:27:27] And then they, you know, started winning here and there, and then they cracked off a 13-game win streak.

[00:27:31] Right.

[00:27:32] So, these two games are not the end-all, be-all of the season.

[00:27:38] Of course not.

[00:27:39] But you do want to kind of start – you want to start really, really hot here.

[00:27:44] And it's going to be tough with the travel, with back-to-back games.

[00:27:47] It's going to be a tough two games to win.

[00:27:50] I do see a split, but I see us taking the first one.

[00:27:55] So, what are you most looking forward to seeing in these games?

[00:28:01] Well, originally I was most looking forward to seeing our full defensive core as a unit and how that kind of works over 60 minutes.

[00:28:09] We're only going to get a partial look at that because I don't even know what the lines are going to be or the pairings are going to be, you know, once everybody's healthy.

[00:28:15] So, then it has to be Markstrom.

[00:28:18] I want to focus on and see what he does for a full 60.

[00:28:22] Yeah.

[00:28:23] I'm most looking forward to seeing our goaltending, our defense.

[00:28:27] I want to see how that looks this year.

[00:28:29] And I'm really looking forward to seeing our bottom six.

[00:28:32] I want to see how they play.

[00:28:35] I didn't know we were doing multiple answers.

[00:28:36] Well, we're not.

[00:28:38] Do you want me to rank them?

[00:28:39] I'll say Markstrom.

[00:28:40] Yeah.

[00:28:41] All right.

[00:28:41] So, what concerns you the most?

[00:28:44] What concerns me the most is now it would be just the defense.

[00:28:49] Are they gelling it?

[00:28:50] I don't know.

[00:28:50] I didn't get to see too much of preseason.

[00:28:52] We didn't have a great preseason.

[00:28:54] Now, to a man, they are saying that basically it is preseason, that they're overthinking, that they were, you know, thinking more than playing because they're trying to adapt to the new system and all that.

[00:29:04] That's something from Christy Flannery put that out there.

[00:29:07] So, the guys are aware of what they did.

[00:29:09] And there is truth to that.

[00:29:11] I get that.

[00:29:11] You're so focused on the detail.

[00:29:13] You kind of forget about just playing.

[00:29:16] It's kind of like when Knobloch couldn't throw to first anymore, right?

[00:29:18] Yeah.

[00:29:19] It's just something happened.

[00:29:19] And it's just – instead of just being who you've been your whole life, you're in your own head and you're overthinking it.

[00:29:25] So, I would say that for this game and, like, for them scoring first, like, I am a little concerned about how the whole defense is going to gel.

[00:29:35] The thing that concerns me the most is the thing I'm looking forward to seeing the most, and that's Jacob Markstrom.

[00:29:40] Yeah.

[00:29:40] I was going to say that.

[00:29:41] Yeah.

[00:29:42] I – you know, look, he's – we know his career, right?

[00:29:46] Right.

[00:29:46] He's had great seasons.

[00:29:47] He's had meh seasons.

[00:29:49] Yeah.

[00:29:50] So, you know, we think with his defense this year, once it's – you know, Pesci's back and Hughes is back, things will tighten up a lot more.

[00:29:59] I am very concerned about his play because he really is the linchpin, and this team is only going to go as far as Jacob Markstrom.

[00:30:08] Yeah, we're jaded.

[00:30:09] It's the thing.

[00:30:10] We're scared.

[00:30:11] We've seen a whole year get thrown away from horrible goaltending and poor defense.

[00:30:16] So, yeah, I get it.

[00:30:17] And then we get that little nugget dropped on us the last two preseasons a game where Jeremy Brodeur is in goal for the Devils.

[00:30:28] That was just the coolest thing I think I've ever seen.

[00:30:32] Like, just seeing Marty's kid.

[00:30:34] And he played really freaking good.

[00:30:36] Played really good.

[00:30:37] Now, he's 27 years old.

[00:30:39] He's been a goalie.

[00:30:41] He is that old, huh?

[00:30:41] He's not – he hasn't, like, flown through, you know, the leagues.

[00:30:46] But then you see these sparks in him, and you and I were going back and forth, and we're like, well, he's got the DNA.

[00:30:51] And how cool would it be if it's MB60 in a couple years, like, pulling this team?

[00:30:57] I think everybody – I was getting texts from people that I haven't spoken to in years because they were just seeing a Brodeur and Net, and everybody got excited about it.

[00:31:05] It was super cool.

[00:31:06] It was really cool.

[00:31:07] I really hope that he, you know, maybe can – I don't know what his career is going to look like.

[00:31:13] He's probably not going to make this team anytime, you know, anytime at all.

[00:31:17] But it was really awesome to see a Brodeur.

[00:31:20] I always – it always looked like he was going to be a career minor leaguer, which is unfortunate when your dad is arguably the best goalie to ever play.

[00:31:28] But can you imagine – think of the pressures in your life.

[00:31:31] And then think of the pressure of being Martin Brodeur's son.

[00:31:33] And you're a goalie, and you're just – you're not, like, a number one prospect.

[00:31:38] You know what I mean?

[00:31:38] Right.

[00:31:39] Do people respect you?

[00:31:41] Of course.

[00:31:41] But do they also look and be like, how are you not the next great thing?

[00:31:45] I mean it's got to be weird.

[00:31:47] It's like when you're 5'8 and your father is 6'2 and they go, wait, how come your dad is 6'2 and you have to tell people, well, my mom was only 5'8.

[00:31:57] So I'm kind of right in the middle there.

[00:31:59] Gotcha.

[00:31:59] So I get it.

[00:32:00] Who will have the breakout year for the Devils?

[00:32:06] So we have to define what a breakout year is.

[00:32:09] I mean –

[00:32:10] Well, we know what we kind of expect from Nico Heischer, from Jack, from Timo, from Brat.

[00:32:16] So let's take those guys and throw them away.

[00:32:19] Who else on this team is going to step up and just have a career breakout year, if anybody?

[00:32:25] It's hard for me to put Timo in this too because I think the expectations are always there for what Timo can do.

[00:32:31] I want to pick him because as a devil we haven't maybe seen it.

[00:32:34] I think you can.

[00:32:35] Okay.

[00:32:35] We can put Timo in there because you're right.

[00:32:38] But I don't think I'm going to.

[00:32:40] Okay.

[00:32:40] I'm talking a role player, a real career year.

[00:32:44] I'm going Cotter.

[00:32:46] Okay.

[00:32:47] All right.

[00:32:47] I think, again, he might be sheltered a little bit on fourth line minutes, but he's got the hands.

[00:32:52] He's got the drive.

[00:32:53] I think he's one of these guys I'm really excited to see play.

[00:32:57] And, again, breakout year, so he's a fourth line player.

[00:32:59] So I guess it wouldn't take, quote, unquote, much for it to be a breakout year.

[00:33:03] But I think we're going to get more than that from him.

[00:33:05] I think at the end of the year you're going to look back and be like, it was a really special year.

[00:33:08] We were a really good dude.

[00:33:10] Yeah, especially if he – you know, this team goes on a little bit of a run in the playoffs,

[00:33:14] and he's the guy that, you know, gives you those timely goals.

[00:33:18] Yeah.

[00:33:18] And, yeah.

[00:33:20] For me, I'm going to go to – I don't know if this is a cop-out or not, but I'm going to go with Dawson Mercer.

[00:33:27] I think this is Dawson Mercer's year.

[00:33:30] I've said it before.

[00:33:30] I think Nico Heischer is going to have an amazing year.

[00:33:33] I think this will really kind of be his breakout year, but we are expecting that a little bit.

[00:33:39] Like, we don't know – like, Nico Heischer has always just gotten better.

[00:33:43] Yeah, he's constantly elevating.

[00:33:45] Yeah.

[00:33:46] Where Dawson Mercer took a huge step back last year.

[00:33:49] I want to see 30 goals plus from Dawson Mercer this year.

[00:33:53] I'm playing in that top six and really looking by Thanksgiving that he belongs there,

[00:33:58] and there's not a chance that he's ever going to go back to the bottom six.

[00:34:02] That's what I really want.

[00:34:05] All right.

[00:34:06] Where do the Devils end up in the Metropolitan Division,

[00:34:10] and how many points do they end up with this year?

[00:34:14] I'm already on record from like a month ago saying I do think they're going to win the division,

[00:34:18] so I'm just going to stick with it.

[00:34:19] Let's be realistic.

[00:34:21] I don't think they're going to climb to maybe the Rangers points last year of 114,

[00:34:26] but I'm going to put them up there with the, you know, 110, 109, 110, 111, something like that.

[00:34:34] Well, I have – I'm going to have them win in the Metro.

[00:34:37] I had them at 108 points.

[00:34:40] Okay.

[00:34:40] So you want to go with 109, 110, or 111?

[00:34:44] You know what?

[00:34:44] It looks – the Hurricanes got 111 last year, so I'll match that.

[00:34:47] 111.

[00:34:48] We'll call it 111.

[00:34:49] All right.

[00:34:50] All right.

[00:34:51] And I mean I – this is like – we're not going to get into too much of the second game

[00:34:58] because I figured we're either going to come on and do a show Friday night or tomorrow night after the game.

[00:35:03] I'm thinking more doing a show Saturday night if everyone's available and we can talk about both games.

[00:35:08] So – but this right now will just focus on the first game of Lindy's Revenge.

[00:35:12] All right.

[00:35:13] So we both have the Devils winning 5-2.

[00:35:15] I guess we might as well do it for now.

[00:35:17] Are the Devils sweeping this series?

[00:35:18] Are they going to take both these games in Prague?

[00:35:21] So I honestly was trying to find a reason that they wouldn't because here's the thing.

[00:35:26] I mean selfishly, I expect and assume a win for opening day.

[00:35:30] Home.

[00:35:31] Home opener, I mean.

[00:35:32] So is it fair to say a team can start off 2-1 and be a very good team?

[00:35:36] And I think that is.

[00:35:36] So I had to find a loss somewhere.

[00:35:38] And I had a hard time doing it because I figured we know who's starting game 1.

[00:35:41] I'm assuming it's going to be Devin Levi for Buffalo.

[00:35:43] Right?

[00:35:44] He's de facto number one now.

[00:35:46] Might be Luka Pekalukkanen.

[00:35:48] Well, he only played a couple games.

[00:35:49] They got James Reimer in from Detroit.

[00:35:52] So I thought maybe James was getting the second game.

[00:35:55] I don't know who – I don't know their depth.

[00:35:57] Like I don't know who they have planned.

[00:35:58] I think Pekalukkanens are number one.

[00:36:00] Ezzy.

[00:36:01] Yeah.

[00:36:02] Well, that makes sense too because I'm just looking at it.

[00:36:04] I was trying to find an advantage from a goaltending standpoint because we know we're going to throw Allen in there for the second game.

[00:36:11] Right.

[00:36:11] And they're very comparable as far as goals against averages.

[00:36:15] All their goalies being 3.1, 3.11, and a save percentage being 899 to 900, which is exactly where Allen was too for us last year.

[00:36:25] Right.

[00:36:25] That doesn't tell a whole story.

[00:36:27] But again, I'm looking for a reason to find out why maybe we couldn't sweep.

[00:36:31] And I just feel like that coupled with what I've seen from Allen this preseason, I didn't see anything spectacular.

[00:36:37] So I got to give Buffalo some credit.

[00:36:39] That's the game they're going to take.

[00:36:41] The battle of whoever their backup is going to be.

[00:36:43] Battle of the backups.

[00:36:45] We'll split.

[00:36:45] Buffalo takes game two.

[00:36:47] All right.

[00:36:48] So I said earlier that I think that they will split these games.

[00:36:53] I'm going to change that because, I mean, I do kind of think that you're probably more on point that they'll drop the second game.

[00:37:03] But my logic kind of changed a little bit as I was thinking.

[00:37:07] And since I have Markstrom coming in and getting a shutout in game one, which is something that we only had one of all last year from Kapokokokanen.

[00:37:17] Shipped him out for doing it.

[00:37:19] Yeah.

[00:37:19] Get out of here.

[00:37:20] We'll do shutouts.

[00:37:21] Gave him to Winnipeg.

[00:37:25] So I'm saying Markstrom gets the shutout of his first devil game.

[00:37:30] Jake Allen gets in this game two and says, I can't lose this game.

[00:37:34] My counterpart just got a shutout.

[00:37:37] Like I got to at least stand on my head here.

[00:37:40] Devils win.

[00:37:41] I'll go second game.

[00:37:43] We'll be like a 2-1, 3-2 game.

[00:37:46] It'll be a close one.

[00:37:47] Devils maybe will get that game winning goal late in the third and they'll hold on to win, which is something, again, that they're not, you know, they haven't done much of last year.

[00:37:58] Like holding on, being able to like, you know, have the opposing goalie pull their goalie and get an empty netter, things like that.

[00:38:06] Like that's what I want to see this weekend.

[00:38:08] This week, this weekend, in these next two games, there's a couple of things I want to see.

[00:38:12] The first is, well, what I don't want to see.

[00:38:15] I do not want to see any empty net goals on us.

[00:38:19] Like I am so sick of us pulling our goalie and then losing by three because they just bury empty netters.

[00:38:27] And when we pull our goalie, if we pull our goalie, I just want to see us score.

[00:38:32] Not necessarily these two games, but this year's got to be clutch on that.

[00:38:36] They were two years ago.

[00:38:37] I really want to see them get back to that.

[00:38:39] They seem to, every time they pull the goalie two years ago, they were able to get that goal when they needed it.

[00:38:44] And last year, anytime they pulled the goalie, they were able to, you know, have the other team put a couple in.

[00:38:51] So I don't want to see any of that.

[00:38:54] I just want to see effort, man, more than anything.

[00:38:57] That's it.

[00:38:57] I just want to see them.

[00:38:58] Like if they lose these games and you're like, I like the way that they play.

[00:39:01] Because there is good things that can come from losses.

[00:39:04] You can walk away from a loss and say, I liked everything that you guys did.

[00:39:08] Maybe a bad break, a bad bounce, whatever shit happens, you lose a game.

[00:39:13] Like it's just, you don't want to walk away from there going, you just handed the Buffalo Sabres two fucking points or four points.

[00:39:19] You definitely don't want to do that.

[00:39:21] So that's what we got for Lindy's revenge games.

[00:39:23] Well, I'm going to double down then.

[00:39:25] I'm going to go ahead and predict a score of four to three.

[00:39:30] I'll double down by saying it's yes.

[00:39:32] Buffalo wins in overtime.

[00:39:34] I'll give us an extra point here, which is odd because we're very good three on three in overtime,

[00:39:39] which means that it's going to be kind of a first possession thing.

[00:39:42] We didn't win the faceoff.

[00:39:43] It's only going to take 30, 40 seconds.

[00:39:45] Now I'm just predicting shit like crazy.

[00:39:47] It's because Jack is going to get injured in the third period and he's not going to be out there for the overtime.

[00:39:52] No, he just didn't win the faceoff.

[00:39:54] That's all.

[00:39:55] Well, this is it, man.

[00:39:57] Now this shit counts.

[00:39:59] Hockey's real now.

[00:40:01] And now it's time to see.

[00:40:02] Look, like we said before, right?

[00:40:04] Tom Fitzgerald got this team everything they wanted, everything that they needed.

[00:40:09] Yeah.

[00:40:10] Now let's see how good they can drive this car because this is a fucking beautiful car.

[00:40:15] This car is loaded.

[00:40:17] This car has got everything you could possibly want in it.

[00:40:21] Just don't crash the goddamn thing.

[00:40:23] So.

[00:40:23] Yeah.

[00:40:24] It's literally to the point now where, again, we've talked about favorable contracts, right?

[00:40:30] Which they are.

[00:40:31] But we've also talked about market value contracts at the time they're signed.

[00:40:35] And we've also talked about realistically when you want to put together a championship team,

[00:40:39] you need certain guys to take a little bit of cuts.

[00:40:43] Devils have all that.

[00:40:44] But now you also have people who otherwise, players who otherwise did fight for what they are receiving.

[00:40:52] Most of our core is locked up with contracts.

[00:40:54] They all accepted.

[00:40:56] You do have to play up to them now.

[00:40:58] Be the best player you are.

[00:41:01] And if everybody to a man plays to their card, this will be an extremely talented team.

[00:41:07] Not everyone's gonna.

[00:41:08] You're always gonna have one down year, one up year, that kind of thing.

[00:41:11] But generally speaking, law of averages, if they all play to their strengths and to their

[00:41:16] general way that they play, there's absolutely no reason this team doesn't win at all.

[00:41:20] I mean, look, it would be great to get off to a nice quick start.

[00:41:25] But, and we are thinking that they're going to.

[00:41:28] But there's also the flip side of that, that this is a lot of new guys.

[00:41:33] This might take a little bit of time before things start to click.

[00:41:37] But I do think there's not a doubt in my mind that they're gonna click.

[00:41:40] Like last year, right around like November, I was the guy saying like, this isn't working.

[00:41:45] I don't think they're gonna make the playoffs.

[00:41:47] Like, this is bad.

[00:41:49] I don't feel that right now.

[00:41:51] And I even felt it like, even you saw like after the first game last year, right?

[00:41:55] We barely beat the Red Wings.

[00:41:58] Yeah.

[00:41:59] And then we lost, I think, game two to the Coyotes.

[00:42:03] And it was like, we weren't playing good from Jump Street.

[00:42:06] And you just kind of had this bad taste in your mouth.

[00:42:08] Like, I just want that washed away.

[00:42:10] I understand that, yes, they could maybe just get off to a bit of a sluggish start.

[00:42:16] I won't even say slow.

[00:42:17] I'll say sluggish.

[00:42:18] Like a wet sponge.

[00:42:20] Sluggish is fine.

[00:42:20] And again, nobody anticipates that they would start like the Oilers did last year.

[00:42:25] But look what they were able to do by turning around.

[00:42:27] We're not gonna do anything like that.

[00:42:29] But there's just so many ways in the world.

[00:42:31] The fan base is fragile right now because we came out of a long rebuild.

[00:42:34] We had this enormous year.

[00:42:36] We got destroyed last year.

[00:42:38] That's why like them scoring first.

[00:42:40] Maybe marks from looking shaky for a period and a half.

[00:42:43] Splitting or coming home 0-2.

[00:42:44] Like everybody's gonna, and I get it.

[00:42:46] I'm gonna be like that too because we just want to see it start going north again.

[00:42:50] Just come on.

[00:42:51] Show me that team that can really challenge for a championship.

[00:42:55] Yeah, I mean, you have within the next week three games, right?

[00:42:59] We have the home opener a week from today against the Maple Leafs.

[00:43:02] You have to be 2-1 after these three.

[00:43:06] You have to be.

[00:43:07] That's exactly my mindset, yes.

[00:43:09] Or better.

[00:43:10] So we'll see.

[00:43:12] So let's do a little housekeeping here.

[00:43:14] Housekeeping.

[00:43:16] Touchdown, Tuddy.

[00:43:17] In for six.

[00:43:19] You want to be script?

[00:43:20] This is a new script.

[00:43:21] It's great.

[00:43:22] Touchdowns matter more.

[00:43:24] DraftKings Sportsbook, an official Sportsbook partner of the NFL.

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[00:44:34] The crown is yours.

[00:44:36] This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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[00:45:41] What else you got, B?

[00:45:44] First, I have to get the Mets game on.

[00:45:48] This is Paramount.

[00:45:50] Yes, it is.

[00:45:51] And then I want to discuss...

[00:45:52] You guys are the only team that's playing the third game, right?

[00:45:55] Yeah.

[00:45:56] Everybody else swept.

[00:45:57] Bunch of sweeps.

[00:45:58] Yeah.

[00:45:58] I'm just happy that the Houston Astros are out.

[00:46:03] Oh, yeah.

[00:46:03] I hate the Houston Astros so much.

[00:46:06] I can't get it right now.

[00:46:07] I want to get back to this.

[00:46:08] A couple things.

[00:46:10] Let's see.

[00:46:10] First of all, Ring of Honor.

[00:46:13] All right?

[00:46:14] Oh, yeah.

[00:46:14] We touched on that.

[00:46:15] So there's going to be a Ring of Honor ceremony in January, and it got me thinking, who would

[00:46:20] the next Ring of Honor be?

[00:46:22] I don't want to spend a ton of time on this, but I'm thinking there's two basic categories

[00:46:25] we can look at.

[00:46:26] There's the non-player category.

[00:46:28] Right?

[00:46:29] So I would think, obviously, you got our three Stanley Cup winning coaches, and then

[00:46:34] Mr. Lou Lamorello, of course.

[00:46:37] And in the non-player, I would say Doc and or Chico.

[00:46:40] And Chico obviously could be a player too, but in this, I feel like he fits more in the

[00:46:43] non-player.

[00:46:44] He's just been such an advocate for the Devils.

[00:46:46] I don't know who of them I would pick first.

[00:46:49] I mean, I guess you could probably think either LaMare for first cup or Lou Lamorello.

[00:46:58] I feel like Lou being still active with another team.

[00:47:01] That's what I was just going to ask.

[00:47:03] That's what I was just going to ask.

[00:47:04] To me, Lou makes the most sense.

[00:47:07] He should be the next guy in there.

[00:47:09] He's the architect.

[00:47:10] Built it all.

[00:47:10] But will they put an Islander general manager in there?

[00:47:16] I mean, maybe when they pick a game.

[00:47:19] Well, when did you say the ceremony was?

[00:47:21] Sometime in January.

[00:47:23] All right.

[00:47:24] Okay.

[00:47:25] But here's the thing.

[00:47:26] Because it would be during an Islander game, you would think, right?

[00:47:30] So let's see if we play them in January.

[00:47:34] And then we can go from there.

[00:47:36] So maybe it would be.

[00:47:39] Again, I kind of agree with you.

[00:47:41] They don't even have the whole freaking schedule up here.

[00:47:45] That it wouldn't be a team like that or a guy that's with another team.

[00:47:52] So I don't know.

[00:47:52] Maybe you think.

[00:47:54] But Jacques?

[00:47:55] I mean, he's with the Islanders too, isn't he?

[00:47:58] Is he like an assistant or something now again?

[00:48:00] Okay.

[00:48:01] We do not play the Islanders in January.

[00:48:03] We don't play the Islanders in January.

[00:48:05] Okay.

[00:48:05] So it's probably not them then.

[00:48:07] If it's going to be a player though, this is what I really wanted to get to.

[00:48:10] If we're going to do the player category, I got four guys.

[00:48:13] And I think I even rank them in the way that it works.

[00:48:16] I'm going to read them to you out of order for now.

[00:48:20] Can I guess who they are?

[00:48:22] Let's see.

[00:48:22] Okay.

[00:48:24] John McClain?

[00:48:25] Yes.

[00:48:27] He's one?

[00:48:28] Yep.

[00:48:29] He's one of mine.

[00:48:31] Bruce Driver?

[00:48:32] Not one of mine.

[00:48:33] Okay.

[00:49:02] Let's see.

[00:49:05] These guys got the Stanley Cup.

[00:49:06] But in the end, I did not rank him number one.

[00:49:09] I have Zajac in here for 15 years of service.

[00:49:13] I forgot about these guys.

[00:49:14] 1,024 games.

[00:49:16] Zero cups.

[00:49:17] I'm actually ranking him number one because of that monumental amount of games.

[00:49:22] Below that, we've got Jay Pandolfo.

[00:49:24] 13 years, 819 games, two cups.

[00:49:28] That's why I give him the number two spot because he's got the two cups.

[00:49:32] Okay.

[00:49:33] After that, I would go with McClain.

[00:49:34] 14 years, 934 games and the cup in 95.

[00:49:38] And then a very underrated player that was with us for a very long time and served as

[00:49:43] captain, Andy Green.

[00:49:44] Another 14 years, 923 games.

[00:49:46] These are the types of players I envision going in that ring as opposed to the rafters,

[00:49:52] of course.

[00:49:54] If it's not a player, I think it would end up – I think Doc or Chico would be the guys.

[00:50:04] I agree with you on that.

[00:50:05] You could do them as a tandem.

[00:50:06] That would be really cool.

[00:50:08] The problem with Doc is like – I mean, I guess he was just ours long enough that we

[00:50:14] could have him, even though he was – after a while with us, he became the national guy.

[00:50:21] And even though he was still doing devil games, we started seeing him missing some devil games

[00:50:25] to do some ABC broadcasts.

[00:50:27] And that was when Cangellosi would step in and that.

[00:50:30] So he did kind of leave us for bigger and better and greener pastures, which is fine.

[00:50:35] I don't know that that should be an issue.

[00:50:37] Doc Emmerich definitely deserves to be there.

[00:50:40] Every great devil moment from back then was just made so much better with him on the call.

[00:50:49] 100%.

[00:50:51] Me personally, player-wise, I think I would go with Andy Green over all of them.

[00:50:57] To me, Andy Green would be my number one.

[00:50:59] Okay.

[00:51:00] How about you?

[00:51:01] So Andy Green, you're looking at 14 years –

[00:51:03] Yeah, I think that 1,000 games is pretty special.

[00:51:07] The others were awfully close in the 8-900s, but 9-23 is still 100 off of 1,024.

[00:51:14] 100 more games a year plus.

[00:51:18] To me, I think the captaincy – to be the captain on teams that were not good.

[00:51:25] You know, they had a couple of pop-ups, but for the most part, Andy Green was captaining

[00:51:30] a sinking ship.

[00:51:31] Yeah.

[00:51:32] And trying to do the best job he can.

[00:51:34] So I think that that's – a lot of credit should be given to him there.

[00:51:37] So I would go with Andy Green.

[00:51:39] I can totally see any one of those.

[00:51:42] Maybe not so much McClain because, again, it goes to the Islander thing.

[00:51:47] Like, you're in the assistant coach of the Islanders.

[00:51:49] Like, where – you know, so does Lou deserve to be there?

[00:51:53] Absolutely.

[00:51:53] Are they going to maybe wait?

[00:51:54] Or – I don't know.

[00:51:56] Yeah.

[00:51:56] Like, at least you know Andy Green is home and Travis Zajac's around.

[00:52:00] Like, you know, we can have a night for these guys.

[00:52:04] That's – I'm just thinking in the next – now, listen.

[00:52:07] We've already mentioned three coaches, a GM, you know, Doc and Chico, and four players.

[00:52:13] If they did it every year, it could take nine, ten years to get to the, you know, 10th guy

[00:52:17] on our list here.

[00:52:19] And in that time, a lot of other things have changed.

[00:52:22] Different players who've played with us for a long time.

[00:52:23] So, it's all speculative, but they all – I can see them all getting on there.

[00:52:28] I think they should do it every year.

[00:52:29] You think so?

[00:52:30] I think every year they should have one or two guys go into that ring of honor.

[00:52:34] Yeah.

[00:52:34] You know?

[00:52:35] I mean, we just have two guys in it right now.

[00:52:38] And they got it right?

[00:52:38] Absolutely.

[00:52:39] Dr. McMullen should have been number one.

[00:52:41] Sergey Brun should have been number two.

[00:52:42] That's great.

[00:52:43] Yep.

[00:52:43] But we do have a lot of other guys that do deserve it.

[00:52:46] That's right.

[00:52:47] And I agree with you.

[00:52:48] So, yeah, I think they should do it now.

[00:52:51] Every year, this team's been around long enough.

[00:52:52] It has enough – you know, just enough – what's the word?

[00:52:58] History to be able to do this stuff now.

[00:53:00] So, yeah, I want to see them do it every year because you're right.

[00:53:03] They have 10, 11, 12 guys that they can put in for the next dozen years.

[00:53:07] And by then, 12 years from now, where's Nico Heischer?

[00:53:10] You know, maybe he's ready to get his jersey retired and whatever.

[00:53:14] I'm just throwing shit out there.

[00:53:15] Yeah.

[00:53:16] And I only went from almost like a service standpoint and longevity.

[00:53:19] And people you think of when you think of like long-term devil, there's other arguments you can make like Lemieux, right?

[00:53:24] Two cups left us, came back to help us get that second cup.

[00:53:27] Like it's – there's a lot of guys that we can consider.

[00:53:31] John Madden.

[00:53:32] Does John Madden deserve a place in the ring of honor?

[00:53:35] Again, we're talking two cup guys.

[00:53:36] Yeah.

[00:53:37] Any of the guys with two cups.

[00:53:38] I mean, if you're going to put Pandolfo in there, you kind of have to put Madden.

[00:53:42] You kind of have to put Madden.

[00:53:43] You're right.

[00:53:44] So, you got that argument.

[00:53:45] Madden's shorter shelf life.

[00:53:47] You know, what, seven, eight years or whatever.

[00:53:49] Pandolfo's 13.

[00:53:51] Scott Gomez.

[00:53:52] Yeah, Gomer.

[00:53:53] I mean, he might deserve it.

[00:53:56] But I think right now –

[00:53:57] Rufalski.

[00:53:58] There's another one.

[00:53:59] Yeah.

[00:53:59] The two guys that I would put at the forefront right now that this year if we were taking bets, I would go with Andy Green or Travis Zajac.

[00:54:07] That's who it's going to be this year.

[00:54:09] Yeah, I think that seems very likely.

[00:54:10] You're right.

[00:54:11] You got the captaincy aspect of that.

[00:54:14] Did they ever throw the C on Zajac?

[00:54:16] I don't mean for like a game.

[00:54:17] Did they ever do that for like a half a year or whatever?

[00:54:19] Maybe when like –

[00:54:20] Who was Zajac?

[00:54:21] Remember when Sutter stripped Iliash of the captaincy when he came in?

[00:54:24] I do remember that.

[00:54:26] Why did he do that?

[00:54:27] He wanted to figure out his own team.

[00:54:29] He didn't have a captain.

[00:54:30] He had three alternates.

[00:54:32] Okay.

[00:54:32] It was a dick move from the start though if you ask me.

[00:54:36] But yeah.

[00:54:38] All right.

[00:54:39] So this is a list of all the New Jersey Devil captains.

[00:54:45] Okay.

[00:54:46] And we'll start with – let's see.

[00:54:50] We're going to – well, this goes all the way back to the Scouts and the Rockies.

[00:54:55] So we'll start in 1982.

[00:54:59] Rob Romage and Lanny McDonald was the captain here.

[00:55:04] I didn't even remember that he played here.

[00:55:07] Don Lever, Mel Bridgman.

[00:55:10] We're in like 84, 85, 86, 87.

[00:55:14] Then we got the Kirk Mauer.

[00:55:15] He was captain for four years.

[00:55:17] Bruce Driver was captain for 91, 92.

[00:55:20] Then it went to Stevens in 92, 93.

[00:55:25] He had it from – till 03, 04.

[00:55:28] And then Niedermeyer.

[00:55:30] And then Elias.

[00:55:32] Niedermeyer had it in 03, 04.

[00:55:34] Then we did not have a captain until 06, 07.

[00:55:36] This is what you were talking about.

[00:55:38] And that was Patrick Elias in 06, 07.

[00:55:41] And then Jamie Langenbrunner got it in 07, 08.

[00:55:45] Then Patrick Elias got it back that year.

[00:55:48] Then Jamie Langenbrunner became captain again in 08, 09.

[00:55:53] This was crazy.

[00:55:55] Then they put it on Parisi for 11 and 12.

[00:55:58] And then Bryce from 12, 13 through 14, 15.

[00:56:03] Then Green up until 18, 19.

[00:56:06] And then Nico.

[00:56:07] Those are our captains.

[00:56:08] So Travis Zajac did not even wear – never wore it.

[00:56:11] I wasn't sure.

[00:56:11] I think – yeah, I couldn't remember if they just threw him on him for a game or something.

[00:56:15] But no, definitely not.

[00:56:16] And Parisi, another guy like – I'm still jaded by him because he could have been like the career devil.

[00:56:21] But if you're looking back in retrospect for a guy who was with you for a long term

[00:56:25] and put up a lot of points and literally guided this team, then yeah, you got to consider him down the line too.

[00:56:30] I absolutely agree.

[00:56:31] Homegrown talent, you know.

[00:56:35] So Bob, how unbelievably psyched are you for tomorrow?

[00:56:38] So I'm very psyched.

[00:56:40] I'm very ready.

[00:56:42] I need a change of pace.

[00:56:43] It's been really difficult.

[00:56:44] I forgot how hard it is to watch your team in the playoffs.

[00:56:48] And, you know, I'm watching the Mets and especially these baseball – I don't like the short series.

[00:56:53] I don't think it fits baseball.

[00:56:54] But it is what it is.

[00:56:55] You got to win two of three so you can easily get out of it.

[00:56:57] Like you said, the other three games are all – we're all swept.

[00:57:01] But I need the hockey.

[00:57:04] I can kind of – I can control my emotions a little more because it's starting.

[00:57:07] It's game one.

[00:57:08] I can look forward to the year.

[00:57:10] I can actually breathe and understand what they're doing, what they're trying to build.

[00:57:13] It's not all on the line.

[00:57:16] It's like it's – by not making the playoffs last year, it was so long.

[00:57:22] It was like 171 days to be exact since our last hockey game that mattered.

[00:57:27] And trust me – but the problem is like I say that, I'm saying it counted.

[00:57:31] It mattered as far as like, you know, it went into a scorebook.

[00:57:36] It didn't matter to us.

[00:57:37] Like we knew that we weren't making the playoffs.

[00:57:39] So really the last game – I don't even know what the last game is that actually had like significance.

[00:57:44] Like we need to win this one.

[00:57:46] Right.

[00:57:46] Like it's probably like 200 days ago.

[00:57:51] You know, you're going almost to, you know, a year here of games that have mattered.

[00:57:55] And now we finally have one tomorrow.

[00:57:58] And I know it's only one of 82, but I am – I'm ready.

[00:58:02] I am ready.

[00:58:03] And I want to dive into something real quick before we finish here.

[00:58:05] Yeah.

[00:58:06] It's actually not going to be super quick, but I find it fascinating.

[00:58:09] Go back to the Meyer-Hughes-Brat line.

[00:58:12] Okay.

[00:58:12] And again, there's a lot of us who believe that line can absolutely work.

[00:58:15] There's people who think that line could never work.

[00:58:19] My question is, Brat can play anywhere.

[00:58:24] We know that.

[00:58:25] But it's better to play with a team than with yourself.

[00:58:28] That's what I've been told.

[00:58:31] Why not with Meyer's history of successfully playing better on his off wing on the right side?

[00:58:38] Why have they not at least tried flipping Brat and Meyer so that Meyer's on the right wing where he's had some success?

[00:58:49] I'm just saying at least try it, at least from a lineup perspective.

[00:58:52] I know once you're moving, you know, you're getting around the ice a little bit.

[00:58:56] But I've been saying this for a very long time that he does very well in his off wing.

[00:59:01] And again, Brat does too.

[00:59:02] But Brat can circle around the ice like crazy and do a lot of things.

[00:59:06] Maybe Meyer just naturally feels more comfortable on the right side.

[00:59:10] He probably wouldn't tell you that.

[00:59:12] But if you had two guys that were all things were equal and one was just slightly better at being on his off wing,

[00:59:18] wouldn't you at least try it?

[00:59:19] That's all I'm saying.

[00:59:20] He hasn't tried it once in camp.

[00:59:23] The lineup for tomorrow looks like that's the way it's going to go.

[00:59:26] Hmm.

[00:59:27] Well, I mean, you also have to think that Meyer would open up his mouth,

[00:59:32] at least to Sheldon Keefe and say, look, you know, I wasn't comfortable when I was here last year.

[00:59:38] And then once I got put onto the right side, I really started, you know, being productive.

[00:59:44] Not that Sheldon Keefe doesn't know this stuff.

[00:59:47] Right.

[00:59:47] I don't know.

[00:59:48] I don't know.

[00:59:49] I agree with you.

[00:59:49] You were saying that for all of last year.

[00:59:52] Like, what are we doing?

[00:59:53] And again, I understand in game.

[00:59:54] I understand how much of this, but generally speaking, you know, that's your wall, so to speak.

[01:00:00] And I'm just curious as to why it hasn't even been attempted.

[01:00:03] So that got me digging a little bit deeper.

[01:00:05] And this is what fascinates me.

[01:00:06] So I looked at that whole line and I see that Meyer shoots left and Bratt shoots left and Hughes shoots left.

[01:00:14] And I was like, wait, is that a problem?

[01:00:16] Is that a thing?

[01:00:18] Is that, does that have anything to do with the fact that this can't gel?

[01:00:21] So then I dug a little deeper.

[01:00:23] And I looked at the next couple of lines.

[01:00:26] Tatar, Heischer, Mercer.

[01:00:28] Left shooting, left shooting, right shooting.

[01:00:30] Palat, Holla, Nason.

[01:00:32] Left shooting, left shooting, right shooting.

[01:00:34] And then finally, when we get down to our fourth line, it's Conor Lazar, Bastion for now anyway.

[01:00:38] And it's left shooting, right and right.

[01:00:40] If you throw in McDermott on that line, you're back to another left shooting line.

[01:00:44] Now our defense, as expected, if we had what we thought we were going to have, was three lefties, three righties.

[01:00:50] So that keeps our percentages equal.

[01:00:52] Well, right now, with McDermott out, with the lineup the way it is now, we're 67% left-handed shooters, 33% right.

[01:01:03] And it goes to like 70% and 30% if McDermott's in the lineup.

[01:01:08] And it just got me thinking, wait a minute.

[01:01:11] Most of the world is right-handed.

[01:01:13] 90% of the world is right-handed.

[01:01:15] So what's happening here?

[01:01:17] And we always know, we always hear, oh, right shooting defensemen are so hardy.

[01:01:20] You want to keep your right shooting defensemen.

[01:01:22] And I couldn't quite figure out why.

[01:01:24] And I'm sitting here again.

[01:01:25] The whole thing started by going, is there something to a lefty and a lefty and a lefty that's causing this line not to gel?

[01:01:31] I don't think so based on the fact that historically, the NHL is around 65%, 62%, 67% lefties.

[01:01:40] And apparently, that comes from the fact that at least in – there was a report in 2011 by ESPN that was backed up in 2018.

[01:01:49] That NHL is predominantly left-handed due to a large influx of international players that prefer to shoot with their weaker hand.

[01:01:59] Okay.

[01:01:59] When you go down to the domestic level, we're practically 50-50, which even that in USA surprises me because if we're 90% right-handed yet in hockey, we're 50-50.

[01:02:11] It's taught that way though.

[01:02:13] Right.

[01:02:13] You're taught to shoot lefty.

[01:02:15] You're taught to hit lefty or righty depending on where – you know what I mean?

[01:02:21] Like that's how you're taught for December.

[01:02:24] But you're right about that.

[01:02:25] Why is it that we don't have 90% right-handed shooters?

[01:02:28] It's not like you look at baseball.

[01:02:30] 90% of the pitchers are right-handed.

[01:02:32] Yeah.

[01:02:32] If you're growing up a lefty, everyone's like keep him throwing.

[01:02:34] You know what I mean?

[01:02:35] I've always said it.

[01:02:36] So it's fascinating that this is the way it shakes out and –

[01:02:39] A left-handed middle reliever is the way to go.

[01:02:41] Like if you're going to – if you want to like have a nice professional sports life, like if you can't be a long snapper in the NFL, a lefty – left-handed middle reliever.

[01:02:53] That's the way to become –

[01:02:53] No.

[01:02:54] Face a guy or two and you're done.

[01:02:56] Now it's a little bit more wrinkle, right?

[01:02:58] Just because it's a little bit of fun.

[01:03:00] So our reserves on defense throws this off a little bit.

[01:03:04] Kovacevic's a right shooter.

[01:03:06] DeSimone's a right shooter.

[01:03:07] Casey's a right shooter.

[01:03:08] Ataka's a left shooter.

[01:03:10] But how many goalies have you seen that don't catch with their left hand?

[01:03:15] Catching with your left hand indicates you're a righty.

[01:03:19] Most goalies are righties.

[01:03:21] So 90% of the world are righties.

[01:03:23] 70% of hockey players are lefties.

[01:03:26] But most goalies are righties.

[01:03:29] That is true.

[01:03:30] Like I said, I just went down a rabbit hole and I had to share it because it's quite interesting.

[01:03:33] It is kind of interesting.

[01:03:35] And I don't know what it means.

[01:03:37] But it's definitely something.

[01:03:39] How many lefties do you know?

[01:03:41] Very few.

[01:03:43] I mean –

[01:03:43] My wife's a lefty.

[01:03:44] This is weird.

[01:03:45] Two of 10 on average?

[01:03:48] My GM at work, he's a lefty.

[01:03:50] My wife's a lefty and one of my sisters is a lefty.

[01:03:53] But my wife only rights lefty.

[01:03:56] Right.

[01:03:56] She does everything else with her right hand.

[01:03:58] So I guess she's ambidextrous.

[01:04:00] I guess so.

[01:04:01] I am a righty.

[01:04:03] I cannot do a thing with my left hand.

[01:04:08] Like, especially like sport-wise.

[01:04:11] Like, I can throw a ball.

[01:04:14] I could throw a baseball, a line drive with my right hand.

[01:04:19] It looks great.

[01:04:20] It's got some zip on it.

[01:04:21] I could do all that.

[01:04:23] I can't even get my left arm to like –

[01:04:26] You can't do it either.

[01:04:27] I look –

[01:04:29] I look like I have cerebral palsy when I try and throw at my left arm.

[01:04:33] It is –

[01:04:33] Like, it's useless.

[01:04:35] I've tried batting switch.

[01:04:37] Right.

[01:04:37] And I feel like I'm corkscrewing myself like crazy.

[01:04:40] But there is one thing you can generally do if you're referencing baseball that you don't give enough credit to.

[01:04:44] And that's your glove hand.

[01:04:45] Which is strange, right?

[01:04:46] That is all your secondary hand and that is your primary defensive weapon.

[01:04:51] It is so strange, right?

[01:04:52] Yeah.

[01:04:52] And you can still –

[01:04:53] But like that, I can –

[01:04:54] Yeah, I can field.

[01:04:55] I can do that.

[01:04:56] Yeah.

[01:04:56] And it feels normal.

[01:04:57] Yeah.

[01:04:57] But don't ask me to throw or any kind of anything motion.

[01:05:02] Like, even hockey.

[01:05:02] Like, I go to a left-handed stick.

[01:05:04] I don't even think I can wind up for a slap shot like without hurting my shoulder.

[01:05:09] I'm completely disoriented and totally like a fucking idiot.

[01:05:13] So, it really just – I wish there was a way to statistically look at this because if you have a lefty centering, two lefties, I mean, at some point that affects the way the puck is going off the next stick.

[01:05:33] You know, something's got to be a backhand or an offhand.

[01:05:37] So, I was just curious if there was ever a way to know how many lines are, you know, more often like lefty-righty-lefty or, you know, with a righty center or how it would work.

[01:05:51] It's probably not something we can dig up.

[01:05:52] But definitely odd to me that we had all the – you know, the whole lines left.

[01:05:56] About 60 or 62 percent of NHL players are lefties.

[01:06:04] Yeah.

[01:06:04] 38 – 37, 38 percent, they play with their right hand.

[01:06:08] It is strange.

[01:06:09] Canadian-born players in the 2017-18 season, 60 percent of Canadian-born players shot left-handed.

[01:06:17] American-born players of the same year were 50 percent shot left-handed.

[01:06:22] So, again, that's the one that blows me up the most because we're 90 percent right-handed here.

[01:06:28] I never picked up a lefty stick and felt comfortable with it.

[01:06:31] So, at what age are the parents doing it?

[01:06:34] Like what – you know, how do you not just typically migrate to a right-handed stick like my kid did?

[01:06:40] That was just his natural stick that he picked up because he actually started with a flat stick.

[01:06:44] Right.

[01:06:44] They all do.

[01:06:45] They start flat.

[01:06:46] It's straight.

[01:06:46] Right.

[01:06:47] And then they determine, you know, where they're going to go with it and it just developed to the right.

[01:06:51] Yeah.

[01:06:52] I'm sending you an article now.

[01:06:53] It's kind of cool.

[01:06:54] It's just basically like why are – they're left-handed.

[01:06:58] Yeah.

[01:06:59] It's probably the one I used to reference.

[01:07:01] It's 2018, right?

[01:07:02] Yeah.

[01:07:02] I think so.

[01:07:03] Yeah.

[01:07:03] And then the ESPN article was 2011.

[01:07:06] But yeah, that is interesting.

[01:07:07] Maybe somebody can tell us why and we're not – we're too lazy to go and read up on it.

[01:07:11] I mean I think we know why globally, but I just don't understand it domestically.

[01:07:17] It's strange.

[01:07:18] Yeah.

[01:07:19] But – all right.

[01:07:20] So our number one line are just – we're just going to call them the lefty line, right?

[01:07:24] That's it.

[01:07:25] Lefty.

[01:07:25] And one other thing I want to see this year.

[01:07:27] I really don't want to start naming our lines.

[01:07:29] I want to see a righty with Jack.

[01:07:31] And stop naming our lines.

[01:07:33] I think we already have a line.

[01:07:34] They called it the meat line or something.

[01:07:36] Is that the fourth line?

[01:07:38] Meats and mitts or something.

[01:07:39] That's the worst name.

[01:07:41] Who freaking – that has to be like Sal.

[01:07:44] What was the fucking thing that he had for McCloud?

[01:07:49] I think it was Sal.

[01:07:49] I think it was Sal.

[01:07:50] It probably was.

[01:07:51] Yeah.

[01:07:52] He gave – what was that dumb ass Motor Mike?

[01:07:55] Yeah, Motor Mike.

[01:07:56] Oh my god.

[01:07:56] Dude, Sal should not be –

[01:07:59] More like Motor Boat and Mike.

[01:07:59] Yeah, right?

[01:08:01] Yeah.

[01:08:02] He should not be naming lines or giving people nicknames.

[01:08:06] Just have him sit there and, you know, gawk at Rachel or whatever.

[01:08:10] Is that her name?

[01:08:11] Yes, that's her name.

[01:08:12] All right.

[01:08:12] I will watch her tomorrow.

[01:08:14] All right, guys.

[01:08:14] Listen, we have hockey tomorrow.

[01:08:16] Hockey that counts.

[01:08:17] Hockey that matters.

[01:08:18] It's going to be one in the books and 81 to go by tomorrow evening.

[01:08:22] We will be back on Saturday night.

[01:08:24] We will go over both these games.

[01:08:26] We will be sitting here.

[01:08:27] We will be talking about holy crap.

[01:08:30] Cannot believe how good they looked in those two games in Prague.

[01:08:34] That's a good idea.

[01:08:34] They just smoked the Sabres.

[01:08:36] The poor Sabres are done.

[01:08:37] They might as well just go back to Buffalo, pack it in, and go root for the Bills because

[01:08:42] they're not going anywhere.

[01:08:43] That's what we're going to do.

[01:08:45] Love it.

[01:08:45] So like a five-star review, a positive comment.

[01:08:48] Download, subscription, helps a little podcast that could.

[01:08:51] Anything else you want to say, Bobby, before we wrap it up?

[01:08:55] It looks like they fixed the food problem at the Prudential Center.

[01:08:57] One of the restaurants has a Taylor ham egg and cheese sandwich, which means we're all

[01:09:03] saved.

[01:09:03] Of course, they opened up a can of worms by specifically calling it Taylor ham from what

[01:09:07] I understand and not pork roll.

[01:09:08] Well, here's the thing.

[01:09:11] This is like this stupid thing that has been going on in New Jersey for the last 30 years.

[01:09:17] I knew this would rile you up.

[01:09:19] It's not Taylor ham.

[01:09:22] It's pork roll.

[01:09:23] Exactly.

[01:09:24] Let's just finish it.

[01:09:26] Taylor is a brand.

[01:09:29] Yes.

[01:09:29] Taylor ham is the brand of pork roll.

[01:09:33] All right.

[01:09:33] Q-tips are cotton swabs.

[01:09:36] Not every cotton swab is a Q-tip.

[01:09:38] Not every pork roll is Taylor ham.

[01:09:41] Trenton makes a good pork roll.

[01:09:43] Boar's Head makes a good pork roll.

[01:09:44] Lots of companies make a good pork roll.

[01:09:47] So to just say it's Taylor ham and cheese.

[01:09:50] If it is specifically Taylor ham, yes.

[01:09:53] But if it's not, then it's a fucking pork roll egg and cheese.

[01:09:57] So let's stop with this bullshit.

[01:09:59] All right?

[01:09:59] I love it.

[01:10:00] Pork roll.

[01:10:00] Always pork roll.

[01:10:01] I'm with you.

[01:10:02] That's where we're ending.

[01:10:03] He's Bob.

[01:10:04] I'm Chris.

[01:10:04] We're the Uncle Puckers.

[01:10:05] It's pork roll, baby.

[01:10:07] Bye-bye.

[01:10:14] It's over, Johnny.

[01:10:16] It's over.

[01:10:17] It's over.