Metro Goalies Ranked

[00:00:02] Hey everyone, Mr. Delo here at Sanidad, a three-time Stanley Cup Champion of the New Jersey Devil. You're listening to the Uncle Puckers, who Jersey Devil's podcast with Chris Dan Bobby and Tony, the Uncle Puckers. Let's go, Devils! What's up guys? Happy Independence Day weekend.

[00:00:27] We are the Uncle Puckers, Danny Bobby, Chris. How are you guys doing this fine afternoon? We're a great man, happy fourth and fifth. We're up and fifth. Yeah, we're up and fifth. What do you guys doing yesterday on the fourth? I blew all my fingers off again.

[00:00:42] Good, because you do not need them for podcasting, so no trouble here. Right, actually better than what you normally blow. That's right. Usually, like, what you do, you want to ask very yesterday. I did.

[00:00:54] We went to go see, listen to them, I couldn't see them, because we didn't pay to go inside, we just set out side. It's still nice to go in this stone pony to hang out in the lawn or by the boardwalk, listen, bands, I love it.

[00:01:07] We didn't catch as much of the show as we planned because we got lost in a couple bars, but it was a good time. Is there a mo fan like amongst you family? No, not early. We only know them from like you, mostly.

[00:01:21] We want to go see them all together all the time ago. Remember that? Right after time with the staff. Yeah. And I haven't seen them probably since that. I haven't seen them. I'll tell you the last time I saw them. I saw them.

[00:01:33] Yeah, I mean, I try and catch up on some of their like more recent stuff, whatever, but it's all right, but the last time I actually think I saw them, I think being and I went for the July weekend to the pony to see them.

[00:01:45] And that was like, I think my kids were like, had to have been 12 years ago 13 years ago. It's just like what they do every fourth. I don't even know, but yeah, there they stomp on a house fan on fourth is a lot of maybe.

[00:01:57] Maybe I did see possibly. Yeah, nice. So I went to the yesterday, Robert. Oh, friends, cool, nice, low-cage, the few families, a lot of growing good stuff on the grill, like salmon and shrimp and buffalo wings. Had the burgers and stuff too. Nice.

[00:02:14] But no frills just kind of chilling, you know? Like, 10 of us. There's great. No frills, just chill. That's it. That's it. Show title. Oh, I work. And so that was fun. But I like where we are, like my location for the restaurant for the July because

[00:02:34] it's fortunate to like itself is not very busy. Right. Because everybody's at the beach door. If the weather's shitty, we're crazy. But everybody was at the beach all day and then you know, you got your little early dinner pop and then everybody has doubted a fireworks.

[00:02:48] So I was, yeah, my dad and first, when we were down in LBI, like the second day, he was kind of crappy. You know, not a very good beach thing.

[00:02:56] And that was the day that we had passed in the kind of go through a little shops and stuff. And it was sick. It's a retardistic how absolutely busy it was. And so the next day we were kind of checking out, we had a little beach thing in

[00:03:07] the morning. Like it's a beautiful day, we should be able to get all this stuff we want to get for people without any problem. And it was clearly dead because everyone was supposed to be. You know, each time I understand what you're going through without the restaurant.

[00:03:17] The island, this was probably one of the this morning, especially probably one of the busiest I've seen in a couple years. Like it was, it's fucking crazy over there right now. Yeah, I did this morning to people trying to beat afternoon, possibility of rain.

[00:03:31] So they all came out the same time of day, you know? Yeah, so I guess, I mean, I'm hoping that maybe Sunday it eases up a little bit because it was a way to holiday fell. Maybe everybody will be back getting ready to get back to work.

[00:03:43] I'll see. It is what it is. But we are here with you guys this fine evening. And we're going to talk a little hockey boys. We talked a lot in the last show about what Tom Fitzgerald did with the devil's team.

[00:03:55] And we're going to talk a little bit more into that. But I want to talk about some other teams, some other moves and see what you guys think. Like, I would probably start with you like the stamp codes going to Nashville, like what's

[00:04:08] your whole mindset about that from both sides, from Tampa's side and Stamco's side and Nashville side, what's your opinion? Well, I think we kind of covered campus side. I think they kind of did them wrong at the end of last year and couldn't really meet

[00:04:23] the term that he was looking for. And again, Kudos to their GM for kind of head and off what's the inevitable, right? Kind of replaced him with a younger star. So they're going to get going it as far as Nashville goes.

[00:04:34] They try to bring in two big pieces that hopefully can propel their team a little further. And it's kind of like where, like what Stamco's could've done for us, I think, you know, bring them in, kind of, you know, have that winning mentality.

[00:04:47] Somebody who can, you know, nurture our guy for better words for a guy like Jack and just teaching to be even better. It would've been a nice fit for us. I think Nashville's just kind of taking the same route.

[00:04:57] My question is, did do you think that Jake Getzel is an upgrade from Stamco's? I don't think he's an upgrade one to one right now. But when you look at eight years, Getzel versus possible diminishing returns for Stamco's, big picture, it's probably a better move long term.

[00:05:20] I'm of the mindset if I were a GM, I know you got to leave your emotions out of it. I'd really try to find a way to fit Stamco's in. That would've been what I would've done.

[00:05:28] I think he's still a great player, kind of hard to solve that team for a very long time, Catherine Tustanlycups. Yeah, I would've probably went about it different, but that's the business side. What's your take on, Dan? That largely grew up.

[00:05:41] I mean, I would say it's like a turning the page move. No, not necessarily one to one, but they're looking at it going. We'll move on and I don't think Getzel fills Stamco's with shoes this year

[00:05:52] and maybe never as far as leadership goes, he has got more time ahead of him. He'd bought pointed out, it's very true. But looking at the whole plan for them going forward, it just clear their turn in the

[00:06:06] page and moving on forward, you have to keep moving forward. So what does a team? Right, beloved players got to go eventually. And I get it. Probably didn't have to go around this way though, not now.

[00:06:18] I mean, it would've been easier to say it was an inevitable move. Maybe the next contract, the shorter contract, that's possible. But yeah, look at the way it was handled. That's the best they could do with this point. I get that.

[00:06:32] I'm still trying around my head around it. To me, everything you guys said is right, I would have much rather seen J. Getzel sign with Nashville for seven years and give the four year, $8 million a year that they're giving Stamco's, if a tamponk in that.

[00:06:47] And I think that wouldn't have been an issue when he retired as a lightning. I just think that to do kind of how you handled this, like you said, handled it completely wrong from last year on out.

[00:06:59] And Stamco's is out there now saying things like, you know, it was basically, I don't have the exact phrasing, but it was a slap in the face of what they offered him and how he was kind of treated there. And I just, you don't do, I get it.

[00:07:14] It's a business. But there are certain players you don't do that to. There are certain players you don't shit on that. You give them every possible opportunity to at least if it's your going to part ways, you're trying to do it as amicably as possible.

[00:07:29] And I don't think Tampa did that. I don't think they got better with Getsel. I think Bobby, you know, sorry, you hit the nail on the headbob short term and this brings me to Nashville.

[00:07:40] Now Nashville signing March a Sowe and Stamco's, you know, five and four years terms, if they don't win the cup in another two years, I think their windows slam shut. So I think, you know, where I felt like the Tampa, you know, Stamco staying there for

[00:07:58] four years, I think he would have been, they could have maybe made another run. I don't think Getsel's better than Stamco's. I would take in Stamco's 10 times out of 10 over Getsel even now, you know, with the way they both are.

[00:08:11] I just think it's so weird how you have this guy, you know, the heart and soul of your team, the locker room absolutely loves this guy. John Cooper would do anything for him and then you just let him walk.

[00:08:23] Not only that, you made public if it's true and offer that was what eight by three I think. How are you offering this guy $3 million a year? You know, like an in eight year deal, like you knew full well that he wasn't going to accept

[00:08:37] it, you know, it's just the whole thing just seemed so weird to me. It does seem like for what it's worth. This was one of the times where the player seemed to be, you know, he would work with it a little more.

[00:08:53] You know, I mean, now I don't know that agent has a lot to say about that but it seems like Stamco's is ready for that. The other side of it is when you look at what they did do, they did decide to do the four for Hedman. Right.

[00:09:07] It was between the two of them, they did decide I'm going to stay with the defense of guy, I'm going to kind of replace you Stamco's with somebody else. Again, I'm not knocking them for maybe choosing defense first.

[00:09:16] I think the three of us will still in a hard part, although we say defense first when championships most of the time. But yeah, it just feels like they did it wrong and as far as Nashville, it also feels

[00:09:27] like they kind of put their money in but I don't really feel like it catapulted them to contend your ship. Like March is over with us, I think much bigger than with them. Maybe that's just my bias opinion.

[00:09:40] Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to go this big because they have such a deficit, like you're saying. So now we're going to be true top contenders, I don't know. Well, I kind of agree.

[00:09:51] I think that the next year or two it has to happen because I do think you know, look, everybody gets older, everybody's production level falls but for Stammer who's sitting in Tampa for the last year watching them sign everybody else, what him?

[00:10:06] That's a kick in the face, you know, that's got to make you feel. But I'm with you on Nashville. I thought even the Brady Shadeel, again, a guy who's a little bit more up there in

[00:10:15] age, you spend a lot of money and some term for three guys who are great but they are long in the twos and what's that those contracts in this team will look like three years down the road.

[00:10:28] If you don't make it, you know, into at least a conference final, the Stanley Cup final. So maybe they're going to get, you know, kick the can or two as opposed to, like the way the devil's are set up where it could be four, six or seven.

[00:10:42] Well, that's a good idea. That's kind of it. Like I'm listening to a lot of like the national stuff, mostly Canadian because Americans right at this point nobody's talking about hockey but mostly like, you know, the XM guys and

[00:10:53] stuff and everybody's saying like Nashville had the best free agency, the best offseason so far and I don't know if I agree with that because it is that quick shot in the arm.

[00:11:05] But you look over a long term, who set up, who set themselves up better in free agency than the New Jersey Devils for the long term? You know, New Jersey put pieces in place for four, five, six years down the road.

[00:11:19] You know, maybe not so much with goal-tending because, you know, we know about Mark Sherman and his age and everything but with every other position they do seem pretty set for the next five years at least.

[00:11:30] This is not a direct parallel because Nashville's actually a better team going into this but my gut it felt like spring of 2012 or Minnesota to Poreasey and Sutter, Sutter, yeah.

[00:11:42] And they just kind of, this is it we're going all in with these two and it just was flat line for the next decade. So hopefully it doesn't have any- And like Nashville actually I do enjoy watching them most of the time but I hate

[00:11:53] the yellow jersey's last month. I'm like, yeah, it look like minions I've said it a million times. Kind of like this shot around. Yeah. That might be damn. But it's all that up to them. Gotcha. And you're not playing hockey in it. That's true.

[00:12:09] You know, I agree with you. I think Nashville is, you know, they're set up to- I don't even know. I mean, like even with those two guys, I still don't put them in the top five in the West. You know, I still think Edmonton's better.

[00:12:23] I still think that Colorado's better. I still think that Vancouver's better. I still think Val is better. And Dallas is better. So, you know, yeah, I mean, if you look at the, like the eight teams that made it out of the West last year, right?

[00:12:42] So you said Dallas Vegas, Winnipeg, Colorado Vancouver, Nashville, Edmonton and the Kings. What one of those matchups would you say Nashville will definitely be? I don't know if you could say definitely. That best shot, I would be a shot in a bag maybe.

[00:12:57] Not if I was on his game though, you know. No, it's just a matter of time. I don't give them an edge anywhere, but maybe you're right. Maybe the Kings? Maybe the Kings. But yeah, you know, back to your Minnesota thing, you know, I mean, Billy Garren comes

[00:13:10] in as the GM and he cut, you know, he buys both those guys out. I don't remember how many years ago it was that they were bought out. But they're still paying dead cap space towards those guys like Minnesota can't get

[00:13:23] back on track because these two horrible contracts that didn't work out. Now, I think from what I heard it was a lot more about their attitudes more so than their play on the ice. Because it's that crazy as a hell of a player.

[00:13:38] He always has been, yeah, he's had some up and down seasons, but for the most part, crazy was a great player. But from what I heard like they're just they were cancers in that offer. And that's the price of me about Paris.

[00:13:51] He always seemed like kind of a regular stand-up dude. Yeah. But you also have to keep in mind when we had him, you know, his rookie, he's learning. He's on a team with veterans and when you get paid a big chunk of money to come

[00:14:04] to a new team and be that star player, maybe you're ego can kind of take over a little bit. Maybe that's what happened. I don't know. Yeah, I do remember when you signed that, I'm like, that's not crazy.

[00:14:16] I just felt like he does better flying slightly under the radar, like being a New Jersey Devil and just doing your thing. The grass is not always greener when these guys go and they got a few numbers.

[00:14:25] One guy, especially in your home state, a lot of expectations, all that. And I want to see the Minnesota Wild Duke in it. I like the wild. I like Billy Garen, you know, he wanted to cup with us. I'd like to see him do good over there.

[00:14:37] I like some of their players. I like Flurry. You know, I'd like to see them get back into it. Last year didn't make the playoffs. I don't think they're going to make it this year.

[00:14:47] But you know, play off-wise with now the moves that have been done and I'm sure that there's going to be a lot of tinkering around the edges with certain teams. Is there any team in free agency so far they surprised you with their lack of movement?

[00:15:02] Or people a team that maybe you think might have kind of set themselves up, maybe not as good as everybody kind of thinks? I mean, to me, I think like the Buffalo Sabers have an opportunity to really try and,

[00:15:17] you know, at some point you have to pull the trigger and try and make some moves to get some people in there to make a run into playoffs. And they brought back Lindy rough. Like I'm, look, Lindy rough completely lost his fastball. We saw it.

[00:15:30] We saw it first hand. This guy looked like the Mr. McGoo behind the bench by the end of last season. The only thing they did was really what? They bought out Jeff Skinner and they made no moves.

[00:15:41] Like if I was a span of the Buffalo Sabers, I'd be so unbelievably angry right now that you have not done anything to get anybody over. And another team who I think they made some moves, but I don't know how much it moves in needle is Detroit.

[00:15:57] You know, Steveizerman made a lot of setup a lot of open money. I thought they were going to make a big push for stammer. I really thought that that was the move that he wanted. He wanted to get stamp closed there and not didn't work out.

[00:16:10] And then you re-sign Patty Kane. Okay, great. Good player. Completely on the back. No, you don't know what you're going to expect. You're going to get from them, whether injuries and just production. And then there are other big signings with Vladimir Teresenko. I'm sorry.

[00:16:22] You're not making the playoffs. So I got Detroit. That's you know, I thought was going to maybe make the playoffs. I don't see it now. Yeah, I think Detroit is just kind of trying to, they have a better chance of making it

[00:16:32] with their youth progression than the pieces they brought in. You know, Teresenko, like he said, he's still valuable, but he's not the guy who was a couple years ago. Buffalo needs to take a page from the Devil's Book and realize that you got infused and

[00:16:46] veterans in there that maybe know what they're doing. It's our point in a right direction. I thought that the Rangers didn't do shit. I thought that the Islanders didn't do shit and we talked already about Carolina. I don't know how far they're going to fall.

[00:16:58] Maybe they'll surprise me because it's still bringing them back there and they're structured and they'll still be like within a top three, but right now I don't see any way you could put them above the Rangers and Devil's Division.

[00:17:07] Yeah, I mean, I thought that Carolina lost so many pieces. I don't know where they're going. I think they had some serious holes to fill. Yeah, but they did not do it.

[00:17:22] Now, what would you, what would you, because I was going to start by saying that I didn't think the Rangers had a ton of moves to make? Yeah, I mean, I do. First of all, you lost a couple players. You lost your captain. It's probably for the best.

[00:17:37] But we don't, he's still a Ranger. I mean, you see what happens with Captain Elbow. I mean, it's, I would be looking to improve on those fronts. The way they, when they crumbled away, they crumbled, that's a team that I thought during the

[00:17:52] regular season maybe over performed but they look so good and you see the holes they had in the playoffs that I'd be really interested if I was them knowing how short this window is. Let's go fill them now. I thought they're going to go hard.

[00:18:05] So there was that. Now, you mentioned the teams that were supposed to have big breakout years that kind of didn't. You see him emerging but that's very true. They're all those, I think we mentioned three of them now, right? We had Buffalo Detroit Detroit.

[00:18:23] Detroit and I think it's all we talked about so far. Yeah, I know there's another one up there. I know there's another one that is so too. That's the next stop to try and make that playoff position.

[00:18:35] They didn't really do a whole lot other than signing homework which I think is a big deal. They should be considerably better. Yeah, that's a big game for them but yeah I would be worried if those are my

[00:18:48] teams and we didn't make the moves that we didn't make. The troupe of thing is so interesting to me because they come out and make it known and make it public that they're thinking about buying them out.

[00:19:03] They're thinking about trading him, he ends up giving them his 15 teams that he's willing to go to. But he's got a huge deal now. You're talking about a guy who is definitely the back nine who is maybe he's got two years left at eight million a year.

[00:19:19] I did hear that the red wings were interested and possibly taking him but now part of this whole thing is like the Rangers apparently are trying to make something work with, after you first off you can't have your captain where you basically said we're done with

[00:19:35] him after the playoff last year and then you're going to try and bring him back. That doesn't work. No, that is that is the only thing. I don't even know why they made that statement. It was like jumping in the middle of the playoff.

[00:19:45] And yeah, they just reminded me a little bit if it's Joe saying a couple things maybe he should in this year and maybe even worse because it was very emotional that they had did it maybe within a few days of their playoff ouster.

[00:19:57] So it didn't make sense to say that if they weren't going to pull the trigger on it. And that's why I feel like now they've kind of crossed that bridge. I think they're going to have problems keeping him.

[00:20:06] I don't think that's going to work out the way they wanted to. No, I think he gets traded but there's also the thing like his wife is apparently, you know, she's trying to get her medical license, I guess, to become a doctor and she's doing

[00:20:22] a residency in New York City and the Rangers are like well part of the reason why he came here was because she was going to do the residency in the city so we're going to try and make this work.

[00:20:31] You're going to either maybe move off a player or not move off a player because of what his wife does for a living. Like I'm sorry, I just didn't see him. Seems insane. It's full share is he got his $8 million salary total bullshit.

[00:20:44] Guys get traded constantly with no thought whatsoever for their families, their children or anything. It's a business you get traded, you pack your shit. Only person cares about the family. It's a player talking to his family if they can make it work going there. Right.

[00:21:01] GM's owners don't give a shit. No, they don't give a shit. So I don't know it's going to be interesting to see what happens with them. The islanders again, they didn't do anything. I forget who they mostly the Rangers brought in Riley Smith, big fucking walk and that's

[00:21:13] going to do nothing for them. And then I forget there was some other older dude. I don't know who it is that the islanders brought in but I can't see the islanders moving forward. So I mean, it took the Eastern Conference last year, right?

[00:21:26] Like go dirt at the playoffs. You guys think Florida is making the playoffs next year? Yes. Dan. Yeah. Why not? Boston. I think pick up some Zedora. Yeah. But I think so. I mean, I already got to know what's. Yeah.

[00:21:41] I think they might drop a little but I don't think they're missing the playoffs and Tampa Bay. They're making it. Truth. I don't think so. That's what you're going to say now. Okay. It's very possible they don't make it this year. I don't know.

[00:21:55] I'm not going to have a side of my business. Yeah. I haven't sat down and really looked at who exactly is going to make it. Who isn't yet? I think that's what the coach says they're going to have a harder time making it this year. Okay. Now, Toronto.

[00:22:08] Yeah. I would say there's somebody. They're good for a nice early exit. I mean, they're right. There's some points. They're just going to get for the next several years. They're going to. So we know that there's at least three spots that are filled there.

[00:22:25] We know Boston's going and we know Toronto's going. We know Florida's going. I would say Tampa Bay is probably going. But I'll leave that spot open because I'm a minority here. So we're going to Metro Rangers making the playoffs? Yes. Oh, thanks so. Devils? Yes. Yeah.

[00:22:43] I think they are definitely making this year. They don't. I'm done checking out. There you go. I made it. I think that might be the easiest call of a team that didn't make it last year. That's going to make it this year.

[00:22:52] I think that Devils are far the easiest pick. Exactly. I was thinking earlier. The team, look, on the outside looking in, it was better equipped to make it this year. And the whole league. They're great. I mean, we'll talk a little bit about it.

[00:23:06] But this team looks so fucking good. Just on paper. I know we have not seen them play. We thought that last year. But I think we kind of were, we had the mindset last year of like, oh, we're coming off a hundred and twelve point season.

[00:23:20] We had a Tyler to fully things are pretty much going to get 20 points. Right. We're just going to run it back. And we said last summer, the only thing that can derail this team is injuries. And I understand that the goal-tending was got off of.

[00:23:34] But if you don't have those injuries, Devils probably make the playoffs. Probably get bounced and reverse round, but they're making it. I think we had a few reservations about Lindy, but we largely gave him a pass. Did not expect him to be as bad as he was.

[00:23:48] I think that, looking back on it, yeah, we totally gave ourselves the out with the injuries that came through. But also, we didn't expect the goal-tending to be this bad. Nor did we think that if it was, we wouldn't have made a move until the very last possible

[00:24:02] moment that didn't make any difference. And also, you know, we're not that stupid. We did also discuss the departures. And for as much as we may or may not care about a guy like Graves, we did know what the significance of him and Severson leaving could be.

[00:24:16] I think we did think that we can outpace that with our offense. Again, considering nobody gets hurt. For a long term, and that sort of thing. After Hamilton went down and you saw that after he's gone, your two guys were under him

[00:24:32] would be Marino and Seagunthall or that. Nobody's some Marino having that bad of a season. I don't think any of us said that we can't expect this kind of season from him next year. I was counting on it because he had a great season two years ago.

[00:24:45] And you know, I know there was some blowback with the trade, you know, him going to Utah and stuff. You know, all we didn't get enough. And I did expect a little bit more than two draft picks for Marino, but then I was really thinking about it.

[00:24:56] And I'm just kind of like, this wasn't veteran dude that played great the year prior. And when Hamilton went down and we've mentioned this so many times, like nobody on that team just said, fuck it. I'm going to take over and I'm going to fill that spot.

[00:25:11] I'm going to do. And that was Marino's position to fill. Oh yeah. I mean, that veteran leader and instead we're looking at the best play coming from two, 19-year-old rookies. Like dude, I'm sorry.

[00:25:23] Now, that more I really thought about it and let it sink in of last season, I'm fucking glad Marino's gone. And yeah. I mean, I was really into maybe let Seagun's dollar take that hit for being a similar

[00:25:37] veteran position and not coming through just because I like Marino's upside should he come back to his old form. But you make a really good point. No doubt about it. He that was his chance to shine and, you know, I have no problem cutting ties and

[00:25:51] Fitzgerald himself said, Nemik was not part of the plan last year. He did not want him getting more than the 10 games. Yeah. We were excited because we saw how much potential it is, but then you realize how much

[00:26:04] seasoning another year and the miners can really do for a night and a year's old. This is ridiculous. And we had two of them or 20 whenever Luke was right? Yeah. I mean, they were they were carrying our back and like that's that's not the way

[00:26:18] you want to go into a season. I mean, not with this double team being as good as they were. And, you know, just so I mean, do you think there's still a chance that possibly Seagun

[00:26:27] dollar is still on his way out or do you think he's with this team? I think they'd have to find the right kind of hockey trade to make that work because when Seagun dollar's putting his proper role as he was two years ago, it was fine.

[00:26:41] He did what he needed to do. Yeah. It's got a good value contract for that type of player. And if you can actually be on a first pairing with Hamilton at what three point four or whatever

[00:26:52] he's making, that's a bonus to be honest because maybe they just gel together. I think that it's easy to look at Seagun dollar now and say if I had my wish, he'd be our third pairing de guy.

[00:27:06] If he's solidly working with Hamilton and that do a works, then you let it ride. There's the rest of his life. It looks like theoretically it's going to line up with those two being together. Peshibyan was Luke. You know.

[00:27:18] Yeah, I mean, I hope that it does work out that way but who's the guy we just brought up? It's made the trade with Montreal for who the hell is that guy? Oh, I can never say that. I can remember his name.

[00:27:31] But I was thinking, you know, with the now abundance of defensemen that we have, that maybe there's something else there that possibly Seagun dollar might be on the way out. But COVID-19. COVID-19. Yeah, I'm not sure if he plays the same side as Seagun dollars or so.

[00:27:48] He is a right side. Right. No, he's opposite. Okay, Seagun dollars left, right? Yeah. Yeah. Lefty. All right. But, you know, I mean, you guys think Caroline is making it to the players? No, that is a great question because I think before this recent spade of trades, you

[00:28:08] would have probably said, yeah, I mean, what did they really lose? They still have gold tenies and she's got to make the playoffs. I don't know, this team lost so much. I don't know. I didn't really sit down and look at it. I had my doubts.

[00:28:22] On the surface, I have to say, yes, I mean, if you look at like immediately you have an asset yet but we all know Washington, we didn't expect them last year. I don't expect them to be this year.

[00:28:30] So let's just say, for one to one purpose is the Devil's tape Washington spot is Caroline going to follow further in the Islanders. I don't think so. I don't get the Islanders to make it. I don't know who they are. I don't think the Islanders are really there.

[00:28:44] It's all I think of. Yeah, I mean, I don't think the Islanders make it. I think Caroline and makes it. I think the one two three in the Metro is going to go, you know, chalk, Rangers, well, not in order.

[00:28:55] I think it is going to be Devil's Rangers, Carolina. But, you know, so now we have maybe two open spots. If Tampa doesn't make it, what's going to be interesting is see who's going to take it.

[00:29:06] I think Philadelphia has potential to be really good if they're goal-tending holes up. I don't know if they're moves on their off season because that's one team I was looking at.

[00:29:15] Hey, wow, they really in my mind over the form last year are you going to run with this or are they going to just proceed as planned? Well, the biggest move that they did was getting Mitch Cough to come from Russia.

[00:29:28] So when they drafted him last year, you know, I think he had like four years left on his KHL deal. So a lot of teams were kind of staying away from them because they weren't sure exactly when they would be able to get him to the United States.

[00:29:42] Now some people were saying too, like if Mitch Cough was here and ready to play in the United States or, you know, North America last year, it would have been a tough choice for Chicago between Connor Bador and Mitch Cough.

[00:29:56] Like that's how good this was supposed to be. Even though I don't think anybody has even seen him play it, you know, because he's out there in Russia. So he's supposed to be back to it. I also heard he can be a little moody.

[00:30:08] He doesn't speak the language. Interested to see how him in Torta Rela gel because Torta Rela can be extremely rough on the young guys. So how is this dude who there's a communication barrier? He's always been the best everywhere he goes. Now he's coming to North America.

[00:30:27] How's he going to fill out? I think he's going to be very good. So I do think that the flyers have enough pieces in place that maybe they can push off the islanders, Washington, maybe they can get in there.

[00:30:41] And like Carter Hart had his best and Sirrokin, you know, Marius O'Donne. Oh, who's he got there now? What do they have? Who the hell are there, goalies? It was, I mean, hang on. Is he self-emauthed that to trade them online last time?

[00:30:58] No, he got a part of the game. Oh, shhh. He's with the cloud right now. Yeah, make a game. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, let me see exactly who their gold tenders were last year.

[00:31:11] So that's a negative for them because I thought, you know, just like the cloud for the dows, everything was looking up for them with this guy. Oh, no. Carter Hart would have been the guy. No, Dama.

[00:31:21] So last year they ran with, oh yeah, Sam Erson, Erson, he was the main guy. And then they have the guy Ivan Fedatov, he's a Russian kid that they brought in. They also have Kyle Peterson. I don't know if he's still on the team and Felix Sandstrom.

[00:31:38] So I think it'll be Fedatov or Erson. I also heard that they might be interested in making a play for the backup over a Nashville, a skyro. So that'll be interesting. You know, as much as I want to shit on them, I really can't.

[00:31:52] But I do still think last year was lightning and a bottle. I don't think they're coming through this year. I don't think they're getting back. I think they're going to take a couple of points back. And where they were.

[00:32:00] I think in the last spot, it should be like a Detroit or Buffalo even though they didn't do too much. I could see Detroit leaving last year. And I was so wrong. So I was like, lightning in a bottle. I just don't think that's their team.

[00:32:13] I think it just started to click and it wouldn't go away. And we'll see how they start this year. But it did fall off at the end, man. That's definitely did fall off at the end. They had a lot of variable games. They were not winning.

[00:32:27] No, they looked like the devils at the end. Yeah. And they're like, Washington is like, you guys are really going to let us in? Did you really get it? Yeah. Exactly. All right. Well, before we got to our little goal-tending exercise,

[00:32:39] give a little shout out to some of our sponsors here at the hockey podcast net or. And oh, wait. There's a key chase for the Stanley Cup one. I guess that that's pretty much over. But you guys know what you got to do. Right? Go to draft Kings.

[00:32:55] And if you're looking right now, the devils are plus 1,300 to win the cup. So maybe there was some actual amount of... Oh, that was that. Was that the fourth best thoughts I think I saw? Or is it?

[00:33:06] I think they're like the fourth or the fifth best thoughts on draft Kings. One of the managers. I did see that. Oh, yeah. That would be awesome. So new customers bet five bucks and get 150 in bonus bets instantly.

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[00:35:47] It's smooth sac summer boys. Get on board or get left behind. Sack. So well, Dan is so used to the quality of his shaving sac. That he can just do this read nice and calm because it's just so used to the perfection. That's right. It's great. That's right.

[00:36:08] And you have this. I think it's a little bit screen and I see me who needs a haircut and you two guys who never need a haircut it reminded me. This is smooth sac summer. These are not our second hair. I just shaved my head today.

[00:36:23] Actually, we shave. We get hair gets way more than you. Yeah, that's true. Oh, we have to go all the time. So project stuff skin on my head. It's going to be a brain. It's a shower deal, right? Let me shave that.

[00:36:36] So yeah, sometimes I use this straight blade today. I used to hand held just to kind of make a straight blade. Like a old fucking normal. Not a normal. Not a normal. And then not a sweety Todd straight blade.

[00:36:49] Like a regular old, you know, mock three or whatever and you know regularly. I'm looking at this copy. Man's keep doesn't say anything about doing your head. Why not? Why don't you give it a try, Chris? Try the one more. It's five point out on my head.

[00:37:03] That's right. All right. Don't forget they have the crops through their after shaving lotion. The crops. I think they're. When they mentioned all the skin types in the crop. They were thinking about the head. But I mean, I was brought up.

[00:37:14] I mean, like we can shave your sack. Because I would not use my edge. I'm on my sack. I'm not. No, no. Like if you do this. My daughter in my head. If my. If my. Use a regular razor on, you know, my my my nut sack.

[00:37:33] It goes right in the garbage afterwards. It's like I know when I accidentally use that on my face. So I've got, you know, this one for doing the dog. It's this serious set of clippers. Right. I would never try that on my sack. That. That's true.

[00:37:47] Yeah, but the. Everybody. Now the dog you don't worry about cutting his balls. He's already got them cut off. Oh, that's true. I lose here. That's true. Yep. All right. So I want you guys to rate the gold tenders in the metropolitan division. All right.

[00:38:04] We'll start with the last place Columbus Blue jackets will move up. I'm just going to go and give you guys the numbers of their starters. And they're, they're number one and their team totals. Now Elvis Merlikons is still in Columbus. So he will be playing for them, right?

[00:38:19] He's still there, right? Mm-hmm. He didn't move. I don't think. So last year he played 41 games. He had 13 and 17. His safe percentage was 897. His goals against was 3.45. Now as a team, Columbus went 27 and 43. So they got, was said, a 11, 14 starts. 14 wins from other goalies.

[00:38:54] Other than Merlikons who only won 14 games. But their team is, at the same percentage of 900 and a 3.4 goals against. So that's Columbus. The next team on the list is us, the New Jersey Devils. So I actually have to go to two different things here.

[00:39:16] So if we go to last season in Calgary, our starting goal tender was Jake, Marks from now. So last year he played in 48 games and at 48 starts he was 23 and 23 with a safe percentage of 0.905 and the goals against of 2.78 as a team with Dustin Wolf and Daniel Vlatter

[00:39:45] later, I don't know how you say his name. Talk about the levels. Dark the Blader as a team. They were well, it doesn't matter because he's, I gotta go to Devils. So hang on a one second. So you got Marks from his numbers, right?

[00:40:01] Sorry, I didn't have time to get this more. So good. I had to kind of do it on the fly because it came over, Mark and then started here. Oh, this is definitely hard to do on the fly 100%.

[00:40:12] The team totals for us last year was a safe percentage of 0.896 and the goals against of 3.12 and that was between five different goalies. Wow, right? Yeah. Next on the list is the Philadelphia Flyers and they last year we talked about the guys that they ran with.

[00:40:40] So the main guy, I guess we can put Carter heart in here too because he played a lot last year but yeah, but he's not going to be there this year and we're ranking.

[00:40:48] So okay, so we'll just go with Erson because he's going to be there number one. So he played a 51 games last year. He had 49 starts. He was 23 and 19. He had a safe percentage of 0.89, the goals against of 2.82.

[00:41:06] The team had a safe percentage of 0.889 and the goals against of 2.98. So that's Billy. And then we get to the Pittsburgh penguins. The penguins are still running it with the same guys. They didn't make any changes in goal.

[00:41:26] So that's Tristan Jari who was their number one and he played 51 games last year. He started 48 of them. His safe percentage was 9.03. His goals against was 291 and the teams were 9.03. His safe percentage and a 293 goals against. So that's what you're getting on Tristan Jari. This is record.

[00:41:49] Did you say it? I did. Christian Jari's record was 19 and 25. And then we get the Washington who it looks like Charlie Lingrin is going to be the number one and who do they bring in? They brought in a good backup this year. Who the hell was it?

[00:42:10] I can't remember. So Charlie Lingrin last year played 50 games. He went 25 and 16. His safe percentage was 9.11 and his goals against was 267. The teams, safe percentage was 9.03 and the team's goals against was 294. Best goal you have paper so far.

[00:42:34] And then we're going to go to the New York Islanders. Now the Islanders let them what's his name though, right? Verlamov? They picked up a backup. Somebody else I thought. Yeah, I don't remember who it is but they picked up somebody. We'll look at it for a minute.

[00:42:59] So, Elias Serokin played 56 games. He was 55. I'm sorry. He was 25 and 19. His safe percentage was 9.08. His goals against was 301. Now Verlamov had a 9.08 safe percentage and a goal is against of 2.6 but he's not there. The team, safe percentage was 0.911. Goals against was 289.

[00:43:27] So that's what you get for the Islanders. And then we're going to go to the second place team in that conference last year and that was the Caroline Hurricanes. Caroline. I mean, they pretty Anderson only played 16 games last year. So I guess we'll go with a pure checkoff.

[00:43:51] Yeah, Coca-Cola off. Whatever. Good checkoff. Yeah, Coca-Cola off. Good checkoff. So checkoff. Catechoff played 42 games last year. He was 23 and 13. His safe percentage was 9.11. His goals against was 233. And as a team, they started 5 gold tenders last year and they didn't do anything

[00:44:15] to fix their gold-tuning problem this year. All right, Freddie Anderson's going to be the die. I know he was injured a lot last year. So Freddie Anderson's numbers, he only played 13 and 2 last year. He only played 16 games in the regular season. His goals against was 1.84.

[00:44:35] His safe percentage was 0.932. So yeah, that's frigging great. And as a team, they were, let's say 0.905 safe percentage and a 2.42 goals against. And then the number 1 team in that conference or division was in New York Rangers.

[00:44:59] And we all know that they have, by far, the best goal in the conference, I think. So he goes to circuit and people had 55 games. He went 36 and 17. His safe percentage was 0.912. His goals against was 2.58 as a team, 0.912 was their safe percentage in 2.57.

[00:45:23] So the team totals were right there with, about quick. He's coming back for them because he's behind back up this year. He signed a one-year extension last year. So he will be backing up to circuit this year. No, he didn't.

[00:45:34] I got to say the rage is on paper. I think the best goal-tending duo. When Jonathan, Jonathan, quite an leap maybe played in 27 games last year. He went 18 and 6. His safe percentage was 0.911. Just herkin's was 0.92. And his goals against was 2.62. Name me a better duo man. I'm sorry.

[00:45:55] That does a great, great numbers. Now they might take a hit next year. I mean, if we're doing projections, you know, you got to factor in where the team is. And I don't know. I will see how the rage is, but let's be honest.

[00:46:09] I don't think you could ask for a better duo right now. I really don't see it. So do we all agree that the Rangers have the best goal-tending going in the next season? That's best number one and the best overall duo. Yeah. Yeah. All right.

[00:46:23] Now, I mean quick on fall off because he is up there, but come on. But he's not gonna play a lot. You know, so he had to play more than they expected last year. And boy was he good. He won three for everyone he lost.

[00:46:36] So now who's number two? Who's got the second best goal-tending in the metropolitan to look at? Well, again, we're not fully looking at tandem. It's kind of hard with the right answer. I'll just go with number one. I mean, I listen,

[00:46:48] circumstances numbers were a little bit of a dip last year, but I can't say he's not number two. And two years ago it was very, it was a pretty close. Last year, I would stay to start to clearly widen the gap with, you know,

[00:46:59] syrup and fall off a little bit. But I mean, I don't know. I think by the end of the next year we could change and move off this, but I don't disagree that it's not so crazy to say he's number two.

[00:47:12] So the Islanders have the second best goal-tending in the metro. Who has the metro? Yeah. Who has the third best goal-tending in the metro? I think we do now. I agree. Yeah. I'm even thinking maybe Marx from over, sort of, yeah, so Rokin.

[00:47:30] But I'll give him the pencil because, yeah, we'll see. I think our defense has some questions to answer, but it's looking good. So it wouldn't be crazy to say, I think Marx from will have a better year than Seroconus year. Marx was on the way down.

[00:47:44] You know, I mean, Serokin's on the way down. Marx from a whole new setup. It's not crazy to put the levels at two. So it's kind of, it's a close three. Maybe, I think that's probably a little more cautious. Yeah, I'll give him three.

[00:47:57] Even over our long off, played most of those playoff games against Carolina and the first round last year. I mean, Patrick Wadden had a whole lot of faith and Serokin going into the playoffs, but I think Serokin will bounce back. I think he'll be fine. Yeah.

[00:48:12] So yeah, I go with that. The Rangers, the Islanders, Devils. I think that's one, two, three. Now, fourth, get harder now. It does get harder. I mean, I'm not sure where to put Carolina, Philadelphia, Washington. I think I would maybe go with lingering as number four. Okay.

[00:48:32] Yeah, I mean, it's not awful. It's not awful. Who the heck did they pick up? Is there a backup this year? I know that they did get another goalie. I'm just curious. Let me just check this real quick. Bobby, what do you think?

[00:48:46] I think Kuchekoff is probably my number four to be honest. I don't know if Jari's not a better skilled gold tender, but on a far worse team. So I don't think his numbers are gonna compare. So yeah, I go Kuchekoff.

[00:49:04] You're gonna go Carolina when you're not going to be. Yeah, I'm gonna go Carolina. What about you, Dan? For my number four, you're a Metro. I might take Jari. I can't make him. Jari was so... Pengwin, Pittsburgh. No, Jari's with, oh yeah, Pittsburgh. Yeah, he's from, sorry.

[00:49:26] All right, so we got one Pittsburgh. I'm leaning towards Washington and Bobby's got Carolina. What are the numbers, Bobby? You have it written down. What are those three guys, numbers? All right, so Carolina 23 and 13. 911 saved for Senate's 2.33 goals against average. Lingering in DC, 25 and 16, 911 saved for Senate's.

[00:49:48] That's identical 2.67 goals against. And Jari was 19 and 25, 903 saved for Senate's 2.91 goals against. Yeah, I mean if you're gonna go by numbers, I understand where you're coming from. You guys can definitely rank them that way, you got it.

[00:50:03] But with you though, dude, because I'm not solely on the numbers. I just made it stop me and about why I thought Jari was close. So for that alone, I'm gonna put him number five. He's just on a shitty team.

[00:50:13] Yeah, I just don't even know what to do with those three teams to be quite honest too. Yeah, it's hard for me to predict where it's way there going or their goal tenders into some extent.

[00:50:21] Like they think, you know, they're gonna go hand in hand and go to the other side. My thing is Washington does not make the playoff last year without Charlie Lingering playing the way he was playing. So that's why I'm leaning towards four for him.

[00:50:33] But I think of watchings on the way down though. I also think it's the inverse of the devil's problems that they had last year.

[00:50:41] If Washington came out and put up a goal first and he's the pressure on their goal tender going forward for the rest of the game where they got you know three spot.

[00:50:50] Not to take anything away from him, he did awesome his numbers show it but yeah, I just can't put him higher than that. All right, so. So would you say, I guess maybe then we go with.

[00:51:03] I guess well, because Freddie Anderson is gonna probably get most of the starts next year for Carolina. So I think yeah, then if it's going to be pretty Anderson, I'm going to kind of maybe go with Carolina with the fourth best.

[00:51:18] It's protect off and I can be talked into that. I think that's safe. All right, so we're going to say, Caroline is number four. So now. Is there's Lickens last? Yes, I think so. I think that's clear. Yeah.

[00:51:34] I think you got maybe put the flyers in the second the last spot. So you just down to where are you going to put Washington where you're going to put Pittsburgh and if you go by the number.

[00:51:42] I mean, if it's that close where we came in good argument to go outside the numbers go with the numbers, you know. So then I would be trying to remember four. Yep, or number five five and then jarring six. Jarring six. Whoever the fuck the flyers are playing.

[00:51:57] And then. And then. Lickens takes to the bottom spot. He's my look. Merz Lickens your ball. I mean, I would literally lick ins man nuts. You would put what the pens and DC I just again DC for me another lighting in a bottle type of situation.

[00:52:11] I think jarring pound for pound is a better goal tender. Well, me too. But go by the numbers. I understand it's a tough call. It's a tough call. Pittsburgh is not getting any better either so he can actually have course numbers next year. Okay, that's possible.

[00:52:24] Especially who knows what happens if they you know, deal with a massive cell off during the season, you know, their numbers are going to tank. It's going to be really hard to say. I'm going to put jarring over lingering and strictly over the career, right?

[00:52:38] Trailing or ingest made it to the NHL and just started as a starter. So all right. So then that means that Pittsburgh would be number five. Washington would be number six. So we have number one is Igor's is.

[00:52:53] Number two is Ilias to Roken number three is Jacob Markstrom number four is Freddie Anderson slash P. To our P order, P order could check off. Let's just say Peter Peter. You know what the hell kind of names? I don't know any name number five would be Jari.

[00:53:13] Yeah. Number six would be lingering number seven would be whoever to fuck the flyers have in net. And number eight would be Elvis Merz-Lickens. So we are looking at the third best now if you did tandem's I think we're number two.

[00:53:27] I think yeah, we're for the tandem I would think. Mm-hmm. Now because for Lomoth is no longer an islanders what you say. Right. And I don't remember who they got now with for Lomoth. I would still probably keep the islanders over us by a hair.

[00:53:43] Let me look this up real quick. Now my question is if now out of these teams is this last season this season going into this year. We're the only team that has new goalie.

[00:53:58] If things were static and we were coming back with, you know, even just say Jake Allen and couple cockin' it. No way are we number three right? Like the Caroline of probably takes us right? Yes. Maybe even Jari? Yeah.

[00:54:16] Probably as far as, you know, I have shown consistent goal tending. Right. Yeah. You have to give it to. You know, Jake Allen could come out and he could have played great for us. But that was not big if, you know, he's just doing it.

[00:54:30] You know, you're asking a lot for him to carry the whole load. And it would have definitely affected our rankings by at least two spots maybe more. On the NHL roster, it's still showing for Lomoth with the islanders along with a kid who played the one game.

[00:54:44] It's a carc. I thought they picked somebody up, but I could be wrong. Maybe it is for Lomoth still. I don't have like RFA status or anything on this particular page, but that's what they're showing.

[00:54:55] So maybe it's also, I'm just looking at another like ranking just top 25 in the league right last year as of like April. And you know, Mark's from up there. He's he's number 20. And for Lomoth, they got a 25, you know.

[00:55:10] But yeah, you know, they got, of course, just circin pretty high up there. Not as high as he should be to be quite honest with you. Who's number one? Hell of a book. You know, is that what I'm gonna had him?

[00:55:24] Yeah, that's your Demco file and then Bob Rossky, which I think Bob Rossky's stock is remains high. He was amazing. Absolutely. You know, I'm like most excited about Mark's from Ford that we've touched on. But I don't know, we've really, really understood what it is.

[00:55:41] How far in above he is league average on high danger scoring chances. And so yeah. And on a team like this and you see it a million times in hockey. Come on, we've got a lot of time to. Time to might save your on the other way.

[00:55:52] You're popping the net, which we have all the ability to do. That could even improve for this guy. And I know looking at his numbers from last year, like you can look at him say, all right, he was kind of even kind of middle the road pedestrian.

[00:56:03] Everybody knows he was way better than the first half the year for all that shit went down. I'm being traded. I'm not being traded in his team once crap. He's a better one. He's been trading everybody. He's been trading everybody and they're up trading everybody off.

[00:56:14] And next thing you know, he's got obviously sloppy playing in front of them. So yeah, he's playing with nobody in front of them. And he's still basically leading the league and high danger scoring say like this is very impressive.

[00:56:24] It's going to go really well with this devil's roster. I didn't see that as much when we were kind of going back and forth. And I'm curious you'd ask like you kind of fell off Bob. I'm like, yeah, I did a little bit wasn't really looking at that.

[00:56:35] It's beyond the routine with this guy. And we needed the routine just to get us going in the right direction. And now we're getting beyond routine. Plus with all the other additions we made. I honestly think like I said, I think on the last show.

[00:56:48] Maybe not this year. But if you look at this defense two three years from now. If they're not top four in the league, I'm totally fricking surprised. Well, as I was Jake, as Jake a Marx from I mean,

[00:56:59] I know he's played with a lot of really good defenders. But on paper, you look at our defensive pairings and our six guys. I don't know if he's played with it. If he did play with better defensive core, it wasn't much better on paper.

[00:57:12] I mean we haven't seen what these guys can do but I'm like everything to me. What I'm most excited about going into this year is with everyone's slotted where they're supposed to be on the blue line.

[00:57:25] And Dougie Hamilton back and Luke Hughes and Simone Nemitz not having to do all the heavy lifting. Right. I and being able to play with we said it so many times last year, right?

[00:57:38] We need that defensive guy or guys that are going to come in and take that pressure off of those guys to kind of show them how to play the right way in the NHL in all situations and stuff like they didn't have that last year.

[00:57:52] They were thrown in the fire on a team that towards the end, you know, didn't know which way it was fucking up. The coaching changes I think will help. Absolutely. Yeah. I mean Luke Hughes if he ends up playing with Brett Pesci.

[00:58:05] I mean could you have a better partner to show you, you know, to kind of instill the right work ethic to bring you. I think you are going to see an elevation in those two guys game so much more this year.

[00:58:20] How about this? Yeah. We talk about line matching all the time, not just the home in a way stuff, but just in general right way of after wave coming after you how about the fact that our three defensive parings.

[00:58:32] What are they going to do when the third pairing comes up and you still got a guy like Nemic who drive the play put the puck in the net like you're so focused on the forwards and we have such a mobile defense.

[00:58:42] I mean listen, Hamilton's and League of his own. He's earned that as far as how he can produce Luke is not very far behind. I still think in a long run, Simone could be almost as good as Luke.

[00:58:54] Maybe better who knows but the fact that wave after wave the three of them with a solid defensive partner just something we haven't I don't know if ever seen. I think even in our best days maybe two pairs like the third pair.

[00:59:08] You're right. You're right. And they weren't the defensive liabilities but you weren't expecting dynamic defense right from our third pairing. We've never had this kind of skill level up and down the parings.

[00:59:23] And I just I look at this and I see my god Luke used to take such a huge step forward.

[00:59:29] And I'm out of all of our pickups, I'm on the back end as far as the three guys that we got, I am really looking forward to Brendan Dylan. I am so excited to watch this dude play.

[00:59:42] You know, and he'll drop the gloves, he doesn't care, he'll fight, he'll hit, he plays scrappy and all of them block shots. All the right things that we screened at our TV for 82 games last year.

[00:59:54] I can't, why don't we block shots? Why are we always out of position? Why can't we ever get the puck out of our own end?

[01:00:00] Tell that shit should not be an issue this year because every one of those guys can do a you know hit you with a great outlet pass and get the puck moving the other way like this team right now.

[01:00:13] I mean, Tom Fitzgerald said it man, he knew exactly what this team needed and we were all like yeah okay prove it. I mean, he kind of did right? I mean, I think everybody wanted the big splash for a winner to play with Jack.

[01:00:28] But and I'm never having at some point but yeah maybe, but I mean, we saw that guitar played really good up in the top six two years ago. And that's a huge pull. I don't do we talked about it that much, but we didn't talk about it all.

[01:00:43] I'm very excited to have him back with this team. Bobby, what is your impression of the guitar move? I'm sorry Chris, I don't do impressions. Good. Now listen, I love the guitar. I don't know exactly where he's going to slot in all the time.

[01:00:58] I think he did play really well with he sure he can probably play top six whenever I think that's going to be your kind of rotating mercer to tar kind of thing.

[01:01:07] Again, we've spent all off season last year so enamored with that line that finally made it work right? He sure might run Brad. Just kept assuming the three of them were going to be together then it's absolutely not true. We have no idea what he's going to do.

[01:01:21] But I do see that's kind of interesting how you can take a guy like to tar and switch it up with a mercer from game to game.

[01:01:29] I'm excited about it. Listen, I think he's a great villain player. I think what Fitzgerald did was it was beyond the hockey card. He went with the personality like the hockey player like you said, the blocking shot.

[01:01:43] These guys don't need to be asked to buy in this is already what they do. It's laying it all out in the line every time we got a whole roster full of guys like that.

[01:01:53] We've got a bottom six totally reinvented. I mean, was our is pencil day and it's our number four center. That's fucking awesome. You know what I mean with everybody else that we got going Hall of three and then pick your pick your one and two.

[01:02:06] So overall once we I didn't think stamp goes was really something we were going to get but once Marshall showed enough I was like, all right, I don't know where it's going to come from. We were all texting about that. We mentioned you know, mercer at some point.

[01:02:20] Well, probably going to be his spot. I mean, Tom Fitzgerald didn't press conference kind of made it sound to me like he is expecting Dawson Mercer to take a huge step forward in that top six role.

[01:02:32] This year they're going to give them all the opportunity to succeed and I think Dawson Mercer will be fine. I think Dawson Mercer is going to have a breakout year next year. I think you're going to see a lot of growth in this double team.

[01:02:45] At least that's really what I'm hoping for. I think you're going to see. So if you take that next step as captain, as that formidable 200 foot player who, you know, does all the right things.

[01:02:57] I'll log, you know, bar cog and guys like that. I do think that he sure is going to take it to the next level. I think Brad every year he's getting better and better.

[01:03:06] I don't think there's anybody on this team that I know of that trains their body and mind better than just for Brad. You know, full well he's going to come in ready to play.

[01:03:17] Jack uses Jack use if he can stay healthy apparently the shoulders feeling good he's going to be ready to go. I mean, Jack could be in the heart trophy conversation, you know, shelving key if it could be in the, you know, Jack Adams conversation.

[01:03:30] Really excited to see what shelving key can do for those guys who are ready to watch. Oh, yes. We're ready to watch. The conversation of all the constant assault fast and the folks supporting attack we get it.

[01:03:40] Well, there has to be a little bit more to it. So yeah, I think of the three of them. I think Brad could be the guy who literally explodes. Yeah, and the fourth line like you mentioned like you was our and codder and bastion for the most part.

[01:03:56] I mean, I've heard that you know, make them and we'll be putting it together. That's crash. That's crash line to two point out. I mean, that is a physical tough good line that can chip in with goals.

[01:04:07] Can do all the dirty work that you need. They'll stick up for all the guys. I mean, that's that's what we want for our bottom six.

[01:04:14] We don't need to hurt us those are playing in the top six and shit like he was last year when everything was fucked up with injuries and whatever. If that third and fourth line has a few guys that are on pace for the 1520 goal mark on each line.

[01:04:26] Yeah, you're still going to want to put out your best players against, you know, our first top two units. Eventually they're going to be looking like well somebody's got to stop that third line and crash in hard and they're not going to have an answer.

[01:04:37] And you know, the liberties that teams took on, you know, What was the game plan last year when you were playing the doubles? Yep, hit him. Hit him and they will crack and they can see that that was the plan it worked wonderfully.

[01:04:54] And I think that's the reason that in part led to so many injuries. We might have gotten along. But, you know, let's not think these were necessarily isolated things. We were one of the most injured teams but we were also one of the quote unquote softest teams.

[01:05:07] And I think there's a relationship there. So if keep gets them going moving away from that, using these new pieces which are undeniably way more gritty than what we had,

[01:05:18] we should be totally fine there. We're not going to be a Goon Swad, which nor do we want to be. We've got a highly skilled team here but we are no longer going to be this is the game plan on the doubles. Just hit them, you know.

[01:05:29] And it's not just the wanting guys to fight and stuff like, I don't know that. I don't want to fight. I don't want to fight. I want the guys that are going to get to the dirty places they're going to get in front of the net.

[01:05:40] They're going to cause troubles. They're going to piss off teams best players. We didn't really have that last year. Maybe Lazar would do it from time to time but again, I don't think anybody was in their right position

[01:05:52] nor did I think anybody had clearly defined roles last year for most of the if not all of the year. So like now you got to deal with Lazar, batter, bastion, step on nascent, Andre Palado plays a heavy physical game. And that's what's going to happen.

[01:06:09] That's what's going to happen. It affects your forecheck. That necessarily like open ice flashy hitting. That's always great to throw in there but we're really talking about a sustained forecheck that We didn't have that last year. No, we had no forechecks like that. Yep.

[01:06:24] It's like I was just saying, I'm most interested too and just sticking up for each other. Like instead of last year watching like he's going down and nobody doing anything. Now there could be three or four guys on the ice. Like take the penalty.

[01:06:36] I don't care that's fine, especially early on show them it's just not going to happen this year. Yeah. And you're right. You get here a little bit last year and now it's going to be really coming into its own. Yeah.

[01:06:47] And you want to pick up a garbage there was a change. It wasn't now. Now it's going to be so much better because you know it's going to be smooth. Yeah. Yeah. There's always going to be somebody on the ice that you're going to have to deal with.

[01:06:58] So you want to go and take a liberty on Jack. Well then you got step on nascent. You got you know Brendan Dylan. You got folk hotter. Whoever they'll they'll not be your ass out.

[01:07:07] And yeah, we're going to be a much more physical team and we should the four checks should be you know at least a consistent like we have guys now that can just gain the red line dump it in and go get it.

[01:07:20] And you know I think putting like I love the idea of like you said a tatar maybe brat and and he sure or or mercer he sure and tatar on a line and then the Meyer cues line like let's get that going. Yeah.

[01:07:37] That line could be one of the best in the NHL if we can find it they can find some type of cohesive unit between you know Jack and Timo. And these ready lines these pretty players are not just untapped themselves they have an effect

[01:07:50] on the rest of the team. We saw that too I mean and that so called revenge game against the Rangers you had the whole line step it up. You guys you never expected the drop gloves and again it's more about drop than dropping

[01:08:02] gloves but I'm saying their gritty play will affect the rest of the team absolutely. I think we're going to see a more power-forwarded Timo Meyer than we've ever seen with

[01:08:12] some of these other things being off his back to worry about he can just get back to being that hard body he is a true power forward he can bring that element he doesn't have to do it all

[01:08:22] anymore and that's going to be really exciting so I think we've all kind of said I still see his best place maybe with being with Jack but listen I think keeps going to

[01:08:32] figure it out and I think whatever he does it's going to be awesome I think it's definitely be a step above coaching then we were last year. I'm so excited for this year I want hockey to start right now.

[01:08:44] All right so let's wrap this thing up for tonight we will be back over the weekend and back to hopefully getting excuse me three shows out a week this week was a little crazy with the holiday and everybody mostly my works schedule will be in all fucked up.

[01:08:59] But we do have some cool stuff planned all summer long we will be putting content out right up until the pop drops in October we're going to do a lot of different couple player profiles shows we're going to do our little countdown lists and go over

[01:09:13] a bunch of other shit and of course any news or any developments in the NHL or with the doubles we will definitely get it to you guys so wherever you're listening to

[01:09:21] us we really appreciate it thank you give us a like if I've started review a positive comment download a subscription helps a little podcast that could is there anything else that you find gentlemen would like to discuss this evening before we wrap it up.

[01:09:36] That's a wrap I would I would just like to add please from Tom Fitzgerald's press conference he backed it up a little bit he didn't quite play all his cards like he was before

[01:09:49] he was just you know a little more hey you know this was a step we're going to go where we need to go I like it because the expectations are there but he just didn't come out and

[01:09:57] blatantly say everything had to be done I think he did a really good job the way he did it really kind of encapsulated his offseason moves the excitement there let's not overstep it let's not over say everybody knows what's there on

[01:10:11] paper at this point it is literally up to the players now and the coach so you know devised the team now short of we're going to play out there might be you know some tweaking that you do

[01:10:22] this is the team you're either going to make it or you're not so and then that's it that's all you can expect that's all you can want from your general manager give the coach

[01:10:31] the right pieces to play and let them play now child and key if it's a hack of a coach we all know full well that his winning percentage in the regular season is ridiculous so this team I think this team's one in the metro I think this team

[01:10:47] can win the metro I think this team could fight for president's trophy and I think comply off time everybody stays healthy I think this is a formidable team you can all space and they have some capsules you know so wherever there are some deficiencies

[01:11:01] come march yeah maybe you pull the trigger on something now Tom Fitzgerald has a way of like you said before right he always hope you know says just a little too much most of it is a lot of time and he didn't in that press conference especially when

[01:11:14] he was asked like are you done any said yeah for the most part yes I think we're done you know we're just going to kind of enjoy this summer and you know wants to hold

[01:11:23] on there was a little bit of salary cap space just in case and I'm listening to this motherfucker's got a poker face on these got something in the war yes that's the thing are you true contenders now or something to that thing is well

[01:11:33] you know hey let's let's get to the next step let's get to the playoffs let's fight breaks everybody knows the expectations should be there with this group the players are going to see care of that yeah I mean have to I mean I know we don't

[01:11:46] hear too much from players especially during the summer but like the guys like Jack and and Nico he sure and they might or so I'm so curious if you just caught them on the

[01:11:59] street and says what do you think of the moves that were made they have to be over the moon like you know when things were going bad last year if you could have been

[01:12:07] traded to this team you would totally take that tree right I mean this team looks great yeah this team really does look good I cannot wait to get this thing rolling

[01:12:16] but you know drop us a line check us out on acts you can reach us on there you can also reach us at the unclepuckers dot com where I swear a bunch of new material

[01:12:24] will be out once the seats and starts again but we will definitely be doing the show three times a week so again thank you guys so much for checking us out where are the Unclepuckers and we'll see you when we see you. Puckers hope bye bye.