The Puckers break down the 1st two games of the Devils season. We compare apples to apples with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Is the Brady fever dream dead and buried?
Bobby (00:10.574)
you
Dan (00:15.609)
Bye!
Chris (00:19.939)
Whoa, and don't it feel good? Hey, all right now we kicked Buffalo's ass and it does feel good It does feel good. It is
Dan (00:20.567)
Hello!
Dan (00:28.331)
Hahaha
Bobby (00:28.878)
I love the music. It feels good. We're allowed to feel good.
Dan (00:34.947)
Definitely.
Chris (00:36.047)
Two down, 80 to go, but the New Jersey Devils are the best team in the National Hockey League, boys!
Bobby (00:44.002)
Dude, they lead in every statistical category. Offensive, defensive, goal... It's incredible.
Dan (00:48.173)
Absolutely.
Chris (00:50.937)
Just give us the President's Trophy now.
Bobby (00:52.632)
Take it.
Dan (00:53.505)
if the season were called today.
Chris (00:55.759)
That's it. This was a yeah so where the uncle Parker's Bob Dan Chris we are going to we're just both over the moon all three of us over the moon here about this these first two games I mean really could not have asked for this season to start any better than it did we're going to dive into everything talk about it the both the games and just you know quick hot takes guys anything that you want to just you know first I know it's only two but.
The mood in New Jersey and around the NHL for for devil fans would be a lot kind of almost panicky after the preseason we had if we were to have dropped these games. But you went out to Prague there were four points available. You got all four and just so you know Dan what's your like hottest take on these first two games.
Dan (01:34.199)
Yes.
Dan (01:45.795)
Well, I was super impressed with them, especially in the second game. Okay, we got Allen facing off against Levi. Levi was on fire. He was amazing. I thought he had a great goaltending performance and you got the feeling like, it might be one of those nights.
Chris (01:59.749)
Well, I think with Levi, I think with Levi, a lot of it, it's in his genes.
Dan (02:03.853)
That's right. Speaking of his look, that gear set is pretty cool. I got to admit, I like that a lot. I like the way he plays. He's so aggressive. He's out front and everything. And he got that kind of sense that when you're up against a hot goalie, that things might not go your way, but they never slow down. So I also had a sense that like, okay, all they got to do is break through and then, you know, they go down a goal, which is not what you want to do. So then you really do feel like, okay, the goaltending performance there is paying off for the Sabres.
Bobby (02:05.518)
I gotta go
Dan (02:32.797)
a lot tougher goaltending performance against Luka. And this maybe is the one we thought it's possible to split these games and it looks that way. But they just never stopped. And the fact that they just kept pounding away and found a way and broke through really with a lot of like they just once they started that you knew that even when that first goal tied it, I just knew they were going to win that game. I just say, you any doubt I had was erased.
because they were rolling and they broke through. So that was a great win. I think in many ways more impressive than the first win. You're playing Buffalo and we don't know where Buffalo's at league wise, we'll see. But I don't think they played badly. Yes, that's true, that's true. But I think a lot of us expected them to be improved and I think they actually did look like pretty good competitors. It's hard to say when you haven't played anyone else and nobody's played them.
Chris (03:16.887)
Last place reservation right now, just saying.
Bobby (03:18.638)
That's right. They are the worst team in the NHL.
Dan (03:31.289)
But I was super impressed with these two games, the way they did it. Total change from the preseason where so disorganized, so many defensive mistakes. Instead, I saw a team that was firing on all cylinders. Just amazing. Some of these pickups, we got beautiful goals. Casey and Cotter, and it was just like, they're even prettier than I thought.
I mean, I didn't think we were gonna get goals like that. That one over the blocker by Cotter, that was just amazing. And just to see all the principals playing well, know, Brad has had so many great chances figured in on a lot of plays. Hugh's doing amazing things. know, Meyer doing what we want Meyer to do. And just all around, just such a great performance top to bottom.
Chris (04:06.735)
Sure was.
Chris (04:18.489)
It-
Chris (04:22.629)
It's so much I want to get into. But what about you, Bobby? Your initial takes?
Dan (04:24.473)
Yeah.
Bobby (04:26.744)
So my initial takes are, don't quite know how this team made it appear like they've been playing together in these units for years after just a few more days of practice. talked, you we had our episode about the preseason, right? And Chris and I, we were, you know, down on them for a reason. It's not, it was never out of the realm of possibilities that it was just preseason. They were going to put it all together. That was certainly possible. And we even tried to mention that.
Chris (04:44.153)
concerned.
Bobby (04:54.686)
Nobody would see them putting it together this well this looked midseason like bend together forever Everything was gelling. I just all phases of the games like you mentioned, right? They're offensive game their defensive game the goal tending the way they were supporting each other the fact that here's what's funny after the I'm watching the first game and I watched it late and I was gonna text Chris after the second period the first game I had said that Buffalo and the Devils were gonna split, you know, I was like I'm looking for a reason to give
Buffalo some credit, they are an improved team from last year, I'm sure. And I just was looking at a world where are we really going to win three in a row through Toronto or are we going to do like a two in one? So I went ahead and said that they're going to split this for a few reasons. After the second period, I was about to text Chris. They're not even in our league. We're going to take both of these. This is not the same. Then Buffalo had a very encouraging third period for them. And I was like, no, I was right to pick what I want. This team's going to come after us tomorrow.
They did, they got the first goal and then from there, this was just a team. They played a better game than they played the first game. System wise, just everything. was just clean. It was tight. We got a few of our other big guys to score. the effort, every new person on this team has already put their stamp on this team in the way that they do what they do. I mean, that Nason goal.
Chris (06:01.047)
I thought so too.
Dan (06:04.174)
Mm-hmm.
Dan (06:08.397)
The effort was there, something we didn't see in the preseason,
Chris (06:11.651)
All 60 minutes.
Bobby (06:21.326)
Is it exact if that's exactly what you're going to get from nascent and it was a beautiful thing and credit 100 % to Andre Palat started that whole thing was board battle that's the guy we want to see from Andre Palat so the lines were beautifully set you saw a guy like Carter that I can't stop talking about get to the opportunity to move up to the third line because plot went home to see his kid right and what you do just more of the same magic this guy's just incredible you can see how we can easily throw him up to the second line if we need it so.
I mean, that's more than just a hot take. get it. But it's just so many facets of this team are working right. Mercer looked awesome. Like he just belongs exactly where he is. He's home. He's got his contract. And this year's just looking great.
Chris (06:53.646)
No, I ain't.
Chris (07:04.485)
I can just pretty much reiterate everything you guys said. My biggest hot take is I personally, this is like a hot take to me, will never again overreact about preseason because these guys have proved that, I guess it just doesn't matter. We talked on the last show, Dan, flip a switch. Can they flip the switch? Well, answer is yes, they absolutely can.
Bobby (07:16.546)
You
Dan (07:22.33)
That's right. Yeah, it looked like a tall order, but they flipped that switch in retrospect now quite easily, right? I mean, the effort was really the thing that seemed like it was lacking. Maybe there was a little bit of fucking around. I mean, I don't really know what goes into their mindset in preseason.
Chris (07:31.342)
I mean...
Chris (07:42.095)
I think there was probably a lot of have to do with just the new system which you saw kind of in display and I agree with you guys I thought they played a better game today than they did on Friday I thought it was a more complete game you look at what Buffalo had I mean I don't even know what their scoring high high danger scoring chances were if they had any in this game everything was to the outside they
Dan (07:48.185)
Mmm.
Chris (08:05.849)
did a phenomenal job with getting pucks out not many times at all where Buffalo had us hemmed in where you just thought, fuck, it's been two minutes now, our D is exhausted, they're gonna score on us. Buffalo scores first this game last year, team scores first and the floodgates open, we fall apart, they didn't miss a beat, they just kept playing their game. I was on the phone with Tony early this morning.
and we were bullshitting and I had said to him, dude, Seamus Casey is a dog. I said this kid, like I was, cause after game one, I went and I started watching some highlights from University of Michigan. This guy is a puck handling, you know, a wizard. mean, I just, some of the shit that he did and then on his goal just to dangle that puck.
Dan (08:40.824)
Yeah.
Bobby (08:41.442)
My God. Yep.
Chris (09:02.927)
broke his ankles and then roofed it past Levi for the first goal. I was so happy for him. And the same thing like he said with the Cotter goal. I mean that was beautiful. And then Brendan Dillon with that monster hit in the first period.
Bobby (09:10.754)
What beautiful move. mean, subtle but absolutely perfect. Yeah.
Dan (09:12.311)
yeah, that little fake there, so good.
Dan (09:17.625)
Great hands coming in with speed to lift it like that
Bobby (09:23.02)
sewing tight.
Chris (09:28.047)
dropping the gloves, like this is everything that we haven't seen. You talked about the naysing goal from game one, right? Just crashing the net, being a pain in the ass to play against. And I think that this team, like I texted you guys earlier, like, or it might've just been you, Bob, I don't know, but like, when this team gets into mid-season form, they're gonna be unstoppable. And the best thing about these two games, guys, we don't have a goaltender.
We have two and this is really, really impressive. Where if Jake Allen can pop in and get you 20, 25 legit solid starts this year, I mean, this is just really shaping up.
Dan (09:58.745)
Seriously, Alan was solid. Yep.
Bobby (10:11.438)
against a goalie in Levi that was dealing like he was on today. And you wouldn't know that there was no dejection in this team. It was just business as usual. They knew they were going to come through and they did. And Jake Allen held the fort until we did. It was very impressive.
Dan (10:25.633)
And going back to game one too, Markstrom, it's like, holy shit, some of those saves he made, especially that magical one with the paddle, that was amazing. so he's like, that's a big money goaltender there. Definitely.
Bobby (10:34.35)
Yeah, I want to talk about that. Yeah, I want to talk about that.
Chris (10:37.581)
When you have every person in the national hockey, like the national media, the national NHL media saying, there's been one game played and we already have possibly a save of the year candidate right here, that's impressive.
Dan (10:53.207)
Yeah. Hell yeah.
Bobby (10:53.934)
Do you remember when we were talking about Marks from specifically when I came back around on him and you guys like why give me one reason I said because he's he makes the saves he's literally not supposed to make there is no better example he did it on day one like who knows what happens that game if it goes in maybe we still win maybe we don't I don't know but it didn't and again if he does that just you know once every 10 games you know what mean like does that projected three four more wins over the course of a year.
Chris (10:58.789)
You're Mr. High Danger. Yep.
Chris (11:20.591)
Yeah.
Bobby (11:23.874)
I don't really know. All I know is that's exactly what I'm talking about. He had no business making that save. Was it lucky? I don't know. Was it a guess? I don't know, but he made it. No, his body movement was definitely planned to do something, obviously, but was it still lucky? You know what mean? I don't know.
Chris (11:29.637)
Now, I don't think it...
Dan (11:38.041)
I mean, was it the way he likes to make saves? Obviously not. But I mean, to have that scramble in you to do that, to make the crazy save when you need to is what you're looking for in that elite goaltender. So the Devils look like they have that elite goaltender. That doesn't mean he stops every shot or he wins every game, but boy does it look like an improvement, an upgrade that we all as Devils fans got to be super excited about.
Chris (12:00.065)
Absolutely Well before we dive into the rest of our Show tonight, we're let's do a breakdown and you know, this is the stat lines of a game one and game two So like we know game one Friday Prague At the O2 arena attendance there was sixteen thousand nine hundred and thirteen. I got a nice crowd New Jersey, we know wins four to one first period Yeah, there were I
Bobby (12:00.27)
100 % 100 %
Dan (12:23.353)
A lot of Devils fans there too, right? I mean, I think we had the majority, it sounded like to me.
Chris (12:27.427)
I really did dig that whole facet of Sabre fans with the goat hats on. Did you guys see them? Those were cool. If I was a Buffalo Sabre fan, absolutely be rocking that goat hat. So first period, 839, the first goal of the 24-25 New Jersey Devils season goes to newly reacquired Stepan Nasin his first of the year from newly acquired Kovacevich. You're going to hear newly acquired a lot through this stat line.
Dan (12:33.239)
Right, right. Very cool.
Bobby (12:33.644)
Yeah, yep.
Dan (12:38.551)
Yeah, they gotta do that.
Bobby (12:38.562)
I'd wear a goat head. Sure.
Chris (12:55.013)
1538 of the first period not made it one nothing Kovacewicz gets on the board himself his first of the year from Seigenthaler and Mercer two nothing Devils we rolling in a second period Yeah, Kovacewiczkin At 329 of the second El Capitan gets his first of the year from Nate Bastion and newly acquired Paul Cotter made it to
Bobby (13:04.142)
Kovachkin. Got to love hearing that already. That is funny. Come on now. It's great.
Dan (13:16.473)
That's so important too, right? To get the captain, you know, I mean, he always plays well. To see him up on the score sheet so early in the season, that's a win for the Devils,
Chris (13:19.393)
Absolutely.
Chris (13:25.957)
And then that's the other thing about game two that I thought like the lines themselves Just I thought much more productive all four I mean the fourth line really didn't get a ton of ice time today, but I think a lot of that was with you know What's this McDermott in there and not caught her down there? So now it's three nothing Devils They're in total control this thing third period 1007 Buffalo does get on the board Owen Powers gets his first from Petreka and Byron
Bobby (13:36.962)
Little different makeup.
McDermott. Yeah.
Chris (13:53.061)
But the Devils weren't done. 17-28, newly acquired Paul Cotter, empty net goal his first of the year from Nate Bastian. Shots on goal, New Jersey in game one had 23, Buffalo had 31. 25 hits apiece. We did not do good in face-offs on Friday. We won 25 for 42.4%, Buffalo won 34 for 57.6%. We were all chalked on the power play, both teams. Blocks, Devils had 18 blocks, Buffalo had 15.
Devils had two takeaways to Buffalo's five giveaways. This was something I thought was, Devils had 22 giveaways in that game. Buffalo had 12. Ula Pekalukonin made 19 saves on 22 shots, allowed three goals for an 8-6-4 save percentage, and newly acquired Jacob Marks from 30 saves on 31 shots allowed one goal for a .968 save percentage. That's a damn good stat line.
Dan (14:48.633)
Beautiful.
Bobby (14:48.856)
Beautiful, beautiful. That's a great stat line, yep.
Dan (14:52.012)
Yeah.
Chris (14:54.361)
That Doc Kovacevic played a fantastic game one. I thought he played great in this game today too, but I loved everything that I saw. I loved everything I saw from every new player. It was like every guy that is new to this lineup was like, now it's my turn. Now it's my time. Hey, devil fans, look what I can do. Look what this guy can do. It was awesome.
Bobby (15:05.514)
Absolutely.
Bobby (15:12.738)
I got to tell you, mean, we are literally going from a year of defensive liability to riches. We have a problem with how good our defenses and the two people that aren't even playing yet. This is going to be really interesting to see who sits.
Chris (15:23.599)
Depth. So deep.
Dan (15:28.641)
Right?
Chris (15:30.263)
And well, that's the thing. Like, well, let's do the stat line for game two and then let's jump onto that because you're 100 % right. Like we have a, we have a, we have a Seamus Casey problem. That's our problem. Yeah. So game two today is the same place. O2 arena, a little few more people rolled in for Saturday's contest. 16,722 New Jersey ends up winning this game three to one first period. Bob, you want to give me your best, UC Saros impression?
Bobby (15:34.284)
Yes, finish this up.
Dan (15:38.349)
It is a happy problem, Yeah.
Bobby (15:41.262)
We have a major shameless Casey problem.
Bobby (15:59.8)
I'm sorry I don't do impressions. No ghosts. Sorry. Yeah I need a bigger queue. It's late.
Chris (16:02.002)
I was expecting no goals. But that's alright. That's alright, Bob. Next time, we'll work on that.
Second period at 818 Tate Thompson gets on for Buffalo. They score first his first of the year. That was from Greenway and tuck But that was it for Buffalo because New Jersey just kept it going 1159 the aforementioned Seamus Casey gets the Devils the first power play goal of the year his first of the year from Eric Holla and Stefan Naesen rolling to the third period 718 Paul Cotter again, we're gonna be hearing this guy's name a lot this year I think this was his second of the year. That was from Jack
Bobby (16:35.74)
you will.
Chris (16:39.277)
and then at 14-14, Timo gets on the board with his first of the year from Brat and Jack. Shots on this game, Devils 36, Buffalo 18. That is team defense to the highest degree right there. Hits, New Jersey had 13, Buffalo had 25. They did out hit us, but I think we got the ones that mattered the most, especially that Brendan Dillon one.
Faceoffs, New Jersey was a ton better. They won 33 today for 64.7 % mostly thanks to Nico Hescher. To Buffalo's 18, they were at 35.3%. Devils went one for four on the power play. Buffalo went zero, for two. Devils blocked 22 shots today. Buffalo blocked 10. Takeaways, five New Jersey, four for Buffalo. Giveaways again, New Jersey 26. Buffalo 17. Devin Levi.
made 34 saves on 37 shots for a 919 save percentage and Jake Allen was stellar 17 saves on 18 shots for a 944 save percentage. So that's it for the two games guys. We have two goalies with over nine save percentages. We hadn't seen that in a while.
Dan (17:42.499)
Yeah.
the goaltenders were great. The defense was even better somehow and that's what allowed the goalies to be so good. It was amazing. Did you guys notice like, I don't know the Buffalo roster well enough to say a hundred percent like I would notice with the Devils, but I thought I saw the Lindy Boggle machine going. They were mixing up their lines a lot, even in the first game. And I was like, Holy shit. Like what? No wonder. Yeah.
Bobby (17:46.062)
So let me.
Chris (18:02.845)
Dan, it was about six minutes... It was about six minutes into game one. The lines were completely in a fucking blender. And it was...
Bobby (18:03.127)
I am.
Bobby (18:12.728)
How nice has it been just for two games to have the consistency we've had?
Dan (18:17.386)
And to see him doing that to a different team, not our team.
Chris (18:19.109)
Yeah, and but like you said, he didn't like Keith kept it steady. There was no panic even your down one nothing. There was no panic and there's none of this this I think that this Meyer Hughes brat line is going to end up being a fantastic line. Yeah, go ahead.
Bobby (18:37.154)
Yeah. I want to hit on that real quick because just speaking specifically of Timo's goal, I'm glad that the whole line got on the board, right? Jack with the nice assist. The Timo goal, was a power forward goal, right? He's just coming down. He's crashing in that hard all because Bratt is just streaking down the wing, getting people chasing him, opens them up. Like it's a beautiful thing and there's no reason why those three can't perform that kind of magic all the time. So very excited about that. Yes.
Dan (19:00.813)
They all played to their strengths on that, right? That play was like that each of their key abilities in one play. Yeah. Yep.
Chris (19:05.823)
Absolutely. Yep. yeah, from behind the, yeah, he got the puck up and made a beautiful pass up the boards to Brad who, you know, did the heavy lifting on that goal.
Bobby (19:06.695)
Jack started the play actually right? He passed it up off the boards.
Dan (19:15.873)
wrap, yeah, and then the wrap around, you know, like the beautiful hands. And if that don't work, don't worry, Myers streaking in. Yeah.
Bobby (19:21.409)
Stringer right down the middle. Yep.
Chris (19:22.115)
Yep. And my fourth talking point here on my bullet point stand that I have written in number four, Keith sticking with lines in quotations, Lindy mixing up lines six minutes into game one is exactly what I wrote. So.
Dan (19:29.879)
Yes, exactly.
Dan (19:35.095)
And that's what I didn't get to. Like, I get it when you're down, you know, you expect any good coach to try to shake up lines from time to time. They weren't even down. And it was like, how are they supposed to get anything going? And it was just so nice and relieving to see it happen to somebody other than us.
Bobby (19:43.414)
No, it's.
Bobby (19:50.614)
I need help with two things Chris we went perfect on the penalty kill two games, right? Okay, perfectly the penalty kill and then we're what one for like eight on the power play or one for seven one for seven Alright, so we get a second one. We're 20 something percent now. I was driving for the first two periods I was like I had the fortune of listen to Chico and Matt. Alright, so was enjoying that driving in I have a question on
Chris (19:54.649)
Yes, PK has been great. Seven, seven, had three.
Dan (20:00.473)
They had quite a few in game two,
Chris (20:10.009)
nice. six, six. We're one for six on the power play. We had two yesterday, four today. So I'm sorry, go ahead.
Dan (20:17.945)
So that's like 18%.
Bobby (20:18.072)
Gotcha. Buffalo's first goal. Matt and Chico were definitely describing it as the puck was underneath his leg and like the stick and leg were pushed in with the puck. And he said years ago, that would not have been a goal, but NHL wants more goals now and they let it. Was it one of those ones where you kind of push the whole leg in?
Chris (20:22.126)
Okay.
Dan (20:32.289)
Yeah, I agree.
Dan (20:39.053)
Yes, it wasn't like so blatant like this guy shoveling him in there. They were stabbing away at it. So, but I get it. I totally agree. This would have been blown dead earlier. It would have been, you know, disallowed on, you know, viewing of any ref or on replay that it was pushed in, but not anymore.
Chris (20:39.201)
If
Chris (20:57.667)
I'll go a step further though. I think that Sheldon Keefe would have won the challenge if he would have challenged that play. I think so, but I also think at the same time, it's a 50-50 chance. They called it a goal on the ice. So you got to have, of course, undisputable evidence that he covered it, that the guy pushed the pad in and you're up by three goals. Do you really want to give them? If you lose the challenge, they have a goal. Now you're going on a penalty kill.
Bobby (21:03.522)
Really? Okay.
Dan (21:03.693)
He might've, he might've.
Bobby (21:12.862)
overwhelming.
Dan (21:25.037)
Right. And it was a confused looking play too.
Bobby (21:25.742)
I like the confidence to not do it. get what you're saying. Like we can, we got this. Don't worry about it. It should happens. Yep.
Chris (21:26.213)
I get, you know, yeah, the trust and we got this exactly. It's one goal. Yeah, we're going to win the game and that's all that matters. I do like that. but they were right. It could have been called back.
Dan (21:40.643)
Yeah, tying goal in the third period. think you're going to see him challenge that one because you don't have much to lose. Just go for it. But yeah, I get it. There was a lot of game left to play. But I think today's NHL, I would be surprised if they didn't allow that. They seem to like that. I've seen goalies pushed in. know, the puck clearly frozen. I've seen that happen in the last five, seven years, whatever.
Chris (22:00.036)
Yeah?
Chris (22:04.409)
You know, the one thing that I noticed a little bit more in this game, and I think that we're going to really see this accelerate throughout the season, but the new guys that we have, right? And it's not just this guy's a good skater or, know, everybody brings their own thing. And all of the newer guys, you know, you're talking about Nason and Cotter and Dillon, like these are all tough guys. And they do the dirty work. They do the things that a lot of
quote unquote superstars don't like to do, right? They crashed in that they block shots.
Bobby (22:35.778)
You really feel watching them. absolutely want to win every single game, every shift, every period. Like they literally want to do that.
Chris (22:44.033)
And I noticed today, and let me know if you guys did, a lot of our guys who aren't known for that stuff or that type of play, they were doing it. They were doing it. Dougie Hamilton. Yeah, Dougie getting frisky, giving a few guys the business. Shimon Nemitz dropping down, blocking shots. Like it's only the second game of the year. It sometimes takes a little while.
Dan (22:51.533)
Yes, it's infectious. Yes. I think Mercer looked a lot tougher. Absolutely.
Bobby (22:54.552)
Get us.
Dan (23:00.088)
Yeah.
Dan (23:04.32)
yeah.
Chris (23:09.081)
But these guys, know, fuck the new guys doing it. I got to do I've been here two years, three years, whatever. And they're all kind of following each other. And it's like, it's only a matter time until the top six really starts clicking. And this team becomes an absolute pain in the ass to play night in and night out because it really does look like guys, I think we got I think we got something special here.
Bobby (23:32.11)
Time will definitely tell if we look back on this offseason and say, crap, all the right moves were pulled. Kind of like a 2000. Just enough new changes coming in there. I mean, I'm not anointing them Stanley Cup champions, of course. It's very hard to do. But the way these guys fit in, to your point, is incredible. It really is.
Dan (23:33.399)
Yeah.
Chris (23:40.771)
Mm-hmm.
Chris (23:52.389)
Yeah. And I just think they're going to do, you know, they're going to get so much better and you know, every game is going to be in, like you said, they're not going to go 82 and we know this. there's going to be peaks and valleys throughout the season, but I just think the style that they play also will allow them when they hit those, those valleys and things aren't going great, that it all doesn't have to be on Jack and Nico.
It's like, you know, well, when are they going to take over? When are they going to start leading this team? It's like, no, guys, it's spread out now. You don't have to be.
Bobby (24:19.534)
Yeah.
Dan (24:24.385)
And the depth, if you pick up a couple injuries, look at the defensive depth. I know you want to get into that, but the fact that we were so concerned because two huge guys go down on our defense and our defense has never looked better. I mean, they look, they not only they fit right in, they, led the team. Like you said, they, they made other defensemen who were there last year look better, play better, you know.
Chris (24:28.768)
my God. Yeah, let's do it.
Chris (24:48.823)
And what do you do now? okay, so Pesci is probably going to play on Thursday. So it looks like Brett Pesci will be in the lineup against Toronto. At least that's what everybody's saying. So now if he's in, does Kovacevic come out and you keep Casey on with him? What do you think?
Bobby (25:09.706)
well.
Chris (25:11.685)
Because I don't think either one of these guys should be taken out of the lineup, but you have to. Our best defenseman is coming back. And then we haven't even gotten into what happens around Thanksgiving when Luke is finally healthy. Like this is an embarrassment of Richards, like you said, and we also have a lot of guys, you know, still in the pipeline. Like this defensive core should be top of the NHL for the next 10 years. Really should. But like, what are we going to do with this? Like, are you going to send Seamus Casey down? Like, how do you do that now?
Dan (25:17.827)
Yes.
Bobby (25:36.814)
You
Dan (25:40.131)
think that's what they're gonna do and that's crazy but I mean that might be the only like the best move. I don't know.
Bobby (25:41.036)
You know, I think, yeah.
Bobby (25:47.438)
I don't, yeah, I agree. Listen, mean, Fitzgerald's on record saying as much as he loved Nemec, he did not want to lose a year of service from him last year. Just from the long-term business aspect of this, he would have preferred to not have to use them. So as good as Casey is to get burned on that twice, unless you've got something else up your sleeve, like, because you're talking moving somebody at this point. Like Kova Sevick, I...
thought was going to be basically our seventh man and I thought Casey just you know he would get some looks and probably still be in a minor so now Kova Sevik and I'm not talking about his goal and assist you know maybe he goes the rest of the year and doesn't score again I just the rest of the way he plays it was great and he's a huge body so I think long term as much as I hate it I think Casey logically goes down but I would give by November I would start giving some serious thought
Chris (26:26.149)
Yeah, that doesn't matter yet.
Dan (26:36.845)
Right. Because you still own him. You still have him.
Bobby (26:41.344)
into thinking which one of our defensemen we can move out to make this easier. And even though he's playing well so far and he played well two years ago with Dougie Hamilton, the name that always comes up is Seigenthaler. He's got a very desirable contract for any team that wants a middle defenseman. It's very affordable. He's doing his job. I mean, to think of the defensemen that we can have patrolling this blue line now and three years from now, it...
Chris (26:51.269)
seeks.
Dan (26:58.359)
Yeah, I agree. He's the natural choice if you're going to move.
Bobby (27:08.718)
I literally, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but it could literally project to the best defense I've ever seen.
Chris (27:13.803)
I mean, you know who Seamus Casey reminded me of these first two games? I might be like, I might be a little out of my depth on this one, but I just, I'm watching this kid and I'm like, holy shit, is that 28? Is that Brian Rafalski out there? He fucking looks like Rafalski. Yeah, not Meyer, no. He, I mean, Rafalski was a little bit bigger, not much, but Seamus is a little dude. He's like maybe an inch or so taller than I am, but the skating.
Bobby (27:28.046)
I was hoping you gonna Raphalski, yeah. Skates like him, yeah.
Chris (27:42.415)
The puck work, know, the stick handling, that this guy, it's like, I'm like, this is fucking Brian Rafalski.
Dan (27:44.717)
Yeah, great vision of ice.
Bobby (27:47.714)
And think about what they said today too on the broadcast they mentioned how the plan was for Casey to quarterback power play number two and that's where he quote unquote belongs and that is literally Luke Hughes's spot when he comes back. So I mean it's a great problem to have like you said but I mean what are they going to do?
Chris (27:54.615)
I did.
Chris (28:00.334)
I know.
How did Michigan not win the NCAA championship with those two boys on their blue line? That's crazy to me that they still lost that thing. But yeah, mean, I guess you're right, Dan. I guess you would send Sheamus Casey down. He's a rookie. Right. And I think Kovacevich being the seventh defenseman, think Nick DiSimone just is shit out of luck right now. I wouldn't be surprised.
Dan (28:20.299)
It's more the business angle of it than anything else.
Dan (28:29.357)
Which is a shame because he was a highlight from last year. He really was.
Bobby (28:30.446)
Right. But he's also flexible with this 775,000 you sit and you play on. Yeah and. And it's not just. I don't like to be so wrong to say it's just business but the reality is with this team again we've we talked about we've touched on it some of the contract issues we can already foresee coming up now we you know we had our battle with Mercer which leaves us with under a million.
Chris (28:32.43)
Yeah, he had it.
Chris (28:36.632)
Right.
Dan (28:36.849)
absolutely. Business wise, it makes sense. I'm just saying like, you he played his heart out. That's not what this is about. Yeah.
Sure, no it is though.
Bobby (28:57.688)
for the trade at like, that's all we have under the cap. have $900,000 and you need room for that. And then other people still have to get paid. Luke Hughes literally gets paid next year and NEMEC the year after that.
Chris (29:07.991)
And you know, it's crazy though when you look at this team and how it's built right now and you project to March in the trade deadline. And if this team stays the way it is as far as health wise, you're not making you're you're standing pat. You're standing pat. If if anything, maybe you're. Right, or or like you said, Bob, maybe you dump Seagand dollar and you pick up some draft capital or whatever, because you don't need any more players right now.
Dan (29:19.651)
hell you want. Yeah. I mean, if you have a major injury, that's about it. You're trying to look to replace somebody that's
Bobby (29:20.59)
Yeah, what are you gonna get? Here you are.
Chris (29:36.835)
Like you don't need anyone else, know that you have guys on defense, somebody goes down, two guys go down, which is obvious of what we've seen. And I still feel like if a third guy went down, we would still be okay. It really is scary.
Bobby (29:49.526)
If this team is so prepared to stand patch should that come and other teams want to make trades with the devils, it pushes the other teams into overpaying.
Chris (29:59.813)
Yep. I mean it did.
Dan (29:59.927)
Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, you're definitely in the seller's seat there. Yeah.
Chris (30:04.441)
this has been really a joy these first two games like it really could not have asked for this team to look any better than they did I mean it was they don't I mean yeah Buffalo played a lot better this game and Levi was playing great but you just kind of felt it like it didn't matter like you know they still only had 18 shots 19 shots on goal like it just didn't even when they scored first I was like this it's okay no we'll be fine
Bobby (30:29.836)
It did not feel like last year. That whole one no them, nothing.
Dan (30:31.033)
And you were right, did, most of the shots were low danger shots. That was the only play where Buffalo penetrated, got through and they got the reward. know, they got the ugly goal, you know, cramming it into the net. By the only time they really had numbers down in our, you know, crease area. And so to keep that, just that one instance, which is exactly what you want to see from the Devils, much bigger test up ahead though.
Chris (30:35.246)
Right.
Chris (30:47.246)
Right?
Chris (30:56.131)
Yeah, Toronto is gonna be tough. We're gonna talk about that, but first we'll do a little housekeeping here. Touchdown, Tuddy, taking it to the house, whatever you call it, touchdown, which I got a nice early, I did say Tuddy. I don't call it a Tuddy either. I call it a touchdown. It's on here though, so I read it because I do as I'm told. So you can, all of you, do, I need that 35 cents split four ways.
Bobby (30:56.882)
for sure.
Dan (31:07.065)
Did you say tutty?
Bobby (31:08.076)
I do not call it a tutty. I don't ever want to hear that again.
Dan (31:10.76)
Touch me.
Dan (31:16.217)
Okay, hot toddy.
Bobby (31:18.36)
They own us.
Dan (31:23.033)
Ha
Chris (31:25.411)
They matter more on DraftKings Sportsbook, that's Touchdowns or Tutties, an official Sportsbook partner of the NHL. And when you win big with DraftKings, you can do a touchdown dance of your own. Dan has the best touchdown dance. Remind me before... Remind me before we get done tonight to tell this story I heard today that Pete Rose told about Joe DiMaggio. It is a fantastic story and I want to share it with you guys.
Dan (31:38.955)
It really is good, it's like the truffle shuffle.
Bobby (31:42.542)
Hmph.
Dan (31:52.825)
All right.
Chris (31:54.415)
So score big with DraftKings Sportsbook, the number one place to bet touchdowns. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code THPN. That's code THPN. New customers can get $250 in bonus bets when you bet just five bucks. I'm reading the wrong one. Yeah, it doesn't matter. Gambler problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call, what?
Dan (32:09.291)
It sounded right to me.
Bobby (32:10.286)
Bum bum bum bum.
Dan (32:13.593)
There goes our 35 cents. There goes our 35 cents.
Chris (32:18.607)
Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8HOPENY or text HOPENY in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort. 21 plus age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction avoid in Ontario. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, visit dkng.co slash FTBALL. Draft King Sportsbook.
THPN, the crown is yours.
Bobby (32:49.858)
mean I can read whatever I want to or now I'm going to give our friends over a better help who are sponsoring us a proper read. So, hey, listen, you know, I want to be an astronomer when I grew up. I really wanted to try that, but my high school guidance counselor shot that down real quick. Yes, sir. It turns out I wanted to study the stars, but not the math. So, you know, that didn't really work out. The point is I was curious and wanted to try it because that curiosity drove me.
Chris (32:51.673)
Go for it. Make it up. here's the one I was supposed to read. Okay.
Dan (33:08.025)
You're always looking at your anus.
Bobby (33:20.014)
But I'm sad to say as an adult, sometimes that youthful curiosity fades away. If you're having trouble managing your life in a way that makes you feel like you have time for yourself, like you did as a kid, maybe therapy can help. Therapy is not just for traumatic events. It can help you manage your daily stresses and prioritize your life. If you've ever considered therapy, why not give BetterHelp a try? BetterHelp is entirely online and built to fit your schedule. You simply fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist. It could not be simpler.
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Chris (34:01.711)
Thank you, better help. I'm curious what Toronto's schedule is. So Toronto opens up the regular season on Wednesday against Montreal in Montreal, and then they fly down and or bust down and they play us on Thursday night. So they start the season with back to back. that's what I was curious about.
Bobby (34:17.976)
So, back to backs day one. Wow.
So what goal are we getting? A better one? I mean, you would think.
Chris (34:26.73)
Who are their goalies?
Dan (34:29.593)
I gotta look this up. don't know where they are.
Bobby (34:31.606)
I can do that.
Chris (34:32.351)
It's joseph wall, right? I think he's their number one. I don't know who their backup is
Dan (34:35.417)
Okay, yeah that sounds right.
Chris (34:40.323)
You checking on that, B?
Bobby (34:41.366)
I will pull it up. Just give me a second.
Chris (34:43.577)
Yeah, I'm curious who their backup was. Samsonoff, I think, went to... Where the hell did he go? Vegas or something? I don't know. Doesn't matter.
Bobby (34:52.93)
roster is up We have three goalies on their roster at least for now. We got Matt Murray Anthony Stoles are the Stoles ours stole ours stole ours. Yeah, and Joseph wall
Dan (34:59.257)
Alan.
Chris (35:00.163)
Matt Murray, okay.
Stolars is there?
Dan (35:06.094)
Yeah.
Chris (35:07.429)
Stolarz was Bob's backup last year, wasn't he?
Dan (35:09.203)
I got a couple others.
Bobby (35:13.994)
I'll check him. He's Edison, New Jersey boy. Yeah, I mean talking about you can't be much closer to the rock than that. Let me see. He was.
Dan (35:16.761)
Hex- Hexa?
Chris (35:16.837)
Stallars's? No shit.
No.
I thought he was Bobrowski's backup last year and I think this year they're going with
Dan (35:28.323)
They're showing like five in their roster, but yeah, it's Wallen and I thought it was Murray. Yeah, okay. So Wallen Stollers, but Murray's not gonna be playing. mean, he was a name.
Chris (35:33.39)
and stole ours.
Bobby (35:34.562)
having problem opening it up here.
Chris (35:36.517)
Yeah, because
I would probably guess that it would be, I mean for the first two, would expect Wall to play against Montreal and probably have Stoll-Arts against us on Thursday night.
Bobby (35:50.838)
Yeah, he was with the Panthers last year, Anaheim three, four years before that. And then Edmonton before that and the Flyers before that. Yeah.
Dan (35:51.193)
Stoller's a big boy. 6'6".
Chris (35:53.22)
Mm-hmm.
Chris (35:59.235)
Okay, so that stole ours. so out of the, whose jersey are you buying, guys? Whose jersey? Who's impressed you enough? I know this is just for shits and giggles, but whose jersey are you buying?
Bobby (36:01.432)
That's still ours.
Dan (36:12.441)
Okay, so.
Bobby (36:16.952)
So I'll start. mean, I listen Markstrom. There's something about what I see watching him, how I feel like he's literally ready to take over this team and be that backbone. We sorely need nothing against Jake Allen. He's just, he's just a little better. However, yeah. However, I
Dan (36:33.099)
I'm with you, Bob. I get it. It just feels like we got what we want with that goaltender.
Chris (36:38.725)
I'm still saying Markstrom's winning the Veznas this year. I'm telling you.
Bobby (36:42.186)
I know you've been on that before anybody. I'll give you that. I only have one. I've got like six or seven Devils jerseys. I've only got one with a name on it and I haven't even worn it yet. And that's the stadium series, Jack Hughes jersey. Right. It's the only name I've ever put. just, not a big fan of putting names on jerseys until, you know, you kind of know where they're going with this. And I cannot picture myself grabbing a Markstrom jersey before having a Brodor jersey. That just doesn't feel right to me. There are some defensive guys like that too, and some offense.
Dan (36:44.4)
He's off to a great start with that safe percentage.
Chris (36:46.853)
Hmm.
Dan (37:08.345)
Well, I got one for you.
Chris (37:09.984)
I got a brod door one for you.
Bobby (37:12.076)
But there's a couple guys that I would consider. That's a beautiful thing. I know I'm potentially overhyping, but I'm thinking maybe number 47. I mean, if you're talking, that's your game, right? You text us about like so far based on these two games, what would you do?
Dan (37:12.227)
Yeah, my side.
Chris (37:14.583)
Ooh, my Stevens is signed. Sorry, go ahead.
Chris (37:25.305)
Yeah, you gonna go Paul Cotter?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now know you're not gonna really go out and buy it, but whose jersey are you buying?
Bobby (37:34.442)
Right. Yeah, that's that's Rob based on these two games. It's it's cotter and not just because of how silky and lethal his hands actually are. But again, he's one of those guys love the way he plays. This is going to like you're going to see this just help us all year long, whether he's scoring or not. So right now it's forty seven for me.
Dan (37:36.077)
Right, if you could order one right now for free, what would you get?
Chris (37:39.631)
Right.
Chris (37:55.065)
How about you, Dan?
Dan (37:55.193)
love the way he plays. Well, immediately Marksman jumped out at me because when I was wondering, when Bob said it, I said maybe it's just me because I got the goalie bias thing. But like, it's so great that he's here with us. So like that would be the first thing that jumps out at me. But you know, are we talking about just the new guys? Is that what we're saying? Yeah.
Bobby (38:13.91)
No? we were?
Chris (38:14.253)
Yeah, well no, no, no, it doesn't have to be the new guys, whoever, whatever you saw in the first two games, whose jersey are you saying? Alright, I'm gonna go, I'm buying this one. Yeah.
Dan (38:21.145)
I mean, know, Casey was a lot of fun just looking at those. That's not a bad answer either. But, you know, to go to somebody that there are a lot of these jerseys, but I've always had some questions about, I'm just feeling so good about Nico as captain this year. I feel like he's got a coach that has a system that he can now lead with. I think he's got another year of experience, been through some ups and downs and he's lead by example. He's always played hard. He's playing hard and getting results in these first two games.
Bobby (38:22.04)
Casey was a close second for me. I tell you.
Chris (38:35.756)
Okay.
Dan (38:50.169)
And maybe this is a year that like I go from, gee, I don't know, is Nico the kind of captain we really want to saying, yeah, Nico's our captain. You know, there's been a lot of buy-in from other people, but.
Chris (38:58.927)
Yeah.
Bobby (38:58.978)
We have all slowly, we have all slowly gone north of that since like three years ago when we did some early shows. We, so you're little behind the curve. Okay.
Dan (39:04.173)
Yeah, I think I've been late to that. I think I've been late to, you know, well, you know, I definitely would, Nico. I think I've had some, you know, misgivings here and there about, you know, but he's got a grittier team around them. I think that's going to help him a lot. I think he's got better coaching and a better coaching system to help him. And he's always been such a good guy that he never stood out as the problem. But I'm thinking these new pieces that we have between coaching and players are going to allow him to be
the best captain he can be. So I'm hoping that he has the best possible years. Maybe I'll even get a Niko jersey.
Chris (39:39.365)
I have a Niko jersey. I do, I do. I have the old Adidas one. It was one of our years, I think it was his rookie year and a couple of our bar reps were dropping some stuff off and there was a Heatshirt jersey in there. So I took it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Bobby (39:39.534)
Good one.
Dan (39:40.985)
You do? that's great.
Dan (39:53.613)
Damn, that's amazing. I see some cool stuff from bar reps, but a Nico jersey? That's really cool. Yeah.
Bobby (39:55.224)
Why not?
Chris (39:59.907)
Yeah, it was for like giveaways. think it was for a Super Bowl giveaway or something that we were doing for a Super Bowl party. So I took it.
Dan (40:04.515)
Mm-hmm. Sweet.
Bobby (40:06.936)
You know what's so funny? Like I talk about the fact that again, I've never had a name in the back of my hockey jersey. I've been a fan for like 30 years. The minute I got one, was texting Chris. I'm like, all right, I got this Ilias one I want to get when he was wearing the green with the St. Patrick's Day hat. Like now all of a sudden I just want like all my favorite play because I realized how cool it looks.
Chris (40:18.307)
Hahaha!
Dan (40:24.633)
I know if I could have got an older one, I think I'd go back and get a Claude Demutier's. You know, that's just so cool, you know, definitely.
Chris (40:24.845)
I have.
Chris (40:28.781)
Yeah, that's a nice one. I have the Heritage Brodor from that season. have a Framed Sign Stevens. I have a Niko. I think that's all the ones I have with names. no, I have a Jack Stadium Series one too, same as you, Bob. No, because I had the Heesher one, so I got a Jack. Tony got Niko.
Bobby (40:28.989)
That can be done!
Bobby (40:48.566)
got he sure for that for some reason you got jack too all right right got Meyer
Chris (40:55.501)
Because he bought Meyer and then we got Jack so he got Nico.
Bobby (40:58.904)
Gotcha.
Dan (40:59.565)
Now you got Stevens to sign your jersey? you? What did you? Okay,
Chris (41:02.467)
This I didn't get him to sign it, but I think I told this story one of my old customers was ex FBI and every year he did a big auction for families of 9-eleven and so he came in one day and he was like I No, no, it was it wasn't for the terrorists. It's the victims and so he's like we're doing our auction like
Dan (41:19.009)
Our side, right? Not the terrorist families. Okay, that's good. Yeah, I just want to make sure.
Chris (41:27.221)
Couple days he's like I have any he had some stuff from the devil's from the Rangers Nick's nets everything you know all these all the teams donated shitload of stuff and he's like I have a sign Game worn Stevens Jersey for auction. He goes do you want to put a bid on it? I was like Tony. I can't afford that man I'm like that thing's probably gonna be in well into like upper hundreds at least minimum I can think it may be even more like I was thinking over five six hundred for it
Dan (41:40.482)
No shit.
Dan (41:50.819)
Yeah.
Dan (41:54.361)
Sure.
Chris (41:55.267)
So I'm like, nah, I can't do it. He's like, I totally understand, no problem. The day after the auction, he walked into my restaurant and handed it to me. He's like, I got it for you. He's like, I can't believe nobody wanted this. It was all Ranger fans. So yeah, and he gave it to me. So I didn't actually get it signed, but it is signed.
Dan (42:02.253)
Wow, nobody bid on it. That's amazing. Yeah, right.
Bobby (42:10.158)
That's beautiful.
Dan (42:11.181)
This is a story of how you save 9-11 when you think about it.
Chris (42:13.765)
before we get more into hockey, I got to tell this. heard this great Pete Rose story today. Pete Rose was telling, this is a couple of years ago, and he was telling a story back in like the 60s or 70s and he was out doing like a USO tour out in Vietnam and he was with Joe DiMaggio and he said that we were sleeping in the hot-ass jungle and couldn't sleep and
Joe wakes up in the middle of the night and he goes, I fucking can't sleep in this place. I gotta go take a shower. So now Pete had to get up, Pete Rose had to get up because it was a two man shower. He goes, I had to pour the water in and then pull the chain and then he would take the shower. So I had to keep filling the thing up with warm water. Exactly. So he goes, and let me tell you something. He goes, I really feel bad for, felt bad for Marilyn Monroe.
Bobby (42:56.078)
Hmm. Right?
Dan (42:57.241)
8 in the ass.
It's like mash.
Chris (43:07.107)
And the guy goes, why'd you feel bad for Marilyn Monroe? He goes, because Joe DiMaggio was a penis with a man hanging off of it.
Dan (43:16.441)
don't know where, but I think I've heard this about DiMaggio before. I didn't hear that story, but I think I heard something about him. There's a couple people who famously get known for their size and their cocks. think Milton Berle is supposedly one of them. I've heard stories, which is kind of funny because he was old even when we were kids, Vaudeville Comic. Now I got a picture. guess he's... Yeah, but that's amazing. Huey Lewis, huh? I didn't...
Chris (43:17.805)
I just lost my headphones.
Bobby (43:21.422)
Chris (43:31.508)
was he? I never heard that one.
Bobby (43:33.23)
Chris (43:41.793)
Huey Lewis, I also knew was Huey Lewis was apparently packing a major hog. But the way he said it was a penis with a man hanging off of it. I thought that was fucking hysterical. yeah. He was like, he goes, now I know how an ugly ass guy like Joe DiMaggio gets Marilyn Monroe. There you go. But yeah, great friggin story. Now.
Dan (43:50.573)
big square cocky. That's a good one. Yeah.
Bobby (43:51.874)
That is hysterical. And like a burn you gotta live with your whole life, dude. It's just rough,
Dan (44:05.003)
Yeah.
Bobby (44:05.279)
my goodness.
Chris (44:09.411)
That guy needs to be in the Hall of Fame, right, Bob? mean, it's just, now they'll put him in, right? Because it was a lifetime ban and now he's dead.
Bobby (44:12.632)
Yeah, why not? Absolutely.
Dan (44:15.937)
Maja's already in and it's not just about size of his penis, he's already in.
Bobby (44:17.408)
No, I don't know. I don't know. Yeah.
Chris (44:20.389)
He's in the penis, Joe DiMaggio is in the penis hall of fame. So yeah, that was a great penis story.
Dan (44:22.201)
We should have one of those really.
Bobby (44:24.504)
We're shifting Hall of Fame's here.
Dan (44:30.829)
You think that it's now all forgiven that he's passed away, Pete Rose? Yeah, finally. The sports writers who vote against him every year, it's just no longer cute and funny to vote him out.
Chris (44:35.267)
Yeah, because like I said, I mean, they're first of all, like.
Bobby (44:39.266)
I don't think so. Now he agreed. Now. So the problem is he agreed to it, you know, for the lifetime ban and I don't, if you were really ever going to honor the man and say, let's drop this and put them in the hall of fame. I don't, just don't think he's going to wait till he. Listen, I know what you're saying. I just, I don't feel like the MLB is sitting in the backstage. go, soon as he dies, we're putting them in. Like I just think.
Dan (44:51.385)
Well, the life's over.
Chris (44:52.549)
That's what I'm saying.
Dan (44:56.077)
Wait, was it an eternity band? This is like that Curb Your Enthusiasm where she says like, let's take our vows to the forever.
Chris (45:05.637)
I bet they do though.
Bobby (45:08.878)
Listen, he belongs there.
Dan (45:10.169)
They're gonna go like when you go after the widow, you you wait a year. Is that what they're gonna do?
Chris (45:13.795)
Right.
Bobby (45:14.286)
But I think it's a slap in the face to put him in that you couldn't actually do it when he was alive. He's one of the best players ever played 100%. 100 % based on his baseball play was one of the best ever. Like there's just no question.
Dan (45:18.529)
Okay, yeah.
Chris (45:18.765)
Okay, but do you think he deserves to be in? Okay, okay, yes, I agree.
Dan (45:23.762)
So they won't even turn around.
Chris (45:28.291)
Yeah.
Dan (45:29.219)
His gambling wasn't that bad either. I mean, if there's a gambling hall of fame, could put him in there.
Chris (45:31.351)
No. He can be in so many. Being as a... Right. Dude. Dead Reads.
Bobby (45:33.826)
Yeah. Man, how we could have them doing live reads for us. Perfect.
Dan (45:35.604)
That's right.
Dan (45:40.982)
We should try that. We should try that. This is Pete Rose for DraftKings. I don't even know his voice to be honest with you.
Chris (45:43.909)
I could do that on it. I I could set that up. I could set that up on an AI. No doubt I can I can get it Pete Rose. I was thinking about getting Donald Trump to do our opening and just playing that for you guys and just just to get your reactions.
Bobby (45:46.476)
was, Pete Rose.
Bobby (45:59.309)
Watch out.
Dan (45:59.395)
Yeah, I'm groaning already.
Chris (46:02.073)
You're about to listen to the greatest podcast ever, the Uncle Buckers.
Dan (46:04.377)
It is the past cases. It's the best. Fuck.
Bobby (46:05.536)
It's so great. Let me tell you how great it is. It's just great.
Chris (46:10.697)
back to hockey on the other side and i know only two games in both two both games were also to see and not much bad so i'm sure is probably not gonna have an answer but anyone's jersey you're willing to throw in the fireplace and burn right now or not
Bobby (46:27.886)
Based off of these two games?
Chris (46:29.069)
Yeah, I mean that's pretty much all I got. I'm gonna be asking this question throughout the season, so I'm sure it'll change.
Dan (46:31.01)
I don't see...
Bobby (46:33.262)
McCloud.
Dan (46:34.531)
Yeah, McCloud, if you got a McCloud jersey, just burn it, just burn it.
Bobby (46:36.301)
I never fucking needed you, you dickwad.
Chris (46:40.293)
Yeah, I'm with you. Okay, so McLeod. would say, I mean, I don't, I think saying burning his jersey is kind of rough, I just throughout the, no, not McLeod, but throughout the way this season I see going, I just don't know how much Nate Bastion is going to be bringing to this team.
Dan (46:42.583)
Yeah, Cobble Chuck, I guess.
Dan (46:56.429)
Hey, that's a good point. I mean, is he gonna look lost? He looked okay so far, yeah.
Bobby (46:57.102)
But he played pretty well.
Chris (47:00.967)
I guess.
Bobby (47:01.292)
Got a couple of points, had some downs too, doesn't look completely out of place, but yet is very replaceable. We would not, I don't think we'd miss a beat with him and we all joked that whole year, when Nate's in the lineup we win and that kind of thing, but right now I don't think we'd actually miss a beat if somebody else had planted him on the fourth line.
Chris (47:09.571)
Yeah, yeah.
Dan (47:22.467)
I'm gonna think it's like voodoo curse if that happens. Like if Nate Basch goes out with this team and we still can't find a way to win without him, that's something freaky going on. Cause he's no longer as key a piece to this team, which is nothing really against him. I mean, it's the team's gotten better, but you you'd like to see him do.
Chris (47:38.691)
Just if that's the case and we go on a like extended losing streak because Nate Bashan isn't in and just put his just he'll be the guy that should go in the ring of honor come January. I know that was so strange.
Dan (47:43.842)
right?
Dan (47:47.285)
It seemed weird two years ago when that happened. We were remarking like, are you kidding me? Nate Bastian goes out and we don't know how to play? Like, what is that about? It was eerie the way it happened.
Bobby (47:55.373)
Well...
Chris (47:56.805)
He's the cornerstone on this friggin team, really? It was. Yeah, he's a big boy.
Bobby (47:59.084)
Look, look, he's he's 6'4", 205. And that's that's one of his biggest claims of fame right there. He's he's sitting next to Lazar who's 6'200", maybe 203. And then Cotter right now, which you know, the Cotter-Lazar combo is what you're looking at. Cotter too, he's 6'2", 212.
Dan (48:04.889)
That's a point. That's a good point. This team needs size, you know?
Chris (48:18.489)
Don't see Connor staying on that line.
Dan (48:19.011)
Well, that's the thing. We've gotten bigger and maybe what Bastion did bring was some size that sometimes you forget that helps you out in subtle ways. It prevents you from getting beat up. Maybe that was his magic.
Bobby (48:22.05)
Okay.
Chris (48:29.347)
Yeah, you're right.
Bobby (48:29.666)
Yeah, if he simplifies his game, there's no reason we need to get rid of him. But he's also not like this thing that we couldn't get rid of. So let's talk about what Chris said real quick here. You don't see Cotter staying on the fourth line. Cool. I agree. He's to where do we put them? Well, yeah. So.
Chris (48:32.815)
You're right,
Dan (48:35.629)
No, I don't think you're
Chris (48:44.165)
Let's recklessly speculate on when Pilat's getting traded.
Dan (48:50.105)
I mean, I don't care if he stays on the fourth line, if he produces and is helping his team so much.
Chris (48:54.563)
As long as the fourth line gets ice time. That's my problem with it. I don't want Paul Cotter playing seven minutes a game. You know, he deserves...
Dan (48:56.643)
Well, that's a good point.
Bobby (49:01.006)
Fourth line will get ice whenever McDermott's not the right winger on that line.
Dan (49:05.037)
I would hope that this team is the kind of team that rolls four lines. And I think that's a great way for two reasons. Number one, in the playoffs, the team that has to shorten their bench is the team that's losing. The team that's winning and doing a good job controlling games rolls four lines. And number two, for an 82 game season, it's going to help your durability to not have everybody playing ridiculous minutes. I know you want to get a certain amount of minutes for certain players, and the fourth line is always going to play the least.
Chris (49:09.21)
Yeah.
Chris (49:22.597)
It's true.
Dan (49:34.797)
I get that, but I hope that Cotter can be productive and do his thing on the fourth line. I hope we have a dangerous fourth line that's kind of almost indistinguishable in production from the third line.
Bobby (49:47.339)
The other thing is he's... Yeah.
Chris (49:47.397)
It really is the secret sauce right there, isn't it? I mean, what you just said, that's the secret sauce. That's how you fucking win in the playoffs.
Bobby (49:55.118)
He's also a center slash wing he has experience in both in fact the entire fourth line. Have center experience and so not only could you let's say mercer got hurt for day we know mercer doesn't miss a game so that's not likely but you know we are also talking about mercer being on the top two line you know perpetually that might not happen you you actually could slot cutter up there for a while ultimately you don't want that long term because.
Chris (49:59.534)
Okay.
Chris (50:04.857)
Yeah.
Bobby (50:23.094)
a guy like Mercer, that's where you want him. We all agree. He should be a top six. Otherwise, I think you're kind of wasting his talent. But this guy you could put anywhere, like literally anywhere. He could center the third line when Halle, like if Palak got hurt, he can center the third line and Halle can go the left wing. Like the options are unlimited.
Chris (50:31.661)
Yeah, it's just...
Chris (50:39.749)
I thought that Jala played a fantastic two games for a dude that just walked in off the street essentially coming off whatever illness he had. No practice, no preseason games, and I thought he played fantastic every time he was on the ice. I thought he was pushing to play, he was setting guys up, he was always in the right spot. The team just looks like a different team. Like last year it was like watching the fucking Keystone Cops out there sometimes.
Dan (50:44.707)
Yes.
Bobby (50:48.11)
True, forgot about that.
Chris (51:07.437)
And they were organized like everything that we, cause we forget, right? Like we finished covering devil's hockey in April and then we covered really good teams for two months, right? In the whole playoffs. And we kept on saying about Florida, like, you know, how they know they trust that everybody's going to be in the right spot. Everybody knows their job and they do it to a T and they back each other.
Bobby (51:18.338)
Right, right.
Dan (51:18.71)
Yep, yep.
Dan (51:32.964)
something we didn't see from the Devils last year.
Chris (51:34.969)
Yeah, they back each other up and they're constantly in the right spot and you could so see that this that's where this team is headed. This team could be fucking dangerous. mean, just all the pieces like the way it just laid out like, holy shit, this is exactly what we were expecting and everything worked. was there was nobody half assing at these two games.
Bobby (51:55.854)
Let me pose a question. So obviously we know how dynamic our top two lines could be. It's not even a question. Even if you want to talk about shuffling the whole six of them in any which way. Bottom two lines, the third and fourth. If you had to rank which one is literally better for this team based on their role, their minutes, whatever it is like.
Dan (51:58.211)
depth is there.
Bobby (52:23.404)
Which one do you think is actually more valuable full term for this team? Because they're both incredible or can be incredible, I guess I should say.
Chris (52:28.43)
I mean...
Dan (52:30.903)
really are. That's what I want. That's what I want. want really what you got there is two great third lines, you know, and that's what you want.
Chris (52:38.881)
It's kind of like that, but I mean the fourth line definitely has everything that you want. They have the muscles, they can push you around, they can score goals, they can do everything and they can do everything at a pretty high level and they can kill penalties if they have to. And Paul Cotter is just this fantastic Swiss Army knife that we have not had on this team. The one that actually works, right? The one that you can actually get the blade out, it doesn't just stick there and you fucking just throw the knife at somebody.
Dan (52:43.513)
A little more.
Chris (53:08.517)
This is Paul Cotter is you know a guy like I mean I know that he was compared to Miles would Yeah, I think he's gonna end up being able to do shit miles would thinks about doing that's about it I I do have a lot of faith in Paul Cotter. I love the fourth line The third line though. I like that experience. I like that and I think that third line really is gonna come into play come playoff time You know have in hola there
Dan (53:29.783)
Yeah, you got a lot there.
Chris (53:36.815)
been on deep runs, Pilat been on deep runs, Nason just been in a great organization his last four years with Carolina. You know, he's coming in learning, knowing the right way to do everything. He's probably a coach's dream. Yeah.
Dan (53:52.301)
think that fourth line makes our third line better. I think you know as that third line who all three guys have played together in the past and Hall and Palat had a couple underperforming stretches throughout both seasons, I would say. And I think that pressure from a very improved fourth line, I think that's a good thing for the third line. think that spreads and you mentioned the infectious play from the new guys and I think as much as the experience helps.
Chris (54:04.985)
Yeah, absolutely.
Dan (54:21.708)
having this new blood in helps the experience come through and really do their job. It's a great thing to watch.
Bobby (54:33.998)
If I had to answer my own question, I wouldn't have asked you guys. You're smarter than me. No, but I'm just looking at the line and I'm thinking to myself something to the effect of like, Pilat was like the original warrior, as he was known in Tampa Bay coming over. I feel like Nason's the younger version of that same kind of warrior mentality. And you got those two wingers that can both basically have that absolute drive, hall in the middle. It's just really special.
Dan (54:34.338)
Sure, yeah.
Chris (54:36.901)
Fair enough.
Dan (54:37.015)
Yeah, it's tough.
Dan (54:51.139)
Yeah, it's a great call.
Bobby (55:02.956)
I mean, Nason brings an element that is when we played every time we played him in Carolina, because I remember having him as a devil. I love them. Not only did he score on us, he scored on us in a similar role. He's that third line guy. He just drives and drives and you almost don't have any answers for him. He'll never get the credit he deserves. And yet he's just so amazing. And I think that's part of the reason why I think he's smart enough to know my style of play.
Chris (55:08.877)
He scored on us.
Bobby (55:31.95)
It's exactly what this devil's team needed. I'm going back home.
Chris (55:35.533)
And I think him on that line with Pilat is just going to help Pilat's game. Yeah, I mean, and he only played one.
Bobby (55:41.366)
It already has. That first goal was reminiscent of the playoff goal. mean, I know Platt scored it, but it was the same kind of effort, that same tenacity off the boards, win it at all costs. And this was just a regular season first goal.
Dan (55:41.411)
Yes.
Chris (55:47.118)
Yep.
Chris (55:55.363)
And if this team can get Palak going, and you know, like that's the one thing we haven't seen in three years, like, you holy shit, now here's a guy, you know, that could potentially score 25, 30 goals if he's in the right position, right spot. No.
Bobby (56:06.988)
And we don't even need that. We just need the threat of Pilate going and pushing and driving.
Dan (56:07.276)
Absolutely.
Dan (56:11.753)
And that's why I want that fourth line plan too, because think about it this way. I think Palat with as many possible minutes as he could play this year is not a good thing for his longevity. I think he's going to be more effective and get those goals when he's not doing insane minutes. You know, not only is a little bit older every year, but he's, you know, he's had some health durability problems. If he can come in healthy and stay healthy, not do a stupid amount of minutes because we got a very effective fourth line, it's going to help everybody there.
Chris (56:31.045)
Yeah.
Chris (56:40.581)
You're right, rolling four lines is, that's it. That's the sauce, man. And come April, having a fresh plot can be very valuable for this team. So I agree with you.
Dan (56:49.561)
gonna have effects up and the lineup. mean, think what it does for the top two lines to know that they don't have all the scoring pressure on, you know, nobody's gonna be looking for Hughes to come through with points in every single game. I love it. And he's gonna have the opportunity, but it's not gonna ride on his shoulders.
Chris (56:54.586)
Yeah.
That's the key.
Chris (57:01.498)
Yeah.
And if Jack goes out for eight, nine games, which guys, let's be honest, he probably will, you know? We're probably gonna lose Jack at some point throughout this season, but I kind of feel like we have the depth that, you know, it's not gonna be, well, just, you know, hold on until Jack gets here, you know, until Jack gets back. Like you said, it can just be business as usual. and then here's one of the greatest players in the world coming back into our lineup.
Dan (57:09.143)
has happened.
Bobby (57:10.565)
It's likely.
Dan (57:14.851)
Hopefully not that much, but yeah, it's possible.
Dan (57:25.838)
Right.
Chris (57:33.413)
Like that's, and I'll tell you, go ahead.
Bobby (57:33.806)
Yeah. I think that for a lot of team scenarios against, take a Toronto, like we're going to see on Thursday. I think for a lot of the good teams, you can say first line push, second line push, in a lot of matchups in general. You go down to our third line, I think it becomes advantage doubles. And when you get down to our fourth line, I think you say most teams can't put out what we can put out. And therefore, it expands, like you said, our lines.
Chris (57:59.077)
All right, well let's.
Bobby (58:03.062)
it's advantage devils overall over the over the period of a game it becomes advantage devils.
Chris (58:08.901)
Alright, well let me do something real quick.
Chris (58:14.437)
Just give me a sec.
Chris (58:22.117)
Alright.
Bobby (58:22.168)
While you're doing that, just want to mention that for those of us who are not local, we had to get the national broadcast of these games. So I had the honor of listening to EJ Rattick call the game. Now, Kevin Weeks was a color guy. I like Kevin as a color guy. And I like EJ Rattick as a person. He's really good. However, as a guy calling the game like a national game where the world was watching, I definitely felt slightly disappointed if he called Jack Hughes, Jack Hughes.
Chris (58:29.068)
Hmm.
Dan (58:38.635)
He's a Canadian.
Chris (58:52.307)
God, are you serious?
Bobby (58:52.672)
One more time. I'm thinking like, I'm going back to two U's. I'm like, don't know, but yes. And then he came back around by like the second period and he started calling them Hughes as he should be. And then it was Hughes. And for anybody listening, I know I screw up names all the time. Okay. I am not a paid professional. I'm barely paid for this and I've screwed up names, but to hear Hughes over and over again was just, it was terrible. There just wasn't enough energy and God, I missed like Doc in this moment.
Dan (59:01.581)
He was being very careful.
Bobby (59:22.446)
They're over there, they're in the Czech Republic and it's like, me Doc.
Dan (59:23.725)
You know what? Yeah, a big stage like that. I mean, I Doc a lot.
Chris (59:24.687)
Well, even though even though our guys were did the broadcast remotely from the MSG studios, having Spalding and Danico call these games were just it was awesome. that new new Rachel Herzog, I thought she did a fantastic job and she's very pretty, but she did a fantastic job. Bob, real quick, let's. But yes, Erica, who?
Bobby (59:37.194)
I got that yesterday. It was beautiful.
Dan (59:37.613)
Yeah, definitely.
Bobby (59:42.048)
is beautiful. Did I say that?
Dan (59:47.843)
Boy how quickly they forget Erica walked her. Yeah, exactly.
Bobby (59:52.192)
No, I love me Erika too.
Chris (59:54.125)
Alright, who's this is their first this is Toronto's this isn't set in stone, but this is their top line. Okay, it's Austin Matthews. He's center in Matt Nyes and Mitch Marner, right? So you got Marner Nyes and Matthews v Hughes Meyer Brat advantage I'm gonna say advantage just because Austin Matthews the greatest goal scorer in the world. I'm gonna go advantage Toronto
Dan (01:00:04.089)
Pretty good player.
Bobby (01:00:05.326)
Okay, so they play together.
Dan (01:00:17.177)
It's Austin Matthews, I get it.
Bobby (01:00:17.688)
Yeah. That's fair. It's not a great advantage, but it definitely is there. It's close because we got three studs. yeah, OK. That's Toronto, sure.
Dan (01:00:22.477)
Yeah, it's pretty close.
Chris (01:00:26.373)
Alright, so Toronto gets that edge. Second line, they have John Tavares. Yes.
Dan (01:00:30.679)
And by the way, like, just, I know what you're saying, but these lines aren't playing each other. We're going to match up different lines against each other. So, you know, that will affect how these, the advantage plays in reality. But I know what you mean. Just looking down at their, at their resumes and yeah, I got you.
Chris (01:00:37.593)
Sure, sure, but I'm just saying...
But comparing apples to apples as far as right. No, you're right. mean, Auston Matthews is going to write. So our second line, their second line is John Tavares looks like Max Domi and William Nylander for our Heesher Tatar Mercer.
Bobby (01:00:48.192)
It's highly likely he sure faces that line, but right.
Dan (01:00:59.033)
Mmm.
Bobby (01:01:01.984)
Or vice versa, like you said. So here's the point. I think that's advantage devils. Depending on how you play that. Basically, out of the top two of both teams, you can argue that they have one of the better and we've got the second of the better.
Chris (01:01:06.508)
I agree.
Dan (01:01:07.481)
Yeah, really.
Chris (01:01:14.981)
So their third line looks like it's going to be Holmberg centering Max Pacoretti and McMahon versus Eric Halle, Stefan Naesen, and Andre freaking Palat, Advantage Devils. Right, fourth line. They don't even have a fourth line set up here, but let's just say who else do they have? Probably be Kant-Kampf with Stephen Lawrence and Ryan Reeves. So again,
Bobby (01:01:28.814)
Yeah, advantage doubles.
Dan (01:01:29.337)
mean, that's decided.
Dan (01:01:41.207)
Thought you said cunt.
Bobby (01:01:43.925)
my god.
Chris (01:01:45.089)
advantage Cotter, Lazar, Bastion.
Bobby (01:01:48.606)
Like huge advantage. is like, yeah, complete advantage.
Dan (01:01:48.923)
definitely.
And I think that's gonna be a story a lot this year is our fourth line is good. It looks so damn good.
Chris (01:01:56.537)
I agree Dan. then we have Riley and Tanniv. That is a very good pairing but that would be against our top pairing of Hamilton and Brendan Dillon right now. I'm gonna give advantage to Dillon and Hamilton.
Bobby (01:02:04.195)
Yes.
Bobby (01:02:09.836)
Right now, yes.
Bobby (01:02:16.974)
Is that just based off the way they play these last two games?
Chris (01:02:19.551)
Yes, but if I go and say, each guy has a tough bruiser on the lineup, right? We have Brendan Dillon, they have Chris Tanev. I'll take the younger Brendan Dillon, then the old man Chris Tanev. And then as far as offensive weapons, they have Riley, we have Hamilton, I'll take Hamilton. So that's
Dan (01:02:26.155)
Okay, fair.
Bobby (01:02:36.142)
Yes, sure. All right sound logic. Yep
Dan (01:02:37.783)
Yeah, no, that's fair, that's fair.
Chris (01:02:40.599)
And then their second D is Oliver Ekman-Larsen, comes off a cup in Florida last year. And Jack McCabe is their right defenseman. that's our second defense pairing was what? was it Brendan Dillon and Seagindaler?
Bobby (01:02:58.57)
Second pairing was Seagenthaler and Kovacevic.
Dan (01:02:59.725)
Well, no, you got Dylan with Hamilton. Yes.
Chris (01:03:01.669)
Ok, you're right. Alright, so what do think? mean, Oliver Eichmann-Larsen has played good last year, but before that he wasn't very good in Vancouver. I mean, they terminated his contract.
Bobby (01:03:14.67)
I think the national the national reaction is to say that Toronto has that advantage but if you look at just strictly the two game sample size we're looking at that pairing was actually very good. Seagulls going to so I'm not really sure. I'm really not sure call it a push at least yeah.
Chris (01:03:25.283)
Yeah.
Dan (01:03:26.09)
mention the score, not to mention the scoring of COVID, yeah absolutely.
Chris (01:03:29.797)
So, push, okay. And then their third defensive pairing, they have a few guys, you know, have Hockapaw, they have, let's see, Rafi, Benoit, Timmons, I don't know who it's, it's a throw, yeah, I don't know who their fourth, third defense pairing is, so I'm gonna go with R, right? Yeah.
Bobby (01:03:44.418)
It's a throw-in. It's a blender. It's whoever they can play.
Dan (01:03:45.177)
balls.
Bobby (01:03:51.438)
It's against Casey and Nemec. Yeah.
Dan (01:03:53.483)
Our fourth defense pairing that we can't get on the ice is better than their third defense pairing.
Bobby (01:03:58.094)
That's an excellent point. Our fourth defensive pairing that we can't get on the ice is probably better than their first. Yeah.
Dan (01:04:01.997)
Yeah, maybe. Well, yeah, we literally can't get on the ice because they're injured. Yeah.
Chris (01:04:03.685)
So we agree that on the blue line, we are head and shoulders better.
Bobby (01:04:07.266)
Right. Right.
Bobby (01:04:13.518)
I would say that, yes.
Dan (01:04:13.635)
Yeah, I think so.
Chris (01:04:14.775)
On the forward line, we'll give them the Austin Matthews. Look, an Austin Matthews can wreck a fucking game all by himself. Like, you know, everything that we're saying...
Bobby (01:04:21.782)
No doubt.
Dan (01:04:23.353)
Alright, we'll give them the first line, but we're not giving them all the lines.
Bobby (01:04:24.768)
Anybody plays with Nylander so that's one threat on one line and then the second line we're basically looking at our Marner Tavares, right?
Chris (01:04:28.473)
Marner plays with Marner. Nylander plays with Taveras.
Dan (01:04:33.091)
I like our second, third, and fourth line better than theirs.
Chris (01:04:37.187)
I mean, I'll take Auston Matthews, though. All right, so. Yeah, second, third and fourth, yeah.
Dan (01:04:39.577)
I like their first line better, but I'm saying if you look at the second, third and fourth, got, know, so, you know, they're going to play a large part of that game. Plus remember who's matching up against their top line. That's what I'm saying. Like you want to give them the edge on the top line. Okay. But you know, our top line has to play against their best checking line, which I think they don't have as good a check in line as us. And our checking line gets to play against their top line, which is going to hurt them. And so that's why if everything fires away, it's supposed to.
Chris (01:05:01.678)
No, no.
Bobby (01:05:02.094)
Agreed.
Dan (01:05:09.677)
I think you'd definitely say, I guess what, on paper we look pretty damn good. But you know how that goes.
Chris (01:05:13.125)
and our best defenseman is actually coming back for this game, most likely. So now we get to the important stuff. If he needs another week, take the week, dude.
Bobby (01:05:17.89)
Hopefully,
Dan (01:05:18.349)
Right. But no rush, because they've been playing well. Right.
Bobby (01:05:22.252)
Yeah, right.
Dan (01:05:25.485)
Like I'm thinking about Luke's shoulder, I'm like I want him to get all the fucking massages and acupuncture. Just ride this out like it's a workman's comp deal. Let's fucking go dude.
Bobby (01:05:25.72)
Yeah.
Chris (01:05:28.759)
Yeah.
Bobby (01:05:31.31)
We need to get the stone cold sound bite on here just so we can hear glass shattering. We're talking about a huge shoulder. All right.
Dan (01:05:37.445)
Yeah.
Chris (01:05:37.925)
Every time a Hughes goes down you just play it consider consider it done Bobby Gold goalies all right they have Joseph wall who has either been injured and you know when he has played I think he's played okay, but we have Jacob Markstrom That's a huge event no contest and then Anthony Stolar's who you know I don't know if he's any good to be honest with you I mean with a little bit that I've seen of him in the regular season he was all right, but he didn't get any ice in the any
Bobby (01:05:55.662)
It's no contest there.
Chris (01:06:07.599)
play at all in the playoffs against Jake Allen? Where we going here? I mean the Devils.
Bobby (01:06:11.48)
I even if it was a push, the advantage in goal is so far forward for the Devils that it wouldn't matter.
Chris (01:06:19.033)
And we also know how much Jack likes to show off, I guess, when he plays against other top players. So I do expect him to have a very good game on Thursday. Yes. Yeah. And Jack knows that the media will be coming. So for all intents and purposes, I know the game is not played on paper, but we should beat Toronto on Thursday night.
Dan (01:06:25.453)
Right.
Bobby (01:06:25.71)
And top media teams, Rangers, Toronto, stuff like that,
Dan (01:06:40.537)
Well, we've given it the kiss of death, the jinx of all time by doing this, but I'll tell you what, I do agree 100%. I can't argue with anything that we've said.
Chris (01:06:42.911)
Hahaha
Bobby (01:06:48.518)
And all that said Toronto has just for the last four or five years been like one of the best regular season teams however we have their coach. They're not that team right now we don't know what that team is.
Dan (01:06:54.777)
I don't, I get it.
Chris (01:06:56.365)
and
Dan (01:06:57.923)
There's that too, you know, and that's gonna work both ways. They're gonna wanna, especially Marner and the other guys who maybe they had, he had problems with, are gonna wanna beat his new team, but he's gonna wanna beat his old team too. And that's a motivation.
Chris (01:06:59.161)
That's the thing, I'm-
Chris (01:07:11.343)
So bad.
Bobby (01:07:11.875)
Is Barubey gonna try to make them too tough and come out of like what makes them as good as they are regular season in preparation for a playoff run? You know what mean? Are they gonna play a little different?
Dan (01:07:17.453)
I do wonder about that. Yeah. Cause what's, what's their look going to be? They were not like the toughest team out there by any stretch and Barube's that kind of coach. So does he get that out of someone? I mean, we just went over to personnel. I mean, how many guys you really say fit Barube's mold? Does he just whip up a thin air? I don't know. That's going to be tough. I mean, I'd love to see how gritty if he can make them more gritty, because that's something that maybe would have carried them through a couple of series they, they faltered on.
Chris (01:07:22.628)
Well...
Bobby (01:07:25.471)
No.
Chris (01:07:46.341)
I agree with you. It's going to be very interesting to see how this team comes out playing. I mean, we'll see them on Wednesday night, so maybe we'll get an idea of how they look against Montreal, which I think is going to be a much improved Montreal team this year. And any team that goes into Montreal or when you're playing the Habs, you better take them seriously because they are the type of team that's going to punch you in the mouth.
Bobby (01:08:05.582)
They're going to be a good team that's in every game in the end will probably lose most of the close contest but they're going to give you everything they got for sure.
Chris (01:08:09.188)
Yes.
Chris (01:08:13.069)
and the
Dan (01:08:13.241)
What do you think, Buffalo or Montreal, who's going to be the sharper team this year?
Chris (01:08:16.569)
I just about to say, Buffalo, Ottawa, and Detroit are going to, everyone's talking about them. One of those teams has to finally make the push. I don't think it's going to be any of them. I think it's going to be Montreal. I'm not saying they're making the playoffs, but I...
Dan (01:08:29.369)
Okay, wow. So out of the four, you think Montreal is gonna be the one that really gets off the mat this year between Detroit, Buffalo, and Ottawa. Wow, interesting.
Chris (01:08:34.892)
I think so.
I had Detroit in my picks of divisions, yeah, had them actually finishing last in the Atlantic, Detroit. You had them in the playoffs, I had them finishing last. I'm probably insane for saying that, but I just think, you know, what have they really
Bobby (01:08:45.198)
Yeah, I think I put him in the playoffs, right? I think I put him in last. Yeah, I'll stick with that, but I don't really know.
Dan (01:08:45.891)
Wow.
Dan (01:08:50.073)
I don't know what I...
Dan (01:08:55.886)
I love it.
Bobby (01:08:56.088)
You're not you're not insane I mean they've had a lot of time to just like the devils but there's just nothing. Popping.
Dan (01:08:59.063)
Yeah, I really hope so. I got a soft spot for Montreal. I think the hockey is better when Montreal is good. You know, it's a team that I really I love to see do well. I mean, I love to beat him, but still.
Chris (01:09:05.711)
Yeah, and you're right. Completely agree. And here's the thing when okay, Detroit, they brought in Tarasenko, they kept Kane. I mean, they have some decent pieces. I love Lucas Raymond. I love Moe Sider. I think these guys are really good players, not even sure who their goaltender is right now. But I just feel like if those are your big moves, bringing in Tarasenko and Patrick Kane in 2024. That's not I just don't see that needle moving. Ottawa.
Bobby (01:09:07.245)
absolutely.
Bobby (01:09:34.286)
little bit of a rewash. Yeah.
Dan (01:09:35.193)
Sounds like something the Rangers would do.
Chris (01:09:36.993)
Yeah, Ottawa refuses to learn how to play defense. It's just that simple. They can not play defense. And I said it in the summer and I stand by it. Omar is definitely helping that team because he's a very good goalie, but he's going to have a lot of nights this season that he wishes he was still in Boston. And then as then Buffalo. All right. If this is Buffalo, Buffalo, you're not making the fucking playoffs. If this is how this is your team.
You're not making the playoffs. You have nothing to look. You just traveled.
Dan (01:10:06.413)
I don't know, is your chant fire Lindy, but you know what happens when people chant fire Lindy. He goes on a 13 game winning streak. mean, remember we dropped the first two with Lindy and then went on a 13 game streak. So we'll see if that happens for Buffalo. I don't think so.
Chris (01:10:11.183)
Well, maybe they haven't played in Buffalo yet, so we'll see what they do. Yeah, yes, yes. But look.
Chris (01:10:23.693)
I don't think so. Two goals, two games, they look lifeless. They had no answers for what the Devils were doing. And if any team was going to have the answers to this test, it would have been Lindy fucking Ruff. If Lindy Ruff couldn't get his team to figure out a way to beat the Devils, then that's a bad team with a bad coach. I think I used to coach them.
Dan (01:10:39.991)
Yeah, well at least they don't have the personnel that he did two years ago.
Right. He's like, I know some of these guys. All right. So there's a, what's his name over there? There's something you got to do against him. can't remember what it is. Hold on. shit. I forget. I'm a.
Chris (01:10:54.181)
you
Little guy.
Bobby (01:11:03.438)
score first. Alright. Question. Question. So given what we optimistically already see in this team, and we're, we're very much cheerleaders today, right? We're looking like we could be world leaders.
Chris (01:11:03.557)
But yeah, I just so yes.
Dan (01:11:06.361)
for Lindy.
Chris (01:11:18.229)
hell yeah. After last season I feel we... Right. Yeah, after last season and the preseason we had. We deserve this moment of just being...
Dan (01:11:19.201)
Yeah, we're allowed to bask in this glow. Yeah.
Bobby (01:11:22.466)
We deserve it, for sure. All right. So.
Dan (01:11:28.077)
They should bet against Toronto. It'll three different people who come on the show to talk about that.
Chris (01:11:31.341)
Right?
Bobby (01:11:32.622)
So let's say Ottawa's totally shit in the bed. And now mid-season, yes, reckless speculation, we actually have an opportunity to trade for Chuck. But it has to be a reasonable hockey trade, which means you're moving something of substance based on what you know only by today. Do you do it?
Chris (01:11:38.429)
boy, here we go.
I love it.
Chris (01:11:47.365)
Bye.
Chris (01:11:53.135)
There's only one player. There's only one player that Ottawa would say okay to. You know that, right? There's only one guy. See, it's Timo Meyer. It's the only way, yes, the only way that Ottawa, I think, makes that deal is you want our power forward, we want your power forward.
Bobby (01:12:02.52)
Who's the guy?
Really?
Dan (01:12:05.657)
They're not kidding.
Dan (01:12:14.669)
Well, how much do you think about this possibility?
Bobby (01:12:15.96)
Do you do it then?
Chris (01:12:18.703)
Do you well first of all how much like do how much do I think this is a possibility? I think it's a possibility that that Ottawa might be looking to move Brady Kachuk. I think maybe the devil's Devil's position on that train. Maybe just they owned. think they lost their seat
Bobby (01:12:23.755)
No.
Bobby (01:12:29.324)
That's my point.
Dan (01:12:34.755)
feel like he just got there. You think they're done with the Brady truck?
Bobby (01:12:35.352)
Do you think we've passed that is my point. you think we go, you know what? Yeah, that was a dream last year, but right now I think we're good. We don't want them.
Chris (01:12:43.203)
I do. Right now I do. What did you just say, Dan?
Dan (01:12:46.755)
feel like he just got there. Like how long has he been there? Yeah.
Chris (01:12:50.539)
Brady? They drafted him. So when did he get drafted? Three years ago? I think he's...
Dan (01:12:54.681)
Okay, I guess it has been three years already, but like I feel like that's a little early to give up on such a huge name and pick. I mean, but everything's going south. So this shit happens. You know, I get it. I get it.
Bobby (01:13:03.348)
Right, well they're going south so they're expecting a haul for them. So we're not their target demo but we step in and say hey whoa before you just get this this and that from any old team.
Chris (01:13:06.904)
Right.
So maybe...
Chris (01:13:15.109)
I do think the devils would have now okay, because now I really gonna stop and think about it like you're right that they don't if they're trading Brady Kachuk then their dog shit and they don't have they're not going anywhere. ownership is talking to management and they're saying we need assets because the team we have isn't going to win and they're not going to play. Right. So if it's a if it is let's say a Seamus Casey or a Shimon Nemech or you know
Dan (01:13:33.133)
need Seamus Casey and Timo Meyer and one of your, yeah. thanks.
Dan (01:13:44.607)
of our depth that is pretty good. my goodness,
Chris (01:13:45.005)
Dawson Mercer or one of you know, anyone other than the guy we drafted this year because I don't want to get rid of him I would say you maybe do it But then you run into another problem of where you put Brady Kachuk who gets slotted out of that spot Mercer I guess you would have to now you have a line with you know now if you're dealing with a line that has Nico Heescher Brady Kachuk who hate each other which would be awesome to see him playing on the same line and so and and Tatar
Bobby (01:14:09.838)
gonna be so cool!
in Tatar.
Chris (01:14:15.191)
And then your second line is Hughes with Meyer and that's just crazy, that's stupid. No, no, I gave him Nemec. Yeah, yeah. They need defense.
Dan (01:14:15.949)
I don't know.
Dan (01:14:20.375)
No, we traded Meyer away.
Dan (01:14:25.817)
instead. Okay. Cause they need defense. Cause they're finally going to play, start playing defense. All right. Well, I don't like it. I don't know. Maybe I got to watch more Brady Kachak. I know he's a dynamic player, but like you said, I mean, where are you going to put them? Does it really help this team and give up? Remember like how, how much we need this offense, this defensive depth. Like you really want to give up.
Chris (01:14:33.636)
Bye.
Dan (01:14:55.437)
your defensive future on a possible dynasty team. I mean, these are all good young guys. Yeah, the defensive depth on this team, you want to give away these young guys who...
Chris (01:15:00.645)
Yes. Yes.
Bobby (01:15:02.446)
I
Chris (01:15:07.981)
If it's like, well, I think that our defensive depth in the AHL is very deep, think. So you could probably lose a guy or two, which we're probably going to anyway, just throughout the course of how this is going to work out. You know, we have very good players, very good players don't want to just play in the AHL and other teams recognize those very good players and they want them. They want them. What?
Dan (01:15:31.257)
Nemec has got a huge career. Huge career. Nemec, you're to give him? He's got a huge career ahead of him. You're talking about Norris potential.
Chris (01:15:39.159)
If I can keep Seamus Casey and the kid we drafted number 10 this year, yeah, then I would get rid of Simone Nemich for Brady Kachuk.
Dan (01:15:46.837)
I mean, that's okay. I mean, it's ballsy, I'll give you that. I don't know. I'd have to look at it more before I can totally agree with you, but I think you might...
Bobby (01:15:52.494)
But you're probably moving to top six too, like we said. You're probably throwing somebody in there.
Chris (01:15:56.271)
It'd be Mercer then.
Dan (01:15:58.613)
So Mercer, you're gonna give away Mercer, Nemec, and we Casey too. That's, I feel like that's a lot. you're keeping Casey.
Chris (01:16:06.275)
No, no, no, not Casey. No, just Nemech. Just, for this exercise, I don't think I would do it then. I don't think I would do it. Like, it's got a-
Bobby (01:16:06.422)
No, think Chris wanted to keep Casey. Probably another roster player though.
Dan (01:16:16.729)
And I think that's what they want. Like he's their guy. They just, I mean, he's the biggest name they've gotten in five to 10 years maybe. Like they don't want to, they have to get a lot for him.
Chris (01:16:23.321)
That's why I think in all honesty, I think that that ship has sailed. think if you were going to pull the trigger on a Brady Kachuck, you do it last year, it was probably never even something that was a reasonable thought or a reasonable consideration for anybody in like...
Dan (01:16:38.445)
Yeah.
maybe in some kind of weird three-way deal, but I haven't doubt that.
Chris (01:16:44.025)
But I think this team right now, like, no, I think this team from what we've seen and how good I think this team can get, no, I don't know if you even fuck with it. Like we said in the beginning of this show, like we might be guys just watching the trade deadline this year, you know, if this team stays healthy and everything.
Dan (01:17:01.049)
You know, you like to talk about this stuff and think you're such an objective, logical person, but then you you realize that's because they just won these two games too. You know, if they came out flat and be like, how do we get Brady Kachuk? Who do we got to give up? You know, let's face it, they're doing well, but that is the point, right? Like you said, like this team rolls like that, you got to be insane to make those kinds of moves and throw away a good thing. So let's just hope they keep putting this position and we can go Brady who?
Chris (01:17:09.289)
yeah.
Bobby (01:17:09.539)
Yeah.
Bobby (01:17:12.92)
Yeah, I think.
Chris (01:17:13.016)
You
Chris (01:17:29.026)
I think Ottawa would leverage 90 % of their team before they touch Brady Kachuk. I really do. Yeah.
Dan (01:17:29.175)
Because let's face it. I mean, that's good place to be
Bobby (01:17:38.894)
Yeah, I think Otto would be fools to get rid of them. You should build a team around them. I also think that if you polled our fans maybe a week ago even, they would still say we're missing an element like only a Brady Kachuk can bring to this team. And then if you repole them again now and saw the team concept and kind of the team power and strength in that area now, that they would probably say, you know what, I think we got it now.
Dan (01:18:00.867)
for, yeah.
Bobby (01:18:06.638)
As a team, we've got a few different guys that collectively can fill that role. We don't need him per se taking up extra cap, taking away a few of our players. I am literally going to stay on this all year. think we don't need any Calvary. This is a team that can take you wherever you want to go. They just literally can. They just literally can. You just got to let them ride.
Chris (01:18:06.906)
Yeah.
Dan (01:18:28.045)
Maybe all the way, maybe all the way.
Chris (01:18:29.017)
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, last year we didn't feel this way. Regardless, was still, goaltending is a question mark and you know, our defense, we, you know, starting two rookies this year. Like it was even last year, as optimistic as we were, we still were at this time last year had conversations about how this team can get better. I don't necessarily know that that's even a conversation right now. Like it, right?
Dan (01:18:53.803)
No, some pieces have to really start crumbling before our eyes before that happens because they showed what their potential is even though these short two games. That's a huge potential. I mean, that was really well done.
Chris (01:19:05.475)
I have never, I have never, I have in my entire life, have never seen a general manager in any sport take the off season and actually go out and get, say everybody has said it, like, we want this and we want this and here's our Christmas list, but you never get everything on it. We got everything on it. And in the same year I watched my other favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings do the exact same thing in the off season. Just.
look at where the problems are and you don't have to go out and get the best, most expensive, know, no, who's going to be the best team? Who's going to be the guy that's going to come in and be a part of the team who's going to add that element that we sorely need? You know, we don't need, I don't think we need another, a player like Brady Kachuk. It would be fantastic to have him. Last year I was pounding the table for it. Like if you even want to sniff the playoffs, you better do it.
Dan (01:19:46.435)
Yes.
Chris (01:20:03.225)
But this year, just, there's a whole new feel. No, and Markstrom and Allen, I mean, like that is so big having these two guys in net. Like we're not gonna play our best every night. And, we have two guys back there that can keep you in every single game. Like that, we haven't had that in so long.
Bobby (01:20:04.6)
You didn't have Cotter and Dylan and Nason. So it's totally different team.
Dan (01:20:11.51)
Absolutely.
Dan (01:20:22.221)
The defensive pickups, Dylan, I mean, just amazing.
Chris (01:20:25.839)
And we haven't even seen Pesci yet. And Luke Hughes is still out. Like this team gets so much better. And don't think like Luke isn't home watching going, fuck man, my boy from Michigan is trying to show me up, wait until I get back on attitude. Like, you know, I'm going to be, I'm going to have the best friggin' season ever. Yeah, like it really is crazy how good this team can be. So any last thoughts before we wrap this thing? Yes.
Dan (01:20:27.673)
Right, wait till he gets in the lineup. Yeah.
Bobby (01:20:42.222)
This is crazy.
Bobby (01:20:49.814)
I have, I do have one because some of our good friends who are faithful listeners to the show, our actual friends are starting to listen again as hockey's heating up. I guess they're not as dedicated as us along the whole way. So Mr. Derek here, for example, Derek, hi Derek. I want to let you know that you don't know what radio silent means. When I text my boys here on the show and I say the game's gonna be radio silent, it means you don't give any hints, you don't give any tips. You don't even text me to say, hey,
Dan (01:21:04.857)
I was going say hi Derek.
Chris (01:21:06.137)
Hi Derek.
Chris (01:21:10.789)
no.
Bobby (01:21:19.606)
Are you live? Because the minute you do that, I might start thinking, was something good happening? Was something bad happening? But no, Derek texts me during the game and he's like, I don't want to give anything away, but, he sends me a meme of burns from the Simpsons going, right? Whittling his fingers. I'm like, okay, well, that sounds really good. Great. And then he goes on to say things like, well, yeah, I'm, I'm don't want to give it away, but I'm really smiling right now. And I'm like, okay, this is sounding like the devils are doing well. And then.
Chris (01:21:44.587)
What a douchebag! Derek, you're a douchebag! Why are you doing that?
Bobby (01:21:48.874)
And then at the end we're still so these like text me when you start this is it like one o'clock in the afternoon to. Is like two o'clock in the afternoon I'm like I'm probably gonna start watch around four fifteen. I'm six inches happy. Sorry for her and I'm like I'm probably start watching it yeah and like. I'm sorry watching like four fifteen and he's like text me when you do right so I'm texting I'm literally touching my OK just got through the first period it's zero zero.
Dan (01:21:50.799)
He sends you a picture of himself just, yeah.
Chris (01:21:59.065)
I'm about this happy, Bobby.
Dan (01:22:01.431)
You
Chris (01:22:06.703)
That's if you measure it twice.
Bobby (01:22:18.668)
I like what I'm seeing you know all that kind of shit I'm keeping it generic he already knows the outcome of the game and then he just kind of goes on and he's like yeah I love it they played a great game it was a nice fuck you to ruffle Mike you just don't get it do you you totally just told me they won which I kind of felt like they were doing it with so Derek I know you're gonna listen tomorrow fuck you man you don't know what radio silent is
Dan (01:22:39.257)
You're gonna have to mute him. That's like mute of the conversation there during game.
Bobby (01:22:42.976)
and you should have listened all summer too. Sitting there, like, do you think our lines are actually any good? I actually forwarded him the article that I wrote about the, I'm like, read this, I don't wanna talk to you until you read this. Like I wrote it all down, that's exactly the lines that we have right now. Yeah.
Chris (01:22:44.973)
Yeah, that one's on you, Derek.
Chris (01:22:51.267)
Right.
Dan (01:22:51.511)
Yeah, you think I'm going to say this? I just spent an hour and half saying this and now I'm going to text it to you. I don't think so.
Chris (01:23:00.517)
That's awesome So yeah devil fans We got a lot to be happy about can't wait until next week when the season gets full Boar can't wait to see what some of these other teams look like But we're gonna wrap this thing up for the night You got any thoughts about the first two games drop us a line You can catch us on X get us at the uncle puckers at gmail.com or at just the uncle puckers calm. That's the website Dan Bob and Chris were the uncle puckers. We'll see him. We'll see you
Dan (01:23:01.091)
done talking about this.
Dan (01:23:27.641)
Boogies out.
Bobby (01:23:28.376)
Bye-bye's.