Should We Panic Now?

[00:00:05] Hey everyone, Mr. Devil here, Kenny Danico, three-time Stanley Cup champion of the New Jersey Devils, and you're listening to the Uncle Puckers NJD Podcast. Let's go Devils!

[00:00:21] Yep, so, yeah, let's go Devils. Let's go Devils. Let this sink in to all Devil fans real quick. We were swept by the San Jose Sharks.

[00:00:35] Mm-hmm. Right. Wasn't supposed to happen that way this year, right?

[00:00:39] No, no, it was not. Right.

[00:00:41] But it did.

[00:00:42] It did.

[00:00:44] Sometimes it happens.

[00:00:46] This loss, which is the fourth in a row, the first time all season that this team has lost four in regulation in a row, and this loss was, you know, you're 24 seconds away from a point.

[00:01:02] Mm-hmm.

[00:01:03] And the chance to go get the second one in overtime.

[00:01:06] And that's kind of the way you come out of this sometimes, right? You get at least that point. Maybe you lose in overtime. Maybe you don't.

[00:01:11] But you kind of start with a point against a team that you otherwise maybe should have beat, and that's coming out of a slump.

[00:01:16] But instead, right.

[00:01:18] Instead, yeah. Instead, the San Jose Sharks scored, make it 3-2 with 24 seconds left, and there's just not enough time.

[00:01:25] Um, Devils had some good chances today, but I think out of the four games that we lost, I would say this was probably our worst game as far as how we played.

[00:01:39] I don't know if you guys would agree to that, but...

[00:01:42] Uninspired hockey. The urgency didn't seem to be there for me.

[00:01:46] The anger that they're in this losing streak didn't seem to be there for me, and just a really frustrating game to watch.

[00:01:54] And it really...

[00:01:56] Listen, the 2022-23 team lost like six in a row or something, right?

[00:02:00] So, I mean, and that team went on to break records for the franchise as far as points.

[00:02:04] It's going to happen, but it starts to hurt four in a row against this team and, you know, the way they're playing.

[00:02:10] They just look, I don't know, not right, right?

[00:02:15] Well, that's what I want to ask you guys.

[00:02:17] Like, what did you see in this game?

[00:02:20] Like, what's the problem?

[00:02:22] Tim, we'll start with you.

[00:02:23] And I know there's many problems, but what did you see in this game specifically against the Sharks that is a reason of why this is happening?

[00:02:35] You know, I kind of see a buildup of what we've all seen, where scoring has suddenly become a problem.

[00:02:45] And now it's started to leak into their game in Carolina.

[00:02:50] Definitely was happening in Anaheim and a little bit against the Kings, where they're starting to press too much for offense and taking chances.

[00:03:00] And then they're not, the defensive structure is starting to suffer because of those chances that they're taking.

[00:03:07] You know, it's kind of a bit of a circle of life.

[00:03:10] And Keefe said it after the game.

[00:03:13] He said, our offense comes from our defense.

[00:03:16] Now, we haven't really been generating all that much offense while playing defense, but we've been able to mask the lack of offense by playing so well defensively.

[00:03:26] But now that we're pushing to score and not scoring, and then that's causing so many problems defensively, now we're giving up.

[00:03:34] Like, we gave up a shit ton of two-on-ones, three-on-twos, like a ton of opportunities to these guys.

[00:03:40] Like, Markstrom made four or five incredible saves in the first period, two on Toffoli alone, and Toffoli hit the post.

[00:03:48] So, it's just things are starting to build up.

[00:03:53] I'm still not worried.

[00:03:54] Like you said, teams go through, you know, have little funks like this where it's just not clicking.

[00:04:00] Things just don't seem to be working.

[00:04:02] I personally think the lines are getting a little stale.

[00:04:05] Maybe there's some opportunities to put stuff up there.

[00:04:07] But, I don't know, Bobby, what do you think?

[00:04:10] It's everything you said is perfect, dude.

[00:04:12] It's that ripple effect, right?

[00:04:14] It's like, first you start losing, then you start pressing, and you start, you know, gripping the stick too tight.

[00:04:20] Mistakes get magnified, and it just keeps rolling until you just find a way to break through.

[00:04:25] Whether that's, you know, a great physical game, a great defensive game, a great offensive game.

[00:04:30] Because, like you said, things are getting a little stale.

[00:04:33] I mean, if we look way back to when we were, you know, envisioning this team in our heads, like in the summer,

[00:04:38] you know, at least for me, I had written about, you know, reuniting Tatar with Kiescher again, right?

[00:04:44] Now, they kind of tried it in the beginning, and it didn't quite work.

[00:04:47] And Tatar is definitely not the player he was a couple years ago, right?

[00:04:50] But he's not doing anything right now.

[00:04:53] And now that line has kind of cooled.

[00:04:56] Maybe there is a shuffling that can happen, and a moving of Palat back down, and getting him up there.

[00:05:02] You know, just to try it.

[00:05:03] I mean, at this point, when you lose four in a row in some of the teams that we lost to,

[00:05:07] I think it's worth trying a couple things.

[00:05:08] I'm not all about shuffling lines and going crazy.

[00:05:11] But maybe a couple guys need a couple more chances, because the bottom –

[00:05:14] a couple guys in the bottom six are finally starting to maybe get the message a little bit,

[00:05:18] specifically Connor.

[00:05:19] They're just playing better.

[00:05:20] You know, it's a process, right?

[00:05:22] But the bottom six are starting to play a little better,

[00:05:24] and now we don't have our shiny toys doing anything up top.

[00:05:28] Yeah, and I – you know, that's what I was kind of getting at is, you know,

[00:05:32] that I think tonight, the third and fourth line were actually our best lines

[00:05:35] in terms of generating chances.

[00:05:37] The problem is you don't want that to be the case.

[00:05:40] No.

[00:05:40] You know, our first and second lines were practically invisible

[00:05:43] and got absolutely caved in.

[00:05:45] You know, the Nico-Timo-Nason line was awful.

[00:05:49] Like they – you know, and it's been a few games for them to be getting caved in.

[00:05:54] I think it may be time to shuffle stuff around.

[00:05:57] What's going on?

[00:05:58] Well, back in December of 2022-23 season, they did lose eight out of nine at one point.

[00:06:05] And there were six in a row there, right?

[00:06:07] And there was six in a row, and then we won one and lost two,

[00:06:10] and then we kind of got back on track at the end of the month.

[00:06:13] But it wasn't easy.

[00:06:15] And I don't think this team is going to lose six in a row because if that happens,

[00:06:20] that means that our sixth loss would be against the Rangers, and that's not happening.

[00:06:24] But, again, I mean, I see when these guys are not – and this is every hockey team,

[00:06:32] and we're not – but we're talking about this as a devil podcast.

[00:06:35] So – but when it's not clicking, you can tell – I mean, everything to me,

[00:06:41] like watching that game, they could not get any breakout passes started.

[00:06:45] Nothing was clean.

[00:06:46] Passes were in the skates.

[00:06:48] The passes were behind guys.

[00:06:49] Passes – you know, you're not getting that quick transition into the offensive zone.

[00:06:54] Everybody kind of has to backtrack.

[00:06:57] Gives San Jose plenty of time to clog you up the neutral zone, make things more difficult for you.

[00:07:02] And I feel like when that happens with this team sometimes, they – it's like the definition of insanity.

[00:07:10] They don't change anything.

[00:07:12] And they just keep doing the same things that aren't working.

[00:07:16] Now, they have tons of skill, so a lot of times they're able to just – all they need is that one good look.

[00:07:22] You know, we have tons of guys that can score goals until we have nobody that can,

[00:07:26] and that's kind of where we're at now.

[00:07:28] Now, as far as how I feel about mixing the lines up, I absolutely have no problem with that.

[00:07:35] If anything, I would think about moving – switching Cotter and Pallad out.

[00:07:41] Let's – you know, Cotter's been playing a lot better, especially offensively.

[00:07:46] He showed again today that he does have some really smooth hands.

[00:07:52] Nice to see those back, yeah.

[00:07:53] I think he's one of the best players on this team when it comes to protecting the puck.

[00:07:59] I feel like this guy – he doesn't give it away.

[00:08:03] He's very smart with the puck.

[00:08:05] And you kind of see Pallad these last few games.

[00:08:08] Yeah, he's got some goals, but these last – not so much tonight, but two games prior, Los Angeles and Anaheim,

[00:08:14] he missed some golden opportunities.

[00:08:17] And, again, we're leaving our goalies hanging out to dry.

[00:08:20] I don't give a shit how great Jacob Markstrom or Jake Allen have been.

[00:08:24] When you are seriously hanging them out like this, by the third period, it just gets to be too much.

[00:08:31] There's been no run support these last week.

[00:08:36] I don't know.

[00:08:37] It does seem like when teams get in these ruts, like you said, Bobby,

[00:08:42] it's the little things that kind of help get them – like it's a goalie stealing you the game.

[00:08:47] It's just somebody putting the team on their back and saying, all right, come on, let's go.

[00:08:53] Today I thought that was going to be it.

[00:08:55] I thought, okay, 23 seconds.

[00:08:57] We're going to get the point.

[00:08:58] It doesn't matter what happens in overtime, in my opinion.

[00:09:02] If they can walk out of this heading into Seattle on Monday night.

[00:09:05] All right.

[00:09:06] We stopped the bleeding.

[00:09:07] Maybe we lost in overtime.

[00:09:08] Maybe you lose in a shootout.

[00:09:10] But you still walked away with a point and you could feel good about something.

[00:09:13] The way they lost, I – it's like there's absolutely nothing to feel good about.

[00:09:18] You wasted 60 minutes of whatever the fuck that was out there today.

[00:09:23] And they could have gotten a point.

[00:09:25] And I thought San Jose was the better team the entire 60 minutes.

[00:09:29] They would have – devils would have stolen the point tonight, you know,

[00:09:32] if they were able to get it.

[00:09:33] And, you know, when you're going up against San Jose, I understand that they're young

[00:09:38] and they're fun to watch.

[00:09:40] I'll put them in my top five favorite teams to watch.

[00:09:45] But you shouldn't lose to them.

[00:09:47] Especially not twice.

[00:09:47] You should not get swept by –

[00:09:49] Yeah, you shouldn't.

[00:09:50] Yeah, you can't lose twice.

[00:09:51] You know, just to put it in some context,

[00:09:55] I was kind of looking at some of the other better teams in the league just so,

[00:10:00] you know, to kind of calm it.

[00:10:01] Because I was kind of – you know, I was pretty pissed off.

[00:10:02] I was like, four in a row.

[00:10:03] Like, that's a lot, right?

[00:10:06] But Vegas, it was the best team in the league.

[00:10:09] They lost three in a row in the beginning of October.

[00:10:13] The Jets lost four in a row in November.

[00:10:15] The Wilds lost four in a row in the middle of December.

[00:10:18] The Kings lost three early.

[00:10:21] And then they lost four of six right before Christmas.

[00:10:26] The Oilers started 0-3.

[00:10:28] Florida lost four in November.

[00:10:31] And Carolina's lost four in their last six.

[00:10:33] So, like, good teams, it happens.

[00:10:37] You know, it's a long 82-game team.

[00:10:39] Now, we can't justify that and just say, hey, it just happened.

[00:10:43] You know, we should still be kind of upset about it.

[00:10:46] And to your point about the breakouts, that's what I was kind of getting at with cheating.

[00:10:51] It's like you take your – you're a couple feet away from where you're supposed to be in your routes on the breakout.

[00:10:57] And then that leads to the passes getting sloppy.

[00:11:00] And you're not kind of getting out of the zone and getting into your transition in the neutral zone.

[00:11:04] You know, that leads to a lot of issues even trying to get the puck dumped in to go after it.

[00:11:10] You know, your timing is all thrown off at all.

[00:11:13] You know, to Keith's point, saying, you know, we're not defending like we were because we're cheating offensively.

[00:11:18] And then that's then haunting us on the back end because it's coming back and causing defensive issues.

[00:11:23] I think they can turn it around.

[00:11:25] We've seen the elite side of this offense.

[00:11:26] We've seen the elite side of this defense.

[00:11:28] Our goaltending has been great.

[00:11:30] Markstrom, I know he probably wants that third one back.

[00:11:33] I think he might have been a little bit screened.

[00:11:34] But I don't put this game on him at all.

[00:11:37] And he's been outstanding recently.

[00:11:38] And Allen's been pretty good recently.

[00:11:40] So, we just need them to put all the pieces together.

[00:11:43] And I don't think Fitz is going to go and make like a panic move.

[00:11:46] No, I don't think Fitz is going to make a panic move.

[00:11:49] But he is there.

[00:11:50] He's with the team now.

[00:11:51] He was at the game in San Jose.

[00:11:53] Look, if anybody thinks he was there just to kind of give him a pep talk, no.

[00:11:58] He was there scouting.

[00:11:58] He's got his eye on somebody on the Sharks.

[00:12:01] And he probably wanted to, you know, sit down with –

[00:12:05] who the hell is the general manager of the Sharks again?

[00:12:08] Mike Greer.

[00:12:09] Mike Greer.

[00:12:10] Mike Greer.

[00:12:10] Sorry.

[00:12:12] Yeah.

[00:12:13] Jesus Christ, Chris.

[00:12:20] Yeah.

[00:12:21] I was debating whether to let that one go.

[00:12:23] No, you should have.

[00:12:25] My bad.

[00:12:26] Delete.

[00:12:27] Delete.

[00:12:27] Delete.

[00:12:28] My bad.

[00:12:30] So, you know, Mike Greer and Fitz have a good relationship.

[00:12:33] They're having a few drinks tonight, and they're talking about a few guys, I'm sure.

[00:12:39] And I think he will make a move.

[00:12:41] I think he knows, like you said before, Tim, right, like we've seen this team at its best.

[00:12:46] And there are a few weak links.

[00:12:49] And, you know, look, come playoff time, it's an old cliche,

[00:12:52] but you are only as strong as your weakest link.

[00:12:55] And that would make us, you know, as strong as Eric Holla right now

[00:12:59] because I feel like he is our weakest link at this moment.

[00:13:03] And then he went and had a pretty decent game today.

[00:13:05] You know, like it's – I still haven't heard Holla robbed or, oh, Holla gets a shot.

[00:13:12] And I can't believe he didn't bear that one.

[00:13:13] Have not heard that since that Chicago game.

[00:13:18] But I still think he had a pretty strong game.

[00:13:20] And the fourth line was actually pretty good today in terms of –

[00:13:23] Yeah, the fourth line was.

[00:13:23] Another team pinned in the zone.

[00:13:25] But that's the problem.

[00:13:26] It's like we can't have our best chances come shorthanded and from the fourth line.

[00:13:31] Like that's just not a formula to win.

[00:13:33] Like our two best chances were probably Jack shorthanded in the first period.

[00:13:38] Yeah.

[00:13:39] And, yeah, the two that he had, two good looks on the power play.

[00:13:43] Yeah.

[00:13:43] On the penalty kill, rather.

[00:13:45] There's something that I do – I want to just run this by you.

[00:13:50] And I'm not sure how I feel about this yet.

[00:13:52] But so in Pucks and Pitchforks put an article out.

[00:13:56] And we could talk a little bit about the Vancouver Canucks and the issues that they're having right now with Elias Pettersson and JT Miller.

[00:14:05] So for whatever reason – and I don't know the reasoning, and maybe if you guys do, you can say – but these guys apparently don't like each other.

[00:14:13] And apparently it is causing a huge rift in the locker room.

[00:14:16] And it's becoming a – you know, everybody tried to tamp it down.

[00:14:20] Quinn Hughes was asked about it.

[00:14:22] And he kind of tried to put the fire out.

[00:14:24] Nothing to see here.

[00:14:25] They asked for talking about it.

[00:14:26] Now it's gotten to the point where the guys are actually coming out and saying it like, you know, JT Miller is not happy with Elias Pettersson on the team and vice versa.

[00:14:36] Now, from what I got out of it, management sat down with both those guys and said, you need to work this shit out because we're not trading either of you.

[00:14:46] So we need you both.

[00:14:47] We need to win.

[00:14:48] You guys are a part of this team.

[00:14:50] So whatever bullshit problems you have, work it out, which apparently they haven't done.

[00:14:55] So JT Miller has a full no-move clause on his contract.

[00:15:00] Now, it came out that he did say he would be willing to waive that no-trade clause but only to go to the New York Rangers.

[00:15:08] So whether or not the Rangers end up pulling the trigger for JT Miller again, maybe Zibanejad to Vancouver, I don't know what the deal would be.

[00:15:16] But then Pucks and Pitchforks put this out.

[00:15:20] Nick Villano, could the New Jersey's make an Elias Pettersson trade work?

[00:15:27] So he writes here that the Vancouver Canucks are reportedly looking to separate the tragic connection of Pettersson and Miller while most are expecting Miller to get moved.

[00:15:36] Could the Devils use their assets to pry Pettersson from Vancouver?

[00:15:41] Now, I don't want to, you know, look, Pettersson was an absolute no-show for the Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs last year.

[00:15:49] So just keep that in mind when we go over this.

[00:15:52] So it says here, it goes on about how the reports say that Miller is a target of, it says here, reports say that Miller is a target of the Devils, okay, Devils rivals, New York Rangers.

[00:16:02] And then it says here, according to Elliott Friedman, the Canucks are taking calls on Pettersson and Miller.

[00:16:10] GM coach and even captain Quinn Hughes are tired of the drama.

[00:16:15] Meanwhile, biz on spit and chiclet says that the Rangers are focusing on getting Miller back.

[00:16:20] Now, Elias Pettersson's got a big contract.

[00:16:24] I think it's like 11, 11 and a half.

[00:16:27] So things would have to get moved.

[00:16:30] So he put a potential trade together.

[00:16:34] Okay.

[00:16:35] And now you have to keep in mind that the names that are brought on this going back to Vancouver is to open up the salary cap.

[00:16:44] So we look at this and you're saying, yeah, they're getting way too much.

[00:16:49] But these are the contracts, not necessarily these guys, but these are the numbers that would have to.

[00:16:55] This is the range of reality to make it happen.

[00:16:58] Okay.

[00:16:58] So he has Elias Pettersson going to New Jersey for Eric Holla, Dawson Mercer, Nate Bastian and Jonas Siegenthal.

[00:17:10] So for big contract, well, not big contract, but enough that then we can get Pettersson on this team.

[00:17:18] Then he also put together what our forward lines would look like.

[00:17:24] Sam's the guys that left and entering Pettersson Hughes and Palat.

[00:17:29] So Jack and Palat with Pettersson centering.

[00:17:34] Heischer centering Bratt and Meyer.

[00:17:38] Lazar centering Nason and Cotter.

[00:17:41] And Dowling centering Hollanen and Tatar.

[00:17:47] Thoughts?

[00:17:50] I don't see how Vancouver would even go for that.

[00:17:54] Like, that's like four pieces of trash for Pettersson.

[00:18:00] Like, I mean, he's.

[00:18:01] No.

[00:18:01] You are giving two pieces of trash and two.

[00:18:06] And one player with a bunch of upside and another player who has been our defensive stalwart.

[00:18:12] Yeah.

[00:18:13] Sorry.

[00:18:14] Sorry, Jonas.

[00:18:15] Sorry, Jonas.

[00:18:15] I didn't mean to call you trash.

[00:18:16] I apologize.

[00:18:17] Have trash.

[00:18:18] I just always.

[00:18:18] I feel like that's like a like a like a video game trade where you just keep throwing shit in until the computer.

[00:18:25] I think that's what he did.

[00:18:26] I mean, yeah.

[00:18:27] I mean, you need to clear out a lot of money.

[00:18:29] Like, that's that's a lot of money.

[00:18:30] I just I don't see why Vancouver would do that.

[00:18:34] Like, that doesn't make sense to me.

[00:18:35] But but I want to talk about the lines that he set up.

[00:18:42] Pettersson centering Jack and plot.

[00:18:45] Let's start with that.

[00:18:47] No.

[00:18:48] Okay.

[00:18:49] Now you're saying no.

[00:18:50] No, I because if if I'm the devils and if I'm going to go for that big of a move and I'm going to bring that guy in here.

[00:18:56] It was a stud in my eyes.

[00:18:58] I'm not putting them with plot on that first line.

[00:19:00] Like, what am I going to do this mega trade for and still have him as my first line left wing?

[00:19:06] Now, personally, I'm surprised.

[00:19:07] Now, if I was doing this plot would have been on that trade back to Vancouver instead of Dawson Warnerser or Jonas Siegenthaler.

[00:19:17] You know, that's that's the money right there.

[00:19:19] I could probably move plot.

[00:19:21] But I.

[00:19:24] All right.

[00:19:24] So Ben Meyer, he's sure, brat.

[00:19:27] That could probably work.

[00:19:28] Yeah.

[00:19:29] I just don't like the idea of splitting up Jack and brat.

[00:19:33] But then again, you never know.

[00:19:35] Tim, what do you think of those top two lines if we were to make that deal?

[00:19:39] Well, in my little idea of mixing up the current lines, I actually have Timo Nico and brat together.

[00:19:46] I think that line would would fucking just run people over.

[00:19:51] What would you have in the other?

[00:19:52] What would you have for the Jack line?

[00:19:54] Jack, Cotter, Nason.

[00:19:56] Interesting.

[00:19:57] Yeah, that's pretty interesting.

[00:19:59] Well, so Nico, Timo, brat, right?

[00:20:02] So the Nico's past two goals actually have both been assisted by brat.

[00:20:05] I think today on the power play and I think I'm not sure if the last one was on the power play or not.

[00:20:12] It might have been in a line shuffle.

[00:20:15] Timo's been hot recently, so he could use brat as as the kind of play driving passer.

[00:20:20] There, there.

[00:20:21] Cotter's been heating up.

[00:20:23] He can use Jack to keep him going.

[00:20:25] Nason and Jack work well with Nason as a net front.

[00:20:28] And then that leaves Holla.

[00:20:30] I put Holla with Dowling and Mercer.

[00:20:32] I have Pallott and Bastion taking a seat.

[00:20:36] Dowling and Holla actually have some pretty good metrics together.

[00:20:40] And I just like the way Dowling plays.

[00:20:42] You know, you leave Holla at center for face-offs.

[00:20:43] Hopefully those two can kind of work something out with Mercer.

[00:20:47] The one thing that isn't working in my mind is the Holla-Cotter pairing.

[00:20:51] Like that just doesn't seem to work.

[00:20:53] And like you look at a lot of like their, their metrics together, just they're by far the worst.

[00:20:58] You know, I kind of wrote it up in my, my recap last time.

[00:21:00] Like that, that pairing just doesn't work.

[00:21:02] And then my fourth line was Tatar, Lazar and, and Halleman.

[00:21:06] And I think, you know, I would like to see Hollan and get a shot, you know, like Bastion's, he doesn't fucking do anything.

[00:21:14] Like, I don't, I don't see this guy doing anything.

[00:21:16] I know he's like operating with a broken jaw, but like, you know, it's been 12 games.

[00:21:21] He hasn't contributed a thing.

[00:21:23] Not a point since he came back from the job.

[00:21:25] But just to get back, yeah, just to get back to that trade, I kind of agree with Bobby.

[00:21:28] Like that's, it's not really fixing the problems that we have necessarily.

[00:21:33] You know, I think more importantly, that trade specifically, like, I can't believe I would say that Siegenthal would be the reason to block it.

[00:21:41] But on this team right now and how well he would be the reason I would block that.

[00:21:45] Like, I don't want to mess with our defense.

[00:21:47] I really don't.

[00:21:48] I, well, I can think of a couple of, first of all, let's just discuss the simple fact that I don't, Elias Petterson literally had like, I think two points in the playoffs last year.

[00:22:02] But like, I, we already have a guy that we don't know if he's going to show up in the playoffs and that's just for Bratt.

[00:22:07] I don't want to bring another dude in.

[00:22:09] All right.

[00:22:10] Well, yeah, I just, I disagree about Bratt not showing up in the playoffs, by the way.

[00:22:15] Really?

[00:22:15] He had an empty netter.

[00:22:18] I mean, seven of the games that he played were against one of the best goalies in the world.

[00:22:24] Okay.

[00:22:24] Timo Meier didn't have any points either.

[00:22:25] Bratt had the assist on Dougie's goal, which was probably the most important goal in the series.

[00:22:32] Yeah.

[00:22:32] And all of his play driver numbers were elite.

[00:22:35] He just wasn't scoring.

[00:22:37] All right.

[00:22:38] I'm not giving a pass to that, too.

[00:22:40] I've heard it.

[00:22:40] I don't think they, year to year, I think it's a different situation unless you're proven year after year that you don't show up in the playoffs like a couple of Rangers.

[00:22:47] Right.

[00:22:48] But otherwise, like a year in the playoffs without showing up.

[00:22:51] Well, that's my point is that we, I already, like me personally, I already have that, like, in the back of my head, like, okay, Bratt, what are you going to do this year come playoff time?

[00:23:03] I don't want to have to do that with two guys.

[00:23:05] I agree.

[00:23:06] If Bratt doesn't produce again, by the way, and then just, I'll just caveat what I just said.

[00:23:10] If Bratt doesn't produce again, then I'll be like, all right, buddy, like, come on.

[00:23:14] Like, but I think the production could be there.

[00:23:16] I just, I just think he kind of got a little bit, a little bit sneaked in.

[00:23:20] But to your point where you're going with this is Pedersen's a pussy.

[00:23:24] And I think that is the kind of fight in the locker room because JT Miller's like a fiery, loud, kind of very passionate type of guy.

[00:23:34] And Pedersen's soft, quiet, you know, likes to just be kind of in the, in the corner.

[00:23:38] And he got this massive deal and has basically disappeared since then.

[00:23:42] Yeah.

[00:23:42] So, yeah, I don't, I don't want to be on the ice as far as getting like pushed around.

[00:23:48] I'm just looking here that he's six to one 76.

[00:23:50] That's, that's fairly skinny.

[00:23:52] I mean, it's two.

[00:23:54] I don't watch enough Vancouver Canucks to really have a good idea of Elias Pedersen's game.

[00:23:59] Maybe I only know his stats, right?

[00:24:01] His goals and such.

[00:24:02] Yeah.

[00:24:02] I mean, I think, you know, that's, that's kind of hand in hand with the, with the critique of him in the playoffs is that,

[00:24:09] that he is a little bit soft around the edges.

[00:24:13] Now it's a fantasy hockey trade, kind of like Tim said, like a, or a video game trade.

[00:24:18] I think there's better centers even that we can bring in that would fulfill a better need on this team.

[00:24:24] I agree.

[00:24:25] I agree.

[00:24:25] Totally.

[00:24:26] Totally.

[00:24:27] I also like, I don't want to get rid of Segent Dollar.

[00:24:32] Like just the way that him and Kovacevic have been playing, like, you know, we, we can't fuck with that.

[00:24:37] I think our decor is fine.

[00:24:39] Leave it alone.

[00:24:40] It's too good this year to fuck with.

[00:24:41] We already don't know if we're even going to have Kovacevic next year and how that changes everything else going into next year and beyond with our young guys.

[00:24:47] So for now we got to like strike while the iron's hot and just leave those guys together.

[00:24:52] I do.

[00:24:53] I want to get back to Tim, what you had for the, the lines.

[00:24:59] I'm real curious about that.

[00:25:01] I want to talk a little bit about that, but before we do that playoffs, we're talking about playoffs.

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[00:25:44] Right.

[00:25:44] Well, I mean, wait, can we talk about how my team actually clinched a day before yours?

[00:25:51] Just, yeah, go ahead.

[00:25:51] Keep going.

[00:25:52] Well, yeah, they, they won the North.

[00:25:54] Your team won the North.

[00:25:55] I'll give you that.

[00:25:55] Your Baltimore Ravens won today.

[00:25:57] A day before you guys.

[00:25:59] Well, yeah, but they also have, how many wins do they have?

[00:26:04] We're not talking about that.

[00:26:05] We're talking about days of the week here.

[00:26:07] All right.

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[00:27:29] The crown is yours.

[00:27:32] Roberto, why don't you tell our fine listeners about game time?

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[00:29:12] So, all right.

[00:29:13] Do you think that Keith, who has not in any way, shape, or form shown a penchant to throw the lines in a blender a la Lindy Ruff.

[00:29:25] So, do you think he will make some changes for the game on Monday night against the Kraken?

[00:29:31] Which I'm going to say is an absolute must win.

[00:29:34] Like, you are basically going to go winless on your fucking road trip if they don't pull out at least two points against Seattle.

[00:29:43] So, and I know that all these teams that you mentioned, Tim, Florida and Carolina and the Vegases and the Winnipegs all lost three, four games.

[00:29:53] Have any of them lost five in a row?

[00:29:56] Yeah, that's a scary thing, right?

[00:29:58] They came out of it.

[00:29:59] We're still in it.

[00:30:01] Yeah.

[00:30:01] And that's why I will say that this is a must win in Seattle.

[00:30:05] Yeah, because we don't want to be at 0-5 going to the Rangers and then putting that kind of pressure on ourselves to not lose to a team that far below us that we've kind of flipped the narrative on from last year.

[00:30:16] We have to go in there with good vibes, man.

[00:30:18] Not that the Ranger game in itself couldn't be what it takes to kind of scramble out of this because now you're throwing kind of that emotional, you know, rivalry game in there.

[00:30:26] You just don't want to go into that 0-5 and have that hanging over your head.

[00:30:29] No, no, because the whole narrative will be, yeah, the Rangers are struggling, but they're facing a, you know, double team that has now dropped five in a row, has not won on this road trip since they set out in Carolina a week, a week and a half ago, whatever the fuck it has been now, a week.

[00:30:48] But still, I will say the importance of a Seattle win on Monday night is absolutely 10 out of 10.

[00:30:55] They've got to win that game.

[00:30:57] So then to your question, your original question, I do think there will be some moves, maybe not major.

[00:31:04] I think that Keefe probably also likes the idea of his kind of pairs playing together more than the lines.

[00:31:10] I think maybe we're going to see Palat move again, not to pick on him, but I do like Tim's idea.

[00:31:14] Like, Connor, I think he got some chance up there in the beginning of the year when some people were hurt and moving around.

[00:31:19] But give that guy who's got some silky hands some time with Jack and Brat, right?

[00:31:24] Let's see how that maybe works out.

[00:31:27] I like Tim's better.

[00:31:29] I like Tim's better.

[00:31:30] I think I would put Nathan and Cotter with Jack and try that.

[00:31:37] And pull Brat down with Meyer.

[00:31:39] Yeah.

[00:31:41] I kind of think Keefe will probably do it a little bit more measured.

[00:31:44] And if he does make any changes, it will just be one guy.

[00:31:47] And I think the stuff that we talk about Palat doing, you know, the little stuff, getting the corners, getting pucks out, that's kind of a lot of what Cotter does.

[00:31:57] I think on a road trip where you're not getting practice time necessarily and you're kind of a little bit scattered, you may not see them make wholesale line changes.

[00:32:07] Because I think they tried that, what was it, against Pittsburgh or something, and the team looked fucking awful.

[00:32:13] Yeah.

[00:32:13] But they started the game with moving hollow around.

[00:32:18] They did something really weird.

[00:32:20] But I feel like they would need, like, at least a practice just to kind of familiarize this.

[00:32:24] They may do, like, a one-guy switch.

[00:32:27] You know, Cotter and Palat, I think, would be a great move.

[00:32:32] I don't know if Dowling is actually up with the team or not.

[00:32:37] Do you guys know?

[00:32:39] I don't.

[00:32:42] He is, yes, he's up with the team.

[00:32:44] Oh, he is.

[00:32:45] Okay.

[00:32:46] He's in the press box, as it were.

[00:32:48] Yeah.

[00:32:49] You know, Tim, to use kind of like a brewing analogy, you know, with the formation of recipes and then the process that you do it, whenever we make a beer and you maybe didn't come out quite the way you want it, kind of the rule of thumb is, and not everybody follows it, you're going to change one thing.

[00:33:04] Because if you change more than one thing, you don't know that that change had the effect that you wanted it to, right?

[00:33:10] So you can't quite do that in hockey because to change a position, you're probably moving at least two players, right?

[00:33:16] But it's a similar kind of concept, right?

[00:33:18] Keep it simple, stupid.

[00:33:19] Like, you got to know if it's even working before you just throw it all in a blender and, you know, hope it sticks.

[00:33:24] So.

[00:33:25] Right.

[00:33:25] Right.

[00:33:25] Yeah.

[00:33:26] I mean, I think they need to change something because we've been running out these same four lines, basically, you know, with the exception of Tatara McKeown.

[00:33:33] Dermott's popping in and out for, I don't know, two months now.

[00:33:38] And I don't necessarily think that change for change's sake is something you should do.

[00:33:44] But it's obviously something's gotten a little stale.

[00:33:48] And the offense has dried up.

[00:33:51] You know, I don't know what else we can do without Fitz making a trade, to be perfectly honest.

[00:33:58] Like, you know, but something needs to change.

[00:34:00] Someone needs to sit.

[00:34:02] Someone needs to get demoted.

[00:34:03] Someone needs to get promoted.

[00:34:05] And I think the Cotter-Palat switch.

[00:34:06] I mean, Palat pretty much, like, you know, fucking open net, man.

[00:34:13] Like.

[00:34:14] Yeah.

[00:34:15] Yeah.

[00:34:15] We can talk about that.

[00:34:16] A little bit.

[00:34:17] A little bit in his skates for sure.

[00:34:19] But, you know, you're a $6 million forward.

[00:34:20] Maybe corral that in a little bit.

[00:34:22] And honestly, even if he didn't shoot it at Askarov, like, that was going wide.

[00:34:27] Yeah.

[00:34:28] His shot was going fucking wide the wrong way.

[00:34:31] Like, I get it's in your skates.

[00:34:32] But adjust yourself a little bit.

[00:34:35] I have.

[00:34:36] You know, you catch it pulled in.

[00:34:38] I have a problem.

[00:34:40] I just, I have a problem with a couple of guys on this team that I just, I'm sorry.

[00:34:44] I don't see Tatar, why he even had to come back.

[00:34:49] You know, he's done nothing.

[00:34:51] He's going to continue to do nothing.

[00:34:54] I just don't see it.

[00:34:55] I mean, this is why the guy got traded last year in season and had no place to go late

[00:35:01] in this year.

[00:35:02] And, you know, in this, in the summertime.

[00:35:04] And we picked him up.

[00:35:06] Holla, I'm done with.

[00:35:07] I know that maybe there, I just don't know if there's anything there.

[00:35:10] I don't, I really don't.

[00:35:12] And I honestly think that that's the move that Fitz is going to go for.

[00:35:17] He is going to get rid of Holla at the trade deadline and maybe a couple of other guys.

[00:35:22] You mentioned Bastion.

[00:35:23] I like Nate Bastion as a person.

[00:35:26] I think he's a pretty cool guy.

[00:35:28] I like him.

[00:35:30] But.

[00:35:31] Is he out of options?

[00:35:32] Is that why we're not even at least bringing somebody up to give that a try in his spot?

[00:35:37] Does he have to go through waivers?

[00:35:38] He would have to go through waivers.

[00:35:39] Yeah, he would have to go through waivers.

[00:35:40] We didn't.

[00:35:41] No, we left.

[00:35:42] Sorry, we left him open for Seattle to grab him.

[00:35:46] Yeah, he was taken at the expansion draft.

[00:35:51] You know, and I kind of think this is sort of how Fitz operates.

[00:35:55] I know everybody wants to, or not everybody.

[00:35:57] I know there are some level-headed people that are, you know, understand, you know,

[00:36:01] that these slumps kind of happen during the course of a season.

[00:36:04] But I do see a pretty significant segment of the fan base, particularly in one Facebook group.

[00:36:12] Let me read you some of these gems.

[00:36:19] Sharks 2-8 in the last 10 and outplaying the Devils.

[00:36:21] This is not a playoff team.

[00:36:22] This team is done.

[00:36:25] Hang on.

[00:36:26] Not being that guy, we kind of – oh, wait.

[00:36:28] Yeah.

[00:36:28] Hang on.

[00:36:29] Sorry.

[00:36:29] It's past time to press the panic button.

[00:36:31] This roster ain't going to cut it.

[00:36:32] It's flawed and mid at best.

[00:36:33] Worst bottom six in the league.

[00:36:36] It's like these – people just, like, overreact to these games.

[00:36:39] Absolutely.

[00:36:40] Yeah.

[00:36:40] Absolutely.

[00:36:41] And I get it.

[00:36:43] Sorry.

[00:36:44] Go ahead.

[00:36:44] No, I was just going to say they do it in every sport.

[00:36:46] And, you know, to look at this team and say that this team is, you know, a fraud.

[00:36:53] This team has got the worst bottom six in the league.

[00:36:56] I don't agree with that.

[00:36:57] No.

[00:36:58] I do think, though, that for this team to be a true Stanley Cup contender,

[00:37:04] they've got to get back to what they consistently do – have done well throughout this year.

[00:37:10] It's lost right now.

[00:37:11] They're just not playing their game.

[00:37:14] And I think with the team constructed the way it is, they absolutely –

[00:37:18] I can see a world where they go into Seattle, they hold them to 18 shots the whole game,

[00:37:23] they score four or five, and we walk out of there with a 5-1 win,

[00:37:27] 18 shots to Seattle, and we're looking good just like we were.

[00:37:32] And these people won't be saying shit.

[00:37:33] I'm saying long term to me to really get that bottom six going,

[00:37:39] you've got to get rid of Holla and get somebody else that can come in there.

[00:37:44] Even if you wanted to move him down to the fourth line and have him center to fourth line,

[00:37:48] I'm fine with that.

[00:37:49] But you have to get a 3C in there.

[00:37:52] That is absolutely – I'm not nearly at the point that I think this team sucks.

[00:37:57] And I watch a lot of hockey.

[00:37:58] You guys watch a lot of hockey.

[00:38:00] The Devils are far from, you know, this horrible fucking product on the ice.

[00:38:06] They're in a four-game slump right now.

[00:38:10] And you've got to remember, like, every team needs the soldiers.

[00:38:14] They need a couple of them, right?

[00:38:15] They need a few of them.

[00:38:16] The problem is they can't all be soldiers, right,

[00:38:18] which is why we've all been harping recently on a real solid traditional 3C.

[00:38:24] You know what I mean?

[00:38:24] We need that on this team to set these lines where they belong.

[00:38:28] Like Tatar, I firmly believe that Fitz brought him back in,

[00:38:32] hoping A, can rekindle the magic with Heischer,

[00:38:36] assuming he was forecasting the lines kind of like I did.

[00:38:39] And then B, if not, this guy's a soldier.

[00:38:42] He can go down the third and fourth line and give you serviceable minutes.

[00:38:45] He's just really not kind of finding his game in either spot right now.

[00:38:50] But one or two of these guys got to get moving again.

[00:38:53] I think a guy like Palat, and this is not shitting on him.

[00:38:56] This is like a positive about him.

[00:38:58] He's more adept to kind of go down to another role.

[00:39:01] Like I'm not worried about taking Palat and put him on a third line and saying,

[00:39:04] now we're not going to have one of the best third lines in the league.

[00:39:06] In fact, it's the opposite.

[00:39:07] I think if we construct it the way we could,

[00:39:09] that could make us one of the best third lines in the league,

[00:39:12] like I thought it was going to be a couple months ago.

[00:39:15] Then you just got to fill out who can go up top.

[00:39:18] I mean, to do well in the spring, to go far in the playoffs,

[00:39:22] you've got to be very strong down the middle.

[00:39:25] Absolutely.

[00:39:26] I mean, you look at Washington.

[00:39:28] I watched that game today against the Rangers.

[00:39:30] I mean, their center depth is crazy.

[00:39:32] I mean, you have McMichael and PLD playing fantastic roles in those spots

[00:39:38] that they didn't – PLD I thought was a bust.

[00:39:42] I was laughing at Washington when they picked him up.

[00:39:45] He's playing their part really, really well.

[00:39:47] For what they needed him to do, he's doing it fantastically.

[00:39:52] And, you know, McMichael, a guy you brought up who looks like he's been in the NHL

[00:39:57] for the last five years, playing really well.

[00:40:00] The Devils – I mean, with Heischer and Hughes, I love them in the middle.

[00:40:05] But – and even Lazar.

[00:40:07] I don't mind Lazar on that fourth line centering him.

[00:40:10] I think that, like you said, the fourth line played well today.

[00:40:13] They were controlling offensive zone pressure.

[00:40:17] They were getting chances.

[00:40:18] They were really working hard.

[00:40:20] Then it goes back to that third line.

[00:40:22] And with Holla there, I think you are wasting what Paul Cotter could give you.

[00:40:28] I just think that you've got to give Paul Cotter a bit more of a chance.

[00:40:32] I – I wouldn't swap him out with Plot against – in that Seattle game.

[00:40:36] I really would.

[00:40:37] I think that that's the – that's the one move I would do.

[00:40:40] But the long term, where are we going with this team in a perfect world?

[00:40:45] I will take a winger for Jack and Brat, and I'll take a 3C.

[00:40:51] And I think that that would be it.

[00:40:53] But you're not going to be able to get everything you want.

[00:40:56] But a 3C is the absolute what they should be looking for.

[00:40:59] The other option, if we can get it to work, is by virtue of bringing Nason back down to

[00:41:06] the third line, even if your 3C is not the 3C we're looking for.

[00:41:09] You made that third line way more dynamic and scary.

[00:41:13] But that would mean that we've got to have a guy like Mercer being able to play with

[00:41:17] Heischer and Meyer, which should on paper work because, you know, Meyer can be that

[00:41:21] big body because you don't – we don't want three light guys anywhere or whatever.

[00:41:25] But Heischer's not light on his feet anymore either.

[00:41:27] You know, you can't exactly push him around.

[00:41:29] So if we could ever – if the Devils could get that to work again, as much as I love

[00:41:34] Nason being up there doing what he's doing, Nason on the third line, that's just killer,

[00:41:38] especially in the playoffs, man.

[00:41:39] Third lines win championships.

[00:41:41] I'd love to have him back down there.

[00:41:43] What about Mercer centering the third line?

[00:41:46] That was originally his deal, right?

[00:41:47] That's how it was originally forecasted, Mercer down the middle.

[00:41:50] I just – I don't think he functions very well as a center.

[00:41:54] I don't think he has –

[00:41:56] He's kind of shifted out of it.

[00:41:57] Yeah, we were talking about this.

[00:41:59] Like he – I just don't think he has the strength.

[00:42:02] Like he – you know, and I realize Jack's not a huge guy,

[00:42:05] but Jack obviously has other skill sets that make him incredibly valuable.

[00:42:09] Like Mercer just bounces off people.

[00:42:11] Like he – you know, you watch him in a board battle,

[00:42:13] and he just kind of gets tossed around.

[00:42:16] Like he weighs like nothing.

[00:42:17] I just don't think he has that strength.

[00:42:19] And Mercer's a guy like I'm starting to get concerned about.

[00:42:22] It's like, you know, he's an ultimate passenger.

[00:42:25] He needs a play-driving center to play with him.

[00:42:28] And maybe that is the answer is, you know,

[00:42:30] back up there with that Nico Timo line or even put him with Jack.

[00:42:34] It's the core factor we talked about, right?

[00:42:36] Yeah.

[00:42:37] Let him go up there and dangle around with some of those guys.

[00:42:40] Yeah, I guess I could see that.

[00:42:42] I mean, I'd be willing to give that one a try.

[00:42:44] So you're saying Palat, Holla, and Nason on the third line.

[00:42:50] Yeah.

[00:42:51] Yeah.

[00:42:51] In Cotter, Bratt, and Jack, and Mercer, Meyer, Heischer.

[00:42:57] That's what you're saying.

[00:42:59] That's what I would give a go with.

[00:43:01] Yeah.

[00:43:01] Or even if they want to go more extreme, switch Bratt and Mercer.

[00:43:05] So it would be Bratt, Nico, Timo, Cotter, Jack, Mercer.

[00:43:09] You know, some variation of that.

[00:43:10] But I agree with that.

[00:43:11] Like Nason's been found money this year, you know,

[00:43:14] with the amount that he's scoring and what he does net front on the power play.

[00:43:18] I know the power play's gone a little cold recently.

[00:43:20] Well, they haven't been getting any fucking calls.

[00:43:23] Holy shit.

[00:43:24] Well, that's something else we could talk about if you want to get into that.

[00:43:29] I would like to, yeah.

[00:43:30] Well, after this, let's finish up with the rest.

[00:43:32] Legit skill set wise, if I just ask you point blank,

[00:43:36] who do you rather see as being kind of the guy on your third line?

[00:43:44] Nason or Mercer?

[00:43:46] Just that.

[00:43:46] That's the question.

[00:43:47] Nason.

[00:43:47] Nason, without a doubt.

[00:43:49] And that's not a demotion to Nason.

[00:43:50] That's like, we need you doing that kind of shit that you do

[00:43:53] and being like the ultimate competitor on that third line.

[00:43:57] Yeah.

[00:43:58] Yeah.

[00:43:58] You know, I buy that.

[00:44:00] I buy that.

[00:44:00] Yeah.

[00:44:00] I feel like Mercer feels like he should be top six,

[00:44:05] but he's actually not a top six.

[00:44:07] And that's kind of the problem with that, that I have with Mercer.

[00:44:10] But put him in there and give him some run and see what happens.

[00:44:13] If he's not.

[00:44:15] And he's then,

[00:44:16] then maybe he is the one of the pieces you put in the trade,

[00:44:18] because I don't think he's giving you third line material either.

[00:44:22] No,

[00:44:23] I agree.

[00:44:24] He's he's he'll,

[00:44:25] he'll,

[00:44:25] he'll,

[00:44:26] you know,

[00:44:26] but he'll work his ass off for you,

[00:44:28] but it's not a prototypical third line player.

[00:44:30] So maybe it's just that he doesn't have a seat here anymore.

[00:44:33] He's a really good penalty killer.

[00:44:35] Mercer is like,

[00:44:36] that's something that,

[00:44:37] that I will give him credit for.

[00:44:38] And he actually created Jack's first shorthanded breakaway today,

[00:44:42] where he,

[00:44:43] where he beat a guy at the point and kind of knocked the puck out to Jack.

[00:44:46] So he does that,

[00:44:47] that type of stuff.

[00:44:48] Well,

[00:44:48] but I feel like,

[00:44:49] you know,

[00:44:49] he definitely did not take the,

[00:44:51] get the memo about him needing to be singled out and needing to work out

[00:44:55] over the summer.

[00:44:56] Right now he really is.

[00:44:58] I mean,

[00:44:59] you see it with Brad over the course of the last couple of years,

[00:45:02] how much he,

[00:45:03] how much work he put into that.

[00:45:05] And now he's a little,

[00:45:06] you know,

[00:45:07] you're not moving Brad.

[00:45:08] I mean,

[00:45:08] he he'll hit,

[00:45:09] he'll do.

[00:45:10] And yeah,

[00:45:11] Mercer just,

[00:45:11] he doesn't have that,

[00:45:13] that killer instinct.

[00:45:14] He's not strong.

[00:45:15] Like you said,

[00:45:16] he bounces off of people,

[00:45:17] you know,

[00:45:18] just,

[00:45:19] I don't know.

[00:45:19] I mean,

[00:45:19] I'm,

[00:45:20] I'm indifferent to Mercer right now.

[00:45:22] Like he just hasn't shown me enough.

[00:45:24] You know,

[00:45:25] this could be the,

[00:45:25] you know,

[00:45:26] what third year in that now he's finally going,

[00:45:27] all right,

[00:45:27] you know what?

[00:45:28] Now I know what I got to do too.

[00:45:29] I got to follow up like those guys did.

[00:45:31] And I got to bulk out,

[00:45:32] you know,

[00:45:32] Nico was small for years.

[00:45:33] Brat was small for years.

[00:45:35] Yeah.

[00:45:35] It took them years to say,

[00:45:37] no,

[00:45:37] wait,

[00:45:37] this is the adult player I'm going to be,

[00:45:40] you know?

[00:45:41] And I mean,

[00:45:41] Mercer's still young.

[00:45:42] Maybe I'm not giving up on the guys.

[00:45:44] What I'm saying?

[00:45:44] No,

[00:45:44] absolutely not.

[00:45:45] Absolutely not.

[00:45:46] Hockey player in there,

[00:45:47] but on a team,

[00:45:48] if I'm looking at a team,

[00:45:49] I'm saying,

[00:45:49] well,

[00:45:49] if you're going to relegate him to the third line,

[00:45:52] then he might be more valuable to you as an asset to be moved.

[00:45:56] If you can bring in the right pieces to truly make us a championship team.

[00:46:00] Yeah.

[00:46:00] He's almost in between.

[00:46:02] He's almost role lists because he's in between two roles.

[00:46:06] Right.

[00:46:06] Like he,

[00:46:07] like he,

[00:46:07] he should be a top six guy,

[00:46:10] but you know,

[00:46:12] if we had more runway in a championship window,

[00:46:14] he could build into that.

[00:46:15] But that's kind of why he's on,

[00:46:17] on the third line.

[00:46:18] And he's supposed to be kind of that scoring touch on the third line,

[00:46:21] but he can't do that because he has needs a play driving center,

[00:46:24] which isn't Eric Hala.

[00:46:26] No,

[00:46:27] no,

[00:46:27] I mean,

[00:46:28] it's not right.

[00:46:28] I mean,

[00:46:29] I'm checking my phone to make sure to see if Fitz comes away with

[00:46:32] Grandland from San Jose.

[00:46:34] Like,

[00:46:34] well,

[00:46:35] I wouldn't be shocked.

[00:46:36] I mean,

[00:46:36] he seems like the guy that is why Fitz is there.

[00:46:40] Right.

[00:46:40] I mean,

[00:46:41] I heard a little bit even about Zetterlin possibly.

[00:46:44] I heard that Zetterlin was,

[00:46:45] I heard that he was working on an extension there.

[00:46:48] Yeah.

[00:46:49] And then they,

[00:46:49] then they came out and said that,

[00:46:51] that he is kind of looking for an extension and they're in

[00:46:54] discussions.

[00:46:54] But I mean,

[00:46:56] there was talk that it was Zetterlin and Grandland that he was going,

[00:46:59] that,

[00:46:59] that Fitz was going to go to really check out.

[00:47:02] Now,

[00:47:02] Grandland.

[00:47:03] San Jose has got to look at this too.

[00:47:05] Like,

[00:47:05] you know,

[00:47:05] remember we got rid of Timo for this guy.

[00:47:07] Like they want to kind of make sure,

[00:47:09] you know,

[00:47:09] Hey,

[00:47:09] look,

[00:47:09] we made the right move.

[00:47:10] Oh,

[00:47:11] it's not going to be Zetterlin.

[00:47:12] It's not going to be Zetterlin,

[00:47:13] but it could very well be Grandland.

[00:47:15] Yeah.

[00:47:16] Yeah.

[00:47:16] I mean,

[00:47:17] what do you guys think of that?

[00:47:20] I mean,

[00:47:21] I love it.

[00:47:21] Like he's so good.

[00:47:22] Like he,

[00:47:23] and he's just so quick.

[00:47:24] He is a little on the smaller side,

[00:47:25] but he kind of is a little bit like brat where he's a bit of a fire

[00:47:28] plug or fire hydrant,

[00:47:30] I guess.

[00:47:33] A fire plug and hydrant spark plug.

[00:47:37] Spark plug.

[00:47:39] Is fire plug a thing?

[00:47:40] I don't think it's a thing.

[00:47:41] No,

[00:47:42] I don't think it's a thing.

[00:47:43] spark plug is.

[00:47:43] I think fire plug may be a thing.

[00:47:45] I'm like an apartment building.

[00:47:47] I think that may be my New York city talking.

[00:47:49] No.

[00:47:50] Are you still thinking about your butt plug?

[00:47:52] No,

[00:47:53] things went well.

[00:47:54] No.

[00:47:55] It was actually the opposite of a butt plug.

[00:47:58] That's right.

[00:48:00] So McHale Grandland,

[00:48:02] you know,

[00:48:02] center five,

[00:48:03] 10,

[00:48:04] 185 pounds.

[00:48:05] He's got 11 goals,

[00:48:07] 24 assists and 35 points this year.

[00:48:12] You know,

[00:48:13] could that be our three C?

[00:48:15] Yeah.

[00:48:15] He's $5 million.

[00:48:16] He's a,

[00:48:17] he's a free agent after this year,

[00:48:19] you know,

[00:48:20] maybe one and done,

[00:48:21] but I don't know.

[00:48:23] Biggest guy that I would think of for the role,

[00:48:25] but is he a good center is really the question.

[00:48:29] I mean,

[00:48:29] is he going to,

[00:48:30] what's his face off?

[00:48:31] He's got a 47.4 this year.

[00:48:34] Yeah.

[00:48:35] Losing some percent.

[00:48:36] Face off.

[00:48:37] Face off.

[00:48:38] Yeah.

[00:48:38] Yeah.

[00:48:39] I know you don't put too much stock into the whole face off thing,

[00:48:42] but you know,

[00:48:45] career wise,

[00:48:45] he's played 158 games.

[00:48:47] He's got 168 goals of 411 assists for 579 points.

[00:48:54] Yeah.

[00:48:54] I'd be fine with him.

[00:48:55] I would be fine.

[00:48:56] Like I'm pretty confident in fits.

[00:48:59] So like if it's pulled the trigger on something,

[00:49:01] then yeah,

[00:49:02] I'm okay with it.

[00:49:03] You know,

[00:49:04] if he thinks it's going to make this team better than,

[00:49:06] than I say,

[00:49:07] go ahead and do it.

[00:49:08] The interesting question would be who goes the other way.

[00:49:11] Right.

[00:49:11] Cause if it's not Hala,

[00:49:12] for example,

[00:49:14] then now you got to figure out like who's going where,

[00:49:16] and we need to clear some money off the books to even make that happen.

[00:49:19] So it would be interesting to see who moves.

[00:49:21] And San Jose can't retain any more money.

[00:49:23] I think they've,

[00:49:24] that you can only as a team,

[00:49:26] you can only retain money.

[00:49:27] You only have three slots to retain money.

[00:49:30] So you need to find a third party broker,

[00:49:33] another team to retain that money for him,

[00:49:35] which would then mean another,

[00:49:37] we'd probably have to flip like a fourth or fifth draft round draft pick,

[00:49:40] which,

[00:49:40] which is whatever.

[00:49:41] But honestly,

[00:49:43] fucking wave to tar,

[00:49:44] you know,

[00:49:45] like,

[00:49:45] or put it,

[00:49:46] or toss him in,

[00:49:47] you know,

[00:49:48] toss in bastion and bring up Hallam in.

[00:49:50] Like,

[00:49:50] you know,

[00:49:52] there are ways to do it.

[00:49:53] Like between Tatar and bastion,

[00:49:55] that's two,

[00:49:58] three point,

[00:49:59] uh,

[00:49:59] 3.15 million.

[00:50:01] Yeah.

[00:50:01] I'm to tell her bastion between Tatar and bastion.

[00:50:04] There's another guy that could get wave to,

[00:50:06] who spends a lot of time in the press box that I don't see a use for.

[00:50:09] I know a lot of people love them,

[00:50:10] but another 1.15 for another three fucking years.

[00:50:14] McDermott.

[00:50:15] Yeah.

[00:50:16] Yeah.

[00:50:17] I mean,

[00:50:18] there are things we could do.

[00:50:19] I don't want to give up Lazar.

[00:50:19] I love Lazar.

[00:50:20] I think he's just a vibes guy that we need in the locker room.

[00:50:24] You know,

[00:50:24] who's going to keep Luke honest.

[00:50:26] Um,

[00:50:28] it's,

[00:50:28] it's tinkering around the edges.

[00:50:30] That that's really what it is.

[00:50:31] I don't think we're going to,

[00:50:32] we're going to land any sort of big,

[00:50:35] you know,

[00:50:35] top six.

[00:50:37] I don't know.

[00:50:38] I mean,

[00:50:38] I think we need it.

[00:50:39] I just don't think we have the room for it.

[00:50:41] No,

[00:50:41] I mean,

[00:50:42] I think if you shore up the middle and again,

[00:50:45] it comes down to that third center line.

[00:50:47] It comes down to Eric.

[00:50:48] I think this team would be a hell of a lot better.

[00:50:51] You've got to shore up that third line though,

[00:50:53] because it's,

[00:50:54] it's a fucking,

[00:50:55] it's a waste.

[00:50:57] It's like,

[00:50:57] you know,

[00:50:57] why even have some of these guys right now?

[00:50:59] I feel like it's the only action that we get today.

[00:51:02] We saw it with the fourth line,

[00:51:04] but it's those top two.

[00:51:04] And we have three guys that are essentially not doing anything.

[00:51:09] And it doesn't,

[00:51:09] I'm not just throwing other than Holla.

[00:51:12] The third line has been thrown in a blender a lot this year,

[00:51:16] more than any other line.

[00:51:18] And what's the constant Eric Holla.

[00:51:21] Why has it not work?

[00:51:22] He's the fucking constant.

[00:51:23] And he's the one that's been on that line from day one.

[00:51:26] And that line does not work.

[00:51:28] Well,

[00:51:29] and if you,

[00:51:29] you know,

[00:51:30] you think historically about the devil,

[00:51:32] it's like,

[00:51:32] and that's why I'm kind of advocating maybe putting,

[00:51:36] you know,

[00:51:36] throwing the blender on a little bit and seeing if you can,

[00:51:38] can strike gold with another combo.

[00:51:40] Like,

[00:51:40] you know,

[00:51:40] we didn't,

[00:51:41] it was the Bernier Janta and,

[00:51:43] and who was the third guy on that line,

[00:51:45] the CBGB line.

[00:51:48] Like we didn't,

[00:51:49] that got put together like a week before the playoffs and we struck absolute

[00:51:53] gold.

[00:51:54] Carter.

[00:51:55] Carter.

[00:51:56] Yes.

[00:51:57] Yeah.

[00:51:58] Yeah.

[00:52:00] Yeah.

[00:52:01] Yes.

[00:52:02] Sure.

[00:52:02] This is Christ.

[00:52:03] We're going to have to delete this whole fucking episode.

[00:52:07] I'm not doing it over.

[00:52:10] That's it.

[00:52:10] That's it.

[00:52:11] I agree though.

[00:52:13] It's tinkering around the edges is really what is going to get done.

[00:52:17] Because like you said,

[00:52:18] we,

[00:52:18] unless it is a big name for a big name,

[00:52:22] which I don't see happening.

[00:52:25] Yeah.

[00:52:25] This is the kind of move you have to make.

[00:52:27] And I say,

[00:52:28] make it now.

[00:52:29] I mean,

[00:52:31] hollow is fucking killing us,

[00:52:32] man.

[00:52:34] You know,

[00:52:34] him and pull out or like the two that I'm just like,

[00:52:37] what are we doing?

[00:52:38] I would love to see.

[00:52:39] I would just love to see a younger.

[00:52:44] Person in Palat spot.

[00:52:46] Just somebody that,

[00:52:46] you know,

[00:52:47] doesn't have the mileage.

[00:52:49] Palat.

[00:52:49] A lot of times it seems like it just doesn't give a shit.

[00:52:52] No,

[00:52:52] I just,

[00:52:53] I'm with you.

[00:52:53] I just want to,

[00:52:54] like,

[00:52:54] I almost wish that there was not like an injury that really,

[00:52:58] you know,

[00:52:59] fuck somebody up,

[00:52:59] but like just a reason to bring another kid up,

[00:53:01] like from the show,

[00:53:02] just to see like the energy infusion.

[00:53:04] I feel like we need that.

[00:53:05] Like we need that little,

[00:53:06] if it's not going to be a trade or a move,

[00:53:08] like how I'm in,

[00:53:09] like,

[00:53:09] what would he do if he just came up here right now,

[00:53:11] knowing that,

[00:53:12] you know,

[00:53:12] we got a bottom six.

[00:53:13] It's shit.

[00:53:14] Right.

[00:53:14] Like,

[00:53:15] like when the air came up.

[00:53:17] Yeah.

[00:53:18] Like when the air came up.

[00:53:19] Yeah.

[00:53:19] I was like,

[00:53:19] I love this kid.

[00:53:20] He's just running around,

[00:53:21] throwing his weight around.

[00:53:22] I fucking love it.

[00:53:23] Oh,

[00:53:24] I'll tell you.

[00:53:25] Sorry.

[00:53:26] Go ahead.

[00:53:26] No,

[00:53:26] no,

[00:53:26] I was just going to say,

[00:53:27] I'm going to go back to what Bob mentioned and you guys actually met,

[00:53:31] both mentioned on the last show.

[00:53:33] Bring Dowling in,

[00:53:34] have him center to third line and,

[00:53:36] and scratch hollow against Seattle.

[00:53:39] Just let him sit.

[00:53:40] Or put hollow up for Palat and move Palat down,

[00:53:43] you know,

[00:53:43] put hollow on Jack's wing so he can take those faceoffs.

[00:53:47] Like hollow and Jack played great together.

[00:53:49] The faceoff.

[00:53:49] Yeah.

[00:53:50] Like,

[00:53:50] I don't know,

[00:53:51] you know,

[00:53:51] it's just,

[00:53:52] I wouldn't.

[00:53:52] Yeah.

[00:53:53] I mean,

[00:53:53] you got to try something.

[00:53:55] You got to try something.

[00:53:56] I'm not,

[00:53:57] you know,

[00:53:57] I don't like to advocate for promoting people for no reason,

[00:54:00] but like,

[00:54:01] you know,

[00:54:01] to get guys going,

[00:54:02] I'd rather see the coach try and spin something in a positive way.

[00:54:06] That's kind of like what he did in that Pittsburgh game where he did have him up with Jack to,

[00:54:11] to take some faceoffs.

[00:54:12] And you could tell he was up there just to kind of get a spark under hollows ass and see if they can get him going.

[00:54:19] And it didn't work.

[00:54:21] I,

[00:54:21] I'm just,

[00:54:21] I don't know.

[00:54:22] I mean,

[00:54:22] I just think,

[00:54:23] I just think like,

[00:54:24] I would rather see him bench and see Dowling in there right now.

[00:54:30] I don't see,

[00:54:30] I mean,

[00:54:31] it's been,

[00:54:32] it's happened so many times before where you've taken a veteran and just said,

[00:54:35] sit your ass down for a day.

[00:54:36] You've lost yourself.

[00:54:37] It's not a big deal.

[00:54:38] And they really need to try it.

[00:54:41] I agree.

[00:54:41] We all want a good hollow.

[00:54:43] I want the hollow we had that was producing last year.

[00:54:45] I don't,

[00:54:45] you know,

[00:54:46] that's what we want.

[00:54:47] So let's do it.

[00:54:49] Yeah.

[00:54:49] I'm with you.

[00:54:51] All right.

[00:54:51] So just one more thing before we wrap it up for the night.

[00:54:54] Has anybody ever seen a referee's arm go up to signal penalty?

[00:55:01] The goalie leave the crease and get off the bench for the extra attacker.

[00:55:08] And then when the opposing team touches the puck,

[00:55:11] they blow the play dead and then come back and say there was no penalty.

[00:55:15] Has anyone ever fucking seen that before?

[00:55:18] That was a first for me.

[00:55:19] That was a first for me.

[00:55:21] I like with the extra attacker coming off and then even,

[00:55:24] you know,

[00:55:25] Bill and Dan were like,

[00:55:26] what the fuck is happening here?

[00:55:27] I don't understand.

[00:55:28] And as a second time they got it wrong,

[00:55:30] they got a penalty wrong where they got overruled that,

[00:55:32] that high stick where they said it was Mercer stick.

[00:55:36] It wasn't Mercer stick.

[00:55:37] No.

[00:55:38] The replay clearly shows it was,

[00:55:40] that was not Mercer stick.

[00:55:41] So,

[00:55:42] you know,

[00:55:42] I,

[00:55:42] I never go after the refs on anything.

[00:55:45] Like,

[00:55:45] you know,

[00:55:46] generally I know they're trying to do their best.

[00:55:49] And I think a lot of people mistaking competence for bias.

[00:55:53] But what the fuck?

[00:55:55] Like we've been getting really like the short end of the stick here.

[00:55:58] It's when it piles on.

[00:56:00] Four or five games.

[00:56:01] You know,

[00:56:02] now was that the play that Jack Hughes stepped on the puck and that was the

[00:56:10] same play,

[00:56:11] right?

[00:56:11] Which,

[00:56:11] so he did get a stick in there.

[00:56:13] That was,

[00:56:13] that was,

[00:56:13] that was the play that Bob was talking about.

[00:56:15] That was the one where they,

[00:56:15] they said was no penalty,

[00:56:17] right?

[00:56:17] That's the play.

[00:56:18] Yeah.

[00:56:18] So,

[00:56:19] so yeah,

[00:56:19] Jack did step on the puck,

[00:56:21] but it did.

[00:56:22] Celebrini stick was in there.

[00:56:23] Like Jack was going down,

[00:56:25] whether or not that puck was in the skates.

[00:56:27] I honestly,

[00:56:27] he tripped them.

[00:56:28] but the point I think is,

[00:56:30] is like,

[00:56:32] like,

[00:56:32] even if he tripped on the puck and like,

[00:56:34] I've never seen a linesman go be like,

[00:56:36] Hey,

[00:56:36] you were wrong.

[00:56:36] You should overturn that.

[00:56:38] Yeah.

[00:56:38] Like refs getting calls wrong all the time that we see on the replay.

[00:56:41] Part of sports.

[00:56:41] Right.

[00:56:42] It's,

[00:56:42] it's kind of,

[00:56:43] that's like the one acceptable thing,

[00:56:44] you know,

[00:56:45] because there's a human element.

[00:56:46] These calls are going to go bad.

[00:56:47] And then you think,

[00:56:48] well,

[00:56:48] they're going to even up.

[00:56:49] You see it in baseball.

[00:56:50] You see it in hockey.

[00:56:51] You see it in football.

[00:56:53] But yeah,

[00:56:53] I'd never seen it.

[00:56:54] Like,

[00:56:55] nevermind.

[00:56:56] None of that happened.

[00:56:57] Forgive me.

[00:56:58] It's ridiculous.

[00:57:00] Yeah.

[00:57:00] Yeah.

[00:57:01] I,

[00:57:02] I,

[00:57:03] that was ridiculous.

[00:57:04] And then the overturning of the,

[00:57:06] the high stick,

[00:57:07] cause they said it was Mercer stick,

[00:57:08] but it clearly wasn't like just,

[00:57:11] it's all,

[00:57:11] again,

[00:57:12] it's one of these things that's accumulating,

[00:57:13] you know,

[00:57:13] with,

[00:57:14] with nature's fucking diving.

[00:57:15] And I sent you that video of,

[00:57:17] of him diving,

[00:57:17] um,

[00:57:19] like of him,

[00:57:20] I forget who they were playing.

[00:57:21] Was it Florida?

[00:57:22] I think.

[00:57:22] I think it was Florida.

[00:57:23] Where the guy like barely clipped his cheek.

[00:57:25] And then he like,

[00:57:27] they must bring him to,

[00:57:27] one 80 twirl in the air,

[00:57:29] man.

[00:57:29] Like he did like a triple South cow.

[00:57:31] We've landed that shit.

[00:57:33] Fucking tens across the board.

[00:57:35] And Dougie Hamilton is getting $5,000 fines for diving.

[00:57:39] And Marty nature's is tripping over blue lines.

[00:57:42] Every fucking second game,

[00:57:44] acting like he just got shot in the back.

[00:57:47] And Dougie gets a $5,000 fine for embellishment.

[00:57:51] And,

[00:57:51] and you know,

[00:57:53] yeah,

[00:57:53] it took 12 days or whatever for Dougie's fine to come.

[00:57:57] So people were talking about his neck is going to get this.

[00:58:00] I don't know.

[00:58:02] I think we get a reputation,

[00:58:04] right?

[00:58:04] Just in the last two weeks.

[00:58:05] It's like,

[00:58:06] wow,

[00:58:06] you are the ultimate diver right now.

[00:58:09] Yeah.

[00:58:09] And T-shirts they had made.

[00:58:11] No.

[00:58:12] Somebody had a double once.

[00:58:13] Yeah.

[00:58:14] Yeah.

[00:58:14] The Backhanded Devil.

[00:58:15] It was a hurricane's new logo.

[00:58:17] And it showed like somebody diving.

[00:58:20] Yeah.

[00:58:20] It's like a,

[00:58:21] like a kind of like a,

[00:58:22] almost like a,

[00:58:23] like a men's room stick figure dive off a diving board,

[00:58:27] like into like the way the fucking hilarious.

[00:58:29] And the hair.

[00:58:30] It was great.

[00:58:32] I'm shocked.

[00:58:32] I was shocked that Rod Brindamore,

[00:58:34] that this is a Rod Brindamore coach team.

[00:58:37] I am.

[00:58:37] One time you dive in front of that guy.

[00:58:40] I thought he would pull you to the side and say,

[00:58:41] don't ever do that shit again.

[00:58:42] Yep.

[00:58:43] That's what I would have thought.

[00:58:44] And not only now that now they are like completely owning it and embracing it,

[00:58:48] that this is,

[00:58:49] this is who they are now.

[00:58:50] This,

[00:58:50] this is their team.

[00:58:51] They are a bunch of dive babies.

[00:58:54] I've never seen that before in my fucking life.

[00:58:57] Like Marty nature.

[00:58:58] Has he always been like this?

[00:59:00] Cause I don't remember him ever doing shit like this.

[00:59:03] Like I don't ever remember it.

[00:59:06] I don't,

[00:59:06] he,

[00:59:06] he hasn't been on,

[00:59:07] I think our collective radar as much as he has this year because he's having such a good season.

[00:59:12] Right.

[00:59:12] Um,

[00:59:13] I,

[00:59:13] I don't think that,

[00:59:14] I think that's probably,

[00:59:15] probably the reason why,

[00:59:17] but it's unbelievable.

[00:59:18] Like just,

[00:59:19] and for him to do it back to back,

[00:59:21] I just can't believe that like,

[00:59:23] like they're bringing their sniper on the road with them.

[00:59:26] Yeah.

[00:59:27] You know,

[00:59:27] like he literally looks like he got shot again.

[00:59:30] Fucking got to keep it up.

[00:59:31] Crazy to me.

[00:59:32] Crazy to me.

[00:59:32] But I think diving is becoming more and more of a problem.

[00:59:35] And I think they're starting to identify it.

[00:59:37] And that's why guys are getting fined.

[00:59:39] They have to get called for an embellishment on the ice in the game,

[00:59:44] um,

[00:59:44] to,

[00:59:45] to be eligible for that fine.

[00:59:46] And nature hasn't been called for embellishment yet,

[00:59:49] but this motherfucker has got to be on someone's radar.

[00:59:51] Isn't it funny though?

[00:59:52] Like at any level,

[00:59:53] even these athletes that have so much pride and make so much money and need to be like the top professionals in their field,

[01:00:01] they still will try to find a way to cheat.

[01:00:05] Although not like glaringly,

[01:00:08] like how many times do you see an outfielder in baseball trap the ball and come up like he caught it?

[01:00:13] He's willing to say,

[01:00:14] no,

[01:00:15] honest to God,

[01:00:15] I caught this ball.

[01:00:16] That's an out when he knows I'm cheating,

[01:00:19] but they do it in an instant.

[01:00:21] It's their instinct to do it.

[01:00:22] Just like sliding into the bag or doing this in hockey.

[01:00:25] Like it's just an instinct to say,

[01:00:27] Hey,

[01:00:27] if I play dead for 10 seconds,

[01:00:29] I'm going to put my team up in an advantage position with a power play.

[01:00:33] The crazy thing is though,

[01:00:34] like when you're talking about like an outfielder,

[01:00:37] right.

[01:00:37] And they do it in football too,

[01:00:39] right?

[01:00:39] Like the ball clearly hits the ground and they try and get their under their arm under it.

[01:00:44] And you know,

[01:00:46] you didn't catch it,

[01:00:48] which is okay.

[01:00:48] I get the competitive side have to try and get an advantage over anybody.

[01:00:53] But the thing that always gets me is like,

[01:00:55] you're playing a game that's nationally televised.

[01:00:58] There are cameras.

[01:00:59] There,

[01:01:00] there is,

[01:01:01] there are cameras every,

[01:01:02] you know,

[01:01:03] two feet away from you.

[01:01:04] There's a camera in your colon right now.

[01:01:06] Right.

[01:01:07] Do you think you're getting away with that?

[01:01:10] And it filed this under like,

[01:01:12] like deep stoner thoughts,

[01:01:14] but the concept of the,

[01:01:16] of like referees existing in professional sports to police,

[01:01:20] the grown adults be like,

[01:01:22] you broke the rules.

[01:01:22] You're not allowed to do that.

[01:01:24] It is pretty fucking funny.

[01:01:26] It is.

[01:01:26] But like,

[01:01:27] you know,

[01:01:27] I'm a grown,

[01:01:28] I'm 47 years old.

[01:01:29] I've played barely hockey and we have,

[01:01:31] we have referees.

[01:01:32] Like I'd slash a guy in the leg the other day.

[01:01:33] I was like,

[01:01:34] Ooh,

[01:01:34] shit.

[01:01:35] I'm in trouble.

[01:01:35] I got away with it.

[01:01:36] And I think,

[01:01:37] I think I'm in trouble.

[01:01:38] Like I was like,

[01:01:38] what the fuck?

[01:01:39] And I'd like apologize.

[01:01:40] I was like,

[01:01:40] sorry,

[01:01:40] man,

[01:01:40] I didn't mean to do that.

[01:01:41] I'm as bad as I can't control my,

[01:01:43] can't control my hands.

[01:01:44] And hockey is the best because if you do something bad,

[01:01:46] they make you go sit in a timeout.

[01:01:50] Like the actual concept of it is fucking hysterical.

[01:01:53] How about in baseball?

[01:01:55] Like they will actually try the hidden fucking ball trip and be proud of

[01:01:59] themselves.

[01:02:00] Like,

[01:02:00] no,

[01:02:00] I threw it.

[01:02:00] They go nuts.

[01:02:01] They go nuts.

[01:02:03] I can't see $35 million this year.

[01:02:05] And you're hiding the ball.

[01:02:07] You threw it.

[01:02:09] I remember when A-Rod tried to slap the ball out of that guy at the first

[01:02:12] person's glove a couple years ago.

[01:02:13] And it was like the daintiest thing I've ever seen.

[01:02:16] And there was like Photoshopping him,

[01:02:17] like running,

[01:02:18] running down the line with the purse on his arm.

[01:02:20] I still think one of the greatest baseball moments that I could remember

[01:02:25] is when Pedro Martinez threw that punch at old Don Zimmer and threw his

[01:02:31] ass down the ground.

[01:02:33] Don Zimmer is like 92 years old.

[01:02:36] And this old little fat man comes charging at Pedro.

[01:02:42] You're charging at fucking Pedro Martinez.

[01:02:45] And Pedro just kind of sidestepped and pushes him down.

[01:02:48] And he fucking rolls on the ground.

[01:02:50] He's like a turtle on his back,

[01:02:52] right?

[01:02:52] Fucking Joe Torre's freaking out.

[01:02:54] And Pedro's like,

[01:02:55] you know,

[01:02:55] the motherfucker came at me.

[01:02:57] What do you want me to do?

[01:02:58] He wallowed at him like a penguin.

[01:03:00] He's like,

[01:03:00] they're all going to get you.

[01:03:01] That was the funniest thing.

[01:03:04] And I remember everybody being outraged in sports talk media.

[01:03:08] Like how could Pedro Martinez put his hand on?

[01:03:11] I'm like,

[01:03:11] that is the funniest thing.

[01:03:12] I mean,

[01:03:13] that's the funniest thing I've ever seen.

[01:03:15] I would have done the same thing.

[01:03:17] Like if he didn't.

[01:03:17] I know.

[01:03:18] Well,

[01:03:18] I know.

[01:03:19] Well,

[01:03:19] yeah,

[01:03:19] we're like,

[01:03:20] first,

[01:03:20] make sure he's not dead or didn't like break his hip.

[01:03:24] Right.

[01:03:24] Exactly.

[01:03:25] Then that's fucking hilarious.

[01:03:26] Oh God.

[01:03:28] People are so fucking stupid.

[01:03:29] Yeah.

[01:03:30] So.

[01:03:31] Sorry guys.

[01:03:32] We're going to be okay.

[01:03:34] Yeah.

[01:03:34] So,

[01:03:35] so here's what we're going to try to do now.

[01:03:39] We're on a four game losing streak.

[01:03:41] We spent over an hour now talking about some problems on this team and some

[01:03:47] things that should be fixed or we think should be fixed.

[01:03:50] And of course,

[01:03:50] you know,

[01:03:51] we know everything.

[01:03:52] So we're right,

[01:03:53] but we'd love to hear what the listeners think.

[01:03:56] But also I don't want to end the show on a negative.

[01:04:02] So what are some silver linings that you guys have seen real quick over these

[01:04:08] last four games?

[01:04:09] Is there any?

[01:04:11] Cause I'll say to me,

[01:04:14] a big silver lining has been the steady goaltending.

[01:04:18] We have been getting very good goaltending,

[01:04:21] even in these losses.

[01:04:22] So like once the,

[01:04:24] these guys clean up this shit,

[01:04:26] which they will,

[01:04:28] you're going to kind of be right back into the five,

[01:04:31] one games,

[01:04:32] the three,

[01:04:32] nothing games,

[01:04:33] the stuff like that.

[01:04:34] I think our goaltending has been really solid all season long,

[01:04:38] but especially during these four losses,

[01:04:40] like you can't look at any,

[01:04:42] you can't look at the guys between the pipes and say,

[01:04:44] this is on you.

[01:04:46] So that's my silver lining.

[01:04:47] What about you guys?

[01:04:49] I agree on the goaltending.

[01:04:51] You can't have mine.

[01:04:52] You got to get another one.

[01:04:53] I will give another one.

[01:04:54] Okay.

[01:04:54] And you know,

[01:04:55] even you can,

[01:04:56] you can question the third one past March or maybe even the second one,

[01:04:59] but this game's not on him.

[01:05:01] And when you're constantly not getting that run support,

[01:05:04] like you mentioned,

[01:05:04] now you got your goalie,

[01:05:05] you know,

[01:05:06] playing a little tighter,

[01:05:07] everything's got to be perfect.

[01:05:09] So not on him.

[01:05:10] Goaltending has been great.

[01:05:11] I will say that I have seen a steady,

[01:05:14] although slow,

[01:05:16] um,

[01:05:18] incline of the bottom six in a way,

[01:05:21] like they're not as much of the void,

[01:05:24] the black hole that they were there coming out of it a little bit.

[01:05:27] Um,

[01:05:28] so that's a little bit of a silver lining.

[01:05:31] Hang on.

[01:05:31] I'm trying to find.

[01:05:34] All right.

[01:05:35] So,

[01:05:36] uh,

[01:05:36] the penalty killing for me has been outstanding recently.

[01:05:40] Okay.

[01:05:41] Or fifth in the league right now,

[01:05:43] but hang on,

[01:05:49] hang on,

[01:05:51] hang on.

[01:05:52] Sorry.

[01:05:53] Hang on.

[01:05:53] Hang on.

[01:05:54] Hang on.

[01:05:58] Hang on.

[01:05:58] It's okay.

[01:05:59] Dead air is best.

[01:06:04] If people are still listening right now,

[01:06:06] like they've got,

[01:06:07] so you don't have,

[01:06:09] you don't have a silver lining.

[01:06:10] Is that what you're saying?

[01:06:11] The penalty killing has been.

[01:06:12] Oh,

[01:06:13] okay.

[01:06:13] All right.

[01:06:14] There you go.

[01:06:15] And,

[01:06:15] uh,

[01:06:16] do they crack this little egg of theirs on Monday night against the crack in?

[01:06:25] So I just wanted to give you a number.

[01:06:27] That's what I was.

[01:06:27] Okay.

[01:06:29] 13 December,

[01:06:29] since December,

[01:06:30] since December 1st,

[01:06:32] our penalty killings at 90%.

[01:06:34] Wow.

[01:06:35] Um,

[01:06:36] which is fourth in the league.

[01:06:37] And,

[01:06:37] you know,

[01:06:38] Dallas is at 92%,

[01:06:39] which is,

[01:06:40] which has been the best.

[01:06:41] So,

[01:06:41] so even though we've lost the four in a row or goaltending has been good,

[01:06:46] our penalty killing has been excellent.

[01:06:48] And our bottom six is showing signs of life,

[01:06:52] especially guys like Cotter.

[01:06:54] Um,

[01:06:54] so these are,

[01:06:55] yeah.

[01:06:56] Okay.

[01:06:56] So there's some silver linings.

[01:06:58] What are you guys,

[01:06:59] let's be realistic and not just keep our devil colored glasses on.

[01:07:05] What happens against the cracking?

[01:07:08] So when,

[01:07:08] when the text was going around today about today's game and some of the

[01:07:12] optimistic devil's wins,

[01:07:14] I said 27 to nothing.

[01:07:15] Yeah,

[01:07:16] you were wrong.

[01:07:17] I didn't,

[01:07:18] I didn't want to answer.

[01:07:19] Cause I,

[01:07:20] I honestly was going to say something like,

[01:07:21] I think we're going to like lose this like three to two.

[01:07:23] I just feel like this is going to suck.

[01:07:25] And of course we lost three to two,

[01:07:27] but I honestly feel like this team will not lose that fifth in a row.

[01:07:32] It's going to come out pretty strong against the cracking with some kind of

[01:07:34] minor tweak.

[01:07:35] And I'm going to go with like a four,

[01:07:36] one win,

[01:07:37] something fairly clean,

[01:07:38] but not overwhelming.

[01:07:40] All right.

[01:07:41] Can I,

[01:07:42] well,

[01:07:42] shit,

[01:07:43] man,

[01:07:43] I was going to go with four,

[01:07:44] one.

[01:07:44] So I'll say four,

[01:07:45] two,

[01:07:46] I'll say four,

[01:07:47] two.

[01:07:47] Um,

[01:07:48] I think the same thing.

[01:07:49] I think,

[01:07:50] I think this is,

[01:07:51] this has been going on long enough.

[01:07:53] I think,

[01:07:53] you know,

[01:07:53] they should be pissed.

[01:07:54] They are,

[01:07:55] you know,

[01:07:55] you saw Markstrom slamming a stick after the green,

[01:07:58] after the game.

[01:08:00] I think they got to dig themselves out of this.

[01:08:02] They got to just dig deep,

[01:08:04] look in the mirror.

[01:08:06] Yeah.

[01:08:08] Did Tim freeze on us?

[01:08:09] I think he did.

[01:08:10] It's disturbing.

[01:08:11] I don't want to see.

[01:08:12] Yeah.

[01:08:12] Okay.

[01:08:12] We're going to wrap this thing up.

[01:08:15] Oh,

[01:08:15] he's back.

[01:08:16] Ah,

[01:08:16] shit.

[01:08:16] Did you hear that?

[01:08:18] You can,

[01:08:19] he froze up again.

[01:08:20] No.

[01:08:20] Are you there?

[01:08:21] Are you there?

[01:08:22] Okay.

[01:08:23] Are you,

[01:08:23] are you there God?

[01:08:24] It's me and Margaret.

[01:08:25] Um,

[01:08:26] hello.

[01:08:27] Hello.

[01:08:27] Internet on the farm.

[01:08:29] You want me to jerk you off?

[01:08:31] What kind of hotel is this?

[01:08:33] I'm going to just say,

[01:08:34] I'm not going to pick a score.

[01:08:35] They do come out of their funk.

[01:08:38] They beat Seattle and they feel a little bit better about themselves heading into Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

[01:08:44] So,

[01:08:46] um,

[01:08:46] yeah,

[01:08:47] it's,

[01:08:47] this has sucked.

[01:08:48] This has sucked,

[01:08:48] but there's,

[01:08:50] there's one thing that will make me feel a lot better.

[01:08:55] And that's a Viking win tomorrow night against the Detroit Lions.

[01:08:59] This is so exciting.

[01:09:01] I am so psyched.

[01:09:02] I cannot wait for this game.

[01:09:03] I just hope that we don't get our asses kicked.

[01:09:06] You know,

[01:09:08] that's where my hockey Vikings hoodie tomorrow.

[01:09:11] Where you like it?

[01:09:12] I like it.

[01:09:16] I like it.

[01:09:17] I need one.

[01:09:18] I mean,

[01:09:19] um,

[01:09:20] well,

[01:09:20] I could wait a little while until he gets bigger so I can actually,

[01:09:23] no,

[01:09:24] they actually came in a little bit larger than I thought.

[01:09:26] So it probably won't fit you.

[01:09:30] On that note,

[01:09:32] ah,

[01:09:33] I need better friends.

[01:09:34] All right.

[01:09:35] We're going to wrap this thing up on this Saturday night.

[01:09:38] Uh,

[01:09:38] thanks so much for checking us out guys.

[01:09:40] Um,

[01:09:41] and,

[01:09:42] uh,

[01:09:42] like a five-star review,

[01:09:43] positive comment,

[01:09:44] download,

[01:09:44] subscription helps a little podcast.

[01:09:45] That could for Bobby and Tim.

[01:09:47] I'm Chris.

[01:09:47] We are the uncle puckers or partially the uncle puckers.

[01:09:51] Uh,

[01:09:52] and we'll see you when we see it.

[01:09:53] Bye-bye.

[01:09:54] I still don't like you.

[01:09:55] Velocat.

[01:09:56] And why would you?