The Most Important Off-Season Ever?

[00:00:06] 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, New Jersey Devils Podcast. Let's go Devils! Hello everybody, welcome to The Uncle Puckers. I'm Chris with Tony and Bobby. Tony, what were you just saying before you got cut off there? For some reason, my shit was kept on freezing up. Are you okay now?

[00:00:35] I know, yeah, it was weird. You guys got done doing the old fish tank sound. Fish tank sound. I don't know what that is, but okay, as long as we got you now, that's good. How are you guys doing? How are you doing? Doing good, man. It's going to be one of those shows, Bob. Yeah. With this fucking weird delay, starting off talking about freezing, like woohoo, let's go.

[00:01:04] So, Bob, how are you? I'm good. I'm disappointed that I don't have a team to root for in the Stanley Cup finals. And I'm more disappointed that it's very possible that Carolina might win this thing with maybe losing one more game. I hate that. I don't know if anybody's beaten Vegas at this point. Really? Like, they look so freaking good.

[00:01:28] And look, I will be shitting on Carolina right up until they're like two minutes away from hoisting the cup, if that's what they get. So, I'm always looking at the negative as far as that team goes. And, I mean, this was their easiest path they have had to a cup final in forever, right? There was no Tampa to fight them off. There was no Florida to fight them off. Like, all the teams that usually give them fits wasn't there. I really expected a lot more from the Habs.

[00:01:57] But Carolina is that freaking good. But Vegas, I think Vegas and their defense, I think they can – it's going to be a fun series. It should be – I shouldn't say that. Carolina does not play. Mike DeCaro calls them old crazy eyes and his team of automatons. Like, that's what it is, right? But, yeah, what are your thoughts there? Has anybody – I can't recall in my lifetime a team making it to the finals with just one loss.

[00:02:23] And, honestly, you can definitely argue that if they weren't off for 11 days, they probably don't even get that loss, which would be, I would think, unprecedented sweep into the finals. And I know Vegas showed up and looked good, and they beat a Colorado team that was not the Colorado team that they had all year. But I just – I don't see why all of a sudden someone's going to take four out of seven from the Hurricanes. I can't see it.

[00:02:52] Well, I'll tell you why, but first I want to hear Tony's opinion on it. I think the Canes are good. You know, at first I thought it would go seven this next series, but I actually think the Canes are going to win it in six. I think they are that good this year. I think Anderson's been good. I can't stand that team. Hall's been playing – had a good playoffs. You know, and I just – I have a feeling it's their year. I do. I think it's going to go six too. Well, I look at it this way.

[00:03:23] Vegas had a more difficult time to get here, and they made Colorado the best team in the fucking league look stupid in that series. You can make an argument that Carolina had two byes their first fucking two rounds against – you know, who'd they play in the first round? Ottawa, who just, you know, couldn't get out of their own freaking way. Then you had the Flyers, who, you know, are just young and inexperienced, and they got pushed all over the ice.

[00:03:53] To a Habs team who I thought was going to put up a lot more of a fight, but then you look at the Habs, you know, they are a couple of years early. They went seven games their first two series against two really good teams. And then they go up against Carolina, and yeah, Carolina's fresher. They – but then I look at Vegas, and Vegas is built top to bottom, and where they can score all four lines plus their deep pairings. I just don't think Carolina has the depth. And they are deep, but I don't think it matches up with Vegas' depth.

[00:04:23] I think I still – yeah, Freddie Anderson's been playing good, but, you know, Carter Hart's had to be the better goalie in those series with Vegas than Freddie Anderson has had to be with Carolina. And I just think Vegas is just one of those teams that, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if it goes – I wouldn't be surprised if it goes seven, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Vegas takes this thing in six.

[00:04:48] I guess I would prefer Vegas win, of course, because I can't – I just think that it's part of the NHL specifically coming for me, saying just to tack on to how bad this year was, I'm going to have the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. That's how much I hate them. That would really be the cherry on top of the extremely shitty-ass devil season that we went through, right, is Carolina fucking winning the Cup. I think they're going to win the Cup with like one more – I think they're going to win the Cup having lost twice in the entire run. That's what I'm going for.

[00:05:18] I'm going for four-one. It kind of sounds like you're rooting for Carolina here, Bob. It just – it feels like that is what's going to happen. I mean – All right, Tony, let's talk about – Put them in the fucking bathroom. You know what they say? What were you saying about them, sir? I'm just saying, between the two teams in the finals, there's five total losses, right? Yeah. And that's insane. So, yeah, I mean, perhaps Vegas is the better team.

[00:05:47] I just feel like there's this kind of bullshit destiny going on with Carolina. You can hide me now. That's fine. This is my last show anyway. I just wanted to pop on and sing by the – He's joining the Philadelphia Flyers fan page. Fuck you. Well, you know, I would have accepted your resignation if Tom Fitzgerald was still the GM. But now that we have new management, there's going to be some fun stuff to go – happens this summer. I cannot wait for July 1st. Maybe that's my other thing.

[00:06:15] I want this thing over with because I want July 1st here because that's really – all I care about is what's going to happen to the Devils this offseason. And this could be the lamest fucking final. I mean, I did pick Vegas, but I picked Vegas Devils before the season started. I got the colors right. So, yeah, Stephen's like they're ready to start sending you farewell packages, Bob. This is great. Tell your friends. Vote me off. Bob's last show.

[00:06:44] We had Ace doing his eulogy to Run Him With The Devils the last show. Now Bob's going to do his for – Congratulations to Ace. Let's kill him. Yeah, man. You know when like – someone once told me when we were raising our son like you're struggling to put him down and you rock him to sleep and all this stuff. And they said the last time you do that, you don't know when that's going to be. Like it's just one day you realize, wow, I never rocked my kids to sleep again. I'm just letting you guys know. That's kind of how the podcast is going with me. You just really don't know. Last time it's going to happen.

[00:07:14] You know what I do know is, Bobby, you might know this too because I know you have a young kid too. Like I thought about this last night. Like much as I love – I'm kind of glad there's a break coming up because I got like – like this kid's got dance recitals. Like all the time I'm like trying to jiggle this. Like we went to my daughter just graduated elementary school. It's like a big thing around here they did. Congratulations. Yeah, it's awesome, man. So I was like – but I just think – like Bobby said, I'm sitting there. I'm like, man, it was just like yesterday I was walking her through that fence when she was like this big.

[00:07:43] I'm like, it's going to be okay. Now she's leaving. You know, it's very hectic. So this hockey season, me staying up late at night has killed me for an awful season. So I am looking forward a little bit to the break, you know. Yeah. Not for myself. And look, you want to feel really old? My kid turned 20 today. And like I said to my wife yesterday, I'm like, you understand, 20 years ago today is the last day we did not have kids in our lives. You know, 20 years now, yep, 20 years.

[00:08:11] My son will be 18 next week, and he graduates high school this year. So, I mean, on the positive side, I have two weeks left to actually have any legal liability to taking care of my kids. So, you know, I could just figure right when they turn 18, I'll toss them both out. Just, you know, go live in your car. Oh, wait, you can't. I pay for that. No.

[00:08:36] My kids have a – I told them both like, you know, look, whatever, you know, because the world is fucking so hard right now. Like I feel bad for these kids, you know. They're going out into the real world, and it's a mess. So it's like I just tell them – Oh, my daughters can move out. So, I tell my kids all the time, like don't – like you have – you can stay here forever. I don't give a shit. Like we have the room. Like I don't – we're not those people. Like you get your shit together. Don't put yourself into a position where you're going to be in debt just because you want to move out.

[00:09:06] It's not like we were when, you know, we were in our 20s, and it cost us $400, $500 each to get a nice place. You know, it's not the way anymore. But, yeah. Then I walked in today, my daughter was in her room. She's like seven, and there's two guitars in her room. So we have instruments in the whole house. You know, actually we just bought my daughter a drum set, my other daughter. And skateboard was a good one. I love you. Yeah, yeah. They do, actually. My kids are, you know. But they – my daughter, I'm walking around making dinner because my wife's actually working overnight in the hospital.

[00:09:36] And I hear that acoustic guitar. She can't play very well at all. But she's doing it. And I actually videotaped it. And she's – she really got into Sweet Dreams from Marilyn Manson's version and stuff on the radio. Okay. She's really into that song. So I go in there, and she's singing and playing along. She knows every word. A couple of the words a little off, you know. But, dude, it was one of those moments, man, where I was like – to me, that's a big moment. My kid puts a guitar and is in there. For someone like me whose, like, whole life is involved around music, like, as I called up my wife, I was like, oh, my God.

[00:10:06] Like, I got videos of it. Like, it was awesome, man. Yeah. It's cool. Do your kids speak both Lithuanian and English? No. They do? Fluently, yeah. That's awesome. Already smart. We were saying they sing, like, graduation. They're all singing in Lithuanian, all the kids. And I was just like, you know. I don't know what they're saying, but it sounds good. What the fuck are they? Trill the American in the corner. Like the liquor man or anything or something. Shit like that. Oh, shit. So we have no Tim.

[00:10:33] He apparently went to a high school reunion last night. And in Tim Wood fashion, he got completely fucking annihilated and couldn't make it on the show. So. Well, these early start times are a bitch for those who had a couple cocktails. That's true. That's true. I did not have any cocktails last night. I ate a gummy and I watched bad Marvel shows on Disney+. What did you guys do last night?

[00:11:02] I drove back from Jersey. Oh, yeah. You were in Jersey. We watched something I do not recall what. So obviously it did not make a huge impact on me. So, Tone, what did you do? I did some interviews for the podcast. The other podcast. Well, what time is it there now? Like 930 at night? 1021. It's 1030 at night. Okay. Jesus. Yeah. So the early shows, Bob. Yeah. So. So I said, what are you doing tonight, Tone? It's 1030. I'll be in bed. Oh, yeah. Tonight. I'm going.

[00:11:32] I take my kids to school tomorrow morning. I'll be asleep after this, you know. You know. Thanks, man. You got it. And I know Collect Records listens to our show. And we got. And we interviewed Andy LaRock. That'll be out tomorrow night, I believe. And Pete Black's on the show, too. So both guitar players came on. And it's. Very cool. That was the show. That was awesome, man. Pete. I mean, you know, what was so cool is, you know, Andy LaRock's like a big name in this kind of music. And I booked him directly. Like, I didn't go through any agents. I was like. And then I talked to him probably about eight months ago.

[00:11:59] And I was like, hey, man, you know, you know, would you come on our show? He's like, definitely set it up. Usually these guys don't. You know, you just know. You don't know. Got a hold of his agent because they were booking interviews. And some. They were like giving me a hassle. Like, oh, we're going to try to. I messaged Andy again. And he's like, dude, don't worry. I'm coming on, man. So I had him and Pete Black on. And it was cool because I didn't know Pete was going to come on. They're both like the two guitar players from like the major, major albums back in the days. And they're both on. They're both awesome. It's probably about an hour and a half, two hours.

[00:12:30] And really cool, man. Andy's awesome. For anybody who doesn't know, it's King Diamond. Tony has interviewed, interviewed both guitar players. You can check it out probably tomorrow on Tampa Morgue. If you are not subscribed to the Tampa Morgue podcast, wherever you get your podcast, make sure you do that. So guys. I did not wear the King Diamond shirt when I interviewed them, by the way. I did not do that. I do not. You don't wear the same shirt to the concert. I did not wear the shirt to the interview. So. Wait, wait.

[00:12:55] Before PCU came out with that line, did you really not think you could wear the concert, you know, the band concert shirt? The 80s, I don't think we cared as much, did we? I'm pretty sure everybody does that. I mean, there was a time when people didn't wear jerseys to sporting events. Is it really taboo to wear like the band's name that you're going to see? Back in our like 20s and stuff, when we were going to a lot of concerts and stuff, I didn't give a shit. You know, like if I had a shirt or whatever, I'd wear it.

[00:13:23] Now I don't do anything, so it doesn't matter. But like I wouldn't wear this shirt if I go see the Descendants. I'll say that. I wouldn't wear it just because I also do not do it. But I'm just curious if that became kind of my preference or if it really is considered douchey. But I did first hear from it on PCU. That was like, yeah. So maybe that was a very funny movie told us not to do that. And we probably listened to it. And it's weird.

[00:13:51] Jeremy Piven was still bald and he was supposed to be in college. Like that dude looks 60 when he was playing a 20 year old. In our defense, I think he had trouble graduating. Hey, that's a good point. Kiss was doing a meet and greet and a kid wore, I don't know what the fuck shirt he wore. He wore a different shirt besides a Kiss shirt. You guys might have seen this video. So Gene, Gene and Paul, actually the whole band may be in there, but there's kids meeting them and they fucking make the, like, it's actually like Gene totally gives him an attitude,

[00:14:20] makes him change his shirt. Are you kidding me? Dead serious. He's such a dick. Makes him change his shirt. He's like, I don't know what he makes for the parents. I'm like, would you wear a whatever Yankees shirt to a Mexican or some bullshit like that? You know, I forget exactly what it was. I just remember seeing it and I was just like, and this kid looked more different. And the kid changed. They bought him a Kiss shirt. They're like, yeah, put it on. You know, the kid. I don't know. They bought him another shirt. Could you imagine that? Imagine going to a concert.

[00:14:48] I mean, there's been shows like where, what was it? I don't know. Oh, so Sebastian Bach, there was a show and someone was wearing a Madame X shirt, which was his old band. And he fucking starts yelling at him and cursing at him from the stage. Could you imagine going into a show and wearing like a band shirt and the singer's like, yo, motherfucker. You know? Exactly. It's still supporting him as an artist in a different venture. Like, that's really douchey to like calm out on that. Well, Sebastian Bach has been known to be really douchey. So I thought he was a good dude. All right.

[00:15:18] Let's talk some hockey, boys. July 1st is coming soon, right? Is Nico Heischer going to get done or is this thing going to drag out and cause us all fucking panic and whatever? It's going to drag, definitely. There's no doubt it's not going to drag. So you don't see him being signed anytime soon once July 1st rolls? I don't. I would like it, but I don't. I think I'll probably drag just because we're devil's fans. It's got hurt a little bit. Okay. So Bobby, what do you think? No, I think it gets done.

[00:15:47] It gets done fast as a statement. I think Metta comes in, talks to him, says, this is my vision. This is the thing. I want you here. Let's get it done. Probably overpays for him just a little bit and shows that this is going to be a culture change and he's not scared to put his money where he thinks it's going to make the team good. Spoken like a guy who would wear a Metallica shirt to a mouth. Metallica show. Which I didn't, by the way. And I went two nights in a row. So that was really tempting, but I did not. I don't. I think I agree more with you, Bobby.

[00:16:14] I do think that that's going to be a little bit more his speed, right? Because look, he's got to make some type of impact move, a statement move. And I don't think, I mean, other than trading Nico Heischer, signing Nico Heischer is the impact move to make. I don't think that there's, unless it's Quinn Hughes, you're not getting anything in return. I don't see what move. Yeah. What move. It would only be.

[00:16:43] Are you getting back a scoring winger and now you've lost your death at center? Like nothing lines up to me. It could only be for Quinn Hughes. It could only be. Like to me, that's the only, and I don't even know if that's one for one. Like we're going to need a center back, right? They're going to need probably defensive help back. Right. So it's, you could put together a package. I had said like, uh, and, and then Tim and I were talking, it was like Nico Nemo and

[00:17:10] Mercer for Quinn Hughes and Joe Erkson. You know that. Okay. So we replaced that center, even though he's nowhere near as good as Nico and we get Quinn, but I don't think those moves are happening. I think it's just fun to speculate about. I don't think either of them are getting moved. And I think that he will lock Nico up early. One thing that will make him, if it does get done fast, like Bobby was saying, I could, you know, one thing we know that Nico respects the devils and respects the devil's fans.

[00:17:38] And I don't think there's going to be like game playing with Nico for some reason. I think out of anybody that we deal with on, uh, with contract situations, I think he's the one guy I believe that does respect the team a lot. And, uh, you know, so maybe I'm wrong, but I just feel like there's not going to be a, uh, uh, dirty, what they call it, you know, when it's not dirty pool. Yeah. It's not going to be a dirty, uh, situation. Sanchez. Dirty Sanchez. Cleveland steamer on your face.

[00:18:07] Um, no, I, I, I, if he's not signed, then I think there's serious worry that something will get, that he's going to get traded or moved. Cause I don't see a world where we go into game one without him locked up long-term. You just, you can't go into a season. Like you just said, Bobby, right? Like you're trying to set a culture. You're trying to let these guys know that this is a destination where we have one thing that it, the main goal is to win a Stanley cup and nothing short of that, anything

[00:18:37] short of that as a failure. So you're not going to go into a season with your captain on a one-year deal with that constantly hanging over the team. Look, look, Nico doesn't take a night off. It does. It will not take a lot of convincing from a GM who would come in here and say, I'm not taking any shit. I'm going to move the people that take nights off. We're going to set this thing right for Nico to reach into the only organization he's ever known and to see like the possibility of it.

[00:19:05] He knows the guys in the room that took days off. You know, he does, right? A lot of guys who don't take days off know guys that do. And that's a tough spot to be in because frankly, a lot of guys fucking did that, right? Like there is room to move some pieces on this team. And the more we do get closer to July 1st, the more I am actually very excited for this off season, because I do think meta has to make a move one way or the other, whether it's draft sized move or a big trade, like something big has to happen.

[00:19:35] But I think he's not doing it without late, without Nico locked up. Well, would you do that move with if Billy Guerin called you and said, Quinn Hughes isn't signed yet. I'm worried that he's going to walk and we're going to get nothing. You're in the same position with Nico. Let's work something out. And that's the deal. Do you do it? Talking about getting one of the most elite hockey players on the planet on your team. That's, that's the draw there.

[00:20:01] If it's essentially one-to-one, I would need to know kind of what the GM's thinking is like, are you prepared to give this guy 17 million? Cause it's already been put out there as like, this is what he can get. Just like, what's his name on Minnesota. Right. So money is not my problem. Right. I don't, I don't count the money. I just want a team that's on the ice, but I mean, I don't know how you could straight up one for one. I'm not going to say he sure is a better player than Quinn. So I'd have to consider it.

[00:20:30] Well, let's say it wasn't one for one. Let's say it was the deal that I said earlier. It was Nico Nemich and Mercer for Erickson, Eick and Quinn. So we get a two C who, if he stays healthy, is a very good two-way centerman. And like you said, the best skating defenseman in the league. I would probably be forced to take that deal. And that would still enforce his ability to say big changes.

[00:20:59] We're moving this needle. You know, we're not going to accept anything short. I mean, Nico wasn't the problem, but it still shows, Hey, if I'm ready, I'm willing to move this guy who wasn't the problem. Right. Think about what we're going to do. I think you'd have to take that, but I would also assume because all this happens now that there were some talks also about contract extension in there because. I agree. And I, like I said, I do think it gets done, but what about you, Tony? When you make that deal?

[00:21:30] Contemplating. I don't know, dude. Yeah, it's tough. I like me. You seriously don't know? You've got to take your fan hat off for that. Take it. You got to take the fan hat off. And when you do, it's a deal that makes the devils better. Yeah, it does make the devils better. It just sucks. It's one of those, you know, bad feels bad doing it, man. It wouldn't feel good. It does. I love Nico's skill set, but it's easier to replace than it is to acquire Quinn Hughes. I agree.

[00:21:59] And I do think that there is not a 0% chance of something like that happening, right? Because I think probably the two highest profile guys coming up to unrestricted free agency, of course, Connor McDavid is number one, but I'm saying like Nico Heischer and Quinn Hughes, there is that kind of, you know, like, all right, well, Jack and Luke are here.

[00:22:27] So it's the common, you know, where would Quinn go? Well, the common idea would be that he would come to Jersey. And so who are you going to give up? The only person you can is Nico. I don't, I mean, I would definitely do it, but I'd be like you guys, like kicking and screaming. It'd be a Pyrrhic victory, right? Like, yeah, you're getting better, but you're, you know, it's like, yeah, you won the fight, but you still got bloodied up a little bit. And, you know, that's what sucks. And you hate it. I get it. You just hate it.

[00:22:56] There's no reason to not like Nico Heischer. Like, if you're actually a Devils fan and you think that he's like the problem, other than what we've heard about his leadership and all, I still think that's, yeah, I think he's a better leader than we know. Then you're just not right. Like, he's just a solid hockey player. He makes any team better. Yep. And he's our guy. But he's our guy. He's our guy. My favorite top level, top two, three, four player in the world. I mean, arguably he's, he's McCarr level, right?

[00:23:25] I mean, it's just, so, yeah. I think he's better than McCarr. Yeah. Could be. Yeah, I do. Jeff, what do you got? Well, it's actually, yeah, that's a good question, Jeff. Would holding on to the 12th pick in the draft be a mistake? I guess it kind of. I'm good. Right. Like, it depends on, like, we're not big draft guys. We don't, like, we don't analyze every prospect. So, I mean, I would think that you're not going to go for a defenseman, right?

[00:23:55] Because we do have kind of a pipeline of them. Well, you could talk about their skill sets, but we still have them in abundance. We need center depth. We need help. Can, is there a guy who can fall to you to 12 who you can look at and say within two years, he can be a regular in our lineup and contributing? If that's the case, maybe you do take the draft pick. But maybe stick and pick, I meant.

[00:24:19] But if there's a trade to be made for something, and that's a part of a package, I haven't, I don't think it's a loss to the Devils. Like, if you were, you're, this team is not rebuilding. You know, this team is, is tweaking a few things because they believe, and we kind of do, that the talent is there. It's just a matter of putting it all together and staying healthy, I think are the two biggest issues for the Devils. So if you can package that number 12 with a guy or get that winger for Jack or something

[00:24:48] like that, I have, I think, you know, it would behoove the team to make the move unless there's somebody that is on your radar that you're like, if he falls to us, we got to get him. Yeah. Yeah. That's what we talked about a week or two ago. It's very situational. So if on the Devils draft board, they got somebody ranked, you know, fourth and he's not picked up and it's coming close, they could even move just a spot or two to ensure they get the guy that they're after. But I think that Meta is going to move it either way.

[00:25:16] I think he's either looking like a large leap forward or pulling it back a little bit in a trade so he can help get what he wants. I don't think he's just going to sit right at 12. Like I'm talking, trying to get up to like three, four, maybe like he's got eyes on his guy. And if not, then I could see him trading it for a later pick to help him acquire somebody else. A mid 12th to me again, unless it's that diamond they've been really waiting for, isn't really

[00:25:43] helping this team right now, nor in the next few years. So I would use it more as an asset. I agree. What do you guys think he would think he would do? What about, what's he going to sign long-term with Minnesota? Like they're asking in the chat, like collect records is asking. I'm sorry. I didn't see his, I don't see it. What did he add? What did he ask? Oh, Nzeko agreed to sign long-term in Minnesota. Minnesota.

[00:26:14] That's actually, I mean, I would suppose that if you made a move between Quinn and Nico, it would have to be signing trades for each of them. Because I just, no, you're just not going to flip one bad contract for another. And, you know, so you did, if Nico got traded to Minnesota, I think that he'd have to get the deal done first. Same with Quinn coming here. You'd have to get it done first. And by bad contract, you strictly mean expiring. I just mean expiring. Yes. Yes.

[00:26:42] To a GM, it's a bad contract because now, you know, nobody, look, if there was ever a cautionary tale of letting your guys walk out, like we saw it with, you know, Matthew Kachuk, right? Where, or, you know, where he was about ready to walk. They did the sign of trade, but he wasn't coming back. At least they managed to get something, but he basically essentially walked out and left Calgary holding their dicks. Um, and then he goes and wins two Stanley cups.

[00:27:07] And then you get last year, Mitch Marner gets to all, but fucking thrown out of Toronto and blamed for everything that has ever happened bad to that team for the last hundred years. It's all Mitch Marner's fault. And the guys, I think the top two or three right now for Conn Smythe, in my opinion, and, and a very good chance to go win a Stanley cup. So you, you, and Toronto sitting around with nothing.

[00:27:33] Like, like who the fuck did they get in that sign and trade that they did with Vegas? I don't even know who they got. Well, they got a first round pick. So. Oh, was that this pick that they're getting? Number one. Was that from, uh, no, no, no, no. I'm just saying it helped them be even more shitty, which allowed them to be in the place they were to get the pick. But like, you thought that Mitch Marner was the problem the whole time. And then you watch how that team just completely imploded this year.

[00:28:01] Like, no, when Mitch Marner doesn't have to be the fucking guy doing everything, every time he's on the ice, he's a really good hockey player. And you put them around great players that can also distribute the puck and work in the boards and do those dirty things that Mitch does. Like, uh, guys like Eichel and Stone and that team is all about those dudes. He's going to, he fits right in. So you can't let them know Matt. That's why I think it's got a deal's got to be done.

[00:28:25] And I think with either Quinn or Nico before the game one, otherwise I do not think that they're going to be there. I agree with that completely. So, you know, yeah, I mean, Robbie, you're right about that, right? Like the, the window is four years. We have Jack locked up for those four at 8 million a year. If we did draft somebody at 12, two to three years to be impactful. I mean, it does depend, you know, who it is, the way that our development goes, they'll

[00:28:54] never be NHL ready, but hopefully that changes now. So, I mean, you can, like you say, find diamonds in the rough. I mean, Jasper Brack got drafted, made the fucking team. Bobby and I were at his first game against Colorado. So Dawson Mercer, same thing. You know, I know Mercer was a first rounder, but still for guys that are late first rounders, they usually don't make the team unless they have something special. So yeah, they can contribute. I agree with you, Robbie.

[00:29:21] It's not likely, but I, they can contribute, but I would much rather have a proven asset and use that. Like you said, that 12 is equity, get rid of it and, and, and get somebody in here that can help right now. And the devils have space too, man. Like they can make something happen. So, you know, collect recorders right in here and not knocking the trade idea, but Nico will have to pick of, have his pick of teams to go to in a year.

[00:29:49] And Garen's already got a $16 million player on this roster. So, but, but so yeah, I get that. But like, we just talked about Quinn's going to need more than Kaprizov, right? Like Quinn's the best player on that team. So, you know, you're looking at either paying a guy like Nico, he's sure 11 or a guy like Quinn's 17. And that would go for the devils too. You know it's, it's a lot of money.

[00:30:17] But with the cap going up and all that stuff, you know, most teams are going to be able to make it work, but there's going to be, again, the NHL is going to turn into the haves and have nots, right? It's going to be the guys that don't ever make over four and a half, 5 million. And the guys that are well over 10 and those dudes in the middle are going to become like few and far between because you're not going to be able to get those eight or $9 million guys anymore. Because if you want to have an elite team, you're going to have to have three or four guys that are in the high bracket and you're going to have to fill in everything else with depth

[00:30:46] players that can play for under $5 million. So it's, it's interesting. This is where like the awesomeness of the GM position comes in, right? Because structurally, wherever the salary cap is and wherever the highest paid players are, there is obviously a way to spread the money out, to have the right highest paid players, mid-tier players, low players, all that kind of stuff. It's just that you have to be so good at what you do to just know that the guys you're going

[00:31:16] to get, for the love of God, just give you what they've always been, right? And that's like the caveat. And it feels like that never happens with us or not never. Cause you know, Jack individually performs on his own. You know, he's sure, like we said is, is, is fine. Even brat. We talk about his clutch gene, non-clutch gene, all that stuff. I mean, for what you get from him and what you know, you're getting every year, somewhat consistent there, but like to a team, there were so many people that just did not perform

[00:31:45] their role well, you know, and that is met his ultimate decision. It's not that we can't afford to give 17 million to this player. And then we always talk about Jack. Now he's got four years left. Like he'd be a done, done. That doesn't mean he's done in four years. Maybe Jack gets $20 million a year. Like there's room for it, but you gotta be really good at piecing the rest of the team together. And I think that's where we've just kind of sucked. Yeah. Fitz has been really bad at that. He was so bad at that.

[00:32:11] No, see, I, I love Timo and I, I think that there is a place for Timo Meyer on this team. And, uh, I would, if I look, if we're talking about like trading a guy from our core, I would trade just for Brad before I traded Timo Meyer. Um, that's a really good question. So I was going to say, if one of our core has to go, who's your number one to go? Well, the way this team is built, you have to have Meyer because he's very important to where there's not much. He's probably a little bit of the backbone, right? I mean, there's not much back there for that. Yeah.

[00:32:41] I said this before too. I think medic can come in. He could talk to Timo and like no more bullshit. Like Timo, you're going to go be the Timo that you always were. And I know we've debated this. We're all cool with this left side, right side shit, whatever. Right. But maybe some of our fans think we're whoever the hell Timo wants to play. If for whatever mental reason, he needs to be the starter on right wing, do it. If you want to get the most production at Timo Meyer, and that means he's got to take power play one time over somebody else. It's going to give you a decent amount of points, but be better served.

[00:33:10] As like an additional point supply, do it. Like do whatever it takes to get your $9 million a year player playing like a $9 million a year guy. And then everybody wins. I mean, I've said, I've said many times, I think Timo got paid and Timo just started mailing it in, you know? Maybe nobody's grabbed him by the collar and said, right. I don't care that Jack's here. And that Nico's the captain, like go lead this team. Like be the guy. We'll send you to fucking Utica. I don't give a shit.

[00:33:39] You know, that's, but, but you're right. Because like, yes, the idea of Timo Meyer being Timo Meyer makes this team so much better when he plays at that level. Cause Tony, you're right. Right. You don't win without guys like that. And just for Bratt, very duplicative to what we already have too many of right. Small or fast guys. Maybe not as much as we did a few years ago, but, and I like Bratt.

[00:34:05] I think Bratt's a fine player, but he's, you know, we've seen him in the playoffs, right? We have one playoff, well, two playoffs to look at these guys. Actually Bratt three, right? Cause it's rookie year. They made the playoffs. They lost to Tampa in five. So, I mean, Timo is, is amazing in the playoffs, right? The guy's a fucking dog. Bratt disappears. We've seen it. He's the emphasis of every, all Devils fans angst as to where we are.

[00:34:30] Because if we had had deep runs or won a cup or something, all sins are forgiven in a way. It's like, yeah, Bratt's not really a clutch playoff guy, but he provided some additional support and all this. It's just that we're not winning at all. And it's very easy to pinpoint. And look at what we're talking about right now. We're looking at a Timo Mayer type body and what he can bring, but hasn't. And a Jesper Bratt type and what he can bring and doesn't. And we're already leaning towards Timo Mayer basically because of the physical element.

[00:34:57] But to say it out loud, kind of that power forward that we don't have normally. And Bratt's skill set is quote unquote more easy to replicate. Yes. But what he does do well, he does very, very well. So I'm just saying this. He is like, unfortunately, like the guy that's going to be called out the most because we haven't had success. Because it's easy to look back at his playoff stat line and go, totally missed it, dude. Where were you? And the when Jack's out shit. Yep. Like one goal in the 20 games he was out or whatever it was.

[00:35:25] It's like, it's just crazy. It's not good enough. You just can't do that. I would score by accident. Yeah. I'm falling down because I can't skate. And that's what this team desperately needs is fucking goal scorers. Just dudes that can find the back of the net. Like they just, all of them. Like I think the best shooting percentage on this team last year was Cody Glass. Like that shouldn't be that way. I love Glass, but it shouldn't be the third line center.

[00:35:52] It should be shooting in general is such a problem. And I'm not talking about, oh, when everyone's like, shoot, shoot, shoot. When it's a high danger shot, you don't want to do it because you can run around the board. I'm just saying on average, just the shooting mentality, they don't seem to have. Like that killer instinct. It's just, it's not there as a collective and it needs to change. We haven't seen that for, I think for two seasons, at least I can say we haven't seen that.

[00:36:20] So, well, no, we haven't. I mean, even the year last year, like it was, did any of us have faith in that team going into the playoffs? Like, no, we didn't have any faith in that team. Like they were lucky to get in at that third spot. You know, if they kept playing, if there was another 10 games in the season, they probably would have ended up wild card two or lost or missed out because they were playing shitty hockey going in. And, you know, so yeah, there's a lot that has to change.

[00:36:47] And I'm curious what you guys think about now that we talked about it a little bit, but I didn't get your guys' opinion, which Sheldon keeps sticking around. Like, are you guys okay with that? Would you have done it? I'll go first. I guess Tony. I mean, I can go for it. I would say I would have moved them, but I'm not surprised they didn't. You know, I think if he has a shitty beginning of the season,

[00:37:15] that wouldn't surprise me if like halfway through there's a change. But that's my opinion on it. I honestly believe, and I know it would be a retread for us, but if DeBoer was still there, I would prefer that they went with him. Given that he's not, and even if he was still there, I completely get why the GM would give this guy another shot. I think he's a good hockey mind that can run this team.

[00:37:41] I think there might have been some string pulling like we discussed. I just, I do feel like he's got another chance, but I also feel like he won't get out of this season if it's repeating last year. This is not going to be, oh, this is my guy. It will still be kind of a trial and error. So it's like, you know, move it along. Other than Peter DeBoer, do you have anyone else you would have liked to have seen? I don't, other than the conversation we had like two summers ago

[00:38:10] where we started talking about a couple of those different college coaches that were like, why not have all this kind of success. I mean, they know the game. You don't have to be an NHL coach to know how to put systems together and run the game, right? But I don't remember who they were. I think Colorado. It was David Carl, yeah. Yeah, David Carl. I wouldn't mind giving somebody a shot like that, but given what's out there and the ability, I think it's fine. I'd like to see. John Tortorella. I'd like to see that, yeah.

[00:38:39] That would have been good like last year, like halfway through the season. Who would you like to see? I would have liked to see if the Lightning, you know, felt like it was time to make a move and just a change. And I would have loved it. I think it's not going to happen. So on that same vein, what about the team that could maybe do that? And that's Colorado. If they get rid of Jared Bednar, do you take a risk on him? Do you take the chance on Bednar over Keefe? Yeah, but I don't think.

[00:39:07] Yeah, I just think that we're going to have Keefe. That's what we have. That's what we are. Beginning of the season, at least. I don't see much of a change going on. It's kind of like the whole we talked about, the Markstrom change a couple weeks ago. Like, I don't think that's how. I just think when we start the season, it's just going to be because I'm faces that I expect to see there. I think Tony has – you haven't gotten your mind away from the we don't have Tom Fitzgerald anymore. Like, maybe there's going to be some changes this year, you know? Like, it's not Fitz. Like, if it was Fitz, yeah, we got Markstrom.

[00:39:37] But I don't know how you go in the next year with Jacob Markstrom as your goaltender and actually think you have a shot. Like, he's 38 or 38 years old or something, right? Like, yeah, guys at 38 who are on a steady decline don't bounce back in net. It doesn't happen. So, I don't think that – you know, I think something will be done. I don't think. But I mean, maybe. I think something has to be done.

[00:40:05] This GM, he is too, like, entrenched in data and analytics and understanding trends and all that. I'm not saying that as a one-sided sword. I'm saying he's too deep into it to not see. You cannot simply repeat what you've done and expect success. I'm not saying that our – the guys he may have to move are not bad hockey players.

[00:40:33] If that was a mute button, you totally missed. You guys can actually still – so, I wonder if the microphone is running off the computer. Yeah, I tried to block it as I coughed. Very bad job. I can just mute you. Anyway, yeah. Now you're muted. Smart enough to know that something has to happen. And it will. Yeah, I mean, yeah. Quick bounce back at 38. But, again, like you say, he was a backup at that point.

[00:40:58] You know, he wasn't expected to play 50-plus games and take you deep into the playoffs. Markstrom was also never quick. No, that's a good point. Markstrom had some good years, but, you know, he was never quick. That's a good point. Hopefully there's got to be some kind of moves. We've been saying this for the last couple weeks. You figure there's definitely going to be something. They bought him in. And, obviously, what's been going on has not worked.

[00:41:22] And, again, I think the thing that has killed this team the last two and a half years has been moves that Fitzgerald didn't make when it was time to make them. And that kind of molded. There was no doubt this year of what we were going to wind up with when we knew the season before that. And even the season before that, we were never aggressive during that trade deadline. Like, other teams are making deals way before time. You had Florida making deals they didn't even need to make just to bolster up the team two seasons ago. And we didn't have that.

[00:41:50] Well, we needed a goalie a couple years ago. And that's when I really started losing faith. Again, last year, I think we all felt it. Like, you know, before the trade deadline, you just knew there was going to be nothing done. It wasn't even – we've talked about it on the show. If you went back and listened to some of those old broadcasts, like, we kind of knew this is the way it's going to be. And, again, does it bleed downhill, too? Does it hurt the players, too, knowing that?

[00:42:17] But so I always think to myself, you know, the Panthers want you two seasons ago. You go over there. They're going to bring in guys to build up the team and build it up with the Devils. You're not going to get those backups. Your GM, when you have Fitzgerald, wasn't going to bring you those tools, you know, to help you go into the playoffs. I wonder if that bleeds into the mentality, the morale of the team. Oh, I'm sure it does. I'm sure it does. When you're in there and you're having a rough year and you're like, there's nobody coming to fucking help us.

[00:42:46] Like, we lost this guy or that guy and they're not making moves. But, you know, that's why I think it all boils down to. Like, we can look at Tom Fitzgerald's full body of work here with the Devils. He was not a good general manager. He was not good with the people he put in place. It takes years to see this. But now that it's gone and we can look at the body of work, we see that he put people that were not great at developing talent, you know, in those positions. He didn't manage guys properly.

[00:43:14] Like, he got praised because Jack got signed, you know, for $8 million a year. And he got praised for making the Timo Meier trade. We'll see about the Kovacavich. We don't know about how that's going to wind up playing out another day. So, that'll reflect eventually on that. He arguably had a good skill set in convincing younger guys that you could take a little bit less so we can build a proper team. Can't really take that skill set away from him. All the other flaws he had are obvious.

[00:43:43] The unfortunate part is that's probably the easier part of being a GM. I know it's still big money and people that want to get paid. But we've been saying it for like two years. He never had the balls to gamble on a move that you still have a great chance isn't going to work out because you could be the best team and still get your ass kicked in in round three and not make the finals like Colorado. Like, it doesn't mean you're going to win a cup. But I think he was so scared to make a move and not win the cup that it would look bad. They didn't freaking do it.

[00:44:11] And, you know, Claude Lemieux has been in the news the last few days, right? Super sad. I know you guys talked about it. Well, I want you guys to talk about it too, so we'll get to him. Playoff hero in 1995 brought back in in 2000. His offensive stat line in 2000 was not the second coming of Claude Lemieux. That was a, this is what I need at the trade deadline. I need this guy back on my team literally to help us win the Stanley Cup. And that's exactly what he did.

[00:44:40] Never had that mentality with this guy. Like, there was no killer. There was no, I'm going to get the goalie and I'll figure out the cap next year. Right. I'm going to get whatever and we're going to be in trouble and we'll figure it out or we'll cut somebody. It's going to suck, but maybe we get a cup out of it. It was never there. Hopefully we get to that level. Yeah. It's when teams, you know, they, they, they play to not lose, you know, it's just, you're never going to go far with that kind of mentality. You're right. And I think that Sonny Mehta does not have that.

[00:45:09] I should hope not. Cause you got nothing to lose if you're him. Right. You go for it. Like what's the, you think fans are going to get mad that you went for it and fell short? Like, hell no. We just want to see this team win. That's right. Well, you know, before we go, we're going to wrap it up because you know, we did lose Claude Lemieux. It was terrible, fucking horrible tragedy. And now that like details have come out and everything, we're not going to get into that.

[00:45:35] I just want to hear you guys opinion, uh, you know, on Claude and just like what he meant for this team and us as young devil fans, when we were kind of, you know, just getting into those Stanley cup runs and good teams, 94, 95. And this dude just epitomized playoff hockey. The first playoff era. I'm going to go first because Tony's, you know, he's Tony's favorite. This one's extremely upsetting.

[00:46:02] Like any, if this happened, anybody is upsetting, but like Claude Lemieux seriously was just about the first guy you thought of when you thought about where the devils became. But what I love hearing most about him now is like, everybody knows he was a complete deck on the ice. He did whatever he had to do for his team to win. Now you're hearing stories about his biggest, you know, enemies coming out and saying off the ice, this dude was great. Like he was a good dude.

[00:46:32] Like we're friends now. He was just kind of the ultimate warrior. And the thing that bothers me the most is that like, think about where you need to be. In your life. It's that bad, right? When you've got a son, you've got like other things, like there's so much. So it's just so troubling that you didn't see it or you couldn't help a guy like that who was, you know, a four time champion. I think he's got a Canadian gold or two, right?

[00:46:59] It's just that element of his life was off the charts. Good. You've got money. You've got fame if you want it. And you just don't know what's, what's lingering in the background. And to have that kind of winning mentality at one part of your life, that total drive. You can't be a Claude Lemieux unless you're so freaking driven to make it happen, right? So it's intangible as we talk about that. Go that never let off the gas. And then have this other side of you. So it's extremely upsetting that way.

[00:47:28] And it's just upsetting in the fact that, you know, that was legend for sure. Yeah, I mean, I agree with you 100%. That's very well said. He, your mental illness is super scary. You get to a point where you feel that is your only way out and everybody that you love will be better off with you gone is a very dark place to be. And I'm going to sound really corny here.

[00:47:52] And I don't, I lost, I lost too many people that I've worked with and known and that have committed suicide. And the bottom line is it's takes no time, costs no money to just be nice to somebody, stranger, say hello, wear a hat you like, fucking devil hat, talk hockey. That two minute conversation might be the only positive relationship that that person had that day. The positive interaction that person had that day.

[00:48:20] You never know what other people are going through. Just, I know I sound fucking corny, but the truth is. No, it is the truth. To be nice costs nothing. And it could be what somebody needs to hear that day. That may stop them from doing something terrible. And, you know, when it comes to an athlete like Claude Lemieux, we talked about how he played. I would not be surprised if CTE played into this. You know, especially back then. It's, it's scary stuff. I think they came out today and said it did.

[00:48:50] Oh, it did. Okay. I didn't see that. They believe it did. I know his brain has got, his brain has been donated, I believe. Good. Good. Good. So, Tony, I'm going to let you have the last word on Claude because we know how much he meant to you as a Devil fan and how much he loved him. He was my favorite player. It's devastating, man. I even said to my wife, you know, there's, so I can even compare it to when Ozzy died. Like when Ozzy died this year is something that still upsets me when I think about it. It still bums me out. Like, you know, we've seen at our ages, we're seeing a lot of people pass away.

[00:49:20] And these people are celebrities. So it's like, it never bothers me usually. The Ozzy thing bothered me. It still bothers me. When Claude passed away, I said to my wife this today too. I said, man, I said, this really fucking bums me out every time I think about it. Like, because you know, we're Devil's fans. So you're on Instagram, wherever you're on this Devil pages. So you're seeing it constantly. I actually have a signed Claude Demieu Devil's jersey I'm going to get framed this week. That's in my office. I have, I've told this story on the show before.

[00:49:50] So I have a stick from Claude Demieu from when he played with Canadians. Like it was like, I think I believe it was rookie season. And I had met Claude a couple of times and he was playing with the Avalanche at this time period. And him and the Avalanche were playing, practicing at the Brandon Ice Forum. So that was the thing in Tampa was all the teams would practice. You can go watch them practice for free. So I had this stick and I wanted to get it signed, you know. And I was like, man, I'm going to go to the practice and see if Claude will sign this thing.

[00:50:17] Claude, you know, back when he was a player, you know, it was, you were a little intimidating. I just remember the bus pulling up outside the ice forum. And me and my sister, Megan, we're standing out there. You guys know her. And I have the stick. So all the Avalanche are walking to go practice. And Claude just stops. He looks at me. He goes, where'd you get that from? And he calls me over, starts signing the stick, calls over Kamensky, Recchi, calls over all these guys. They're all looking at him. He's laughing. He's like showing him how small it was.

[00:50:47] He's like, yeah, this was like when I first started. It's a red titan. Anybody who knows Claude used to play with those back in the day. I had to hang it out in my living room forever, man. You know, so yeah, that's like a prized possession. Big Claude the Mew fan. And just, you know, I think about so many things about that dude. Like even when he fucking punches Brett Lindros in the face on the bench when no one's looking. I mean, that is to me like one of those moments. You know, he does the old like look left, right, bam. Classic. Classic.

[00:51:17] Yeah, but totally, totally a bummer. And it's going to be something that what sucks about this is, you know, it sucks when we lose people or whatever, you know, when this happens. But the way it happened is something that you always have in the back year. You know, when you think of Claude the Mew, there's so many great memories, but there's always going to be that sad memory that this happened. Did it in Florida too at his business, his furniture business there. Yeah. And like I said, I've been seeing a lot of it too everywhere.

[00:51:44] I know there's been a lot of people coming out and talking about it. Of course, I mean, and the guy was just holding the torch up in Montreal a couple days ago. I mean, does he know? I mean, you have to think to yourself, like, is there something that says this may be the way? He's having these issues like a lot of players have after whatever, you know, is this something like is thought of? I swear when I watched that torch thing afterwards, I saw what we watched it and you just saw my thoughts going in my brain. I'm like, what's going on? You know, I mean, he had a family and just a total fucking bummer.

[00:52:14] I know his son put a post. If you guys saw that, put a tweet up yesterday. No, it's like that. I was like, dad, I love you. We'll see you soon. It's all, you know, it's just total. It's a shitty story. And it sucks. It is a shitty story. All we knew for us was a hero because twice, I mean, very rarely does someone leave and come back and do it again too. Yeah. One of my favorite players, you know, and always turns it on at the end, man. There's nobody, nobody you'd rather have. First name you think of when you think playoff performer is Claude Lemieux.

[00:52:43] And even in my men, I played men's league. I played all that bullshit, even baseball. Like I'm in the men's leagues for the, I always wore 22. And from 2000 on, like every time we were getting into the playoffs or get bounced and have all these weak ass teams. Who's the guy we go to? It's we need a Claude Lemieux. How many times have we said that? Can we? It'd be 2023. Can we just get Claude back? You know, like we need to call him. You know, like he was the guy. And yeah, I mean, it's sad and he will be missed. And you're right.

[00:53:12] There is kind of going to be that kind of dark cloud over his passing. But, you know, remember the shit that he did to the game we love and the team we love. And that's how he'll be remembered for us. It's crazy. If you remember, he said, I remember watching an interview with him and his brother Jocelyn was supposedly better. Didn't wind up better than him. He had a way better career, Claude. But I watched something and he said, oh, my brother's like way more skills. And it just goes to show you it's the character, I think.

[00:53:37] And what's Claude was just fucking just he had a demon in him when he played, man, you know. And he had that look in his eyes, too. Like no matter what, it was just that's, you know, it just looked evil, you know. There's a Spitting Chicklets episode from, I'm going to say it's probably a couple years old with Gomer on it. And Gomez talks about Lemieux stories from his rookie year in 2000 for like 45 minutes. And it's just great Lemieux story.

[00:54:05] So I recommend anybody that wants to check that out, go check it out. It was, I actually rewatched it today. That's Scott Gomez stories for the same reason. But, yeah, it was very cool. There was a Claude interview I watched recently. You know, he was talking. He said he was a bleeder. He said, you know, whenever he got in fights when he was younger, he always wound up bleeding. And he said eventually he just kind of said to himself, well, I'm not going to. You know, he used to fight. He would call the fight sometimes. But he said eventually he's like, I'm just going to have them fucking so crazy where they just want to chase me around and rip my head off.

[00:54:35] And this is what I'm going to do for now on. And that, you know, I mean, that's what he did. Yeah, that's what he did. And, you know, I don't think, you know, the whole Chris Draper thing. It was a big deal. And I know it was. And I know it was awful. But I don't think – I really don't believe that was the intent. It was just really shitty. The intent was to check him hard into the boards, not to rip half his face off. Like, that was the problem. It was just the damage that was done, you know, and where he was hit on the dasher.

[00:55:03] Like, I mean, Draper was fucked up, dude. It was crazy. But the ring of honor, that man, man. Number 22 should be in the ring of honor. Yeah. That's – it's unfortunate that it didn't happen when he was alive because I think he's obviously a guy that would make that. But for any Devils fans out there, man, whether you're young or old like us, when that day comes on the schedule and it will – maybe not this year because they probably do a good year in advance or plus – go to that game. Like, I want to be there for that. I'm going to be there for that.

[00:55:32] That's just like that small little piece that you can pay for what this guy gave us. He's one of those guys, Bobby. When they say they don't make them like that anymore, I really believe that Claude Mew is one of those kind of dudes. Especially from our years when we first started watching hockey, you know, like – Yeah, oh, yeah. Like, the guys like Chris Simon, the Claude Mews and stuff like that. That's a thing of the past. The Pelusos, you know, these guys wouldn't even probably make it with the talent levels. Now, you might not even see some of these guys in the league. But they just don't – it was just a different world and players like that.

[00:56:02] And Claude was like one of the kings of those dudes. Everybody wanted him on their team in the playoffs. But nobody – you know, if it wasn't on your team, you'd fucking hate it. That 94 year was my first full year watching, like, hockey. I just assumed, like, that was normal. I didn't realize how specially – well, like, oh, everybody's got a dick like this. Like, yeah, everyone's got a dick, but not like this. No. No. No. When he was on your team, like I said – I think I said on the last show, like, you loved him. But if he wasn't, you wanted him out of the league.

[00:56:32] Like, you didn't want him – you just – you hated him. You did not think that he even deserved to be in the NHL. But, you know, you ask any Habs, Devils, or Avalanche fan. Yeah. They're going to say how happy they were to have had him. He's my favorite Lemieux. You know. Yeah. I think that would be – David Chimes, that's a great idea. Do Claude Lemieux ring of honor the night when Montreal or Colorado's in town, preferably Montreal. That would be awesome.

[00:56:59] Carolina did a nice little tribute before game four – or game five, rather, because I guess he did something with Carolina. He was somehow, after his playing days, affiliated with that team. And, yeah, Jocelyn Lemieux brought him up. He's another former devil. He played for us, too. But, yeah, he will definitely be missed. And, yeah, I think – you guys, anything else you want to say before we wrap it up tonight? Yeah, that's a good spot. No, I think that's good, man.

[00:57:26] And, yeah, the RIP-Claw Lemieux, thank you for all the – Everything. Making being a Devils fan fun because it was a lot of fun. Yeah. Well said, Tony. Guys, thanks so much for checking us out. Hit the subscribe, like, alert bell if you're listening to us in podcast form. Five-star review, positive comment does help the little podcast that could. I'm Chris, Tony, and Bobby. We're the Uncle Buckers. We'll see you when we see you. Bye. Bye.

[00:58:05] Okay. We'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. apparently.