Four Points And Bigger Questions: Push for Playoffs or Rebuild for the Future?

WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.799
The Nashville Predators return from the road with four points from three games.
00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.800
But do we really know who this Nashville Predators team is?
00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:14.000
Plus, we talk rebuilds and rumors with special guest JD Young.
00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.879
Every game tells two stories.
00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:26.800
The one everyone sees, and the one that happens behind the scenes.
00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.480
Welcome to Second Intermission with Anne Campbell.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:39.679
McFarland is filling out the demographic that was previously looped and police and actually blockable.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:45.439
You'll find floatful analysis.
00:00:53.520 --> 00:01:01.840
Whether this is your first season watching hockey or you've lived and breathed the game for decades, there's a sneak for you here.
00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.599
Let's drop the flop.
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:20.640
The Nashville Predators return to town after their first Canadian road trip of the season.
00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:23.680
They come back with four points in three games.
00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:29.760
On today's show, we are going to talk about what jumped out about Nashville's performance on the road this past week.
00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.640
We're going to talk about the trade and the debuts.
00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:41.680
We're also going to discuss what Nashville can learn from another NHL team that may be a few years ahead of where Nashville could be going.
00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:43.920
We're going to welcome special guest JD Young.
00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:50.000
He's the host of Locked On Sharks, and we're going to talk about rumors and rebuilds with JD.
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:54.959
Today's episode is brought to you by our great friends at Homewell Care Services.
00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.000
Does someone you love need extra help at home?
00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:07.760
Homewell Care Services provides non-medical in-home care across Middle Tennessee for older adults, people with disabilities, and those recovering after a hospital stay.
00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:13.599
Their caregivers help with bathing, dressing, meals, lighthousekeeping, and rides to appointments.
00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:18.400
They also provide companionship and give family caregivers a much needed break.
00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:24.800
From a few hours of help to daily support, Homewell works with each family to find care that fits their needs.
00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:33.280
Call Homewell today to talk about care for yourself or someone you love at 615-622-9360.
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:37.919
That's 615-622-9360.
00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:42.560
Homewell Care Services, trusted care, true compassion.
00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.039
The Nashville Predators return with some stamped passports.
00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:51.520
They played Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa this week.
00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:59.120
And I have to admit, if I'm being honest, I'm surprised that this is a team coming home with four points in three games.
00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:07.039
Now, I also don't know that I would have been able to predict how many points this team was going to come home with after these three games.
00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:14.000
But I think it's a positive that out of these three games against some very tough teams, the Preds are returning with four points.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:17.680
So let's talk about what jumped out about the week that was.
00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:22.319
First, shout out to the Predators for scoring 11 goals in three games.
00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:33.520
Go back with me in your mind, and you will recall a time in the not too distant past where it seemed like Nashville could not get more than one or two goals to start the season.
00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:38.479
The offense seems to be doing pretty well, 11 goals again in three games.
00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:39.439
We'll take that.
00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:43.039
They were four for 12 on the power play in these three games.
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:49.840
Here's what's real if the Nashville Predators can get set up in the zone, this is a power play that can really threaten.
00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:57.120
Interesting to see that Andrew Burnett opted to put Jonathan Marchisot on the top unit and move Matthew Wood to the second unit.
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.879
We'll see if that's a temporary move or if that's something he's gonna go with.
00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:02.639
Of course, Marchisot did score.
00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:06.800
Credit to him and to the power play, four for 12 on the road.
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:09.360
Penalty kill, also pretty darn good.
00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:12.479
They gave up two power play goals on 12 chances.
00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.120
Here's an idea, just maybe don't commit penalties.
00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:16.480
Just throwing that out there.
00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:19.519
There were some penalties that needed to happen.
00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.040
There are some penalties that need to happen, but also there were some penalties that really didn't need to happen.
00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:27.040
The penalty kill, I think, did a great job.
00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:28.800
It's got a lot of new faces on the kill.
00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.560
Adam Willsby's getting a lot of minutes.
00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:35.199
Jack Drew, Ross Colton, Matthew Wood out on the penalty kill as well.
00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:41.519
Of course, shout out to Ryan O'Reilly on the penalty kill on the power play, basically doing all of the things.
00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:49.360
But if we are going to talk about these games, we are going to talk about UC Soros and we are going to talk about goaltending.
00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:54.160
Of course, Eustace Oninen still on IR as of the time of this recording.
00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:59.439
UC Soros played against Toronto and Montreal in those two games.
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.160
UC Soros faced 70 shots.
00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:10.240
And what we saw from Soros in these two games was vintage Soros.
00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:13.920
It was black and white movie UC Soros.
00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:19.680
It was making saves that kept this team in these two games.
00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:24.879
There was a great tweet, shout out to Alex Dharty, who sometimes just absolutely nails the memes.
00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:26.879
And he nailed the meme on Twitter.
00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:32.800
He sent out a tweet that said UC Soros hearing all the chatter about goaltending problems the last three years.
00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:42.639
And he had imposed Soros' face on Michael Jordan's body sitting in the chair from the last dance, where Michael Jordan says, and I took that personally.
00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:48.079
Because UC Soros has been fantastic for the Nashville Predators.
00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:59.439
So shout out to him for those first two games, Toronto and Montreal, finding a way to drag this team to victory or to one overtime point.
00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:02.319
But we also have to talk about the other goaltender.
00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:06.720
You know, the goaltender that we didn't know we were going to talk about this early in the season.
00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:15.920
But Matt Murray, Matthew Murray, not that Matt Murray, our Matt Murray, Nashville's Matt Murray, came in on Saturday against Ottawa.
00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:18.399
Again, on and still not ready to go.
00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.879
Murray joined the team for this road trip.
00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:30.160
Came in, started the game in Ottawa, and Matt Murray did absolutely everything you would want your goaltender to do in that game.
00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:32.879
Now, the Predators lost in the shootout.
00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:34.720
Again, I don't blame Matt Murray.
00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:44.160
When I say lost in the shootout, in my mind, I'm like, Philip Forrester, Steven Stamcos, please make those shots in the shootout because Matt Murray has done all Matt Murray can do.
00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:45.920
And the team knew that.
00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.560
The team knew that Matt Murray had given them such a great chance to win this game.
00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:54.319
After the game, Andrew Burnett referred to Murray's play as awesome.
00:06:54.560 --> 00:07:04.879
Jonathan Marchisot talked about how the team was very disappointed that after everything Murray did to keep the Preds in that game and to play as well as he did, that the team couldn't get him two points.
00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:10.720
Murray came up with huge saves at huge times with like two, three seconds to go in regulation.
00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:13.839
Matt Murray gets it done for the Predators.
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:19.199
If UC Soros can continue to play the way that we've seen him.
00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:33.519
And if Eustace Oninen can get healthy and pick up near to where he left off last season and where he played the summer in international competition, friends, Nashville could have a very good goaltending tandem.
00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:38.240
Now it's a long season and we're just dipping our toes into it.
00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:40.399
But it's something to keep your eye on.
00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:46.720
Nashville may have very stable, very good goaltending if this continues.
00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:52.399
There were some things in these three games that we hate to see, and let's just face them head on.
00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.279
First, no goals yet for Philip Forrestberg.
00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:56.560
And friends, am I worried?
00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:57.279
Absolutely not.
00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:58.560
He's Philip Forestberg.
00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:02.160
But Forrestburg has been known in the past to be streaky.
00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:03.600
The chances are there.
00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.839
He is generating quality shots.
00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.759
He is putting the puck on net.
00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:09.839
So far, he has nine shots on goal.
00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.560
Second most tied for second most with a team.
00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.839
Steven Stamkos and wait for it.
00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.839
Adam Edstrom have the most shots on goal with 10.
00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.439
Uh, Matthew Wood and Philip Forrestberg tied with nine.
00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:25.519
So the chances are there.
00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.759
And here's what's real about Forcesburg.
00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:31.519
The minute you uncork that scoring bottle, it's going to flow.
00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:35.600
But we're ready to see him get on the score sheet with a goal.
00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:46.320
The other thing that I find concerning, and this could be just um an instance, or this could be like an issue.
00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:50.720
But the Nashville Predators were not great playing with a lead.
00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:57.200
Uh Jonathan Marchassot in the postgame against Ottawa talked about hey, the team took their foot off their gas a little bit.
00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.840
The Prets were up three-nothing over Toronto.
00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:02.159
The Prets were up two-nothing over Ottawa.
00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:08.559
Starts are important when you get up three-nothing or two-nothing over very good teams.
00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.159
You've got to feel good about that.
00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:17.759
But the reality is playing with a lead is a skill set that winning teams have.
00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:33.440
And you hope that Nashville is not a team that after time and after challenges thrives as the underdog who has to claw their way back and doesn't quite know what to do with being the winning team in a game.
00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:43.759
And again, it could just be these are instances, but you want to make sure this is not some sort of subconscious issue that the predators have.
00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:47.519
Because again, playing with a lead, that is a skill set.
00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.759
The predators have got to nail that down.
00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.559
The defense is working hard.
00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.320
It's hardworking defense.
00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:01.200
It is not brimming with contender talent, but I think the defense is doing what it can with what it has.
00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.840
And that leads us to the trade.
00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:15.679
On Friday, the National Predators announced that they had traded a second round draft pick in the 2027 draft that was originally Vegas' for Montreal defenseman Jaden Strubble.
00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.279
He's 25 years old.
00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:22.080
This happened after the Montreal game, where the Predators lost William Trudeau.
00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:33.519
Of course, William Trudeau picked up September 26th, I believe, off of waivers by Chris McFarland, who is taking little steps to address the defensive problem.
00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:39.919
But William Trudeau injured in that Montreal game, and he is listed now as week to week with an upper body.
00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:47.840
So Predators traded for Jaden Strubbel, who jumped into the lineup against Ottawa and played very well.
00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:52.799
Uh, impact player for uh for the predators against Ottawa.
00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:58.000
You know, uh, this is a player and a trade that I think makes a lot of sense for a lot of people.
00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.720
Montreal had a backlog of defensemen that they needed to sort through and sift through.
00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:05.519
And Struble sort of ended up being the extra.
00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.120
This gives Strubel a chance for some meaningful NHL minutes.
00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.600
This gives Montreal a draft pick.
00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.080
It costs Nashville very little.
00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.799
This is a low-risk deal they're taking on.
00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:20.399
His AAV is just over 1.4 million, I believe.
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:22.960
And he's an RFA after this season.
00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.919
Now, is Strubel the answer?
00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:30.240
No, he is not the answer to Nashville's defensive woes.
00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:43.360
But he could be part of an answer that doesn't immediately involve taking on long-term high-cost contracts when you look at players like Simon Edvin or Alexander Nikishin.
00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:47.200
And those are kind of the defensive deals that are being talked about.
00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:53.360
As of the time of this recording, Chris McFarland has opted not to do those kinds of deals.
00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:57.840
And maybe he is waiting to see what this team is.
00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:03.200
And we really don't know yet what this team is.
00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:10.480
Five games in, this is a team that couldn't hold a three-goal lead, but it's also a team that nobody thought would get a three-goal lead over Toronto.
00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:22.000
This is a team that should not have won against Montreal, but a team with a goaltender like UC Saros who scored five unanswered goals, that makes you think, oh, okay.
00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:29.200
Now this is a team that had a 2-0 lead in Ottawa, but then gave up the game tying goal at six on five.
00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.200
You don't know yet who this team is.
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:41.440
Now, we did get to see Vitali Pinchuk make his NHL debut against Ottawa this week.
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.679
That is another really exciting piece that I want you guys to keep your eye on.
00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:56.879
If you notice his first NHL point came as an assist from a pass right in front of the net, friends, that is going to be Vitali Pinchuk land if all goes according to plan.
00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:00.480
That is where he has been so successful in the KHL.
00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:07.200
Keep your eye on that and see if that's where we see Vitali Pinchuk spend more time as he gets more ice time.
00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:11.919
Coming up next week, the Predators return to the Tiger Barn.
00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.519
They are back at Bridgestone Arena.
00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.559
Are we going to learn more about who this team is then?
00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:17.679
Maybe.
00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:22.159
The Predators will host Las Vegas on Tuesday, San Jose Thursday, and St.
00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:24.720
Louis on Saturday, all at home.
00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:28.080
This is a Vegas team expected to contend.
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.480
This is a San Jose Sharks team expected to chase the postseason.
00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.200
This is a St.
00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:36.159
Louis team that is expected to be completely unexpected.
00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.519
Nobody ever knows what to make of St.
00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:37.919
Louis.
00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:43.200
The truth is we are still wrestling with what comes next for Nashville.
00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.679
Is this a team that Chris McFarland will allow to push for a playoff spot?
00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:50.080
Will they do enough to convince him?
00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:57.519
Or is this a team that valiantly tried but needs to face a little bit of a rebuild?
00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:02.720
Can this team do enough to earn CMAX trust and a chance to contend?
00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:07.120
Or is this franchise just really headed for that retool rebuild?
00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:13.120
That is the ultimate question about the 2026-27 season for the Nashville Predators.
00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:20.720
As we wrestle with this, I thought I want to talk to somebody who knows a thing or two about option B, about a rebuild.
00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:25.200
So coming up, I invited JD Young to join me.
00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.320
We're going to talk about rumors and we're going to talk about rebuilds.
00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:30.639
JD is the host of Locked On Sharks.
00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.960
He knows a thing or two about rebuilding.
00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:38.879
We talk about how San Jose deploys their youth and veterans most successfully.
00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:47.360
We also take some time to discuss former predators, Yaroslav Askarov and Kiefer Sherwood, and what their roles look like in San Jose now.
00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:55.279
Plus, we are going to play a very fun game of hockey takes from a hat that at one point takes it just takes a turn, friends.
00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:09.360
I am joined now by one of my all-time favorite people to talk hockey with, one of my all-time favorite people to talk San Jose Sharks with, and one of the people who has the greatest Twitter handle in the history of the interwebs.
00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.039
This is JD Young.
00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.240
He is the host of Locked On Sharks, which you all need to be listening to.
00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:20.080
And JD, do you want to share your Twitter handle for those of us who just need a moment to appreciate its greatness?
00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.559
Uh it is at my fry hole.
00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:27.039
Uh it is a futurama joke, which is one of my all-time favorite shows.
00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:34.399
Uh, but yes, I created it like 20 my it was kind of my online name like 20 plus years ago.
00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.919
Uh never did I think I would actually be like doing anything.
00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:40.720
So, and at this point, I'm just uh I can't change it at this point.
00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.600
But yes, yeah.
00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:48.720
Uh it was my it's like still my Xbox Live gamer tag, uh, and it's been the same thing for 20 plus years.
00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.080
So I love that.
00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:54.799
My husband uh is in engineering, he's kind of in that nerd area.
00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.639
And 20 some years ago, he said to me, You need to get a thing called email.
00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:02.240
And I said, Look, dude, you're a nerd that's never gonna catch on.
00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.799
Yes, that's never gonna catch on.
00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:10.559
And so you can find me at banana at hotmail.com because who thought?
00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:15.440
Who thought 20 years from now my fry hole and banarner would be chatting up hockey?
00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.120
One million percent, right?
00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.840
We all have that.
00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:22.879
Uh that the high for a lot of us, like the high school email, uh, especially the hotmail.
00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:26.799
Um, yes, that is now the spam one, and then you have like your real one.
00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.039
Yes, that's that's how we navigate it, people.
00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.480
That's how we navigate it, yes.
00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.360
I love that.
00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:36.639
To kick off uh the show, I always JD like to start with a stat, a story, or a question.
00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.960
For you, I just want to ask you a question.
00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.639
I of course subscribe to Lockdown Sharks, love, love your show.
00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.559
And I'm not just saying that because I'm talking to you.
00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.320
I tell people that when you're not around.
00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:54.639
But I know on your podcast you've gotten to interview several of the players, several of the prospects involved in the sharks organization.
00:16:54.799 --> 00:17:03.039
So I'm curious who has been your favorite guest and what story or tidbit has really stuck with you from one of those conversations?
00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.079
Oh, that's tough.
00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.720
Uh, I mean William Eklund.
00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:14.720
Yeah, William Eklund kind of being a recurring guest, uh, which was always a really fun thing.
00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:21.759
Uh and especially his last one before like when the sharks were kind of starting to turn the corner and things were starting to kind of turn around.
00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:25.440
Um, uh always appreciate the Eklunds uh for their time.
00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:28.319
So I'm gonna put him at number one just because he kept coming back.
00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.839
Um, made a lot had to do with Mama Eklund on that one.
00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.039
Shout out to her.
00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:35.359
Uh, she's the she's the real one.
00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:54.160
But um some of my favorite ones, um, I recently had Keaton Verhoff on, and uh yeah, he is uh for a kid who just turned 18, like just super mature, an easy kid to root for.
00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.000
Uh really enjoyed having him.
00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:06.319
But one of my all-time, all-time favorite stories, uh Ben Gaudreau, who used to be a sharks uh goalie prospect, uh had him on.
00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.000
He actually came on twice, but had him on.
00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:14.319
He was talking about kind of coming up, and um, you know, he's playing, I think he was playing midget or junior or something like that, right?
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:17.279
Or you know, like um, and he was the goalie.
00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.680
They didn't have a backup goalie, but he had to go to the bathroom.
00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.839
So he comes out of the game.
00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:25.119
That and the thing is they have a shutout, they have a shutout going.
00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:34.720
He comes out of the game, he has to go to the bathroom, but like he can't, you know, he's like just basically like kind of pulling down his gear just enough so he can go to the bathroom.
00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.359
The team has got like they're six on five.
00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:47.200
Um, he comes finishes up, they still haven't given a goal, and they come back in, so he gets to shut out despite not being in the net for like five minutes because he had to go to the bathroom.
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.359
Like, when you gotta go, you gotta go.
00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.359
One of my all-time favorite stories.
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.160
I don't know why.
00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.319
Uh yeah, just that one for some reason.
00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:54.960
It is absolute.
00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:02.480
I'm just trying to picture a kid in the stall, like half his gear, yes, and wanting the shutout.
00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.279
Like, I want the shutout, but I really gotta go.
00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.480
I really gotta go.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.480
So, one of my all-time favorite stories.
00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.920
Love that one, so yeah.
00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:15.519
You mentioned Keaton Verhoff, young player, you know, you know, and you said you were really impressed with him.
00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:20.640
Let's talk about another young player, super impressive, of course, Macklin Celebrini.
00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:25.759
I was so fascinated, not surprised, but also I chewed on it a bit.
00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.960
He was named captain for the San Jose Sharks.
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.640
I'm curious what your take is on that.
00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:34.240
He's 20 years old, he's Macklin Celebrini.
00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.759
You know, I'm just curious what your take is on that.
00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:40.240
Um, it was inevitable, right?
00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.119
And just the way that he handles his business.
00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:49.440
And again, yes, I know he's 20 years old, and you know, he still comes off sometimes as a goofy 20-year-old, which is what we love about him, right?
00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:53.119
Is he able to kind of walk that line of being a goofy 20-year-old.
00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:59.440
Um, but also you just look at how the rest of the team follows his lead, right?
00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:07.839
And I think the big thing for me was um during the offseason, how many guys went to North Vancouver to train with him?
00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.839
And not just Sharks players, yeah.
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:15.279
But like Gav McKenna, you know, they talked about uh they run the ice for like 15, 16 hours a day.
00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.480
Um that sounds so you know that sounds so on brand.
00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.920
I'm exhausted right now.
00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:26.960
Um, they you know, uh Will Smith, Sam Dickinson, Michael Misa all spent time out there in in Vancouver with him.
00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:33.680
He was, you know, draft night calling, texting the new draftees, like saying, like, welcome to San Jose, man.
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.640
I can't wait to work with you.
00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.559
Like, it's gonna be great, stuff like that.
00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:44.160
Um, you know, texting guys to get to San Jose early before training camp started, so that way they could start practicing together.
00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:47.279
Um, doing all the little things like that.
00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:49.279
And yes, he's 20 years old, right?
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:55.359
But uh, I think the Sharks have done a good job of making sure that they have Celebrini, then they have a bunch of the unks around, right?
00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:58.720
You have Tower Sofoli, uh, who's been, you know, a great leader.
00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:06.400
Uh, you know, you bring in Darnell Nurse, who uh I know there were questions about his game, but right, very much like a leader on and off the ice type of player.
00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:10.000
You know, Barkley Goodrow is has been a leader with his organization.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.400
Um, you know, Jacob Trubo is a former captain.
00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:19.200
Like there's plenty of captor guys who've either been a captain or have been around the league long enough to kind of help support him.
00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:25.119
And um, it felt like if you had named anybody else the captain, you're just delaying the inevitable for him.
00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:28.559
So um, yeah, like I think he's going to be a great captain.
00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:31.599
I think the team, you know, they rally around him so much.
00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.160
And you saw that um against the blues, right?
00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:43.039
You don't have Celabrini like tough first period, and then they come out and they they steal two points against a team that you're probably gonna be fighting for a playoff spot here.
00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:51.200
And I know it's really early to look at playoff spots in October, but um, right, you what's the saying you can't clinch a playoff spot, you can definitely lose a playoff spot uh early as well.
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.319
Oh, we know we know that's fills the wear.
00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:59.759
Yes, so but yeah, I think he's going to be an excellent captain, and I think the sharks have.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.279
Done a really good job of again putting the pieces around him to try to succeed both on and off the ice.
00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:07.440
And then you think about even when he got here, right?
00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:16.960
The first two years he spent living with Joe Thornton, a former number one pick, uh, a captain himself, a player who got stripped of his captaincy.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:22.319
Um, you know, you think about like kind of everything Joe Thornton has been through, you know, as a Hall of Fame player.
00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:30.960
That's that's the perfect environment where celebrities can, you know, any sort of questions of like Joe Thornton's done everything except for lift a cup, right?
00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.519
He has done everything in his league except for lift a cup.
00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:38.240
And I think that is a great position to put a young player in to kind of be in that environment.
00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:46.559
And Joe Thornton, extremely goofy guy, but when things got going, like when you needed him to kind of uh you know get serious, Joe Thornton could get serious.
00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.839
So yeah.
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:58.559
You mentioned you know, kind of the way that you've got these young stars on the on the Sharks team, but they are surrounded by some veterans who have some great experience on and off the ice.
00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:05.680
The sharks are the sixth youngest team in the league this season, but of the top 10 youngest teams, they have the second most experience.
00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:09.440
And you mentioned like Tyler Tefoli, you mentioned Jacob Trunett, Darnell nurse.
00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.359
You know, you've got all of these guys.
00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.960
Kiefer Sherwood, put a pin in that.
00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:15.039
I want to circle back to Kefer Sherwood in a minute.
00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:29.920
How are they, how are how is San Jose deploying this really interesting combination of high-end young talent with veteran experience in a way that you think is going to be successful?
00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:43.759
Because Nashville doesn't have the same young young talent skill skill level, but there is a hope that they can somehow sort of deploy veterans and youth in a way that's helpful.
00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:46.079
How is San Jose doing it?
00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:49.119
So, like Celebrini's celebrating, right?
00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:51.039
And he's gonna get his, of course, right?
00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:54.799
Yes, and Will Smith has gotten to the point where he, you know, is a young player himself.
00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:56.000
Like Will Smith's only 21.
00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:58.000
I can think we kind of forget about yeah.
00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:00.960
Just a young up, just a baby, right?
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:04.160
Those two are like basically like kind of locked together, right?
00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:14.559
But the sharks have been very, especially early in the season here, they have been very much relying, almost it feels like hesitant at times with some of their young players.
00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:20.240
Um, you know, you you like Wenberg has been kind of taking up a lot of that two C minutes, right?
00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:31.519
And Michael Misa, who's a another high-end pick and you know, expected to kind of be the eventual like Malkin to uh Celebrines Crosby, hasn't really been able to kind of eat into that early on.
00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:44.640
And I know like Wenberg does get like penalty kill, he kind of gets more of the special teams uh minutes than that a guy like Cellar, than a guy like Michael Misa, but that's something that you expect as the season goes on, those two roles to kind of hopefully switch here, right?
00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:53.279
Um Ivar Stenberg, the the you know, the 19-year-old second overall pick in this year's draft, he's been stapled to uh Wenberg, which can make a lot of sense, right?
00:24:53.359 --> 00:25:07.039
Especially for a young guy like Stenberg, kind of navigating, having a veteran center around him, uh, you know, and uh kind of helps both of them where Wenberg really thrives having a playmaking winger, uh William Eklund that we saw the last couple seasons.
00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.519
You're hoping Stenberg can kind of start to fill that role.
00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:12.400
And you've seen so far he's done a pretty good job of it.
00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:16.160
Uh, he had a big time play against the Blues that were recorded this Friday morning.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:21.519
So if he does something crazy against the Oilers, uh, you know, just uh take two seconds and think about him.
00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.960
I can't believe he did that.
00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.519
Yes.
00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:37.039
Um, but like we we've seen, you know, like again, they they've been kind of very like, I don't want to say protective, but they've been, you know, trying to make sure that they don't put too much on their plate right away.
00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:42.880
Uh Sam Dickinson, who's a you know, uh 20-year-old defenseman, part of that celebrities draft, right?
00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:50.160
Uh, a guy who's uh you you saw him play one of his best games on Thursday after playing a really poor game on Monday.
00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:53.839
And he's been a guy who's been kind of struggling to kind of stay in the lineup here.
00:25:53.920 --> 00:26:01.599
But um, but I think the sharks have been really cautious early on um in trying to not put too much on their plate.
00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:12.319
I think that's really fascinating to watch because you tend to think as a as somebody on the outside looking in at the sharks who really have probably, I mean, well, they do.
00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:19.039
I mean, I think it's basically agreed they have the most talented young players in the league in the prospect in the pipeline.
00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.160
I mean, y'all have a good idea.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.880
No, no, Viv, yeah.
00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.599
It's it's pretty good.
00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.480
Yeah, I mean, you're y'all are up there, but no need to be humble.
00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.039
They're pretty good.
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.839
Yes, they're pretty good.
00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:30.880
But it's interesting to see how cautiously they are deployed.
00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:33.519
It's it seems like there's a long-term plan.
00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:40.480
And I know here in Nashville, one of the things that, you know, there's been a lot of conversation about what are you doing with Brady Martin?
00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.839
Why is he in the AHL?
00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:43.759
Why aren't you starting him in the NHL?
00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:50.319
And so I think it's very interesting to watch another team and see how are you taking your young talent and deploying them.
00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:54.400
And it seems like San Jose's kind of doing the now, but not yet.
00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:58.400
Like, we're gonna let them dip their toe in the water, but we're not throwing them in the deep end.
00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:05.839
Yeah, and like the AHL, I know for some like a lot of fans and stuff like that, they feel like the AHL is like a death nail or a death sentence to them.
00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:14.559
And like it's not like someone, you know, I've watched the AHL, you know, for uh because one, it was way better than watching the sharks the past couple seasons.
00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:20.000
Um, but like you, it's a it's a place where you can allow like that's what it's for.
00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:24.880
It's to allow guys who are not quite ready for the AHL to get their reps in, right?
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:36.559
And you think of like, I mean, for the Sharks, um, they uh Luca Cagnoni, uh, another 21-year-old defenseman, uh, who spent the last two seasons in the AHL, right?
00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:40.240
And myself, plenty of Sharks fans are like, why is this guy not in the NHL?
00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.839
Why is this guy not in the NHL?
00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:46.240
But now you're seeing it, all those reps where he was running the number one power play, right?
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:53.839
And the barracuda power play over the last two seasons, they were the first rank power play his rookie year, and then they were a second rank power play in the AHL's his second year.
00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:58.000
Um, like you see all those reps for him to help kind of iron out his games.
00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:07.599
And you know, for a guy like Brady Martin, who's you know a bigger guy and you know, I think kind of needs to learn how to use his body, especially when you start to play guys who are bigger, faster, and stronger than you, right?
00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:10.240
Brady Martin's always been a bigger, faster, stronger player, right?
00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:13.359
A guy who's always bigger, faster, stronger than most of the other kids he's playing against.
00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:20.079
Now you have to learn how to utilize that against guys who are just as big, just as far as strong, and just as fast as you.
00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:24.400
Um, and playing in the AHL is a great place to do that.
00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:31.759
And that way, because the worst thing you can do is you throw them in the NHL and then they lose their confidence and like and they they get lost.
00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:37.279
And uh, I would rather a guy playing, you know, 20 minutes night in the AHL than playing 10 minutes night in the NHL.
00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.920
And again, like you have to be patient with these guys.
00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:49.359
Not everybody, uh, I know Schaefer and Celebriti, and guys like that, uh, they kind of skew the process sometimes where it's like, well, that guy's doing it, you know, like first as soon as he comes in.
00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:58.000
Most of these kids take a while, like they they take a while to to, and I think that's the big thing is trying to preach that patience when it comes to your prospects and stuff like that.
00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:09.680
Because um, you know, like the sharks are a big believer in like overripening, like they don't want their guys in the NHL until they feel like they're ready to take someone else's job and not go back to the AHL.
00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:16.559
Yeah, I think that's a great perspective to hear outside because there is a lot of conversation in Nashville about why he's fifth overall pick.
00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.759
He's our best prospect in the system.
00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.440
Why isn't he in the NHL?
00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:23.119
It's helpful to hear another team's perspective on that.
00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:27.599
I wanted to ask you um about a decision that Mike Greer made on the offseason.
00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:31.519
Kiefer Sherwood, can we just take a minute and have a Kiefer Sherwood appreciation moment?
00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:38.799
Because so delightful off the ice, such a mouth on the ice.
00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:45.359
Like he can't, I mean, the mouth on that child on the ice, but such a great person, great player to watch.
00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:50.400
What was it about Kiefer Sherwood that made the sharks say, we want to sign him for five years?
00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:52.960
We want to lock this guy up at 31 years old.
00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:58.720
I think it's it's the way he handles himself off the ice or on and off the ice, like you just mentioned, right?
00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.200
And you know, not the biggest guy, but plays way bigger, right?
00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:04.400
And so willing to stick up for his teammates.
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.440
And you saw that, right?
00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:13.039
The impact, you know, that they acquired him before the trade deadline um last season took a little bit to go in the ice because he was he was dealing with an injury, right?
00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:24.960
But um they tried to stick him with with Smith instead of Brini, and it wasn't like a great fit uh right away, but then they they kind of moved him around and he was playing with Wenberg, and like all of a sudden it clicked for him, right?
00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:32.000
And you saw his ability to right get in on the fore check, he gets under people's skin, uh, he can score goals, uh greasy goals.
00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:40.960
He had a really great goal against uh the Kings last week, where uh he's basically kind of reads the play, pickpocks it, you know, and like reads a blind pass, is able to score.
00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:48.319
And the best part is is not not only the goal, uh he celebrates uh more from the King skates by mid-celebration.
00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:52.799
He pushes him and then continues to celebrate uh midway through.
00:30:53.119 --> 00:31:00.400
So just it like that's the type of guy, and like those are the types of players that you want around your young players, right?
00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:10.079
Your celebrinis, your your mises, your like your Dickens to learn from a guy like Sherwood, who net like not the easiest path to get to the NHL.
00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:12.960
Like he was a guy who had to work and scrap for everything.
00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.039
Yes, yes, went through the hard way.
00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:28.400
And I think having guys like that around who to kind of show like how you work on and off the ice, and you know, I I think that's um really great, you know, kind of help build that environment and build that culture, right?
00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:36.000
And I think the Sharks have done a really good job of trying to build a culture, uh, especially after the last several seasons of losing.
00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:40.960
But having those those positive guys and guys who like you're never out of a fight.
00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:45.680
And when you have Macklin Salabrini, uh, as long as he's wearing teal on skating, you're never out of a fight.
00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:51.599
But having those guys who have that same belief as well, and I think Sherwood's a great fit for San Jose.
00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:56.319
He is the ultimate, I want him on my team, I don't want to play against him.
00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:59.039
One million percent and then you add the guy, yeah.
00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:04.400
Then you add Mason Marchmont, who's like the bigger version of that, and it's yeah, it's one million percent.
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:04.799
Yes.
00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:08.640
When did Mason Marchmont get hockey old, by the way?
00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:11.759
As I was prepping for this, I'm like, he's in his 30s.
00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:15.599
I still think of Mason Marchmont as like 23 when he's happening.
00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:18.640
And it it happens to us all, man.
00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.759
It happens to us all.
00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.799
Yes, yes.
00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:27.680
Speaking of former Nashville predators, of course, I want to talk to you about Yaroslav Asgarov, but first let's talk about the giant elephant in the room.
00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:37.039
I don't know how much the conversation is happening in San Jose, but I my ear is tuned into the gossip because I've been an eighth-grade girl and I know how to hear the things.
00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:37.759
Okay.
00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:44.319
And there are whispers of gentle whispers of ideas, of thoughts, of dreams.
00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:48.079
Helibuk to San Jose.
00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:52.799
I've heard people just kind of throw it out there and see, you know, throw it out on the stoop and see if the cat licks it up.
00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:58.720
What are the odds that the sharks are interested in Connor Hellibuck?
00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:02.880
And just in general with Yaroslav Askarov, where does he stand?
00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.319
How how is it going?
00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:09.359
All right, let's start with the because I do think the two conversations are intertwined, right?
00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:09.599
Yes.
00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.359
Um, let's start with the hellibuck.
00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:19.039
Uh, I do think the sharks have, uh I think the report was they've kicked the tires on on a conversation like that, which makes sense, right?
00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:23.599
That you want your GM to be in calling conversations, right?
00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.799
What's the worst that happens?
00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.839
They say no.
00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.960
Um, right.
00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:30.000
I I can see the path.
00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:33.759
I can 100% see the path with a guy like Hellibuck.
00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:36.000
And would he make the team better right now?
00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:36.720
100%.
00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:51.279
But you do worry as like the team is kind of still continuing to build up if he's starting to kind of take those little steps down, and you do maybe there's that sweet intersection where everything kind of works out, or maybe Halibuck continues to play well.
00:33:51.440 --> 00:34:07.279
But um, I think though the cost to acquire Halibuck would be exorbitant, and um, I don't know if the sharks are ready to make a move like that quite yet.
00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:12.159
Yes, so um I again I see the path.
00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:18.639
I I also think that for San Jose, it's better to kind of sit tight right now and see what's going on.
00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:22.800
As for uh Ascarov, so weird season last year.
00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:25.840
Um, right, he really great November.
00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:28.960
Things fell apart for him as the season went on.
00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:37.360
I think it was a combination of a uh horrific defense in front of him, uh, where he was just getting shelled night in, night out.
00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:47.039
And you do want to maybe that kind of uh you know mess with his confidence a little bit and where he was letting in some really soft goals, uh, you know, kind of down the stretch there.
00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:53.039
Um, to start the season, though, like you can tell he has really spent the offseason focusing on his training.
00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:55.360
Uh he's coming a lot stronger, a lot quicker.
00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:57.519
Um, and I think he's played really well.
00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:03.360
I think he's played well enough to like I think his consistency has been much better so far this season.
00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:19.599
Uh, we haven't seen the flashes of like where he can be like a potential top 10 goalie, but I think for him right now, like you just want a more like consistent goaltender, and I think that's what we've seen from him, which is a big improvement from last year, where you would see a lot of the flashes, but you'd also see a lot of the lows.
00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:23.679
We haven't really seen the lows as much this year, but we have been seen a much more consistent goalie.
00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:28.320
And if he can continue to build on that, I think the sharks are gonna be in a really great place going forward.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:32.559
It he isn't a a another guy who's uh in a contract year.
00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:36.239
I know he's gonna be getting ready for his third contract, and where is things going here?
00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.679
Him and Mason Marchment.
00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:38.480
What is happening to T?
00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:47.119
Totally happening here, so uh, but yeah, so ASCII's gonna be, you know, is is trying to you know kind of secure himself a uh a nice contract this uh offseason.
00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:50.719
So, but yeah, I think so far, so good with ASCII.
00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:55.760
Um, and you know, I think as he the defense continues to gel, it has so many new pieces, right?
00:35:55.840 --> 00:36:02.159
Uh Orlov and Dickinson were are the only two guys who were on the blue line last year, who are on the blue line this year.
00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:03.599
So it's a lot of new pieces.
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:16.239
I think they're still kind of trying to gel here a little bit, but once that um, you know, kind of continues to solidify itself, I think we'll see ASCII be a much more consistent goalie and then start to see more of those flashes of what makes ASCII a great goalie.
00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:21.519
Is he going to be the guy that helps get the sharks where I think we all think they're headed?
00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:23.280
Do you think he's the guy?
00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.199
I think he can do it.
00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:35.840
Um, the great thing is because we have one of the best players, we also have this kid, Joshua Ravensburg, who's oh my gosh, I wanted the Preds to draft him so stinking bad.
00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:37.599
Yeah, so he's he's great.
00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:40.480
He's yeah, he had a great season in the WHL last year.
00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:44.320
He's uh at Michigan State now to uh starting his season there.
00:36:44.400 --> 00:37:03.440
So I think the sharks are in a good position goalie-wise, where uh if you don't feel like ASCII's the guy, you feel like you got something in in Ravensburg and the worst case scenario is you end up kind of doing the preds thing where you have two good goalies and you have to make a decision on one of them uh at some point you get yourself a little haul for one of them.
00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:06.159
Want to, if you have time, I have whipped out of the way.
00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:09.679
Oh the Dolly Parton hat.
00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.400
Yes.
00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:13.280
And wanted to play a quick game of takes from a hat.
00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:17.280
Now, here's the thing uh since I made up the takes, I know the takes.
00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:20.559
So if you need me to go first while you think, you say so.
00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:22.880
But otherwise, you know, no pressure.
00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:24.079
But I'm just gonna reach in.
00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:24.960
These are just random.
00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.719
This is how we roll.
00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:29.360
That's what makes the best podcast.
00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:32.960
Sometimes it goes off the rails, friends, but we'll see.
00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:35.760
Those are the even better podcasts, I think.
00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:36.880
That's true.
00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:37.519
All right.
00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:42.880
What is one hockey statistic you wish fans would stop obsessing over?
00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.079
Plus minus.
00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:46.719
Oh my gosh, it's a hoax.
00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:48.480
You all, it is a hoax.
00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:49.280
It's the worst.
00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.800
It's a hoax.
00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.079
It's the worst.
00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:56.400
Because you spent like as a say a defenseman, right?
00:37:56.480 --> 00:38:00.159
You can be doing everything right on your side of the ice, right?
00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:06.320
And one guy makes a mistake 60 feet away from you, and you have no control over it.
00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:16.800
Um, plus minus is the I hate a plus minus is the if someone brings a plus minus in an argument with me, it's just like the like, no, get out of here, get out of here.
00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:19.039
You that's the like you don't watch the game.
00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:20.480
You don't want a piece of that.
00:38:20.639 --> 00:38:30.239
Listen, I always say plus minus drives me nuts because I'm like, I would be a plus 18 if I were on the ice with Macklin Celebrini, and I can't skate backwards.
00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:32.159
It's a hoax, y'all.
00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:34.239
Yeah, uh 100% right.
00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:41.760
I mean, I would I would do the tower to Folio thing if I was playing with Celebrini, where I would just park in front of the net and have my stick down, just say, like, just get it here, buddy.
00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.960
I can do the rest.
00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:43.920
I can do that.
00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:45.119
I can do that.
00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.639
Oh my gosh.
00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:52.159
Okay, here is here's a spicy topic I really want your take on because this is another thing I've been chewing on.
00:38:52.960 --> 00:39:05.679
Should players who have negotiated and gotten trade protection be able to then request a trade and still force the franchise to stick to the players' chosen destinations?
00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:08.079
Timely topic.
00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:10.559
This is a great conversation here.
00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:20.639
I I think there needs to be like a some sort of compromise where maybe like you okay, you have a no trade clause.
00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:38.559
If you request a trade, you have to give like a seven to ten team clause where you still get to kind of like, okay, here's the teams I'm willing to go to, and I'm willing, like uh, if you can make a trade with these teams, my claw, you know, whatever it is, like like where my clause can't come into that way.
00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:46.239
Because I mean, Jason Robertson, for example, the the stars were able to, you know, had a trade ready to go, and he said no.
00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:46.880
Yes.
00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:54.400
I think if once you like you should be required, you know, like, okay, you know, Dylan Larkin, I'm you know, I don't want to be here anymore.
00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:59.760
Um, yes, I here's my list, but here is the you know, whatever number it is.
00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:02.159
If it's let's just say seven, I think seven makes a lot of sense.
00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:18.079
I think it's here's these seven teams where if you can find a trade with them, um, I don't have to waive, like my my trade clause does not, you know, so I think there has to be some sort of of compromise there because um I wonder like you as a as a player, right?
00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:20.880
You've earned that right to negotiate a no trade clause.
00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:30.159
And right, I can understand from players' perspectives if if you feel like the franchise isn't doing all it can to win, like trying to go to another place to try to win, right?
00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:32.159
Because that's what every player wants to do, they want to win, right?
00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:40.719
Yes, I I totally get that, and as especially from a franchise who just spent the last seven years of just constantly losing, like nobody wants to be around that.
00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:42.559
Like it, I totally get it.
00:40:42.800 --> 00:40:48.000
Um, but from the team's perspective, right, it's so hard.
00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:56.960
I think it can be so hard to try to negotiate trades, especially with you know, this time of the season where everybody's kind of like up against the cap and stuff like that.
00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.199
Right.
00:40:57.360 --> 00:41:03.760
So I think there needs to be some sort of compromise to kind of just make these things happen a little bit smoother.
00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:08.719
It's been so fascinating to watch this all unfold the way that it has.
00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:14.320
And you know, I cover a team that has a lot of no trade clauses, a lot of no move clauses.
00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:17.760
And now Chris McFarland has inherited this.
00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:31.760
And it does, you know, like you said, there are players that I think very clearly on Nashville's roster who are like, look, if it's not happening here, I have a no move clause, but we can talk because I want to go somewhere where it can happen.
00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:36.880
But it's fascinating to watch this dynamic as it's playing out right now.
00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:45.280
So I'm I really wanted to get your take on that because I there's it's the the power, the power shift.
00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:48.800
It's it's it becomes it becomes fun thing.
00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:49.760
Yeah, it's a whole thing.
00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:51.280
I'm like it's fun.
00:41:51.360 --> 00:42:00.719
Uh I know I like and I get from a fan's perspective, like you don't want the NBA where like your favorite players are swapping teams every two seasons and stuff like that.
00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:02.960
Like, I I totally get it from that perspective, right?
00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:07.840
And I don't think the NHL will get to that point because I don't think the player movement will ever get like that.
00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:17.920
But um, I think though, like uh if you're going to request a a no trade clause, I think you have to lose a little bit of your protections.
00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:20.880
I think that I think that's a fair compromise, to be honest.
00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:24.239
So, yeah, I don't know why you're not in charge, but here we are doing a modern.
00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:25.840
They do not want me in charge.
00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:29.920
Uncle Barry's never leaving that spot anyway.
00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:33.760
He's never, they're gonna pride out of his cold dead weekend at Bernie's hands.
00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:36.719
It's weekend, they're 100% gonna weekend at Bernie's hand.
00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:37.519
That's right.
00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:39.119
All right, here's another one.
00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:43.599
What is a hockey take that makes you want to immediately leave the conversation?
00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:46.880
Oof, uh celebrity versus Bedard.
00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:49.360
Oh, that's gotta be exhausting.
00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:53.199
Here in NASH, we don't ever run into that, but it sounds exhausting.
00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:59.039
Yeah, uh and right, you're of course two number one highly touted prospects and stuff like that.
00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:04.719
Uh, like the the having to choose sides between them uh is exhausting.
00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:10.719
And uh there's uh a very easy world where they're just both great players, uh, right?
00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:13.199
Can we just have them both be great players?
00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:19.360
My least favorite, and I've said this on the podcast before, just as uh a woman who covers hockey who has never played.
00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:22.480
Oh, I don't know how you guys do, just as a woman covering hockey.
00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:26.880
Yes, yeah, most honestly, 99.9% of it is delightful and it's fine.
00:43:26.960 --> 00:43:30.159
Um, but I love the people that are like, if you haven't played hockey, you shouldn't cover it.
00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:32.880
And I'm like, please now address the male obstetricians.
00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:34.719
Yeah, that covers me out.
00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:35.920
It's two different skill sets.
00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:39.360
Covering a sport is a different skill set than playing a sport.
00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:40.079
100%.
00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:43.920
Like, I grew up like my parents could never afford I grew up in the south.
00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:45.199
My parents could never afford it.
00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:46.639
There was no ice rinks around.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:48.400
Like, what was I supposed to do?
00:43:48.480 --> 00:43:50.159
Do you think I want like I would have loved?
00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:55.199
I was out there playing street hockey every afternoon after school, you know, playing on the weekends and stuff like that.
00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:58.159
But there's there's no rinks around for me to play.
00:43:58.239 --> 00:43:59.840
And if there was, my parents couldn't afford it.
00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:03.840
Like, uh believe me, like you know, I I think yeah, I hate that one too.
00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:13.440
As someone who right didn't play the game growing up, but yeah, you know, um we were the same way, we just where I grew up now, hockey is growing, but there was absolutely no exposure to it.
00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:18.960
And I lived in a neighborhood with all boys, and so I played football and I was the all-time hiker or the all-time rusher.
00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:20.239
There you go.
00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:22.480
You know, that's what I could do, but here we are.
00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:28.480
All right, last one, and uh this one I just pulled out randomly, but I'm so glad I did because I want I want you to tell me these.
00:44:28.960 --> 00:44:30.800
You only had four takes in there, and that was it.
00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:33.679
Oh no, I've got I've got several more.
00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:38.400
But you know, we I mean we can go for days.
00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:40.000
We could go for days, yes.
00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:40.960
Yes, all right.
00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:44.400
Which player will be the points leader on your team at the end of the regulars?
00:44:44.639 --> 00:44:47.199
This is so easy, you shouldn't have an easy one like this.
00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:49.440
Who's gonna be the points leader on your team at the end of the regulars?
00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:50.800
I'll give you the non-celebrate.
00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:52.800
So uh the non-celebrating.
00:44:53.440 --> 00:44:54.880
So uh Will Smith.
00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:55.519
Okay.
00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:58.719
Uh yeah, I think that one's not very difficult either.
00:44:59.039 --> 00:45:00.400
Yeah, Will Smith.
00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:04.559
Uh, I think Will Smith gets to 35 goals, and I think he's a point per game player this season.
00:45:04.639 --> 00:45:08.719
He was well on his way to doing that last year before uh he hurt his shoulder.
00:45:08.800 --> 00:45:13.280
Uh but I think Will Smith is is uh going to be that guy for San Jose.
00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:16.159
If you aren't the third highest player, go ahead.
00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:18.079
Is he over 21?
00:45:19.360 --> 00:45:20.400
Probably no.
00:45:21.599 --> 00:45:22.800
Uh yes, he is.
00:45:22.880 --> 00:45:24.159
Uh Mason Marchmont.
00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:27.760
If he's playing with Celebrini and Smith, he's gonna he's gonna put up 30s.
00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:33.199
Yeah, he's gonna put up his uh he's gonna put up uh a bunch of points playing with Celebrinian Smith, kind of, yeah.
00:45:33.280 --> 00:45:36.719
So that's a great I I love the Mason Marchmont in San Jose.
00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:41.760
Like just it's such a great fit into like he's right with his dad and everything like that.
00:45:41.840 --> 00:45:48.400
He scores the first goal of the season at home for San Jose, and the like the tank just goes absolutely off for him.
00:45:48.559 --> 00:45:57.440
Uh then they post a picture like of him scoring his first goal, and they post a picture of him and his dad, like when he went the little sharksters, yeah, just tear to the eye and stuff like that.
00:45:57.599 --> 00:46:12.159
So uh yeah, I like honestly, I didn't think Marchmont would ever come to San Jose, just because I don't know if like having to kind of you know having that lingering presence of your dad over you know everything at all the time, like everywhere you turn and stuff like that.
00:46:12.320 --> 00:46:14.239
But um, so far, so good with Marchmont.
00:46:14.320 --> 00:46:16.639
I think he's gonna be a really great fit in San Jose.
00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:20.239
So yeah, I have no idea how to answer that for the Nashville Predators.
00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:26.639
I would say Steven Stamcos, but here's what's real I don't know that Steven Stamcos will be a Nashville predator by the end of the season.
00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:28.239
That's a good yeah.
00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:31.760
I don't know that Philip Forsberg will be a Nashville predator.
00:46:31.840 --> 00:46:36.639
I can't guarantee that they have they have trade protection, but I can't guarantee that.
00:46:36.800 --> 00:46:38.639
So there is Is it Roman Yossi?
00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:39.760
Is that the safe answer?
00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:40.480
I don't know.
00:46:40.639 --> 00:46:45.039
Now I will say this in the first four games, been a little rough for Roman Yossi.
00:46:45.199 --> 00:46:48.239
I don't know if you saw the video of when Escape Blade came off.
00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:49.280
Yes, I was crazy.
00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:50.079
Did you see that video?
00:46:50.159 --> 00:46:59.199
I was like, and then doing hockey somebody uh was like uh what is it, Dollarita night at Apples being you're trying to get back in your Uber?
00:46:59.760 --> 00:47:02.000
You're trying to get in your Uber totally.
00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:12.000
Here's the player who's probably not gonna lead in points, but this is a player that I think and and I know Predators fans are aware of, but just just for you, just a little tidbit for you.
00:47:12.159 --> 00:47:13.920
Um, Matthew Wood.
00:47:14.880 --> 00:47:17.199
Matthew Wood, I think, is going to surprise everybody.
00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:21.760
I think he's gonna have a 20-goal season, and I think he's gonna surprise everybody.
00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:24.159
That's just you just wait on Thursday.
00:47:24.320 --> 00:47:24.880
See if Sam.
00:47:25.360 --> 00:47:29.760
I I do like how they have Wood and uh and Hoglander on there.
00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:36.079
They just need like a Johnson to make it like the I don't know if I can swear on here, but make it the whole uh male anatomy line.
00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:40.000
So uh yes, you need I think you need to make a treat.
00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:41.119
I'll see what I can.
00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:43.920
I'm gonna bring that right up to Chris McFarlane's.
00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:45.199
Yeah, uh yeah.
00:47:45.360 --> 00:47:46.880
We need like a Johnson or something.
00:47:47.440 --> 00:47:49.920
Yeah, we need could we could we shift some things around?
00:47:50.559 --> 00:47:57.039
Sam Dickinson can come up and play center for Wood Dickinson and Hogland.
00:47:57.840 --> 00:47:59.119
Locked on sharks, everybody.
00:47:59.360 --> 00:48:03.199
Locked on sharks, you can find quality content there.
00:48:03.440 --> 00:48:05.679
Before we go, Thursday's game.
00:48:05.840 --> 00:48:11.679
Yep, sharks and preds had some really interesting games last April to close out the season.
00:48:11.840 --> 00:48:13.360
What do you expect to be similar?
00:48:13.440 --> 00:48:16.559
What do you expect to be different in this game coming up?
00:48:16.880 --> 00:48:18.559
Yeah, they've been interested.
00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:26.800
Last year was very much like Nashville was like one of the sharks teams where they just couldn't get over that, and like it just they just kept pumping the sharks until the last game, right?
00:48:26.880 --> 00:48:37.119
So I do I do think this is one of those teams, just kind of like like the blues last year where the sharks really struggled against them.
00:48:37.199 --> 00:48:46.880
Uh, and you know, especially when you're trying to make a playoff push, this is gonna be one of those teams where I think San Jose's gonna have the calendars circled for this type of game, you're right.
00:48:47.119 --> 00:48:52.400
And uh and the way ASCII's been playing, I assume ASCII's gonna get to probably play in this game.
00:48:52.559 --> 00:49:00.800
Uh, I do expect uh I expect San Jose to to play, try to play much better than they have so uh in this game.
00:49:00.880 --> 00:49:18.079
But yeah, I am I a lot of these teams like the Blues, uh like Nashville, for example, um, those those kind of middle uh of the pack Western Conference teams, uh, very important to try to grab those points against those teams again, right?
00:49:18.159 --> 00:49:22.239
You can't lose a playoff spot here, or you can't make a playoff spot, you can definitely lose a playoff spot here.
00:49:22.719 --> 00:49:23.280
Yes, you can.
00:49:23.360 --> 00:49:23.679
Yes, you can.
00:49:23.840 --> 00:49:27.599
Yeah, so I expect that like for some reason these teams have like to score a bunch of goals.
00:49:27.679 --> 00:49:31.199
I have a feeling the offenses are going to be 100% in the going in this game.
00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:34.800
So uh probably a little maybe take the over in this game.
00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:35.840
Yeah, for sure.
00:49:35.920 --> 00:49:36.880
Just just take the over.
00:49:37.119 --> 00:49:37.840
Just take the over.
00:49:38.079 --> 00:49:49.679
I think there's a lot, you know, you look at the Western Conference and people talk about Colorado and they talk about Vegas and they talk about, but there's a lot of interesting storylines, like you said, in the in the middle that have to shift out over the course of this season.
00:49:49.760 --> 00:49:52.639
And the sharks are in that, the predators at this point are in that.
00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:54.000
So I agree with you.
00:49:54.079 --> 00:49:56.159
I think this could be a really, really interesting game.
00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:58.480
And I agree with you, I think it's gonna be a lot of offense.
00:49:58.639 --> 00:50:03.760
Listen, here's what's real it is always such a delight to talk to you, even if you say inappropriate things.
00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:10.559
You can check out JD at Locked On Sharks and at the greatest Twitter handle ever, My Fry Hole.
00:50:11.039 --> 00:50:13.039
JD, always a delight.
00:50:13.199 --> 00:50:20.559
We need to catch up again later on this season when these two teams meet, because I don't know about San Jose, but Nashville could be in a very, very different spot.
00:50:20.719 --> 00:50:22.960
So we'll have to see how this all pans out.
00:50:23.519 --> 00:50:26.239
Yes, the worst thing you can be is a creamy middle team.
00:50:26.320 --> 00:50:28.000
You don't want to be a creamy middle team.
00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:32.480
Uh I want to thank JD Young once again for joining me on the show.
00:50:32.639 --> 00:50:38.320
I also want to thank Chris McFarland for not trading for a player with the last name Johnson as of the time of this recording.
00:50:38.559 --> 00:50:43.440
There is a big week ahead that could help decide Nashville's direction.
00:50:43.599 --> 00:50:47.519
Again, Predators Home this week against Vegas, San Jose, and St.
00:50:47.679 --> 00:50:48.159
Louis.
00:50:48.320 --> 00:50:55.840
I will, of course, have all of the coverage coming up over the course of this week, ahead of the games, after the games, and all the news that breaks in between.
00:50:56.000 --> 00:51:00.159
You can find my work at ankimel.substack.com.
00:51:00.320 --> 00:51:05.039
You can find me on social media at Ann K underscore Mama on Ice.
00:51:05.360 --> 00:51:11.840
You can subscribe to this podcast either on YouTube or on your favorite audio platform.
00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:14.880
We'll let you know every time we drop a new episode here.
00:51:15.519 --> 00:51:19.280
Thank you so much for listening to second intermission this week.
00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:27.119
I hope you heard something that made you think, made you laugh, or just helped you enjoy the sport of hockey that we love a little bit more.
00:51:27.360 --> 00:51:33.119
As my mom always says, when we part, drive carefully, dump up your teeth, and watch for deer.
00:51:33.280 --> 00:51:34.079
Have a great week.
00:51:34.239 --> 00:51:35.679
We'll see you next time.
00:51:39.840 --> 00:51:43.119
That's gonna do it for this edition of Decad Intermission.
00:51:43.599 --> 00:51:51.039
If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and watch full episodes on YouTube.
00:51:51.920 --> 00:51:58.559
For more coverage from behind the scenes moments and the latest from around the ring, follow in on social media.
00:51:58.639 --> 00:52:00.880
Thanks for spending part of your day with us.
00:52:01.119 --> 00:52:06.480
Until next time, we'll save you at the same time for the next second information.