#92Noon! 10a Hour 3/12 - Russo/Guerin

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3:06Welcome home Bobby Brink! His first game with the wild here on Home Icy Rock is what upstairs! And it's free, nothing Minnesota! Welcome back to Triumph, second hour of the presentation, Minnesota Wild about set to head on to the ice for the morning's escape before playing Philadelphia. On-site producer, Nordo, I'm Paul Allen, carousavages here with the KFA and social team. And the great ship Love Covenant is being guided by CHA, a DABB, over the double team. Chad Abbott, back at KFA and Russo Radio is joined as here at Russo Hockey V.A. Brett! Brett clearly has a hang now again. Who? Brett Blakemore. Who's he? Just get it. Somebody that would come in, maybe give Chad who's the big boss, chance to go to his office do some paperwork. Who never talked to Brett? I'm taking the leap, you never talk to him, right? I talk to him every now and then. Okay, how do you... Usually it's him texting me. How do you know he's not in Arizona golfing with the coach of the Asan Devil Hockey

4:10team? He probably is. But usually when I hear from Brett, it's him just ripping on LaPanta to me, which I respect. Yeah, usually when I hear from Brett, it used to be him claiming to me, Que Walker could cover the pass. So I'm glad that season's over. And now we move on to Hockey and we've got 17 to go for Hines' team. These Philadelphia Flyers are here this evening. And before we came back, I mentioned to Russo Radio that Philadelphia not only beat the wild earlier this year, six game of the year, two one and over time, but they beat them five to the last six times. I just, I guess I had forgotten, but Michael's elite with recall was stuff like this, that the wild have had significant trouble against Philly for years, right? Yeah, I remember, I still remember the father of Suntrip that we go there and the wild got smoked like six, one, seven months. That was the fourth game of the year, you called it a devastating loss. Yeah, and if they lose tonight, PA, it will be devastating. So... It's an inside joke, inside baseball.

5:11It's not worth explaining right now, but it was the genesis of the relationship between the cartoon character radio announcer and the best scribe and beat writer in the history of beat writing. Yeah, I might have exaggerated a loss and you were trying to splash, you had just started with the Star Tribune. So yeah, but for some reason, and even last year, remember the wild go in there like seventh eight games into the season, they were about to set like an NHL record for like most time to start a season without trailing it in regulation and then they go there and just get smoked. Yeah, for some reason, no matter the line up that the wild ises, they always seem to have trouble with this flyers team. You know, I was watching the flyers last night. They're a tough watch and they're just the only one. Yeah, they were a tough watch one and four ones. That's probably how they have to play, right? I mean, to right now, they don't have a lot of offense. Mitch Cobb hasn't broken out yet. They still have Mitch Cobb is sort of the guy that's become the, he's kind of the guy

6:13that every flyers fan is just clamoring over that and they already want Rick Toket fired because he hasn't turned into like Carl Caprice off and he doesn't treat him with kick gloves. Yeah. So flyers fans are all over this. But you know, they look, they still have some really good players. I mean, obviously, Noah Kates, who's extremely tight with Bobby Brink, local guy here, you know, we know. Well, they're always good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Lidar's having a decent way. Yeah. You're right. He's 20 and 11 with a safe percentage of 90. Yeah. But if you can't beat Lidar, then you got problems. It'd be a devastating defeat if you can't, I understand that. At Russo Hockey via X. No, but tonight's a tough game. I mean, you know, when you play a team that you don't have a lot of, and there is something about this wild team this year that when they don't have like the emotion of the opponent, like to get up for, they seem to struggle in this stage of the season. Yeah. No chance. Yeah. They're going to kill Philadelphia tonight. When I say kill them, they're going to win by at least two or three.

7:14So are you harkening back to like the St. Louis game? Is that an example or some of those where you're saying you should get up for St. Louis? There's just been those games where when you're coming off an emotional win and then you're playing a team like this, you just don't get up for it. You're eliminating human nature, man. But you're right. I mean, this is the one thing that I loved about that game the other night against Utah is their bottom six that are all auditioning to stand line up every one of them. Wow. Like, Trenum was unbelievable. Nick Falino is great. McCarram was awesome. Tarrasenko was awesome. Brink was awesome. Urof was awesome. Like, I cannot, if they are healthy when Marcus Falino comes back, I do not want to be John Hines because there's like, you know, you can almost say there's no wrong decision, but there's no right decision. Like, who do you pull out of the line up? It's going to be really, really hard. That's why when wild fans keep on asking me who comes out, I just, let's see the health then. You know, like it doesn't. Why do they care so much? Well, I mean, that's just because I've read that in the comments of like some things you've written and I'm like, it's, it's like, why do you care so much about the bottom

8:14line like in and out? Yeah, I know. But when you're invested into a team, I mean, you start to look at line ups and how to put everything together and I'm curious to, like, I mean, it's, it's really difficult because, you know, probably the person that should come out is Nick Salino, but are you really? You imagine, you know, the big storyline is you wait 38 years for the flinos to play together. Then Marcus comes back and he's sitting there, but that's not happening. So it's clearly like it could be brink. It could be you're off. It could be. You know, it really could be. You're off. Whoever it's going to be is going to be somebody that's going to take off the fans. Wow. Which is, you know, something new. Yeah. And I wasn't taking a shot at the fans saying, why do you care? Because just you have identifiable identity related pieces with this team. Yeah. If the goal tending falls apart, if the allegedly or purportedly best of a set of three blue liners, starts getting weaker injuries, yeah, I couldn't understand that. But I mean, when you're talking about who's going to be the fourth line winger and so and so sad? And I really want to know why that's just a mess, little deep.

9:16Yeah. Yeah. I know I get it. But the bottom six for this team, like, I know this might sound. And foolish, but like, when I look at Dallas and Colorado, the two teams at the wild would have to play in the first two rounds that they're lucky enough to advance out of one. I think where they're actually have the real strength of this team is their bottom six. Like, there are some really good brothers there. Got it. And so I get why it's an important thing. It's just going to be, it's going to be based on balance. You know, it's going to be really the coaching staff looking at the lineup and coming up. It's not going to be like, you know, a talent show. It's not going to be the least talented guy comes out. It's going to be based on what they think. Like right now, if I was up in the press box the other night, I'd hate to be Nico Stern because he had a look at that and realize, whoa, I am in trouble. Right. You know, like, it's just it because right now, this is the lineup and it's just, you know, he's probably going to sit for a while, same with Robbie Fobbery, same with Jeff Petri. It's all about health too. Well, I'm curious. And maybe you haven't. I mean, there's so much in front of us right now with the games that are playing, but

10:19how far down the road can you get in terms of, okay, this bottom six, the competition is sweet. What does that look like against the stars? You know, because we've kind of played the, it's inevitable and it just depends on whether we're staying in St. Paul for game one or we're going to Dallas, but that bottom six could look vastly different. You mentioned Nico Stern. How about the shorty by Stern over the weekend in the mile high? So it's like the series against Dallas and the series against the avalanche could maybe look much different in terms of the bottom six, and which could actually play to an advantage to our team, despite how strong those other teams, yeah, I mean, it's going to be talking bottom six. We're going to be bottom 10 radio. That's true. And the people meter comes out and getting you, but anyway, go ahead. Yeah. We've got a training later. That's great. That's a great point. I agree with everything he's just said. Let's move on. Yeah. Michael Russo at Russo hockey. Are you working on any doozy's for the athletic, especially with Chad Abbott, working the board right now, like I got to make sure our ratings stay up so I keep coming on here.

11:20Yeah. For the, for the bound to volumount of money, we give you a yearly A, and B, I'm going to start calling the K fan for the rest of the show just to get dumped every five seconds. So anyway, to your point, any good doozy's, yeah, I spent a, I spent some time Monday about a couple hours as she had one of the player's houses that story will drop tomorrow. Geez. So that'll be a really cool story. That's, and then I go to the GMS meetings Sunday. So, um, so, uh, that'll be fun. GM's meeting during the season. Yeah. They, uh, it's funny that you said that I was talking to the Utah GM the other day to alarm strung and he was kind of complaining about that, like how stupid it is to have it now. Um, but, uh, but they've had it, they've had their March meetings this time every year down in sunny South Florida, um, although the, it looks very rainy, uh, while we're going to be there. Uh, so it'll be fun. I'll have my annual dinner with, uh, Lunani up in Palm Beach at some ritzy restaurant that's, that's always fun.

12:21Um, but it's cool. I mean, it's, it's pretty laid back. You, you basically sit outside a ballroom for three hours. Sounds unbelievable. Waiting for GM's to go to the restroom so you can go pick them off for, for like five minutes and grab some quotes, and then it's like a free for all once they come out. And then, uh, you get Italian, uh, you get Italian, um, and, uh, and, uh, I mean, on the final day. Yeah. That's, uh, I mean, you should take Paul charging with you and be hanging and hanging and hanging out outside of restrooms or rest stops because you, you might have, sounds at least no problem. Just staying outside of the restroom, Churchill approached him at the urinal and he is not shy. Now you took it a little far, a little toe tapping, a little toe tapping. Yeah. Well, that would be at the airport. Now, now, Russo, uh, this reminds me, I was once at the Fleet Center in Austin and I was at the urinal and, uh, and, uh, and, uh, what the heck's happening? Yeah. Seabass, Cam Nilly, you know, Seabass, uh, something about, he, uh, he, all of a sudden, I was at the urinal next to me and I'd never met him. This is like about 15 years ago. Yeah.

13:21So I start chatting with him and for some reason he didn't seem appreciative of that. And then, uh, ever since I've, I've run into Cam Nilly, I, I'm almost, I'm almost guaranteed that he remembers his conversation because he could not be more unfriendly to me every time I see Cam Nilly. So I think there were just five things uttered. I think the genesis, I think the genesis of it was me, uh, chatting with him for the first time at a urinal. There were just five things uttered in the last 55 seconds that if they had come from me, I'd be walking by myself in New Orleans for two days. So we're in Chad just right now has his finger on the dump button. I mean, I have no idea. I mean, dump. Anyway. Three, two, uh, 10, 16, welcome to a trio. Uh, we have, uh, got, uh, got Matt Baldy on the ice and, uh, the wild are about ready to head out for their morning skate. Uh, this is the biggest crowd at Tria Rink for a box in the box morning skate that I think we've ever seen. Uh, if you were general manager of the Washington Wizards of the NBA, you'd pine for a crowd

14:23this big. I mean, this is a nice, uh, some USA sweaters in the crowd. Russo Radio here. The Wiz would have the t-shirt cannon out for this crowd right now is bat lifts off for 83 against them. How, um, how's, um, how's Billy Yerim been of like, uh, good about set to join nine to noon, 15, 20 minutes from now, just want to kind of know what we're walking into. Yeah. No, he's, I think he's been in a good mood. I think obviously that he tried to go get a center at the trade deadline and just the prices were, were crazy high. I mean, you know, you look at what Nas and Codry went for. He's not even playing center in Colorado, um, but he's, you know, 35 years old. With three years left, it's seven million. That's something the wild weren't willing to do. I think they were in on Trojac weren't willing to raise their offer. They weren't on Ryan and Riley. He didn't want to go anywhere. I think they made a pitch for, for Robert Thomas, but that could be something to try to set the table for a potential trade in the offseason when everybody goes after him. Um, so this is what they get. He worked around the edges. I think he improved their depth. Um, you know, you add a Michael McCarran who's been really good on the face of circle

15:25so far, 110 or 13 the other night, he's been outstanding on the, on the PK. Yeah. Yeah. And, um, and, you know, I look, we saw what Bobby Brink can do the other night and he's somebody that has a chance to be part of the future. So I think he made the moves that he wanted to make at the trade deadline minus the center that I know a lot of people are clamoring for. But look, McCarran could do that. Um, he's somebody that built that that John Hines knows and respects and has already shown the willingness to move them up in the lineup if it means taking a key draw. Um, right now I, I do, I like what we're seeing from this team coming out of the break. It's just what's nuts is that this, this league has been so top heavy this league this year where Colorado Dallas and Minnesota have been the, the three best teams in the league and all of them keep winning so the wild can't get any ground. And you know, I do think it is important to try to get home ice for the first round of the playoffs because the wild just historically don't play well in Dallas. So you want to start at home if you can. Well, it's, I'm glad you said that. And of course, I'm going to agree with you because you, you cover the league.

16:26You're preeminent and, and you're right about the top heavy nature. However, if you're following the likes of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Sider with Detroit, Logan Cooley and Utah, Anna Heim with Lakom and some others have jumped up. You got about five or Buffalo. You got about five or six teams that are kind of sitting on being pretty good, maybe not this year, but, but it's the parody part of it. So I really started to come into play. It could be this year because look, I mean, look at the way that the playoff format is set up. I mean, the easier path to get to the style like a final is to be in the Pacific and the top wild card team and Utah is going to get to play Anna Heim in the first round. Are you kidding me? The wild of being Anna Heim, 20 of the last 21 games in ten and a row at home. So I mean, you know, the wild would love to be in that position. You know, but you're right. I mean, well, that's what I love about the NHL is every any single day somebody could go out and win. It's not like the NBA where the bottom of the league has like lost like 50 of the last 52 games. Yeah. Same number.

17:26Yeah. How many strays of the NBA caught in the last hour of a hockey show at a hockey ring? So the thing is, is that Jonathan Zinske right now is on the West Coast, so I know he's probably not listening. So I don't have to worry about him getting that. Yeah. So he takes enough shots at the NHL. I could take it one at the NBA and that the fact that they have a league that you have the bottom 10 teams that literally have no chance to win on a night. You're salty. You're salty. It started with Blake Moore now went to Johnny Athletic. I know. Exactly. And Cam Nile. Right. Um, so, uh, hey, dumb question, Russo, um, but, but you're just on one thing. Like, that's what I, I do love. Like, it's a very exciting league this year. Pittsburgh, everybody thought was rebuilding is having an unbelievable season. Right. Right. This league is better right now with Buffalo being a chance to win the, win the vision, and they're 14 years to play off throughout Detroit, Utah, Anaheim. Um, you know, it is, it's been really cool to see so many teams play so well. I don't, I don't know what Detroit is to get to the Stanley Cup. Feels like a 50, 60 or 70, just to get there.

18:28Not to win it. I'd spot up on that, you know, with, uh, with Larkin and Raymond and Cider Gibson. It's not bad. I mean, you know, he's getting up there in age, but that, and the East is more wide open than the West, I think, do you? Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I agree with you. Um, you know, yeah, because it like to me, like I look at the Pacific right now and the, like, again, I'm just judging from the wild. The top three teams of those, that Pacific division are teams that are paxies to the wild. Right. Anaheim Vegas right now can't beat the wild in the last two regular seasons and should've lost to the playoffs. And, um, and then obviously Edmonton is a team that the wild handled really well. So, um, you know, in the East, they're really, it's been a bizarre conference in the East because I think they're all beatable. But yet it's made for this wide open affair and it's, it's shocking when you look at the team like the Florida Panthers, you know, it's one, two cups in a row that are probably not making the playoffs here. They've had the devastating injuries all year long. Yep.

19:28And, uh, it has been devastating. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well, that has been because they won the last two cups. Yeah. I'm so focused on the here and now and what this team, I mean, what they're up against potentially with Dallas in the first round would be the, the abs in the second, but with these GM meetings, probably a dumb question. Is this where some of the conversations could start in terms of, hey, Billy G wanted to hold onto those assets in the, in the event and, you know, kind of dream weaving what the summer could look like, right? And assets for, if someone was to come available and it's an, it's an ula law situation, Garen wants to have some ammo to work with, is that where that happens at these GM meetings and then, and then certainly as season start ending, those conversations only get louder. Yeah. I think, you know, before the trade deadline is usually when most of those things start, I think there was a lot of table setting from a lot of teams, you know, I think St. Louis was starting to figure out what the market could be for Robert Thomas. Um, you know, look, I mean, right now the way Toronto has been and they might have to look at it and have a conversation with Austin Matthews this off season.

20:28The way Otto is falling apart, maybe a Brady Kachok. So I think it allows Bill Garen and, and the rest of the GMs to continue to have conversations to just kind of do some table setting, like, hey, if he's guys available, I'll be in on that. These are some of the assets that I can give up that I'd be willing to give up. But for the most part, the GM's meetings in South Florida, they're pretty much done every day by noon, they're going over, you know, potential rule changes that they could recommend to the competition committee. They're going over. The league is talking about everything from expansion, giving them an update to what the cap could be the next two or three years to have a more expansion. There's going to be to, you know, to definitely like, you know, a goal reviews, like, there's been a lot of complaints this year about about goal interference and things like that. So that's usually where it is. And then they go and play pickleball and golf. Well, that sounds like a wonderful, wonderful vacation. Hey, and if saying Daniele Uroff is potentially the most underrated player on the team or one

21:33of them, if it's done, I apologize. But like, he's the first one I thought of after that goal the other night. Yeah. It's, who do you think is on a team where Caprice off and Boldy and, and Fabesie and Hughesy and all that? Like, who's the most underrated player on this team? Well, I mean, look, I, I think this year it's been training. I mean, he has been really, really good. You know, he came into camp and impeccable shape. He's leading the league and hits by almost a hundred. He's, he's just been terrific on the penalty kill, especially of late. Yeah. He's starting to add offensive dimensions to his game. He's skating better than I've ever seen him play. So, you know, I would say him, but Uroff is going to be a great, great player. I mean, he is, you know, even just since the Olympic break where he wasn't getting a lot of points. He's had scoring chances, a ton of them in Vegas, a ton of them in Colorado, and then he scores the beautiful goal the other night where he undresses Mackenzie Wieger is no sh- not a, you know, he's not a shabby defenseman, but he's stretched the imagination.

22:36And he kind of held his own when he was asked to do some top line work and things. But he's kind of just met bars along the way. Yeah. And season hasn't. Yeah, absolutely. And he just keeps on getting better and better. And, you know, it, it, the only thing that sucks is that like, if I was a fan, I wouldn't buy his jersey. You know, like, like, if the wild are going to get in on these big fish this off season, it's not going to be for Adam Bennett, can Charlie Stremel and those, like, it might not include Stremel, but it's going to cost you probably Volstad and, and Uroff to get in on these guys. And so I wouldn't buy his jersey yet. Let me, let me ask, because I think he's going to be a hell of a defense, a hell of a center. Let me take a different spin, but similar vein to the question P.A. asked, who is the most potentially underrated slash maligned member of the team and that the, maybe the maligned is the wrong word is when we were hunting for Trochec, it's just everybody, it just, and maybe this is almost a perpetual or every season thing. We can't have Hartman, yeah, in the spot that we put him in now, personally from the outset

23:41and you can tell me if I'm dumb on this. I think Hartman is one of the wild's more consistent players, specifically in the postseason. And I like Hartman's game overall and really what he's giving where he's at is he maligned is, is he underrated, maybe in a different sense of the word when we're out there hunting big game style for a certain, like I think fans understand that Hartman's a good player. I think they just think that he's not cast to be the number one center on a NHL franchise that wants to go win a cup. I think there's ways to get away with it though and, and part of it's having to play driving winners in Boldian to pre-soft and a superstar defenseman in Quinn Hughes. I think that Bill Garen, if he was right here, would agree with you that Brian Hartman is not a number one center in the national hockey league, but I also don't think that that stops Bill Garen from thinking that this team could be a true cup contender with Brian Hartman as their number one center. I like the game. Yeah, he plays well, he's skating really well, he digs out pucks for those two, but you're

24:41right. I mean, I think fans understand though that you still want a center that's probably more of a playmaker and more of a point producer playing with those guys. So like, I get where the fans come off here. So he's maligned in that, in the role that he's in, you know, another one that's maligned I think too much as Marcus Flino, I think people look at his contract too much. When this team, you know, first of all, right before he got hurt, he was starting to really produce a lot. You know, the hat trick in Toronto, the great game he had in Buffalo, and then unfortunately he gets hurt. This team turned its season around in November before he got hurt in Chicago. Like it was him playing to the his identity. So, you know, he is just, you know, for the role that he's going to be in, which is probably fourth line left wing on this team when he comes back, you know, he, he, he does his job and he's a really quality defensive forward. Last one, there's Yuzi speaking of Yuzi. How has Zeeb William been for the coup? I think I, I know we had a goal a couple of weeks ago. I don't think he has a lot, but like how's he playing?

25:41Yeah, I watched the game that they played against, um, was it, uh, Ottawa the other night and I thought he was really, really good. He's not producing a ton of points. You're not producing points on that team right now. They are the worst team in the league by a million miles. Yep. Um, and, um, you know, I, I think he's still going to be a really, really good, uh, good defenseman. But, you know, you look at what Yuzi's done here having about 40 points in his 20, whatever games. Almost 60 times. It's crazy. It's like double what Rossi, Ogren and Boyam have done for them. I mean, there's been some injuries there, um, but I think that as long as they could figure out a way to keep Quinn past next year, I think anybody years from now is going to look at that trade as being worth it. Well, why didn't we get a fist bump from you when we, when you rolled in, we, we did you a favor before you got here, are you familiar with what I'm talking about? We got Hinesy to, uh, announce to the goalie as well. Oh, yeah. I did not hear that. Is it, is it Wally? It's, yeah. That's what I heard. I think you meant that I, I thought you, I was worried about the fist bump because

26:42after listening to Gorg, I was going to throw my life savings on the wild, nobody better than KJ. I appreciate you, brother. All right. See you. Have a good day. Uh, Russo Radio, Michael Russo. That was our Steve's appliances marathon segment 50th anniversary sale in play in Mounds View, 7,000 square foot showroom, stevesappliances.com to learn roots to saving 50% or more on certain appliances. Stevesappliances.com. Love you. A second half of the radio show should begin with Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Garen joining us for the morning skate in advance of the Philly Flyers game tonight at Grand Casino Arena, Nordos here and I'm Paul Allen. This is Boxing the Boxing. Lately, my friends keep asking what I'm doing to my skin. Honestly, I didn't change my makeup. I changed my skincare. It's called Farmhouse Fresh. This award-winning fresh-grown brand is a 14-year favorite of US spas and beauty magazines and celebrities agree.

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29:44I'll try something new next time. Maybe. Or a two for five dollar deal in a sausage McMuffin with egg and more. Limited time only price and participation may vary. Cannot be combined with any other offer single item at regular price. I'm cinnamon on the fan. How are you doing? How's Benar? How are you doing? How are you doing? How are you doing?

30:50How are we going, Paul? Wild. Billy G. Bill Garin watching his Minnesota Wild with a vivacious morning skate. A day of a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. I put a little trivia game together for John Heinz and Kevin Gorg to start things. And I represented Heinz. Why did I represent the coach? Because the last thing an owner or president of hockey operations or manager wants to hear

31:52is their head coach making even a $1 bet on radio. So I'm like, OK, I'll represent Heinz and Gorg meeting to one. But when I was reading up on Philadelphia, of course I remember Bobby Clark. And of course I remember Bernie Peron. And of course I've heard of the broad street bullies from back in the 70s. But then I was like looking into it and stuff and I was like, damn. Billy G. would have been a heck of a broads. That's your kind of squad back in the day, right? Back in the day, yeah. Had a lot of great games in Philadelphia at the spectrum. Yeah, at the spectrum. You played at the spectrum. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. When you're walking in the spectrum and you've got Eric Lindros is there. John LeClear and Michael Remberg, the Legion of Doomline. Wow. Then they've got, you know, then they've got a bunch of, a bunch of heavyweights in there.

32:52You know, the guys that just played hard, you know, always going in to fill it off. You knew you were going to get their, their best and their, their highest competitive nature. There was always a tough, really tough place to play. Yeah. OK, now hold on. Now, Bill is doing some work today with the Make a Wish Foundation. And, OK, so I see a kid on the ice with McGovern on the back of his sweater. Yeah. Is that telling McGovern? That's the kid with whom you're working who just, you just got a backender by one of your gold. He's 15. Yeah, he's got a great experience for this kid. Coming in from Bishop, California. Wow. Wow. So it's right kind of near the Nevada line. Yeah. Like near the Mommoth Mountains. Yeah, Mommoth. Man with Mommoth. Yep. So it sounds like a beautiful area, but what a great kid. He's, this is spectacular. He gets to do this. Yeah, it's awesome. He's all charged up for St. Patrick's Day. Yeah. Oh my, he's in McGovern. Yeah, he's sat in, he's sat in Carl's Porsche this morning.

33:52Wow. Which is pretty cool. That's the way we started the day. So if he's from Bishop, California. And the Make a Wish Foundation here. I know people who work with it. I've done some charitable work with it. It's big and it's very, very kilnthropically sound. But like, is this favorite team in the wild? Yeah. Is he like an L.A. King's and I'm Docks of the Vegas Golden Knights fan? Minnesota Wild. Wow. That's super sweet. It's awesome. He's such a great kid. And I got to spend some time with him and his family this morning. He signed a one day contract with the wild. And yeah, now he's out here, you know, touring around with the guys. In the morning skate with one of the best teams in the NHL. I mean, this, see, this is, this is a moment at least for me. And probably for you too, man. Where it's kind of a, it's kind of a see the forest for the trees or smell the roses type moment. And I'm not talking about the young man's condition. I mean, those are things through which he and his family are working. This is a great opportunity. But if you just think at age 15, he's in Corral Caprice Off's Porsche.

34:54Yeah. He's out there passing to Hewsey, you know, trying to get a one-timer. Yeah. This is, this will be one of the greatest memories this child has in the history of his life. Absolutely. Absolutely. And that's why it's, I mean, make a wish is such a great, a great organization. We've had some great days with them. And, you know, we're lucky to be a part, a partner of theirs. Yeah, it's just, you know, good for you, man. This is where real life takes over, right? I know. We're playing the flyers tonight. Yeah. And that's all good and great. This is real life stuff. Yeah, good for you and the team. Yeah. And we're happy to be a part of it. And McGovern, what's his first name? Yeah, Callum McGovern, who's here from Bishop, California, 15. And McOwen, this is, I knew what was going on today. And, you know, you might be here, 10, 30, 10, 30. I didn't realize that it was going to go to this extent. So, as we go, nine to nine. Oh, man, that's coming to clap for you guys. Because this is, I mean, we're deep in the season. We got 17. You talk about putting the forest for the trees.

35:54Guys, we got 17 games to go. You know, hey, Philly, you know, Philly's not great. I'm back to backs. But, you know, the goal is decent. You know, we got to win. We got to win. We got to win. No, we're going to bring this kid out and make the greatest memory in the history of his life with some of the best players in the NHL. That's awesome. I think it really, honestly, I think it's good for our players too. It's good for all of us. Because, you know, you take a step back. Yeah. And you realize, you know, what's truly important in life. And, you know, it's your health and your family. You know, his parents, your children. That's the most important thing in life. Hey, man. Bill Garen, general manager for the Minnesota Wild. I've heard you with Barreiro. So, maybe. Barrio. Is he an intern? No, it's Don Barreiro. He's on three to six thirty. I think up to the fan-erated sports babe. Yeah. On a station called K-Fan. So, I know K-Fan. Yeah, I've heard you with Don Barreiro before. Yeah. And great job as usual. So, maybe people have heard this answer before. But it's first time I've seen you in person in a little bit now.

36:58The Milan experience and the Meek Rinder. Have you ever, and I mean, you played in some of the biggest games in the last X amount of years of hockey. The speed of that last game. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Have you? No, no. It was. The whole experience was life changing. It was incredible. But that final, listen, you know what? The hockey was the big winner. You know, at Canada, amazing team. United States, amazing team. The whole, the whole world wanted to see that match up. They got it. We were fortunate enough to win. But what a game. Yeah. The players on both sides. Canada and the U.S. I mean, the best of the best in the best generation of hockey players. It's just, it was incredible. I was so, I was just honored and fortunate to be a part of it.

37:59Yeah. Yeah. And it was one of the greatest sporting events to follow and watch in a little while in dumb question here 2030. So like, you get to put the team together for 2030? I mean, how does that work? I haven't even processed this one yet. Okay. But there's a possibility you could. Why have a reason for asking? Well, it's because you got like, okay, you guys killed Utah the other night. But like Utah, Detroit, Anaheim, some of these other teams that have been, you know, a little, a little, a little shotty of over the years, but they're getting better. And the competitive, they're good. Yes. The competitive balance of the league is underrated in the NHL. So like Logan Cooley, Jackson Lecombe for Anaheim. Yep. Well, he was on the team. But I mean, there are so many players that are just sitting on big things. And then some guys will retire or step away or maybe decline. So like that 2030 roster, that's going to be a meat grinder making that team. Yeah, it will be. Just like it was this one. And there's, that's the beauty of where USA hockey is right now.

39:04Our player pool was, you know, only so big back in the 90s. You know, the late 80s, early 90s. And, you know, we won the World Cup of hockey in 96. It sparked, you know, a jump in players in the country. Then, you know, you move on to, you know, all the Olympic games that kids are watching. And we haven't been able to win at the Olympics until now. And we're expecting another spike in player participation all across the country. And, but, you know, that's, that's been happening too. Like, kids like Cooley that are coming up. There's still the, you know, the, the, the coffee fields, lane hutsons. And then there's kids that we don't even know about right now who could be out for that. Sheafer is Canadian. Yeah, I'm talking about just overall. Overall. Yeah, I mean, my god, like, there's the game is terrific. Oh, he's out. I'm breaking news here. But I'm not going out of my way to watch Islanders games generally.

40:04But like when I do fall into him, I'm like, holy cow. Yeah. I mean, he's outstanding. And the way he's, what he's done for the Islanders organization and that market. Yeah. That fan base. It's just, I mean, wow, he is something special. You know, good problem is an oxymoron. But I'm not going to say with, with the trade deadline and everything that you kind of threw Hinesy in a meat grinder. But I mean, it's, it's the good problem of having really, really difficult bottom six decisions to make pretty much every game. Yeah. But you know, it's good. It is good. And I think the biggest thing is and there's, there's nobody better at it than John Hines. He's awesome. He's communication. Yeah. And, you know, John's been very open with the guys. They all understand where we are, what we're trying to do, where they, where they kind of stand in the scheme of things. So be ready for anything. You know what?

41:04You might have to sit out a game. You might not get as much ice time as you like. You might not, but you're part of it. We need everybody and when your number is called, we need you to be ready and it's important. You are important. And I think he delivers those messages to the guys, black and white, plain and simple. And it's, I think that's the biggest thing for, for professional athletes is that they're communicated with. Or were you ever that guy? I mean, you had an awesome career, but like were you ever that guy either be a trade or later in career where it's kind of like, hey, I mean, I've done this and now I'm sweating to get 12 minutes. You know, like were you ever that guy? You know, no, I was, I was really fortunate and, you know, the, the one that I do remember one conversation I had when I was playing my last year in Pittsburgh and Dan Vilesman was our coach and this is where communication, you know, comes in. So it's so important. I wasn't playing well and Dan, you know, brought me into the office and said, hey, look,

42:09some, we all also been our line at some people have you in, some people have you out. This is the reason I'm going to show you a couple of things. You're not in your feet and not skating. Here's, here's two or three examples of what you're doing. You're in tonight, but you need to like kind of get going. So he communicated with me. That's sweet. He gave me the heads up. I saw it. Yep. I fixed it. Not every note is like that, right? No. And that's not really how it was back when, wow, for most of my career, it was, you know, and I felt bad for a lot of the guys who were kind of on the bubble of the lineup every night because they didn't know why. Yeah. They didn't know what was going on, but that wasn't the culture. Like you just, you did what you're told and that was it. Now it's a better culture in that way and that the coaches take the time to talk to the players. So you don't lose them. And they feel respected and they feel important. And I think that's a great evolution of that part of our game. The Flyers Head Coach is Rick Tockett and Bill and Rick were together in Pittsburgh.

43:09Tockett Coach, it coached. And I think Bill was the assistant G. You were the assistant G. Yeah. At the time. Yep. What your relationship I assume was pretty good. But what kind of a player was Rick Tockett? Soft. Well, that means you guys have a great relationship. You must be best friends for you to do that. Fantastic. I don't think, I mean, listen, there are a lot of guys back in the day that could do it. But I don't know if anybody blended toughness and skill, more than defines power forward or toughness and skill, more than Rick Tockett, I mean, 3,000 penalty minutes, 900 points. Wow. I know he scored 49 when you're playing with Mario, not just Miss 50, but like, and you know what, I never played with him, but I worked with him and he's a very good friend. No better teammate than you could ask for.

44:10Very smart from what I hear. He's an A plus human. Right on. Yeah, you look at, I want that guy in my fox hole. And Quinn Hughes would be a player that you put in your fox hole. 100%. And he's come through. No doubt. Weird question, but I've just been wondering it. When do you start making sure Hughes these days here forever? You know, we can, we can talk this summer, you know, it's, it's kind of like the, the curl situation where that's the timing of it. And we don't, we don't want to, you know, you, well, you, you can't for the CBA. Oh, just put, just let him, let him play now. Yeah. We'll figure that stuff out. And he's cool with that, right? Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's, he's listen, this, this kid's just so focused on hockey and winning and, you know, being a part of the wild and making us better and he's just, yeah, he's been awesome. That, that has to excite you, you know, when the season's over, hopefully you're always

45:10in a cup. And then you get Russo and the rest of the gang asking you every five days, what's up with Hughes? What's up? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's some things I look forward to and some things I don't. All right. Last one. 1050 Bill Garens with a nine to new. What if, um, what if Bobby Brink has a hundred friends and family come to the game tonight to watching versus his former team? What, what are you saying? Bobby Brink. Yeah. What? A lot of tickets could be available. You just, as long as they get them on their own. You just, you know, you know, you knew what I was talking about. I know. You know, I bought me in a puck battle and you won. I know exactly what you're talking about. That was a verbal puck battle and you killed me. But listen. The point to my, to my comments is that I know it was funny. It was, but you know what, but it's, but it, I was serious too. Why no? When you come home to play and I went through it when I was playing for the Bruins, everybody comes out of the woodwork. Your, I know your family and your good friends, your real friends, yeah, we'll leave you

46:12alone. Yeah. They'll let you do your thing. Your friends that start coming out of the woodwork. Hey, can I get some tickets? You want to hang out? You want to do this? You want to do that? Yeah. The answer is no. Right. Like, hey, he can do it. It could be worse, but you have to, you have to lay the groundwork now to, to put those fires out. Yeah. Well, think about when you get a new deal, people coming out of the woodwork being like, you don't need 20 or 30 grand. It's all just dogs. Can I get two grand? You know, three grand. Listen, it happens. Of course, you're going to get tickets for your parents or your brother and sister or maybe your best buds. Yeah. You know, when the other people can't make it, put like all the other people in a talk of student body, you have, when you come and play at home, you have to, you have to say no. Right. And that's not easy for, for good guys like Bob and Drake. It wasn't easy for me, but you have to lay the groundwork early. It's not that you can't enjoy these. Nobody cheered hard at the other night when he scored to me. Yeah.

47:12Well, maybe some people, maybe he had a full section here, that's why it was late to the skate. I'm genuinely happy for guys that get to come and play at home. All I want is for them to have success doing great and have a great experience. Well, I mean, you and I are high end acquaintances. Got a couple extra laying around tonight for me. Yeah. I do. I do. I miss you, man. I just love having you on the radio show. You don't ask anymore. Well, sure we do. I just get shut down by you. I'm just for Don Boreo, three to six, 30 before the fabulous sports base. I still can't put a name to a face. Good seeing you, buddy. Good seeing you too, man. Great job, Jimmy. That's fine. We'll see you when we come back. Bill Garan, nine to noon back after. Lately, my friends keep asking what I'm doing to my skin. Honestly, I didn't change my makeup. I changed my skin care. It's called Farmhouse Fresh. This award-winning fresh-grown brand is a 14-year favorite of US spas and beauty magazines and celebrities agree. If you're over 40 and feel like nothing really makes a difference anymore, this does. My skin looks brighter, smoother.

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51:20So let's hit on a few topics and then pause the Minnesota Timberwolves have lost three straight. It was another ugly one last night. If I told you or as a listener, you told me you said, hey, the wolves are going to shoot nearly 60% from the field. They're going to shoot almost 45% from three and they're going to go 20 to five of 29 from the line. I tell you that's a W. It's the freaking clippers. Oh, wait, Kauai goes off for 45 last night as we anticipated. They shoot north of 60 from the field and they hit 19 triples against the howl who have now lost three straight. Tough time of the year to have maybe the low point as we were talking with PA earlier in the season. They're at the Dubs on Friday, needs to be better. You know, wild tonight, wild with Bobby Brent facing his former team, Breeze Off and Boldy and everybody flying high after the blowout over the mammoth a day or so ago. That's tonight right here on your home for Wild Hockey, the fan. But to the NFL, we haven't spent a ton of time on the NFL today given that it's a box

52:21in the box presentation, but there's some kind of news bouncing around. Hopefully during the final hour we can jump into it, looking for running backs in the free age of market. I personally did not see this coming, but Aaron Jones agreeing to a simplified or lowered contract yesterday that will make him the super arrows coming back. Aaron Jones returning to the fold to tandem to go tandem with Jordan Mason and that saves the team about three ish three and a half million dollars in cap off the original contract. The key to this for me is going to be the pass protection element of it. It's kind of dream weaving with free agency and you saw a Keaton Mitchell, for instance, Keaton Mitchell. Who's watching every Keaton Mitchell snap in the NFL for the Ravens? You probably are not. I'm not watching a ton of it either, but the speed and the way that he potentially fits his ability to catch was intriguing to me. He signs with the chargers, but pass protection, the diminutive Mitchell versus the established Aaron Jones makes sense.

53:21Once we dig into that more and earnest with PA, whether it's later today or during the feast tomorrow, which will be fun and football centric, the idea of still getting after a running back in the draft, I think, is certainly a priority for the purple and we would be efforting that via conversation tomorrow. Now from the Kyler's team, down to the Kylers in town, I don't know where they're hanging out at. Maybe it's just an eagin, but whether it's Adam, Shepter reporting and others, it still is believed to be the expectation that Kyler Murray will sign a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, Shepter himself reporting earlier today via paraphrasing, potentially later this afternoon. We could hear some finality to that, which then means tomorrow during the Friday feast. Alec Lewis is going to join us. We're going to have Pete Versace around 11, and we will have Jack Greenway five to radio right out of the gates tomorrow. If the deal does take place today, of course, that would certainly dominate a lot of the conversation on the feast tomorrow. Just a truncated addition, news to Nord brought to you by V Casino at Canterbury Park Canterbury

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