Bare Knuckle Sports Talk 1_10_26

0:00Are you ready to know what you don't know about sports? Well then, you are in the right place. This is the Bear Knuckle Sports Talk Show, bringing you all fact, no fiction, and a little bit of prediction. And now, here's your host, Aaron Samuel, keeping it raw and real. Welcome to Bear Knuckle Sports, I'm your host, Aaron Samuel. Lots to talk about today, lots on the docket. So much going on in the world of sports, let's just jump right into it and get down to it. I got a couple of shutouts today to kick things off. The first one, Maclin Celebrini, who has recorded a point in every game for the last 12 games. He has three games off, setting the rookie record for in the NHL 4 point streak. This kid is absolutely phenomenal. If you haven't watched him, you need to watch him.

1:00He is on a tear. He has made the Canadian Olympic team. He has taken the NHL by storm and he's still a teenager. He's 19 years old. He is only trailing Conor McDavid right now in the points and Nathan McKinnon. Nathan McKinnon and Conor McDavid, that's it. The rest of the NHL, he is ahead of. He's 19 years old. This kid is off the charts. He is completely off the charts. And I'm telling you, he's going to break the record, Patrick Lonnie's for the point streak. 15 games. He's only too off. He is on a tear, on a tear. And talking about on a tear, how about another shadow? And this one, this is going out to Conor McDavid. Who if you want to talk about a heater, he is on a heater. We are talking about ripping it up. He has points in 17 straight games, tying his personal best record. In that span, he has put up 18 goals, 23 assists, 18 goals and 23 assists.

2:06Can everyone remember just a little while ago when nobody was going to catch Nathan McKinnon? Because McKinnon was on such a tear. He was by far going to win the point race. Well, these two are running neck and neck now. That's how fast he is made up the ground. Every shift he is on the ice, he is dangerous. Every touch of the puck looks like it could be a highlight reel because it is a highlight reel. Every time this guy touches the puck, it's crazy. It's absolutely crazy. It's magical. When you watch this guy play Conor McDavid and especially right now, what you're seeing is something that you don't get to witness very often. He is dragging the oilers with him into the fight after yet another horrible start saying, you know what? Let's go boys. Follow my lead and we will be all right. What we are watching right now from McDavid is just pure dominance. Every time he steps onto the ice, it feels like it's happening.

3:08He's getting a goal. He's getting a assist. He's going to bring you out of your seat. It is about to happen because that is what happens when he is on the ice. The defense. They're looking at him coming down. They've got to be just shaking in their skates. It's like, what's he going to do next? He is now one point behind Nathan McKinnon who has been on a tear all year long, but it wasn't very long ago when it looked like nobody in the league was going to catch Nathan McKinnon. He was going to run away with it. No problem. Well, that is not the case now because what looked impossible doesn't look so impossible now. Conor McDavid, a big shadow, he is on a tear. And while I'm going on shadows, I got to send this one out too because if anyone needs it, it's the Buffalo Sabers. And I want to go give the sabers a shadow because they have been the joke around the NHL for so long and I'm not saying they're going to make the playoffs this year, but they're

4:10right there. And how have they done it? They recently went on a heater where they won 10 games in a row. This is the lowly Buffalo Sabers we're talking about winning 10 in a row. They tied a franchise record. We haven't been able to talk about the Sabers winning 10 in a row and peeing in the playoff hunt. And I don't know how long it was just recently not that long ago. We were talking about them being sellers again. And then they go on this heater and win 10 in a row which haven't been done in Buffalo and I don't know how long and they are getting it done through the lineup, top to bottom scoring. They're spreading the wealth around. This is how they're doing it. Timely goals. They're getting great goal-tending during that to spend the lowest goals allowed. So they are doing it with defense and offense as they spread it around to everyone. To penalty kill was phenomenal and has been phenomenal lately 84.8%.

5:15This is the Buffalo Sabers we're talking about here. The Sabers and how about a 9.29% percentage from their goal-tending which is good for first in the NHL over that span. That is incredible. Again I have to say it is the Buffalo Sabers. The Buffalo Sabers for crying out loud. Yeah we're still talking about the same Sabers. The ones that have missed the playoffs since the pyramids were built. That's how long we're going back. This is a team that has been the joke of the NHL. The butt of every joke for a long time and you know what, they might have finally turned the page. They've got some good young talent. They're playing better than I've seen them play and I don't know how long. And right now there's a real chance if they can keep going that they just might make the playoffs this year which should give the Saber fans something to cheer about. Which they've been waiting on for a very, very long time. I have very, very long time. It's been a while since we could say that.

6:16So a big shout out to the Buffalo Sabers who hate for all accounts and purposes. They might become buyers at the trade deadline. How different would that be to see them as buyers? I'm telling you, it's just incredible, incredible. I'm not going to give a shout out to Drake May. But can we say Drake May is clearly the MVP in the NFL this year? This kid, the third quarterback taken in the draft. Remember who went first? We had Caleb Williams, Daniels and then May, the big three. Drake May didn't play much in the first year. He is going to win the MVP award. I'm telling you in the NFL this year, he is incredible. Did you get a chance to see his five TD performers against the Jets? I know, it's the Jets. It doesn't matter. That wasn't a game where he was like, oh, I'm going to just pack the number so that I get MVP votes. This is what he's been doing all year long. He has gone to another level.

7:18You watch the Patriots play compared to a mere year ago? This is a different team. Why are they a different team? May, mature, mature, beyond his years. It's incredible and contagious. You can see the swagger throughout the lineup and how they play now. It's just rubbed off on everyone. You can just feel it because Drake May has gone nuclear. He has gone nuclear this year and it has been fun to watch. And for all the haters out there, the Patriots, they got to be just losing their mind. Tom Brady error came to an end. You thought, yeah, this team's going to be at the bottom for a long time. I don't have to hear about anything from Pat's fans. Well, guess what? Yes, you do because they drafted a kid by the name of Drake May. And this team, they're just scratching the surface. This is their first year with him at the helm. And what we're seeing, the five TDs against the Jets, that was a message.

8:21That was a message to the rest of the NFL saying, if you haven't taken notice all year, hey, I'm here. This team is here. We have arrived and we are good enough and beat anyone on any given Sunday. And that's what he does. He controls the tempo of the game, watch him. He controls the game. It's not like he's trying to pad numbers. They do it with a balance offense. He's not passing from 400 yards every game, but he doesn't have to. He controls the game. When I watch him play, I am just shocked at how young and how mature he is considering he didn't really play his first year. And in his first year, I was one that was screaming, hey, get this guy out here. You've got to see what he's got. They brought him along slowly, did all the right things and look what they got right now. So I want to hear everyone say it together now. MVP MVP MVP, because that is what Drake May,

9:21he is the MVP in the NFL this year. I'm telling you, I'm not the only one saying it like people that have what, if you haven't watched the past closely this year, you need to tune in, especially now that we're rolling in in the playoffs. This team is poised to go very deep. I could see them taking and run at the Super Bowl this year and does it get any better because you don't have to worry about the strong Kansas City chiefs because they're not there. They had a down here. The bills, they've looked like falter this year. Who is there in the AFC that scares you when you're the Patriots? You look at who's in there, the Broncos. This is a team built on defense and I love defense of football. But this team is flawed there. We've seen it at times this year. They win these close games, these, these battles and everyone says that defense wins games. There might be some truth to that statement, but you need some sort of supporting cast with your offense to put up points, especially when you're in the playoff

10:24run. Defense alone will not win you the Super Bowl. I'm actually waiting to watch the Broncos. I'm not saying they're not a good team. Just for what I've seen of them this year, there's an imbalance. He doesn't seem to be able to ignite that offense all the time. There's a little hiccup or a little miss. Their defense for sure is top shelf. But if I'm the Patriots and that's number one team in the AFC was the Broncos, I'm going, yeah, yeah, we can get them. The Steelers, the Texans, no problem. The Jags are a good story. Watch out for the Jags. This team has gotten consistently better throughout the year. There are another team in the AFC that could do some damage. I look at this, go back to where I was. Drake, me, me, can straight up ball. This guy can ball with the best of them. And for that reason, I say, look out for the Pats. They're coming for you and they're back, baby. The Pats are back, baby. Yeah, no, I'm not a Pats fan. I'm a Cowboys fan.

11:24I don't have much in cheer, but I love watching this kid play. What's their not to like? We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more. You're listening to bare knuckle sports on the Breachwood Media Network. I got involved in officiating volleyball eight years after I played division one in college. And I wanted to do more than just be a spectator. I wanted to get involved and give back to the sport that I've looked for so long. I'm a speaker, a builder, a coach, a coordinator, an auditor, a firefighter, and I'm a volleyball official. Aficiating volleyball was something that helped me to reconnect to my roots. Volleyball, a shady will bring positive influences into your life along with lifelong friends. I said yes to becoming a volleyball official so that I could give back to the game. Being yes to volleyball officiating will give you the privilege to be a part of one of the most exciting sports around. Challenge yourself as a referee to always be the best you can be. For anyone contemplating becoming a volleyball official, just go for it. Take the plunge, open the door, stay in the court.

12:26Just say yes. Say yes to officiating. Learn more about how to get involved at sayyestoeficiating.com. Welcome back to Baronacle Sports, I'm your host, Aaron Samuel. Recently, Olympic teams were announced. That's right. We're a month out from the Winter Olympics. The NHL is on its way back to Italy for the Olympics and I want to dive into two clubs. I can look at this tournament and I know there's some really good teams. The measuring sticks for this tournament are Canada and the USA. Make no mistake. Those are the measuring sticks. I'm not saying that someone else can't win this tournament, but what I'm saying is they are the best two teams and that's it. They are the best two teams and if they're playing their best, we're going to get a show from each of them in a gold medal match. I look at the, I'm going to dive right into first. Let's dive into the Canadian Olympic team and we'll talk about who made this team and maybe some of the snubs.

13:27This is the problem with Canada and the USA. There is such an abundance of richest when it comes to NHL playing talent compared to the rest of the world that there are going to be players left off these teams and there's going to be debates about how and who should have been there. I get all that and I'm going to give you my thoughts on that as well because I think there were some snubs on both teams that I just don't understand. I don't understand. At the end of the day, both these GMs had a job to do. They did it the best of their ability, but there are some question marks. There's definitely some question marks and let's talk about who made the Canadian team for starters. Celebrity. Maclin Celebrity. I want to talk about him first right off the hop 19 year old kid. I just gave him a shout out. This guy is taking the hockey world by storm 19 years old. He's doing things we haven't seen done since Wayne Gretzky and Sydney Crosby were teenagers. I'm so glad that team Canada added him.

14:27I knew that he would be there. There was really no question mark ever that he wasn't going to be there. He was there Anthony Cerelli will get to Anthony Cerelli in a little bit is a question mark to me. He was a question mark to me last year in the four nations. He's a question mark again this year. I'm not sure how Anthony Celerini makes this team. I really don't. He should not be Anthony Cerelli should not be on this team. This has to be a coach's choice because why can Canada's coach so I'm looking at it going and I'm not saying he's a bad player. He's a defensive specialist. He kills penalties. I get it. You need the right mix. I understand all that. We have a lot of Canadian players that do all that and can do it better than him. So I'm not happy about that pick. That one didn't jive with me. We got Sydney Crosby the golden goal said the kid is back no doubt there Brandon Hagle. Bolhorvitt who was not on the four nations team last year. He makes his team.

15:28I love this pick. I love the fact that they're bringing Bolhorvitt on this team. I don't know what role if he's going to be an extra if he's going to play the fourth line. This guy can do it all. He's like a Swiss army knife out there. Whatever situation you put him in, he can do it. I love it. I think it's a great pick a great ad hockey Canada gets out one right in my opinion. Nathan McKinnon never adult there. He was one of the original picks and look what he's done Brad Martian is back. Now Brad Martian this guy's a gamer. He's having a good year. He went to Florida last year. One another Stanley Cup for nations last year wasn't his best tournament. I have no problem with with Martian being there. Mitch Mariner is back on him. David. He's back. Braden point. I want to spend a couple minutes on Braden point. Braden point. He was one of the original picks back in the summer for team Canada. Can we have a do over because he's having a horrible season. Honestly the question I ask and he's been fantastic his career.

16:31I get it but he has not been fantastic this year. So the question I ask is Braden point really good enough to be on this team the way he's playing this year or is he on this team but only because he was one of the original six. What I'm saying is if he wasn't on the original six would you have taken him on the team this year. I wouldn't buy his performance that I've seen from him this year. I just would not. So I wish we could have a do over there. There was no way getting out of that after he was named on the team in the summer. That's it. There's no going back. That's who you got. This is the way it is. Braden point. Sam Reinhart. He's on this team. Mark Stone. I have I have a little bit of a problem with Mark Stone because he's interchangeable. It's not that I don't like his skill set. I just think there's other guys that could have done the job better that we could have taken. Some people are going to say I'm on my mind. I wouldn't have Mark Stone on there. I just wouldn't. Nick Suzuki. Another newcomer.

17:31This guy. I'm glad he's there. He's having a hack of a year. Nick Suzuki is the real deal and he's one of the new ones inserted in Tom Wilson makes this team. Tom Wilson is a hack of a player. Yes. He's aggressive. Yes. He stepped over the edge in the line a bunch of times in his career. But that is not why he made this team. Make no mistake. What we saw in the four nations, you're not going to see at Olympic hockey because it's not allowed in the international ice hockey federation. So yeah, it'll be physical, but dropping out the gloves. That is not why Tom Wilson's there. He's there because he's a hack of a hockey player. He's elevated his game. He is going to put fear into people when you see him bearing down on you because of his forecheck, the defense is going to want to get rid of that puck real fast. I have no problem with Tom Wilson being there at all, but he has to keep it within the lines. I just finished saying that throughout his career, he has been a bit of a bit of a wild

18:32card, right? He has to control that and I'm sure he will. He understands what's at stake here, just like everyone else, but he can't get frustrated and cannot go off that will not a blow up the tournament for Canada. If that's the case, I look at this Canadian forward, I have some issues. I would make some I corner, but dark if it wasn't for the injury, does he make this team? I had visions and I don't care what anyone says, corner, but dark playing the wing with Connor McDavid and whoever they're throwing on the other side. This guy can score they can say you can say, all right, the argument is he's not good enough in his own end. I'm not so certain about that. He might not be the best, but I think he's good enough if you put him with the right line mates. He's got one of the best shots in the NHL. You watch him shoot the puck. Can you imagine McDavid feeding Connor, but dark. We would hear Connor from Connor, Connor from Connor. I'm telling you, I think it's a shame I really wanted to see him on there.

19:32He's not. I'm not sure if it's just because of the injury, because it sounded like even if he was healthy, they didn't see a spot for him. I see a spot for him. I think he should have been there. I would have made it work. And if they don't win this tournament, or if there's a lack of scoring, which there shouldn't be, you look at this, this forward group, I just think Connor, but dark is going to represent Canada for so long. He's at that age where you're introducing young blood like Celebrini, like Nick Suzuki. These players that are young and in your next wave, I guess, of Canadian stars and he should have been in there. Even if you're carrying him, taxing him, and he's not dressing just to get the experience to be around these guys, to be around the tournament, because you're going to rely heavily on him in future tournaments. I think that's a mistake. I really do. You look at the defense. They got Drew Dowdy, Thomas Harley, Calma Carr, Josh Morrissey, Colton Perenkel, Travis Sinheim, Sanheim, sorry, Shay Theodore, Devon Taves, that is a real solid.

20:38I don't have much of a problem with the defense, although Matthew Schneider, and when I put my mock team together, over a month ago, I said, this kid is special. We could see what was going on. I had him on this team, 18 years old. I would have found a spot for him. I think he's good enough. It's not about finding a spot for him. I think he played himself on this team. Maybe at the start of the year, no one knew about this guy. He was, yeah, first overall pick, potential was there. He didn't know what to expect. I think he's showing the whole hockey world as an 18 year old, just really what he is. And that is a star in the making and his points this year, his ice time. He's playing 24 minutes a night as an 18 year old, 23, 24 minutes a night and putting up numbers and doing stuff magical. How he gets left off, I'm not sure. I would add him on there too. Does that mean who comes out? Well, how about Thomas Harley? He has not looked good. I know he looked good last year when they brought him into the four nations and he started

21:42getting things going when you had injury issues. He's not been the same player this year. There's no way I'm taking Harley over over this year. I'm just not doing it. I'm not doing it. So I think that's a mistake. Drew Dowdy, I've heard some people wonder about this guy, his age. This guy bleeds team Canada. He has for as long as I can remember. He will be just fine. Come worry about Drew Dowdy. The compete level on this guy is through the roof, so I'm not too worried. So my question marks, oh, I haven't, I haven't even broken into the goalies. Jordan Bennington, who was fantastic last year at the four nations. He's the worst goalie in the NHL this year. So you're taking him on Marin on what he's done in the past. I get it. He's a former Stanley Cup champion. He carried Team Canada and looked phenomenal last year in the four nations. He has not been very good this year. He has not been very good. Darcy Kemper makes the team and Logan Thompson.

22:43Honestly, I'm looking at these three goalies. And people will say this is the weakness when it comes to Team Canada. And maybe they're right. Maybe this is the weakness. It's the weakest part of the team. Jordan Bennington, I don't have him playing. He's probably going to get. He's probably earned that. So they're probably going to give it to him. You can't lose in this tournament. It's a short tournament. You've got to go with who's your hottest goalie and who's playing the best. I would not put Bennington in to start. I would not. The best Canadian goalie in one of the best goalies in the NHL this year. And last year, I for that smatter, I don't know how he didn't make last year is Logan Thompson. Logan Thompson should get the first opportunity for Team Canada in between the pipes. If you want to win an Olympic gold, I know in the past, you can see what Canada has done. The goalie that starts the tournament, history says, doesn't always finish the tournament. If they give it to Bennington, it just makes me nervous. The way that he's played this year, sure, has Saint Louis been a very good team know they

23:47have and he hasn't had a good team in front of us, but he hasn't been very good himself. He has looked the worst that I have ever seen him in his career and the question mark is going to be, can Canadian, can the Canadian goal tending get it done? Not this forward group, not this defense of group. The microscope is on the goal tending, so you have to get this right. I wouldn't have had Bennington there. I really wouldn't have. I would not have had Jordan Bennington on this team, who would have I had before him? You might ask, how about Mackenzie Blackwood or Scott Wedgewood? Now, people are going to say, Scott Wedgewood, he's been a backup his whole career. He's playing in front of the best team in the NHL. I will say yes. So it's Blackwood. He's also a guy that has had to come in at times throughout, at times throughout his whole career. Forget it times. He's been that backup. He knows what it means. He's a team player, a role player when you throw him and he can go and he showed this year that you put a good team in front of him and he can make the same. I would have had him in front Mackenzie Blackwood in front.

24:49So those are my two. I look at him and I think both of those two should have been on team Canada. I don't know how they don't make team Canada. It's absolutely shocking to me. Honestly, Bennington on this team is shocking and I get it. People are going to say he's a winner. Can't argue that. He's won. I'm from the world of what have you done for me lately? Well, last year you won the Foreign Nations Cup and you picked up a St. Lewis team and dragged him into the fight into the playoffs and made some noise. I look at Bennington this year and it scares the hell out of me. If he's our guy that we're relying on, it scares the hell out of me. So I don't know who else. Let's talk about some other players that were left off. I caught a birdard. I talked about caught a birdard being left off this team. I would like to have seen them on there. How do you leave Sam Bennington off? Can someone explain this to me? Sam Bennington being on the Canadian Olympic team. I do or not being named to the Olympic team. There could still be injuries.

25:50You can wind up there. I do not understand this. I have tried and tried. What are yours? Your criteria. Okay. You want someone who's going to be tough, gritty, having to play against someone who elevates their game in big moments? That is him. Someone who can get into the fight and play whatever role you need him to play. That is him. Last year, he tied the game against USA in the gold medal game of the four nations. And he was a thorn. I already said there's going to be no fighting. He fought though above his weight class. Remember the game, Canada, USA, he's in their fighting way above his weight class and enjoying it. This guy is everything you want from a hockey player. He won the cons, Mike Trophy last year in the NHL playoffs, game in, game out. He is a gamer and you go and leave him off the team. How does this happen? How did Norm Shrungle? No, Bennett, you know what? Not this year, my friend.

26:50I think we've got Sarellion on this team and he can play the role you can. Give me a break. Give me a break. Come on, man. Get it together. How'd you leave Sam Bennett off, disgusting. It's an insult. It's an insult to every Canadian fan. It's an insult to this team. Man, this one has got me. It has got me. Matthew Schaefer, I already talked about Matthew Schaefer. I would have had him on here. Mark Schaefer, how? Winnipeg Jets. He, 25 points and 37 games when the team was announced. What else does this guy have to do? I talked about Mark Stone not being there. I would, this in place is Stone all day long. I really would. And then you get to the blue line, Jacob Churchill, 15 goals. He was leading goals for defense when this team was announced. I believe he's in second now. He is having a run of it. And I would have brought him as well. And you're going to ask me, well, then, who am I taking out? I already talked about, Harley had to come out for Schaefer, Colton Perinco. He's big.

27:51I get it tough. The Lovish Wings fan, Jacob Churchill, Colton Perinco interchangeable. And I would have done that. I just would have. Am I happy with this team? I look at this roster up and down and this, this is a fantastic roster. This roster can win gold. Am I splitting hairs? Probably. I'm probably splitting hairs. That's what happens when you have an abundance of talent like Canada does. You split hairs. And if they don't win gold, those of us that are splitting hairs are going to scream and yell about why wasn't this guy there? Why wasn't that guy there? And if they bring home the hardware, and it's a shiny gold color, nobody's going to care. And it'll all be forgotten. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more. You're listening to bare knuckle sports on the Brushwood Media Network. Brushwood Media Network. Time out. Oh, right. Remember, we're a team that placed it together. Listen, the winning will take care of itself. We just have to get everyone involved. In inner scholastic sports, we celebrate what makes every one of us unique and in the

28:56pursuit of a common goal. Everyone in the huddle, in the bleachers and in the community comes together. This message presented by the STHSA and the South Dakota Aires Galactic Athletic Administrators Association. Welcome back to bare knuckle sports. I'm your host, Aaron Samuel. If you're just tuning in, I'm talking a little bit about Team Canada's Olympic roster. Team USA's Olympic roster as they were recently announced. Men's hockey. So I just went through Team Canada and abundance of riches. Team USA, they too, have an abundance of riches. Now I want to go through their team and there's some players on their team that got left off as well that are head scratchers to me. Team USA, Bill Garen, he can say whatever he wants. He can say we have built this team not to beat Canada, but to win a gold medal. Well to win a gold medal, you're going to have to beat Canada. So in saying that, you're telling me you're building a team to beat Canada.

30:00That's the bottom line there. You were one shot away from doing it at the four nations. That game, overtime, Canadian victory, Conor McDavid's moment. So this is who you are chasing. This is who you do have to be. Do we have to go back to recent Olympics where you came up just short? Why? Because you couldn't get past Canada. So Bill Garen can say whatever he wants, the reality of it is you're building a team to beat Canada. And did he build the proper team to build Canada? This is a pretty darn good hockey team. So let's go through who he announced to the team to represent the USA. Matt Boldy, Kyle Conor, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Jake Gensel, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, Austin Matthews, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Brady Kitchuck, Matthew Kitchuck, Paige Thompson makes this team and that is a heck of a pick.

31:02I'm going to say that right there. Paige Thompson from Buffalo. I'm glad to see him on this team. He deserves to be there. So that Bill Garen, I think he got that one right and Vincent Trollcheck. So that's their offensive core. That is a pretty darn good core. I don't think when you look at team Canada and team USA, do you call it one as an A plus and the other one's an A. That's about it. Because I think that the Canadian forwards are the best unit in this whole tournament. Team USA is number two and they are not far behind. But when you're talking about the likes of a Crosby and McKinnon and McDavid Celebrini, I'm sorry. You just can't. But they're going to need to score goals and we saw last year in the gold medal game at the Four Nations Cup where they just came up short. One goal away. They did not. Couldn't quite get it done. And I look at it. I'm going to give you some couple names here that were left off this team.

32:03And I don't understand it because these guys can bury the first one is Jason Robertson. How does Jason Robertson not make this team? Like come on, Garen, you're trying to relive 1996. That's how I feel you're building your roster. But you need guys that can bury the puck. He is the number one scorer amongst American born players this year in the NHL, Jason Robertson. This guy can get it done. What is the issue? He wasn't on the Four Nations either. This guy is consistently a 30 plus goal scorer in the NHL and he does it all. I don't understand how he doesn't make this team. There is a lot of players and I mean a lot. You can go up and down this roster, which is a pretty darn good roster. I already said that. But go up and down the forward roster. There's a lot of players you can move them out for and I don't understand how it doesn't happen. How Jason Robertson does not make this team.

33:04Vincent Trolltruck, there's the first one I'm going to throw it. I'd switch them up right there. You're telling me like who is he not better than on this team? There might be. I look at the whole forward roster team USA. And who do I have above him talent wise? As I look at this team. Michael? Yeah. I Austin Matthews. I get it. Matthew Kitchuk. Maybe Brady Kitchuk. I don't know if I have anyone that I rank as a higher player on team USA's forward than Jason Robertson other than the names I just mentioned for Jason Robertson to be left off this team. Holy smokes. You don't think that you want a guy who can bury the puck at any given time on your roster, especially in a game against team Canada that's going to be tight or team Sweden or Finland. I don't care who you put them up against. Chechnya. When you need a goal, you don't want to guy like this on the ice. His pedigree is he scores.

34:04He gets points. He gets it done. There's nothing more this guy could have done this year to make this team. I want to make that perfectly clear. He did anything and everything you could possibly ask for to be on this roster. And for him not to make it and it's not a one off. This isn't like, oh, he's doing it this year, but he's never done it before. This is who he is. This is what he does. You're in. You're out. And for some reason, Bill Garin and his management team doesn't see it that way, doesn't like him. Like, what's your not to like about his game? There's everything to love about this kid's game. He gets snubbed. Cold coffee. He's on pace for 40 this year. This guy is a snipe, a true snipe, but unlike his size, I'm sure that's why he's not on this team. He's undersized. But you look at the roster that you have. You have a lot of big guys. Are you telling me you can't throw him on the wing with someone and not worry about his size?

35:05Paul Coffield, who is a heck of a hockey player and is having a career here this year. He's going to score 40 plus goals for the Montreal Canadians and has them right now in first place in the East as I speak today. And you leave him off your team if team USA comes home empty and they lose the Canada again in the gold medal. Oh my goodness, Bill Garin, you will never manage team USA again. This is it. This is it. And I think he's got it wrong. I think both these guys should have been on this team. There's some others you can Alex to break it. He's on the cusp for me too. He's back to being himself. He's having a heck of a year and he has done it for a long time. He had a blip last year, wasn't quite himself, but you look at him now. He's back. I think that they're going to have problems. They went too big. I feel like Garin is trying to duplicate the team that he was on in 96 when they won the

36:05World Cup of hockey. I haven't even talked about their defense. So let's talk about their defense. And this is a pretty darn amazing defensive core. Brock Faber, have you seen these two play together since Quinn Hughes got traded from Vancouver? Oh my goodness. These two are magical together, absolutely magical, magical. So you got to have them play together right right there. Yeah, you have to know a hand if in Seth Jones gets the nod, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Sanderson, Jacob Slavin, and Zachary Warensky from Columbus. By the way, Warensky is a stud. This guy is amazing. That is an amazing defensive core, absolutely amazing. So when I looked at Team USA's defense versus Team Canada's defense, I really have these two neck and neck like I see nothing that separates them. One is as good as the other. That is how tight it is. You can, Adam Fox got left off and that must have been a tough conversation for Rangers

37:07management to tell him that he wasn't on the team considering the part of the management team of Team USA. I get it though, Adam Fox, where do you throw him out there? I don't know. Lane Hudson from Montreal. He's another one who could have easily made this team. Lane Hudson, rookie of the year last year, I'm surprised because he's going to represent USA for a long time as well and you can't find a spot. I don't know who you pull out though for Lane Hudson. Who are you pulling out? Seth Jones? Like really? That's the only place I could see where you might throw Lane Hudson in. This guy is going to represent Team USA at many tournaments and you might have wanted to get him the experience in this tournament. Lane Hudson is an absolute stud. That is what he is. Now this is where Team USA might be the best in the whole tournament. They are definitely better than Team Canada in goal and goal-tending. It is the most important thing. We see it and talk about it all the time.

38:09Last time around, four nations, Jordan Binnington out battled Conor Hellebuck, who is having a subpar season by his standards, came back from his knee surgery, hasn't looked the same. Winnipeg is in a dismay world to hurt this year. I don't know what's going on there, but Conor Hellebuck has been one of the best goalies on the planet for a long time. Jake Autinger. He too makes his team. This guy is a stud. Dallas is rolling again this year. He's carrying them again. Jake Autinger is the real deal as well. He got lit up last year in the playoffs against the Oilers, but this guy is consistently a good goalie and Jeremy Swainman, who is pretty darn good to. He's your third goalie. I'm sure. In particular, there is no question mark. I think Team USA has the best goal-tending in this tournament. And that could be the difference maker if these guys are on. If they're on, they could carry you and win you. It's a single-game elimination and your goal-tender in a single-game elimination, he can literally

39:12steal you the tournament in that game if he's on. We've seen hot goal-tending do it time and time again. It wouldn't surprise me in the least. So when you look at these two teams, Canada, it's Gold or Bus. Team USA, it's Gold or Bus. Who do you like? I personally look at these teams and I don't see much separating them. They're defense. I gotta say they're neck and neck offense. Forward, the forward units, I just like Team Canada's. I don't think there's more talent out there on that forward group than Team Canada has. I still would like to see Conor Bernard. I think they should have brought him along with this team. I truly do. And you might really regret not having Sam Bennett on this team at some point in time in that game where it's tight and you need that difference maker, a guide that can lay the big head. I know we got Tom Wilson now. I'm telling you, Sam Bennett will be missed. And these rosters, due to injuries, they still have a month of play in the NHL.

40:14There could be changes. There's gonna be changes. Injuries are part of it and then you go goal-tending and that's definitely USA. These are two great teams. I look forward to watching them go head to head again. How much of a failure is it if these teams, they can't both win gold. So if Canada doesn't win gold in Canada, it's a failure. The only thing that is acceptable in Canada when it comes to hockey is gold. In the USA, they've been looking at knocking Canada off its perch for a long, long time. It is gold or bust as well this year for Team USA. And they don't win gold. It's a complete failure. And if they don't win gold, I am putting it on the fact that they're not going to be able to score timely goals when they need them. And I'm going to point the finger right at Bill Garen. As I said, he left Jason Robinson off this and Cole Caulfield. I would find a spot for both these guys. I think that's a huge glaring mistake on the management part of Team USA.

41:17Like I just do. There's going to come a time when you need that timely goal. And you've got tune guys that can bury the puck as good as almost anyone on the planet. And you don't bring them along. I don't know what I don't know what the logic is there. And it's really got me confused as I try to figure it out. I don't understand it. It's going to be a fun tournament. I can't wait to watch it. Stay tuned. We'll talk about it more. That's about all I got there. Those are the two best teams in the tournament. But not the only teams I want. Let's get that straight to because team Sweden is pretty darn good. Team Finland's pretty darn good. Chechen is pretty darn good. These are teams that could all upset in a single game elimination. I'm just not putting them on the same level. That's not to say they can't win and that they can't beat anyone on any given day. I just have them on a tier below Russia, who cannot play in international tournaments due to world things going on over in Ukraine, international ice hockey federation. And it's too bad that that has to be going on.

42:20We would have had a true best on best and Russia has some pretty good hockey players. But that's a that's for another time and another year, not this year, not happening. So yeah, let's let's wait and see. We'll see what happens. We're going to take another quick break. You're listening to bear knuckle sports on the Breschwood median network. 92% of households that kick off the year with Peloton are still active a year later. Yeah, actively using it as a goat rack. Congrats on 50 rides. OK, but it's still just a fact. Just an elitist fitness coach. Come on, guys. I know this is an easy point. Got them. You'll give up eventually. Seriously 92% 92% stick with it. So can you visit one peloton.com. Welcome back to bear knuckle sports. I'm your host Aaron Samuel. We're down to four teams in the NCAA men's football tournament, Ole Miss Miami. Actually, we're down to three teams Ole Miss and Miami just played and what a game.

43:24If you missed that fourth quarter, that was some of the best, most exciting football that I have ever seen. The back and forth, the lead changes. It was it was amazing. Miami, the number 10 ranked Miami. Who Notre Dame was so upset about them getting in there. They should have been in as well. Miami's going to the national championship. They're looking for their first title since 2001 after knocking off Ole Miss, who had a heck of a run and could have. I'm telling you, if there's another 30 seconds on the clock, Ole Miss is coming down to win that game. It was crazy. They went 45 yards in like 20 seconds and then had to go for the end zone and weren't that far off. That was a heck of a game. What a game it was. I'm telling you, with everything that's going on, the coach gets up, walks away, leaves. He's going to LSU and they almost got it done. I'm just what a game, what a story.

44:26It was heartbreaking. It was one of those games where you didn't want to see either team lose. It just didn't. The way they were playing, the way they just, it was like, does there have to be a loser? Can't they both just go to the national championship? Well, that's not the way it goes and Miami got it done and a big shout out to Miami. They played a heck of a game. They pulled out there. They get the opportunity to face either Oregon, number five, Oregon or number one, Indiana. And neither one of these teams, Oregon or Indiana, have ever won a national championship. Indiana already got them earlier in the season and gave it to them. Now they get a chance to do it again. I'm telling you right now, I don't, I think it's destiny. I don't think anyone is stopping Indiana. They just are so darn good. So darn good. What a heck of a tournament it's been though. I look forward. You've got first and second pick going head to head. They're going to go first, both quarterbacks, one, two, more Hernandez.

45:28Hernandez more in the upcoming NFL draft. And they're going to face each other for the second time this year. The first time was in Oregon. This time it's on neutral turf. I'm taking Indiana. I don't think anyone is beating Indiana this year. The dismantling of Alabama. Have you ever seen a Bama team get dismantled the way Indiana did it last week? Like wow, what happened there? What happened there? I don't know. We're getting close. I just wanted to say Ole Miss Miami was a game for the ages. One of the best that I've ever seen. I loved it. It was incredible. I expect no different Indiana Oregon. I am just going to take Indiana. And I think we're going to have Indiana, Miami for the national championship. And it does make me laugh because when the teams were announced, if you all remember Notre Dame pouting and crying, and how they should have been there and Miami shouldn't have well, Miami has gone on to beat some pretty darn good football teams

46:29to the national championship final. And the coaching carousel in the NFL has started. Look at all the openings all of a sudden in the NFL. Arizona. Got a coaching spot there. Cleveland. Tennessee. Las Vegas. The Atlanta Falcons. New York Giants. Baltimore Ravens. And most recently now Miami. The Miami Dolphin. John Harbro. Let's talk about this one. Let go by the Ravens. He is. I get it. Sometimes you need a new voice. You need someone in there. Maybe it's not the coach is a bad coach. His message is just gone silent. It falls on deaf ears after all. But to me, this is a shocker. I was surprised to see him get let go. Although the noise was there and people had talked about it, I didn't think it was going to happen. I just didn't. But now that it has, I guess the question is, where does John Harbro? Because he can hand pick any of these vacancies if he chooses to.

47:31He wants the coach next year, which I think he does. That's what he is. He is an NFL coach. He's not too old to still be coaching in this league. It is his time. I think he coaches next year. And we talk about the openings that I just threw out there. Where is he, Lan? I think that John Harbro. I really do. I think he's going to New York. I think he's going to wind up in the big apple and coach the John. I got thinking about it yesterday. A little bit when Miami's position opened up. Did that position open up? Because John Harbro is on the market. Where are they going to with McDaniel? And they just went, you know what? Let's see if we can get this guy. I don't know. But there's some, he's going to hand pick where he wants to go. Everywhere but Baltimore. He can hand pick any one of these. I've got him going to the Giants. I just think that he is the man to turn that organization. Take him to the next step. There's some, they've got some tools in place.

48:33They're going to be drafting high again this year. And just makes sense. Harbro coaching the Giants makes sense to me. Would the Raiders be an option? They're going to have the number one pick. They're going to have this stud quarterback coming out of college. They got Gentry. I know the jury's still out on him. But that's a pretty bad Raiders team. So I feel like, you know, it's not all on him. If you give him an online in front of him, give him something to work with. The talent is there. Rock, Bowers. One of the best tight ends in the game. Young. There are some building blocks there. Would he be interested? That is the question. I don't know. Is there enough there? There's a lot to do with this Raiders organization. To get them to the next level. To make them a contender. I don't know if he does. I look at the vacancies. The Cardinals, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Falcons, Giants. I'm leaving the Ravens off this lift and the Dolphins. The one that makes the most sense for John Harbor wrote to me is the New York Giants. I think we'll see him there.

49:33And I think he will coach next year. Like I said, this guy's a coach. He's a football mind. This is what he wants to do. I think he's going to New York. I really believe that. Let's look at some of the other openings out there. And I can give you some of my thoughts on who I think might might wind up. Where? My guess is as good as any. No one knows for sure. But I have my thoughts. Arizona Cardinals, Robert Salah. He's going to get signed as the head coach here. Don't ask me why I say this. I just say it. Defensive coordinator on the 49ers. He's been head coach in this league. I just think Arizona. And I think Arizona is going to move off a Kyler Murray, by the way. I think that he's gone. You're going to get a different quarterback in there this year. I'm not sure how that's going to look. I just think that time has come. That experiment is over. I think they've grown tired of it. And they both. It's in both of their best interests to move on. I just feel like it's that time. Cleveland Browns. I'm going to go with the Bangle's offensive coordinator. Dan Pincher. I think he's going to Cleveland.

50:33He's going to be coaching there. The Titans. I've got another offensive coordinator. Becoming a head coach. And that's Casey's Matt Nagy. Going to Tennessee. They're going to be drafting high again this year. They've got last year's number one overall. They've got their franchise quarterback. We'll see where it goes. Kevin Stefansky recently fired from the Browns. I think he's going to coach again real soon too. And I think he's going to coach in Atlanta. I really do. I think that's where he winds up. I don't think he's going to be out of a job for very long. Although I questioned a lot of what he did this year. I think he's is back. I already talked about Harbor being in New York. The Baltimore Ravens is the one that has me. I really had to think long and hard about this. I don't know who's going to Miami yet. That one's fresh. I don't have an answer for that one. When I look at the Ravens, I think Clint Kubiak, the Seahawks offensive coordinator, rolls into Baltimore next year and becomes a head coach. I really do. And as we got round one of the NFL playoff starting this week,

51:36I'll quickly run through who I got. I got the Texans winning over the Steelers. The Bills. They get by the Jags. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jags win, but I'm taking the Bills this week and the Patriots over the Chargers. And that's the way I see that one happening. Panthers, Rams. The Rams are going to win there. Eagles 49ers. Eagles are done. I say the 49ers winning this game. They're going to win. And the Bears Packers. I'm giving it to the Bears. They eliminate the Packers. We'll talk about Round Two after that. We'll see how close I am. I'm all out of time. It has been fun, like always. Thanks for listening. We'll do it again next week. Any questions? Comments? Hit me up. BaronNuckleSportsTalk.com And Gmail.com. I love hearing from you all. Until next time, stay safe up there. You've been listening to the BaronNuckle Sports Talk Show. If you enjoyed the show, be sure to tune in next week on the Brushwood Media Network for more BaronNuckle Sports with Aaron Samuel.

52:38Go! Go! Go! Go!