Bare Knuckle Sports Talk 2_7_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. Let's get this show on the road. It is time to kick things off. In this week, I'm going to start things off with a big shout out to Luca Donsik. That's right, a big time shout out. The engine, the cheat code, the one, the only, the problem maker for every team, every other team, then the Lakers, in the NBA. He just won player of the month and a big congratulation there. Honestly, it was his and his alone.

1:01Let's be completely honest with ourselves here, the month of January. And just look at what this guy did. It was absolutely incredible, averaging 34 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. He is leading the NBA right now at 33.6 points per game. Put that in your head just for a second. This guy is second in assists per game as well. Well, what to be said, of course he is, right? And one of the best rebounders, he does it all. He let his Lakers to a 9 and 7 record in January. Has him sitting at 29 and 19, right in the thick of things, right in the dog fight out West. And that's what it is a West, a dog fight. And LA would be nowhere near this dog fight, not involved if it wasn't for Don's Inc. That is a plain truth. This guy is a beast, a beast. I mean, he went full video game in the month in January.

2:04Just incredible. He went 37, 13 and 11 for a triple double on January 30th. He put up 46 points on the 26 against the Bulls. It seems night after night, the impossible is not impossible for Don's. He does it time and time again. We've seen it time and time again. That's just what he does. This guy is one of the best, if not the best in the NBA. And think about it. Dallas let him go last year. Incredible. Big time shout out. He gets player in the month, Western conference, NBA, well deserving. I love watching this guy play, who doesn't love watching him play. It's absolutely sick. Like I said, he goes full video game mode. He's like a cheat code when it comes to the NBA. He really is. And can you imagine where the Lakers would be without him? They would be nowhere, absolutely nowhere.

3:05The guy is insane. I got another shout out as well. And this one all I can say is take a bow to Joe, to Joe Vivek. He has done it again. Yeah, he came up just short of winning the Australian Open. I get it. But he still went out and made history in this tournament at the right bold age of 38. That's right. 38 years old. And he is still showcasing himself to the world and showing why he is not one of the best of all time. He best of all time. That's what he is. He turned Melbourne Park into his personal playground once again for the whole world to see and watch. But why not? Why? Because this is what this guy does. He turns and he's been doing it forever. He turns everywhere into his own personal playground. And he set some pretty amazing feats while doing it. Let me round off some of the things that he accomplished at this Australian Open.

4:05And just put this into perspective. He is 38 years old, has been dominating the sport tennis, men's tennis for a long time. Most Australian wins ever, 104 career wins at the Open, 104, most by any player. That is, men or women does not matter. He has more than them all. He passed Roger Fetter's 102. He is also the only player with 100 plus wins at three different Grand Slam events. The Australian, Roland Garros, and Wimbleton. He has over 100 wins at each one of those tournaments. These are the hardest tournaments to win. The only one that he doesn't have, the ripe old mark of 100 is the US. Pretty in sick, pretty sick. First person to reach 400 Grand Slam Winnish wins. He finished with a Grand Total of 402 now, 402 and counting.

5:07The next closest Serena Williams with 369. Like honestly, 367, they are there, but they're not in the same conversation. They are not in the same breath. The oldest Australian finalist. Like I've repeated now many times, he is 38 years old and he accomplishes. He's not slowing down. He's not slowing down. This is crazy, crazy. The most Grand Slam finals ever, 38 and counting. Next closest Chris Everett with 34. Most Grand Slam finals after turning 35. He has been to a final seven times since he turned 35. This is when people are going into retirement. They're done. He's still doing it, still doing it. It's an insane. Even though he lost, it does not matter. He proved once again why he is the best there has ever been men or women.

6:08And he raised the bar a little bit higher with his performance at the Australian Open. And he sits again at number three in the world in rankings. Number three in the world. Think about that. This guy is 38 years old. No sign is slowing down, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. What he does? Absolute beast mode. And if I can, I'm just throwing one more flag today and why not? I'm not going to dive into this one too, too, too much. But the NFL Hall of Fame committee, who I went after last week and threw a flag on them. Well, another one, Robert Kraft doesn't get in. I don't know what the criteria is. Robert Kraft, if we're talking ownership, is this man, not the greatest owner of all time? He surrounds this franchise with everything they need to win. If he can't get in, Bill Belichick couldn't get in and I'm not going to regurgitate that.

7:10I went there. Something has to be done with the Hall of Fame committee in the NFL. They need to fix it. They got to get it straight note. They did it again. They made my list two weeks in a row, which is not an easy thing to do. But they do it effortlessly, effort without effort, absolutely incredible way to go NFL way to go. I don't know. Hey, at least it's almost a Super Bowl, right? We don't have to be talking about this. It's still shocking. Does that mean Tom Brady's not getting in next? Let's be honest. Hey, Tom Brady, they already said for a long time now, he's been eligible for a long time. Bill Belichick didn't get in on his first. Does this mean Tom Brady, the greatest player to ever play the game, the gold, does not get in on his first ballot? Can you imagine? I'm not so certain it won't happen now. It shouldn't happen. But after what we've seen this week, who's to say Tom Brady, maybe the bar has been set in. Tom Brady can't get in.

8:11Can you imagine that? Like what are these guys doing? They're sitting around in a little round room in office, smoking a cigar and having a tea and having some sort of discussion on, well, I like this guy. He was one of my favorite and he was my guy. So let's go with him. And if you vote for my guy, I'll vote for your guy. And like I think this is what it is. There's no secret ballot. They get together. They have a conversation from everything I understand. And they come up with a list. I just don't how there's any legitimate mercy to it at all, the way they're doing it. And with what we've seen this year, making no mistake, both these guys are going to get in. That's what Chuck will be in next year and then what he's going to stand up there and smile. Wouldn't it be something to see Bella Chuck and just kind of give it to him, kind of give it to him. I'd like to see it. I know it won't happen. He'll go up there here. Smile. He'll give his speech and everyone will be happy and say, look, Bella Chuck's in. No conversation. It is a conversation. Craft will do the same thing. It is a conversation. It's wrong. It throws mud in the face of the NFL right before they get going on which should be the

9:15biggest time in the year. The NFL. Super ball right before that's not what they do. It's ridiculous. It is absolutely ridiculous. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more of your listening to bare knuckles sports on the Brushwood 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 loved for so long. I'm a speaker. Builder. I coach. Auditor. A firefighter. And I'm a volleyball official. Aficiating volleyball was something that helped me to reconnect to my roots. Volleyball officiating 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. Saying 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.

10:19Take the plunge. Open the door. Stay in the court. Just say yes. Say yes to officiating. Learn more about how to get involved at say yes to officiating dot com. Welcome back to bare knuckles sports on your host Aaron Samuel. Well, that's it. We are one day out from the biggest day in football all year. That's right. Super Bowl Sunday. And let's take a look here at some of the key match up. I've got three of them that I think will decide the Super Bowl championship. I kind of dove into both teams last week where we spoke about them a little bit at length positionally. And then I kind of narrowed it down from there for this week to what I believe will be the deciding factors on who wins this the Lombardian who doesn't. And let's be honest here is we look at this Super Bowl Seattle versus the Patriots who had this on their bingo card at the start of the season. That's what I want to know who had the sea hawks versus the Patriots on their bingo

11:19card. I don't think there's anyone out there that had that on their bingo card. And if they say they did, I think they're lying. There's no way that anyone had the Patriots versus the sea hawks it didn't happen. And the sea hawks are favored to win this one. And let's be honest, it's it's rightfully sold that they're favored. I went through it last week. You look at the this matchup on paper and absolutely the sea hawks should be favored. That is there's no arguing that I think on paper there's no argument whatsoever. But this is a Super Bowl and it's not about stars. It is about pressure and who can handle it the most when the lights are the brightest and they don't get any brighter than they do come Super Bowl Sunday. Absolutely don't. So let's take a look at what might be the deciding factors in this game. And for me right off the hop number one, put a big star beside it, whatever you want to do, it is Sam Darnold versus the Pat's pressure. You you're going to ask me why Sam Darnold is look good.

12:20He's looked great. You gave him a shout out last week, absolutely and deserving. But the problem for Sam Darnold is he still had 14 picks this season and half of those picks more than half of those picks where when Darnold was under pressure. So what does that tell me when Darnold is under pressure, he makes poor decisions. That's what he does. He goes out there and maybe when there's some heat on him, he's not thinking so clearly. I get it no quarterback is, but you still have to be able to make those micro decisions in an instance. And those are the ones that can win or lose you a game and under pressure, he threw more than 50% of his 14 picks this year. So I look at the D line of the Pat versus Donald as the number one, because like I said, more than half of his picks under pressure and he's been a different story in the playoffs. I get all that. He has been absolutely lights out and he was pretty darn good in the regular season for

13:22the most part as well. But let's let's take a look at what he's done in these playoffs, zero picks, zero turnovers and he has four TD passes. He has been flawless. His decision making has been fantastic. He is playing better than we have ever seen Sam Darnel play. That is the facts. That is the truth. There's no way around it. He looks pretty darn good. But here's the problem. When I look at New England's defense, I see a little bit of a problem. They've been pressuring QBs at a higher rate than anyone else in this postseason. I believe it's over 52% of the snaps. They are coming after the quarterback. They're making you get rid of that ball and they just don't blitz recklessly. They don't. If you watch the Pat's defense, they are fantastic at disguising what they're doing. You don't know. They're sneaky. Good. When it comes to disguising what their plan is, they don't go after you recklessly like

14:24some teams. That's not what they do. But they're coming after you and why this matters? If they can squeeze the pocket on Sam Darnel, make him start to second guess. Take away the time from him that he has to make the right decision. We have seen in the past, Sam Darnel, that is when he makes mistakes. That is when he turns the ball over. So that matchup is absolutely key to both teams and winning and lifting the Lombardy. This is a chess match. It really is. Darnel's postseason poise, is it for real? Because so far it looks pretty darn good. I just finished telling you, he has been flawless. Or is this the moment where the Pat's turn him back into the QB, the Panics under pressure? It just might be. If Darnel protects the ball, see how it'll probably win this game. They probably do. But if the Pat's can get on him and can make him ungodly quick decisions, that is when you can see the mistakes happen and the field can flip in an instant on Seattle and in

15:29the Pat's favor. That is the first key matchup. Born it back, Sam Darnel versus the Pat's and the pressure that they're able to get on him. If Seattle's a line can create a pocket for him to stand, I think this game could turn real fast in Seattle's favor. They could open up a quick lead and be chasing the game. If New English chasing, there's going to be problems. But second one, the second key matchup to this Super Bowl and why not? Why wouldn't it be, of course it's going to be the other quarterback for the New England Patriots, Drake May versus Seattle's front? Now you're probably thinking, you just said the same thing when it comes to New England and Seattle. That's because this is where this game is going to be won or lost. That is why I'm talking about it. Seattle's front. Now let's talk about that. Let's just talk about that for a second. Seattle's front and Drake May because this is where things get really interesting to

16:30me. Drake May does not react to pressure like most quarterbacks. Playing in simple, he just does not. You watch Drake May. This guy is poised way beyond his years, way beyond his years. And when I look at him, he has no problem. If he's under pressure, if he's under pressure, what do you see happen with Drake? Drake May. It's really of three things I'm going to say. One of three things. He takes the sack. He will take the sack and he has no problem with it. He throws a friggin bomb and completes it or he goes out and crushes you with his legs. But he takes a lot of socks. Only three quarterbacks in the NFL took more socks all year than Drake May. Think about that for a second. Think that 47 socks this year and 15 more in three playoff games. That is absolutely sick. We're talking 62 socks.

17:30That's way too many. You would think. But here's the flip side. When pressure, he led the NFL in yards per attempt. It seems to be boomer bus and no quarterback ran more this season than he is averaging 47 yards per game per playoff game. Let me get that correct. For playoff game. So think about that for a second and Seattle's run defense, which is one of the best in the league. They are a wall against when it comes to running except when it comes to quarterbacks. When it comes to stopping quarterbacks from running, they rank 29th in the league per carry. A lot of yards allowed per carry by a quarterback. That is not good news because Drake May loves to run. He loves to get out there and use his legs and he will do that and that's the danger. If they can contain the pocket, but if this team, their defense loses lanes, look out

18:33because Drake May, this is when he turns third and longs into first downs by using his legs and with that being said, he has taken 15 sacks in three playoff games. So Seattle has to get in there, has to stop him and not let him get the big play or hurt them with those legs. You can't allow that to happen and if you do, I don't know. You turn those third and longs, third and 7, third and 8, third and 9, third and 10. I don't care what it is and all of a sudden Drake May is scrambling out of the pocket and picking up first downs by using his legs. Oh my goodness, that can be a backbreaker immediately for the opposition and we've seen it time and time again. So to me, this is one of the top three places where they're super bowl will be won and lost. Can Seattle's defense contain Drake May?

19:34When they stop him, completing that bomb, where all of a sudden they're taking chunks of the field at the time. If they can, again, Seattle probably wins. If they can't, Drake May, you drag him through the mud, but he's dangerous. He is dangerous, it doesn't seem to matter if you sack him, you can sack this kid time and time again. I mean, it doesn't change a thing on the field, it just doesn't, he's just so productive, he's so poised beyond his years, I can't repeat this enough. That is what this kid is. He looks like a veteran that has been playing the game at this level for years and he thinks the game like a veteran who has been playing this game at this level for years. Like I said earlier, he doesn't react most quarterback, he just doesn't and that will be a deciding factor who can win that part of the chess match. And number three for me, when I look at this Super Bowl, it's who can run the bowl better.

20:35The New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks, who's going to be able to establish the run game? The Seahawks allowed the third fewest rushing yards while the Patriots defense was number six. These are two pretty darn good defenses when it comes to having to try to run the bowl against them. Both QBs, liking to operate under center, this matters and it matters to both teams. That's the bottom line here. Both teams are near the top. When we're talking play action, they're both right there as well. So running the bowl, that helps there. It does. It helps with your play action play, play calling as well, top six in rush rate. So who's going to be able to run? When you look at, look at these, this matchup individually, it's a little bit different to me. This is Stevenson for the Pats, who will be running into a brick wall, make no mistake. He will see a brick against the Seahawks run defense and he will have to grind for every

21:39yard that he gets in this game. The truth because the Seattle's run defense, just that good. I said, you're running into a brick wall. You might have better success trying to run through a brick wall than you will this Seattle's front. So in you that right now, it will be tough grinding yards out for Stevenson, all game, all game. Meanwhile, on Seattle side of the ball, you got Kenneth Walker III. And is this the definition of a boomer bust running back? I think it is. I think when you talk Kenneth Walker III, it's boomer bust. And this is the thing with Kenneth Walker III. You might contain him for most of the game, but he'll have one, two, maybe three plays where he just busts out. He breaks one on you. He doesn't need 25, 20 to 25 touches a game. He has that boom ability where all of a sudden, he hits you with an explosive run.

22:41And the next thing you know, you're chasing this guy down the field and he just scampered for a 30 yard touchdown or 40 yard touchdown or broken wide open. And these are the plays that break defenses when you allow that to happen and he has this ability. Here's what the paths have going in their favor. Only one explosive run all postseason, they've allowed one big run against their defense. They're pretty good at stopping the run as well. They're pretty darn good at stopping the run. They have allowed, let this think sink in for one second, zero, ERO, zero rushing TDs allowed on 68 attempts in the playoffs against them so far. That is pretty amazing when you combine it with the fact that they've only let one big run against them. So they will be ready as well. Something has to give if Walker breaks one big run, is that enough? That is enough to give Seattle a chance to control maybe the temple.

23:46If New England bottles them up, well what happens then? The kitchen gets a lot harder real fast on Sam Darnel. If they can't establish any sort of run against this New England defense, like I said, Sam Darnel, the heat gets turned up because it becomes all on his shoulders knowing that you have no run game. With New England, if they bottle up their run, you still have to be concerned with the running ability of Drake May. So it's a little different. So here's the truth as I see it. And I can only tell you what my truth is, but this is the way I see it. Like so many times before in Super Bowl balls, it comes down to this. Which QB can stay calm under pressure and which defense forces that one mistake that one turnover might flip the game right there and then at that the most untimely time of the game. Quarterbacks being calm, defenses causing turnover.

24:49That's what it comes down to. And as I look at this game, the Seahawks, they are the better team on paper. But you know what? This game isn't played on paper. It's played under the bright lights of what we call the Super Bowl. Where everyone is watching, there is no bigger environment. It's going to come down to a few key plays throughout this game. I expect it to be a dog fight and close. I have no doubt there will be a few key plays where this thing is decided. That's the moment. That is the moment. So often the story of the Super Bowl is a surprise. That player that you didn't expect to do something and he went and done it under the brightest lights at the biggest moment. Watch for that sneaky good player. Watch for him. He's there. And let me give you my prediction because I didn't give you one last week. So I'm going to give you my prediction and this might surprise a few again. The Seahawks are the team that is favored and rightfully so and should be when you look

25:52at this on paper. But to me, I'm taking the New England Patriots to win this Super Bowl. I have a feeling and I'm just running with my gut here. I have a feeling that Drake may in this moment. He's going to show the world just what he's been proving all your long. He is as good as any right now in the league. He can take that moment and turn it into something magical. I've got the Patriots winning this one 24 20. Drake may carry in a way the MVP of the game. I think he's going to hurt Seattle with his legs. He's going to frustrate their defense because they're not going to be able to contain him and he's going to pick up. Pick up first downs with those legs when it looks like they're about to force the punt. And here we go. Brand new set of downs and here comes Drake may again. And I think we're going to see this reoccurring story throughout the game. And then he will have that moment, the big play, the big bomb. That's what he does makes it happen.

26:53I'm taking the Patriots. Go ahead. Tell me I'm nuts. Everyone I talked to is telling me the Seahawks. They're the better team. They're going to win. Well, maybe so. But New England looked pretty darn good all year as well. They looked pretty darn good all year as well. I think this defense of the Patriots is just about as good as Seattle. I think coaching on both teams is phenomenal. You've got two young coaches. Know the game. It's going to be a chess match. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch. I've got the Pats 24 20. We're a day out. Let's make it happen. I can't wait. We're going to take another quick break. We'll be right back with more. You're listening to bare knuckle sports on the Brushwood media network. Time out. Oh, right. Remember, we're a team that plays 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 pursuit of a common goal, every one of us is going to be the best.

27:53And in the pursuit 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 Air Scholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Welcome back to bare knuckle sports. I'm your host, Aaron Samuel. I want to switch gears here for a moment. Take the right hand lane and drive right off the off ramp and head straight into the NHL. And why not? They're taking a break. The Winter Olympics. We've got the biggest tournament in men's hockey that we've seen in a long time coming up. But right before that happened, before the freeze in the NHL, the freeze on trades I'm talking about, one of the elite players in the NHL, Artemi Panarin, get traded. And he moved all the way out to the Pacific Division out west to the Los Angeles Kings coming from the New York Rangers. Could we possibly see a power shift with Artemi Panarin now playing for the Los Angeles Kings?

28:55I think it's quite possible that the Kings think it's quite possible. This is the LA Kings screaming out, hey, look, we know we were short on depth scoring. We know that for years it has been copetar or bust. But now with minutes before the pre-Olympic trade freeze, LA went out and landed Panarin from the New York Rangers and immediately got penned a paper in income to a two-year extension. So let's look at what the cost was here to the LA Kings and what it might mean. It costs LA a top prospect, Liam Greentree, a conditional 2020 third-round pick. And because conditions matter, let's look at the conditions that come with this trade. If they go out and win one playoff round, that third becomes a second. And if they win two playoff rounds, you add a 2028 fourth. And the Rangers, they're going to retain 50% of his salary for the rest of this season.

29:57Why this matters? Because LA, they have had a huge problem getting out of the first round. Why? Because every year in the first round, they come up against the Edmonton Oilers. And the Edmonton Oilers have fed them their ludge for four years straight and ousted them in the first round. And they're looking at it going, what can we do to get out of this first round? And making a mistake, there's a real good chance that Edmonton and LA just face each other in the first round of the players playoffs again this year. This is really a home run for LA, that's why I feel. Let's kill the narrative on his age. I don't care, it doesn't matter. He's 34 and he's still producing, still driving play. He has 57 points in 52 games. Those are some pretty darn good numbers. Again, I don't care how old you are. And he's been doing it for a long time. He has elite on the power play and he's elite at zone entries.

31:00He carries that puck in, establishes his zone, makes teams start to panic. He comes at you fast. This all matters, it matters for the power play, which has struggled for the LA Kings. They're going to be a lot better on the power play with this acquisition. There's just no two ways about it. There's no way that their power play doesn't get better. There's no way, zero, zero chance that their zone entries don't get better. These things matter when you enter the zone with control. You create a better scoring opportunity for your team. And that's what happens. And just take a look at this guy's resume for one second. For one second, he's got 927 career points and counting. He is the former Calder trophy winner for rookie of the year. He has been a heart finalist. He's nearly a point per game in the playoffs. And that matters. It matters a whole lot because when the stage is the biggest, he doesn't slow down.

32:04He gets better. And this is what LA is banking on. This is what they need. They are screaming to get to the next round. They need to get out of the first round. The Kings have not had a winger like this in a very long time. Like maybe Luke Robotai. Honestly, are we going back that far? We just very well might be. This is someone who can create offense without help. Me and anyone else. He goes out there and does it himself. He will be the creator. He will be the driver of that line. Wherever you stick him. It doesn't matter. He will make those around the him better players. And that is huge. That is absolutely huge. And now teams, when you're playing against LA, let's take another look at this. For years, teams have been able to scheme and plan around copotar. Well, now, you have to pick your poison. What's it going to be? Is it going to be copotar? Is it going to be pinaran? You can't really plan around them both.

33:05It gives them that other option. It makes them not much scarier. A big, big move. A aggressive move for the LA Kings. And Ken Holland, who went out and said, I'm going for it. This is what I'm doing. This is why LA brought me in to get us past the Edmonton Oilers, to get us deeper into the postseason, to go on and run. That's what this is all about. Ken Holland saying, you know what? Maybe we're just that one player away. Maybe we're just one player away. And if they were, this is the guy. I think they're going to be a lot better and it's going to be a shift. You're going to see in the second half of the season. Some real runs. They're going to put some wind streaks together and they're going to climb the standings. And we're going to be talking about them in a few months as a team that is really dangerous and really has the ability to go on a deep run. I think it's a great move. I really do. And for the Rangers, it makes sense as well. People are going to scream about the return that the Rangers got.

34:07I get it. Let's be honest here, though. What's choosing where he was going? He was in the driver's seat. He had a full no movement clause on that contract. He was becoming a UFA at the end of the year. The Rangers weren't signing them. There was no discussions really from all reports or very, very little on an extension. It's just not where they were. They wanted them to take some ridiculous pay cut that he just wasn't willing to do. So he was, he wasn't going to be there, but he was in the driver's seat. And he was picking where he was going. That was it. So you have to take the best deal you can. Seattle, they were in the mix apparently more money than the longer term and more money. Because LA signed them for two years at 11, 11 million per on an extension. Reports were that Seattle was offering them a four to five year extension at 13 million. He didn't want to go there. He said it himself. He's like, he didn't want to be a rental. He didn't want to uproot his family.

35:08Go to a team for a few months and then hit the free agent market and then relocate his family again. He had zero interest in that. So he was going to either ride it up with the Rangers or it sounds like go to LA. It sounds like that was really the only option the New York Rangers had was LA. So you try to get the most that you can with your hands tied behind your back. That is what Dury had. His hands tied behind his back and they went out and they didn't, they didn't do great. But I mean, it's, it's not horrible, right? You got a decent prospect, a big right winger who's six, three, you know, this guy is a former 2024 first rounder who has 23 goals and 45 points and 34 games in the OHL. They got some draft capital has a chance to really move the needle though for LA. And that's, that's where I'm going with this back to the playoffs. This is why LA made this move because they needed a game breaker.

36:08They needed a guy who can score that one goal. So they don't lose five years in a row to the Edmonton Oilers. And that's what they got. That is what they got. They got a game breaker. They got a whole lot better. They got a whole lot deeper. Paneron is already the leading point on the LA Kings. He comes in, he's your guy. And how much pressure does this take off a copter? Absolutely a ton. Absolutely a ton. Honestly, I think it's a great move by LA. I, I, I, I applaud LA for going out and making this move. It was the only place he wanted to go. So maybe Ken Holland doesn't deserve a whole lot of credit, but you got to give him some. You got to give him some. Hey, where to go LA? You got your man and it came moments before the, the trade freeze for the Olympics. We're going to take another quick break. We'll be right back with more. You're listening to Baronucle Sports on the Brushwood Media Network. Brushwood Media Network. And Doug.

37:09What do we always say, son? Liberty Mutual Customizes your car insurance. Say only pay for what you need. That's my boy. And you get out there and you make us proud, huh? Buy on believers. Stay up the freeways. Only pay for what you need. Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. Welcome back to Baronucle Sports. I'm your host, Aaron Samuel. Alright, let's, let's switch some gears here and talk some. I guess it's NHL, but it's really Olympic, Olympic news. There were some changes due to injury to the Canadian roster. And the first one that happened was Sam Bennett, who a lot of us, myself included, screamed about should have been on this team, right from the very beginning, from the get go. And he now replaces Anthony Sirelli, who is out due to injury. I always thought that Sirelli, and I don't want to knock Sirelli,

38:10but I always thought that he was named to this team because he plays for John Cooper, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it should have been Sam Bennett's spot right off. Right, right from the hot. There was no reason. Honestly, zero reason for Sam Bennett, not to be ahead of Sirelli anyways. And you never like to see any player go down, but maybe there was a little bit of, ah, what you might want to call, put it just this universal karma. I don't know. I don't, you know, everyone dreams of going to the Olympics. These guys, it's a dream of theirs. So I hate to see hard times fall on any player due to injury. But Sam Bennett, in my opinion, and many others should have been on this roster from day one. So now he gets the nod. He's going to go represent team Canada at the Olympics. And when you look at their stats, people are going to say, well, you know, Sirelli, he had 15 goals, 20 assists, 49 games, not bad, you know? And you look at Bennett, he's had a few more goals and assists,

39:10but he played a few more games. He had 19 goals and 23 apples and 55 games played. I think it's the intangibles with Bennett. See, what Bennett has a history of doing is he elevates the biggest moment. He can elevate his game. He is that guy. He will do whatever is needed to win. He is your stereotypical. I'm going to put my body and life on the line for this team. And we all saw him last year at the Four Nations Cup and what he did. From game one, dropping the gloves, weight class that he was outmatched in and hung in there. He's at two times Stanley Cup winner. He won the Cotton Smite trophy as the best playoff performer last year, 2025. And he just knows how to elevate his game. And he brings an element of physicality that is absolutely insane. This matters. In a tournament like this, it matters.

40:10Intimidation. I know. Okay, I know that it is not the Four Nations. I know it is international hockey. So you're not going to be dropping the gloves. I get all that. I understand it. It doesn't matter to me. It just does not matter. You don't have to drop the gloves and beat the snotted at someone to go out there and intimidate him. And that's what he does. He intimidates players. He rides a razor thin line without crossing it most nights. That net front presence. He is in front of the net, driving goalies. And he thrives in high pressure situations which we have seen time and time again. I just want everyone to envision this for a second. You have Tom Wilson from the Washington capitals and Sam Bennett on a line together. These guys can both produce and are both absolutely beast.

41:10You don't think that any team, and I don't care what team it is, even Team USA who has some pretty big forwards of their own that can go out there and do this thing. You think it isn't going to matter? Big Tom Wilson, Sam Bennett coming down on you, causing havoc. Oh my goodness. I really want to see these guys on the same line together. I want to see if there's chemistry. I'm not sure who you're throwing out there with him. But with Sam Bennett now on this team, it is time. Tom Wilson, Sam Bennett and whoever's riding shotgun with him going out there and producing and causing absolute pandamanium for every other team. Really pandamanium and producing. I think they'll put up numbers. I think they'll have a successful tournament. I think that those two together will go a long way in helping Team Canada go out there and succeed at their goal of bringing home the gold medal.

42:10So it matters. It matters. On the other side, Braden Point who went down over a month ago. He was one of the original players named in the Team Canada roster. He too is out. And I kind of thought that was coming. And I really looked at if Point isn't in there who is Team Canada going to put in to replace him. I had Zach Hyman from the Edmonton Oilers. I really did. I thought Zach Hyman has been one of the best players since getting healthy from his wrist injury. This is a guy who runs shotgun with Connor McDavid and the familiarity is there. It is there. They thrive off each other. He knows what's going on. Why wouldn't you bring him, right? He can produce. He's defensively stout. You don't have to worry about him making stupid plays defensively. He's smart there. And he can play up and down the line up wherever you need him to play. No problem. And still produce. And still not hurt you. But no, the think tanks Team Canada hockey.

43:12They went a different way. And they awarded the position to set Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes. Nothing against the Carolina Hurricanes here. But let's be honest, Seth Jarvis was a pilot last year for Nations. He did nothing. He did zero to move the needle. And you need players can't just jump in with someone who has that player IQ like a Connor McDavid roll with it. We've seen it last year. It's not easily done. I struggled to find anyone to get chemistry with Connor McDavid. And now you've run back a guy who in my opinion. Yeah, he was part of the team that won the four nations. But he didn't do anything to help the team win the four nations. Do we all remember the Olympics? Sydney Crosby? It was the same thing. So hard to find anyone to play with Sydney Crosby because he thinks the game differently. He's at an elite level. So what did they do? They brought Sydney's guy. Coonins.

44:12And they threw him on the wing with them. And it was fantastic. Why? Because that chemistry is already there. There's already an understanding. They know what the other person is going to do. So why don't you give McDavid his guy and bring Hyman. Who is worthy with the season? This is a guy. Look at the goals he scored since he's been with Edmonton. He's only two years removed from a 50 goal season. He is lying out there right now. One of the hottest players in the NHL and has been since he's got healthy. And you don't put him out there. And remember when the team was announced, it will matter positionally on who we add on this team. So Sirelli goes, Bennett comes in. No problem. Raiden Point was one of our original picks for team Canada. He's a high-end offensive player. I know. He's got good decent numbers. And he had decent numbers last year as well.

45:13But if it comes down to replacing Point who was probably playing on that top line with Connor McDavid, you've got to go Zach Hyman. This is a decision that really could come back to Haunt team Canada in these Olympics. If they can't find anyone to have the chemistry with Connor McDavid, it is on management. We're basically rolling back the same team that we had in four nations that won. That's what I'm looking at. Couple changes. That is it. They were good enough to win the four nations. This tournament is going to be tougher to win. And I'm not sure that I would have brought Jarvis. I'm not knocking him as a hockey player. Looking at the pure facts in the matter that it is so hard to find anyone that has the IQ to play hockey on the wing with Connor McDavid. You have a guy that you could have named to this team and no one would have blinked an eye. Nobody would have blinked an eye because they produced together.

46:13They produced together and it matters. They understand each other. Again, we all remember it was the same situation way back for Sydney Crosby. And what did they do? They gave him his guy. They brought Koonah to long. People wondered why. Ah, Koonah. No. This is why. And I think that Team Canada really missed the mark on this one. This is a situation where they could have gone out there and made this Canadian roster that much more dangerous. And he will go to those, you look at Zach Hyman. Where's he scores goals? He is in front of a net causing havoc for the opposition driving goal tenders nuts. Everything he scores is in the dirty area. He has no problem going there. He'll take whatever punishment and beating that's there and he produces. He produces at an elite level. He produces at a better level than Jarvis. In my opinion, he is a better player. And when I look at the history of what went on last year at Four Nations, to me this was a no-brainer.

47:15I don't understand it. If Team Canada does not bring home a gold medal, I think we're going to turn the look and go. Well, you know what? If they don't win the gold medal, it's going to happen because they couldn't get the right chemistry. That's my opinion. And you have the guy. You had him there. This is a big mistake. It's a big mistake. I hope it doesn't come back to Hot Team Canada. I hope they go out and bring me wrong. I hope Jarvis can go out there and light it up. I just look and say why? Why you had your guy dead in the eye and you did absolutely zero nothing. We'll find out. We'll find out. The Winter Olympics. They're right around the corner. And how can you not be excited for this? I'm truly excited. And while we're talking Olympics, I'll put on the women's side of hockey. Team USA. They're women's hockey team. They are steam rolling. How hard is it going to be? I know every year it comes down to Team USA. Team Canada. And it's a coin flip. Right? Not this year.

48:15It will be an absolute shocker. If Team Canada. Women's hockey can win gold. When I look at this USA women's hockey team. They are probably the best team that they have ever assembled. And one of the best women's hockey team. If not the best ever. They just team rolled the Canadians four games in a row. Think about that. This rivalry is one of the biggest in sport. They are so used to splitting these games. So used to being right there in the thick of things. And Team USA not only grabbed them and drugged their noses right through the mud. They held their face down in the mud. If that wasn't a message to everyone else on that Canadian women's roster. That you better find a way to elevate your game. And you better elevate it quickly. Then I don't know what is. They are the favorite to win gold. And I don't see anyone stopping them. I really don't. This is going to be something else.

49:16Let's go. It's Olympic time. Let's go. Let's go. It's time. I'm excited. I'm excited. It's been fun like always. I've had nothing but a blast here. Next week we'll be rolling right into the Olympics. We'll have Olympic Games going on. Super Bulls to talk about. What went right? What went wrong? It is that time of the night. Again. Roll out of time here. It has been my pleasure. Hit me up at Baronuckle Sports Talk 99 at gmail.com. Any questions? Let me know what you think. Let me know that I'm maybe an idiot. Sure. But once in a while I get something right. We'll do this again next week. You've been listening to the Baronuckle Sports Talk Show. If you enjoyed the show, be sure to tune in next week on the Brushwood Media Network for more Baronuckle Sports with Aaron Samuel. Go!