Big Names, Big Thoughts

0:00That's the 60th anniversary of your team celebrating 67th this season. If you can name your starting six all time penguins, that's tough. Good question. I mean, I got to leave some really good players off this lineup. So I'm going to take some heat for this. I'll go Mario. I mean, you augurs going to be there. Are we just saying like for the amount they play with Pittsburgh or just the career that they've had? I'd say the amount they played in pitch. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, I got to go I'll go Mario, Gino, Yager, and then I got to go tanger. Do I go to Rides? I don't know. I go coffee and two Rides. They're like, oh, Larry Murphy. I don't know about the both good answer. And then in that flower. Yeah. You let yourself off. Yeah. Why? You asked me to pick a starting lineup and go with them. Before we dive into this episode of 32 thoughts, the podcast news came across on Wednesday night

1:04at the hockey world lost a giant Barry Melrose passing away a native of Saskatchewan, but of course, an incredible mark on the game, particularly in the United States. Elliott, I think of our old teammate, Kelly Rudy. I always spoke lonely of playing for him and lost Angeles and such a wonderful career as a broadcast for two. I personally didn't get a chance to really get to know him at all, Elliott. I'm sure you spent some time around him, your thoughts on the man Barry Melrose. Well, I saw Emily Kaplan and John Bucci Gross, who was very close to Barry Melrose, about an hour before the news came out. And they were the first two people I thought of because we were with them at the NHL, NHL PA media tour. And they were just as busy as we were. And that obviously would have resonated hugely, hugely with them. You know, when I think of Melrose, I remember him as a player who played for the Maple Leafs briefly, War No. 26. But what you really remember him for was that unbelievable 1993 series between the Maple Leafs

2:10and the Kings, the Stanley Cup semi-final. And he got into it with Pat Burns. And for a minute there, there was a game and everybody who watched that series will remember it. It looked like Burns was going to charge him and they were going to fight. And that would have been some fight between Barry Melrose and Pat Burns. But he loved hockey. He breathed hockey. And for a long time, when even the SPN wasn't a rights holder, he showed up at all the big events. And he was the hockey guy at the network along with Steve Levy. So I feel terrible for those guys who are really close to him. And you were right. Like he was a passionate, passionate hockey fan and supporter. Come far too early at the age of 70, Elliott. A big voice, as you say, when it comes to hockey in the United States, but the roots, of course, in Canada, he covered a lot of big personality and a big loss in the sport of hockey.

3:12So we send the Melrose family our love. And we're thinking of everybody affected by what we learned here on Wednesday night. So not the way you never intend to start the podcast, but wanted to shed some love there. But welcome to 32 thoughts, the podcast and welcome back, Elliott Friedman. How was your summer? Well, thank you, Kyle. Summer was great. Outstanding family trip to Croatia. If you're thinking of going there, it's on your list. I could not recommend it enough. We had a fantastic vacation. One of the best we've ever had and go great people. Great, especially if you're like a water person, go. It's, it's phenomenal. You had a good summer, I assume. Really good. Didn't go anywhere as far as Croatia, but lived in our house, which we haven't done much of the previous summers. Some good time with family and people close to us back in BC.

4:13Everything I could have wanted. Awesome. Glad to hear it. You know, Kyle, I don't want to dwell on this and don't want to discuss the lot. I think it's too self-indulgent. But, you know, obviously it got out there that, you know, my contract was up and I had a decision to make. I never really wanted to leave. I love it here, especially with my coworkers, both in front of the camera. And behind the scenes, the production staff, the technical staff. And I was made to think there was a legit opportunity out there. You know, I went away at the end of August to clear my head and just think, make lists, pros, cons. And it kept on coming back to number one. And this was the number one factor. I love where I work and I love who I work with. I love what is expected of me. You know, my teammates and ask a lot of me and I like that.

5:17I love the responsibility I've been given. You know, I'll never, if anyone asks me if I really said this, I'll deny it. But you and Dom are a big part of why I wanted to stay. And there are a lot of other people who know who they are in front of and behind the scenes. Who made me want to stay. There's a lot for us to accomplish together. And I look forward to doing it over the next few years with all of the people I work with. And I'm glad everyone's back, who's back. And you know, we made some changes. I've worked with Kelly and Scott for 20 years. It's going to be 20 plus years, 23. It's going to be really weird not to work with them. You know, we're leaving the media tour early Kyle, you and I are headed to Winnipeg overnight on Wednesday nights, last Thursday morning to go to Scotch charity event.

6:17It's going to be weird without them. Jennifer, we work together for like six years now. It's going to be very weird not to work with her. But ultimately, and I'll miss all of them. But ultimately, the group of people I'm with, I wanted to be with them. You know, I also wanted to thank all the people who on social media, who asked about it or sent a nice post. I'll even thank all of you who said don't come back because I'm just in a good mood today. You know, I couldn't reply to anybody. It didn't make sense. You don't want to pour gasoline on the fire. But there were many of you who sent really nice messages. And I just wanted to say I appreciate it. None of us have a job without the enormous passion of hockey fans everywhere. And the small role I get to play and try to entertain and inform you and be part of your lives. I don't take it for granted. I really enjoy it.

7:18I'll tell you one thing. On Friday night, there was an anonymous Twitter account, Ace Sherbert, who reported I was staying at sports net. But I don't know if that's Tony Staffieri's burner or Rob Cortese burner or somebody like that. But someone sent this to me and said, is this true? And I was like, who on earth is this person? Because they were the first one to know. And if there's one thing I could change about all of it, just the Amazon stuff, you know, I hope nobody there was uncomfortable or concerned. Like that was just never true. And everybody involved knew that. And I just hope that nobody there was uncomfortable by what was being reported. Cause it just there was never anything to that. So, Samo, one time this year that I gas you up when you are an earshot,

8:21because normally the thought of doing that makes me nauseous. I will just say, Elliott, you're a best salesman. I don't know how I don't know how every year when we are boots on the ground somewhere, it doesn't matter the age of the fan, the gender, their background, you somehow transcend all of it. It makes zero sense as a relatively boring middle age white man. Somehow you pull it off. So I give kudos to you. And I think I speak for Dawn when I say we're very happy. The show goes on. I love my coworkers and I love the job. And ultimately that was why I wanted to be here. Beautiful. All right. Good. So you touched on it. We're here in Vegas for now. But I think when this drops Thursday morning, we will be in transit to Winnipeg for Scott O'Scala. We had a busy day here when say, talk to a lot of players.

9:23We talked to him already. Well, she talked to Bill daily. You're going to hear a handful of those interviews on the back end of this podcast, including Sydney Crosby, Conor McDavid, a little bit of Brady could chuck. And you're going to hear from Quinn Hughes. He would, I would say he was the headliner coming into this week, given his contract situation, what's going to happen for the future of him in Minnesota? Is it going to be different? I you'll hear the interview in a little bit and you can all think for yourselves what your takeaways were. That interview wrapped up Elliott and you said to us, that was worth the trip right there. Hughes walked in there and he was confident. He was like, no, you guys think you've got control of this. I'm in control here. He was ready for anything we could throw at him. We tried a couple of curveballs. Everybody out there as you said, we'll get a chance to sigh for themselves. When it was now you know my position, Kyle, I have felt that he was going to sign for three times 18,

10:24but I did say that before Leo Carlson and pre McCarrer, and there is one answer in there about being the highest paid defenseman in the league that I thought about long after the interview was over. Like Hughes was great here. He didn't duck anything. He answered every question. He was a fantastic interview. I admit I was a little unsure. I didn't I shouldn't say this. I didn't know what to think after this interview. When this podcast drops officially, I will listen to it again and formulate my opinion. But what did you say after it was over and he left the room? I just remember being there a year ago, asking about his future in Vancouver and you thought, if I'm a connox fan, I don't feel any more comfortable after hearing that. And we know what ultimately happened with him and the connox.

11:25It was different listening to it here on Wednesday. I still I have no idea what's going on. I just to your point when you set off the top, he just seems like a guy who A is more comfortable in his own skin and sure of himself than he may ever have been at any point in his career. And I just think I got the impression he looks at all this and, oh, yeah, you think I need to sign before the season because it's going to be a distraction or I need to give an answer here or I need to do this at a certain time. I'm in control of this. I'll decide when I'm ready. I thought that was very clear. The point that he made and talking to us and everybody else he spoke to here on Wednesday. You know, I think I think you're right. And I also think this I think for some of those guys who won the gold medal for the US, who maybe hadn't won a Stanley Cup before, hadn't had a big championship victory before. They're all walking now like they're 11 feet tall.

12:29And I think Jack Hughes is one. I think Queen Hughes is another. I think Boldy is another. I think Matthews is another. You know, Ikeles won a lot. Werencky is one. I think, you know, some of these guys have won before at the, you know, the collegiate or the junior or the world junior level. But this is the biggest of the biggest. It's an Olympic gold, a Stanley Cup. This separates you from almost everybody else. That is the top of the mountain. Those two things. And I think the guys who have now have one of those, the US players after the gold, they are different people. And I think when you listen to this interview, it's exhibit A. I was whether you liked his answers or not, he was calm. He was in command. He was in control. He ran the interview. We didn't run the interview. He ran the interview.

13:29And everybody, I'm curious to see everybody's feedback. After they hear it. So he's a different guy. And then there's Brady Kitschak, who's entering a different phase of his life now. And it was funny because I mean, we sat down with him for a little bit before that. We spoke to Jake Sanderson, who is the Ottawa Senators representative here at this player of media tour event. And he said like, man, it's still, I saw him on the ice with the Florida Jersey. It was weird. It's still weird. It's still weird. And Kitschak himself even admitted it hasn't totally sunk in yet. Yeah. You know, unfortunately with Hughes, it was at the end of the day. And there was a lot of time. We just didn't have a lot of time with Brady Kitschak. The interviews are very different. You know, I thought the interesting thing and we'll use Sanderson another time. He was very good, excellent interview. But it's very clear that I think for Sanderson and the other Senators, they're, they're not glad he's gone, but they're glad it's over.

14:29Like that is definitely true. It's, you know, I think they look at it like this saga isn't going to continue. Like they've, they've turned the page and they've moved on. And you know, you'll hear that the interviews with Hughes and the interviews with Kitschak are not the same just simply because of time. But the more I listen to it, Kyle, and the more I thought about it, I just think it's pretty clear that the Kitschak's decided it was time. Let's unite. It's time for sure. That's what I think. So that's simple for sure, for sure. And you also, I think for Senators fans out there, and Luke Fox was cranking out articles like, he was one and a half hour. It felt like on Wednesday, but the one he put out of up Jake's quotes, like I would encourage you to go read his take on, because there's a lot of discourse right now of what's that night going to be like his first game back in Ottawa?

15:31I thought his, his answer to that was if I'm a Senators fan, that's why I want to hear from, from one of the guys I root for. He was going to use answer on that was quite good too. Yes, absolutely. Yeah. Good point. By the way, I just want to say that of all the questions I asked, I'm proudest of the last one to cross me. Oh, that was, I mean, you talk about worth the trip. We could have gone home after that one. I'm not going to spoil it. Yes. Last, last topic. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The only tough part of being audio only is that you don't see the look on Sid's face when the question hits him. It's very, very good. All right. So we've got a few things to get through here before we get to the interviews as we've been teasing here off the top, Elliot. And the day started, you know, we were doing our thing just outside Las Vegas. And there was a wapper of a story to come out of Edmonton and that they had signed

16:35Alex Warmer's into a one year deal. You know, he spoke to the media, Stan Bowman spoke to the media, Connor McDavid spoke to the media back in Edmonton. And I will say the interview you'll hear of us with Connor was done the day prior that this news was out there. Yeah. So it wasn't asked about then because we didn't know at that point. But what was your reaction to here? You know, not only Alex Farmington that was one of the five players with hockey Canada that went through the trial and were acquitted, but that he signed within any child club, but a Canadian club at that. I think that was the thing that surprised me the most, Kyle, is that I've heard that, you know, Foremanson was the first to be reinstated by hockey Canada. And I heard when that happened, there was a chance he was going to be back in the NHL somewhere. I never would have imagined that a he would want to play in Canada and be it would be a Canadian team that would sign them. I think that is the thing that shocked me the most is I just never thought that

17:41one of those players would ever play for a Canadian team again. And, you know, look at Cal foot, he tried to sign and Sweden this year and the team changed its mind after the backlash a short time after. So I think that's the thing that shocked me the most is. I didn't think I'd ever see a day where one of those players would want to play in Canada or a Canadian team would say we're going to sign one of those players. And when we spoke to Bill daily here on Wednesday and we asked the question of was this a case where, you know, the the Oilers had to clear with the league before they could proceed to sign them and his answer was, you know, effectively no, like they'd went through a process, you know, after, after the court case was completed about what reinstatement would look like for those players. If they were to sign back on the league, we know Carter Hart said now with with Vegas. And he also said he goes, maybe somebody else in the league knew, not that maybe somebody else in the league knew besides me, but he didn't know

18:43ahead of time. He said he learned about this the same time that everyone else did, which I have to admit was a bit of a surprise, but caught me by surprise too. Now he did qualify it by saying maybe somebody else at the league knew, but I can't imagine that there would be too many people who would know what's going on more than the deputy commissioner. I was surprised at that. Really surprised. All right. Some of the things we want to chip away at Connor Halibuk and the Winnipeg Jets or anything new there. Yeah. I saw someone sent me on the weekend into the story. I guess from a like a wreck hockey player or a beer league hockey player in Winnipeg last week. And by the time I got to it, it had been deleted. I couldn't find it. And I looked into it a bit. And I think a lot of us are looking at this is a huge story. Obviously what's going to happen with Halibuk and the Winnipeg Jets?

19:46You know, he's a former MVP and he won a gold medal last year and he's a backbone of their team. And the more I've looked into it, Kyle, the more I really feel for everyone involved, the Jets, the organization, Halibuk and most of their fans, the vast majority of their of their fan base. You know, I just think that there were some things that happened last year that were out of the Jets control post Olympics that have made this situation impossible to resolve. I think the Jets were hopeful that maybe it would change, but I don't think that's possible at all. And you know, it was something that was out of their hands. And you know, I understand Halibuk's feelings on this. As somebody who badly wants the Stanley Cup to come back to Canada at some point, to cover one of those before SportsNet eventually does wise up and fire me.

20:47I was hoping maybe there could be a resolution between Halibuk and the Jets, but I just don't believe that's possible because of circumstances that are kind of out of their control. And you know, I do think the Jets understand that now and we'll see where this goes over the next few days. You know, I think that a couple of things are at play here. Number one, Halibuk's list of where he's willing to go is much, much wider than some of the other players who've asked for trades. Like, obviously, I don't think he's going to a Canadian team, but like I've heard it's not one of those things where it's about sunlight or about taxes or anything like that is just about where does he think he can win? And it's a wider list. I think the biggest challenge here, and I did say this on NHL network about a week ago, and I know it's been referenced and I still think it's the big thing is what has changed

21:51since the draft. You know, Buffalo doesn't have that fourth pick anymore. Florida, I believe Florida made an offer, but I think some of the pieces, not all of the pieces, but some of the big pieces in that offer have since been traded elsewhere. Like the draft package for Brady, potentially someone like Evan Rodriguez who's now with the Devils, like they don't have that stuff anymore. And I think there's some players and I suspect that Luke and in Buffalo might be one, their trade list change on July 1st and knowing potentially he could have been traded to Winnipeg in a Halibuk deal did he protect it. And I do think it's obviously like Winnipeg's got Stuart Skinner there now and he talked to the media the other day. But, you know, I do think they were looking for another goalie.

22:52I think there's some that can block a trade there. So I don't know where this is going to go, but I do think Winnipeg is going to try to do it. They have to do well. Like this is a very, very important trade for the jets and they have to do well. But I think there's a recognition now that this has to happen and is going to happen. And I know, you know, the jets are under a lot of heat. You know, the one thing I'll do is all wait to see what this looks like when it's over and what kind of deal they make before I pass judgment. I think the biggest challenge for the jets was realizing that they could, you know, we couldn't go back in time and a deal has to get done at some point. Have you got this? I really do feel badly for everybody involved here. This is this is not like some of the other situations.

23:53This is this is different. So have you gotten a sense whether or not, you know, for Kevin Shevel Dayoff is the, is he steadfast in whatever the centerpiece is of a potential return? Does it have to be a media help or roster player? Is he open to futures? I don't think the longer this goes on. I don't think they want futures. I think they want to compete. Yeah. That's what I would think. Yeah. But the longer this goes on, the more uncomfortable it gets. But he's so I think yes. And you know, we'll see train camp begins next week. You know, I, so I think Buffalo is still around it. I think Utah is still around it. I think Carolina is still around it. I've had very mixed messaging on New Jersey. For a time I heard they weren't interested. I know some people think they are. I always assume there's people out there. I haven't uncovered yet. But I heard like, you know, Winnipeg has prioritize at, and we'll see if it changes,

24:57but at times they have prioritized a goalie back. Okay. She also point out, you know, when we were here on, on Wednesday, another great person to listen to was Zach Rensky. Yes. And we'll run that one soon. Yeah. Because it's funny that you think of Zach Rensky. It was the trade that almost happened. Things went off the rails. He's nixing a deal. The Dallas, the statements come out of, hold on. No, no, no, I'm committed to playing in Columbus. And you forget that this is a guy that won an Olympic gold medal, that won the Norris trophy this year. He talks about he only became a father back in May. And how quickly it can be put onto the sidelines because of what was going on right around the draft and free agency. But it was very clear listening to him. He is committed to make it work in Columbus going into, to this year. That was refreshing. It was pretty clear that he didn't like the way it all got portrayed.

26:01And that's clearly your fault and not mine. Yeah. Exactly. Welcome back, Ellie. It throws me into the bus. No, he was great. And you know, they've got another situation with Marchenko. And we'll see where that goes. I mean, the Canadians are. The Italian to. Yeah, we'll get to Fantilly in a minute. But you know, the Canadians have been around that. The Islanders have been around that. I'm sure there's others. You know, he's a really good player. But I just, you know, what's interesting is at the end, you know, Boone Jenner's gone now and, you know, we'll see what happens with the captain's seat there. But we did ask where Ensky about it. And he kind of. He didn't go too deep into it. But I think it's an interesting situation because this got out. But the way he dialed it back, especially to us and recently with more local media, it has been kind of captain like.

27:01You know, he has taken something that could have been a five alarm blaze and he has thrown cold water on it. Big time. And as you'll hear from him, it seems like that's very much his MO. Doesn't like things getting out of control. No, he loves like that. No, he loves the calm. So some other news here on Wednesday, Elliot, you know, you reported earlier in the morning of Chris Criter going on unconditional waivers to have his contract terminated. And as you mentioned in the article, you put up on sportsnet.ca and it's quite easy to connect the dots. There's still a 40 goal score in Catergote, that's unsigned in Anaheim. And there's only so much cap space remaining part of the reason being the big chunk eaten up by Leo Carlson's new deal. So you got to start making some space somehow. And Chris Criter looks to be headed elsewhere because of it.

28:02So the way this got tracked down was there was a rumor going around that Criter had been told he didn't have to come out to California for camp. And I don't, I want to stress that I don't believe it was like a negative like in the sense of don't cop like it wasn't a slam. It wasn't an insult. I think they'd been looking back. Yeah, I think it was exactly. I hear the wordsmith. That was much better that I could have done. I think it was like the doc saying we can't do this. We have to do, we have to open up space somehow. Don't uproot your life because we're going to have to do something. Now I've heard that Vatrano is out there because that was another guy I wanted to vote, but it sounds like he's staying and I think they really didn't want to try to find a way to keep Cologne. So he's going to be out there, but they just looked at the number and they said

29:05Criter is going to have to be the guy. But the docs had been working with his agents. They had they had permission to talk to teams. And ultimately what I heard is that Verbeek was, you know, people are like asking for first and second rounders. We'll take Criter, but you got to give us a first or a second. And that's what I heard out there. And Verbeek was like, we're not doing that. So we have seen the situation, taxi A in Montreal was one guy who did it, Brandon Saad was another guy who did it, terminate their deals, walk away from money, become UFA's. I don't know that anyone's had 50 points when they did it before. And he also had seven points in the playoffs. So he can still produce. But they did put them on the waivers to terminate. He can clear as soon as 2 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday. I remember the least put Jason Spets on waivers once late in his career. And his agent at the time Rick Kerr and made it very clear that if Spets it was claimed he wasn't going.

30:06And I think that Criter has indicated that he will, he wants to go back by his family east. And because that he's worked with Anna Heim here, he feels he's earned that right. So he said, if someone claimed him where he didn't want to go, he wouldn't report. I know there's a lot of speculation about Boston. It makes a lot of sense. We'll see on Thursday. I heard there was interest in him. Now, somebody, ducks fans were asking me if that meant the go J was close. I don't think one means the other. I've heard they've been working at it. I don't think he's going to get what Carlson got, but I don't think he's asking too far away. You know, I'll tell you next week, the 15th and the 16th, that's when the rules change. Not only eight years down to seven max, but also the way you can structure these contracts. And it's a big deal like between go J, Fentilly, Drake Batherson in Ottawa.

31:09All of those situations could be affected by not only the change in term, but the change in variables and front loading and things structure. And I think there's a chance if those players go past the switch over to the new rules, I think there's some question about whether those negotiations might go sideways. So deadline, spare action. We'll see what happens with those three players and others. Okay. Quickly, I just saw Batherson because I know when we recorded the last pod, you said there's a path there. Does your feeling has a change at all? I still think there's a path to it, the other. You know, I'll tell you what where it has changed, Kyle is the defense. So Zeeb William got that extension in Vancouver. And I've heard that absolutely has changed the calculus.

32:11You know, Edvinston and Detroit, it's an unusual situation because they don't have a GM right now. But, you know, I'd heard earlier in the summer that there was the possibility of something shorter. Well, now if you want to go longer, it's changed. And the Keishan, same deal. Like he already wanted a big number. How does he feel about what what Booeyam did? So I do think for defensemen, the calculus has been changed, not even so much by the Macar deal, it changed everything, but by the Booeyam deal. The Keishan, by the way, I've heard Nashville was kicking around there too. Yeah. Yeah, that that would make a lot of sense. And they just got a couple of draft picks in that evangelist to deal. Right. Can I ask what what's going on in Detroit? So there's the Larkin situation.

33:11Edvinston, of course, he's a contract, one of those defensemen. And then there's the GM question of who's the guy, who's the person at the helm that's going to be navigating all of that stuff. You reported earlier this week and it was out there that, you know, Jeff Greenberg who was GM of the Tigers was a guy that was seriously considered for that position, removed his name from that process. So where are they at? Because training camp is a week away and they've got business to get done. I wish I had a better answer for you. You know, one of the things out there is that Detroit has asked for permission for some people and hasn't interviewed them. And I will confess as my contract stuff was going on, I kind of dropped out on it a bit. So I have to get a better handle of it on where they are. And I will get to that. So sorry, Kyle, for the incomplete, I hope I will be able to give you reasons to give me a better grade.

34:18I, you know, the other situation I did want to mention that we'll see where we go by the edge camp and the next little while is, you know, Shane Wright's situation in Seattle. You know, Jason Bauderoll has been adamant that he did not give a promise. Kurt Overhart, who represents Shane Wright has felt there was. You know, he's definitely out there and there definitely is interest. But the crack and believe that this is still a young player with a lot of potential and they want that. Rewarded in any kind of trade. All right, with that, let's get to the final thought and normally this would eventually lead to the thought line, which is presented by BEMGM, make it legendary. But for today's pod, we are simply going to tell you that the thought line is coming back. Don't you worry. We are going to fire it up in earnest for Sunday's recording as we go back to our regularly scheduled Monday and Friday drops next week.

35:25So if you haven't already and you've got burning questions, surely you've got a couple after a wild, wild summer across the National Hockey League. Now's the time to get them in and we will begin the thought line in earnest on Sunday for Monday's drop in place. We are going back to our regular schedule on Monday, Monday, Friday. Yes, yes, yes. So in place of that for today, Elliott, you must have shout outs. I do have shout outs. So I took my family to go see Pitbull and Lil Jon in Toronto last weekend. It was an awesome concert, just fantastic concert. And for the second time, I ran into Emma Malte, now of the Montreal Victoir. At a show, the first time I saw her was at Coldplay and this time I saw her at Pitbull and Lil Jon. So she's got great taste in music. Let me say that about Emma first. And Emma was there with Sophie Jakes from the Vancouver Golden Eyes, Reagan Kirk from the Toronto Sceptors and Claire DeGeorge from the New York sirens.

36:34And I want to shout them out for not only were they there, but you know what Kyle? They were dressed as baldies. And if you are a Pitbull person, you know what a baldie is. It's someone who puts on like a bald cap and some people draw his facial hair on it. And there were a lot of baldies in the crowd on Saturday night and four of them play in the PWHL. So it was it was great to see them. Like I said, second time I've run into Emma at a concert. She's got great taste in music and I just love that the four of them were dressed up like that. I also wanted to shout out on my flight to Vegas on Monday. I ran into I didn't get the parents names, but I ran into the parents of manual Gomez, who works with the young man.

37:38The UNLV club team hockey team. He's the team manager and they were going out to visit them and always like to shout out. The teams are trying to grow hockey all around the world and UNLV their club team certainly qualifies. And I also wanted to say that and one of my travels over the last few weeks, there was near can flight attendant Yasser. He came up to me, he says a big fan of the pod and he's a big fan of the leaves Kyle. And he said, do you think there's any chance the corner of McDavid is going to go to Toronto to play with Austin Matthews? He's like, he could tell he was really excited about even the possibility of it. And I said, well, Kyle believes that after the others win the Stanley Cup this year, McDavid will ask to play with Matthews and Toronto. So I hope you are appreciative of how I tried to get your information out there.

38:39Oh, that's good. I've been sitting on that after I reported the near wereinsky trade that was next. And then I moved to that one. So I'm glad you're spreading that around. That's good. It's up in my street cred, buddy. I have one shout out. Okay. So a couple of weeks ago, me and my body went and played golf at Canaan Askes and what an experience. We were, we played Mount Kid. We were the first group off on a Friday morning, a beautiful picture perfect. Canaan Askes morning. And we were paired up with a father and son from Red Deer, Peter and Yani, who was nine years old, nine years old, Elliott and was just getting into golf and was playing Canaan Askes for the first time. Do you imagine playing mountain golf, 18 holes at nine years old? And like he, he was just kind of getting started. It's not like he's been had a golf club in his hands since he was two years old. Incredible. So Peter and Yani, they're both loyal listeners of the pod, big,

39:43Euler fans. And the coolest part of the whole day for me was not the beautiful views, was not the scenery, was not the course conditions. It was watching nine year old Yani go from the first couple of holes and he was playing up at the juniors. He's the first couple of holes you can tell he was intimidated. He was nervous. He's still clear, very new to the sport of golf, but watching him over the course of four hours, how he looked at the beginning to then midway through, striping the ball down the fairway, his confidence grew. It was just a great lesson from this young man, Elliott, for anything you're doing in life. Right. You step up into what could be perceived as an intimidating environment. And you're like, I'm just going to go for it. It was so cool to see, to see that over the course of the day. And like what a great memory for a father and son on a great morning out in K country.

40:47I just could not help, but that be in the takeaway of maybe you've got an opportunity and endeavor that seems daunting, but the potential payoff on the other side could be something you take with you for the rest of your life. That's you. How old were you when you picked up? First of all, it's a great shout out. How old were you when you first started golfing? Nine or 10. And then I went away from it for a lot of years and didn't pick it up again until high school because all my buddies started to play. And I thought, well, I wanted to be part of that. And then I've just kind of chipped away from there. You? I wasn't, I didn't start. I was 18. I wish I would have started younger. Yeah. Although it probably did save me about nine years of frustration, but I, uh, I, I really, I really wish I would have started earlier. This is a May, nine years old. Imagine you're showing up for school here now this month, all your friends around. You're like, yeah, I played Canon, ask us this summer.

41:47Incredible. Incredible. All right. That'll do it for the thought line. And with that, we will take our first break. When we come back, we will play our collection of interviews for you that we gathered here on Wednesday and Tuesday at the NHL NHL PA player immediate tour from Las Vegas. That on the other side here on 32 Thoughts the podcast. All right. As promised, a small collection of our conversations from our time here in Vegas at the NHL NHL PA player media tour. We will begin with the one we were all waiting to hear from. Quin Hughes of the Minnesota wild. What does the future hold? And how does he feel about everyone hanging on every word? He says here's Quinn Hughes, followed by Brady Kachak now of the Florida Panthers.

42:51Enjoy. So Quinn a couple weeks ago, Elliot went and said publicly that clearly you and your brothers have had no time to skate, no time to work out because you've just been at other events. So floor is yours to 15 pounds over shape. How to shake I was I was the quote I was told was hockey's card as you know, no, they're doing all right. Honestly, it's been terrific summer. I don't know, did everything I wanted to do and it was a great summer, but also did the training we needed to do and feel like I'm not my best. So I'm expecting now my best season, you know, knock on wood. You want to stay healthy. But if I stay healthy, I think that I'm ready for a big year. You said there was a lot of things you wanted to do. Like forget the training, but what was the most fun thing or what did you want to do that you did? I mean, I think that changes every day. Like when you look back at the summer, it's like each kind of part was amazing, but the Morgan Wall and walk out was pretty cool. I think the World Cup finals was cool.

43:52I'd never been think that was my first soccer game. Actually, how about that? It's good. You can't go to another one. Yeah, down from here, but that was a special event. Like when you were watching that, it was pretty cool. We're in the shore for six weeks. That was a great time. We're two ounces down from Brady. So I spent a lot of time with him and was in the city when the next one, a bunch of different things and a couple golf trips. That were really cool. Man, did you just... It's summer. Yeah. Like, are any place to re-end it up? And you thought, man, in my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd be here. For sure. Yeah. For sure. But I mean, the most important thing also was the training. Yeah. Yeah. We had another great summer training. I'm excited to watch Looping Jack this year. And all the guys that were in our skate and that's a fun aspect of the summer too, is competing with those guys. So we've heard about these legendary stories in the past. What is the latest legendary summer training story or summer competition story

44:55between the youth brothers from this year? There was... There is only one stick toss this year. Usually there's more than that, but... I mean, we're out there with my dad and Matt Williams and we have so much fun with those guys. For them to come out and just be passing Pux less and running the skates. That's one of the greatest parts of me too to have those guys out there. But training with Worenski with us a couple summers, like just seeing what he's been able to do and pushing each other. This year I got a white jersey from Minnesota, a practice jersey he was in his blue. So usually we're on the same team, but we went ahead to head this summer. That's fun. And down lean came in last week, it was fun to be on the ice with him. Always fun skiing with Jack and Luke. Who threw the stick? That was actually me. That was me and I was the only one out of that guy. I don't know, it gets competitive out there. I mean, guys are trying to make each other better. We have so much fun, just our buddies and we enjoy it.

45:57All right, so I've seen your quotes from earlier today that you will not be boxed into a corner. Can you give us an idea of what you're thinking right now with your future? I mean, to be honest, I'm not thinking too much. I'm excited to go to camp. I loved my season, my time in Minnesota last year. I was just saying to someone a couple of minutes ago, with Eki and Brods during that second round, I don't know if we win a series, maybe we do, maybe we don't, but definitely would have helped us. And you know, I had those two guys see where we're at. I mean, that's an exciting thing for me. I want to win. I also mentioned this. I was first down against Dallas. Lying in up game one, you got Ranton and a wide Johnson, Robertson, Heisken in, Ahtenjern the back. But you know, I'm looking around me and I got favorite beside me. I got HECK. I got Krill, I got Boldy and Wallsted behind me. And that was a cool moment for me where I was like,

46:58we got a, they got a great team, but we got a great team. And so I'm excited to go back. I mean, Billy, you know, we'll be talking more, I'm sure. You know, I don't feel like necessarily like something needs to get done in the next day or so. If it does, then it does. But yeah, for right now, I'm just excited to get going at camp. And I mean, Billy will be in, you know, constant communication. I'm pretty close with him. So the thing, you know what it's like to be in a red hot market, where everything is a five alarm blaze. If you don't sign by the start of the season, there's a chance you're going to be going through that everywhere. Like everywhere you go on the road, you're going to be asked about it. Even at home, you'll be asked about it all the time. Do you, you're a tough guy with a fixed skin? Do you want that though? I don't really care. Like I don't care. Like if someone asked me the same question a hundred times, like, whatever, like to me, um, like I just said, I feel like I'm primed to be at my best if I can stay healthy.

48:01I feel like I'm ready to go. Um, I think I have a lot of experiences in the past with dealing with different things. And to be honest, I kind of just feel at peace. Like I feel excited to play. I'm excited to play with Brock again. Um, and I'm excited to be on the power of the Bulls and Crill and continue building with those guys and start from scratch and start from game 40 or whatever I was. So for me, I just feel at peace. I feel like there's a lot to look forward to this year. And uh, as far as the noise, if someone wants to ask me a question, like, I'm not, I mean, I'm not facing decisions because I don't want to answer questions like, I'm going to take my time and, um, you know, Billy's going to take his time and I'm sure we're going to work it out. I remember shortly after the trade, like you made a point of, of, I'm sure we're going to work it out. You know, that sentence is going to go everywhere. I mean, I can't control who post what.

49:01Yeah. I mean, I'm saying what I'm saying and whoever wants to post any tidbit, it's welcome to do so. But I think what after the trade and you made a point about, the hall that Bill Gehring gave up to get you and that, like it, it wasn't lost on you. What he had, what he had given up. Is that still in the back of your mind going forward? Yeah, I mean, I have a great relationship with Billy. I have a really good relationship with Billy and that dates back to the four nations when like I was injured. I was the right decision not to put it. I think I, if I went to that, I either would have been injured in one of the games or would have been lipping back to Van and out for a couple weeks. And at the time we were in the playoffs. So I felt like I needed to do his best with Vancouver Canucks. But I'm dating back to that. I have a great, great relationship with him. And he did give up what he gave up to get me. I think that everything, I'm very thoughtful person.

50:02Everything goes, every little part in detail goes into decision-making. But I can't say that because of that, it would be on the front of leading a decision or whatnot. I think that at the end of the day, I got to do it's best for myself. And I think I've earned that right. You play seven, eight years to get to decide what you want to do. I do love it in Minnesota. I'm only going to ask one more on this. You're a guy I asked you should Canucks fans be worried? Should wild fans be worried? No, I mean, I think that I'm just going through the process. And like I said, I don't feel boxing and doing anything because the media wants to ask me a question. Or I'm worried about people asking me a question in every city like you just mentioned.

51:02I feel at peace, I'm ready to go. I think the wild fans should be really excited about watching us play. And I think we're going to be at our best. I think guys are hungry. And we're healthy. And you guys know Billy. I mean, Billy could make a massive trade and add to our team at any point. So I think wild fans should be extremely excited for the year. I know you've talked about you love watching Kale McCart Play. You're in the same division of them. What did you think seeing the contract that he got this summer? I was happy for him. I mean, it's obviously life changing money. He already had a great deal and a lot of money in the bank. Here's nothing but good things about him. He seems like he's a fantastic person. I actually don't know him at all. But he's been nothing but a professional in Colorado for the last 70 years and they've been really lucky to have him. I've seen some things where it's like that's a lot of money.

52:02To me, I think you can't pay a guy like that enough. I want to be surprised if he's underpaid in a couple years. That would be the best thing out of the league to see that. But I'm and see the cap just keep pulling. But I was happy for him and I think he deserves it. That and more. Does that care? I'm just like, I know you guys are I'm really so competitive. Does it matter to you if you're the highest paid defenseman in the league? I mean, I think that would be an incredible honor. I don't know if you go in. Well, I definitely didn't go into my career thinking that that was ever going to be a possibility. I mean, I've made 7.5 last couple years, but I still think on one of the best if not the best. So it's not like I need to I feel like I need to raise the bar to prove anything. I think you just got to watch me on the ice. But I do think it's important that if you're good at your job, you should get paid accordingly.

53:11This person's getting a fair price for you and you're doing a lot of great service none. You should get paid for that. I believe in fair deals. If you say anything in life, like if you're great at your job, you should get paid accordingly. So that's what I feel about that. That takes me back to something to the beginning of the interview. You talked about how you want your lineup to have your best season or you're excited to have your best season. For Queen Hughes, what's your best season? Like what? Yeah. What are your goals? That's a good question. I usually go into seasons with goals. I don't really have any right now to be honest. I'm not thinking like that and I usually do. I'm just thinking that I want to be the best I can possibly be every night and do it as many times as I can. And then whatever that takes me, it takes me. Just having fun and enjoying it, being a good teammate and enjoying the guys. Like when I first got to mini, I was I couldn't believe how close the group was to be honest.

54:14And I'm looking forward to going back there and being a part of that. You're saying you're at peace here. What got you to that point? What's allowed you to feel that way? I mean, I think a lot of it too was the Olympics. Like we won the Olympics. That was amazing. And then, you know, I really enjoyed Minnesota. It wasn't how we wanted it to end. But we won that first round. That was really important. The second round, like I said, I wish Eki and Brods were healthy. I mean, I don't know where that would have taken us. But you take our number one center on the top 4D. Like that's a that's that's no joke. That got so big time problem. And so yeah, I honestly lost what I was saying there. Yeah. You mentioned you were with, you skated with Oranski. You were near the Chuck's. Like what do you guys talk about? Because this was a crazy summer in the NHL for a lot of different reasons.

55:14But obviously Brady was kind of in the middle of it. Oranski was kind of in the middle of it for a while. How much do you guys talk about your own personality? We don't talk about, I mean, I don't want to be in nosy in any means. And honestly, I don't care. Like it's the summer I just had a long season. I thought I played amazing at the Olympics. I thought I played great at with Minnesota. And the regular season in the playoffs. And I thought that going into the summer just kind of let everything go. When you see stuff, I kind of just, you know, everyone's doing their own thing. As far as Brady, I mean, he's a close friend. I wanted him to be happy and do what he wanted to do. And I saw a video of, or something where it's like, should they auto-agiv Brady a video? And it's like Brady did eight years of service there. And you know, it's worked so hard. He was so competitive. He was a great leader.

56:15And you know, to me, I think that he should be, not maybe not celebrated, but where I don't think that should be thrown out and forgotten. And I was happy for him. And if you care about Brady, you're happy that he's with his brother in Florida. And he did what he wanted to do. And for Z, if he decides to stay in Columbus, I'd be happy for him. He's such a great guy. That's what it sounds like he wants to do. And if it doesn't go that way, then it doesn't go that way. And I'd be happy for him wherever he goes. But and the same thing with Larks, like I thought Larks has played in five pyrof games. He's going in those 12 season. It's like, that guy is the ultimate team guy, like seriously. And any team in the league would be lucky to have Larks. Larks is one of my favorite people out there. So if he ultimately makes a decision where he's moving on or he stays, like, I think the wings would be lucky to have him. If he moves on, I know I would take him in two seconds.

57:17And you watch him at the Olympics. And you know how much the guys love him, what a team guy is. And then how he performs, you know, in big moments. Yeah, so that's what I feel about Larks. And I thought I except the best quote about him actually is no one deserves to be paying for all fucking more than Larks. So for any of these guys, I think they should do, you know, what makes them happy and whatever they decide. And they'll just be happy for them. Sold Minnesota trades for Larkin, you extend. No problem. I just have one last one. I want to ask you about your brother, Jack. Yeah. You love your brother. You love your brothers. You love your family. It's been six months since the Olympic winner. How have you seen Jack grow after that benefit from that and how much does it mean for you to see him score that? I meant so much. I think that the best thing about Jack is he's like,

58:17he never really made it about him. He's so inclusive, you know, like. It's never really about him. He wants other people to do things with him. Like, I remember he actually gotten me in trouble a couple of times where it's like he, you know, someone wants him to do an interview. And he's like, I'm not doing this without this guy or this guy. And then I pop in and look like an idiot. But that's him. He's so inclusive. I mean, obviously, it was a specialty score, but I don't think he cared, you know, who it was. He was just so happy to be a part of it. I think all the guys on the team were happy for him because he's just such a, you know, enjoyable guy, like a well guy. And selfishly, I was so happy for him because I think he's one of the best person to you watch him after the Olympics. I think he led the league in scoring. It's like, you know, I think he's, there's McDavid, there's McKinnon. The coach of play is differently than anyone, but, and you got to try a settle, but like,

59:17after that, you got like, I don't know who plays like Jack and who's as electrifying as Jack. So I think that he kind of missed some years there with the shoulders and that way is heavy on him. And I think with the Olympics and how we balled out and everything that happened, I think he can kind of just close the chapter of all those years and just kind of move on and kind of take that pin-off his back. Hmm, awesome. Great stuff. Thanks. I'm Quinn. You were great as always, thank you. Yeah, thanks guys. So, Brady, we just had Jake Sanderson in here and he said it's weird seeing you in a Florida jersey. Like, as it felt, as it feel normal yet to you. It's definitely still, it's still new, still, still weird. I mean, I know once, you know, put it off for the first time preseason, it's going to, it's going to feel good, again, feel real and going to feel, feel like home. So, but yeah, I remember, it was the first thing you said to me more, more honest. Like, that just looks weird, but the, especially the number change too. Yeah, right. Just in preparation, been rereading some stuff, looking back at some stuff.

1:00:22You had a quote the other day where you said there were some things that weren't true. I just want to ask you, give you the opportunity to clear the air, Brady. Like, what in your mind was not true? Well, I think the hardest one is, you know, people saying that my mind was an in it and I've been year and a half, which I've been thinking about and are, and that's just not true. I feel like, I'm able to look myself to me knowing that I gave absolutely everything I had. Now, I'll rate till the end and, you know, to see that was, was tough to see, but I mean, everybody has the right to, you know, say whatever they need to say or want to say. But, you know, all that stuff's in the past now. You know, looking forward to the excitement for the new season and being with this new team group of guys, it's, you know, a lot to be excited about. What ultimately did it for you? What made it happen? Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I don't know if I really want to get into it too

1:01:25much. Now, that's, it was a hard emotional. It definitely wasn't an easy decision whatsoever. So, for me, it just, it took a lot of time of thinking and flexuring it and, you know, for me, it's kind of all that stuff in the past. And it was, but I have to say is, you know, I feel like I've, you know, said a lot, but, you know, auto-truly is a, is a special place to me. You know, been there for eight years and, you know, the relationships, the people that I could call family and, you know, the city welcomed me right from day one. Maybe feel like I was a part of the community and, and, you know, I became a dad there, became a husband during my time in Ottawa and I feel like I really formed into who I am today and, and, you know, love, love the people there, love the city, love the fan base and, you know, I'm going to really miss being up there. So, I just want to ask, right, because I, I saw their first hand you in Ottawa at the time you put in on the ice for where that organization was when you got drafted there to getting to the playoffs and back,

1:02:25to back years, all the things you did, community-wise, whether it was just stuff on, like road hockey, charity work, all of it. I just wondered when in your mind did it go from conceptually, like, yeah, I love one day the idea of maybe playing with your brother to, this is something I really am considering and would love to make happen. I mean, the dream goes back to, you know, being a kid. I mean, like, your dream of being the NHL and, you know, then you have, you know, two brothers, you don't make it to the NHL and then, you know, you grew up, you know, it's my best friend from what I was born to, you know, now. So, just the idea in general of being able to play the NHL to your brother would just be so special. So, now that it is true, it's, it's, it's, it's a dream come true. I mean, not going to take a second for granted. Have you thought about that first game back at all? Yeah, I mean, of course, like, it's, it's a special place, you know, it's,

1:03:27and I said just so many memories that not just I have, but, you know, my family has and, it's going to be, it's going to be special. See people that, you know, within the organization, outside the organization that, you know, I could call family. It's, it's going to be special. And, you know, whatever the reaction is, it's, I know how much I appreciate, you know, the passion that they have and how those memories of being there for eight years is going to just always be with me and, and now me and me who I am. Who, I, having a little more time to think, who have you either really enjoyed skating with already in Florida or who are you most looking forward to being able to call a teammate now? I mean, I know this cliche, but everyone, like it's, you can just see, you know, the professionalism in what I think is, no, crazy, just being the new guys that they haven't talked about the two cups at all. All they've talked about is how last year, it wasn't the year that they wanted and, and how frustrated it

1:04:27wasn't how not motivated they are to get back to the top. So that's, I think that's the most impressive and says a lot about the guys there that, you know, they could always hang their hat off while we have two cups, but they just want to keep pushing, keep getting better. What's that first shift going to be like with Matthew? Oh, we'll see it for playing together, but, you know what, it's never happened. I think it says a lot about our team that everybody could play that everybody and there's so much. You have to have thought about it though. Oh, yeah, for sure. For sure. Like, whatever it may be a game one, game 40, game 84, that, to do that, I mean, Dylan Pitches special, for nation's special, but to do it, be with them every day for the whole season, it's still can't really wrap my head around it. You got your own golf career yet? Yeah, yeah, yeah, that is the big word. It's gonna happen. Awesome. Thanks very much. Awesome. Thank you guys. Thank you. Oh,

1:05:37and we finish with two of the biggest names and two of the best players in the NHL, Connor McDavid and Sydney Crosby. We will begin with the Euler's captain. And as we mentioned earlier in the pod, we'll wait to you here. Elliott's question at the end of our conversation with Crosby. That right there may have made his new contract worth it that alone. McDavid and Crosby, on 32 Thoughts the Podcast. So Connor, I know you by your own admission, not something that does well with sitting around. So a season where it ends, the end of April is supposed to the end of June the last couple of years. What did you do with the extra time? It's been a long summer for sure. It's been nice. Nice to spend some time with some family. It's been a little bit of time with friends and kind of recharge the batteries. It's been nice. We saw a photo of you, you had your old team up there? Yeah, we had a bunch of guys at the cottage. It was a great weekend. Really,

1:06:40really good. Who stood out? Who stood out? Yes. Those little weekends we don't talk about, those are not for everyone. But it was a great weekend. As I said, we actually got to travel into which meant a lot. You know, it's not easy. There was only so many so many weekends in the summer. So I forgot to travel in and spend some time together. It was great. I heard your summer skates were good too. Was there anybody who stood out to you and looked at and said, this guy, he's going to be ready this year. Watch this guy. The guys at Gary's work really hard. Honestly, I traveled around a couple of the gyms now and skating with a bunch of guys. But I keep going back to Rob's place just because those guys work so hard. Leo looks great, obviously. Highs looks really, really good. You know, yet an opportunity to have a healthy summer, which he didn't last year. His wrist is doing a lot better and he looks really, really good. What did you guys, what do you talk about when they're

1:07:44you're all together, like coming off a different year last year, not dealing with, okay, how do we regroup ourselves after getting to the final and not getting the ultimate goal that you had set out for? What was the vibe like this summer compared to the previous two? Yeah, it felt a little bit more relaxed, I would say, in terms of not so just, you know, the last couple of summers I've just felt like busy, just like fitting in this event, fitting in this thing, still trying to train and get ready and get healthy and all those things. But the summer has been a lot, obviously a lot more time, a little bit more of an opportunity to relax at times, not that I do that well, but yeah, it's been nice. I'm ready to go though. So it was pretty clear with the coaching change and everything that there were things going on in Edmonton last year that a lot of us didn't realize from the outside. When you look back now,

1:08:46three months, six months, what do you think of things went a little bit sideways last year? I think you're building, you know, take it back even further. We're building, we feel like we're a young team building towards a goal and everything was exciting and we knew how hard it was and we didn't take anything for granted, you know, then we come a shot away from the ultimate goal, come a couple games away the following year. You almost take it for granted that you're this team that's just going to figure it out and be there. But that's not how it works at all. There's steps throughout the season that you have to take. Starts right now, starts in the summer with weekends like we had. You know, it's a process to build up to, you know, being ready to play when it matters most and I felt like we took that for granted a little bit. And it comes like Babcock and you guys talked

1:09:46about you want to be pushed. You want to be pushed. How do you want to be pushed? I want to be coached. I do. There's areas of the game that I've figured out and they come naturally and easy to me and there's other areas of the game that I need some help with and I need to be coached and I need to be, we need to be organized and I know Babs will do that. Babs will have our group organized. We're going to be the most prepared team in the NHL. I know that because I've seen them work already you know in their preparation for the year and it's an exciting time for us. It really is. Can I ask you where do you need to be coached? Well obviously there's finer details and you know defensively and things like that offensively too. You know I feel like offensively there's a lot of these guys will just kind of figure it out and when it dries out you know especially when it matters

1:10:49most you need to have a system to kind of rely on and fall back on and we'll have that. So that meeting with him with Mike and the leadership group what was the hardest thing to hear from his standpoint in terms of what he saw that was missing from your group? I think both sides are hard on each other you know we've pressed him on some things and he pressed us off things and it was pretty clear that he was content with his where his life was at where his and you wanted to make sure that this is what we really wanted and we wanted to make sure that you wanted to come back and work and and and match the level of intensity that that us players have and obviously both sides felt that it was a good match. One of the things I heard was that I don't know if it was you or someone else in the meeting but that it was talked about that

1:11:52if someone says hey Mike you've got to dial it back on a guy you're going to have to listen to us. Did that come up? Listen we've babs is there to be babs and to coach the way that he sees fit. We're also a team and teammates who care about each other and if there's an area for a place where we have to step in of course we're going to do that but we would do that with any coach just a matter of who it is. So yeah. And you've talked about everybody needing to have a role and certainly that felt like that was a sentiment coming out of when when the season ended so I guess further to that like what does what does that look like when you feel like look around the room and everyone's got a piece of what's going on and I'm sure there's been times where you felt at least pretty close to that in that. Certainly yeah we've we've had years and in teams and even

1:12:53moments last year where you can tell that everybody's bought it and everybody feels a part of it but you know ultimately if you know it has to do much or you're going to play much it's hard to feel a part of it so everybody needs to play everybody needs to be a part of it. You look at Caroline who just want you know they rolled four lines 60 they played two or three goalies throughout the playoffs it took everybody and and I sort of takes the win you know it's not just a couple of guys that that drive drive a team to to to winning it's it's everybody. Last one for me is the leak changed a lot this off season. I know you love hockey I know you love to look and see what's going on. Can I ask you what you thought as you watched Carlson, Celebrini, McCarr, all the stuff that happened. Yeah. What are you thinking? I was thinking that's a lot of money. It's a lot of

1:13:54money that that they'll sign for and deservedly so you know it's been a long time coming for for our lead to see some of those numbers. Good on those guys for pushing for that. We're slowly starting to see some player ownership in terms of things you know she's going to dictate where they want to play how much they want to make it's been that's all positive stuff as a player you know you know for ownership and management stuff have some different thoughts but as a player I think it's all great things and yeah the landscape's definitely changed it's it's been fun to watch. Can I ask you Connor I mean it's no secret we're starting to see a bit of a trend of US-born players. It's a pretty prominent ones that had been playing in Canadian markets that are now elsewhere or requesting to be elsewhere. I mean you're a proud Canadian you spent your whole career in Edmonton you still trying to win a cup there. Do you have a thought or just the reaction of as we've seen? Yeah I don't know if it's Americans wanting to leave

1:15:01Canada or if it's simply just they don't see the opportunity to win on that specific team you know because you know we signed Ryan Shay trying to find a lot of extension in Edmonton you know Americans still want to play in Canada at least that's the sense that I get but they want to play for teams where they see a future and I don't know anyone's situation or opinions how they feel about their specific team but maybe that's it. I don't know I hope I hope it's not the Americans not wanting to be in Canada. Canada and the US has had a great relationship for years and years and years and I hope that continues for a long time and then. Okay last one I had I mean we see how driven how wide you can be when the season gets going and as you know it's a long year are you still able to find joy over the course of these next eight

1:16:05months like we're more often than not when your head hits the pillow you're like wow that was a great thing. Yeah you know it's interesting that I get that's my narrative I am a happy guy I love a great life I have a great wife and a great family and my my life is is absolutely great I'm extremely grateful for how my life is and I feel incredibly grateful that I am so passionate about what I do because there's a lot of people in the world that don't get to live with that passion what they do every day and and so I feel very lucky that I get to do what I do and live the life that I live and I'm very happy to be doing that it's a great answer really good thanks to our all right so sit our two years ago we sat here and going into the last year of your deal

1:17:06and Ali asks will the next contract have an eight seven in it and you're kind of like well let's see and then it turned out to be the exact same thing so can we at least confirm that whenever the next contract comes 8.7 or all I'll say the same thing I have no idea but if history yeah if history's any proof of that we'll see but yeah Pat and Kyler talking and hopefully you get something done so you've always said I heard you're close with this morning but you want to play a few more years so my new working theory is you're playing in France in 2030 I haven't thought that for it yeah I asked with you I think it's so hard like there's no blueprint for how you're going to feel at this age you know you see a lot of guys that I came into the league with you know that you know they're not playing anymore and it's really kind of a year-to-year thing as far as how you feel and it's hard to project and I want to play for a number of years for sure but

1:18:12you don't know how you're going to feel a year from now to years from now I can go based on how I feel now and that's I feel pretty good you know for playing as long as I have I'm pretty happy with where my body's at so where did that change because a while ago you would say kind of a thought of you playing into your 40s you didn't foresee that yeah you just you feel better now than you anticipated back then or what changed uh yeah I think it just seemed so far at the time you know and it's so hard like even in that situation you know you think about different injuries you've had and you know I think you you just don't want to get your hopes up too much I think you just try to approach it enjoy it uh approach at the same way you know year by year and you know I think I've been you know pretty happy with the way I felt and the way that that time frame has gone so I probably couldn't have predicted that you know looking back I probably wouldn't have expected to go that way or to feel as good as I have but um that can change pretty quick and when you get

1:19:16older so you know I think you just you know you try to enjoy it and embrace it as much as you can but also yeah I'm pretty happy the way it's gone so I golfed last week in Ireland with a guy who turned out to be a very huge Sidney Crosby fan and he said that he holds that you play long enough to become the second NHLer ever to hit 2000 points could you you're 239 away could you see it uh that's some work to do I don't want to get there that's three seasons yeah uh three pretty good season yeah I I think it's three seasons we've also new play you're still at the top of your game yeah that'd be nice that'd be a nice number but yeah I think that's that feels so far away it feels like when we were talking about it five years ago you know it does feel identical to that but that being said I'm not gonna not gonna shut the door on that possibility like it's it's good to be

1:20:16motivated it's good to have goals and milestones that you like to hit but that's not necessarily the the main motivation I think just competing playing at a high level trying to win those you know those are always the main goals and everything else kind of falls did last year the good year that Pittsburgh had how much did that change like I've got to think the fact that Pittsburgh had a really good year and I heard at the beginning of the year like doobus was like everybody thinks we're gonna stink and we're gonna prove them wrong and you guys make the playoffs how much did that change your outlook in terms of how much you wanted to play how long you wanted to play uh I don't know if it changed my outlook I think it just it energizes you you know when you're you're winning games and um we have young guys come in and you have different guys come in and and you know as a team kind of that underdog role I think you just you get caught up in that and it's fun to be a part of that and I think you know we had a rookie head coach in his first

1:21:20year and he had something to prove and we had new guys the organization at young players um yeah I think we just really came together pretty quick as a group and it was really fun to be a part of that and you know even throughout the year with all the injuries we had that late push that we've made different guys stepping up you know through that run uh that was yeah that year was a lot of fun so I think well when you came into the league obviously you were probably more mature than what your age suggested at the time so I'm sure that helped you integrating into a locker room full of older people now you would age 39 how do you connect with today's player coming in that would have brought up watching clips of you on YouTube yeah that's a good question I think uh not that much different I think uh ultimately it's just connecting with people and you know everyone's got uh you know ways to do in that I guess there there was one point I remember I started doing like gaming a little bit just really yeah just because like I didn't really know it was all about

1:22:22there was a few years back where we started gaming a little bit and that was pretty fun I was terrible when you play yeah it was um pub G it was like kind of like um call of duty like something similar to that and uh I ended up I always do the first one out so I ended up just hanging out talking the whole time but uh well yeah I just like that was you know that was one thing that was pretty cool I just happened I didn't really think of it that way but I turn it into that and then you know I think with uh with the younger guys it's just it's just talking like getting to know them and um that's the fun part I mean that's that's not like work or that's not something I have to go to my way necessarily to do like I think that's just part of playing out a team and it comes pretty natural so I think about over the 21 years um the one what movie you'll continue to go to of like kind of four to five feet out from the crease and it's almost like a chop deflection and I cannot think of anyone prior to you coming to the NHL doing that and even since then in this whole coffee

1:23:22cat the clips that go on social that everyone could watch and try to emulate I can't think of younger players that have put that into their game as effectively as you have how did you come up with that I don't know I wasn't really there wasn't anything I really went out of my way to just start doing I think the more I started playing around the net the power play um yeah I've got a pretty straight curve too so like I'm able to to have you know opportunities for those deflections and you know it was more just basically trying to adjust to where I was playing you know down the goal line or near the net and there was just opportunities there where I could create lanes for the puck and not necessarily take a one-timer shot but just get a piece of it and make that play and Phil was always good at really finding that and you know horny was in front all the time so he created a lot of havoc there and there was always a lot of openings because of that so I think you know around that time is when I started to do it a little bit more and you know Phil

1:24:26found me a ton there and then you know Tanger's found me a ton Carl so we just try to get on the same page right because I guess that presents the opportunity for defenseman wherever's at the top where it's like don't be afraid to shoot wide I think it almost expands the range of it yeah it's like it's something that you know you try to find it and then there's other times where you know do you just step stuff and picks it off and feel passive yeah maybe they pass up a shot to do that but I'll be ready for it every time I like when they try it yeah okay last one for me this one could be a disaster I'm not sure if someone what someone told me is actually the truth do you have a lucky belt yeah you do yeah this is true yeah tell me we don't really need to go and boy no I'll confirm it I've heard you've had a belt that you wear on game days for like 20 years is that true could be yeah could be I mean I'm not going there I don't talk about the belt much but

1:25:29yeah I mean that's not you're on to something you get every scoop everything you find out about my belt but something you will I sort of got I thought someone was setting me up to look bad no no yeah really is that the only clothing item that is still the test of time yeah okay I get it you get a good belly you don't want to move off I mean I just want to say I'm impressed that someone could keep the same waist size for 20 years I know I have to be able to do that I don't know how it's still going I'm fluctuating a little bit over that time so yeah it's still hanging on and are we gonna talk about your contract or what's the latest there uh we're not tweeting or anything here I'm sorry it's being announced awesome yeah great yeah thank you yeah thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you to Sid enter Connor enter Brady enter Quinn and everyone

1:26:34who was kind enough to lend their patience and their thoughtfulness and spending some time with us here at this player of media tour the players that come out to this they are asked to do a lot in a short period of time so we certainly do appreciate the time that they marked for us here at 32 thoughts that's going to do it for this episode it is so great to be back it was a wonderful summer but now we are right back into things with training camps being shortened in 84 game regular season on the horizon and opening night just 19 days away so if you missed it earlier if you weren't paying attention frankly I don't blame you we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming of Monday and Friday drops starting next week so what's left of this week enjoy it we will be spending tonight in Winnipeg at the Gallup benefiting the Bruce and Anok Memorial Foundation the Oak family has already done some incredible things in Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba with the Bruce Oak Recovery Center that's been around for a few years now and the Anok

1:27:36Family Recovery Center that is still to come we will include the link in our show notes here for today's episode if you wish to donate to the Bruce and Anok Memorial Foundation talk to you on Monday it's great to be back