Colorado Avalanche Analyst Mark Rycroft (3/10/26)

0:00Hey, it's Bob Stoffer. I just wanted to let you know that you can listen to Oilers Now, Add Free, on Amazon Music, included with Prime. Spring starts at the Home Depot, and we are bringing the heat to your backyard this season. Fire up the flavor with our wide variety of grills for under $300, like the next grill for burner gas grill that's perfect for hosting your spring cookout. Then set the scene and turn your outdoor space into the go-to spot the patio sets for every budget. Bring it this season with grills that deliver flavor and patios that set the vibe from the Home Depot. Start your spring with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot. Exclusive supplies at Home Depot.com slash price match for details. They say you should learn something new every day. Like how you should only drink Yeager Meister at zero degrees Fahrenheit. Ice cold. Like those frozen cavemen they find, which makes you wonder, what would a cavemen think of Yeager Meister? Well, if you served it warm, you'd probably throw it in your face, say, unga-bunga, and storm off, and nobody wants that. So drink it cold, or not at all. Yeager Meister. Damn.

1:00That's cold. Drink responsibly. Yeager Meister, LaCure, 35% alcohol by volume imported by Master Yeager Meister, US, White Plains, New York. All right. Royal pizza pizza past in so much more ever to know and operate at 55 plus years to pick up their new spicy vegetarian pizza for only limited time, uh, visit RoyalPizza.ca for their menu and locations, and hey, if you don't like me, you can blame Royal Pizza because they have been an advertiser that has been connected to shows that I've been involved with since 1998. That's 28 years. And by the way, in this very building, 25 years ago, I did my first play-by-play of an NHL game, play-by-play, not color. And it was not for the Epitons and Otters, it was for the San Jose Sharks. Our next guest in and around that time would have been starring for the Denver Pioneers, where I'm going to guess Paul Comrie probably was one of the best players on the team. He is an analyst for the Colorado Avalanche, played roughly 200 games in the NHL.

2:02We welcome to the show Mark Reichroff. Hi, Mark. How you doing? It's Bob. Bob is good. Uh, right now I'd like a pizza. That's a great pizza. And it was 226 games. And yes, Paul Comrie was my centerman and that guy was awesome. I should have scored 30 goals in the old WCHA playing with Paul Comrie. But the fact is, I have my mom's four arms, stopper, and I just didn't have that good of a shot. Yeah. Well, at least, you know, I like the speed talent, Jill of the Incord Nation, toughness character, and discipline to play in the Western League, let alone in the NCAA. So there you have it. And I get else key was my, was my center, uh, it evident. We, uh, we chuckled today because I was trying to find out there was, uh, the Macarbrothers played for the Southside athletic club and one of them played for our team. And we weren't sure if they were related to, uh, yes, Kayle Macar, uh, but Ab's, uh, PR was able to find out that no, there was no direct relation.

3:05And that doesn't surprise me because the Macar that played on our team, there's no way that, uh, Kayle would have been able to overcome his genetics to become the best defense winner in the NHL. So there you have it. Uh, yeah. So, uh, we should mention you have a connection to Cal Moon as well, uh, from your days, uh, in, uh, in, uh, Ninmo. Yeah. Mooner was, uh, he was the color analyst, I should say the radio analyst for two years, what, longer than that, but the two years that I was in the Ninmo was a clipper into the clip ship, as we call it, and one thing I love about Mooner is he partied harder than all of us. Young guys did just trying to win hockey games and get college scholarships. Mooner was a blast. He still is. I know he, he works with the orders with you guys now. He's never changed. He's just a great guy. He just has a lot less air. The same as most of us. Yeah. And he doesn't, uh, say stupid stuff that gets him in a trouble once in a while either. But, uh, that's out of your door there. All right. Uh, yeah. Special year this, I've got to ask you this, um, the abs I thought, and we, we asked our

4:10listeners early in the show where the Colorado Avalanche 21-22, the best Stanley Cup champion we've seen in the last five years. I mean, Tampa Bay won the second of the cups in 2021, both were in COVID years, um, but they won. They won him back-to-back years. Then the abs beat him in 22. They beat the orders in four straight. They had a tough series of St. Louis, the Edmonton series was a little closer than four straight, a three, one bowl games in that series, but they were good. They were damn good. And, uh, we watched Vegas and the orders lost the Vegas, they lost the abs in 22, Vegas in 23 and then Florida in the final in 23, 24. I don't mean to disparage Florida, but, Mark, I kind of looked at how good that Colorado team was and, and how good of a manager, Chris McFarland is, and I, I'm a little bit surprised, uh, you know, that the abs haven't gotten back there just because they were so deep. And they're back out at this year and they're the team to beat. We know that, but did you think after that first championship in 21, 22, we might be looking at, you know, two to three titles over a five year run. This Friday, the time traveling comedy movie of the year arrives, Mike and Nick and Nick

5:15and Alice only on Hulu. The film stars Vince Vaughn, James Marsden and Asa Gonzalez in a wild action comedy about one disastrous night that spirals out of control. And here's the twist. There are two Vince Vaughn's. Don't miss Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice written and directed by Ben David Grubinsky streaming this Friday only on Hulu rated R. Protein is now at Starbucks and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein, cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks. Yeah, but we didn't know we were going to lose Game Landascog for three years and you underestimate the power of him and the captain. And we've been talking a lot about bringing Nozzam Kodry back and how magical that is. There's two critical guys that elevate this team's level when it comes to accountability, leadership and just overall fun and guys wanting to play for each other. One is the captain, Game Landascog and two is Nozzam Kodry.

6:18So yes, did we expect another Stanley Cup quicker, of course. But if he to set after 22, you're not going to have the captain and Kodry in the lineup. Right away you'd go, that's two big losses. Those are two big blue guys that they're full of talent, but man, they're full of that. Those are guys you want to go to battle for and want to play for and that's what gave the captain. And Nozz is just not. This guy's a freak. He's a phenomenal human and an incredible hockey player. Yeah, and you know, the odds climb them out. The orders ultimately lost in the heartbreak in seven and you know, Florida had a super deep team last year. Deepest team, you know, nine, 15 plus points scores in the playoffs since the New York Islanders back in 1981. So they were deep squad and the orders could it'll afford to lose, you know, Zach Hyman and Game 4 against Dallas and then Ryan Nige and Hopkins to break his hand in the Stanley Cup final. So huge. You just got NAS back. Let's start with how great a season this has been.

7:21You mentioned Landiskog, what other factors are we talking about here with the team this year? Well, you watched Brock Nelson come into his own net big transition after being with the Islanders for 13 years. It took them a little bit to find his rhythm. Now he's got 30 goals again, Brock Nelson. One of the more underrated well rounded players in all of the national hockey, probably no secret to you, Bob. But one guy that we don't talk about enough is Brent Burns. He completed the back end. What's that movie like? You complete me. I can't remember his Jerry McGuire. What? Jerry McGuire. Yes. Okay. So Burns does that on the back end because he brings the leadership. The veteran presence, the size, his game is so simple. His first pass out of the zone is almost 100% and guys have started to copy how he gets that puck to the net, whether it be Josh Manson, whether it be Santa Molinsky, that's kind of adopted his style a little bit and has simplified the defensive core. Those two guys right there, Nelson coming into his own, Burns coming over as a free agent.

8:23Man, that has just boosted everything. Yeah. They're good. I mean, it's not off that you see a team with the best record in the league, the best home record in the league, the best road record at the league, the best goal differential in the league. Number one of goals for a number one of goals against, but the craziest part about the goals for you know where I'm going next, is there still room for boot with the team? What's going on? If the power play is 31st, it's crazy. Yeah. Since the Olympic break, I think we're hovering around 26 percent. It's been excellent over the past seven, eight games. So now the power play is starting to rumble now. They did go over five, a couple nights ago against Minnesota, but Bob, they had 15 scoring chances. You know what a power play is cooking and not scoring, or these are power play that can't get in the zone. Well, we're no longer struggling to get in the zone and set up. They have noodles of chances. I guarantee the outscore power play goal tonight against the others. It's just going to happen. But one thing is great, Bob, about the, the ass, we actually have six natural sentiment

9:26in the lineup. That might be the sneakiest, depth part the ass have because you got coffee on the ring right now and also Parker Kelly. Both those guys are capable of playing center. When you have that strength down the middle, I think we have the best one to goalie tandem in the league. I really don't see how the abs, as long as they don't get unlucky and injury can be beaten seven games. I don't see how it's possible. I'm sure you do. But from a Colorado point of view, I can't see it. Well, I can tell you, first of all, the first step for evidence to make the playoffs. Okay? Yes. I'm sorry. That is not a fatal complaint. That's why there's been so much consternation around this team this year. It's about 15 points behind the pace that everybody was hoping to see. But I don't think anybody thought they'd be at Colorado's pace this year because nobody thought anybody in the league would be quite at that place. All right. I'm going to switch focus here to the GM. You know, I met Chris McFarland when he worked for Scott Helsen in Columbus and he was smart and he worked hard and he was detailed and he had vision and I already relate the story

10:28to listeners, Mark Rycroff, longtime analyst for the Colorado Avalanche joining us. By the way, it has thousands of family members in Western Canada. I'm told, um, but I know the Alberta thousands in Northern Alberta. We're about to northern Alberta. Okay. So my mom and dad were both born in Beaver Lodge, Alberta, if you can believe it. 2500 people, Betty and Al Rycroff, my mom's a, a maiden name is Clark, um, and so I have Rycroffs up in Beaver Lodge, Grand Prairie, Calgary, Edmonton. When I used to come to Edmonton, Bob, it, it cost me money to play at Edmonton because I had 28 family members come, including my grandma and grandpa back in the day, Rycroff. So show it out to the Rycroffs in Northern Alberta. There you go, buddy. Thanks for that. Well, I got, I found a way to, so you're saying it used to cost you money when you, you came to Edmonton and all I can tell you is we just played in Vegas. You can figure out where that cost me money, but I digress. So I just want to talk about Christopher Farley.

11:29I just brought this up with Brian Lawton. I'm like, at what point does USA hockey not look to the sky as a part of their management team? I mean, and I know the Americans won the gold medal. What's crazy about the gold medal game is the night, the, the, uh, avalanche mark beat the ointers nine to one for fun that night. Like it was just a, you know what, Gicken. I remember the expected goals for that. That night was less than the expected goals for, for Canada against the United States. Five and five in that game. Isn't that crazy? Like that's somebody chance is Canada. But anyways, uh, Christopher Farley. This guy's done a great job, hasn't he? He's done an outstanding job and, uh, you know, a lot of credit goes to the Concordinization for bringing Joe Sack again. And then Joe and whoever decided brought in Chris McFarley and under him and together with those two guys have been brilliant. Now Joe, of course, is, or Chris, pardon me, is the full time GM now he's always working. We always see him. His head is down. He's always focused. He's on the phone. He's real quiet.

12:30Until you get him talking. Then he just rolls, but this guy absolutely loves hockey loves the grind to the GM loves the job. He's just one of the nicest people. And stop. Here's a little side note. Chris McFarley actually traded for me was my last year in the American hockey league from Lake Erie, which was the abs form team over to Syracuse, which was Columbus farm team. So I always thought to see back and like, hey, that was the best trade you ever made. But he getting me on that team. We almost won the call. Or we took a hard hit in game seven, double load key. But yeah, team asked for me now, if I'm not mistaken, did CMAT not push for a pretty good head coach? It's now been the head coach here for a while as well, because he was coaching Columbus's farm team to a colder cup. Yes. And that whole Columbus connection, but then came over to the ass is pretty remarkable. And at the time of hiring Jared Bednar, we were all just trying to figure out who is Jared Bednar. OK, you do the math. You see all the history, the winning, everything. And then we had that 48 point season, because Patrick Law left, I think, mid August.

13:32Sorry. Scramble time. And everybody wanted Jared Bednar gone. Everybody. Benadio, not CMAT, they stuck with him. And how good does that look now? I mean, you got to have a little crystal ball sometimes to beat these GMs to figure out how on earth to stay with somebody who to play, what to do. I didn't do that job software. I would stress out all night long. But man, coach Jared Bednar is a stud of studs. He's a leader of men. And this guy, he just can do no wrong in cup number two, will just cement his legacy. All right. We started by talking about Paul Karmie, of course, the legendary Karmie family. Mike was a friend of his family. So that was, that was a Denver connection. And we mentioned Mooner with your time in the NIMO. But there's a guy now with the sports corporation with Jerry Johansson and Jerry is a fairly regular guest on the show. He briefly played with you guys after leaving the Western League, his name, Matt Sheruga, great guy. I just want to put a shout out to him because, you know, you need a little bit of reinforcement

14:34and he brought you some of that, that year as a recall. Now Sheruga, we're going back to the NIMO, right? Yes. Oh, yeah. You have to pull one out there for yourself. I haven't looked at that lineup for a long time. True. Hey, Sheruga is an unreal guy. I even thought about Matt Sheruga in like 25 years, but that's I get back in time. At least I still got some memory kickin. Yeah, Matt Sheruga, those NIMO teams we had, the only problem was we had more fun off the ice than on the ice. It'd be a little different in today's game. We had so much fun on that clip, ship team, Mooner leading the way. And you know, shout out to the BCH, all I know a lot has changed. I was still in the BC, J-H-L, that's all foreign, that goes back. But man, growing up in BC, Western Canada was the absolute best. We'll be up in heaven to the course in a few weeks or we've got a back-to-back eminent calendar in early April. So I can't wait to get up. I always run into some family and it's just great to be on the radio talking northern over. I love it. All right, Mark. We've got to do this again.

15:35Thank you very much for your time. Okay. Anytime you want stuff, great job. What? You bet. That is Mark Reikov, long-time analyst of the Colorado Avalanche. It's 548. In oil country, I'm down in Denver with the Oedders at Ball Arena and we'll be back with this day at Oedders' history at the young guy in Ghana and we're going to be returning Oedders now. My day kicks off with the refreshing Celsius energy drink, then straight to the gym. Pre-get pickup, back home to meal prep. Time for my fire session shift. One more Celsius got to keep the lights on. When the three alarm hits, I'm ready. Let's live, fit, go. Grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius.com. America leads the world in medicine development. It matters. We get new medicines first, nearly three years faster. Five million Americans go to work because we make medicines here at home and not relying on other countries keeps us safe. But China is racing to overtake us. Will we let them or will we choose to stay ahead?

16:35When America leads, America cures. Let's go to Washington to keep us in the lead. Learn how at AmericaCures.com. Pay for by Farma. 552 in oil country, Bob's style from with the Oedders in Denver, Colorado and we normally have the oil kings report today. We're going to do that tomorrow. It's always brought to you by Sherwood Power Sports and Marine. Your home for boats, ATVs, motorbikes and all the gear you need. A certain measure. A defined fit, a defined style to find you right in the heart of ice district at Edmonton Tower. A modern measure. Imagine this. If they can make me look good, what could they do for you? All right. We got a list day at Oedders history for new ass travel, your local travel experts. We spoke about Paul Comrie and this day at Oedders history is tied to his brother. Here's Aiden Gannam. Exactly. Just like you and Mark talking about. On this day, in 2002, Mike Comrie opens the scoring 90 seconds in, but the Oedders surrender for unanswered goals, capitals forward Peter Bondra scores his 18th career

17:37hat trick to sink Edmonton 4-2 at the MCI center in Washington. Yeah. Peter Bondra was an elite level finisher. He played on a line with Michael Pavanca and they racked up the points to say the least. If you missed any of today's show, make sure to download and subscribe to Oedders now. Podcasts available on Apple Podcasts. On Spotify and anywhere you get your streaming audio, we'll be back at it tomorrow. During the early afternoon, I fly to Dallas with the team and I will have Pierre LeBron Rob Brown and John Shannon on up next is an 880 news, whether a traffic update was act Ferguson. Brendan Escott has the city for face off show. I will join you along with Cam Moon here from Colorado during the course of Brendan Show. So long from now, from Oedders now. Welcome to Survivor 50 Wednesdays on global. We chose you to represent 25 years of the greatest adventure on television. And all we want is everything.

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