Episode 159 - Contenders.

0:00Hurt in a car, call our sponsor William Attar, 844-444-444-444. With a focus on motor vehicle accidents, the team at William Attar has handled thousands of cases like yours. Let them help you get the money you deserve after a motor vehicle accident. Ride share, truck, motorcycle, car, only, call William Attar, 844-444-444-444-444. What's even left to say, genuinely, what on earth could you possibly add to describe what we're watching? I mean, you know, I think there was valid worry or skepticism that maybe this Olympic break, just maybe, just maybe, even though they lost, they lose two straight going into

1:02it. Yeah, they lost two straight going into it. They lost three or four going into it, and I think they needed it. But I also understand why people were maybe worried about it, that this hot streak was maybe going to come to a bit of a halt and, you know, the roster was going to be different. Even though I think it was a lot less different than maybe we thought going in, you still got Josh Norris back, you still got guys like Benson came back, you didn't know what it was going to be coming back. You just thought maybe, you just maybe would shift a little bit, and it wouldn't quite be the 800 winning percentage sabers coming out of the break. They swept this road trip. They went three and a half, and they swept the Florida back to back. They beat the best team in the Eastern Conference, six to two on their home ice, on their

2:04home ice went up for nothing in the first period against maybe the best goal tenor in the world. I don't even know, I don't even know what to say, you know, I genuinely, have we ever or one was the last time we swept the Florida road trip, because it happened so good. I think we did it in 2023, I think, I think the LaBouchekin overtime winner was a Friday night game, like it would have been the Friday night slot, and I think, I remember like Craig Anderson had like 50 saves in one game, and they beat them like three to one. I think they swept it that year. I do think they did do it. But aside from that, I mean, I don't think they ever did this back to back, like genuinely this back to back has pissed me off that they've had to do it twice this year. They picked up seven of eight points in these games too, like they have played the best team in the Eastern Conference, not named the Carolina Hurricane.

3:04I mean, I think, I think going into both games, Tampa was first in the Eastern Conference. I think, because they lost the Sabers, I think because they lost to the Sabers, now Carolina is in first, but I think going into both games, Tampa Bay was first in the East, and they had to play them twice on the second half of back to backs, and they took three of four, and they were this close, this close to taking four or four against them. And if they had done that, would they be two points out of first place in the Atlantic right now? Right. They're three points out. They got to point that game. So three points. Do you add one to the Sabers, but then you take two away from Tampa? Well, you take one away. If you beat them in regulation, oh, in regulation, yeah, that's what they'd be one. That's true. One, one point out. No, we're four points behind four points out, add one, take two away, add one, take one, so yeah, I guess one, maybe one point out, that close, maybe that close, they still

4:07have two games in hand. They have two games in hand, but you have them twice, so you can make up that difference on your own starting next Sunday, and look, I don't expect them to win this division, like I don't, but the fact that like 30 seconds away from it's maybe a conversation, it's insane. Yeah. It's ridiculous. They're the sixth team in the NHR right now. They have MoneyPock. MoneyPock, who has been the most skeptical of their chance to make the playoffs, right? All these models, some of the more advanced ones, whether it's evolving hockey, or maybe some of the betting models or sports logic, like all of them put them at, in the 80s, in the 90s, MoneyPock had them still in the, I think 60s, as of like two weeks before the Olympic break, they are 88% right now, third best playoff odds in the East. Only Carolina and Tampa are better.

5:10Just a wagon. They are on a warpath that's, it's unbelievable to see the turnaround from December until now, especially on the road too. I mean, it's, it's really, it doesn't even make sense. They're 16, one and two, and they're last 19 road games. That's not having a win for this team to win a regulation game on the road until December 11th. And I think since that game, I think that's it, right? That was the game that started everything and they are now, or maybe, maybe it's dating back to, no, it's, it was dating, that stretch that I tweeted out was dating back to December 9th. So starting on December 9th when they beat Edminton and overtime, they have lost one game in regulation on the road. Over time lost to Tampa and trying to remember what the other loss was during that stretch. Trying to think on the road in a, I don't think they've lost to shoot out.

6:13I think it was an overtime loss. Over time against Tampa. Oh. Oh, where do you think we can't wait? No, that was, it was a regulation loss at Carolina, yeah, that was a regulation and then that was the regulation. What was the other overtime loss? We lost in Columbus on January 3rd. That was in regulation though, right? Yeah. So there's two regulation losses. Okay, I see. That's it. Two regulation losses and one OT loss. Insane, dude. Insane. They're tied for the second longest point streak on the road in the franchise's history. They went three months, two months, two months, they went two months without a road regulation one. I mean, what is even left to say?

7:16And that's with being good at home too. There's 17, eight and three at home and they're 18, 11, and three away. So what? You said there's 16, two and one in their last 19. So you, I mean, there is, they were all nine and two before though, before that. Another 18, 11, and three away. It's ridiculous. I can't even comprehend. I mean, I guess I'm the last person. That should say this. And I'm going to knock on whatever piece of wood I have laying around near me, but they're going to break the drought. They're going to do this. I think, like, you know, I'm a knock, I'm going to knock as many times I need to, but, you know, I think the moment for me where I'm like, I think they're going to do this was the Dallas game on New Year's Eve. But I think that was for me, and I think that was also for the fan base.

8:18That was for the people that maybe thought the win streak, which we talked at length about during that period was maybe inflated, like it was maybe somewhat 18, 19 S where they were scoring in a high clip, getting saves, but then the Dallas game happened and they walked into a building of a contender and just danced around them for 60 minutes. And it was beautiful. And I think that told me, like, this team is, like, this streak isn't just regressing back to the mean, no, they're for real. And this winning streak is for real. And the rest of the season is going to be for real. But there was also, you know, even though that would be all true, this is also one of the most ridiculous Eastern conferences I've ever, I think I've ever witnessed in recent memory where you have, I think if everything was on pace to finish as it was now, I think

9:20all eight teams in Eastern conference playoff spots right now, I think they all finish with a hundred points or if not Boston's at like 97, 98, 99, and then you've got three teams behind them. And the capitals, the senators and the blue jackets were all on pace for 90 plus points. So because of that, I think there was always, even though there was always that thought that maybe even if the sabers were legit, even if this run was fully for real, they would be subject to some bad luck by doing this all in a bad here. And I think the Tampa game is a no, no, they're not in that conversation of being screwed by this playoff format. I think that was a signal to everybody that this isn't just for real. This is here to stay. They have arrived and that you can be worried about playoff seating, you can be worried about how they're going to shape up heading into the post season.

10:26You don't need to worry about them making it, you know, and crazier things have happened. Of course things can change, you know, injuries can happen. So many different things can happen. One losing streak, sure, but I mean, come on, come on. I know the Devils are not a great team, but I feel like it was almost very reminiscent of that game during the winning streak where they went into their barn. The game that Jack Hughes came back, Jack Hughes scored in the first period and then they weathered this storm and came out with a win. And then last Wednesday, same thing, Jack Hughes returns after scoring the maybe one of the biggest goals in USA history gets the huge ovation for the crowd. Everybody's rocked and amped and you just weather the storm and you don't let in a goal until like two minutes are really remaining in the game and it's a six on five ball and you just take care of business and then you go into Florida and take care of business like it's a desperate Florida team and then you just you do nothing but trounce the eastern

11:31conference leading Tampa Bay Lightning. I mean, come on, come on, how much more proof do you need? This team is not only for real, they are just safely, safely going to make the playoffs. I can't lose those words leaving my mouth. It's legit. It's it's weird. I mean, they're they're getting contributions like everywhere right now, sadly, even kind of including the power play, but the goal tending has just been so goddamn good recently. They're getting production up and down the line up other than the fourth line. Our top four defensemen have been incredible. Like we're shooting, we're scoring way above expected right now, but we got goal scores. I mean, Josh Norris is no look, another low, no look goal and Taj Thompson's just making I was this close to say like, Hey, I don't think he has a non empty net goal in like two months. Like it's about a minute and that was before the Tampa game and that boom, two goals in the first period, just like that.

12:33I mean, it's something different every night. You know, we're walking into New Jersey going, God, I can't believe like it sucks, that you know, they're being forced into Peyton Crabbs going on the first line again. He has a two point nights and two primary points, his goal, maybe the goal of his career, possibly just roofing it in tight over the shoulder of Jake Allen. And I don't know Friday was Friday, maybe one of the passes or not Friday up Saturday, one of the passes of his career, a no look backhand off the boards to Taj Thompson to set up his goal. I mean, come on, it's, it's, he's 13 points and every night, last 14 games, he's point for the game. Over the last, what is that 14 games probably stretches from what these last three games to like mid January is January 17th is when I was counting 13 in his last 14 games, seven

13:40in the month of February and six games, he's, I love Peyton Crabbs. Like, I know you tweeted out, I love that you love him, but it's like, I've always loved him and the fact that we're actually getting top six, like production out of him right now. No one would have ever guessed that coming to the season. That's option. Yeah. He, if when we go into the playoffs, like he should not be in the top six, but with injuries and with how stuff is going right now, he's, he's been good. Like, that's the dream. Good. Right? Like, that's the dream. He is a, he's one of the best defenders on the team. He is one of their best defensive, he's some of the best defensive metrics on the team. And then when he goes up into the higher, if he's called upon for a higher up in the lineup, roll, like he produces, you know, like it's, it's not something you, you should prolong. Like if you need three to four games, like you need right now, yeah, he can do it.

14:41He can do it. And he's a little scrappy son of a bitch. Like I just, it's just hilarious. The stuff he does out there, it's, I don't know, it's awesome. I mean, if all of a sudden, like he's just meshing really well with the age, like keep it going. Like it was weird seeing Benson on the fourth line last game. But with how crabs have been playing up there, like I think it makes sense, like keep going with it. And you can make your fourth line even better by having Benson or someone else play down there. It's, I hope, I hope he keeps it up because we're finally starting to see some of the talent that we thought we had with them. And he's doing it on the top line with, with Tage right now. It's awesome. Even like Zach Mezza, who's been getting attention because he's just on, I mean, it's freaking snipe. He's on an unbelievable PDO run. I mean, I'm trying to pull up, I'm trying to remember who tweeted out. I think it was Joe D.B. Asi. It's unbelievable, like shooting percentage and save percentage that he's getting right

15:44now. Yeah. The score when Zach Mezza is on the ice this season at five on five. What do you think it is? I was just trying to guess, though, like what a percent? What's his, like, what's the ratio of goals he's been on the ice for compared to goals against at five on five this season? The final total of goals is 20 from both sides, 20 combined on both sides, 16 goals for four against 18 to two, 18, 18, it's a 90% goals for percentage playing on the third pair. The highest goals for percentage in the NHL. The second is Nathan McKinnon at 75%. No player since they've started tracking the stat in 2007 has higher than 83. Right. That's luck based. But at the same time, like it's like he's playing bad. He's just getting good luck on top of the really solid play and it's not a small sample

16:47either. I mean, he's played what close to half the season. That's the whole season, including like his first stretch when he was not good. I mean, now that I think about it, like I think I remember there was that Detroit game in Buffalo in like early October that he was on for a goal against. So I think if you take that game out, which was one of his first games, he might be at an 18 to one ratio right now, which would put him at upper 90s, which is just, it's ridiculous. It's 29 game sample. He's plus 15. It's, I mean, that goal last night too. I mean, it was a friggin' snipe, like it perfect read, cut off the breakout pass and just outweighed everybody and then sniped it. You know, it was him versus Vasilepski and he won. He is the best defense man on the team right now. Like it's, it's a, it's almost a fast. He's definitely won the sixth spot. I think that's clear. Yep. I would say like, if there's one of the like the few negatives, it's like, yeah, like Castle

17:51Ring hasn't been great and what is in place all you heard, all you heard about Metsa for years, which is how much Amherst fans loved him and thought he deserved the night shell contract. And now here he is, contributing for one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and being a key part of it. And being so good complicates this next week too with the trade deadline because you're getting Tim and back at some point. Like he's already won this seventh spot or six or seven spot, like Bryson might be waved. Like Tim and is going to be back. So like you have Tim and Castle Ring and Metsa as your, you know, five, six and seven defensemen. But the talk around the Sabers and the rumors have been that they want to get beef here at the blue eye. They want to add someone else, but with how much is playing so good, like, unless you're carrying eight defensemen on your team, I don't, I don't know if it makes as much sense. I mean, unless you're getting rid of Tim and Castle Ring, which is not happening, it

18:55complicates things, but it's a good thing to complicate with how well he's been playing. Now about all the crap I have given, like the fourth line recently and score maybe like one of the most key goals of the season in Florida. Back balance time, man. Back. Back. Back the bullet. Back the bullet. Do we want to get into the goal? Do we should, do we think it should account it? I know the consensus on the Sabers side was yes, it very much should have. I thought no. I very much thought no. I thought it was definitely getting overturned. I feel like everybody did, right? Like nobody varies in the moment. Yeah. It was one of those like in the moment, like, oh, there's no way that counts. Then after it happens, it's being like, well, they know the rule book says this. So yeah, clearly, it should count. They always go against us, too. And we won, we won one last night, too, like we're getting one of the best parts one of

19:59the best parts of this road trip has been making both Paul Marys and John Cooper. Lose their mind. John Cooper then loses mind over the call. It was more so seeing him criticize his team a lot after the game. But I mean, Paul Marys, he went full tomato as soon as the call was made against him. That was, that was good. That was so good. I don't think it should have been a goal. I don't. Yeah. I agree. I agree. In those situations, I always like to put myself in the shoes of one of that happened against us. I think if that goal goes in with 10 minutes to go in that game and regulation, I think sentiment is a little bit different. Like is Tara soft catching that if mess, if mess, if Samuelson isn't there. I think 10 times out of 10 years, probably, yeah, yeah. I know he's outside of the crease, but it's like, I don't know, it's like, it's his glove.

20:59Like he moves his glove and it's not like, I don't know, I understand, like it's, I understand the crease. It should be fair game. Like, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I feel like, I feel like the out of the crease is like for incidental contact. I know Samuelson wasn't trying to hit the glove, but it's more so like, he put his stick in direct path of the glove. Can we just talk about how ridiculous is it as to how this goal? Backmail and Steins has a point shot and Matthias Samuelson's in front of the net. Like, does he even make a goal in a tied game to play off race opponents? I don't know. I another one just, I don't know. It's a different thing every night. Backmail is scoring a game winning five on five goal. If, if you're a coach, you just have no idea what goal tenor appearances, I thought

22:01those for sure get an overturned, but yeah, it does go back to my rule of thumb. Even though I don't maybe agree with it, like I just explained my rule of thumb is like, if there's contact in the crease, it's coming back. I think that example proved that were the context was outside. So I think they just went with the call on the ice, which was a goal. What do they rule? Do they rule that a goal if the initial call on the ice is no goal? I think maybe that changes things. Yeah. I don't know. Now that our favorite don't care, we've got not my problem. Your dynasty was built off of Alex Tuck being like three pixels off side three years ago. Oh, well, oh, well, I guess it's our turn to get calls. Yeah, that's when you know everything's going right for you. You get calls, both four teams, you got calls against. Yeah. I was gearing up for Saturday night to be a six to four win.

23:01As soon as Tampa got that late one to make it, what, five four one, five was a five one. Going into the second intermission, I think, then they made a five, I was ready. I was very ready for it to be six four, but Gary made a call. Gary made a call. It was a scrappy freaking game, too. A lot of scrums and old sling going at Hegel and getting bitched, but I mean, it was nice to see him go after people were giving him props. I mean, I give him props, but I think I would almost give point more props because he absolutely could have just ruined Ocelain season for sure. Oh, yeah, point that Hegel, but yeah, no, for sure. But I mean, he did two hand down lean, I mean, down lean, of course, they cross-checked him to start, but as with most scrums, yeah, it took a good old Josh Allen dive, too. Yeah. That was nice. It was a scrappy. It was a fun Saturday. It was.

24:01Someday, I'll see a Buffalo saver win a fight. Someday. Zucker picked a fight with Seagun Thaller, don't know why he did that. It was like a solid, like, foot difference between those two, but they got spunk, they got spirit. I'll give him that. Well, the guy who was supposed to win fights for us didn't even get in a fight in his five games that he played with us. Kessor rings kind of the only other one who, like, kind of gets in fights, but even so, he's not. He really doesn't. I mean, I feel like the only other one is really done. I think it's just done gets in fights. I guess so. Yeah. I was laughing. I saw cousins get into, like, a cold and cold scrap with Simon Advenson. He got bitch. He got completely bitched, and he just probably, like, I'm not even making fun of this, like, I'm just making fun of the cousins, like, that's a saber. Like, he got bitch, because every single fight that we get in, they just do not win. They don't win fights. Oh, man.

25:0425 minutes on an un-interrupted of just all over the place. What is this to you? Crazy. Unbelievable. And I really do think it starts with the gold tending. I mean, well, that's one stat that was tweeted out that Alex sign has been above expecting his last 15 games. UPL has been, like, elite in his last, like, two months, money pocket line at first in his last 10. Yeah. He's 10th in the league. Right. You want to talk about something that, another thing that coming out of the break, like, hey, you don't know really what it's going to look like. I mean, Luke and I'm playing two or three this week. Like, if you told me that coming into this week, I'd probably be with B, like, okay, like, that's fine. You know, we'll see how it goes and light up three holes in two games. You know, I guess plus one disallowed goal.

26:06Yeah. I mean, one 10th in the league and UPL is 24th. Like, I really, I think all of this kind of does start with gold tending because they just been getting all the saves, it seems like, and they're keeping us in the games. It's everything. It's literally even the power play, like, I don't think it's been good, but it's like, it's contributed these last few games. Like, that's why they've won these last two. You know, in doing part. I mean, I guess they didn't win last night because of the power play, but they contributed. It was there. I don't know. It's crazy. I did win one for five, but yeah, but yeah, anyways, anyways, welcome back to another episode of the Saber Report podcast. My name is Jonah and I'm JP and today it's just two of us, Christian boots on the ground

27:10in Tampa Bay last night. Lucky man. So what did I tell you? What did I tell you? I did not say that he was going to be there. I said, directly to his face, I said, I'm not telling you to be there. I'm talking to you as if I know you're going to be there because I know you're going to be there and sure enough, you see where he was sitting, too. Yeah, he was like, those were not good to take it. He would have been kicking himself if he didn't go. I mean, he saw a great game and there was a lot of Saber's fans in attendance and you could hear the crowd. It was loud in Tampa. Yeah. That was awesome. Awesome. Obviously that's why Christian is not here tonight, forget when he gets back, but he flew out Friday, went to the game last night and he is, he's living life. As a 10 year review on the way to Christian's cafeteria, we'll be making a return whenever he's back. So we'll get a long, long awaited return.

28:12That's what we will get. It's been a while since a Christian's cafeteria, I know he's got to eat more. 10 year review from Tampa Bay will be coming at you pretty soon, so something to look forward to here. I did tell him to join. I told him we were recording, so maybe he'll hop in on his phone or something at some point. I don't know. So yeah, that's where he's at. Before we continue, do you just want to take a second? If you like our content, you can find more of it at patreon.com slash the Sabre report. We just launched last week at quite a few patrons, subscribe and see if they're enjoying all the new content. We have three valuable tiers, support tier, which is just access to our posts and updates and if you just want to throw us a dollar to show your support for the show, you've got our core tier, which is access to overtime episodes, live commentary streams, early access

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30:22What is your main takeaway from this week? What's the main one? You could, you condense these three games, bring it into this home stretch that we're going to have six of seven games at home coming up. What, what individual thing are you taking from this road swing? Let me add, I said it a few minutes ago, it's just gold timing, like I just think they've been sold down good and I think they are the main reason why we've been so good since early December, like I just, like we've been getting contributions from up and down the line up and we're scoring quite a few, but I don't think anyone's really taken over, like I, like Tage has been good, but I don't think he's been like unbelievable, same with Don Lene. I just think the gold turners have been so solid and consistent, they're keeping us in these lower, not low scoring games, but they're not letting in so many.

31:28So if we score three goals, like there's a good chance for winning, and I do think that also speaks to we're playing better team defense, which has obviously been a talking point for years now. I think they're just playing better overall, they're being more responsible. The top four defense had just been unbelievable. I just, I think the goal tending and maybe even team defense just, just been a main leading factor recently. We've talked about it from time to time from the moment that they started to get hot back in December, and I think it's recently the last episode because somebody asked us about it in our mail back. We have debated about like, hey, who starts game one of a playoff series? And every single time it has been Alex Lyon, and I think for the first time, maybe that isn't the case.

32:29I'm not saying it definitely isn't the case, but I feel like this week is like the first instance for like, if the, I'll ask you right now, if the playoff started tomorrow, who's your game one starter? I think I'm still going with mine. I think they've been so good. I still, I still think you're leaning that way, but man, it's like a 50, 50 call right now. Yeah, I don't think there's a wrong decision. They've been so good, both of them, and the only reason I lean line is because he has playoff experience. That's a little, probably the only reason I would pick over the UPL, but both of them have been unbelievable. You can, you can maybe look at that playoff experience, and like it wasn't great, like it wasn't amazing in that series against Boston. And that would just be like to like make the case more interesting, like I, I still think for now, yes, I do lean lion, but I think there's a case to be made where like Luganins might be the guy to go at for game one.

33:29I mean, what does it tell you about rough that he wants to Luganin for two of these three games? I was really surprised to play the first game back. I feel like rough has always had his number one guy, and I think he's leaning on UPL right now with that. I mean, we'll see what happens this week. But I think he's probably leaning UPL over line right now, but I do think it really is a good split. Like I think we'll both see them both play two games this week. They have four games, but I was surprised coming off the injury. I was very surprised that UPL started, but it definitely has worked out so far. Do you know when Colton Ellis's last game was? I think we looked at this last pod. Wasn't it like middle, January, like it's been a while?

34:31It was February 3rd. He played against that second half of the back to back against Tampa. Oh, yeah, yeah. How many games does he get down the stretch here, assuming there's no injuries? Honestly, I don't know if he answers another game. Like maybe when they flinched, yeah, even if you look at his last three starts, 886 save percentage, 889 save percentage, 870 save percentage, before that, a 903. So not bad, but you have to go back four games before you get to a really good performance was when he had a 938 in Madison Square Garden. I don't know if he gets another game here for a little bit. No, nobody stays healthy, definitely not.

35:33There's no reason to, there really isn't. And there's after Friday, what, five o'clock? It doesn't even matter. It doesn't matter. It always on the roster. It does not matter. Just have an extra guy. I can't believe they got three goal is on the roster for, have they had three goal is for the whole season? Yeah, it's the whole season. UPL was hurt, so they claimed LS in the preseason. And I mean, they've had a few injuries, like UPL was obviously hurt on IR, what was he officially placed on the IR before the break? I don't know, but maybe they've had injuries, so three goal is the entire year. It's crazy to think about with how much we've complained about that in the past, but they don't have the goal, they don't have a rotation going right now. No, LS has not played since February 3rd.

36:34He has two games in the last month and a half, two games since January 15th. Obviously there's a three week break in there, but still, it's too late, like they're not going to do anything, but it does just make you kind of wonder, like, should they look at something through this trade deadline, but I don't know, it's just more interesting for like him where, I mean, he might go the whole season without not playing again, and they're not going to send him to Rochester because they probably won't be able to get him there. I mean, especially, I mean, this week, it's still a bunch of teams looking for goal-tending. I don't know, who knew that we'd have three goals the whole year, some believable, but it is what it is. Really wasn't the conversation. Yarmul is just going to sit back this whole time. He's not going to do anything this year.

37:34It will truly be coming out of him's team. It won't be Yarmul's team. What happens at 3 p.m. on Friday if Yarmul Kekalainen has not made a trade? Kevin Adams is going to get a bunch of GMM of the year votes. That's what's going to happen. Do we just like, do we allow Adams to be like let back into the offices on like an interim basis or like, do we like, do we let his key code like for the offices like work for the next three months? Look at that point, he's earned it because genuinely. Kekalainen has not made one trade and it was Victor Neuchev for Gavin Bay Ruther. That was the only decision he's made is keeping Oleslin up and calling Khan Stop for nine games. That's it. It's funny. It's very funny. It's really ironic. It's going to fuel people to be like, yeah, maybe Kevin Adams wasn't such a bad GMM after all.

38:35But it really is, but results also speak for themselves, so it's just really weird. I kind of did get sick of like the, the man, I wonder what Kevin Adams is thinking right now. When they went on the hot streak, even when it continued over to like mid-January when they were still streaking, no, I'm genuinely like, yeah, I wonder what he's thinking. I mean, they are, they have the best record in hockey. Aside from what? Tampa. That's it. Since he got fired. Or since he was rumored to get fired. I wouldn't be able, if I were him, I wouldn't be able to look at a player on this team in the eyes. No. It's like really got you like really, really, really, you couldn't have just like a week earlier. Like, no, nothing. He had to be me. Okay.

39:36All right. Whatever. Maybe after the season, depending on how good of a playoff run we have, do you think like Terry shoots him attacks like, hey, you think they still text or in games? Hey, who breaks no contacts first? Definitely Terry. He's like me. Maybe I was a little preemptive in your, in your fire. Still thinking of you, or do you think he's, I think someone's telling Yarmul like, hey, like, this isn't your team. Like you have to make some sort of move before the deadline or you're going to get no credit. It's so funny. He literally needs to do one move. That's it. One move and it's his team. It's taking his time where we're in the final stretch here. The trade deadline is in five days, not even four days and 20, not even 20, like 18

40:38hours. It's crazy human. What a whirlwind. This dude was probably gearing up for a re-tool, maybe even a rebuild. I mean, we were like, we were having conversations like if the sabers do not come back and win against Philadelphia in their first home game where they were getting like completely outclassed for like two periods, which is funny to look back on, even how Phillies looked the last little stretch here. I don't know. I, which felt like Lindy Ruff was like a week, was like a game away from getting fired. This whole team, like we were having conversations about like, you know, they were, they were kind of like looking into the future conversations, but like the stage Thompson going to ask for a trade is like, dear God, is Rasmus Dalin going to have enough of this losing is, you know, Alex, talk, it was like a certainty, like goodbye, you're not, you know, we can't

41:39sign you. We can't ever entertain the thought of signing you. He's secure up for basically all of that. That's basically why he was brought in. I mean, they were 500 when he was hired, he probably he's gearing up, he's, he's probably, he's going through his head. He's like, okay, there's maybe a limit as to what I should do. Like maybe I shouldn't swing big here. Yeah. Doesn't want to mess up the vibes. I mean, coming, coming into the job, he set up the team, letting them know like all of you are expendable. Like he was probably so many of you guys lose one game. You're all gone. They proceeded to not lose one game. He probably had so many ideas on what he was going to do, shipping out a few players, maybe making a big move and all that's been thrown in the trash. And I don't know, I'm pretty confident in saying he's not going to make like a big splash move.

42:39He might make some like depth moves. I don't think he wants to mess up the vibes. I think that's why he hasn't made moves this entire time. No, I mean, it makes sense. I think, obviously there's enticing names out there like Robert Thomas suddenly maybe being likely being on the move and maybe Kyru not too far behind and Patterson, it sounds like it's finally going to happen. But I mean, I think, you know what it is, it's crazy to say as much as we've talked about. It's like, shit, dude, like maybe they don't need to add big, not in terms of like, like not that this team is Stanley Cup contender and they don't need to like rework something, but it's like, you know, what you have in place is so good and disruption of chemistry isn't real thing. I mean, if you, like, if you're getting a Kyru or a Thomas, I don't think Noah Osslin

43:40surviving that trade, no. See you're able to pawn off Hellenius instead for like a Kyru. If you're going out to Robert Thomas, Noah Osslin is not staying on this team and there's just no way and like you almost can't do that. He's one of one of your best players almost can't do. I'm not saying like you should weigh that conversation, right? Like Robert Thomas, like, players like him are not available in trade. But like if you look past Thomas, like if Thomas looked at you and said, well, I have no trade clause. I don't want to go there. If Kyru looked at you and said, well, I have no trade clause, I don't want to go there. You know, how much higher can you really like are you going to go after a Vinny Troll check? I was going to say I know his name's out there. Are you going to go after, you know, Patterson at this point, like, no, unless you're getting rid of Norris and I don't feel like they get rid of Norris in season while he is healthy currently. He's been good and he's been good. Shane Wright's name is kind of out there.

44:42It's interesting. Like I would do that over Quinn, but I think I'm going to do that. I don't know. This guy. I don't know see if Nashville is going to do anything. I would be all in on O'Reilly. Like I would be all in on Coleman. I think those are like high reward ads that you might there's a high cost for them probably, but they don't I don't feel like those with disrupt your chemistry, but like that's it. Like I don't think, you know, like, Pinaran would have been fun. I mean, you absolutely could have done that trade, but I mean, he was bound for the big city. It seems like they made the wrong move. He's probably kicking himself out pretty shortly after three games into his tenure. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's, you know, hope for a bit if they trade for Robert Thomas. I'm still going to be incredibly stoked. I mean, it's hard not to, but it's like, if they don't, it's not like, well, this team

45:45needs this. Like, they're on pace for a hundred and fucking four points. With what they have with injuries with all of that chemistry thing is a real thing. I'm trying to find right now because they've had so many injuries that they've been able to keep a lot of, they've been able to keep like the same guys in Buffalo, like even if they've been on IR, they've been in Buffalo. Like what was their last actual like meaningful move that would have quote unquote disrupted chemistry? Was it sending no oath on down before coming to Adams got fired? Like, I think it actually was now that I'm looking at it. Maybe millennials, maybe because he was, I thought he was good, but I don't think that's a chemistry thing because he was, it was only such a, you know, it was only nine games. I think that was more of like a team. Like I think they made their team worse by doing that, but that's it. Yeah, I do very much disagree with not burning the ELC, like I do think you should be on

46:49the roster. It's not like they need it, you know, it's not like they need need it. Like if Norris goes down again and they don't bring a plenus, then like, yeah, like what are we doing here? Yeah. But you've got to payton crabs to supplement Zach Benson and like, this isn't a playoff series, right? Like it's not like do or die. They're refusing to play hand on you. It's, it's March 1st. So it kind of does make some what's of sense. Yeah. And no matter if they make some sort of decision, make some sort of trade, someone's getting sent down like that. At this point, it's Bryson, who seems like just a culture guy at this point. It has been for years, Christian's favorite culture guy or the 13th forward would probably be done. It looks like at this point, but they didn't even send them down before the Olympic break. So it's definitely, I think over these past few months, I think this group has grown tighter.

47:56I think their leadership group has really, you know, taken control and helped this team get to where they are. And it's definitely a conversation we had that you might not want to break up the chemistry. Like this isn't, of course, any time, I mean, the goal at the end of the ever season is to win the Stanley Cup, but let's be realistic. Like, we haven't made the playoffs in frigging 14 years. That's just make the playoffs like you, I don't think you have to have to make a big splash move and go and go for the Stanley Cup. Like, I think that will be an off-season type of move and it's next season, that's the conversation. Where do they rank in the East? Is it third? I think so. Like, I don't mean in terms of like the actual standings. Like, are they the third best team in the East? Do you believe in that? Do you put that? There's a Pittsburgh. There's a Pittsburgh. There's a Pittsburgh. I think are right there. Or Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is up there. They have 13 overtime losses. I'm not buying it. And they've caused me out for the next month.

48:57I think Canadians are really on the other team up there. There are one point behind us, but they do have a game at hand. If I said the Buffalo Saber, if I tweeted out, the Buffalo Sabers are a Stanley Cup contender. Am I getting ratioed to hell? I don't think to hell. I just at best, they're the third best team in the conference. They're just not better than hurricanes and not better than lightning. Yeah. If you met, I mean, they're pat to the playoffs. I mean, look, this is why the second seed in the Atlantic is so necessary. You would avoid them, both of those two in the first round. And if you, if you got, you have a chance. If you won the first round matchup, there's a good chance you maybe never have to play those guys. Not a, I shouldn't say, should not say good chance. There is a chance, you know, you would play most likely you're playing Tampa in this next round. And you'd have to deal with that. Then after that, I mean, Carolina would have to go through two rounds to get to the Eastern

49:57Conference final and there's a chance of an upset, you know, it beats, it beats having to play one of them in the first round if you're a wild card team. You know, I think this, maybe this is, maybe this is all one big mistake. The way we're framing this, like, hey, this is your last year of Alex. Talk possibly this is, this could be your best chance. I mean, we've talked about that we talked about that a ton when we were thinking about tearing this all down when you know, like, look at, like, look at, we'll look at where the Rangers are right now compared to where they were two years ago, like, they had a three year window and that was it. And they really had two good chances at it or look at the police, look at the, I mean, in the least word, I mean, the least had a prolonged period, even though, you know, like, I passed the first round twice, but look at the devils, the devils had one good shot. Like, they were thinking at the end of 2023, that sucked. We're losing guys, but we're still going to be around.

50:58They've had one shot. They are what? Jack Hughes was drafted in 2019. They are six years, six years into this and if it had one good shot with him, you know, maybe this is it. Maybe they should go all in. Like, I won't be, I won't be mad if we walk into next, you know, if we walk into Saturday night and you're playing Nashville and your upgrades are like Teddy Bluger and I don't know, Tyler Myers. I mean, I won't be happy with Tyler Myers, but like, the vision, like, I won't be mad at that. You're shoring up your biggest, your biggest issues right now are your fourth line and your bottom pair. Maybe you can make the argument for like, Jack Quinn and the third line, but I mean, the fourth line, these last three games has clearly been, I think, your weakest point. And then your third pair, I mean, that's has been a strength, but like, Kessel rings been, you know, not that. So I think it's more or less that with how Yarmul has treated this team since he came

52:05into the position that this is the team that will take us to the playoffs. They've got, they've been so damn good. These last two and a half months, like, this is, this is the team. This is what they're going with and it's been working. So I don't see them making a big move. Of course, it'd be awesome if they do. I just, I'm not sure if it's the most realistic thing. It's less the case with this team compared to the team I'm going to bring up, which was the 22, 23 team, like the 22, 23 team did not do a lot of the trade deadline. They traded for a Jordan Greenway who was hurt, surprise, prize and a Riley and Riley still meant like that was it. And I think there's still criticism to go around during that period of what Adam should have done. Like, maybe they should have done the team of my trade that we kind of scoffed at at the time or something along those lines. Like that team, if that team got in, imagine if that 22, 23 team got in, that team spent

53:10the least amount of money with a youngest team in hockey, making that would mean the world. If it was them and them by themselves, like it was that group that got them in, it wasn't a big trade at the deadline. And with this group, you're already on your way to that. They need to go, what, 10 and 12 to get to 96 points, 10 and 12, they're going to be sub 500 and get to 96 points. I mean, right, because what they're at 76 right now, correct? Yep. Yep. So yeah, 10 wins, like, that's it. 10 wins, you were 10 wins away from 96 points. And I think I saw a state today that 97 points, no team in NHL history has ever missed the playoffs with 97 points, not once. So you could go 10, 11 and one and get to 97 points, like this group has already proven

54:11to the league that like they're good enough to buy into and, you know, just like doing that by themselves, like yeah, that that symbolically just means the world. And I think it would mean a lot, I don't want to say it would mean a lot to that room if they got know up. So don't get this twisted. Yarmul Kekalainen needs to add to this team. Do not get this twisted. If he walks, I know we were joking about it earlier, like, oh, you know, ha ha, like what if he doesn't make a move, like, oh, it's still kept an end up team, like we're laughing at it. But no, he needs, he needs to add, like you can't waste this and not shore up the D. But I don't think the ad needs to be core altering. You don't need to add a Robert Thomas, you don't need to add a Jordan Cairo right now. You don't need to get desperate, right? I mean, that's what St. Louis has been looking for. They're looking for teams that are desperate. You know, I think that's like what the terminology that Elliott Friedman used about Utah when talking about Robert Thomas, like they're desperate to make the playoffs.

55:14I mean, they might go out and do something stupid this week with Thomas. Well, then the service of that playoff, I mean, like this what we've been talking about, you know, long terms to sustainable, you know, what did Kekalainen say? Like we're not just trying to make the playoffs. We're trying to win the Stanley Cup and, you know, going out and trading for a Thomas or a Cairo as much as like I am open to it. And if it happens, I'll be pretty fucking stoked. There is a scenario where it's too much. And it's not what the team needed right now. So, you know, heading into this trade deadline week, like, you know, tap or your expectations because guys, this isn't like, this isn't 2223, this isn't a team or like, yeah, like that, that team, you know, we talked about Jacob Chircoran at the time, like, yeah, Jacob Chircoran was kind of needed on that team, you know, because we kind of have one right now in a bow and bar room, ish, you know, Chircoran is a better player, but like that type of player, it's not a team that needs a team of Meyer, it's not, it's not that they're

56:17on pace over a hundred points, it's March 1st, it's March 1st. So expect additions, want for additions, you know, don't expect the sun and the moon because, I mean, look, look at, look at this team, look, look at them, you know, like, do you go into Tuesday night, scared of Agus whatsoever, like that team's first place in their division. I think they're fraudulent, we all know that, but like, that's the first place in their division team and, or close to it. And I don't care, like, I just think my team's better than, fly it out. I think the Buffalo Sabers are better than any Western team, not named the avalanche, the wild or the stars in the East, it's any team, not named Caroline or Tampa Bay, that there's six plays in the NHL, and I think it's deserved. I think that's where they stand, a fully healthy roster.

57:17Shit, man, I mean, well, yeah, that's the thing. They're not even quote, unquote, fully healthy. Like, all of the things that we're talking about making additions to, it would be what the fourth line or the third pair most likely, I hate the conversation of, you know, injured players coming back and they're quote, unquote, trade line acquisitions, but counter, counter timons coming back, there's your, you know, there's a third pair guy when Justin Danforth comes back, there's a fourth fine guy who can hopefully help out with the scoring. Greenway is probably not coming back, but maybe Coolique makes a return and like, there's another guy, like, I just, they have guys still on the team that are just hurt that could come back and fill the roles that we're kind of looking for right now, too. So it's, it's weird situation. I also do wonder not to accuse my hockey team of faking injuries or lying to the league,

58:20but I do wonder what like four o'clock on trade deadline Friday looks like when the roster limit is expanded. How many guys are elevated off the IR? Like as Timon's been maybe quietly healthy this whole time has Danforth or so, like, can they not skate with the team and can they not skate with the team because rules dictate that, but even though they've quietly been healthy, like, is it, is it one of those situations? I don't, I like, I don't expect it with like a Coolique or anything like that, but, you know, I, I don't, I think it goes back to the goal setting. They don't want to lose Ellis, you know, it is good insurance, you know, like I support the three goalay rotation. I support three goalies on the roster watch it watch I support three goalies on the roster. It's got to be a two goalay rotation. And that third goal is got to be prepared to not play for long stretches like I get that. I think how long have we been predicting that that's what they were going to do with

59:22those three? I feel like a long while here, at least when the trade deadline started to like get into site and like every single game that the three goal tender was three goalay rotation was going to affect the roster, somebody went down with an injury. It was, it was one of those things. So I do wonder what, what the IR shakes out to be in about a week's time. I do as much as we've framed this conversation where we're probably not going to make any big moves. I do think if Robert Thomas and Jordan Cairo are legitimately out there and are actually going to get traded by the deadline, you do have to be in those conversations though because I do feel like ideally like ideally next off season, especially assuming tuck walks, we're going to need to make a big make a big move. And if Cairo and Robert Thomas are still on the blues going into the off season, those are going to be two of our top trade targets.

1:00:22So I do think if they are going to get traded now, like you do have to seriously consider it. Yeah, I should also prevent as I said, they've been looking for a lot. So you do have to be careful. I do want to preface this by saying like when we get to the off season and like that caliber trade has been made, like it's like JP said, they, this team is going to need that with tuck probably being gone. And I think like this is a 100 point team, right? Stanley Cup contenders, you know, they're traditionally 110 point teams like in that range, like how do you add six, seven, eight, nine, I guess not, not nine, but like five, six, seven points to your roster, it's like, you know, adding another big time player. And I think that if they, if, if Kekalainen does not make that trade now, I am expecting him to make it in the off season. I have just, my perspective is I completely understand if he, if he waits this out, like

1:01:24if he just shores up the team's deficiencies and they go on a fun run, they win a playoff round, maybe even frigging two and have a grave ride, rejuvenate the fan base, get people to buy in on this team, get the Sabers names off of no trade lists after this year. Yeah, the summer I'm going to expect something big, you know, not maybe life, not core, not like, I want to expect a Robert Thomas, because they're not too many Robert Thomas is in the lead, but like a Jordan Cairo, like, yeah, or like a, like when Florida traded for Sam Reinhardt, something like that, you know, that's why like I really love the Blake Coleman idea, because I think the team is missing another Josh don't. Maybe they're missing something higher, maybe something closer to a Robert Thomas, but like another Josh zone in the lineup is maybe what they're missing. And like Blake Coleman is exactly that. He's an older version of that, a much older version, but he is that.

1:02:25So, you know, when we're talking about this trade deadline, I just, I don't want it to all ride or die on this, you know, because this is a big opportunity and I think he could, you know, really take advantage of this run that they can go on, but I am still like, you know, he's got a lot of things to juggle this off season and I think just enjoying the ride now, I mean, not enjoying the riders, the wrong way of saying it, because it sounds like he's almost procrastinating or, you know, just not paying attention to his duties until the season's over, but like he's going to, you know, we're going to have the Lindy Ruff conversation after this season, Alex dot conversation is not done. So I have high hopes for the off season in terms of additions, I'm excited for this week, but I'm also expecting like, you know, make my team better, you don't need to make it incredibly better, you know, I mean, the last necessary, less what to trade deadlines,

1:03:27we quote unquote make core altering decisions, Norris for cousins and mits for biome, like I just, they don't have to make a decision like that right now. So we'll see what happens. I mean, realistically, the only quote, quote, core move I could see, and I know quite a bit of the fan base one, it would be Jack Quinn. I'm not saying he's part of the core, but like he's, I think he's the one top nine forward that you kind of upgrade with, but I just, he's set that for its guy and I just don't see it happening. And I've been saying this, like you could do that with consta and that would satisfy me. You know, trade someone's podcast said that Jack Quinn might not be tradable a few weeks ago. So yeah, who was that? Who was that? I mean, at that point, that third night was producing like crazy, but now I don't, at least I don't think he's going to be traded, I just, you're right, like that's the highest part of the lineup where you look at something you're like, something should

1:04:30change there. Like I think they'd be better off if they made something there and it's like I said, they could do that internally and I'd be satisfied. So that's where, you know, that's how I feel about that. And just to add on to the off season point, even if you kept talk somehow, like I will say, you know, if we were to play off rounds, maybe hope drop his price, who freaking knows? I mean, we'd more rumors come about that. They were going to talk about, even if we kept talk, we still have to make a big move in the off season. And if you lose talk, then you probably have to make like one or two moves. Yeah, yeah, keeping talk makes that a lot harder though, you know, like that's $8 million. Sure. Go on, like then feel like if talk stays, you kind of have the Josh Norris conversation then, you know, I don't, I don't know if you should be having the conversation. Like, you can't make a big move without shedding big money. If you want to bring in a Robert Thomas in the off season, like got to move $8 million

1:05:34and there's only one other $8 million contract on the team. So that's just where my mind goes. But like, you know, like I said, that's an off season conversation. And I just, yeah, I don't know. I just don't think talk sticking around, but, you know, we can, we can touch on that in a sec because before we get into that, a word from our sponsor. If you're hurting a car, you can call our sponsor William Attar, 8444444444444. With a focus on motor vehicle accidents, the team at William Attar has handled thousands of cases like yours. Let them help you get the money you deserve after a motor vehicle accident. Ride share, truck, motorcycle car, only call William Attar, 84444444444. The Chris Johnston had a little, a little interesting nugget that he, he put out. I think it was in his podcast. Uh, it's funny because I think last episode, I said one of his whole long tangent about

1:06:37how like I'm very tired, but the Alex talked off. Like it's so clearly not going to happen. Yada, yada, yada. Well, I'm bringing it up only because this is a new piece of information, which I guess kind of makes sense, but it's still interesting to hear. The Sabers official offer to talk is in the eight, the $8 million range. I think with how the market is, with how Kempe was just paid, I think that would be amazing for the Sabers, but I think that's kind of insultingly low with how the market's been looking. I think that's really like a screw you, like, even if it comes out here, Alex talk could sign for like a, he could sign for like a two year, maybe not two year, but like a four year deal at eight and a half, and I'm still not feeling fantastic about that.

1:07:38Like eight million dollars feels fair for him. I guess maybe that's just like, I am just so against the idea of $10 million, but it's kind of encouraging to know that $8 million is where the Sabers stand. I think that's kind of the correct place to be. It's almost too correct. I'm almost like, we've gone a bit lower, maybe, these contracts like to find themselves in the middle. And if we find ourselves in the middle of that, we're on the nines, which don't exactly love. I think it's just nice to hear, especially considering Yarno's comments when he first got hired that we want to, we need a resigned talk and we need to keep him here. And I think the front office and Yarno are kind of in the same opinion as us that that's just too much money for too many years. So I don't think they'll be handing out an extension and if he does resign here, it's

1:08:40not going to be for as much as he probably wants. If you were to put up a signage, go ahead. I'm just, if the Sabers break the drought and maybe want to play a fronter too, I do wonder if that changes talks mind on taking a hometown discount. I, from his standpoint, I still don't think it should. He's been grossly underpaid for years now, but I give him all the power in all the power in the world to do that. Like I literally say, Alex talk is potentially the most underplay player and underpaid player and hockey over the last seven years, or eight, I think the contracts were on eight years. No player and hockey is maybe been paid less given what talk has been put out, especially his time as a saver. I give him all the power in the world. And yeah, the kept big contract is the going right. I just, this team cannot do that, especially the conversation we just had about a big ad about taking this team to the next level.

1:09:42And I don't think an Alex talking his 30s is, is going to do then. I don't think for 10.6 plus million dollars, it's, I don't, I don't think it's there. But, you know, like JP said, well, we'll see. If you were to put a percentage on an Alex talk extension right now, heading in a trade deadline week, what are you putting it at? This week, 0%. I don't think that's, I guess that's to be signed this week before the other season. Yeah. I think it's super low. They're just, they're way off or no, they're, they're $3 million off. I think you go into the off season, the savers have a good playoff run, maybe I can maybe move that up to like 20 or 30%, but right now, I don't think there's almost any possibility that he signed an extension with how far at least they're off. Just humor me. Would you put an Alex talk trade percentage at 0%?

1:10:43They would, not even a chance to do that right now. Not even a chance. They'd be insane to do that right now. What if Alex talked, walked into Yarmul Kekalainen's office is like, I fucking hate you. Get me out of here. Yeah. Yeah, I never know. Crazier things have happened. I bet. I'd given a 1% chance, not happening. That would be very, we just talked about core altering and vibe altering. That would be probably the worst possible move I think you can make at the trade deadline. Top line player, top penalty killer. I don't a captain, you know what Alex talk reminds me of. He reminds me of the friggin power play at the time. I feel like I, I, I've become a what, maybe not so much, because the power play is just straight up bad. And Alex talk is not that, but it's just like, Alex talk just doesn't, it is still throughout this whole season, just doesn't feel like his normal self. Like I do feel like he's, especially now that the contract is not going to happen until

1:11:47this season is over. I feel like he's playing careful, and I understand that, but I also, like I come away almost like disappointed a lot of games, but then it's like, well, he's got goals in two straight. And he was what plus plus two at five on five in New Jersey. So I don't know if he's still second on the team and scoring. Yeah, he's tied with Dallin with 51 points. He's the only other forward other than Tage that has above 20 goals. Like don'ts. That's funny. It doesn't. It's like it's that type of year. No, don'ts going to get to 20 Zucker probably will to he's at 15. Other than that though, like I don't know if they have another 20 goal score, and you'd be trading way of 30 goal score, he's, he's at 24 right now. He's probably, it's a 30, like, I don't know. It doesn't feel like it. If somebody said this man, this feels like Alex, I was just dominating this year. Like it doesn't, I would call bullshit because I don't think it feels like that.

1:12:50I agree with you, but he's 51 points, 59 games, still pretty damn good. Going to get probably close to 70 points. Funny. Funny, funny. All right. Any other thoughts on the Sabers? Final stuff. What about heading into the trade deadline? Any hot takes? Some of these see coming. Who's your number one ad? If you say Tyler Myers, I'm going to reach through my monitor and show you. Hey, Tyler Myers. I don't even know. I don't really know. Like it's any actual targets that I think they're looking at. Or just fourth or third line, fourth line or a third pair of guys and like it's hard to get excited. I don't know. I don't really have any targets, to be honest. Okay. All right. I don't know. What about you?

1:13:50Like, I mean, like I said Coleman's my guy. I think that's just something that feels like it would be a big price. Like I feel like you're talking first round pick. I don't want to give up a Hellenius. Hellenius for that. Or an Ossland, definitely not, but it would be rich, but also I don't feel that would disrupt team chemistry at all. So I think that's my it's like my non Kyru Thomas dream ad. I guess O'Reilly. I feel like O'Reilly is closer to Thomas or Kyru. I don't think he's moving. So that's that's where I'm at. That's that's my guy heading in. We'll see. I don't think he's a guarantee to get moved. Yeah. I got one more Saber's thought I forgot to bring this up earlier. My team is freaking Samson. I mean, the guy's freaking stud. Like, I think genuinely right now, he is our most offensively involved defenseman.

1:14:54And I would have never thought that coming in. I mean, against the devils, he had like three or four great opportunities. He's just the dudes, the dudes are freak. I don't get it. How he's he's just pushing up in the play. He's freed in the play perfectly. It's incredible. Incredible. They have me Saint is something else, the dude's seventh on the team of points. There's more points in Bowen Byron, who's like an offensive specialist almost, even though Byron's been off out of this year, both ends, but he's more points in all power like this. It's so weird. It's so weird. It's team is goofy. They are stew. I don't know what looking back on this team is what looking back on this team in five years is going to look like. No, cool. Is it going to be like the start of something? Is it going to be? Hopefully not. Is this the peak? Is this like the, what the fuck, like what happened this year?

1:15:55I don't know. But I'll tell you what, enjoy the ride. Just enjoy it. Tuesday should be fun. Hopefully, hopefully, yeah, hopefully, all right. The other thing I had before the weekly preview, I might, I might have added another jinx to my collection. Andrew and I recorded an episode about the Amherst last week, which was, what was that February 22nd? I think we recorded that. The Amherst have not won a game since we recorded it. They have lost six straight. I might be a jinx. And they have had one of the worstes and one of the worst losses in recent Amherst history,

1:16:56this past Friday, they lost nine to three to all of our rocket. Leave I had a rough game, yeah. He's been, he's been so good recently and we talked about how he's been so good recently and then he just, of course, goes out and has a tough, tough few games. Are they still going to play off spot? I believe so. I think they had a four chinnet week in terms of, I mean, they've really only got two team. I mean, it's, they're going to, I think they're going to be in a play in game. I think they're going to have that three game series against maybe the Marlies or someone. It's, yeah, them and the Marlies right now. There's six points clear of Belleville with four games in hand. So they're going to be okay. But I think they're, they're, they're chances of avoiding that. It seems like that's gone, which is unfortunate, but, yeah, on, unfortunate, sorry, Amherst,

1:18:03sorry, Rochester fans, that's, that's my bad. We'll do that before playing off position play down there. It's going to be like 70 something 72 72 grand rapids and the other conference is already clinched a playoff position. James, where are you back games left? Where have you been? They are. I know they've been right now. I know they're 41, 8, 3 and 1. I know they've been great. I know they've been great, but the fact that they clinched a playoff spot with what, 20 games left, that's insane. 72 game regular season. So the Amherst have 20 years left. So yeah, I think they'll be okay. I don't think Belleville will catch them. I mean, they just, they just got, they just got Walberg back. Yeah, Walberg's back. Who knows what the trade deadline looks like afterwards. They'll be okay. This is definitely a rough stretch, but they should be able to weather the storm and hopefully

1:19:05get hot in the playoffs, but they just want to apologize for my actions. Recording with Andrew is this past week. All right, on that note, JP, it's another week of Saber's hockey. You know what that means time for the weekly preview might be a long one got four games this week. It's week 20, two games and five days until the trade deadline. So these next two games will see what happens if any, any moves are made, but they face Vegas on Tuesday, Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nashville on Saturday and Tampa on Sunday. Sabers versus Vegas Tuesday at seven. This will be Tage and Eichel's return to Buffalo. It's the Olympic celebration.

1:20:06They're going to have a pregame ceremony celebrating Tage, a rally towel for all fans and attendants. It's like a TNT USA towel looks pretty cool. They said there's going to be USA gold merchandise and there will be a $7 and 20 LeBat pregame happy hour in the main blue zone bar. I do wonder. Now Eichel isn't the only player on team USA on Vegas. They also have no Hanuffin, but if Tage makes some sort of speech, or if he's going to celebrate it, will he bring those two out? Will he bring Eichel out is obviously the bigger question, but Hanuffin does is included in this. Please. What is your final, yeah, probably because Jack was base, Jack Hughes was basically asking him to. Oh, I really hope Tage does something not knowing that Judas is coming back to Buffalo for the return game, Judas is overreacting, but like we went into this in the Patreon

1:21:12exclusive episode last week, not just I can't cheer for Jack. It's not no thank you. I'm not putting any USA hockey accomplishments. Well, if you cheer for him for the gold medal, sure. Anybody who has said forget the past, get over it, get the fuck out of here. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. No. Well, no, I'm not. I don't disagree, but I think I'm just not, I'm not saying boo him, I'm not saying boo him when this happens. I'm just saying I'm not cheering. I'm going to stay up and clap like no, he doesn't deserve that, you know, like all as well. No. No. I agree when it comes to the saber stuff, but I mean, one gold for USA, he didn't win this for you and me, JP. He did not anybody listening in. He did not any Buffalo person is not like you know, yeah, the country. He doesn't. Yeah. He wanted for you know, I'm going to say who we want to say you watch this.

1:22:13He did not win this for the people of Buffalo. So well, get out of here. It's a good thing you won't be in attendance because you're sure of what I also be cheering for. I probably would, but I probably just, I would, exactly. I probably would. No. I will be there. I will probably reluctantly be cheering for him, but then once the puck drops, I mean, I think everybody should start booing him again. Again, I don't think anything should change that. That's cowardly. It is all the time. It is what it is. Don't ever forget how he walked all over people when he came back. Like, don't forget that. That's my thing. Don't forget that. Hey, like joke society like genuinely. This guy showed us true colors when he came back and in and after one night of it was, it was light. I think it was like relatively light booing for the entire game. And then I got bad toward after talk iced it like, yeah, like they were really getting

1:23:15on him. But also, don't forget, Jack was not going to speak that night. He went to the media himself and said all those things. He wanted to say that, but not force to. He didn't. He wasn't forced to walk out there with the media. He didn't see like Paul Hamilton or Mike Harrington's face and just, you know, he didn't just see right after that. No, he did that himself. So I'm not saying he has to be like, is to have beer cans thrown at him, just don't cheer for him. That's all. Don't cheer. Boom. Vegas lost a game a year ago because they wanted Jack to get his moment against the Buffalo crowd. Right. Jack took the lead with a minute left or two minutes left in regulation. I had that smog smile going into the boards. That was a year ago. One year. Don't forget all that. Tangent over. Continue with the weekly preview. It's going to say you done. Hey, some things are bigger than the crest.

1:24:16I'm just crossed over country. Oh, it's crest. Crest over. I agree. Playoff throughout over a two week tournament. 100%. All right. The Knights are 28, 18 and 14. First in the Pacific, we have seven more regulation wins and only six more points in them because they eat more O.T. losses, which is tied with the Kings for most of the league. His team is fraudulent. Like it's they have a good roster, but 14 overtime losses is never fully healthy, too. Like did Stone officially go down with something big today? Puck P.D. He just says he's dead today. He's dead. He's not an IR. Yeah. That. What? That didn't even look like anything big happened there when I didn't see the replay. I just heard you. I don't know. So look at the replay now because somebody tell him that the IR rules have not changed. He promised he's still playing in the last CBA. Yeah. Yeah.

1:25:16Looking at their schedule, they're a very streaky team. They were on a five game losing streak and then a three game winning streak and now in a two game losing streak. And since the break, they've beaten the Kings and lost to Washington and Pittsburgh. Our play is fifth in the league at 25.9. Pellet kill is 10th in the league. Gold turner matchup. We'll see who goes. I don't know if there'll be line or UPL if it's a true split line. We'll probably get this next game and give UPL a little bit of a longer break and give him the Pittsburgh game, I mean, in conference. And then versus Akira Schmid is their main starter and then they've Aiden Hill and Carter. Is he actually Schmid's their number one right now? He's played 30 games. Jesus Christ that team is bad. And you'll see one of the numbers. You'll see why he's the number one. I'll put it that way, but I mean, I've never heard of Akira Schmid before looking at

1:26:21this. I'm going to be honest. I don't know much about him. But he's 16, 7 and 6 and 8.95, 2.55 goals against. He's 41st in the league about neutral when it comes to goals they've both expected. Aiden Hill has played the next amount of games. He's 5, 4 and 3. He's an 8.58, say, percentage, a 3.34 and he's 88th in the league at a 92. Oh my God. And then this other player, he could return against us if he plays. I hope people will boo him Carter heart. He's 5, 3 and 3. He has an 8.71, 3.28 and he's 82nd in the league and go save above expected. Fuck that guy. So, yes, yes, screw him, but Schmid has out of necessity had to have been the starter. I mean, Aiden Hill is 8.58, I had to do a double take when I saw that.

1:27:2158. Injuries, Mark Stone and Carter heart are both day-to-day and could return against us. Carter heart has been played since January 6th. Jonas Rondurg, Brett Hauden and William Carlson are all day-to-day but probably won't turn against us. And Alex Piant, Pete Patrangelo is out for the season. Mark Stone has 21 goals and 39 assists in 43 games. He has the highest points per game on the team. He has 22 power play points, Mariner and his inaugural season with Vegas. He is a point per game with 16 goals and 43 assists. He also has 18 points on the power play. Their power play is very good. So a bunch of their top guys have a bunch of power play points. Thomas Hurdle has 51 points and Pavel Dorol Feyoff has 47 points. Shade Theodore is leading the defenseman, which 27 points in hand if it is 20.

1:28:25They did trade for Rasmus Anderson in mid-January. They traded him for exact White Cloud and a conditional first and second. So they did have a big change up there. They're Olympic medalists. This will be the last week I mentioned it. Rich Mariner, Mark Stone and Shade Theodore, I got the silver with Canada and then Jack Eichel and Noah Hanuffin for USA. And then obviously their only former saber is Jack Eichel. And it looks like I did not actually put him in. But he has 21 goals and 47 assists, so he has 68 points in 52 games. He is doing his thing. He did this game, play a 5-5, they have a really good power play and honestly don't let Eichel take overtages in the night. Did you see this stat? This one is from Liam Blutton on Twitter. The last time Vegas beat a team that is currently in a playoff spot was November 20th.

1:29:36What versus Utah? They have four wins all season versus teams currently in a playoff spot. Holy shit. They beat the hurricanes twice, surprisingly. Thank you. They beat in the Red Wings and they beat in the mammoth. That is it. That's actually insane. I did not. They are fraudulent. Holy shit. I realize how fraudulent they are. That's crazy. Yeah. Wow. Wow. Okay. Well then you better figure one this game. Put it that way. Yeah. Better figure one. Yeah. Sabers are at Pittsburgh Thursday 7. This is a ESPN plus game I believe or I think no I think it's on ESPN. Penguins are 31 15 and 13 second in the Metro. They have one less point than us with one game in a hand and they are third in the league and O.T. losses since the break.

1:30:37They beat in New Jersey, lost to the Rangers in a shootout and beat Vegas. They played Boston on Tuesday before us. They have beaten us twice this year so far. Thanksgiving Eve for two and five two in our last game before the break. Their power plays 11th. Their penalty kills 14th. Bullton or matchup by their UPL or Lion versus R2's Sealows or Stewart Skinner. Sealows is 13.7 and 8.902 or 2.86 and 0.7 goalsave above expected which is 40th in the league. And Stewart Skinner was obviously traded from the Oilers to them since being traded to Pittsburgh. He's 8.42, 8.90 at 2.66 goals against and over the course of the entire season. He is 6.5 goalsave above expected which is 23rd in the league and that is right above UPL. Their injuries Phillip Hollander is day to day and could have returned against us.

1:31:37Jack St. Ivani, Caleb Jones, and Cindy Crosby are all week to week. Obviously Crosby got hurt at the Olympics and he isn't expected back for another few weeks. Peyton Kettles is out for the year. Crosby is leading the team in goals and points but Censys Hurt right now. Their healthy team leader is Malcolm with 47 points and 44 games. Anthony Manta has 45 points, Russ has 43 and Carlson is leading their offence with 34 assists and 4 goals. This is where I wish Crescia was here because his 5th favorite GM Kyle Dubas has made quite a few trades this year. Igor Chinakoff has 10 goals and 4 assists in 21 games. He did trade for Igor Zamula who then was suspended because he didn't report to their A.H.L. team and then they released him shortly after. They traded for Ilya Sal Boyov who has played 5 games and is 3 assists and most recently

1:32:38they traded Brett Kulak for Samuel Gerard who doesn't have a point in 3 games so far. Former Sabers just kind of clipped in, 29 games played 5 points, 31 penalty minutes. I think he's been playing a little more recently but obviously he's been in a lineup and only Olympic medalist is Ceni Crosby who got a silver with Canada and if he was playing it might have been a bit in gold. Key of the game, once again played 5 on 5 some of the best special teams in the league and this is a big in conference game. Right now we're obviously in a division spot but if we're competing for that wild card spot, penguins are in that conversation. So this is one of the bigger ones to win this week. Sabers play Nashville Saturday night at 5.30. This is Youth Hockey Day for the Sabers, the first 5,000 kids in attendance where we

1:33:40received Sabers themed performative glasses. They looked like pit fipers when I saw a picture of it. This is the first game of a back-to-back. The Predators are 27, 24 and 8, 5th in the central. They've been in Chicago and lost 2 Dallas and OT since the break. They played Detroit and Columbus Monday Tuesday and then Boston on Thursday before us. We did beat them a little bit earlier in the season in January, 5-3 and that was a consta alineas game. Power plays 12, penalty kills 14th. The goal tender is UC Soros or Justice Anunin. Soros 21, 17, 6, 8, 92, 3.19 goals against and 87th out of 92 in the league in goal save above expected at a negative 13.1, Anunin is 671 and 888, 3.16 and negative 4.6 goals save above expected, which is 73rd in the league.

1:34:43Their only injury is Adam Willsbury in his day to day and should return this week. Philip Forsberg has 48 points, Stamcoast has 30 goals and 16 assists having a good season. Luke Evangelista has 36 assists and 44 points. Roman Yosi is leading the defenseman with 40 points and 47 games. I always love throwing Jonathan Martiusso in there for the Predators who has 17 points in 40 games. Former Sabers, Ryan O'Reilly team leading in points and he has 21 goals and 36 assists, they also have Tyson Joes who has 8 points in 46 games. Their Olympic medalist stayed Eric Hala and Yosi Soros for Finland getting the bronze. Leave the game, their goalies have not been good this year that get a bunch of shots on net and play more than one period. Last game they almost came back against us after Consta had that great first period. So if you play a full 60 minutes you should beat this team.

1:35:47And then Sabers are playing Tampa Sunday at 6 p.m. This will be on MSG. This is Girls and Women in Sports Day at the Arena. This is their second game of a back-to-back which is the third time this season we will be playing Tampa on the second half of back-to-back. Utterly ridiculous. It is ridiculous but this time Tampa is also on the second half of back-to-back so no rough disadvantage if anything at least Buffalo is home for both of these games. The Lightning are 38, 16 and 4, first in the Atlantic, second in the conference, 4 points in front of us but they do have two games in hand but we face them two more times. They beat Toronto and then lost the Caroline and us since the break. John Cooper said after we beat them that the last two games have been all acceptable. So I have a feeling they will be fired up for the next game against us. They play Minnesota on Tuesday, Winnipeg on Thursday and then Toronto on Saturday before

1:36:50us. Right now it is a season series split so far and we face them for a 4 time on April 6th. Their power plays 14th, penalty kill is 5th, goal tenor match-up, Provincy Vassalashky again. He's still had an incredible year, 28, 8 and 3, 9 and 17 and 2.2 and he's thrown in the league and goal save above expected. He was 17, 0 and 1 in his last 18 games before facing the Buffalo Sabers. And all of his stats have since dropped. You know what I'm saying, 10, 8 and 1, 8, 9 and 2.98 and he's 67th in the league, goal save above expected. Injuries, Gage, Gone Coulves and Dominic James are day-to-day and should be back against us. Nick Paul is also day-to-day but probably won't be available, then Maxwell Crosier is more to month. Kutroff, third in the league and points with 95 points and second in the league with

1:37:50assists at 64, Gensel 26, goal 37 assists, Reli's 35 points, Dara Radish 17 goals 37 assists, JJ Moser set a plus 40 which is tied for second in the league and then headman has 15 points in 24 games, former Sabers Hagle 28 goals 27 assists, Gurgensen 7 goals 7 assists and Jonas Johansson. All of a sudden, this is a huge division game. If you take this one, the division might actually be in reach depending on how the rest of this week goes. So this is a huge one, you're going to be the rest advantage basically with being home. But with that being said, I still think they're the best team in the conference, just trying to get a point. But if you get up on them early, you saw what happened last game and be ready for a scrappy game. It is going to be very scrappy with how the end of the second and how the third went.

1:38:53So be ready for that. So the end of the day, we got Vegas at home on Tuesday, Tages return to Buffalo at Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nashville Saturday in Tampa on Sunday. This is a big week for special teams as every single one of each team's special teams for power play and penalty kill are both in the top half of the league. So it will be a big test for our power play and penalty kill. Let's try and go three and one two two and one or two one and one. If you're going to win any of them, Lightning is obviously the most important and then Pittsburgh is next, but Nashville and Vegas aren't exactly the best. So I think keep it rolling. Maybe go on a little bit of a win streak here and then see what happens on Sunday against Tampa. There in ice sit on I would say, man, it's tough to say that like these next three are,

1:40:00they're almost must wins. I think if Vegas at home, Pittsburgh, Oh, Crosby, and then, yeah, I mean, a pretty good Nashville team, but you also get them at home. So we were in a playoff race after every game is the most one. That's right. It is scoreboard watching season. It's the March to the playoffs, meaningful games in March. And it's for real this time. I wish Christian was here, the weather, the temperature is supposed to get up to 68 degrees next Saturday. It's here. I say it's almost sure. It's almost shorts and shorts and sandals to the arena weather, we are getting there. I don't I don't want to do it yet. I have this long spiel and we're getting close to it, envisioning what it could be like.

1:41:00That first playoff game is coming over so close. If the playoffs started today, they'd be hosting game one, game one. I mean, my God, like game one, forget about like hoping that the series comes back tied against like a Tampa Bay or a Carolina or like expecting that it's going to be 2-0 when you come back and you have to fight to get back in the series like game one. If it started today, utterly ridiculous. This team rocks. I love them. Closing thoughts. I don't think I got anything, but I did just want to do a quick, I don't know, shout, not even a shout out, but I received a DM from someone last week, they said they bought

1:42:02something a thrift store and that you figured the pod would be a good laugh. But then they didn't send a picture of what it actually was. So if you're listening to this, that is the reason I did not respond. First of all, I don't look at my Instagram DMs that much. Jonah knows this. We have the group chat. He didn't send stuff all the time. He never responds. I, I responded and everyone of my other group chats, acceptance. I'm not on that much, but if you are listening who sent me the DM send us a pick and we'll take a look. So shout out there, but no, nothing else. The Sabers team is a wagon, they're on a warpath. Just keep it going and keep the vibes high and let's see how the trade done line goes. Like I hope I was thinking about this. I haven't brought this up to Jonah or Christian yet. Last time the Sabers made a big trade, we want to live that night. It would be awesome if we could do that again this week. And of course, that was the Paturka doughnut and customer trade.

1:43:03It would be awesome if we done that because we haven't livestreamed since then. No, so maybe we'll have a fun week. We will see. We shall see. But until next time, thank you very much for listening. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at the Saber Report, also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube at the Saber Report. If you listen to this on YouTube, be sure to like, share and subscribe. Leave a comment down below. Lots of positive talk about the team today. Talk about the trade deadline. Leave a comment below on who your favorite potential ad is, who you think the Sabers should go after, who they should stay away from, with love to hear your input. If you want updates on the pod, you can follow us at at Saber Report. Pod, go give our friends over at the Buffalo Sports Talk podcast. A listen, off-season mode has engaged and we are coming up on free agency.

1:44:06It's this month, right? Yeah, I think it's relatively low. It's got to be really soon as usually like middle March, I think. I mean, the Combine, I don't know if it just wrapped up, I know that the Combine has been going on. I don't know when it actually wraps up. Free agency is March 11th, so not this upcoming week, but next week, so definitely have a lot to talk about and they love stuff like the Combine and Draft, so they are getting fully into that. Yes, they are, and they do great coverage during this period. So I cannot recommend them enough, so go give them a listen. Aside from that, I want to take a moment, give a big thank you to both our core tier patrons and our name tier patrons, our name tier patrons, Derek, the Strickey, Nick Santos, Tageno Slug, Grant Budney, and Zach Banzin.

1:45:07I could not do this without you guys. Thank you very much for your support. Thanks for being the first. I'm going to the first wave of patrons to join on with us and getting access to all our exclusive content seems like everybody is enjoying it. And if you're listening to this now and you're not, well, be sure to hop on. It's a fun ride. Great content that we offer. Hope to see you there. But on that notes, we'll see you guys next time. Take care. Happy trade deadline week. And as always, go savers. Go savers.