Episode 236: A USA Miracle

0:00Hello, everyone. Welcome to the ice cold takes podcast. I'm your host Joey DeMeglio. I'm riding solo here today. We're back. We're back. Olympic break is over NHL's back on the Rangers are back in action, but that will not be the focus of today's episode. No, sir. No, ma'am. Today's episode will be focusing on team USA, the United States, USA. It was a miracle. Finally, for the first time in 46 years, the United States won the gold medal in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics. Wow. What a great game that gold medal game was. I mean, this rivalry between Canada and USA. It's always been there, but going back to last year with the four nations face off, that was an incredible tournament. You guys heard what I said last year about it. I loved it. I hope they do that again. We need more of this. The best on best action is, you know, it's so cool.

1:06It's like this stuff. You think about when you're kids. It's like, all right. Who would you rather have? Would you rather have McCormick, and then Mick David? Would you rather have Matthews, Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes? Like that's freaking awesome. That's so cool. Like two fantasy teams dueling it out. You get to see that. And it's like, there's not enough star power. It's like, it's not like one is overshadowing the other. It's all there. Everyone's, everyone's performing. Everyone's getting along. Everyone's getting along and stuff like everyone wants to win. This is awesome. Great tournament. USA pulling off. I'm going to call it the upset because they were not the better team this year. They were not. Cold Metal game. I called it a reverse of last year's four nations final. USA where the candle was dominated, but gold funding saved them and they came away with the championship this time. USA was dominated and gold tending saved them. Thanks to Connor hella book. And they came away with the championship, the gold medal, Jack Hughes, man.

2:12I have so much respect for that kid now, loses a tooth, multiple teeth in the third period comes back like nothing happened and scores a game winning goal. Man, I'd never been happier to root for a devil's player in my life. What a great moment that was not just for him, but or for the team, but for the country. I mean sports and politics. Yeah. We'll get into that in a little bit, but this is this is such a great tournament. I can't say enough good things about the rivalry like USA and Canada. It's all a lot of people saying like, oh, we the better team didn't win, but I'm like, yeah, exactly. Look at last year, USA was clearly the better team. Canada had no business winning that game and they were fortunate enough to come through in the clutch. Big David. They got the gold tending, right? USA clearly was the better team and they didn't win. It sucks to be you.

3:13We talk about this with the Rangers all the time. That's literally the Rangers formula over the past. I don't know. Decade plus two decades going back the long quest. You know, don't deserve to win, but your goal tender makes all the saves in the world and you're fortunate enough to be in a one goal game. Timely power play or timely goal here or there and you win the game. Yeah, that's, that's the formula. Sometimes it works like that, but is that a recipe for continued for long success? No, but USA is not that kind of team. They are a very solid team. They played defense. They they played up and down the ice. I mean, they they have scoring on all their lines. Their power play came through the penalty kill was incredible. Thanks to Tro check and Miller. Shout out to those guys. Even though a lot of us myself included didn't think they deserve to be there. They played their asses all good for them. I'm glad they came away with the gold. I'm glad USA came with the gold.

4:14Listen, Connor held up to he came up clutching a game that mattered for the first time as like a fan of hockey. I always criticize that guy because it always seems like the jets show in the playoffs and it's about time he came away. The supposed best goalie in the league came away with a winning an actual win, right? Not a regular season win, a championship win. So good for Halibuk. I'm glad he was able to get the monkey off his back there. Maybe you could go win a Stanley Cup now. I don't know. I don't think this is the year for Winnipeg, but definitely not for the Rangers. There's so much stuff to talk about with with this game, like both on the ice and off the ice. It just meant so much. Of course, you have team USA paying tribute to Johnny Goodrow who had his life taken from him along with his brother tragically a couple years ago, still not over that. What a gesture it was for them to take the his two kids, two of his three kids and bring them to the team photo. That was incredible.

5:18I was getting goosebumps when I saw them celebrating that was unbelievable. They used him as like as like a lightning rod. They did it for him and it was truly special. It's there it was their own it was also we talk a lot about this with the Rangers a lot of fans say like, oh, we need to be left at 94 Rangers. No, you need to be your own team. This team that the United States built for vastly vastly more talented than than the 1980 Olympic squad vastly. It's not even close. There are two different teams. We're not comparing them. It's just so nice that for the first time in 46 years, you have another American team that wins a gold medal that overcame the odds. All right, hockey is thriving in the United States. This is a great place to be in. This is something that I've always wanted. This goes back to when I was first starting to watch hockey. I'll never forget in 2010. That was the Olympic year.

6:24It was in Vancouver, USA and Canada played for gold and 10 year old me had my heart. Now, I don't even think I was 10. I was like, nine. I had my heart, my American heart ripped out of my chest by Sidney Crosby when he scored that gold gold medal winning goal. And I had to wait 16 years for them to get their revenge. I thought they would have it four years later when TJ Oshie pulled off a miraculous fee in the shootout against Russia. They didn't even medal that year. Then four years after that, they didn't go to the Olympics. Then four years after that, COVID happened. So the NHL didn't go to the Olympics. Now, I had to wait another four years. So 16 years to get revenge in that moment. Oh, and how sweet it was, man. Oh, boy. I honestly, I didn't, I've got nervous when USA made it to it was in overtime in the quarter finals against Sweden. I was like, dude, it's anybody's ball game, especially if it's three on three, which by the way, I didn't like that.

7:29I thought that was stupid. I was not a fan of that, but you know what? The United States almost called them the Rangers. United States came away with two victories in the extra time. Two, so they had the clutch gene in them. When Hughes was fantastic, this entire tournament, Zach Rensky, completely underrated, man. I think he's one of the better defensemen in the league. I don't think he gets enough credit. The pass he made to set up Hughes for the goal. Incredible. What a play by him. And of course, Jack Hughes. Man, I remember last year I was calling him out. He did not show up. He, he shrunk. He shrunk in the spotlight. When the ice got, got smaller, kind of like a panarin. He was a no show last year. This year, oh boy, he made us pay made our words. Oh my goodness. He was fantastic, unbelievable. What an inspiration to the younger to younger generations. Like the, I also love like the way that they acted too. Like they did it for the country. Like that's what I'm talking about. That's inspirational.

8:39That's what makes me like, you know, jump up and down and like want to run through brick wall. And of course, Mike sold them with it with the quote of the night after that. I know the game was played in the morning, but you know what I mean? That the team was built a certain type of way. There's milk drinkers and there's whiskey drinkers. That's incredible. I, I just wish the Rangers had more of those whiskey drinkers that he speaks of. Chris, your time is running short there, buddy. I don't have any faith in you. We talked about this a couple of weeks ago in the last episode of the show. I guess I could get back into it later. So much good came out of this. This is a moment for the country to celebrate. Not to be up in arms, not to fight with each other. This is where we come together. Right. I think that's what the Olympics are meant for for us to, to unite as and root for everybody.

9:40Everyone that wears that flag that's from this country, you know. I always, and then I always look at the bragging rights too. Of course, you know, USA versus Canada. You know what would happen last year? I thought that was very fun. Certainly better than the stupid all-star game than no one cares about. It's our nation against yours. If we win, we get to laugh at you. And if you win, you get to laugh at us. Like, that's, that's it. That's sports to me. That's all it is is what it goes back to from when I was when I was a kid in school. When my team lost and I had to go when I'm a Jets fan, my team lost. I came in all my Giants friends. They all made fun of me because I my team sucks. You know what? That's what we deal with. And when my team beats the other team, you sure as hell, I'm going to put it right back in their face, especially if it's a Philly fan. I'm going to shove it in your face. You're damn right. That's what it that's what it's all about for me as a fan sports and politics.

10:42This is the conversation we need to have in this. This is the ice cold take segment. The locker room celebration. Of course. This made me really irritated, but remember the ice cold take is an accurate statement back by backs and observations. That is solid in nature similar to a block of ice. IE is spot on claim. Okay. So if you missed it in case you're delivering under a rock. The United States won the gold medal. Of course. They're celebrating in the locker room as all championship teams do. And, you know, I want to preface this segment by just saying this. So, you know, as always. This show is not meant to be political. Don't come to me for your political viewpoints. Just don't do that. I don't want this show to be like this. But when it comes to my doorstep, I'm going to deal with it accordingly. It's happened multiple times like with the Rangers over the years. And I've dealt with it without expressing any, you know, extreme views or getting into debates or anything.

11:48And I've got my thoughts and opinions on it. Sports are political. Yes. But why do people feel the need to weaponize it when it doesn't seem necessary in the slightest. So what I'm referring to is United States won and in the locker room. The president calls. The president calls United States as they're celebrating drinking beer, having a good time. And he invites them to the state of the union speech, which what an amazing gesture. You get called by the president of the United States. What a patriotic feeling. Man, that's I'd be in shock. I don't know how I'd react if I get that if I got a call from someone that important. This is most powerful person in the country. Like that's that's insane. So he calls, which is a great gesture. He makes a stupid joke about the the women's United States hockey team that also won gold and completely dominated every single team in that tournament.

12:52Just an unbelievable performance by the women. And then the players laugh about the joke. And then what's the reaction instead of being happy about the United States winning for the first time in 46 years. Suddenly the reaction turns to people calling for players heads for not calling out the president. But why? Why? Like I don't get it. The reaction here doesn't match the situation that unfolded. Sure, you could be upset. But why is that stealing the headlines? The hockey media is such a joke, man. You have a great tournament that showcases how awesome your sport is in front of the entire world. And your reaction instead of focusing on how awesome the tournament is. The guy that scores the game winning goal loses his tooth doesn't miss a second comes back and scores the winning goal.

13:53And that's not your focus. Your focus is on people are mad because the president made a stupid joke when they were celebrating the victory. How does that make any sense? I'm at a loss for words. Why is that the focus of all of this? That's where you lose me here, man. I don't get it. I don't understand. I really, I'm really lost. I'm on a loss for words. This is a dream come true for all those players. Really every all of them. Not the president calling them. That's certainly icing on the cake. I don't know if you guys know this, but I know this because I used to watch the Rangers 1994 like championship DVD like all the time when I was growing up, I would watch it go into bed, like almost every night religiously. In game seven press conference. The president called Brian Leach while while he's doing the press conference. I'm sure Brian Leach should not expect that to happen. I'm positive.

15:01He calls. What a great feeling. It doesn't matter if you vote for him or get him vote for him. What difference does it make? That's the president of the United States. What an honor. That's insane. That that happens. Right. So the same thing that happened to Brian Leach happens to the entire United States hockey team. He invites them to the state of the Union speech to show them off. How he is of them for representing the country. That's what a great feeling that is. I don't have like this. If most of that team went, there's nothing wrong with the players that didn't go. That's there. They had stuff going on or they had their personal beliefs. That's fine. I don't care about any of that. That doesn't bother me. But when everyone is reading into what happened way too much that upsets me when the hockey media is acting like a joke for constantly pursuing this, you know, anything to get a click on your article. I guess that bothers me.

16:01Instead of selling the sport for what it is, you need to create a controversy to get people to pretend to be interested. That is just clickbait at its finest guys. I tell people all the time, if you don't, if you haven't watched hockey before, wait until the playoffs and watch it, then you're of these sucked into it. And this is what it should be about. Not about this BS. We're upset about a stupid joke. Right. Sure. It was a bad joke. He shouldn't have said it. But why are we calling for the players heads in this? That doesn't make any sense. And to people saying like the players don't get the they shouldn't be able to to complain about it getting political. Well, when players complain about it getting political in quotes, they mean people getting on their backs 24 seven for what they believe in their personal lives. And that's not fair.

17:01You can't stretch the sports and politics or intertwined argument to that extreme. Nobody watches sports to hear a player's opinions on. I don't know. Give me a political issue. NATO or immigration or taxes. No one watches sports to hear that. And if you do, I hate to say this, but go outside and touch grass. This is an over exaggeration to the fullest extent. I don't know what else to tell you guys. Like it's almost as if the people on the internet are treating the way the players reacted to the joke. The same way as if they made a poor play during the game. Oh, Mika, why did you pass that? No. Jack, why did you laugh at that joke? You suck. That doesn't make sense. We don't watch sports because of that. We watch because of the excellence and the the the brilliance that they bring. Both men and women, they have their strengths and their weaknesses. It's an entertainment industry. We watch because of the product they give on the ice, the off ice stuff. That's an added benefit. Right. Obviously you want every single player to be positive role models in the community.

18:09Unfortunately, that's not always the case. You're going to have your guys, your players that do stupid stuff, you know, drink and drive or domestic abuse stuff like that. That's part of it. Those are bad apples. Is that spoil everything? In my opinion, no, I'm going to tell you guys this story. This is the last thing I'm going to say about this topic. And this goes back to when I was still, you know, delivering pizza. So one time I delivered a pizza to someone and, you know, I was as I gave her the pizza. I told her the total and she's before she hands me the cash, she asked me, who did you vote for? She said it just like that. And I was completely flabbergasted. I'm like completely caught off guard. I had no idea what to say. I was in shock like complete paralysis of thought. Probably the most uncomfortable situation I've ever been in. I don't know what to say.

19:12Like, why do you need to know the pizza guys opinion on politics? It's the same thing with the hockey players. Why do I need to know Vincent Trochek's political beliefs? I don't. I'm really just watching the game to watch the game. Yeah, I love the Rangers. I love everything. You know, that's my team. I'm going to support them and the players that play for that team. And of course, if something bad happens, yeah, I mean, you're going to call out the player, but these guys are all human. They all have beliefs and stuff. Some guys are going to like pancakes. Other guys are going to like waffles. That doesn't mean one person because he likes pancakes. He hates waffles. And the other guy, he loves waffles. So he doesn't like pancakes. Those are two different things. This is like that argument that you see on Twitter all the time. That's what it is.

20:12So why are we reading so much into this? I'm completely lost and flabbergasted at the internet's reaction to this. But, you know, I don't think I've met enough of people that actually react like that in real life. I mean, if if I do one day meet people like that, I'll treat them with the same respect as everyone else, but man, can we not over exaggerate this thing past what it really is. Can we just do that and move on? Because I just see a lot of a lot of nothing. This is a complete nothing burger. Yet it's getting most of the attention in the day in the weeks, the week that's followed. I as soon as I saw that call, I knew that people were going to have an issue with it because that's just the way the internet is nowadays. I guess the way that I was raised is not the way the world is. I don't know. I don't know.

21:16That's all I have. That's my ice cold take. Yeah, let's look at let's move on. Let's look and see what the with the comments section is saying. Matt saying I'm happy about the gold medal because the odds aren't in our favor of seeing the Rangers ever winning a Stanley Cup. Well, that's certainly a really nice transition here. The Rangers were back on the ice this week. They blew a they blew a lead. What else is new to the flyers earlier this week and then today, they look like they're getting from what I heard. I mean, I was at work. So I didn't get to get to catch a game. They got their shit pushed in in the very beginning of the game and somehow managed to come back and win that one. I guess just they're can bail them out. Yeah, the Rangers are not going anywhere this year. Another thing that made headlines was Adam Fox's comments. Adam Fox came back from inner injury and he was asked about his about the rebuild and the retool.

22:26He just said he said, I mean, I'm just trying to focus on this year right now and play each game. I mean, that's all I really can do. It didn't he didn't like offer like. He didn't say like, oh, yeah, he's going to he's he wants out. I don't know. Maybe he's mad that he didn't maybe he didn't get on the Olympic team. I don't know. Maybe he doesn't like his jury. I don't blame him. I'm trying to find these these comments so I could I could comment a little bit more about this. Let's see. He's despairing his future. Yeah. I mean, I guess he deserves that right. He's the Rangers best player. I don't have a problem with it. Him being on the roster wasn't going to help the Rangers make the playoffs, even though he said he felt helpless. The Rangers are still not making the playoffs. They're tweener team at that.

23:32Okay, here it is. I mean, I'm just trying to focus on this year right now and play each game, Fox said. That's really all I can do right now to control is what is I was just trying to work to get back and help the team finish strong. So I think that's where my head is. I think that's a conversation when we're done playing games. I mean, I don't know what I think this is the same thing too. We're up in arms about about him making a comment for the first time since coming back from injury. He was ruining the tank. But still, even with the tank, like, it's not guaranteed that you're going to get it first overall pick. Get it. Just give me a top five pick. Just give me top five pick. If you could do that, that's fine. I'll take it. I'll take it. Obviously, the Rangers can't develop for shit. But, you know, hey, it's a, it's a crapshoot. Maybe you've stolen one to one for once, not not very hopeful.

24:34I'm not holding my breath on that one. It's definitely time to trade Vincent true check. Man, I love him. He's a model player. A total Italian stallion. Great performance at the Olympics, but you got to get value when you can. His value will not be any greater than it is right now. Every year he gets older after this and less more years come off his contract, which means it's less for less playoff runs for another team to use him for. So you maximize him while he has what a few years left on his deal. Let's see what puck feed it has. And not only that, his, his contract is dirt cheap compared like based on the production he provides after this year, he's got three years left. Yeah, you could get a hole for him. But from what I've seen, it doesn't, the return looks pretty underwhelming. I think there was like a report from Emily Kaplan.

25:36From the wild at first round pick and then two prospects. I want NHL ready players. Give me, give me picks and I want guys that are ready to go right now. That's what I want. I don't, I'm not interested in prospect. I know Liam GreenTrees is killing it right now. I think he had a hat trick and you think he's got like five goals in his last two games, but. Is he going to keep that production up for for the next like 10 years. If he can then sign me up. Yeah, but I need a guy that's ready to play right now and isn't a role player. For, for God's sakes, I feel like every time the Rangers acquire an NHL ready player, they have to get a role player. How many fourth line grinders, fourth line role players, except an execute players, are you going to get? They just picked up Thai Cartier. You have, you have so many guys, you have extra, you've got Rempi, you've got, you've got Sherry, you've got Radish, you've got Barard, you've got Authman.

26:37What, where are we going with all these guys? You have Sakura. There's so many I didn't even name this. Oh my God. What are we doing? You can't build an entire team of role players. Your team is going to suck and it's going to be so slow. What are we doing here? Stop. Give me. I need some, I need some skill and finesse. I need more gay pros. I need more. Something, something. I need a lot, a lot. I don't need a fourth line grinder. I don't need a bottom pair defenseman. I need top four defenseman. I need wingers and centers. I need right wingers. I need centers. The Rangers have zero right wingers, zero centers aside from Bryce McConnell Barker. They need guys that could play right now. What is Brendan Bresson going to do? Is this another role player? Another one, a third line center. What are the odds that one of these guys works out? Probably not really good. Anyways, so why are we building around what, what the core should be?

27:45Why are we getting those pieces first? That doesn't make sense to me. But again, Chris Jury is our general manager. So yeah, to be expected Florida got bark off first in 2013. They built down the middle. Then the other guys came and said they got X flat. They got a foursling. They got their corporate got the goalie. They have their scores. They got control. Then then for Hagey started to come along. Then they got Sam Bennett. They have the surrounding role players. Tampa Bay. They got they they draft a coup draw. They drafted point. They had stamp codes. All those other guys, they developed them Johnson, Polock, Claude, all those guys were in system. We don't have a good A H L team. You're supposed to develop those players. Those are the guys that you're going to acquire through draft picks. You're not going to acquire your role players through the trade. You need to acquire your guns ablaze in play. I don't even know what to call them. You're whiskey drinkers. Yeah, you're whiskey drinkers. You got to find a way to acquire those guys in a trade.

28:58Just like you did with the bandage ad when you traded for sword, you need to find that guy. And you need to put the time and the work and to help that player become the best player he could possibly become. Do I have any faith whatsoever that this will happen? No. Matt says I like the Cartier pick up personally. I let this game for the last couple of years. He does the little things right. He's way better than any depth we have. Okay. So maybe you stumbled into one accidentally. What does that just that? Does that take away from all the other ones that we've missed on? I don't know. You don't have a third line. You don't have a second line. A lot for a near the future. I probably not a gay pro. I don't know. Often it doesn't look like they're doing anything with him. They sent them down again. Man, I don't know where the Rangers go from here. This really could be this really could be a long, a long rebuild here. They might have to trade Fox to get to get value back for him.

30:02But if you trade Fox, I almost per se that is is being like a big David type of trade or gratsky type of trade where it's like, you know, the value you get for him is not going to match up at all with what you gave up for him or what was what you're what you're giving up right you're giving up your best player and a top five defense been in the league. Does another team really have all that much that could replace him, especially considering the Rangers track record of developing said players. Yeah, you might as well just hold on to Fox at that point. I will take that. You could trade everybody else though. I really don't give a shit about anybody else. I mean, like I said a couple of weeks ago, I do like the Fox Gavrikov pairing. I think that's a solid pairing. And I think Gavrikov will age pretty well. It's just sucks that the Rangers didn't acquire him when I said that when I suggested that he should not that I'm calling the shots or anything, but what do I know?

31:03Yeah, just tokens locked up for the in eternity. If you you're stuck here, but you're stuck unless you can can. Until they could find a way to trades a bandage ad in Miller, I am not going to be hopeful for the future for the Rangers because you're going to have to like knock off at least. For more years of their contracts. So three after this year, because then that's when that's when the advantage ads note, no movement calls turns into a modified no trade calls. Oh, yeah, that one's at the deadline, like literally a week of I think the week of that deadline in 2030. Man, I'm about to I'll be about to turn 30 years old. That's that's going to be a sad day. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if it'll be as sad as the Rangers not winning in the next five years, but yeah, the the Rangers are in cap hell. I'm not going to blame Shasturkin. I'm going to blame these no movement contracts.

32:07Borgans got a no movement clause. Fox, a gavricov, Shasturkin, a lot for years going to have a no movement clause, a modified no trade in two years after this one. It's a bandage ad's got a full no movement clause. Miller's got a full no movement clause. I don't know what you do. I mean, jury tried bullying them out of there last year and then it worked. So basically we're stuck. Yay, we got a mediocre team for five years. Yay. All right, time to be met span. I'm not saying that Joey just like Cartier as a player and isolation. This doesn't exonerate jury for all the other shit he's. I know, I know, I'm just I'm just busting balls there Matt. Yeah, it's a it's an okay pick up. You're oh, yeah, Sam Carrick. He's been good. I mean, what can you fetch for him in a trade? What are the like you got to find.

33:09You got to define who your keepers are. Because if you're going retool and you're keeping 90% of the roster the same. You're really not going to get that far. I see Jordan Cairo and Robert Thomas out there available in a trade. That's a guy. Those are guys you want to swing for because while they're great players, they're not the they're not world beaters just yet. Like Cairo is not the. He's not like a crossbie. I wouldn't he's not like McDavid level good. He's not McKinney level good. Not on Eikles level. He's really good. Yes, but can he get better? I mean, he's 27. Yeah, you can't. I think so. He's had great seasons in the past like he's a he's a solid player. Is that a guy you want to invest in? I don't know. Robert Thomas also a solid player. He's a bit on the younger side. He was a high traffic. He's 26 years old. Yeah, only only a year younger than than than Cairo.

34:11But you know, same kind of thing. He's not on the level of Eikles. But is he a guy that you would want to swing a trade for? I don't know. Yeah, St. Louis seems to be over the last couple of years, they've acquired older defensemen. Maybe they would be interested in acquiring an older forward like a trochak. This is just me spitballing. I mean, couple of years ago, Robert Thomas had 86 points in 82 games here. 82 games. Let's see, what's his face off rating? He wins face. Oh, his career is 51.6, which is pretty good. This guy's a solid player. This is this is these are the types of moves. I think the Rangers need to be making. They need to try and find guys that that are developed or semi developed. You need to make an investment move. Like a gabrik for for bursard or bursard for his advantage at type trade. Those are the those are the ones is the moves that you need to be making.

35:15Maybe I'll have Nick on the show next week to pick his brain a little bit about what the Rangers might do. That you need you need to bottom line is you don't win without a good center and the Rangers haven't had that elite number one center in such a long time. Messier. It was a bandage ad for a little bit. If he just stayed at that 40 goal a year like pace for just a little bit longer. I think the Rangers could have like. Could have won a cup. But he was he did drop off and he does drop off in the playoffs. That's the thing. It's kind of like a pen Aaron that's what you need. You need you need the next pen Aaron. You're going to draft you're going to draft that player. The while that NHL ready players with William and Rossi are in Vancouver. Yeah, that would have been good. And we're going back to the tro check proposed straight. Strammell is not a good skater. So of course is jury wants him in return for tro check.

36:18He needs speed. Whiskey drinkers and speed. You need goal scores. That's the thing is like when the Rangers build these teams I feel like they lack. Like true goal scores like grip it and rip it type guys. Like I would love if you just had a designated like a gabber type on on your team. I want every every player to be a power forwarder everyone to pass the puck. I need a good mix. You need to have your role players, which jury seems obsessed over ever since he took took office. Then you need your play drivers that that's your centers. Those are your centers. Now if you could draft one and develop it, then you're you're cooking with gas. Then you need your goal scores. Like a lot for a year. Man, I wish he would be a goal score. He's more of a play driver, but he is a winger. He hasn't found his groove. I don't think he will. The lappie Taffy meme has died. I've been posted that thing in so long.

37:20Man, I had so much hope for that kid. And for Coco or had the times of change. How the mighty have fallen. Are there any Robert Thomas more Robert Thomas is out there or Marco Rossis or or or Jordan Kairu is out there that that's the type of move that the Rangers need to be making. I'm not interested in and prospects or or guys that could be like middle six player like a third line maybe to see I need a true to see or a potential one see in the future. Someone that just needs playing time. And the Rangers better give that player said playing time because there's no one else to play above him when they're done retooling and getting rid of everybody. Man, this is frustrating as a Rangers fan. We're so powerless to do anything. We just have to sit and watch. How do we do it? Good thing the meds are coming back on Friday. Peralta is going to be the opening day starter, which is pretty cool.

38:22World baseball classic is coming. Guess we could talk a little bit about baseball kind of excited for that. Every double gold USA. Maybe maybe make it two for two or three for three if we're counting the women's team as well from the Olympics. That would be awesome. I just hope the meds have a great year. I think the pitching has improved it. If Sangha could get back to his beginning of the season last year, then I will have good hopes for that rotation. Peterson, I hope you can replicate his success from last season. I mean, yeah, you hope you get the big step from Nolan McLean. That would be awesome. He looked pretty good and his is brief cup of coffee with the meds at the end of last season. So we'll see what happens there. I don't know what where Polanco is. I'm kind of excited to see what these prospects are all about. Carson Benj. I want to see what he could do. Met's haven't had like a.

39:23Oh, no, I'm lying because they had Nimo all these years. But I remember the days when they didn't have Nimo and they were looking for center field and they would just throw a guy that played left field in center, like sespedus or a guy in right field that played center. Like Granderson. I think benches could be that guy from from what I hear to be pretty cool. McLean was filthy news for a starter spring training. I got to watch them spring training and parol to extension soon. That would be cool. That would be nice. And I would almost like a lind door thing where it's like a. With the weight off your shoulders. All right, like get it done. Just get it done. So we're not thinking about trading the guy or we're losing him for nothing and free agency. Yeah. Hopefully the lineup could come through. I'm hoping for a big year from Alvarez. Because he once he came back from the miners, he was, he looked like a completely different player. I'm excited for baseball.

40:23I think it'll be a good year for one soda as well. Maybe an MVP. Is that my ice cold take? For the day, one soda MVP, screw your attorney. That would be nice. That would be incredible. Let's will it into existence. I've rambled enough here. It's time for me to go. I hope everyone enjoyed this episode. If you did, leave a like comment on the video. Subscribe to the channel for more Rangers content and that's content. And I will see you guys next time. Dooses.