Hour One- Reacting to the Robert Thomas rumors

0:00Get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work. With carpooling, you'll have time to relax, save money, and pick up new friends. Commuter connections can help you find carpool partners who live and work near you. Even if you're commuting just a few days a week, it's a free service. Carpooling, every dollar saved, every friend made. Register for free carpool partner ride matching at commuterconnections.org or call 800-745-RIDE. That's commuterconnections.org. It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair. Let me tell you, game day is serious business at my house. If I'm grilling, chilling, and watching hoops, my outdoor setup better be ready to play. That's where Wayfair wins. From patio seating and umbrellas to grills and grill accessories, Wayfair's got it all and it shows up fast. I'm talking fast and easy delivery. So level up your grill game and your outdoor chill game. And head to Wayfair.com to get your outdoor space ready for the season. Wayfair, every style, every home.

1:00I'm done carrying around bulky drinks. And I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick. That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade. And it's not just one flavor. Five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors. 17. So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos, but actually want energy that works. Grab fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. Pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at five hour energy.com or on Amazon.

2:01It's my show. It's nothing you did not you it's me. It's not you. It's you. But you didn't cross me and the bulldog. Why did I do one thing to stay in school? Not WGR sports radio five fifty. I mean, it's a fair question at each and every time. Good afternoon kids. I am the bulldog. My show is out sick today. We hope to have him back in the saddle with us tomorrow afternoon here on the show. It is it is a I think it's a fun day. I think we have a couple of things. One that has just presented itself in the last hour or so. Since I arrived here at radio city for today's show. The other involves the high it's all hockey. By the way, we'll talk to sale at four o'clock. There's a deadline for franchise tags. Not that that pertains to the bills. But there's some news in the league and some players that aren't being tagged. Ray Hendrickson maybe at the top of the list.

3:01That could be of interest at a position to meet for the bills. So we will get some football football quota in with sale. But today is a super fun day. I think for hockey fans and sabers fans here in Western New York and even Southern Ontario. If you're still out there. We've got a game first game in almost a month. At home. So it's been a while with the Olympic break mixed in there. We know the gold medal. One by Taj Thompson. The Vegas gold the Knights are here. Jack Michael former sabers captain. Key player on team USA. Also expected to be prominently featured in a pregame ceremony along with his teammate Noah Hanuffin. From the Vegas gold the Knights. And so we've got like the you know the relationship between a former star player who spurned eventually burned bridges and you know napalm bombs the whole thing just get get me out of here and Jack I could eventually did

4:03get out of here. And so that relationship is always interesting to me. Some years have passed. The sabers are good again, which I'll get to in a moment. Which I think is the kind of thing that can soften even the hardest of hearts when it comes to a player who left under the circumstances that Jack I could left in. But that is going to have to that that was going to lead today show. Get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work with carpooling you'll have time to relax save money and pick up new friends. Commuter connections can help you find carpool partners who live and work near you. Even if you're commuting just a few days a week it's a free service carpooling every dollar saved every friend made register for free carpool partner ride matching at commuterconnections dot org or call 800 745 ride that's commuter connections dot org. It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair.

5:03Let me tell you game day serious business at my house if I'm grilling chillin and watching hoops my outdoor setup that'll be ready to play. That's what Wayfair wins from patio seating and umbrellas to grill and grill accessories. Wayfair's got it all and it shows up fast. I'm talking fast and easy delivery so level up your grill game and your outdoor chill game and head to wayfair.com to get your outdoor space ready for the season. Wayfair every style every home. I'm done carrying around bulky drinks and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah I traded them both in for fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy but instead of a sugar crash you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick. That's right caffeine just got a flavor upgrade and it's not just one flavor.

6:075 hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors 17. So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos but actually want energy that works grab fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at 5 hour energy dot com or on Amazon. I'm Spencer and I work at United Health Care. So Spencer why do you care? I care because my daughter Adeline has special needs. I am motivated by Adeline who inspires me every day. I am driven to help families like mine navigate the health care system. I'm so blessed to lead an amazing team at United Health Care focusing on the member experience and making that better. I'm Spencer and I'm committed to care. Until again about an hour ago when I rolled in here to Radio City and the first thing I saw when I logged in was some reporting from one of the big wigs in hockey circles.

7:12Darren Drager saying that the sabers and the blues like it's it's it's hot and heavy right now and I want to point out that an hour has gone by since he tweeted that and we haven't gotten any more traction anymore word that things are advancing oftentimes if you're a regular real regular like psycho I mean that is a compliment listener of this show if it can be taken that way you're someone who listens a lot you know that Mike and I share a take about these big NHL reporters how usually you get one or two of them leaking out that something is close to happening and then like magic within like 15 or 20 minutes it happens that doesn't appear to be the case when it comes to the sabers and Robert Thomas but when I got here I saw a tweet from Darren Drager saying like it's it's kind of a buyers market and you've got some new teams involved you know one of them being the sabers who are in the buyers

8:18market and they're hot and heavy after Robert Thomas a number one center from the St. Louis Blues not a player that I spent a lot of time prior to an hour ago thinking about because I didn't really feel like a player with that contract he's got I think five more years at eight million he's basically got Josh Norse's contract is what he's got and he plays the same position point of game player two hundred foot player excellent player still still pretty young 26 I think is his age so really cool idea but not something I thought the sabers would go shopping for if indeed they are shopping for it I mean I believe they're at least looking at it I don't think Darren Drager would be tweeting this sort of thing for his for his health Chris Johnson another of the big guys there's your tandem one from TSN one affiliated with sports net I believe is where Chris Johnson works and he said the sabers are

9:20offering or are looking to meet the asking price of three I don't know if this is the Blues asking price what I'm wording it's sloppy that the sabers are working toward a package that is the equivalent of three first rounders so what what that means is probably a first round pick like in the draft coming up a future draft this year or next and players who would be equated to being still holding first round value that could mean former first round picks that could mean players who weren't first round picks are now performing like first round picks you get the gist so we've got two different reports one a bit more specific about what the sabers might be having to give up if they were to trade for such a player let me take my time and just sort of lay this all out lines are open if you have a thought on this if you're familiar with this player I have a feeling a lot of casual hockey fans are turning on their radio going who's this one who the blues have a guy that's good

10:22you know they're mired in last place in their division not having a very good season but Robert Thomas is fresh off back to back 80 point seasons for the blues is an excellent player the reason I haven't really thought of him as an idea for the sabers is it seems to me like they have settled in pretty comfortably to the idea of taged Thompson playing center for them again which was necessitated by the Coulique injury and the Josh Norris injury and you've got Josh Norris back and healthy now and so another number one center Norris and Thomas to me are very comparable players I could try to split hairs about one skating versus the other or whatever but on paper they both read like very good 200 foot players great point of point of game type score that's what Thomas has been the last two years Norris has never really reached a point per game in an 80 game season because he's hardly ever if ever played

11:25a game in the season he's constantly hurt and that's where I think things could get interesting for me as it pertains to the sabers I do not think that they are going to find someone to take Josh Norris's contract nor do I think they're actively trying to move him as part of this guesswork on my part but what I think would make sense for the sabers and I I've been on this track with Norris as a player since last year's trade deadline when the sabers acquired him because he was clearly the better player of the principles I'm not going to get into talking about fringe defenseman Bernard docker and whatever right Norris for cousins I know the sabers had to sweeten the pot and the reason I have to sweeten the pot was not to get Bernard docker but to get out of what to move the better player which is Norris why did they want to do that why do they want to move a better center a better 200 foot player as they were poised to go to the playoffs last year this is Ottawa again I'm

12:26talking about it last year's deadline dealing with Buffalo well they wanted I think certainty as much certainty as you can have of course anyone can get hurt but Norris had been in the system there for many years and had missed multiple games every season he was there including last year you've seen play out again here in Buffalo I thought pot part of Ottawa's motivation was at least we've got will have Dylan cousins he's durable he plays them all no he's not going to produce even at his ceiling his his best year here was like a 60 point year he is not going to be a point of game player but he's going to compete and he's going to be in the lineup and we can continue to kind of move forward with our team with him in that spot and if you're planning on Josh Norris occupying one of those spots in your Ottawa and he gets hurt again like he did soon after he got the Buffalo then you know where are you you're down a number one center and you're trying to go compete in the

13:29playoffs where I think this could get interesting for the sabers and I did not really I didn't I didn't see the whole field until an hour ago when when it was mentioned that the sabers are thought to be in pursuit I don't I don't want to throw in hot pursuit because I don't know that it's hot pursuit I just know some big some big reporters are tweeting about it but I don't want to give you the impression that this is like a you know about to be nudged over the finish line or anything but there certainly is smoke here a reason the sabers could be looking to add another top line center to go with Josh Norris and taged Thompson is Josh Norris insurance if they can afford it which they can I mean they don't have the room without doing anything to their roster but I'm sure you know a deal of this magnitude you can stash some money away put greenway on long-term injury whatever there's ways that they can create enough

14:31room to make the deal and what I'm thinking is that perhaps the sabers are in well they're in a very similar position that Ottawa was in last year Ottawa was not in second place in the division at the time they weren't they didn't look at as much of a contender as the sabers have looked for the last couple of months the sabers could be interested in purchasing some Josh Norris insurance because they have I think in a conference that I think is is very wide open to them I mean I think Tampa and Carolina are clearly teams that historically and even this year I would say outrank them you know pedigree wise expectation wise they should be ahead of the sabers on any list of Stanley cup odds I think the rest of the conference is freaking wide open and I'm not even here to say that the sabers can't handle Carolina or Tampa is

15:31is that those are the only two teams I think in the entire conference that on paper right now objectively you would go okay that that would be an upset I think the sabers beating any other team in the playoff pool teams that are in right now or teams that are on the outside looking them that could still get in I don't think I would classify the way this season has gone those as an upset so the sabers have an opportunity here to do more than just end a 14 season playoff drought they have an opportunity to win around or more in the Eastern conference this year and if you're counting on Josh Norris to hold down one of your center spots and at any point between here and I don't know the finish line of the regular season once the playoffs begin something happens to Norris which frequently occurs where are you you you are down like a true

16:31dynamic 200 foot all around you're down a number one caliber center and boy that I you know as well as the sabers have done this year at times without Norris in the lineup I just think it's really hard for me to make the same case that they can beat anybody in the conference if they are down to Taj Thompson Ryan McLeod Tyson Kozak and like some other trade idea right you get Robert Thomas on your team and something happens to Norris well you're all set if you get Robert Thomas on your team and you still have Josh Norris on your team that requires some shuffling I don't know what they would be of the mind to do it seems pretty clear at this point the way the season has gone the Taj Thompson really likes playing center ice but could he like playing on the wing with either Josh Norris or Robert Thomas on a team that

17:31is now that much better that much more poised to make a make you make some noise in the playoffs maybe he would I think if you had all three of those players on your team that is the most natural idea to me I don't know how Thompson would feel about that I don't know how internally they feel about that or if this even is entering into their thinking maybe they're just like we're just going to play all three of these guys at center and Ryan McLeod will be our fourth line center and we're just we're building a wagon I mean that could be but if you're thinking of those three players the centers Thompson Norris and Thomas have you to trade for him as top six players I mean there's only two lines to go around so someone's playing the wing and my money would be on stage if it does come to that I wouldn't want to out of hand rule out the idea that they could be doing what Ottawa did last year and trying to swap Norris for Thomas I mean the Sabers did it knowing Norris

18:36is reputation being a team that was not poised to be a playoff team so maybe the blues could be enticed to do that but I kind of doubt it I think it's probably more about futures for them again there probably is some money if the Sabers would make a deal here there's probably some money from your NHL roster going back there just to make it all work but I don't think it's a situation where you're swapping like like like Ottawa did last year you're swapping Norris for cousins in this case it would be swapping Norris for Robert Thomas that could be it I just kind of I just kind of doubt it I like the idea of Thomas more as insurance like I've already said if something were to happen to Norris if Norris is healthy and rides through the spring and into the playoffs you're that much better off as a team with those three guys if one of them's playing wing so be it in your top six I mean

19:39that is a it's a stacked center lineup and you know gives you another guy again if injury is to happen so I like it from that standpoint one other piece because what what I think often 803 0 550 you want to talk about this idea here Robert Thomas St. Louis Blues 80 point a year score good 200 foot player that this is what we're talking about today I know it might be jarring it was all come kind of coming it pretty fast the Sabers are good again they're in a playoff spot we're talking about them winning rounds one of the assistant captains is talking about not just trying to play in the playoffs but winning the cup I know it's a while ago now but Alex talked did say that a month ago or so and now we're a few days before the trade deadline and we're talking about a quarter and eight million dollar center I it's a lot I know right and I'm talking fast because I'm excited because this is an exciting idea to me almost always when you have a

20:44trade involving this caliber of player you often end up in a spot where you are going to have to give up something you don't really want to write something something's going to hurt right I I highly doubt that you are going to be able to make this trade by shipping off Isaac Roseanne and Jack Quinn who's on your NHL team right now Roseanne is not and a couple of other pieces that could equate to being first round caliber type players it could happen but I just started out it you know there's a special category for like the guy like Helen who's I think like that would hurt to give him up but I I think I could I could do it what what would really hurt is if you're dipping into what I've described as this team's superpower which is those top four D if the blues want

21:47someone off of that back end say they want all in power that that that would hurt I don't think the Sabers have an in house ready made replacement for a player that's playing the way any of those top four D are and that would hurt the next page of that to me becomes are you talking with the blues about more than just Robert Thomas because Justin Falk while 34 years of age has been an excellent top four defense men power play guy puck mover salad defensively he's been a very good NHL defenseman for most of his career I'm not crazy about six and a half million dollars for him at the age of 34 but if if in the overall you're thinking we're not going to be able to keep these top four D together forever is there an idea out there that plugs a hole we

22:51create by trading one of those top four D still getting this Robert Thomas and feeling the void left by again I said power that I don't love this idea I'm just wondering if it's something they could be thinking about like a bigger a bigger deal that nets you a replacement for a top four D and also this top flight centerman in Robert Thomas not knowing like what what their goals are I'm reluctant to do anything that involves touching those top four D but I wonder just how tempting that idea the bigger trade to get a replacement for one of those top four D look to me there's a drop off there with the age that Falk is at right now and asking them to play the kind of minutes that those top four

23:51have been playing here would would be very risky to me but I wonder if in the overall the Sabers could look at their team and say for right now we're better and in the long run keeping those four D it's nice that Samusons on the contract he's on and buy from two for that matter that's a short term deal for not the big money really Dali and power are the two wells back there money wise I don't like much more the idea of putting a package together for Robert Thomas and whatever that cost me that doesn't include one of those D I think I love that idea I'm not sure I really I would really need to sit with it I would really need to think about it if it were the bigger deal that I just got to there that involved the defense been coming in and the defense

24:53been going out to me that's that's risky because the thing to me that the Sabers should be I mean there's there's a lot there's a lot of sentiment out there you know it ain't broke kind of thing right like why do you want to I heard Elliott Friedman on a podcast that I saw it today I don't know if it was from today saying like why mess around with it right you've got a good thing going I mostly would say that I mean I would shout that from a rooftop about those top 4d I think the forward ranks I yes it's working fine but I think if you can add someone like Robert Thomas without disturbing that core of defenseman I think you're making your team better and and buy a lot so I like that a lot the bigger deal disturbing that super power as I've coined it the Sabers have not as crazy about that idea 80 305 50 is the number love to hear from you all

25:54Evan is first up this segment hi Evan thank you for calling your on WGR hi how's it going great I wanted to just highlight I feel like kind of some of the conversation was like talking about Thomas being there kind of as like a Norris insurance and I just I feel like Thomas as a player is almost double the player norris is I love Josh Norris but everything Robert Thomas does is just elite I feel like that's one of the best 200 players in the league and I feel like and there's any way to get on the be huge yeah well yeah the reason I'm saying it's insurance is because if they're counting on Norris they could use another guy that can do I not telling you Norris is the better player just saying I've got Norris that's why I phrase it that way as insurance that I've got another guy in case something happens to him is why I put it that way no argument just from a durability standpoint therefore the production has outpaced what Norris has done recently really ever Norris has never

26:54had a point of game season with you know they've never played any games so yeah no he out ranks Norris don't get hung up on the insurance is merely because you know I've got a guy here and I'm trying to protect myself against something happening to him that could really kind of ruin all this like counting on Norris just feels a it feels kind of flimsy to me because I just don't know if I can trust it yet we've not really seen him play what even 20 games in a row for the Sabers I mean got here last year got hurt after three games open the season healthy hurt in the first game comes back it's okay playing a chunk of games it was 19 games funny enough I said I've been played 20 games in a row 19 games and then out again now he's back so I think the idea of having something else I know insurance sounds like I'm I'm downgrading what Thomas is

27:54and I don't mean to do that at all I think he's an excellent player and is every bit and more because of his health of the player that Norris is just gives me another option there if I needed 8030550 is the phone number if you'd like to get in on the conversation there's some rumors about the Sabers being in the trade market aggressively for one of if not the biggest name left on the market center Robert Thomas from the blues that is what we're talking about to lead things off Mike is out today I'm the bulldog and you're listening to WGR get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work with car pulling you'll have time to relax save money and pick up new friends commuter connections can help you find carpool partners who live and work near you even if you're commuting just a few days a week it's a free service carpooling every dollar saved every friend made register for free carpool partner ride matching at commuterconnections.org

28:54or call 800 745 ride that's commuterconnections.org it's Charles Barkley with Wayfair let me tell you game day serious business at my house if I'm grilling chilling and watching hoops my outdoor setup better be ready to play that's what Wayfair wins from patio seating and umbrellas to grills and grill accessories Wayfair's got it all and it shows up fast I'm talking fast and easy delivery so level up your grill game and your outdoor chill game and head to Wayfair.com to get your outdoor space ready for the season Wayfair every style every home I'm done carrying around bulky drinks and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets so yeah I traded them both in for fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots these little guys are as pocket sized as any candy but instead of a sugar crash you get a zero sugar caffeine boost candy can't even compare at this point fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots treat your taste buds

29:57to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick that's right caffeine just got a flavor upgrade and it's not just one flavor five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors 17 so if you're craving that candy flavored chaos but actually want energy that works grab fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots pocket sized zero sugar big flavor available now at 5 hour energy dot com or on amazon I'm Spencer and I work at united health care so Spencer why do you care? I care because my daughter Adeline has special needs I am motivated by Adeline who inspires me every day I am driven to help families like mine navigate the health care system I'm so blessed to lead an amazing team at united health care focusing on the member experience and making that better I'm Spencer and I'm committed to care

30:59presented by T-Mobile the official wireless partner of Odyssey sports with an awesome network and great savings there's never been a better time to join T-Mobile visit your neighborhood store to make the switch today everything is going so good if the best team in the NHL since December and every single position it's firing on all cylinders I'd be really sensitive about moving this an inch to the left or an inch to the right I know that there's a couple of holes right now the Kekalainen probably wants to fill but I'd be really sensitive about tinkering with the chemistry of this team at all if anything I'm just doing something around the edges Jeff Merrick you told me even here long enough you know how it goes Zach Jones along with me I'm the Bulldog Mike is out today that's Jeff Merrick talking about the Sabers and the Trade Deadline

31:59which by the way comes along on Friday afternoon for I think it's a second year in a row it was on a Friday last year I recall being here for that while Mike was I don't know sick or out or on vacation or whatever anyway you know our sneaky Joe from the morning show Joe D. Biasi has quoted a couple of things I don't think he mentioned or grabbed on to this little bit from Merrick although they had him that was from our morning show right that was talking to Joe and Jerry this morning but Joe is had a couple of other you know big reporters made the case that you know the Sabers are it's going so well don't mess with it right it ain't broke don't fix it and Joe's smart I think not surprisingly response to some of that was is anybody going to say that about Detroit or Montreal or Boston or any of these other teams

32:59that are contending just in the Sabers division alone no I mean teams that are having great years often are buyers and look it doesn't always work right especially the rental market can be a real just full of landmines but this is not that this is this is an eight million dollar hockey player that plays at the top of your lineup and is under contract for five more years after this and it's 26 years old like this is not just a fly around a rental it would be a big move and it would shake up their team there is no question about that I just I'm not really sure I want to get with you should just settle for being pretty good right now like if I think it's right for anyone that works for the Sabers Kekelein and Berger van you know the new front office

33:59to look at the conference and see an opportunity we can compete with anybody in this conference so why shouldn't we go hard at it instead of just oh yay we got in the playoff drought is over that all sounds like I don't I don't mean to paint Jeff Merrick in this light it's done a lot of great work you know it within hockey media for many many years but any sentiment that sounds like don't touch it it's too good sounds to me like they're not saying the quiet part of that comment is it's too good and you're just buffalo just just be like you're competitive again you're you're in the race you might even make some noise but you know pat you on the head and go get back in line for another slushy kid like that that it sounds very patronizing to me

35:03I know I might be reading too much into it but I think you have an opportunity to go after it you go after it you know it's another thing if you're selling futures like crazy to try to squeeze in like that's a whole different thing and there's a case to be made for teams in that position and if the sabers were right now the sabers were I don't know Ottawa and five or six points out of a playoff spot with the deadline approaching on Friday there might be an appetite to do that to go just trade futures and try to get something in here that's going to push it over the finish line and get me into the playoffs this saber season is not I know it's a lot to take in but this is not the sabers are not having that season they're having the season where you go maybe this is as good a look at it as we'll have

36:03maybe this is the year I know that sounds nuts considering where we were at Thanksgiving as a fan base but I think sitting here on the third of March I think that is perfectly reasonable so if management looks at it as being wide open enough go big I don't really like the don't tinker with it could it blow up in your face of course but if you're not really disturbing your NHL roster which is how the wind is blowing on this thing from the reports we've heard with Drager saying the sabers are pushing hard on Thomas with the blues you had Chris Johnson from sports net say it's the looks like the equivalent of three first round picks Jeremy Rutherford a Twitter follow for me going all the way back to 2014 when the sabers and the

37:03blues were thought to be hot and heavy about Ryan Miller I was talking to Jeremy Rutherford while that trade was being made as it turns out on a Friday back in 2014 those doing we had Jeremy Rutherford on to talk about potential return and everything and I've been following him ever since excellent with the athletic now but it been maybe post dispatched with the blues anyway covering the blues for a lifetime this guy and a couple of things from him since the show has begun he did say right before I started that Thomas has not yet been asked as a part of this conversation to wave his no move clause so again as far things can move fast but as of an hour ago things hadn't gotten serious enough for the blues at least as far as Jeremy Rutherford is concerned to ask Thomas about waving his no move to come to Buffalo there's one two more recently

38:03Rutherford tweeted that last summer the blues were thought to be very hot and heavy after Bowen Byram but Rutherford says this time around in any Robert Thomas trade talks their focus is not on Byram which I think tells you I mean they could be focused on another of the top 4d but I think you connect all the dots here the equivalent of three first round picks from Chris Johnston Rutherford saying that the blues aren't after Bowen Byram I mean it doesn't take the other three top D off the table but come on I'm hopeful that that means we're talking about futures here largely and if it's someone from the NHL roster it's a Quinn or some other like part that's more of a role player than any to me those top 4d that would be very tough to part with for me at this point I think they are the engine that makes this whole thing go

39:03for the saber so it's trying to fill you in on where we're at on that front let's get back to the phones at 80305 50 Ellen is first up this segment hello Ellen thanks for calling you're on WGR hi thank you so much Bulldog how you doing today I'm good how about yourself good I am in complete agreement with you I think we should go all in and add another player Norris is great but yes he's probably going to get hurt again and I think our playoffs stretch goes well beyond the first round and I just remember Yarmo in his initial meeting with the press when he first got his GM position which was long overdue I remember him saying making the playoffs and then being beat out the first round is not a good feeling we want to go all the way and I think this team can I think we have got it this year all right Ellen yeah I mean that's where I'm at I don't want to hear don't don't go for it I get from the outside

40:05you know I just didn't say that way it's not like I you know I'm on the outside with all of you from a certain perspective you could look at getting another top line center as being a bit of overkill but the Norris point to me is integral to the whole thing I don't know what the Sabers thinking on it is I don't know if they already know that Thompson would welcome a move back out to the wing I don't know that there is where it is I am about Josh Norris staying healthy but protecting yourself in the event that something happens to him with a player that's every bit and then some the player Norris is I mean that is that is like next level team building to me I love it do you eventually have a problem you know you're going to be able to pay everyone here maybe this is a sign that they don't think they're going to get

41:05home with Alex Tuck because that's another I mean that's that's a player that if if you sign him at any point here and certainly once you get to the summer he becomes your highest paid forward like he's he's going to make two million a year more than Norris or Thomas both make around eight million so maybe you're moving in a direction that allows you to keep Tuck as a rental and let him go and you also are replenishing your top six along the way you know maybe that's the direction this is going Joe is next up hi Joe thanks for calling you're on WGR Bulldog I appreciate it man You know as you know you're going to be able to spend a grand of people who are afraid to make a move and people who are okay with the first round exit is a circle

42:05because I just like if you look at the other team in Buffalo who had seemingly been afraid to make a big move for a guy who can move the needle in his direction that's going to get you a championship I'm not jeopardizing what has gotten me to this point, but if you have an opportunity to get a guy who's going to make some moves and catapult this team into a stratosphere that we haven't seen in 15 years, it's foolish not to want to do that. All right, here here, I'm with you, Joe, and that's where I'm at. I think this sort of thinking is there's a there's a reason why I think you hear people like this clip we played from Eric and what I mentioned from Elliott Friedman earlier, they are used to the sabers operating at a certain level within the structure of the league. Like they know their place, right?

43:06Everyone talks about how they want, oh, we want them to get back to the playoffs. That's such a strong hockey market, but there's a little bit of, or maybe a lot of, yeah, you're not really, you're not really all that. So stop trying to pretend like you think you're a contender now. I think they absolutely should behave like they're a contender because of what the conference looks like. Yes, I think Tampa and Carolina look outclass them on paper. And mostly on the ice, I mean, the sabers did just hand Tampa one of their worst defeats of the year in their place on Saturday night, but like objectively, yeah, you know, I'm sort of nodding in Tampa, Carolina that's those are those teams are the class of the conference. That is it Detroit, Montreal, boss, I mean, I like things about all these teams, Pittsburgh, the islanders, Washington, these are the other teams that are in playoff spots or sniffing

44:07around playoff spots right now. I think the sabers are easily the third best team in the conference. I mean, I think pretty comfortably. So I think acting like it is completely natural. It's foreign to us because like I said, I mean, if you told me on Thanksgiving, we were going to be talking like this, and I'd be sitting in here on March 2nd or March 3rd, excuse me, talking like this, I would have never, I would have never guessed it. But I think things move fast. And here we are, 8030550 is the phone number. If you want to get in on the conversation about these Robert Thomas trade rumors, St. Louis Blues number one center, 80 points the last couple of years for the blues, you want to get down the conversation lines are open. Mike is out today along with Zach Jones, I am the Bulldog and this is WGR. But more out of every mile when you share the ride to work, with carpooling, you'll have time to relax, save money and pick up new friends.

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