The Kevin Karius Show - Mar. 26th, 2026 - Frank Seravalli

0:00Hi, this is Pablo Torei from Pablo Torei finds out and today I want to talk to you about Boost Mobile because we spent a lot of time analyzing inefficiencies in sports, over value contracts, money tied up in the wrong places, and so on, but those inefficiencies aren't just on a roster. Sometimes they're in your own monthly expenses. Boost Mobile says switching to their $25 unlimited forever plan can unlock up to $600 in savings a year. That's $25 a month for unlimited data, talk, and text when you bring your own phone. If that money is trapped in a pricey phone bill, it might be worth a second look. Visit BoostMobile.com to learn more. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds, customers pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Mobile and Limited Plan. Savings claim based on a January 2026 Boost Mobile Survey of 1,000 Americans with single line on limited plans, comparing average annual payments of major carriers to 12 months on the Boost Mobile and Limited Plan. For full offer details, visit BoostMobile.com. The hustle doesn't have to hurt. If performance pressure is making it hard to breathe, growth therapy helps you navigate

1:03stress, set boundaries, and actually feel like yourself again. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th, grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity, or availability, and get started in as little as two days. There are no subscriptions, no long-term commitments, you just pay per session. Grow helps you find therapy on your time. Whatever challenges you're facing, growth therapy is here to help. Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans, including Medicaid in some states. Sessions average about $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Visit growththerapy.com-startnow to get started. That's growtherapy.com-startnow-growtherapy.com-startnow-availability-encoverage-very-by-state-and-insurance-plan. As we welcome back, Frank Saravoli from Victory Plus TV. Good morning, Frank.

2:03How are you, Kevin? Doing great. A lot of comments after our conversation on Tuesday, Frank. I was telling you about our text line. Yeah. Went bananas. You know, I thought about that conversation for a while on Tuesday, not to say that you were living rent-free in my head, but I think part of where maybe some of the frustration came from, and I'm just guessing, because we didn't talk about this offline, is conflating two separate things that have happened, at least from a national perspective over the last number of weeks. And that Tristan Jari, quote unquote, incident that never really happened, that was from people trying to invent something from afar that aren't in the room and don't have a sense of it. And this was something totally different. Do you think, is there any chance that maybe those two things blended together? Well, I, and plus Leon too, I think. So you're looking at a few things, and maybe, you know, I probably got my back up, I would say I did, and I think you got your back up, and we're both trying to really, our points.

3:09And I think, to be honest with you, Frank, I think a lot of it is, was, was, got carried away, and it, it got blown out of proportion, the whole thing with Conor on Saturday. And I think, when I, and you obviously listened to, to John Cooper on TNT the other night, when Anson Carter asked him that question. I actually did not see the clip. So if you see that clip, you'll, you'll, you'll go, okay, like John Cooper's gone, nah, the people are reading too much into this. And that's where I was, what else is he going to say? Well, what's he going to say? No, the best player in the world is trying to torch his coach. What's Conor going to say when he's walking it back on Monday, like, but Frank, I refuse to acknowledge or accept that, that this was made to big a deal. Again, my, my comparison is this, if, if a star quarterback in the NFL does this after a game on Sunday, if a top end NBA player does this, you know, the best player in the world does this. It's, it's talked about all week.

4:09This is not, there's not too much made of this. This was a significant moment. And as we look back on this Edmonton Euler season, it will be a significant moment on this season. And it could be, I don't want to relitigate. I'm just saying, like, but not too much was made of this. It's not often that Connor McDavid speaks up and it's not often that he says something like. But Conor's, Conor's done millions of interviews, Frank. If he felt that he was saying anything that, if he woke up the next day, it would turn into what it was and what it ended up to be, he would have said during that interview, hang on here. Like, I'm not saying, like, I would, I'm not saying that John Cooper's the greatest coach in these way better in our coach and our coach stinks. If he would have thought that that's how people would have thought his comments were parlayed, he would have stepped back on it that night, even Frank, because he didn't think that that's what it, there's no way that he went into the answering those questions that he was coming across as being a premeditated answer to be detrimental towards his team and

5:13his coach. There's no way that that would happen. Okay. So what were Leon Drysightle's comments earlier this season? You weren't directed at directly squarely at Chris Knoblock? Again, Conor's done millions of interviews and I think he would have said something that night if he felt that it was going to turn into what it is. And then to the media standpoint, if everyone thought it was such a big deal after he said it, Frank, where there were no follow-up questions that night, there was not a follow-up saying, I mean, I can't help that part. I'm not there. Well, would you have said, so would you, if you were in the scrum, Frank, you would have said, so Conor, you are saying this and that and you are throwing shade on the coach. Yeah. I would have asked, hey, what exactly in relation to, as you're mentioning, all these things, gushing, glowing things about John Cooper, is that related to at all the coaching job that Chris Knoblock has done here? And that's perfect.

6:13If that question would have been asked, Conor's answer would have been, I would bet that it would have snuffed everything out and it would have been put to bed that night. Or do you, for some form of the next question, though, about the Euler's coaching, I seem to remember some of the commentary that followed and the first words out of his mouth were something along the lines of, I don't know, you'll have to talk to, to quote Knobber about that. That, that's exactly what he said. To my point. While some string of that that was related to it, that brought it back to Edmond. If there were a rift that is so, that wouldn't be able to be patched up here, then things would have been changed by now, would have been changed weeks ago. Maybe. And I'm not saying that there is a rift. I'm just saying that the comments were notable and significant. That's, that's all. We don't need to hammer it out again for like 15 minutes. I'm fine.

7:13I, I think it's a really, it's a moment of inflection on this Edmonton Euler season. And on, I think on, frankly, a larger scale, Connor McDavid's future in Edmonton. I really do. So you want to go down that path and talk about his future in Edmonton? Well, I, well, let's say the quiet part out loud first, which is part of the reason why people in Edmonton get their back up when seeing those comments and the deal that's made of them is because everyone is understandably very protective of a player who has made Edmonton his home has, you know, put Edmonton back on the map in terms of being one of the best hockey markets on planet earth. And there's a lot of sensitivity that comes with that based on how Edmonton as a whole views itself in relation to the rest of the league in the world. So like John Cooper's comments on Tuesday night, he says that Connor loves it here. I think that's true and accurate.

8:14But I also think that when he gets to this point and the Euler's have played as poorly as they have as the talent has devolved around them as there's not much by way of a future pipeline or next draft picks prospect. Any hope of future stars coming, plus the moves that have been made this season that have further hampered that future in relation to Tristan Jari Annette. That's the frustration that I think you see pouring out. It's not so much to crush Chris noblock. It's more so just there's a lot happening here and a lot that's piled up on top of a very emotional Olympics, a month ago for sure, where he came up short again. And as you say, he's frustrated. So you're saying that when you talk about all those other things, so then do you think Connor's comments are pointed towards management then more so to noblock? I think it's pointed at everything. I think he's frustrated with himself.

9:15I think he's frustrated with this team. I think he's frustrated with the direction and where it's going. I think he's frustrated with the moves that have been made by management. I'm sure there's some ounce of frustration in there in terms of the coaching staff and how they go about their business. And here's the thing. And I think this is a really important thing for balance and to really have a true conversation about this is that when Connor McDavid is alone with his thoughts at the end of the night, is he blaming everyone else or is he sitting there asking himself how he can be better? I believe the answer is the latter. For sure it is. If it's the former, we're having a whole different type of conversation. So I don't think he's playing the blame game. I'm saying part of what you saw on Saturday was the build up of a lot of different frustration that came out in a way that was probably unintended.

10:17Frustrations, the key word here. The one thing that I will say here, Frank, that Connor realizes that, and this is on topic a little bit here, what we're talking, but also different. Connor would say that since he's arrived here and since they've been in the playoffs, they have never had an easier path to the Western conference final than what is in front of them here. And I think that's also part of what adds to the frustration is that this ducts team has gone 16 and three in games beyond regulation. They're ahead of them in the standings, also eight know in the shootout. So what I'm saying, and if you want to cut through my words is they've not been a very good team through 60 minutes. The Vegas Golden Knights are five and 10 in their last 15. They've trailed for the totality of 31 complete games on the schedule.

11:18And everyone else around them has been stuck in the same malaise that the Oilers have been in. The Kings, the Kraken, the Sharks, no one's willing to step up to win the second wild card spot. And so if you want to look at it that way, that's one way. But I would choose to look at it a different view point and direction, which is everything that the Edmonton Oilers want to accomplish. It's still right in front of them exactly. They still have a very clear and I don't want to say easy, but this is their easiest path to get back to the West final that they've had since he got here. That's what I just said. As much as this season has been has gone the wrong way, there's still lots of time and ability to salvage it. Yeah, that's kind of exactly how I kind of started the our little conversation here in the last question or conversation. But this team right now still needs to find a goal tender that is going to be average and a little bit above average.

12:23And they can get by with that until the real bullet start flying against an opponent that is a little bit more worthy of what's in the Pacific. Everyone knows that. Do you think do you think that this team can get back to the Stanley Cup final? I do. I see a path like everyone needs to be healthy. This defense needs to come together in a way that it hasn't yet so far. There's not been nearly enough connective tissue. The way that they move the puck and defend needs to improve. I think they're fully capable of competing. And I think what you do as you take care of your own business is sit back and watch first Dallas and Minnesota slug it out. And then the second round match up of Colorado and whoever prevails likely Dallas based on the math today. And and watch those two teams go toe to toe and see if you know one could, you know, take a chunk out of the other and see if that provides any opening.

13:26Remember a couple years ago when when the oilers first went and won against Dallas. Remember how depleted Dallas's defense was at that juncture they were basically down to five guys. So then last year they just straight up beat them. And I think this team, one of the best things that it has going for it is they have a playoff know how. And it was fully on display against the L.A. King's last year. They got one window of opportunity in a moment when they probably should have been dead and buried with that coach's challenge. And they took advantage in a big way and it was lights out from there on. They know how to flip the switch. They get some of their best performances from their best players when it matters most, which is why I tried and not put too much stock into the regular season as a whole. Whether it's Florida or Edmonton or these teams Tampa and some respects that have gotten to the to or close to the precipice that.

14:26All that matters is what happens when you begin playing for keeps doesn't really matter your seed your standing who has home ice what your path or route is. Just can you play best when it matters most. We all prefer things a certain way like groceries. If you want groceries just how you like them you got to try insta cart. They have a new preference picker that lets you pick how ripe or unripe you want your bananas. Shoppers can see your preferences up front helping guide their choices because when it comes to groceries the details matter insta cart get groceries just how you like. The hustle doesn't have to hurt if performance pressure is making it hard to breathe grow therapy helps you navigate stress set boundaries and actually feel like yourself again. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you not the other way around. You can search by what matters like insurance specialty identity or availability and get started in as little as two days there are no subscriptions no long term commitments you just pay per session grow helps you find therapy on your time whatever challenges you're facing grow therapy is here to help grow except over 100 insurance plans including Medicaid in some states sessions average about 21 dollars with insurance and some pay as little as zero dollars depending on their plan visit growth therapy dot com.

15:53As I said franken when the top six here buys in defensively like they buy an offensively this team can go all the way if they don't the team will be what they want to be close will show flashes will show parts of games parts of a series where they can be better than anyone they're playing but until they have that total buy in defensively with all the components we talk about will everything all those things the urgency the defensively like they do offensively will be talking about this team like we have been for the last two years I want to ask you can I just clarify what you say that do you mean top six top six no top six with the top six okay so if it's when when Leon comes back here and Leon is going to be centering the second line so it's going to be corner and let's call it Savoy and Zach Hyman whoever is going to be with with Leon if it's Roslavic and put calls and and put

17:15Coleson's very responsibly defensively until those top six guys play as hard play as smart play with awareness play with creativity all those things all the qualities adjectives verbs you want to use that they do when they are in the offensive zone or trying to create offense when they change that persona and do all those things defensively that is when they will be successful it's funny I just see it the total opposite way I think this team has it figured out from a forward standpoint someone like pod Coleson is the poster child for how this team is going to be successful and I don't really think or worry about their forward group really much at all it's how this team plays in their own end how they can help their goal tender and how efficiently they can get the puck from their defense to their forwards that is going to define their playoff success I think it all centers around what happens in their own end first and I know you're saying a part of that of course is the forwards playing defense and and the total commitment but this defense on paper should have been the best that they've had in the mcd David dry settle era from one to six and it hasn't even been close

18:31if you go back frank to the Stanley Cup final last year and everything it's too to and everything is it's looking pretty good you got a best of three and you have home ice and you think about how the orders lost those games and look at the goal that Matthew Kachuk scored when car mcd David going back into his own zone all he's got to do is quick shoulder check and he's got Matthew Kachuk in his back pocket instead he chases the puck two seconds later pucks back to Kachuk goal deflation I mean it's too nothing at that point those are the things that I'm talking about Frank those are the things it's small detailed awareness of the top six in their defensive zone coverage everything that I just mentioned in the last statement those are the things that they have to do where they are aware and creating and and and magic in the offensive zone they have to bring all those things defensively and then they'll be successful

19:35that's all to ask hey the one question I had on Tuesday I wanted to ask you about James Hagen and his situation like is it similar to Charlie McAvoy a few years ago then or what um similar yes the Bruins really have a designed pecking order they don't believe in just bringing players right into the NHL from Patrice Berzeron to David Pasternack to Charlie McAvoy himself their preferred method is everyone starts no matter how good how high of a draft pick that you start in Providence and I understand that notion James Hagen says bought in and and frankly he's also shouldering a lot of risk that people haven't mentioned or talked about because we know that the entry level contract is coming likely even at some point this year like I believe James Hagen's will sign this season and play for the Boston Bruins in the playoffs but what happens if playing last night for Providence he blows out his knee and it's a career ending injury yeah he will have gotten exactly zero dollars and that risk factor which the Bruins

20:41you know clearly understand that they're asking for to do it this way and to sign a tryout agreement first I've had a few agents mentioned to me in the last 24 to 48 hours like I don't know if you guys are mentioning or talking about this nearly enough hey one last one Frank just but we have 13 games tonight there's so many big ones like with Columbus and Montreal and even Pittsburgh Ottawa I mean is there something one game in particular I mean you better be just Rick bonus how many votes is he going to get for coach of the year here Frank yeah I think it's a great question because I think what everyone's wrestling with is is 35 games enough to win coach of the year I think the game that I'm looking for tonight is it's two and they're they go hand in hand but Nashville and New Jersey and then the Kings in van if LA can win and Nashville loses I believe schedule wise and analytically that

21:46the LA Kings are in the driver's seat to win that last playoff well lots of lots done fold and lots to unpack in the sense that we're going to have a great race with several spots Frank thanks a great weekend we'll talk to on Tuesday yeah and just always appreciate the respect the mutual respect that we have I know we listen people watched or listen to Thursday segment they're like look at these two guys at each other's throw it's like it all comes from a place of mutual risk exactly and that we had some text and back and forth and for sure and I mean I we all agreed what will be the point of doing this exactly Frank that's a talk and have fun and challenge each other it's the best part of a place where everyone cares how many times you like I've asked you something so well this is bad radio but I agree or I've said this is bad radio and I agree with what you're saying so for us to talk about this it you know it's not like we're you know throwing not in the world's problems here I'm throwing axes at each other here well I wouldn't mind but we'll see let's see we'll do that over a beer yeah and the golf course have a good one Frank thanks man have a good weekend

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