"Whenever I Feel Like It" (SOTFA EP364)

0:00This is Dave Roberts. If you're heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, you're taking a risk most people don't think about until it's too late. Summer colds linger and can turn into sinus infections at last for weeks. Getting sick right before vacation can derail everything and we are traveling, finding a doctor and pharmacy is stressful. That's why I ordered medical emergency kit. It's like having an emergency care and a pharmacy right at home. It includes essential prescriptions like a moxasillin and generic z-pack to treat a wide range of common and serious illnesses. So if you wake up sick at home or on the road, you already have what you need. No waiting for your doctor, no hours at urgent care, no pharmacy lines, no co-pays, just match your symptoms to the right prescription in your guidebook or call their telemedicine doctor standing by. Start on your med sooner and feel better faster. Every home needs at least one medical emergency kit. 40 years online in minutes and it's shipped to your door and say $45 with promo code blue at urgentcairedkit.com slash blue. That's promo code blue at urgentcairedkit.com slash blue. Hey, it's Kelly Rowland. You may not know this, but I have XM. So I get how it can

1:07steal your time. But why let XM take over when you can talk to your doctor about Eppglus. Eppglus, lubricism app LBKZ, a 250-mg per 2-mg liter injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older, who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe axima. Also called a topic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Eppglus can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you are allergic to Eppglus. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. I problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have newer worsening eye problems, you should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Eppglus. Before starting Eppglus, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Pay partnership with Lily. Respect your time. Ask your doctor about Eppglus and visit Eppglus.com or call 1-800-LilyRX or 1-800-545-5979.

2:20Happy Divels Wednesday. This is the State of the Fan Address Episode 364. I'm your host Sam Wu here with PucksandPitchForks.com, Editor-in-Chief Nick Volano as our streaming live on Facebook live, YouTube live, X live, Twitch and now on Instagram live on the Let's Go Devils Network, County of Live Live, run the Primetime Radio Studios inside the bunkers of both North and South Jersey, covering the Garden State. Talk a little bit of Devils Hockey, lots of NHL news today, but we gotta get to the headline whenever I feel like it. We've got a

3:23opinion. We got a lot of opinions and before we begin, congratulations to you Nick Volano, the number one article on fans cited. Yeah, I think it was number one. I haven't gotten updated on the numbers, but I believe it was number one. It was definitely in like top three, if not number one. But at last check when I checked this after number one story on fanside, it was that original story on the Jack Hughes quote today where he I, Sam, when that first quote came out, I was like, oh, it's over. I was like, and that's okay. Like you kind of have this morning period, be like, you know, this was a fun story we talked about Quinn. But when Jack Hughes started talking about what team can afford Quinn Hughes? The reason he was talking about, he was talking about how they're like, are you envious of Brady Kachak and Matthew Kachak, who get to play together. And of course, he was like, we get to play with Luke. We always forget that there's the

4:24younger brother gets forgotten about. So he was, you know, that was a funny quote like I get to play with Luke. That's kind of nice. But he started talking about how, you know, Quinn Hughes is one of the best players in the world. Like teams can't afford to, you know, people can afford Brady Kachak's $8 million or eight people one million dollars. No, no, if they can afford Quinn, he uses 20 or he didn't say 20, but he said, I don't know if they're gonna be able to afford Quinn as a contract. That throws a wrench in it. So it was like, man, that's weirdly specific, right? Like he did mention like we didn't talk about it a lot this summer. We just try to enjoy our summer and Quinn Hughes had a very similar. It was, it was created and rehearsed. And I thought they did a pretty good job of it. Sam, I think they're trolling us. That's my take. Because then Jack Hughes comes out with a quote, this is I want to play with my brother. And then Quinn

5:25Hughes comes out and says, I want to play Minnesota. But then Quinn Hughes comes out and says, I'll sign it. I'll handle this process whenever I feel like it needs to be done. And then he says, like, I obviously want to play, you know, I would love to play with my team long term. And then he comes out and says, you know, I don't know, I have to kind of see it. I'm okay with the process going to the season. They trolled us. Sam, that's my take. There is no way that this wasn't Jack and Quinn Hughes having fun with us. I actually agree with you for the first time in a long time. I agree with you on that because I'm from a business perspective. My takes all summer long were from the economic standpoint. The money standpoint and what actually made sense, common sense. And if they're trolling us, I think they're doing a great job because the bottom line is and from

6:26what in my opinion, it's a wait and see approach. It really is. And I think Quinn will make more money if he waits to the end of the season. Despite that eight year deal going away. Yeah, I don't. Well, here's the thing is that so with the cap going up the way it is, the way I calculated it is, you know, so say he signed an eight year deal for 20.4. Let's say you signed the exact chemical or deal. Next year, he could sign seven years. I think it's 22 and change. So you're you know, you're adding, you're losing a year. So, you know, let's say, let's say his career goes as you expect. So he'll be 27 when he signs the deal. Seven years will be 34th in the deal. Let's say he's in his prime the whole time and it's 22. So 22 times seven is what one, one

7:26is 34, right? 34 million. I forget. Hold on. Let me just look at what Kalmikara's deal was because I forget what the total number is. I think my number is my p wrong. Hold on. Well, you need to use a calculator, Nick, where you're on 54. Yeah, that's my phone. 154. So if he signs for 22 for seven years, it's 154 million. Kalmikara's signed an eight year deal for 163 million. If you add that eight year, that he's going to lose and say it's 10 million because, you know, because he's going to be 34 at that point. It could even be more, but let's just be conservative and say it's 10 million, right? On the 30, you know, that's eight year. He's still making more than Kalmikara. Yep. A little bit by barely, but it's a little

8:27bit. So he could still sign like you, you know, he'll wait and wait till the next seller cap to come out and signed under those seller cap rules, which would be about 22 million based on projections. And, you know, essentially, he would make most of that money back days losing with that eight year. And so, um, on top of that, he could just, if all the reporting is correct, and he just wants a three year deal, three extension. This is the other thing. I get so mad at Sam that we just missed the point. People say, well, he could play with his brother in three years. No, it's four years. Yeah, which means he's in his 30s when he gets to play with his brother. And that in sports is very different. And I made this, I made this point when Kalmikara signed, think about PK Sube in his 30s. PK Sube is career.

9:29PK Sube in 37 right now. That's crazy. The thing about that. Yeah. He retired when I think you's 33 or 34. He, he was done. He went from, from Norris winner. He won a Norris, right? He won one. I'm not sure I think. I believe so. I believe he won. You went from Norris winner to not good enough to be in the league by 3334 years old. And, and there was factors that I think PK wanted a bigger contract than he was offered. I think, you know, if he was willing to accept like a $2 million deal, I think somebody would have signed up. But I think he wanted to still be a $8, $9 million a year player. And that's fine. Do you make those decisions if you're PK Sube in? Quinn Hughes has to see that. And, and essentially, PK Sube was stopped by back injuries, right? Like that, that's what slowed him down. Took a lot of his explosiveness away. That could happen. We're not even talking about just Quinn Hughes here. We're talking about any of the brothers.

10:34Right now, they're all in the prime. They have this shoulder issue that impacts all three of them. We don't know when that's eventually going to slow them down. They. injuries happened to every player. And when you multiply that by three. You know, it, it, it just because a conundrum and Jack Hughes is already faced injuries, right? And the last two and same and look, yeah, they've, they've both faced it. The Luke went to more concern in the Jack ones, to be honest. Right? Because like, Jack Hughes cut his hand last year. Like that sucks. But like, it's not going to have a long, it's clearly just have a long term impact. He was the second best player in the league coming out of the Olympics. And Luke was really good too. Luke had a bad season last year. He was just bad last year. There's no ifans or butts about it. But everything that I've seen tells me that he was confused by the new system with red, with Bradshaw.

11:40He missed training camp and he like, he just never caught up, right? They're like, truly, he needed to have like a practice on his own, where he just learned the system. Like maybe him and Brett Pesci. But then Brett Pesci got her. So it's safety blanket was God. Last year was just a season from Howell for Luke use. And there was nothing he could do to really solve that. So anyway, happy birthday Luke Hughes. Happy birthday, Luke Hughes. Nine nine. I always joke. I always remember that Luke uses birthday because my son was nine pounds, nine ounces, 20s points. So nine, nine, six out. Very nice. Very nice. Yeah. So it was kind of like this funny connection. But let's get back to kind of the point at hand. I'm I'm either neutral or I feel like if they don't have a contract done by this week, I think that's day show it leans levels.

12:40Just because it feels like a troll job. And you're either doing a troll job because the contract's coming tomorrow. Or you're doing a troll job because what is you know, I hate to bring politics into this, but I think it's appropriate here. What is the mantra of politics today? Is you continue to feed the beast? All this misdirection? If you give them too much to cover, everything's going to fall into the radar. You're your head spinning with everything that's being said. So basically miss nothing sticks. Misdirection. Like it's meant to confuse and throw you off. It just felt like that this week or today. It felt like the devils and the wilds. And like you go on Twitter or Sam in both fan bases think they won today.

13:45Like they're there are victory laps happening everywhere. And that's why I think nothing happened. Yeah, that's why I beg the question has Quinn Hughes signed yet because that's the bottom line. And he hasn't. So that's let's get straight to the point Nick. You know, with all this spin and the Hughes brothers, they're entitled to to troll whatever. And that's fine with me because I think it's more I think about I think you're right. Oh, I would hope it's fine with you. You're the king of the trolls right now. Oh, not. I just have a different take on things. But that's my spin on it. But this is why I do think. Money matters. But also family matters as well. If there was ever a time. But he's in New Jersey. Yeah. And look, for me as a fan, I don't really care. Believe it or not. If Quinn Hughes is a devil or not. But I want to see Jack happy in New Jersey. I want to see Luke happy in New Jersey.

14:54And I think that they would be happier if Quinn was there. So part of me, I'm a little. I'm not because there's a lot of been said online that I'm obsessed. I'm not obsessed on anything to be honest with you. I just post what I think. And then I said, I forget it. And then suddenly my phone's blown up. What I will say though is that. And then when Jack came out, you saw the quotes Dan Rosen and Angel.com. You know, putting it out there. And just everybody rushing to have that opinion out there. Just like absolutely without even thinking of it. But like you said, the more Jack talked, the more Quinn talked. And it became more obvious to you that they were kind of trolling us. The more I think it all boils down to this. Wait a year. Just wait a year. Maybe would a trade happen mid season. I don't know.

15:58But waiting a year benefits Quinn Hughes the most. So when Jack Hughes said, you know, what benefits, you know, what benefits Quinn the most. I forgot the exact words. That's what just waiting a year. He has all the leverage. You know, bet on yourself. Even if he does get hurt, I still think he would be a top three paid defenseman in the league. You know, bet on yourself. You do want your contract. Like you could. Yeah, makes you know, take a one year, $17 million contract. I think people would do that. I agree. And here's the thing is that Bill Garen being with GM of team USA, people think is an advantage to Garen. I think it's an advantage to Garen in the Dylan lock him the situation. And that's the X factor here. Right. I think there's a certain aspect where you're biased where you believe in your teammates.

17:04But you have to like like he has to be looking at the center situation and what happened when Joel Erickson at got hurt, which he's also a guy gets her all the time. You have to look at that situation where you got spanked by Colorado. Like you couldn't function against Colorado after that. And Minnesota Wilds and try to tell me like, no, it was close. It was by the, no, you got to spank. You want one game. And I know they were missing Brody and I know they were missing Joel Arksonak, but those aren't your two best players. Not even close, right. It's your third best defenseman and your third best forward. Losing those two players caused your entire team to fall apart in the playoffs. And when I look at the entire structure of the Minnesota wild. Um. It's, it's built to fail more than the Devils are. The Devils are always been a house of cards.

18:10And there's always been like six guys that can't get hurt. Jack used the top that list and he's been hurt past couple of years. Brett Paschie is pretty high up there. And he's got hurt. I think both years that he's been here. Dougie Hamilton's been up there. He's been mostly healthy last two years. I know you got hurt. I think it was three years ago. Um. And then. But everybody else, like even he sure, obviously theoretically you don't want to get hurt. But I do trust. Cody Glass to step again, if it's like two weeks, right. Like the wild can't survive two weeks without Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy, karaoke, freeze off, joy or snack or a rock favor. Any of those guys get hurt, like it's going to be a rough two weeks. The Devils could survive without Nicholas for two weeks. Like Cody Glass could step up. You put Evan Rodriguez at the center.

19:11Maybe you call him. I'm a day of some party to play a role. They have pieces. Dawson Mercer, replace center for two weeks. That I don't want. I don't want Dawson Mercer play center. But if you have to for two weeks, like you can survive. Um. And then you look at like if they lost Boldy, I don't even know where the wingers are. You know, so I, if I'm Quinn Hughes, I say to myself, you're having a real hard time getting Dylan Larkin. And Dylan Larkin says he only wants to come here and you can't get the deal done. I think when you know, we go back to those comments he made at his end of season press conference, where it seems like it seems like he's late towards signing. Like this might be, this might be done, guys. I think he thought done deal. My best friend Dylan Larkin's coming here. I don't know if he's best friend,

20:12but you know, my good friend Dylan Larkin's coming here. We're going to get the center we need. Larkin Joel Erksen Eck is a very respectable one, two punch at center. If they can stay healthy, we're a top, you know, top team in the West, the top team in the NHL. Garen couldn't get the deal done and then Steve Ironson got fired. And there are reports that a Red Wing's GM is coming soon. You would think that there has to be training camp starting soon. And that maybe Larkin's holding out. Maybe he's not holding out. Sorry, I just want to make sure I got it. We got a breaking news. No, this is this camera a little while ago. This is the quote that I think. A lot of people, this is the quote that has been a sort of wild fans. Very angry.

21:14By Michael Tracos, it is my life. I'm not going to do anything to make someone else happy. Or obviously I like to think of myself as a thoughtful person. I think that everybody's got to do whatever makes them happy and where the chips fall, they fall. That's such a weird quote, knowing Quinn Hughes. That's the other thing. You remember last year, media day, Queen Hughes was very reserved and Jack Hughes is very boisterous. And that's how we got all the stories, right? Jack Hughes was just, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Is that what he felt when he felt it? Didn't care. That's because I think they wanted out. I truly think when he was like, I got to do what's best for me. And a team with Capri's off, Boldy and Faber with this goal,

22:15telling off, paper should be a Stanley Cup contender. Old Billy G pulled the Uno reverse Tom Fitzgerald card and just built a terrible roster under stars. Like, this is truly a terrible roster. I wrote about for the Toronto Maple Leafs, I wrote about Jack Hughes's comment on Gavin McKenna. And I thought his comments were ridiculous because Ray Cheryl built a superstar roster on Jack Hughes that year. So did you see the comments made about Gavin McKenna? No, I did not. He essentially said, this is the best position that I've ever seen. A number one overall pick come into in a long time. And he even mentioned specifically that there was two number one overall picks in the roster in Austin Matthews and John Tveris that he could kind of bounce things off of. That tells me two things. Hey, I think Jack Hughes is like blocked 2019, 2020

23:16out of his mind. He had the, I think at 21 points, that's he's like, we remember that it was bad. I went back and looked at it. It was like insanely bad. Like, he was a fourth line, third line player that he's in with no defense. Like, he was a bad player. I think he says that I really, I have heard that that team. I heard Taylor Hall wasn't good for that team. And I've always advocated for Taylor Hall to come back because I think you learn a little bit from your mistakes. And I think Taylor Hall got humbled by the Arizona Buffalo situations, which is why he is where he is now. Right. Then he went to Boston and the Boston traded him to Chicago to a place where he was miserable. Anyway, I think I know Jack Hughes has a

24:25lot of respect for Austin Matthews. And I think he wished Taylor Hall was more like Austin Matthews. I think Taylor Hall was like, I hope it works out, but I'm kind of over it. And then he didn't go, you know, there's reports he didn't go along with Sue Ben. And, you know, I think they just have, again, nothing serious, but they just have different styles of approaching hockey. And I think Jack Hughes, if you remember, I don't remember Taylor Hall like the Halloween party. I don't remember Taylor. Like, maybe he was, but PK Sue Ben was everywhere with the young guys. He loved hanging out with the young guys. He loved being that mentor, but he didn't have the same coming into the league as an overall pick. I think he looks at Tavares who's been through everything at this point, except for like a long playoff run. And you look at, um, Hey Nick Austin Matthews. Sorry. I got breaking news is bad. Um, Barry Melrose has passed away.

25:28Oh, that's awful. Yeah. Just, just coming over the wire. Yeah, I mean, we, it was, yeah, I forgot what health issue he had, but he had to, um, it was Parkinson's. Yeah. I think so. Yeah, Parkinson's. He got diagnosed in 2023. Only 70 years old. Yeah, sad. Sad. I do have a couple Barry Melrose's moments, Devil's fans remember that time coming to Newark. And, you know, Barry, um, got some bad information. If you remember, uh, about the, the Newark arena. And there was a big controversy if you remember when he said a couple of things.

26:30But to his credit, he listened and he actually came to Newark. I remember him at the arena bar. He had a security with him. Jeff Vanderbeek was there. Uh, Cory Booker was Cory Booker the mayor. I think he was then. And, uh, coming into arena bar, he got booed. And then, you know, but he was just having a good time. Also, I made it on Fox, uh, Fox five with the, uh, not Penny Cron Linda Schmidt. That video is out there. Um, and, but he was very, very nice. He was very, very nice Barry Melrose. That's one Barry Melrose moment I had. Um, also I dangled a wallet, from a, from a fishing rod and everyone's channy wears your wallet. Uh, and he was having a good time with that. But the second thing Barry Melrose was, um, at the press box, I forgot where I was. I think it was, um, in me, I like to say I was at the winter classic in 2012 in Philadelphia.

27:36And I was standing next to Barry Melrose. Uh, really nice guy. Just a true gentleman. Unfortunately, passed away just coming over the wire at the age of 70. I'm sure there's more tributes and, um, stuff coming out about him. Yeah. I, I have to give Barry Melrose this credit. He was, I can't remember the tackling the time he was at the SPN, but when he came on the SPN, you knew that the SPN was paying attention to hockey. And that felt special because when he SPN was in a Tay Day, it famously ignored hockey. I feel like how good Barry Melrose was forced them to at least do something on the big stories in hockey and bring Barry Melrose on sports and it went sports center meant something. And bring Barry Melrose in on, on those big segments and, you know, me, make sure that he mattered to the company because he was such

28:43an asset. And that may, that kept the NHL enough in the lexicon that I think it leads to the, the deal that you see today with the SPN and the NHL, right? And say what you want about the deal. I think Barry Melrose, if, you know, if you didn't get stuck in with this terrible disease, I think he would have been a big part of that coverage. I know he's 70. Like that seems pretty old. But, you know, these guys, these analysts are out there for, you know, they're prime less, longer and longer. And I think Barry Melrose would still be on TV today if he was in Stricon with his terrible disease. I think he would have been still, you know, at the height of his game, we see guys like, you know, Doc Amarick did an interview this week and, um, Stant Fisher has been on this podcast. He's in his 90s. He's still writing like, these guys who love hockey can love hockey forever and show that expertise. And Barry Melrose was always one of that guy, those guys and like, like you said, like a guy who who said some stupid things and,

29:45and who would always take it on the channel and paste the music. And I would stand up guy, stand up guy. I mean, you don't have to agree with Barry Melrose. You don't have to agree with him at all. I mean, you know, he had the mallet, you know, everybody loved to make fun of him, but, you know, he, he took it all in and he was having fun too. Like there was nothing personal. It was just having fun. But when it came down to it, I thought he was a great ambassador to the sport, you know, with his time with Los Angeles Kings. But we all know him from the ESPN days when the ESPN was always putting hockey on the doose ESPN 2. If you remember that and, you know, NHL rules and all that kind of stuff. So Barry Melrose had a big part of promoting the game in the United States. And it was again, like I told you, my two Barry Melrose experiences, one as a fan, dangling a wallet as he came to Newark. And we were all having a good time.

30:47You know, he was taking it like you said on the chin. But at the same time, you know, on a professional level in the press box, he was nice to everybody, approachable, just nice to everybody. And he knew the game. He knew the game very well. Barry Melrose. And I love the old ESPN days with Barry Melrose, Bill Clement and Gary Thorn. Yeah. You know, so. And here's the thing about those old school guys like I see the same thing about Larry Brooks. We also lost two soon. People got mad at some of the things they said and wrote. But they had a lot of opinions. Some of the nicest guys you'll meet approachable. We'll have like, we'll sit down with you and talk with you and give you career advice. They'd give you the time of day. They'd come on this podcast. They'd come on all podcasts big and small and know that they're, they're reached and

31:49their their name value would bring something to the table. And they'd give you 100% on all those all those moments, right? They never, some of their takes might not have liked, but they never have asked any of them. You know, they they put the effort in. And I'm like, you know, we, we, we see some other high paid analysts that you kind of like, well, why why'd you kind of, you know, they'll take a segment off. And I can never say that about Barry Melrose. I can never say that about Larry Brooks with an article or with a with a segment that he's ever done. And you can never say that about all these guys and and the old guard, you know, it's really sad when they pass away because you know, there's there's a lot of great hockey writers out there. But there's just something about the guys who worked in the 90s. I don't know if you feel this way, Sam, but the guys who worked in the 90s and then their career survived the type of progression that happened from the 90s to today. The the amount of you have to be so elusive. And so like,

32:58like, malleable. And those guys just kept evolving into their, you know, their late eras. And there's something special about that where you see people now and like, I don't know, like the stated journalism's just in a weird spot. And losing a guy like Barry Melrose to this terrible disease is it just feels a little extra sad. And this would always been sad because he's great, but you know, just losing, losing one of those heavyweights who was so good in so many different eras and so many different levels of entertainment. It feels like we lost something bigger. Yeah, Nick. I actually found the clip that I was referring to video clip of Barry Melrose coming

34:01to to Newark to the arena bar. Do you mind if I play this? It's yeah, go on a couple minutes. It was on Fox five near the Fox affiliate channel five. Let me try to back this up real quick because it's it's already playing. But let me this is this is back in the day back in 2007. If you remember, Barry Melrose coming to Newark after saying some words, I'll play the clip. And let's play it right now. See here. Let's play. Well, I'll tell you what Barry Melrose, he got quite a near full out here tonight. He had said some not so nice things about the city of Newark, but tonight Newark responded. Devils fans chanted a curse word. And that was the welcome that Barry Melrose received at the arena bar in Newark. But the ESPN hockey analyst knew that it was all in fun. What is your

35:02reaction to this reaction? They're not exactly calling you a nice name. Oh, they're great. There's no problem at all. I've been booed by 17,000 people. A couple of guys yelled at me. Doesn't bother me very much. Now Melrose braved coming into Newark after saying this about the area surrounding the city's new hockey arena called the Prudential Center. Don't go outside, especially if you got a wallet or anything else because the area around the building is awful. And fans were ready for Melrose. They dangled a wallet over his head. He redained himself by showing up here. It takes a lot of guts for somebody to talk trash about a city and then turn around and walk through the middle of it. He sure a lot of characters are coming down here after what he said. Melrose apologized to the owner of the New Jersey Devils and to the city of Newark. I think it takes a big man to come down to Bitties wrong and see for himself. I hold no ill will. We've all said stupid things. Lord knows I put my size 14s in my mouth many a time. So you know you forgiven forget everybody should come and see it because it's not like what you hear. The restaurants are great. The areas are great. All right so it looks like all is forgiven but

36:06I'll bet you that Barry thinks twice before he knocks Newark again. In Newark, New Jersey, I'm Linda Schmidt Fox five news. That was the clip. That's fun. I do remember that. You know I didn't remember all the specifics. Can I make one point out what's that? Cory Booker with the humble brag be like my size 14s. Come on man. What are you doing? I got to get a special shoe man. Call it, call it Nike to get my size 14. Come on man. What are you doing? But those are the types of things that I feel like you don't we don't get that anymore. That doesn't I don't know. I feel like I've said some stupid things and I've done my share but I'm just a blog but I I'll learn and and kind of again I didn't say anything to that level but I always try to do something funny with it or or do something useful or respectful out of it and

37:13that's what he did too but I just think that that era is we're now in an era of a lack of accountability. I think that's what it is. People want to be able to say whatever they want and never face the consequences for it whenever I feel like. Sorry. It's not even bad. It's just it's well you know what? To put it in context just remember I mean the whole Newark arena was just the controversy back then like will it work? Will it work? There was such an unknown and then very many capital of the world like it's you're moving into the project. Yeah. This and it turned out to be a success story. I mean it really has. I mean at American whiskey doing the podcast pregame post game game day live in Delphi after dark doing in the middle of the street and and you know the crowds after Devils Rangers when the when the Devils beat the Rangers twice in the playoffs 2012 and just recently in 2023 I mean the place was rocking.

38:20It's the Newark the Newark experiment worked and Newark is getting better and better better every year that goes by and I don't care what people say. Oh it's a terrible place. You know what? It's making a comeback and you know it's got a lot of history. I think a lot of people were worried that for obviously the Newark part of it was part of it but I think a lot of people were worried. Because I remember this being a narrative was that you're building a Devils Arena for Rangers fans. Right they're like you're building it by Penn Station because you want to be more accessible for the Rangers fans. You're building it at Penn Station so the Flyers fans can come in so the Islanders fans can more easily come in so all these fans can more easily access your arena and that's not correct. I don't think. Do Rangers fans come to the arena during the Devils Rangers games? Yes but I think that's more of a factor of the Rangers gouging their fan

39:26base more than the accessibility of the arena. Right I think they would have done it for if they did it in Hoboken, if they did it as very park, if they did any of these places that they were vaguely considering back in the day. The Rangers fans would have gotten there just because of the relative price of the tickets. It's half even on the secondary market. So I think that they look at the situation. At least here themselves. But again I kind of want to wrap this up. So terrible news. It's kind of hard to go back to Trilling Quinn Hughes after this but let's say one more. Why don't you wrap this segment up for the bow if you have anything else to say about it and then let's kind of pivot. Yeah I mean a lot of us grew up with the SBN.

40:33Barry Melrose was front and center back in the 90s and you know a great ambassador to the game. You know he was a great guy from what I could tell my personal experiences have always been very positive. Barry Melrose. Yeah. Yeah it's uh I think as legacy is going to speak for itself. Yeah and I think it deserves to. There's a lot of people who's legacy speaks for itself and they don't deserve it. I think Barry Melrose is a guy who's getting the legacy he deserves. He said a lot of things that was the way to keep hockey alive on ESPN. I think it was probably I think it was his personality right but I think to keep hockey alive in ESPN you had to be boisterous you had to be in your face you had to be a little bit frank and yeah I think I think Barry Melrose for his contributions. I say and it's it's it's a sad day

41:41yeah it's all you it's all I really got um yeah it's a sad day but let me pivot. Go ahead no I'm just sorry I had it it's breaking news I had a sorry I didn't text you beforehand but got a less scar but you know um somebody just pointed out that bon Jovi is song called It's My Life and that's how Quentin Hughes started one of his clothes and now now that's the pivot for me right that's the tradition of it all right uh not so so we're we're what one week out from training camp were one week removed from the double straight from Luke Evangelista I think this team isn't done making moves no I think uh I think we were we're facing a busy training camp

42:47and I think if you're if you're sunny made you're gonna so I think sunny made it hasn't made any the moves he's made so far a strategic he got rid of Jacob Markstrom who I think was sinking this team and I don't think Jacob Markstrom did it like I don't think he was a bad locker-room guy I just think that this team couldn't bounce back when Jacob Markstrom let it a bad goal and we said that all last year he got rid of Simon Nemitz who I heard nothing of this but everything I'm hearing now is that there was an issue with Simon Nemitz and he was a little um oh you know just you know just he always felt like he deserved more than he was getting and he wasn't quiet about it well Nemitz had a lot of issue he had a lot of immaturely issues and I don't

43:55even want to go that far because he's a young so like maybe I've talked I've talked to people Nick that that's that's the word that several several people have said um and even Travis Green when he was the interim head coach talked about you know immature I think he was referring to him to be honest that's just my opinion he had a he has a very high opinion of himself that's for sure which which I do like which I do like I mean there's the double that's short you know I like you somebody that's a little cocky but you have to be within be realistic about it yeah I just think he was looking at the counting stats over the mistakes he was making right he's like well I got wait 14 goals yeah 14 goals yeah but you you allowed 22 he or like your mistakes led to 15 so you're you're hurting this team when they help with this team anyway I so those are the two two right deletions from the roster um there's a couple guys

45:00lots of frags see but nothing serious like I see like he didn't make the move which is the Dawson Marcer trade because I think people relatively like Marcer I think there's a factor that's not there that we thought there was as far as an ability to take that next step wait in 22 23 we thought we got the best guy in the 2020 draft he has been slowly falling down the list as guys just passed him over and over again you know he's kind of barely hanging on to top 10 um I still think he's a good draft back he's he's a positive influence on the devil's he had 20 goals last year but he's seen a lot of guys not 2020 draft at the past in as far as career points as far as career impact things like that um I think he's getting moved and I think the way they're

46:00gonna present it is 14 guys and 12 spots fight for it and I think they know he's not going to look the best in that scenario do you think I'm correct because we've talked about this I think about it all time believe or not I think about the day that Nemitz was drafted I was against it for a lot of reasons I always have that wood if in my head I know but okay getting back at the end of the day you know when it comes to Nemitz or Mercer or you know any of these guys it almost seems like they plateaued when they should have been going up right why is that are they just not good enough are their practice habits are not there do they not have it that

47:05next level in them with Dawson Mercer he does have that Iron Man Iron Man streak going yeah and he's definitely tradable he's tradable he has value and he does have still some of that potential but the most important thing is he has a no he doesn't have anything to stop a trade he has no protection right now so right you know and we're we're I'm surprised he hasn't been traded yet and why is that I think it's because I think it's because Sunny knows he can trade him and I think you don't want to come in and clean house when you want to compete in your first year's GM you're already making a couple really I think Sunny knows the situation I think the locker room was

48:09I'm gonna I'm gonna use my words this correctly as I can this team loves playing together but their locker room was in a weird spot last year they just didn't hey it just felt like every day was anything like do you remember when Luke Hughes got the boot oh I was there I was there I was against it so I was against it it was dumb but it was dumb in the way they did it if you wanted to boo him as he was coming off the ice at the end of a play I'm all for it boo you're paying customer booing him when he has the puck on his stick and trying to make a play is idiotic but that's neat that's not the point Nico Hescher came out and spoke to the media when he wasn't scheduled to Luke Hughes came out and spoke to the media when he wasn't scheduled to and every guy that came

49:11out and spoke said we got your back but I think there was just a lot of those I think it's been I think it's been a long three years Sam it's been a long like you we have to remember how heavy 2023-24 was two of the teammates got arrested for heinous crimes in 2024 they had the hype train behind them and they faltered their goalies failed them then the next year you know they get the goalie and Mark strumming and and Alan after failing to get so many others including hell about like they they had a deal on the tables I think what I got them hell about and there's one player that they didn't want to move off of and that's why the deal doesn't happen which I still think I don't think Sunny made a wood want that contract of the books right now but anyway then there's there's everything that's happened and everything that's failed

50:19and everything and like just the bad moves that keep you know that are getting made it over and over and over again and I look at what Sunny made a has done so far before the look eventually it's a trade they needed to make a trade because they had too many forwards now they really have too many forwards and I don't think Sunny made a trade for Amadea Sambardi to lose them the waivers so I think they're getting rid of three guys I think Lenny Haminahos is certainly HL which is a fortune because I think with some growth he's an HL player but it is what it is you know you got to you got to make the moves to make the most sense for your roster I think Mercer is not long for this roster I think Stefan Mason is not long for this roster I think

51:22I think there could be a surprise well I don't know who it is well I just think that Sunny right now isn't he's in that position where he could make a move I mean there's just an influx of forwards he can wait it out he's got options Sunny right now and you know and there's a lot of you know online banter you know how good the devils are you know I mean people forget how they started the season last year you know and what point that out when Jack Hughes is healthy and I'm talking about healthy not with the cast in his hand he was healthy they were on 104 point pace that includes the beginning of the season and in that last Olympic run yeah 104 point pace and it's how they didn't have injuries then right they had a ton of injuries in the beginning of the season last year plus remember Timo Meyer had to go back home for personal

52:24reasons you know there were a lot of things last season I mean Jacob Markstrom I mean his glove was so bad last season you know again yeah I don't know how he's going to fare in Florida but from what I saw he looked too old to play I think we're gonna learn he was hurt you think so I think we're gonna learn he had a shoulder or a bicep or a thing because you're right his glove was terrible and it was obvious every every team knew to shoot glove side and you're score and they did is that the reason why he's starting kicked his butt that fight yeah I mean Markstrom lost leverage pretty quickly and I think that was part of it but again I again I think Markstrom was trying everything and which I don't fault him you know I like Markstrom I'm glad we made the trade I'm set we gave him the extension does that make sense like two years of that with with

53:30money held by Calgary okay worthwhile bet worth the first round pick worth Kevin Ball but and he was great in the playoffs he's the reason why the devils currently have the the um they still have never been swept in a playoff series they should have been swept they were wildly outtellented by Carolina that year and they were in all but two games right with that five game series well then four games or three games I know the game I win two game three and game five game five I mean they took it the double overtime and then it was just a unlucky you know see them to all our flip are they in game one though weren't wasn't it like three to one yeah I don't remember Nick I'm trying to put those memories I think Markstrom played really well in that game I'm like okay maybe we have a chance at Merch place like this um

54:36I just think that this roster is so close to being actually really good and like almost to the point where I don't believe it the issue is the defense I like the players in a vacuum but you have too many defensive defensemen and I'm not saying you need a bunch of luke uses but I'd like another Brett peschi like a guy who can give you 30 points who can move the puck who's good on his feet and them I'm hearing a lot of excitement about Sylia which I think is I thought he was like two years away but I think the take is they thought he was in an impossible situation last year and he has NHL level skill

55:36I think they'd like him to add a little bulk but I don't know what he did in the off season I think he's a legitimate shot to make this team we also know that Sunny made a loves Declan Chisholm loves him has brought him up in every single in-early he loves Declan Chisholm I think he's I think the defense is getting moved and I think that sunny made a like I think he likes the type of guy that's I think in a perfect world sunny made it would move cova savage but he can't cova savage is a full no-trade clause cova savage has been tried they've tried to move him and he's blocked it that's what I've heard I think the devils are gonna move a defenseman it's Dylan or Seagunthaler I think they just do a lot

56:39of the same things in different ways right Dylan's kind of a heavy hitter he's a fighter he's he's a guy who you know will knock you off the puck and then you want to see get those like a poke checker and a position guy and a shop blocker and whatever essentially they're both doing the same thing of trying to keep you off the scoreboard and don't do a lot of things offensively and I think you got enough of those guys but I'll say this Sam if you get Luke Hughes of two years ago and you get Brett Pesci of the last year in Carolina which I think he's still capable of he's just been aware it's bought then I think his defense is good as is I don't love cova savage in the lineup but you know it's kind of an is what it is kind of thing I also think I've said this I think she and his case is an H already I think he's an NHL player so I think if you can get off

57:43cova savage I think you just play Cham is Casey and I think a Casey Dylan if I recall it was Casey Nemitz for a little while but I think there was some Casey Dylan and that's when Casey scored all those goals they allowed a little bit too many but I think that was just like a young player in a role bigger than he was ready for but he the offensive skill is there and he's been learning the defensive side really well in Utica I think he's ready to make the jump he's still waivers exempt so he can get sent down for free but I just think he's ready to make the jump so I the devils legitimately have 30 NHL level players and I think you thought you had that last year coming into the training camp the Thomas Borlau Angus Crookshank Brian Hallanin you thought those guys could be NHL players

58:54but it was like they're really just weren't this year they're we're on the other side right they're on the day of some party that clinches on like these are like Colin White I think in a pinch is a fine NHL player like a fourth liner I do think the devils have 30 players that like you put in the NHL and like you're fine which is part of like it's a little scary to you same because like are all these guys gonna get through waivers I don't know but anyway we're at 930 we talked about a lot it was a heavy podcast am I I think I need a nap or drink well you need to do maybe like an IP okay Puxy picture is calm right now we already have a story on Luke Hughes or sorry a story on cute Quinn Hughes two stories and Jack Hughes JP Gambit's go through story on Chris Criter we didn't even talk about tonight Chris Criter got cut and once come back to these coast I wish we would have

59:58talked about it but see him five seconds do you want Chris Criter no yeah I don't think you have too many forwards but already yeah he's just not which I would love him because he's so good in the playoffs but just not what you need right now um JP Gambit he's gonna talk about Chris Criter we have a lot on puxy picture.com on there right now oh when I talked about you we talked about getting cleaned out waivers they wrote an article last week about the guys that are surprisingly not available for waivers anymore there are no longer waiver exempt so you gotta have to check that out um listen but it's time we talk next week Sam we'll be previewing training camp it's really exciting yeah well I will be on a cruise ship in the Atlantic so we'll have to figure this one out no guarantee yeah we'll figure out hello for an hour it's fine yeah we'll figure it out

1:01:02call Ginny what's Vinny doing um yeah we'll call Vinny Perisi hockey news puxy and pitchworks.com USA today that Vinny Perisi also he's everywhere host a game day live as well anyway all right well we're gonna get out of here um you can find me on twitter at prime time sam woo and you can follow my uh vacation journey I don't even know if I'm gonna have internet I don't know I'll be in international waters internationally we shall see but the podcast will continue so I want to thank all those tuning in we have lots of people on today and I think the saga will continue for the next year and in final thought Nick you know what happened to Devils last year about Quin Hughes coming

1:02:02and how it just messed up the locker room what's gonna happen in Minnesota if this cloud's hanging over the head of that franchise that they can't reassign them and what are the fans are gonna think those are gonna be the storylines unless he sounds extension now that's all I have to say yeah I mean he talked about that specifically he's like it's I got to distract me at least I don't think it's like I don't think it's going to or he said something that affect yeah it's not about you Quin so everybody else around you yeah we got to distract you um yeah but anyway anyway so thank you thank you thank you dropping the podcast in about 20 minutes of a podcast google podcast Spotify Amazon Music Prime Audible and on the iHer app wherever you get our podcast until next time let's go Devils for a limited time in McDonald's get a big Mac extra value meal for eight dollars that means to

1:03:07all beef patty special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun and medium fries and a drink we may need to change that jingle price of it to switch me very pro football is back kick off the season by trading your predictions on kalshi america's number one prediction market platform Detroit is at 39% to beat buffalo so a hundred dollar trade pays out 245 with a win trade in a live market with no house or odds makers and move in and out of your position until the final whistle download the kalshi app and use code heart to get twenty five dollars when you trade twenty five eighteen plus only restrictions and eligibility apply trading and false risk not available in all jurisdictions prices values and markets made it for from those mentioned for more see kalshi.com slash regulatory kalshi trade on anything