Senators Making A Trade? | September 21, 2023

Hast du Lust über Zukunft zu reden? Dann höre die Dialoge für morgen schon heute. Bei der Zukunftswoche von DM-Druckeriemarkt. Erhalte spannende Impulse in fünf Talks zu fünf relevanten Themen mit mehr als 25-Speakern im Livestream. Mit Ankatrin Schmitz, Richard David Precht, Luisa Dellert und viel mehr. Die Zukunftswoche vom 25. des 29. September ab 18 Uhr live aus Berlin. Alle Infos zum Livestream auf DMDE, Slash, Zukunftswoche. Das Spiel des Christch屌-Stand-Shows verbrannt euch bei Shopify. Wenn ihr ein Bensch-Wormer für die Goat you can do it, get your business a game-changing pick-up by choosing the commerce platform with the Internet's best converting checkout. Das Shopify. Shopify ist die Commerce-Plattform revolutionisern mit millions der Businesses worldwide. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur, or IPO-ready, Shopify ist die einzige tool, you need to start, run, and grow your business without the struggle. Shopify puts you in control of every sales channel. So whether you're selling signed sneakers or offering official outfielder's outfits, baseball reference, Shopify is all in one e-commerce platform has you covered. And once you've reached your audience, Shopify has the Internet's best converting checkout to help you turn them from browsers to buyers. What I love about Shopify personally is how no matter how big you want to take your business, Shopify gives you everything you need to take it to the next level. Shopify, by the way, also powers 10% of all e-commerce in the United States. And being a truly global force, it powers companies like Albirds, Raffys, Brooklyn, and millions of other entrepreneurs of every size across over 170 countries around the world. Plus, Shopify's award-winning help is there to support your success every single step of the way. This is possibility. Powered by Shopify. Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at Shopify.com slash Johnston, all lowercase. Shopify.com slash Johnston to take your business to the next level today. I know that some of our audience know the finer points of hockey. The Chris Johnston Show. We are your friends. The biggest stories bringing you inside the game. What did you hear? The Chris Johnston Show. Powered by sports interaction. What a bet. What is going on? Here's Chris with your host, Julian McKenzie. Part of the day. Happy training camp day for all who celebrate whether it started on Wednesday, whether it starts Thursday today. Training camps opening up across the national hockey league. I couldn't be more excited. Literally, as soon as we're done recording, I'm going to my room to change my clothes and go to the Flames facility for their day. CJ, you've been all over marketing day and you're back at the facility today. You must be excited as much as I am. If not more excited, that hockey is getting closer and closer to fully returning. Yeah, I am pumped this year. I don't know exactly what it is. But coming out yesterday to sort of the opening day of Leafs Camp, I was thinking about all the times I've done it. I've been really lucky. I've been 20 years worth of those sort of days, but there's doesn't really get old. I find it's, it's just interesting, right? Every team is going to have had some degree of change with players, in this case, with the Leafs, Brad Triliving, was addressing the media. He's a new general manager. It's just everything is fresh and there's storylines galore. And no one's lost the game yet, right? I mean, we're three weeks before anyone's going to lose the game. At least one that matters in the standings. And so this is a time for, I think, hoping in really in 32 cities, there's going to be some teams that surprise us. Probably a few that surprise us for the wrong reasons and don't have the kind of season they're hoping for, but it all starts basically this week in this couple days. And man, I'm feeling refreshed. It was a long summer against first July 1st that we've had in the post-COVID era. And so it meant for, I think, a lot of time to recharge the batteries and I'm ready to rock. But I was listening to the SDP yesterday and the beginning segment where they were going in on all these fan bases that are seemingly insufferable was really funny and ironic, considering that Adam Jesse and Steve are trying to make police fans. It's the one time of year where your fan base is not the one that's insufferable. It's the everyone else's fan base. You're the ones who are crazy. Why do you think Jake Sanderson has a good deal? You're nuts for that. They can eat it. Oh, no, they think they're going to suck this year. The Buffalo Sabers, boo. Yeah, you guys miss the playoffs year in year out. I love this time of year where everyone just has this little bit of hope and no one's played a game yet and we just have to wait another month. Well, actually not even a month, like two weeks before that hope, I don't want to say gets quashed but reality starts to set it. Did we're at the point where delusion or delulu as the kids say on TikTok? That still holds firm for everybody. I love it. I love it. Well, right. I mean, look, if there's going to be exhibition games this weekend, like what comes with that as injuries and other situations, right? I mean, like, this is, you're right. The hope balloon in certain places will start to be deflated, depending on what happens even in these next few weeks before we get to the regular season. But I don't know. This is something, I think this is going to be a great year. I really, I think there's a lot of interesting dynamics around the league and there's a lot of storylines and things that are going to propel us to a great 23, 24 NHL season. There are so many storylines I want to get to today. We will have a Leafs Corner. We'll talk about the Sends. We'll talk about the Connucks, the Flames are on the list, the Barun's are on the list, the Ducks are on the list as well. I want to start in Tampa Bay because it seems as if the most explosive thing that happened yesterday was out of Tampa Bay with Steven Stamcoes. After admits CJ, I did not think about Steven Stamcoes one Iota all off season. But he is in the final year of his contract and he went to the media yesterday to express disappointment that talks over a contract extension didn't happen this summer. I'll read a quote for you. To be honest, I've been disappointed in the lack of talking that regard. So it was something that I expressed at the end of last year that I wanted to get something done before training camp and Julian Breeswad, the Lightning GM. Also speaking yesterday, Steven has mentioned publicly and to me that he wants to spend his entire career with the Lightning. I think it would be great for our organization if Steven could spend his entire career with the Lightning. That is in everyone's best interest. CJ, let's break this down. What happened? Why are we here with Steven Stamcoes who has been a lifer with the Tampa Bay Lightning ever since he was drafted first overall? Well, I'd say the easiest answer to that is that the Lightning have a front office that is very, very calculating. And I don't say that as a shot at them. I think it's actually a compliment that in a salary cap world, they have done arguably the best job consistently of managing their cap situation. I know they're rated by some of the tax related things that go on on Florida in terms of players and I mean to pay as much tax there as they do in other jurisdictions. And so maybe they've gotten players side cheaper but they've done a really good job of managing their cap sheet. And Julian Breeswad to his credit addressed this head on as well on the open day cap. And to paraphrase what was a long answer for him, he basically said, more information on where our team is at. Obviously he didn't maybe state it expressly but he's where Steven Stamco says that just because of his age. I mean, what's interesting about this, but there's a lot of, there's a lot of interesting about this. But Steven Stamco's has had 190 points over the last two seasons. You know, he is getting to his mid-30s but he's getting there in a manner where he's still a very productive player. Maybe not the fleetist of foot but he can still shoot the puck. Obviously, you know, it could help a power play. You know, and he's got, he's got more meaning in Tampa than he would anywhere else. I mean, he literally has been the face of the franchise. Holds the franchise records. You know, it's helped bring them to Stanley Cups and been to two more cup finals and wants to stay. And so the fact that they're playing on this way, I think that that's what, what, you know, where the intrigue would be. But look at Breeswad's history. You know, Alex Coulorn was a beloved player in Tampa with a lifetime player and he had to go to Anaheim last year in Fraigiancy. You know, they couldn't make the money work. Andre Poulot, two years ago in Fraigiancy. Same deal, he moved on to New Jersey after being a lifelong lighting player, part of all the success that that group has had. I mean, this front office is not afraid of making difficult decisions, hard decisions and it's too soon to say where it's going to stamp goes. For sure, because I think they have so much still to gain together. I don't get the sense this means he's definitely going to hit the market in a year's time on July 1st. But what it does suggest is that the lighting are going to look very carefully at where he is at, where their team are at before making that decision. And it sounded like that decision isn't going to come until after this coming season. So, you know, stamp goes at this age, you know, it's not going to get the security, it doesn't sound like of an extension anytime soon. And he's going to have to play through a contract here. And look, maybe that'll spur him on. Maybe that'll be a little bit of flame under his butt that, you know, it's not as though he needs it given how productive he's been these last couple seasons. How healthy he's been to, you know, a big part of stamp goes to his career storyline, right, as the injuries he's had in the times he's missed. But, you know, he's been a healthy player for them through the last two seasons entirely. And this is a spicy meatball I'm with you. And I love that he came out and just was honest, too. I have to say, just from my experience, Julian, covering this last generation of NHL players, I mean, there's a few, I've enjoyed covering more than Steve and Stamco. It's just because I do find he's very eloquent, he's very thoughtful, any is very honest. And sometimes that is honesty in a difficult situation. And this is clearly a difficult situation for him for his family and for the organization. So Steven Stamco's 33 years old, entering his age 34 season. If he's going to have to play through this contract year, there's a possibility where the Tampa Bay Lightning after all of the mileage they've run up from all these playoff runs, they miss the playoffs. Or they're a team that could be on the verge of missing. Doesn't that sort of open them up to the wild possibility that hey, maybe they could get assets for Steven Stamco's? And if you're at a position where, you know, he maybe got a little bit of space, you're making a playoff run. Is it not worth making that, making that phone call to Julian Breeze probably like, hey, are you willing to throw in Steven Stamco's in a trade? I had this debate with a couple of friends yesterday. Would you want age 34 Steven Stamco's on your playoff team if the opportunity came up? I say yes. I mean, we're dealing in the hypothetical, but for sure, it depends what that team's needs are. But if you need someone to play a role in your top power play unit, if you're looking for a little boost of offense, I mean, there's many worse places you could turn. Plus, I think that he brings a lot of intangible qualities that would be a positive to any team looking to win a championship as well. You know, he's got a no movement clause. So that would have to be navigated and negotiated. And I think it's premature for us to suggest he's going to move on. I think really, when we break this down though, the hard part from Stamco's is that they didn't talk at all, right? Like, we don't know, but there's a world where maybe he's willing to give a massive hometown discount. Like, maybe this next contract for him has nothing to do with money. He just wants to secure that he's in Tampa, but they didn't even get to the table or have a courtesy coffee and explore, hey, like, might you be willing to do this? Like, it didn't even get to that point. Essentially, he's been treated the way, again, some of his veteran teammates have been treated. And he's seen how this goes on. And I'm not comparing Stamco's, it's obviously little Apple store engines where you're talking about colorns and plots, but those guys were important parts of those cup teams and really all these Tampa teams that had success over 10 years, huge amount of success. The most success of any franchise, for Stamco's, he's in the same boat as them, though, he's got to wait this out. He's got to risk the fact that maybe he gets injured this year. Like, what is that through to a situation? You know, he wanted, I think it's pretty clear, he wanted a three year type of contract extension, they'll take him almost to 40, ensure that he's there in Tampa. And, you know, he's gonna have to keep working for it. Again, I think it could be good for him, but right now, I mean, that's clearly a delicate situation. And I love that it all played out publicly. I think that, man, we could use a little bit more of that in this NHL. Yes, we could. Yes, we could. We're talking about our lives, let him last. We can now this. If you have a pending contract about the expiry, next summer, please say something because we will talk about it on the CJ show and we will make a segment out of it. I'm not, I'm not, yes, a year, we will. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but the UFA class in 2024 could be pretty darn good. I mean, I know we're talking about Lake Careers, Steven Spamcoes, but I mean, if, and, you know, big F, but if he hits the open market, I think that's an intriguing player. You know, you've got William Neelander potentially marked nicely, Connor Halibock, Lindholm, a whole host of others. I mean, this is shaping up potentially as a class with some different sneakers, some big names. You know, we know how it plays out in the NHL. Some of these guys will be extended. It's just a matter of fact before. The July 1st, it happens every year. You see the, some of those names come off the board, but who knows? It's, it's a different dynamic. We're heading into a summer where the cap's going to go up. Yes, sir. And some of those players might be looking at that and be like, hey, I want to see what's, like what's the open market says, you know, as much as I like my current situation, maybe there's more riches out there. And so I think, I think we should prepare ourselves for pretty intriguing summer once we get beyond this season that we're just seeing up right now. Absolutely. You mentioned William Neelander. We're going to get to him and so many other storylines around the NHL after we do you can bet that with David Bastel. Let's bring in DP and then let's get to all these other stories. Welcome to you can bet that with David Bastel. Always here to join us. Remember to hit us up on sportsinteraction.com slash SDPN for all of your gaming needs. DP, we got to look at some updated odds for who could win the Pacific and the Atlantic division, some Canadian content for us today. Yeah, that's, I thought we'd start off with these two just because they are significant favorites, actually. Right now the Edmonton Oilers Pacific division favorites at a 277. The flames not getting much love at a 721. They're ranked number four, which isn't surprised, but C.J., the thing that surprises me is no love for the Vegas Golden Knights. They're coming up on Stanley Cup and they're not the favorites to win a division. I'm, I'm seeing a red light right there as far as the Pacific division's concerned. I think Edmonton makes the playoffs, but Vegas, come on. Right, I guess maybe the thinking is that they're not incentivized to chase the division. They know what really matters. But, you know, look, I don't see a drop off for Vegas. It's hard to predict where it's going to go in the regular season. They're largely bringing back the team that won the Stanley Cup. And I got to tell you, I don't know if I'm off my rocker, but I like the flames. Like, I actually think Calgary is ways to have a much better season this year. And so if you, if you're looking for an underdog, I think that there are many worst places you could turn than Calgary with the Pacific. Let's run to the Atlantic division real quick, D.B. Yep. Toronto Maple Leafs. It's all about the Leafs, right? It usually is because a lot of the money just goes in that direction. So the odds will drop in the Leafs favor, right? They are a very good team during the regular season, postseason, we'll, we'll see you again this year. But a two eight seven, Boston comes in at number two, Florida Tampa Bay at number four for the division, almost the same sort of comparison you made with Vegas where Tampa Bay isn't gunning for another banner of a division. They're looking for something a little more significant, but I'm kind of curious to see what you guys think about the Buffalo Sabers, which apparently they've made some turns to the better. And the Ottawa Senators, which apparently its playoffs are bust for a lot of that. Well, I'd just say management group at 10 to one, by the way. Yeah, pretty tricky for those two teams. Oh, great, Siegsch. It's a long climb to the top for that thing. I mean, if you're, if you're selling me on one of them, or both of them maybe even making the playoffs, that I got time for that one, but Leafs are interesting too. They haven't won the Atlantic division in these years. So, you know, there's, I think going to be considerable push for them to try to get that job done and have the best seating they can and entering the playoffs. Don't forget to check out sportsinteraction.com, slash SDPN for all the best odds before game in game and the best props, sportsinteraction.com slash SDPN. Thank you so much, DB. Thanks, guys. CJ, it's time for Sid Sixero's favorite segment. Leafs Corner, where we talk about everything and anything about the Toronto Maple Leafs. But in all seriousness, a lot of news around them. CJ, you were at Marketing Day yesterday. You heard Bradshaw living speak. Some news and notes about William Nylander. Where should we start? Should we start with Big Willy Style? How should we go about this? Well, sure, I mean, biggest story for sure at camp is on ice and off ice with William Nylander, right? I mean, the Leafs came out and on the eve of his eighth season in the NHL said that they're gonna play him at center to start the season. And, you know, I take that in, has some interesting ramifications for the team if it ends up working. We've seen William Nylander play center at times in the past. And it usually is a short-term thing, or it's usually come up when, say, awesome athletes or John Tavarras were injured. And so it was only when their hands were tied. But, you know, under Brad Triloveying, this is something that the GM put forward that he wants to see happen. And, of course, the other side of the coin here is that this is happening at the start of a season. Where William Nylander is a pending unrestricted pre-agent. And, you know, what I can tell you, Julian, is that there really has not been much in the way of conversation. There are negotiations here recently with Nylander and his camp in the leaves. I think both sides are pretty comfortable letting this play out a little bit more. Don't need to force anything. There was no last minute bid to get him signed, you know, before camp started. I mean, I think everyone's gonna live it through. And, you know, William Nylander for me is the kind of player. I don't actually expect it to impact his day-to-day life at all. I mean, some guys understandably have a difficulty playing under the idea that they're contractual futures up in the air. I think William Nylander is quite comfortable letting this go on. See, you know, see how it might shift the dynamics that when and if talks get going during the season and the leaves are in a position, they're just only gonna, at this point, willing to go so far and what they're willing to put on the table isn't been enough to get him signed. So with William Nylander, as someone who does not watch the Maple Leafs super closely, I wouldn't have not have thought about, oh, his time on the wing compared to his time at center. When it has happened in the past, you've mentioned it's a bit of a short-term fix. But like, can he kind of sum it up and say, like, you know, what was it actually like when he was playing center? Is this something that could actually stick? How are his point tolls in that regard? Like, I'm very curious about why they would put him at that position. Well, he rarely, when he's been there in the past, just look comfortable. Now, I think part of that is because, again, it's what he's thrust in at a point in time when the Leafs have to make that call and when it's, you know, it's not, never been ideal circumstances where, you know, the difference here, Julian, is they're starting day one at camp today on Thursday where he's lining up at center and they're gonna give him a run of games through the pre-season and try to get him where he feels comfortable. There, I mean, he played that position as a kid, he was drafted as a center. You know, a lot of NHL forwards are drafted. It centers and shifted to the wing. It's not uncommon by any stretch, but, you know, I don't think he's looked to comfortable. And I think the questions for William E. Lander would be this. His consistency at the defensive end is something I think that gets questioned about him. And, you know, quite fairly in the past at times. And so, can he be relied upon to play all 200 feet at a premium important position? And, you know, let's face it, this is still an if. Look, this could just be a training camp experiment that in two weeks or three weeks time when it sucked over 11th and when it's opening night, it's long been abandoned. So, I mean, I don't want to go too far down the rabbit hole until we see if it does have legs. But when you think about it, I think where John Tavares has had this career, you know, the Leafs might not put a number on it, but I might be comfortable saying it's gonna go Matthews, Nielander at number two center with Tavares potentially as a third line center. And so, you know, the ramifications of that is then David Camp plays as a fourth line center, you know, the way the Leafs line up to depth wise. I think it leaves them with potentially an opening on right wing, because that's where Nielander would normally be, you know, normally the Leafs go down the right wing side, minor than Nielander and then Jorncrok, and then Lafferty or Ryan Reeves. You know, it does change sort of the balance of their depth. And so, that's a lot of the interesting to see if it works. I think it's also a big change. And, during a year, we're obviously this year, it carries a lot of weight for Nielander. Whether he's signing an extension in Toronto or hitting the free age of market next to life first, I mean, he's coming to camp no doubt with the idea that he's got to have a big season. He had 40 goals in the 80 plus points last year. You know, he wants to follow that up. He wants to show that that wasn't a high water mark, but that's where he should be at, because, you know, he's got a lot of millions of reasons to want to do that in terms of the number of the millions that it gets packed on that next contract. And so, you know, the Leafs are maybe asking him a little bit to play out of his comfort zone to some degree. At the start of his season, that carries so much ramifications for him personally. And so, I think that this will be a huge talking point, Toronto, not just today, you know, when it will be me and it speaks to reporters, but over the next weeks and months, depending on how it plays out. And, you know, it is a change that's being brought forward as well by the new GM to Sheldon Keith. You know, Sheldon Keith's been a Leafs coach for a number of seasons now. That's only four years he's been behind the bench. This hasn't been something he's, like too much, certainly not enough to have it be a long term type of situation. And so, everybody here is kind of under a microscope and from how this goes, how they handle it and how they react to the change. All right, we'll have to see how that plays out. Let's get to Matt Murray quickly. I was put on a LTIR during the off season and it looks like he's for sure, not could be seen for a while. He requires some surgery. Let's get into him and let's discuss what's new with that subject. Well, you know, Brad, he's living when he met reporters. Didn't want to say too much of the specifics of the surgery that's going to happen here in the next week. You know, out of privacy concerns for Matt Murray, out of respect for him, but did promise down the road, on the other end of the surgery when the rehab process is going to take it into it a little bit more in depth. And, you know, it's my understanding, because, you know, look, it was branded a significant surgery. You know, that gets put out there on X. Some people I think are assuming the worst worst, I can tell you it is a physical related surgery, you know, due to the number of injuries that Matt Murray's had over his career. It sounds as though he, you know, aggravated or made something worse that he was dealing with over the summertime. And, you know, it doesn't seem as though he's likely to be available to the least this season. You know, Brad should have been, didn't put those kind of guardrails around it, but he did say it's going to, we're looking at months of recovery after this process. And, you know, we'll see where Matt Murray's at. I mean, he's still relatively young and his late 20s, you know, could miss a whole season, but, you know, it's the last year of his contract. Maybe we're talking about a comeback form beyond that point. I don't know, but obviously, we send him his best. And, you know, I think that there were some people that thought this was cap chicanery by the leaves. And I can, I can understand where that comes from. I mean, Toronto's one of the teams right up at the cap ceiling every year. It's a limbo right down to the last day where they got to set their rosters to get cap compliant. But I don't think with a little, a little more looking under the hood here, I don't think there's any reason to think that it's anything untoward going on. And once we hear the details of the surgery, I think everyone will A, go, okay, that makes sense. And because Matt Murray has had a number of injuries over his crew, or B, it is the kind of surgery that, you know, could force the player to miss an entire campaign. Okay, that's going to do it for Leafs Corner, unsullied by sponsorship since however long we've been able to do it. Lucky for everyone else tuning in, we have corners for other teams as well. It's time for the first ever Sends Corner. This is going to make it a ready joke for all these teams. Let's talk about the Ottawa Senators. They announced their training camp roster on Wednesday, Shane Pinto, who is a restricted for agent, not on the roster. He remains unsigned. What's next with him? Is he staying? Is he trade bait? What's the move with Shane Pinto? I wouldn't label him trade bait. I think there's some teams out there that would like to maybe try to use the situation to acquire Shane Pinto, you know, fill out the acquires among them having acquired on Pinto. But, you know, at this point in time, it's kind of a unique situation. That there's different cases when restricted for agents aren't there to start training camp. Sometimes it's just, you know, it's a leverage point in negotiations. I don't get the sense at all that there's bad feelings in this negotiation. The Senators just don't have the available cap space to sign him and have him be there right now. And of course, they could functionally sign him. They're allowed to be 10% over the cap until the day before the regular season starts. But if they sign him, then they're really boxed in because then, you know, when they're trying to make, perhaps a subsequent move to free up space, teams are going to be in no mood to pay what the price would be because they know how it was desperate to make a move. And so this is, you know, unrolling, unfurling on a couple of fronts, you know, clearly the Senators would like to clear some salary elsewhere. You know, we saw Vancouver, for example, on the even camp trade counter Pearson, which we can get into a little bit more later. But that freed up cap space for them on an important time entering their camp. You know, auto has been looking to make the same type of trade. And I think ultimately needs to to get Pinto signed. And in the meantime, you've got a young player, you know, probably a third line or at this point on the Senators roster, but he had 20 goals season last year. And, you know, he's an important part of what they're building. You know, obviously the story around the Senators is all these young players that have drafted and appear to be coming into their own. And the talk is, can they push to make the playoffs? Well, you know, you need the depth that Pinto brings in order to put your best foot forward. And so, you know, it's kind of at a standstill as we're recording this right now. But, you know, I don't think certainly if the Senators could find a way to free up some money. I don't think we'd take very long to get that deal done, to get Pinto signed and to get him into camp. But, you know, certainly every misday is a missed opportunity, so to speak. You know, he's not the only restrictive for age and not the camp right now because of a contractual issue. But, you know, that's sort of a developing storyline in Ottawa at the same time. You've got Michael Lannlauer, of course, you know, about to take over officially ownership of the team any day now. The NHL's Board of Governors are doing the final vote remotely on in this week. And he is expected to officially take the reign from the Malnick State, you know, at some point there before the weekend. And so, I think it's an exciting time, particularly in Ottawa, just given their offseason, you know, that the ownership change and the cherry on top will be finding way to get Shane Pinto signed and skating with his teammates as soon as possible. Okay, let's go to Vancouver. You mentioned Tanner Pearson. There was a trade that occurred this week at the Vancouver Connects in the Montreal Canadiens. Goaltender Casey Dismith goes to Vancouver, Tanner Pearson and a third-rounder in 2025 go to the Montreal Canadiens. Let's talk about it from the Connects perspective. We could throw in the Canadiens if we want to as well. But what do you think of this move and what do you think of their cap situation, the Canucks? Well, I mean, it's huge for them, right? They gained more than a million in cap space. You know, I think the Tanner Pearson situation had run its course, you know, for those familiar. I had to have multiple, multiple procedures on hand issue, you know, cost them last season, essentially. And I think there was some mistrust there, obviously, with the Canucks medical staff, the doctors, you know, in fact, one of the things that happened when Jim Rutherford and Patrick Alvin took over the Canucks is they made changes to that department because of those concerns from a player like Tanner Pearson. So I think that, you know, for those reasons, as he looks to get his career back on track, you know, getting him a fresh start is a positive from Vancouver's end. I think, you know, honoring, you know, his wishes in that sense, but they also cleared out, you know, more than three million on the cap. And they take back, I think, 1.8, give or take, in case you dismiss. And, you know, I think they needed to stabilize their goal-tending position. There was lots of ways they could have done that. You know, they're typically a pretty good goal-tender, too, that gets put on waivers and training camp, just because a lot of teams are carrying three NHL type options. So, you know, there was other ways they could have maybe accomplished this, but by getting dismissed, who's a, you know, proven goal-tender at the NHL level, clearing out cap space, now it gives them room for more training camp battles. And, you know, particularly on their blue line, I think that there's a lot of players they like in Vancouver, and, you know, might even allow them to carry AD, for example, out of cap, depending on how some of those battles shape up, and they got to make their final decisions in a few weeks' time. So, you know, I think that this is one of those moves for the Cadux Front Office, and allows them to breathe, breathe the sigh of relief heading into cap, because now they can, you know, truly evaluate the players on the fringes of the rosters and make decisions based on, you know, the performance of the players themselves versus they might have had to make far more, you know, roster-based decisions just to, in order to get cap compliant, if they didn't find this trade right before cap open. Yep, so it looks like some business for the Cadux. I'll say it's for the Canadians. Just looking at the draft picks, they've accumulated for 2025. I believe they have two, they have two first rounders, two second rounders, two third rounders, and two fourth rounders in 2025. They have eight, they could have eight picks through the first four rounds, just more business by Kent Hughes, and that Canadians for an office in terms of what they're trying to build over their very interesting going on in Montreal. I would expect, too, by the time it gets, you know, a year from now, they'll be looking to trade some of those picks for players. Like, I would think, you know, as we're, I don't know if the Canadians are calling us a rebuild or not, but I would think that they're going to be looking to scale up by that point. And, you know, as much as it's been great, all the picks and prospects of a match, people have a couple of season, you know, I would think, at this point, those sort of picks, kind of the way Arizona is hoping to do it, I mean, if you've seen the number of picks that coyotes have brought on in recent years, they're looking to get to the point where they can flip some of those. And those aren't all just this draft picture adding to your prospect pool. Yeah, that makes sense. Any thoughts on the flames? Are there training camp begins today? Elias Lindholm, it seems like they're just looking to play things out with some of the pending UFA's that they have a thought for them. And we'll also get to their caps and thoughts on that, too. But we'd like to know your thoughts on the pending UFA situation. Well, there's been no progress still in the Lindholm case, still just kind of status quo there as you highlight Julian. And it'll be interesting because they have so many UFA's, right? I mean, it's a big story in free Canadian markets because you've got Shifling, Hellabuck, and Winnipeg. We've been over in Elander, Toronto. But the flames have the most going on. And then Lindholm, you know, where he plays in the lineup, you have a warrior and Michael Backland who's been a career-long member of the organization. You have a big part of your blue line and Hanuffin and that spot at TANF as well. I mean, there's a lot of moving parts. And I think one of the stories that, you know, I would suggest so far that you're going to be falling closer throughout this season. How does that impact the roster at all? Is it a distraction for those players? Is it something that is talked around the team a lot? If those guys don't play well initially, are they forcing it because maybe they're just feeling the weight of, you know, their situations? And that's an unknowable as we're sitting here today. But I feel like big picture, 10,000 feet looking at the flames. That's a big part of the story. I mean, I guess secondary story for me is Jacob Markström. Can he bounce back to being the Vesna type of goal he's been in the past and was, you know, two years ago in Calgary. I think that that can go a long way. Or, you know, maybe if it's Dustin Wolf emerging at some point, although I would expect him probably to start in the HL, maybe Dan Woodar, whatever. I think if he gets a little better goal-tending, you know, that's going to improve things. But, you know, it's just a team with all those question marks and a new GM on the scene, even as much as Craig Conroy, obviously, has a lot of experience and has been in the organization, been part of the front office for years before you're elevating that job. I think there's just a lot of uncertainty, I would say. And, you know, uncertainty doesn't always have to be bad, but you've also got a new head coach. And how does he handle his version of that? How does he handle those players through that uncertainty and make everyone feel comfortable and bring them together? I mean, Dan, a lot of elements and you're far more, you're for a closer to it than me, obviously. You're better to comment in the captain's situation. I actually think the captain's situation ties into all this, right? Because you're talking about creating a great work environment for everyone in a captain plays an important part in that. It's not just a symbolic aspect of wearing this scene. The Calgary Flames as of right now are the only Canadian team. That could change by the time you hear this podcast. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. But as of right now, as of us recording this, they are the only team in Canada that does not have a captain. Rasmus Andersen has been trotted out as the favorite. Well, not just because of the fact that he's been with the team as long as he has, but we know he's going to play with the team beyond next season. He has a contract guaranteed for next season. We don't know what the future lies from Michael Backland who would have otherwise been the favorite. Names like Elias Lindholm and Jonathan Huberto have also been put out there. Mackenzie Weiger, but we don't know with Lindholm's future. And I think with Huberto and Weiger, maybe it's too big of a target to put on their backs, considering how their first seasons went. A little better for Mackenzie Weiger and he settled into that locker room. But I think for the, for the flames, at least I've written about it. I've seen Eric Francis also put this out as well. It Rasmus Andersen looks like the favorite. I would be very surprised if they went anywhere else. Do you think he's ready for now? Like is it, is it, what about us person out? I don't know Rasmus very well. Do you think like would, would, would, would, would handle that with, with the way you'd wanted it for the. I think you would, I think he would. I look, I look at that roster. There's some leaders on that team. And even if he didn't wear an A, I consider Rasmus as part of that leadership contingent. He's a player who is respected in that locker room. And again, I think the fact that he is guaranteed to play years, at least on his contract with the flames, as opposed to the uncertainty around Michael Backland, the uncertainty around Elias Lindholm. Rasmus Andersen makes a very strong case. He'll enter the season as a first pairing defenseman as well, being used in all situations. He's a very key cog for that team to work. And also, you should get to, I mean, I need to talk to him more. I only got to talk to him a few times. But I think every time we've gotten to talk to him, his personality shines through. I think he's, he's underrated in terms of talkers. Last season, being as tough as it was, he did not shy away from us in the media, talking about how brutal it was, and can be very honest. I think with Rasmus, it makes sense for him to wear the sea. It's something that, I believe my colleague, right, Michael Russo, got the opportunity to talk to him during the media tour in Sweden. And he said he'd be open to taking the sea. And that would be a big honor for him. He would love to have that honor. So I think if he were to get it, I think it wouldn't be a question of him, if it being too soon for him. I think he, if he feels he's ready, that goes a long way to take him to sea. I think he would be an ideal choice for that competency. I get Michael Backland should get it. And I think in a different world, where his contract is not what it is, he gets it. But right now, they need, they want to captain, they want to name it. Unless they come up with a new contract for Michael Backland out of nowhere, I think Rasmus is going to get it. Yeah, I think ideally you want some continuity, right? I mean, it can't always work that way. Lots of examples and history of players who wear a sea for one season, and then they're moved or moved on. But in general, you do want that continuity. And you can still give Backland an A. It can still be an important part of the leadership group. I think that makes a lot of sense, but it is funny. A suite is the favorite for the sea in Calgary, but if it was a year ago, we would have been talking about Backland, not Anderson. Exactly. Any thoughts? I know we've kind of mentioned the Jets a little bit. The Oilers, I don't want people getting mad as we go, oh, you left out these other Canadian teams. Just any quick thoughts on those two franchises, the others in the Jets. We did not talk about them as we ran through all the Canadian, all the Canadian teams. Well, I'll say this. There's lots of time. There's three weeks before real games played. We have two shows a week. We'll hit everybody eventually. Interesting to see Cole Perfetti take the second line center job to start Jets camp. Obviously behind Mark Schifly. Big step up for him. I think a big opportunity for that team to move forward with Blake Wheeler being bought out in the summertime. And so still. I look at the Jets and it's to me, it's still a really good team on paper. I think they almost get forgotten about a little bit. They've underachieved to some degree. It didn't go well for the playoffs last year. The third bonus is putting his players on blast. But I still think that that team could surprise us. If they come together, we'll see how Perfetti handles that role and how training camp develops there with the deployment of the players. You know, Ed's for Edmonton. For me, the best team in Canada. The team most likely at this point in time to end the Stanley Cup throughout that it's stretched back to in Julian with just a wee baby. You know, I like where the Oilers are at. I like a lot of what we're hearing from Conor McDavid and Leon Drysad, like it seems to me those guys are really, really dialed in. And let's see how it goes. I mean, it's a new year. But you just feel like with two players that good and one player really that's that, that, that, that, that, that good. It's going to fall into place one season. And so why not this year? Why not this year Edmonton? Yeah, why not? Also, you don't want to know what I was doing in 2006, the last time at the Edmonton or this one in the Stanley Cup Final. You don't want to know. I don't want to make you feel old. I mean, it won't make me feel old. I've never felt younger, man. I'm ready to, I'm ready to go. Man, love you, CJ. Let's talk about the Boston Brewins and the fact that Brad Barshan is captain of the team. He was given the C on Wednesday. He's put, they're putting out those photos with it with that, that, that, that annoyance grin that he has. I'll say it about Brad Barshan. He's a pest. But that's what he's supposed to be people. But he's the captain of the Boston Brewins for this upcoming season, thoughts on him getting to see. It makes sense to me. I mean, I guess you could have argued for Charlie McAvoy, just being a little younger, but having kind of been groomed under this group. I mean, maybe there was some David Pastor in Accolombo there too, kind of a similar situation to McAvoy. But, you know, I, I will say this about the Brewins. Every team talks about culture. They're the one team again in the years that I've been around. Or not the only one, but they're one of the absolute ones that no doubt in my mind created it. That really have found a way not to have a fall off. I mean, that's why this season's so interesting in Boston. Losing your top two centers with Barshan and, and Crachy, both retiring and, and we're all, you know, I think there's probably a lot of people predicting that they're going to tumble down the standing. And I don't know that that's unfair, but they just are the one team that have really had continuity. And I think that they do have a standard of how they do things about how they treat each other. And as much as Brian Marshan has done, lots of things over the years to probably ignite fan bases from rival teams to not like him. I think he will carry that on, you know, from Cara to Berger on to Marshan. I think it makes it kind of sad. And let's remember, I'm not saying he's totally reformed, but he is definitely not the player he was 10 years ago or eight years ago, like some of what's remembered, you know, he licked someone in the playoffs. But what year was that? I mean, 2017, I mean, he had's growing up a little bit. And so I think if you had to told me 10 years ago that Brad Marshan would be a brilliant captain, I might have, I might have given you the eyebrow, like what? But in this year 2023, given where that organization's been through and how he's developed, I think it's a great choice. And he loves a microphone, usually. And part of that job is standing in front of you and I and all our colleagues and answering questions and entertaining a little bit. And I think that he's always good for that too. Yeah, Brad Marshan, just he's the, is it fair to call him the league's anti-hero? Like he's like a chaotic good or neutral evil? I'm not sure where he fits on that grid with that, but he definitely has a personality. We've seen it on, we have definitely seen it on Twitter and Halle has impacted certain people that we know. But yes, Brad Marshan, in terms of personalities in the league, definitely among the more notable ones. And the fact that he has a C. All right, congratulations, you grew up. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I would have loved if, I would have loved if the bird social team came out and he was like, it's me. Hi, I'm the problem with me and he's like, we're in the C. That would have been great. That would have been pretty funny. But no, it is pretty funny. Yes, but it is cool to see that Brad Marshan has, for all his, for all the faults or whatever you want to label on him, a top line forward, one of the better forwards of the game, the fact that he has to see this whole leadership thing for him, really exciting to see for Brad Marshan. I think in a few years it'll go to Charlie McAvoy, though. It makes sense. He'll be a lifer with the prunes on that defense score. We have time for the ducks, Trevor Ziegress, Jamie Driesdale on that situation. They need new contracts. What's going on in Anahe? Yeah, well, real quick. I mean, look, you've got a newer GM in Patenburg B. You have a team that has a lot of players that need contracts, right? I mean, this is the flip side of a matching prospects and everything. You've got to make it all work in the cap. And now you've got two of your better young players not a camp to start. I think in both cases, there's a hope to get something done. It sounds like they're going to go short term on both contracts. Ziegress, offence of flair. We'll see him at the all-star game doing his thing in the skills competition. I think that he's quite confident in his abilities. And he's not taking a discount. I mean, that's just as it is that there had a bit of a standstill in that situation. But if camp goes on, that tends to move the line one way or another depending on who's still in the heat. It's a little different with Drysdale because he missed most of Blacks here with an injury. His agent has been down in Anaheim for face-to-face meetings, trying to get something done. I think that there's more likelihood that that's resolved sooner than Ziegress, although of course in either situation it's one phone call could change things at the position of the team-changer, the position of the player-changers. But I just think of this is the difference you see in the league. If this was in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, what would have you, even the Rangers, I'm not just making that a Canadian thing. And two of your best young prospects, two guys, I mean, the case of Drysdale top 10 pick that you've brought along yourself and they weren't there for the first day of camp. It would be a freaking zoo. But if there's one advantage sometimes to being in a smaller market or a less traditional market or whatever will brand and the Anaheim media market in this case, it doesn't end up making as many headlines that these guys aren't there. But I think certainly a big story to watch, especially as Cap goes on because Anaheim's in a situation like a lot of teams where the goal isn't to finish right at the bottom this year. I think that they want to take a step forward and start progressing and getting to the point where there are true playoff, challenger again. And these guys will be a big part of it when they do eventually take those steps. Still kind of interesting though, right? Like, you're right, they're in Anaheim that's not as big of a media market as it could be. But I mean, we're still talking about Trevor's secrets who's still one of the more exciting players in the national hockey league. Like I still feel it's been buried under the radar to some degree. And it may be very much location has to do with it. But like it is just fascinating that a player that we have already deemed a star. I get the stats. Some people may look at the stats and say, well, he's no superstar yet. And that's fine, we're not saying that. But he's still because of the abilities that he's shown at the All-Star game in game. This should be a bigger deal. The longer it goes on, the bigger deal will become. You know, tune into our insider trader segments on TSN. This is gonna move up. This will move up the board if we get a week into camp if there's a point where either or both of them are missing regular season games. I think that you'll see a lot more reporting around it and discussion around it. But you're right, it's come into training camp under the radar. And I'll say one thing this year that's been a bit different. There aren't that many on side RFAs, right? Most of the business did get done here. I mean, you've got a Pinto in the two guys in Edheim. But there wasn't nearly as many as, typically there's seven, eight, nine, sometimes right to the first day of camp. But this hasn't happened as much. And so that's the other thing. It's not a complicated field here. And I think there'll be more talk with the ducks guys if they don't get them signed. All right, we will be on that if there is more to talk about with the Anaheim ducks. And with that, it is time for stick taps. We show some positivity, whereas you want to use the cross check option that's up to you. But we're probably going to use the stick taps for this time around. Show some love to someone, either in the hockey world, the sports world, or wherever we want to dish it out too. I'm going to give a stick tap to Paul Byron, the long-time Munchaw Canadians forward. Used to play also for the Calgary Flames. I could leave. I'm trying to remember all the other teams other in there, but Munchaw Calgary for sure in the purview for Paul Byron. Played 12 season in the NHL, announces his retirement this week. Missed a lot of time due to a hip injury. But a lot of Canadians fans remember Paul Byron fondly, great waiver wire pickup. Good player you could put all around the lineup. Got that big goal. It gets the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 playoffs. A lot of fans will remember. Good guy. Also, a lot of Francophone media in Quebec appreciated him because he was bilingual. It was able to speak French to them as well. So I know a lot of Francophone media types in Quebec. They very much appreciate Paul Byron. A lot of fans doing Munchaw. So I will give him my stick tap for this week. Well, deserved it. I'm going to go with Rich Nern, who is the long-time Arizona Coyotes PR director. He actually was with the team dating back to the original Winnipeg Jets and Movesouth. With them, he just announced in recent days here that his 27-year run with the organization is going to come to an end at the end of October. Rich is a true professional. So when I've leaned on a lot over the years and my role as a reporter, always had a smile on his face. And my goodness, that man saw some things. I mean, if you think the Coyotes, you know, with all the different owners and a bankruptcy trial and this to that, this arena plan or that, this guy had been on their PR team. And that entire time, dealing with that on the front line, trying to do his job. And as I say, no matter what the story was, no matter how difficult it was, I always found it would be very professional and are kneeling. And so I wish Rich all the best. We don't always see these people behind the scenes, but he's been a big part of what the Coyotes have been trying to do. And I hope he finds a little more serenity in his next gig. Yeah, let's go to the emergency. Shout out to Rich. Thank you for your service 27 years. And that's going to do it for this Thursday edition of the CJ show. Get your questions in now for Ask CJ, whether you're on Discord or on Twitter. We'll be back on Monday with a brand new episode. CJ any final thoughts before we get on out of here? I'll let you get last word on this one. The Leafs are taking the ice right now. I got to pack up and get out there and get at it. More Leech's corner is to come. Yeah. Go deal with that. I got to deal with the flames for CJ, I've julien so long at peace.