Episode Transcript
[00:00:09] Speaker A: Welcome back everybody to the good old hockey podcast. If you're looking at the screen, you're watching it, you see three people and that's not normal. But we got our buddy Zouch. He is a part of Settle Down. He does Zooch and Wild podcast talking about college sports. He's joining us for the four nations episode because as you guys are watching this on Wednesday, the Four nations tournament starts tonight. Canada versus Sweden, 8pm Eastern.
So we're going to be talking about Four Nations. So you guys have this whole week. Next week on Thursday is going to be the finale game. So we'll do like a final, the finale preview because we'll know by Monday.
But boys, how we doing? How are we feeling about this four nations tournament coming up?
[00:00:54] Speaker B: I hope that we don't lose to Canada. Other than that, I'll be happy with about any outcome. Not happy, but that's the only outcome that will make me mad.
[00:01:06] Speaker C: This is a really unbiased podcast here. We're all totally, not really heavily in support of the United States of America.
[00:01:14] Speaker A: No, yeah, we're going to be unbiased. Not really. If you're coming to get a fair now, we'll be fair in our analysis. But there is some bias there. So I'll let everyone know that right off the rip, I have a USA Hockey jersey.
So you know who we're rooting for. And if you've listened to the podcast before, you know that we rip on Canada all the time. It's all in love, first and foremost, before anything, you know, any Canadian listeners hate us, hate our guts, you probably will. But again, it's all in good fun. In, in all honesty, they already hate me. Yeah, no, that is true.
And my eyes are really red right now. I promise I'm not high. I just got out of the shower. I just noticed that. But first things first, this four nations, I'll give a like quick, quick overview of just what it's going to be.
So it's going to be starting today, the 12th for you guys listening. It's going to be played in Montreal and Boston. Both their arenas teams are Canada, usa, Finland and Sweden. Now we've already done kind of a roster breakdown and just a general discussion about the four nations. This is going to be a little bit more in depth on the tournament as a whole.
The format goes is a round robin play with a one game final. So the point system, three points for a win in regulation, two points for an OT slash shootout win and then one point for an OT shootout loss, zero Points for regulation loss. So it's a little different than the actual season rules is a little bit more like soccer, hence it being around Robin. But Wednesday, first game, Canada versus Sweden at 8pm Eastern. Thursday, February 13, US versus Finland, 8pm Eastern in Montreal.
Saturday, February 15, Finland versus Sweden at 1pm Eastern. And the big one, Canada versus US at 8pm In Canada as well, which is a little fishy. But the championship game is played on Thursday, February 20th, in U. S. But anyways, Monday, Canada versus Finland, and then Sweden and US as well. So we'll have games Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, and then Thursday being the championship. And we'll break that down after that game next week, we'll talk about the tournament as a whole, since it'll already be played at that point.
But first things first. Let's get into the. Now, teams that have been finalized because last time Alan, you and I talked about it, it was, you know, they had announced it, but then some players have dropped out because of injuries, stuff like that.
So first up, Canada, the captain, Sidney Crosby, assistant captains Connor McDavid, Kale McCarr, and now this first line. I don't really. This is on espn. I don't know how true this is, but. Oh, they just have it in order, don't they? This is not a lineup thing.
Okay, hold on one quick.
[00:04:12] Speaker C: It's all alphabetical.
[00:04:13] Speaker A: Yeah, I do. I know. On Instagram, NHL posted the.
What's called. They posted the actual projected lineups. Let me pull that up really quick.
But initial thoughts on Captain Crosby for anyone.
[00:04:33] Speaker C: He's the best player of our generation, and he's still playing at a high level. Yeah, he's gonna be great. He's been great in every international tournament he's played in. So.
[00:04:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:45] Speaker C: No, why he wouldn't be now.
[00:04:47] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:04:50] Speaker B: I mean, he was. He had the golden goal, which we won't get into because that was the worst.
Yeah, he was there in 2010, there in 2014. I don't. In 2018. Did they. They went back to.
[00:05:05] Speaker A: They did the. Was that the North American.
[00:05:08] Speaker C: No, that was 2016.
Is the year. Oh, is that the summer after Matthews got drafted?
[00:05:19] Speaker A: Okay, that's when they did the North America. We had like, America. Who else?
[00:05:23] Speaker C: 2018 was when they had the. They had the. The first Olympics that NHL players hadn't been to.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Yeah, because someone like Scott Gomez or somebody was like, on Team usa, they weren't very good that year. But it was like, not college kids, just college kids. It was like other people, too. But, yeah, he has what, two gold medals?
Their big. I mean, their biggest goal in the Olympics of our lifetime, I guess. I mean, they won in 2002 as well, but that was like a.
They'd lost the Team USA in the preliminary rounds. Yeah, all that kind of stuff.
[00:06:03] Speaker C: So that 20.
That 2010 Crosby goals, like, I feel like one of the most memorable goals in hockey history. I feel like that's something you see almost daily on Instagram that everybody still talks about. The Golden Goal, Sidney Crosby.
It's huge.
[00:06:24] Speaker A: They do. It's. And he's. I mean, like we said. Yeah, he's Sidney Crosby. He's captain of Canada.
Okay. So I pulled this up from NHL's Instagram. This is projected lineup, so it's probably not final, but line one would be Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon, Brad Marchon, Sam Reinhardt, Mitch Marner, Brandon Hagel, Braden Point, Mark stone. That's line three, line four. Sam Bennett, Anthony Cirelli, Travis Kineckney on D. Kale McCarr, Devon Taves, the Colorado line, Shea Theodore and Colton Pereco. And then Josh Morrissey, Travis Sanheim on D as well. I don't think they have updated with Drew Doughty in here. I'm sure he'll be floating in. They'll probably float in a fifth guy or seventh guy here and there. Then goalie Aiden Hill. So based off that, line one is pretty terrifying. I'll admit that as a USA fan. Sidney Cosby, McDavid, McKinnon, Kale McCarr and Devontaves really quick before we kind of get into it, but what was that playoff or power play line that NHL kind of teased today?
[00:07:36] Speaker C: It was Crosby, McKinnon, McDavid, Sam Reinhardt and Kale McCarr.
[00:07:43] Speaker A: Yeah. So which.
Yeah, a lot of fun.
[00:07:48] Speaker C: That's gonna be the second power play.
[00:07:50] Speaker A: Yeah. Not that scared. No. I mean, it's definitely.
That team's gonna be tough.
Just don't commit penalties.
I just think overall isn't with Canada. I just think they lack. Truly. They lack depth compared to Team usa. Obviously, they're a great team. It's Canada. But having. I mean, Sam Bennett's a great player, but there's some players on here where Travis Anthony Sorelli, I guess, is a better example.
I just don't see it being that deep of a team compared to years past for Canada.
[00:08:30] Speaker C: How about that compared to what you expect from an international tournament, especially Correct. A team Canada.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:39] Speaker C: Like, it just is not anywhere near as deep as what we've seen in the past. Obviously, this is going back a long time, but I believe it was that 20.
That would have been the 2010 tournament.
Oh, where'd it go?
[00:08:58] Speaker A: Oh, you're good.
[00:09:00] Speaker C: My thing cut out for a second.
Compared to that.
Yeah, compared to that 2010 tournament. Like, you know, the. The Canada's third line was Patrick Marlowe, Joe Thornton and Danny Heatley, which was like the best line in the NHL that season.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:20] Speaker C: Which is just nuts. That was their. Like it was either their second or third line.
[00:09:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:26] Speaker C: And you think about who's their third line here. Brandon Hagel, Br, Braden Point and Shirelli.
[00:09:32] Speaker A: Mark Stone, your favorite.
[00:09:33] Speaker C: It's a Mark Stone that. It's just not as good.
[00:09:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:41] Speaker C: You know, it's. It's just dropped off from years past from. In my opinion.
[00:09:45] Speaker A: Yeah. And even. I mean, I hate to on Mitch Marner, but him like me and Zeus were talking about it.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: We.
[00:09:57] Speaker A: We were texting each other and I just don't. I don't see him as a winner. I'm sorry.
[00:10:01] Speaker C: No.
[00:10:01] Speaker A: But like there's players that play great in the regular season and then there's players that are gamers. And this is what it takes in that first line. Like Crosby, McDavid, McKinnon. Those are all gamers. I'll give them that. But I don't know, I just kind of wanted to on Mitch Marner there for a second. Great player. But I.
It just. There's. I don't know. I. I just don't see this Team Canada team being as strong as it once was. And especially goaltending. We can talk about that for a second.
[00:10:31] Speaker C: That's an embarrassment.
[00:10:32] Speaker A: Yeah. Aiden Hill, who is. I mean, he's a Stanley cup champion, but he's just not like international Team Canada goalie. That's just not who I think of.
[00:10:44] Speaker B: And Zoochi Luongo or Martin Brodor.
[00:10:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:48] Speaker B: Like Curtis Joseph, Carrie Price.
[00:10:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:10:51] Speaker C: And now you have Aiden Hill between the pipes.
[00:10:55] Speaker A: They have Jordan Bennington, but it's not Jordan Bennington of five years ago.
[00:11:00] Speaker C: I think I sent you this on Instagram. Sean.
The reason why Logan Thompson was not added to the team was because I think it's Team Canada's coach is the coach of the Vegas Golden Knights or not. Maybe it's the gm, I forget.
But they weren't a fan of Logan Thompson for his time in Vegas.
I don't care if you don't like the guy personally. He's lost like four games this season.
[00:11:29] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:30] Speaker C: That's who you want to bring to an international tournament. Like you're Bringing Sam Montembo. His team's in the bottom of the league.
[00:11:38] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:38] Speaker C: Bring in Jordan Bennington. The Blues are okay this year. Their middle of the pack probably won't make the playoffs. Like, yeah, you're not bringing winners. Even Aiden Hill. Like, yeah, the Knights won that. They won that Stanley cup in spite of Aiden Hill. It wasn't because of Aiden Hill.
[00:11:55] Speaker A: Yeah. And like the nights that year the defense was fantastic. And I mean, it's not the same best ever. Yeah. It's not to say that this Team Canada team is horrible on defense by any means, but yeah. It's just definitely the goalies for Team Canada, I think. And even Canadians in our comments have said that the goaltending is what scares them.
[00:12:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:12:19] Speaker A: And a bit of the lack of depth on forms, but ultimately, I mean, we'll really see it is Team Canada at the end of the day. So does anyone have final thoughts on Team Canada?
[00:12:31] Speaker B: Just. They better hope those goaltenders.
[00:12:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:34] Speaker B: Do what they need to do.
[00:12:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:36] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:12:37] Speaker A: Shall see. We'll move on to the next team on their Instagram page, which is Team Sweden. So Sweden's a team that I think they have a pretty good shot with everything.
Everyone's talking about Team USA and Team Canada, but I do think the Sweden team is a little bit slept on. So. First line, Jasper Brat. Mika's abandoned. William meander. Forward. Line 2, Philip Forsberg, Elliot Peterson, Lucas Raymond, Forward, Line 3, Adrian Kempe, Joel Harrison, EK. Analias Lindholm. Line 4, Victor Arvenson, Leo Carlson and Ricard Raquel. I can barely read that defense. Line one, Victor Headman, Rasmus, Dalin. Line two, Gustav Forsling, Eric Carlson. Line three, Matthias Ekholm, Rasmus, Anderson and Annette. We have Philip Gustafson off the rip. What's the first thing you notice? Anyone?
Oh, you're on mute.
[00:13:42] Speaker B: I said they're gonna try to outplay everybody.
[00:13:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:45] Speaker B: Because they're Swedish. But no, it's. I think Sweden actually might win.
[00:13:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:50] Speaker C: I think this team is significantly deeper than Canada in my opinion.
[00:13:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:56] Speaker C: I might be really high on Eric's neck, but I think he's one of the best two way centers in the NHL.
And him being on your third line like you have two centers that are definitely better than him is kind of crazy.
[00:14:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:09] Speaker C: Yeah.
You're able to move Pedersen out to the wing.
I think that's going to be beneficial to him. Like, I just see them as a significantly deeper team. I don't see any holes in their defensive core. They have probably the best defensive defenseman in the NHL. Gustav Warsling.
[00:14:30] Speaker A: Yeah, I remember watching. Was it him we watched Last Playlight. It was like a highlight reel of all of Gustav Forslings. Just defend like he was. Yeah, he was just a pest on defense, which is what you need. You don't need a kale McCarter to really, you know, you know, be a defensive team.
But I mean their defense is pretty stacked, I'd say with Darlene Forsling, Hedman, Eric Carlson. I mean, I know he's not what he once was, but he's still Eric Carlson. And again, like we've said this before, I think these players are all going to be trying so much harder because you're wearing your country's letters and logos on your chest.
[00:15:12] Speaker B: See, that's what I'm wondering about is I wonder with like the standings and stuff being so close, how, how competitive it will be.
[00:15:23] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:23] Speaker B: Like hits wise and because I don't know how well that would go over in your own locker room if you hurt somebody and this and you're like playing for a Stanley Cup. I think it should be competitive. But I do question a little bit.
[00:15:40] Speaker A: Like, true, because it's not the Olympics.
[00:15:43] Speaker B: Yeah, it's not the Olympics. It's. And like, I mean, if you look at the Eastern Conference, besides Buffalo, like every team is within what like not every team, but most any team could make the playoffs based on the standings right now. Like Pittsburgh probably won't. Ottawa. I'm not Ottawa. Buffalo probably won't. But I guess you never know. You get hot and end up making it. So I don't know if it'll be as like gritty as like an Olympic game would be.
[00:16:16] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:16:17] Speaker C: If it is, I'm looking at Sweden's defense. Right. I never realized this. Looking at this also.
[00:16:22] Speaker B: Give me one second. One of my dogs just escaped its kennel and has came downstairs with one of my hats in his mouth.
[00:16:29] Speaker C: Yeah, I'm looking at it right now.
Sweden's shortest defenseman is 6ft tall.
They have a huge defensive core. Yeah, like if that.
[00:16:44] Speaker B: Who's that?
[00:16:46] Speaker C: It's Carlson and Forsling are the two shortest guys.
Victor Hedman's obviously he's like six, seven, six, six. Right at home, I believe is six five.
They have Darlene six foot three.
Then let's see. I think it's bro Dean is six two. Anderson's like six foot two and then foresling Carlson are six feet tall.
But like Forsling doesn't play like a six foot tall defenseman. He plays like he's six foot Eight, Right.
[00:17:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:22] Speaker C: And the rest of them kind of play like they're tall as they just got a big team.
[00:17:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:28] Speaker C: At least defensive. And then they're playing in front of the second best goaltending core in the tournament.
[00:17:35] Speaker A: That too.
[00:17:36] Speaker C: It's. I think they're. Which is weird to think about as Team Sweden, but I think they're going to be kind of a shutdown team.
I feel like normally Swedish teams and tournaments scored a lot of goals and they rely on their goalies a lot, but I don't think they're gonna need to this year and I think that might be the make and break for the other teams in this tournament.
[00:17:59] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I think ultimately with this tournament, like what Zoo was saying is just like one, how competitive are these guys really going to take it? Because it's not.
It's not a Olympic gold medal. It's a four nation. Like it's a new thing. I definitely, you know, they're going to try harder than they would in the All Star Game. But yeah, I mean, I think it's really going to be. We'll see game one, truthfully. But overall with Sweden, I think they have a chance to really, really sneak, sneak in and get a high seed just because of.
And not that the seed really matters because you're playing in Canada in the U.S. but they have a chance to, I think catch some teams lacking, especially Canada and U.S. because they're going to be so focused on each other that I think this team could sneak in and get that second spot or even first spot. Honestly, I think they could upset a couple teams.
But yeah, I mean, goaltending wise, Philip Gustafson, he's been pretty lights out this year.
But you think they. Alan, you said that they. You think they have like the second best goaltending core.
[00:19:08] Speaker C: I think they're above Canada for sure.
[00:19:10] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:11] Speaker C: And if you look at Finland's best goaltender this season has been Kevin Lankonen, who's a great goalie, but I don't see him as a NHL starting goalie. He's a great number two guy. You say Soros has been having a, at least by his standards, a pretty pretty damn rough season. It's probably the worst season in his career. Yeah.
Now this could turn around. Obviously it's a, you know, five game tournament, but I just don't see them being really that competitive. And Ukapeka Lucanin has been trash this year, planning in front of a pretty bad Buffalo team. But yeah, so I see them as being behind the, the U.S. i think it's not close as far as what the Swedish goalies have done versus what the US Goalies have done this year. Philip Gustafson's been awesome. He's by far the best goalie, I'd say.
But it doesn't come close to any of the guys that the US has net.
[00:20:26] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:27] Speaker C: Even Jeremy Swayman, who's but had a bad season.
[00:20:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:31] Speaker C: On his turn, he's still, I think, a better goalie than any of them.
[00:20:35] Speaker A: Yeah. And also, I mean, that Boston team's gotta figure it out. And again, this is.
It's going to be different with, you know, just playing.
[00:20:44] Speaker B: You're.
[00:20:44] Speaker A: It's a best on best tournament. So you really have a different team in front of you. It's not, you know, the Boston Bruins. It's the best American players in front of you, the best Sweden players in front of you, the best Finnish players. Like all those teams gonna. I'm really curious how it's gonna go, but any last thoughts on Sweden before we move on?
Cool. All right, moving on. Next, that insert that NHL posted Team Finland.
So this team, I don't want to knock on them, but I don't know how they're gonna do. First line, Arturi Lekkanen, Alexander Barkov, Mika Randen. Great line there. Patrick Lyne, Sebastian Ajo and then Tivo Terravinen. Rope hints, Mikhail Granlin, Capo Caco, Third line and then fourth line, Italusta Rhinen, Anton Lindell and then Joel Armia on D. They got Nico Nik, Nico Mikola, Esselindell, Olimata Rasmus, Rista Linen, Yusuf, Ella Valamacki. Sorry, I can barely read this. And what's that last one? Henry Jokaharu. Did I say that right?
[00:22:00] Speaker C: Henri Yokiharu.
[00:22:02] Speaker A: Henri Yokiharu.
[00:22:04] Speaker C: You should have me read out the Finnish names from now. Yeah, go. Why I gotta. I got a knack for it.
[00:22:10] Speaker A: And then Kevin Laken in that, who he talks about. But yeah, this team, the top, the first two lines, I will say offensively definitely look like a solid team.
[00:22:21] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:22:21] Speaker A: Best on best. It's going to be fun to watch especially line one play against any team like Canada, US Sweden, line one is going to be stacked for pretty much all these teams, which is fair, I think, those line ones. But like we said, with any competitive, you know, Stanley cup run, you need to have a deep team.
So to go deep into this tournament as fast as it is, I think that's where this team's going to get hurt. Yeah. And burnt.
[00:22:51] Speaker B: Yes. I know they're going to be able to score enough to.
[00:22:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:22:56] Speaker B: Keep up with Team USA or the Canadiens. They just don't like.
But it is weird too, because from what I read it, the only game that starts with like a continuous, like playoff overtime is a championship, Right?
[00:23:16] Speaker A: Yes. Everything else can go to overtime or shootout.
[00:23:18] Speaker B: Okay. So that, I mean, in that way. I don't really like that rule. Like, I get it for the beginning of it, but if it gets. If you're whatever, three to three going in to that three on three ot, which is what it is, right? Three on three and then a shootout.
[00:23:39] Speaker A: Yes. Yes. In regulation or in the round robin. Yeah.
[00:23:43] Speaker B: I mean, they could definitely win. I don't necessarily think. I mean, they would be a little bit overmatched.
[00:23:49] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:49] Speaker B: But still with Team USA or Team Canada. But there's a lot of teams that get overmatched in three on three. It.
And they still end up winning because it. All it takes is like a missed shot or like a turnover and you're going the other way on a two on one.
[00:24:09] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:24:09] Speaker B: So that I think that could help Finland a lot is that the overtime and shootout is kind of set up that way. But even still, I don't know that they're going to be able to score enough. Like, especially, like, especially against Team USA because Team USA is going to be able to score and they have really good goaltending. So I don't know that they're going to be Team usa, You know, four to three. I guess like we said earlier, we could see how serious some of these guys are taking it. It's kind of a weird mix of players, I would say, on every team, because you got some guys who are really good and then you got other guys, like, oh, I don't like, kind of how we were talking about earlier. Like, I don't really know. It's like, weird that they're on an international team, but it's not the Olympics, so. Yeah, I guess we'll see.
[00:25:06] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think also what's cool about this tournament, they're doing the overtime, they're doing 10 minute three on three, which I think they should have in the NHL because watching your team lose in a shootout is just demoralizing. And I think everyone. It's a cool, you know, like, fun feature. It's like penalty kicks in soccer, but it's also not because penalty kicks in soccer is like the goalie has to stand on his freaking head to stop that goal from going in. Whereas in hockey, it's like, if you have Patrick Kane, who also isn't playing for Team usa, which is interesting. But if you have someone like that on your team that's just a gamer in the shootout, like, you're toast. So I think the 10, 10 minute, 3 on 3, it'll be fun to kind of watch. Assuming it actually games actually go to overtime.
It'll be kind of cool to see if the game, if, if a game even goes to shootout because then that could kind of push the NHL to be like, okay, yeah, let's do that.
[00:26:09] Speaker C: Talking about that, I noticed earlier we were talking about when you're kind of giving the introduction to the Four nations tournament, I think the 3, 2, 1, 0 point system is like 50 times better than what the NHL currently uses.
[00:26:25] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:26:27] Speaker C: It does not make any sense that a win in the shootout is equivalent to a regulation. You know, 8 nothing blowout.
[00:26:34] Speaker A: True.
[00:26:34] Speaker C: That makes zero sense to me. I know obviously there's the regulation overtime wins, but I think that that system is significantly better.
But back to Finland. I think this team's gonna ride on about three players when it Alexander Barkov, Sebastian Ajo and Miko Rantnan. I think this team's really gonna ride or die. If those guys are going off, then I think they can be competitive. If those guys. I don't think it's possible for Barkov to have a down game.
But if Aho and Ranton aren't pulling their weight, I think this team is really gonna suffer. Especially when you compare their defensive core to every other team in this tournament. It's like, yeah, night and day.
[00:27:21] Speaker A: No, it is. And I think also with.
I feel like Ajo and Rantinch play together because I know they have that connection. And again, this is just NHL's projected lineup. Yeah, I'm sure these lines will change throughout the week, but yeah, I'm surprised that didn't happen. But yeah, no, it's a good point. I mean, I think those three players need to be perfect every night, which is tough to do.
[00:27:46] Speaker C: This is also the only team in this tournament I'm looking at right now that doesn't have a single like number one defenseman.
Where every other team this tournament has like three.
[00:28:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:02] Speaker C: Or more. In the case of Canada and the U.S.
they don't have a single guy where I look at them like, yeah, that's the best defenseman on that team.
Which is. That's also kind of a big scary point for team Finland.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:19] Speaker C: They have a guy rostered who has played zero games in.
Wait, who.
It's the Guy from the center is Nicholas Matin. Paulo.
I don't know if I should pronounce the Finnish names because I have no idea how to pronounce that.
[00:28:38] Speaker A: You could.
[00:28:39] Speaker C: He has.
I. Yeah. I don't think he's had a single game in the NHL.
[00:28:48] Speaker A: That is crazy.
[00:28:50] Speaker C: Which. That's got to be the only guy.
[00:28:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I think.
But, yeah, I mean, I think Finland's gonna really have a tough time. But again, like, these. There's only four teams. It's.
[00:29:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:29:04] Speaker A: What? Four games between each. Like, each team plays four games before the final, so if a team can't figure it out, then they're kind of screwed. So.
[00:29:16] Speaker C: Sorry. He definitely has played games in the NHL. He's just only played, like, 20.
[00:29:22] Speaker A: Still. 20 games. Yeah. And we're already at 50 games in the season over that. Yeah, something like that. Yeah.
[00:29:28] Speaker C: It's a little questionable to me. You have a single number one guy and every other team has at least two.
[00:29:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:36] Speaker C: I think Finland, you can make an argument for three.
[00:29:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:40] Speaker C: Maybe even four. To be honest.
[00:29:42] Speaker A: I had. Had a post that I saved for Team USA because.
[00:29:49] Speaker C: That'S the important team here. Let's go.
[00:29:52] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, here. Oh. It was the.
It was the replacement, Jacob Sanderson, for Quinn Hughes. Okay, so we'll move on to Team USA, see, and pull it up.
Team USA Line 1 is going to be, according to NHL.com, j.T. Miller, Jack Eichel, Matthew Chuck, Line 2, Kyle Connor, Austin Matthews, Jack Hughes, Line 3, Jake Gensel, Dylan Larkin, Brady Tkachuk. Line 4, Brock Nelson, Vincent Trocheck, Matt Boldy. And on D, we got Charlie McEvoy. And. Well, it says Quinn Hughes, but he's out, obviously. Yeah, Charlie McEvoy, and we'll put him with Adam Fox for now. Jacob Slavin and Zach Warinski, and then Brock Faber and Jake Sanderson with Noah Hannifin. Also rotating in, Annette Connor Hellebuck, Jeremy Swayman and Jay Cottinger.
Now, this team. This is the.
We'll see what they do.
I'm not nervous. I mean, I think this team is more than capable of winning this whole thing. Unbiased opinion there, but I mean, just looking at some of these lines, I mean, Matthews, Hughes and Kyle Connor on the line together.
I'm just so pumped to watch this team is all I can.
[00:31:19] Speaker C: That's a nightmare matchup for any team in this tournament internationally. Like, Russia is not in this tournament. That's a nightmare mashup for any Russian line. Yeah, it's just. And that's their second Line. That's gross.
[00:31:35] Speaker A: Yeah. And again, like, I'm sure these lineups will shift and move. I really hope that they put the chucks together on a line. I feel like we'd be robbing ourselves if that didn't happen.
But even. I mean, power play one. Who would you think would go up against that Canada Power Play 1 like.
[00:31:54] Speaker C: On the penalty kill or on our power play?
[00:31:57] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, let's do that power play against that Team Canada one with Crosby, McKinnon, McDavid, McCarr and Reinhardt. Who are you putting on Team USA to kill that penalty?
[00:32:14] Speaker C: Probably Brock Faber and then Jacob Slavin. Those would be my two defensive guys.
[00:32:20] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:32:21] Speaker C: And then I'm going Matt Baldy.
There's a few guys you could put on as that fourth forward or is that fourth player. But I'd probably go Austin Matthews.
[00:32:34] Speaker A: Yeah. To take faces.
[00:32:37] Speaker C: Take face offs and steal the puck and just be nasty in every single zone because I love that guy.
Zooch, what are you. What are you putting out there?
[00:32:47] Speaker A: Probably.
[00:32:48] Speaker B: I mean, probably about the same. You'd kind of just have to pull the guys to the side and just say legitimately shoot the puck down the ice if you even get close to it, to keep these guys. Because you're just.
There's no lineup you can put out there that you're not overmatched. So there's no. Just keep icing it, basically, and hope you kill off the penalty. Like, don't. Yeah, I. I kind of play like the Florida Panthers played in the playoffs last year and just like go over to the side and just hold the puck there for as long as you possibly can and hope they don't get it in score. At least try to get to their second line. You know, get that.
[00:33:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:32] Speaker B: First minute out of the way and I guess just don't take penalties. Whatever you do, don't take that minute penalty.
[00:33:38] Speaker A: That's a big thing. Yeah.
[00:33:40] Speaker C: That's why I don't think.
I don't think the US Is going to be putting Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on the same line. I think that would get a little out of hand, at least against Canada.
[00:33:50] Speaker A: Yeah, that's fair. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. Probably it will be funny, though, Matthew Kachuk and J.T. miller on the line together playing against Elias Pederson, because I remember Kachuk on the Flames and Pederson, he would pound the. Out of him. So with all the drama J.T. miller went through with Peterson, I think that'll be pretty interesting to have that.
That lineup playing against him. But, yeah, I mean, this team is superstar loaded. I mean, all these guys are more than able. I think Brock Nelson maybe the weakest link. But even then, I mean, we talked about. He won the. What was it? The All Star competition.
[00:34:33] Speaker C: Nelson's nasty, apparently.
[00:34:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:38] Speaker C: Like you look. I think the worst player on this team is Chris Grider, right?
[00:34:42] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:42] Speaker C: Park him in front of the goal. He's gonna score like.
[00:34:45] Speaker A: Yeah, that too.
[00:34:46] Speaker C: We looked at his stats earlier this season. He had like, 15 goals and two assists at one point.
[00:34:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:52] Speaker C: Put him in front of that. He's gonna put the puck in. He won't get any assists, but, like, you don't need him to.
[00:34:57] Speaker A: No. Sort of put the biscuit in the basket. That's all you really need.
[00:35:01] Speaker C: Watch him end up putting in like, seven goals in four games.
Stupid like that.
[00:35:07] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:35:08] Speaker B: And the thing for Team USA this year, too, is it's a.
Like, let's say they get to a championship game and they're playing the Canadiens next Saturday.
Like the other countries that will be in the Olympics next year. Sweden, Finland, Canada.
I don't know what was going to be going on with Russia. I would think if there's still a war going on, they're probably going to not get the invitation to play. Yeah, but it's a good. Like, Team USA can use this to get people to watch and. Because it's been a while since the 2014 one. You know, we've had like, we had the weird years of 2018, and then Covid kind of messed up the 2022. Like, that was all weird.
2010. Like, they kind of benefited from. And they were really good in 2010. They were a goal away from winning the gold medal, but they benefited from it being in Vancouver. In 2014, it was in Russia, so it was like, I remember getting up at like, five in the morning to have to watch the games. It's in Italy next year, so there's going to be the time difference where games are going to be on at weird times. So they can use this to get, like, develop the interest in hockey in the United States, I think because you're gonna. You'll be going up against like, regular season or is it All Star Week? I think next weekend's the NBA All Star weekend, isn't it?
[00:36:36] Speaker A: Yeah. So that's the other crappy thing about all this, is that I think it's Saturday or. No, I think the All Star game is on Sunday for the NBA.
[00:36:45] Speaker B: And so it'll be done competition Saturday night, which like, sucks now.
[00:36:50] Speaker A: So which, like, yeah, no one watches after 2016. No one watches that anymore.
[00:36:55] Speaker B: So, yeah, basketball to go against. So they can use, like. Yeah, they'll get a lot of views if they make the championship games.
[00:37:01] Speaker A: They'll use it to get Sony, ESPN and ABC too.
[00:37:05] Speaker B: Yes. Yeah. Use it to get people excited. Not that people are. I think a lot of people like hockey in the United States, but you can kind of use this to, you know, get people more excited about it. Like Pete, Like Americans, like their sports teams. Like, even though I think, like American soccer fans are kind of snobby and. And annoying about, like, how they talk about soccer, it's a good chance to get out there you go and win. Gives you bragging rights. And people start like, they'll see guys like Chuck or Austin Matthews, whoever, and start to follow the sport more. And it's way more like Canadians, the Fins and the Swedes are going to watch it regardless. So, yeah, USA has a lot more competition going up against them than those countries do. So we'll see.
[00:38:03] Speaker A: Yeah, I think this, I mean, Americans love to root on America.
It's, you know, we can all come together on that in this country right now. And I think in this, you know, this stage, the weekend that we have, you know, it's after super bowl for football's done with, it's a Saturday night, you throw on espn, you see Team Canada versus usa. I mean, that's. It doesn't get better than that.
The only thing that might be better right now would be USA versus Russia, but they're not in it.
And, you know, regardless of if they're not in it or not, I know a lot of people think this is a fraudulent four nations because Russia isn't in it. But, you know, they. There's a reason they're not invited and they need to figure their out, frankly, until they can be fair.
[00:38:54] Speaker B: Is it their fault, though?
[00:38:55] Speaker A: No, it's not the player's fault. No.
[00:38:57] Speaker B: It's just a shitty situation that.
[00:39:00] Speaker A: Yeah, but it's just like world politics, so you just really can't do anything about it. And they're just like, well, we got what we got. So.
Yeah. I think it'll also be a good way to test for like all these teams. They can test what they're going to do next year, who they're going to send next year to the Olympics.
[00:39:20] Speaker C: Zooch, I think you made a great point. It gets people to watch.
[00:39:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:25] Speaker C: You know, people. People in the United States get really pumped up about watching, you know, United States sports.
[00:39:32] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:33] Speaker C: I have never spent a single day watching like, professional swimming or anything like that, but when the Olympics come on, you're damn right I'm watching it.
[00:39:44] Speaker B: Next year for the World cup, we're supposed to play England on July 4th in Boston.
[00:39:54] Speaker C: Awesome.
[00:39:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, that is going to be on every. Like, everyone is going to be like, they'll do their traditional fourth of July stuff, but I would guarantee that a ton of people are what. Like, that's like for, like, this isn't a must win game for team USA Hockey. That's like a must. Like, that's gonna like, make a break team. That's gonna be the men's national team. That's what the elites call it. That like soccer.
[00:40:20] Speaker C: But that's gonna be awesome because I think the US in, in soccer is typically pretty dominant over England, at least when it comes to, like, the quality of players. Right. This is like the US Hockey team playing like Uganda. Right. I think they're pretty competitive, if I remember correctly. That's gonna be an awesome game.
[00:40:42] Speaker A: They played. They played each other last World cup. And I, I went to that soccer bar. I think Alan, we went there for.
[00:40:48] Speaker C: I didn't go, but I remember that.
[00:40:50] Speaker A: No, no, it was a, it was a hockey game or we were watching hockey there at that soccer bar. Yeah, yeah, I went there for the World cup usa. That bar was packed with people. And I guarantee, like, there was a people at the bar that watch soccer. That. Or get it in a little, you know, stiff, like putting their nose up in the air, like.
[00:41:09] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:41:09] Speaker A: You know, but everyone there, like, no one knew what was going on. But you see red, white and blue and you cheer. And that's what we're gonna have this weekend, I think.
You know, I have a good. Assuming the NHL promotes it enough, I.
[00:41:22] Speaker C: Have a good buddy. One of my co workers shout out, tommy, he doesn't watch hockey at all, right? And he hit me up. We were talking the other day at work and he goes, let's go. Like a Steelheads game. I need you. I need you to explain the rules of hockey to. I'm like, I'm down, bro. But he was telling me about how he watched a Miracle on Ice. Right?
[00:41:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:41:44] Speaker C: Great movie about the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. You know, not the comeback, but the big dub over. Over Russia. Yeah, that great, great jersey of the Soviet Union. And he's just talking about how it made him feel patriotic and he, he wanted to get into hockey because of it. I think this is a great opportunity. Like yo, go watch this team. You don't need to know anything about it. Just say, hell yeah. Go usa. Right? Guys are feeling that way. So I think it's a great point, Zooch.
[00:42:13] Speaker B: And they can do it. The NHL should do a good job. I think a lot of people think hockey is way more confusing than it actually is when they start watching it.
Like, for example, like, people get confused about offside. It's like, all right, the player can't be in the other team zone past that blue line before the puck. It's not like the soccer off sides is way more infinitely confusing to me because it's just like an invisible ass line. They're like, oh, yeah, this guy was. Yeah, they'll like, draw it in the thing. I'm like, okay, yeah. How did they know that? Like, oh, that guy's standing up there with the flag raised, like, signified. It's offside. I'm like, okay, whatever. But they can. If ESPN and the NHL does a good job, they can explain it to people where it's not as confusing. Because when people get. Like, most people I've known that haven't been in hockey and I've, like, taken them to a game or whatever it is, once they watch it, they really like it. They're like, oh, it's. And I think what confuses them is it's so fast paced. Like, yeah, Americans are kind of used to dumb sports like football. It's. Yeah, you go and stop. You go and stop baseball. After each pitch, the game stops. Like, hockey is not. Obviously there's stops, but there can be five or so minutes before you really get a stop for whatever the reason is. So the NHL really needs to use this to get people, like, invested that might not be, you know, from the Northeast or. And I know there's like. Like there's a bunch of good hockey cities across the United States that have good fans and stuff like that, but a lot of people on it, and it's because they don't understand it is what I've always thought. Like, that's. Yeah, kind of how I've been with soccer before. Like, I'm not gonna watch the MLS or like, get up at like 5 in the morning to watch the Euro League or whatever it's called. But I also don't really understand it. I've never had someone sit down and be like, oh, okay, like, well, this is why it is offsides. Or, yeah, you know, this is why they gave this dude a yellow card because he breathed on this guy. So we'll see, they, I think they could really pick up a lot of steam with football being over. You're getting into the playoff crunch time, all that kind of stuff and get people really invested because the NBA viewership and stuff is down and people are kind of like tired of the NBA for whatever their reasoning might be. They just don't think it's as good or they don't like the political aspects of it, whatever that might be. And yeah, you know, the NHL, like, there's a lot of NHL players that come across as like, like even the Kachuks come across as like regular. Like if you didn't know they played in the NHL, you'd be like, oh, that's just like a regular American guy who likes going out on their boat or playing golf or whatever. Like the NHL has a lot of players like that they just are horrible about.
[00:45:25] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:25] Speaker B: Promoting them.
[00:45:26] Speaker A: Well, they also like, I mean a lot of the players act like any one of us would do if a camera was shoved in our face and a stupid ass reporter asked us, oh, what do you think of the whole, you know, anything like, do you see Jack Hughes, like, perfect example. Yeah. Of how he responds to media questions. And it's just like, get out of my face. Like I'm, I don't care. It's not like you come up like, jalen Hurts walking in. You got a 80 million dollar chain around your neck. You sit down and you're like, oh, is that what you guys wanted to see? Stuff like that? Like, I don't know, you get a little bit more of, I don't know, it's just a different type of players, I guess, like every, every other sport. I mean, you kind of see a lot of egotistical people and that's what people dislike about some of these guys. Or. And I don't think really anyone in the NHL has an ego problem that I see when they're answering media questions. They're all pretty fair.
[00:46:25] Speaker B: They give it back.
[00:46:26] Speaker A: If the reporters are, they'll be, you know, kind of a dick about it. But they're not like egomaniacs. I don't see it like that. Maybe they're, I don't know, you could think of someone but.
[00:46:36] Speaker B: Well, and they do. Like, I think I texted it to you the other day. The, like, usually when the NHL does these, like, I don't like miniseries slash documentary things like the one on Amazon, they're always really good. Like they used to have the Road to the Winter Classic. They had for a while, like the NHL 36 and they're always pretty good. Yeah, like, they're always pretty good because you kind of get this. Like, one that sticks out of my mind was the road to the Winter Classic with. And I want to say it was the Rangers were playing someone. Because I know Jimmy Hayes was, like, one of the focus points of it.
[00:47:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:20] Speaker B: And I was like, around Christmas and all that stuff, because the Winter Classic is on New Year's Day and you got to, like, see him, like, with his big ass family from Boston and, like, what they do on Christmas and that's a lot of people like that. And if they saw that more, I think they would be like, oh, especially with the Internet and stuff. Like, I like that he seems like a nice guy. Like, let me look him up and find out more about him. Because with, like, the NFL, you like, everyone knows who Patrick Mahomes is in the United States. Everyone knows who Jalen Hurts is. Tom Brady, whoever you want to say, they're.
And like, basketball, LeBron, Steph Curry, like, they're superstars here. So there's not like you would feel forced, I guess, if you're like, oh, we're gonna see, like, what a day in the life of LeBron is. And you would have him, like, go into the movie or, like, because.
[00:48:13] Speaker A: Yeah, like, yeah, you see, every single.
[00:48:16] Speaker B: One of us would be like, oh, but like, that's, you know, LeBron James. But if some random guy from the Sabres, was it, like a Steelheads game, we probably wouldn't even notice. He was like, we might notice us three notice him.
[00:48:29] Speaker C: But, yeah, I have a great example for this.
Me and Sean went to Nashville a few years back. This was 2021, and our friend Scott noticed that Matthew and Brady Tachuk were hanging out down the street.
There's a great. We have a great picture of us all. All hanging out. They took a picture with us. Right. And you could tell we were the only people who recognized them the entire time.
[00:48:57] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:48:57] Speaker C: While we are, you know, maybe three blocks down the street from Bridgestone arena where the Predators play.
[00:49:04] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:05] Speaker C: We were the only people who recognized who the hell they were. They could.
[00:49:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:09] Speaker C: You could just tell.
[00:49:10] Speaker A: Yeah. And they.
[00:49:11] Speaker C: Those were the funniest.
[00:49:12] Speaker A: They were not. Not that they weren't used to it, because I'm sure they get acid to get pictures all the time. But, like, they were not. They were drunk, first off. And Brady was like, no, he's older than us. Never mind.
But they were intoxicated. They weren't drunk. They were intoxicated. They had had a couple Drinks like we were. They were no different than us. Yeah.
[00:49:32] Speaker C: Matthew slapped Scott's ass.
[00:49:34] Speaker A: Shout out as they walked.
[00:49:36] Speaker C: That guy's awesome.
[00:49:37] Speaker A: He did as he walked away, gave him a little love tap on the ass.
[00:49:41] Speaker B: That's what I mean is they come across as like, especially those guys. Yeah, like dudes, like regular.
Like someone that you could be like, oh, I would be friends with that guy if, yeah, I had grown up with them or something like that. It's not like the NFL and NBA into a large extent, even baseball are a little bit different in that way. Is like LeBron James was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated. It 17 years old. Like that's just how I see it. So I hope they do a good job of going in depth with some, especially the American players. Like, oh, this is what this guy does. Blah, blah, blah.
I doubt ESPN will because ESPN for some reason, like even the road to the cup series that they do, it's all like, I never see it on like ESPN or espn. It's always on ESPN plus, which like I have, but I don't know how many people get on ESPN plus and like, like, oh, I'm gonna watch this random hockey show with Connor McDavid in it.
[00:50:49] Speaker A: Yeah, no, it's a good point. I mean, I think ultimately, yes, I think this is a great chance for the, for hockey to be able to crack into the, you know, top three of sports. I think it's going to take time though. And again, we can have a whole episode, which we probably will in the off season. Just about, you know, NHL marketing, what they could be doing better, you know, everything. Blackout rights. Don't even get me started on, you know, streaming service. Like it's just. I'll touch on it really quick because it's so damn hard to watch hockey. Like that's the problem. And yes, I get it's an 82 game season. It's not like football where you got 16 games you gotta follow plus playoffs and whatever.
But with hockey, they just need to get it on more TVs is the thing. And NFL owns all the broadcasting rights. The NHL doesn't. That's the issue.
Once they do, I think we could see, you know, a little change there. Have its own network, you know, be able to play all these games. But until then we're going to be stuck at the bottom because you're not going to compete with basketball because they overlap the same time and they have better broadcasting rights is all it is. And football, we're never going to compete with football as much as the NFL is rigged. Yes, you heard that correct. It is rigged. 100 this Sunday showed it because Patrick Mahomes couldn't do when the rest weren't calling his favor.
But, yeah, we're never gonna crack the top three.
[00:52:18] Speaker C: I just got YouTube TV, right. Which has become a. A lot of people are getting rid of normal, like, cable. Cable streaming and whatnot. Getting YouTube TV.
NHL Network is not available on YouTube TV, which they have NBCSN, like, regional, which you can watch a lot of games on, but I'm pretty sure that only counts for your region. So, like, I can watch NBCSN Regional for, like, Salt Lake City, probably.
So it all depends on which.
Yeah, but the fact that they don't have NHL Network, which might be a YouTube TV problem, but, like, the NHL should probably be pushing to get on there because that's a huge service that's kind of taking over television.
[00:53:06] Speaker A: That's the thing. They have NFL Network, they have NBA Network, and they have MLB network on YouTube TV. The only place you can stream NHL Network is, I think, like, Fubo or some random. Like the ones that cost $150 a month. Like.
[00:53:23] Speaker C: Fubo, or if you have the NHL Network subscription, which that in itself is like 80 bucks a month. It's some stupid amount.
[00:53:30] Speaker A: And guess what? You don't get all the games.
[00:53:34] Speaker C: No. Because you got regional blackouts.
[00:53:36] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:53:36] Speaker C: We live in Idaho, right? Zeus, do you still live in Idaho?
[00:53:39] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:53:40] Speaker C: Okay, so we can't watch Seattle games. We can't watch Utah games, and we can't watch Vegas games, which, as a fan of a western hockey.
[00:53:51] Speaker B: And Colorado a lot of time.
[00:53:53] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:53:53] Speaker C: Colorado, too.
We can't watch any of those games. The Sharks play those teams a lot. Every season.
[00:54:00] Speaker A: He's a nice fan. He can't even watch games.
[00:54:03] Speaker C: That's. Yeah, that's messed up. Well, he deserves it.
[00:54:06] Speaker B: But I gotta watch a Bruins game the other day. That's the first game I've gotten to watch because I'm. I don't want to pay for the Knights pass. It's like $90.
[00:54:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:54:17] Speaker B: It's just that they gotta figure that out. And. Yeah, I don't know what it's gonna take for them to do it. They also need to stop, like. And I get. They can be obnoxious and stuff like that. But tnt, I think is smart to have Paul Bisonette on their broadcast. Like I said, I get spit. And Chicklets can be, like, obnoxious. And I don't think it rubbed people the right way. Like, kind of how they were in the Stanley cup finals last year. But they have a huge following.
People really like those guys. Like, if you're espn, have them all, like, add somebody to your system that is like the likable, like former player instead. Like, I love Mark Messier, but Mark, he also sounds like a robot. Like, oh yeah, all the time on there. Like Chris Chelli is. Sounded like a robot douche.
[00:55:16] Speaker C: I've heard some stories about. He. He's a horrible guy.
[00:55:20] Speaker A: Yeah. But I mean.
[00:55:25] Speaker C: It'S a beef with DNC.
[00:55:28] Speaker A: He's ESPN. I'd be glad to be with ESPN any day of the week. TNT. I. I enjoy TNT's lineup as a whole. I mean, they have Wayne Gretzky and Hank, like Henrik Lundquist. How can you.
[00:55:39] Speaker B: Yeah, and they do a good job. And for the love of God, ESPN get a better play by play announcer on your biggest games of the years.
[00:55:46] Speaker A: Yeah, that's a big one too. I like PK with them, but outside of that, it's just really not.
TNT clears the floor and I feel like they have that with basketball as well.
But yeah, I think even like Biz's recent thing, we can touch on that really quick because that happened him telling, saying Connor Bedard, he's playing pond hockey out there, people, Chicago fans especially, which you have the right to be upset Chicago. But for them to be like, oh my God, like, I can't believe he said that. You know, he has this many points in his career, blah, blah, blah.
At the end of the day, did he say that? A little. Maybe out of pocket. Sure. But that's who he is. Like, that's who he is on the show. He's like the out of pocket guy. He asked Connor McDavid about his spa and like, if he can get an invite to his hot tub. Connor McDate, like, it's just stuff like that where it's like, I don't want to watch a robot. Mark Messier ask questions to Connor McDavid. I want to see Biz call out Bedard because frankly, he's not wrong. At the end of the day, he's not wrong. Bedard still has a lot of learning to do. He's a great hockey player and gonna be in the hall of Fame one day. But he still has so much to learn. And Biz isn't wrong in calling him out. Sure, maybe he doesn't have the best resume, but look what the we're doing right now. None of us played in the NHL.
[00:57:04] Speaker B: Well, how many head coaches have the best resume of like two in the inning. Like as a player? Not. Yeah, like what. What were Paul Maurice's stats as a player? Like, nobody.
[00:57:15] Speaker C: Gretzky sucked as a coach.
[00:57:18] Speaker A: That too. Yeah.
He was the Coyotes coach for. Yeah, just. You can't translate.
[00:57:24] Speaker C: He got canned. Yeah, that guy sucked.
[00:57:28] Speaker A: But you can still. I mean, maybe I'm biased because we get a lot of hate on the. Not a lot, but we get hate on the Internet as well. Just in terms of like, oh, what do you know? It's like we don't know any. We truly don't know anything. But there are some things that we're right about as a fan watching hockey that we can call out when we see it. We don't need to be a thousand point player in the NHL to know that Connor Bedard is not playing to his full potential right now, you know, so I don't know. That kind of irks me. But, you know, the fan base of Chicago has every right to, you know, talk to Biz and I think he enjoys it. He likes playing that character of, you know, the punching bag and the Blackhawks tweeting out, that's pond hockey. And having you should do that.
[00:58:15] Speaker B: That's like a good thing to like do. That grows your brand a little bit.
[00:58:20] Speaker A: And we're. Guess what? We're talking about it. It's creating conversation with people and that's ultimately what they want.
[00:58:26] Speaker C: It's been a major news story, I feel like in the last week.
[00:58:29] Speaker A: Yeah, it has.
We're talking about it.
[00:58:32] Speaker C: So it's like, interesting.
[00:58:34] Speaker A: Yeah. But yeah, that pretty much wraps up well. So. Okay, betting odds. I wanted to touch on really quick. Canada and the USA are +160. Again, these are not. This is not betting advice. I'm not giving any betting advice because I'm a horrible gambler. Do I still do it? Yes, but until the Canada. Yeah. We're gonna be in Vegas. Me and Zooch will in March and I'm scared, but Canada US +160.
[00:58:59] Speaker C: Remember the glitch?
[00:59:01] Speaker A: Yes, the money glitch. I remember that. Sweden plus 400 and Finland plus 900.
Canada us being even. Exactly the same. Yeah. Finland plus 900 is really messed up.
I might. I'm not gonna throw any money on.
[00:59:15] Speaker C: Anyone, but put money on Sweden if anybody.
[00:59:19] Speaker A: Yeah. If you're true.
Yeah. Sweden has the best odds. Plus 400. I think they have a chance to possibly do something. Always gamble with what you're comfortable losing. Don't put the house on. I didn't say it's a lock. But if you're going to be risky. That's the risky bet right there.
[00:59:36] Speaker C: Watch Kevin Langen let in like three goals in five games.
[00:59:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:59:41] Speaker C: Nico rated scores two goals a game. Villa wins the tournament.
[00:59:45] Speaker A: It'd be crazy. We look like idiots, you know.
[00:59:48] Speaker C: Well, I think everybody would look like idiots in that situation. True. Yeah.
[00:59:51] Speaker A: We wouldn't be the only ones because everyone's hyping them up, but yeah.
Anything else before kick it out of here.
Yeah, this, this term is gonna be a lot of fun. If you are just hearing about this, watch it tonight. It's gonna start. I think it's. What is Wednesday's matchup is Canada versus Sweden. That'll be a good game, honestly, 8pm Eastern.
I don't know what channel it's on, but you can look use your phone that you're listening this on or the Internet and look it up, but that'll be a good game. And Saturday, U.S. versus Canada. Tune the in. We'll be back next week. We'll be talking all the round robin games and then previewing that championship game on, on Thursday. And maybe if it's Canada versus US, maybe we do a little live stream or something that night because it'd be fun. But Nat Zooch, thank you for joining us and you know, talking all that stuff.
I'm excited to go Team USA and yeah. Anything else before we get out of here?
[01:00:57] Speaker B: Nothing. I'm excited to see how you guys do on this trivia.
[01:01:01] Speaker A: Oh yes, we're gonna have a trivia here soon. You'll see it on the Instagram with the clips and stuff. So with that being said, peace out guys. See you guys next week. Go usa Go Birds.
