Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: This is another edition of the Game Sports podcast. I am David McCaig, host of the game. The game is powered by 91 Network. On this episode will be two segments. In the first segment, I'll be joined by Justin Heikel getting into our in the pocket segment with a little bit of a dash of flavor for the World Series. In the second segment, I'll be joined by Alex Parr and new co host of the game, Brandon McCarthy, getting into all the updates when it comes to the National Hockey League and the Hockey world. Let's go.
Oh, yeah. And it's time for the game sports podcast. David McCaig here, host of the game sports podcast. I am joined by no one other than the one, the only, Justin Heikel. My friend Justin. How's it going?
[00:00:44] Speaker B: Good to be here. Good to be back on this week, chatting some football, getting into the.
It's like sportstober now, you know what I mean? Basketball starting, baseball playoffs going on. Hockey, frozen frenzy this week.
Football's going on, obviously, because we're here to talk about football. But I mean, like, you just gotta get a little respect across the board here. There is a lot of. Yeah, there's a lot of stuff going on right now. It's a strange place in the world of sports.
[00:01:12] Speaker A: And if you're on video, you just got the luxury to see this very beautiful new sweater that I got. People don't. They think this is the randomest thing, but it's really not. I am an Oregon Duck fan. I am an Oregon duck fan because I started loving the jerseys back in the early tens. And my favorite college football player is actually Marcus Mariota. So that's what made me start liking Oregon. And then obviously, there's been some Canadians that gone through college of on how Holland, not saying Oregon or anything related, but Bo nicks, there's been players that have come through the Oregon system, but this year looks different. Oregon, second ranked in the nation, big Ohio state, went a few weeks back. I was like, you know what? I don't have an Oregon sweater. So you know what I did that day, Justin? I bought an Oregon sweater, bought a Steelers workout shirt and a Steelers sweater. I bought. I went out all on the football thing, and then randomly, I bought myself two new memory foam coolant pillows just to throw a random point out there for today. I went on a shopping spree the day that Oregon beat Ohio State and a game that likely Ohio could have won if they just would have kicked the ball.
[00:02:16] Speaker B: Ball.
[00:02:16] Speaker A: But Oregon walks away with the win. I know EJ. Is an Ohio state fan. But go Oregon. Go duck. So I'm supporting this, the new sweater. It's great. And if you would have saw the commercial, if you're watching football, the guy that brings Duck to the tailgate party with Oregon and he got the Oregon mascot going, right? And all the fans and they leave. It's that, it's funny. It's Oregon time. Get excited. It is Oregon time. And hopefully this is the year you see Oregon win. But nonetheless, Justin, we have NFL to talk about, too. And overall, the National Football League is going into like we're into the season, like we're hitting weeks. We just finished week seven of the National Football League and we're going into week eight. Can't believe it. All right. And it was a great week last week. So we're going to talk about some of the games before we get into the pickup because I know I liked my week again last week and I had some compliments on TikTok. So thank you for that. Yes, I was close. I am trying to get perfect this year. That is my goal. I need to get a week of being perfect. Hopefully it's the week that I decide to go bet. Not that I'm encouraging betting, please gamble responsibly. But last week I think was great. I'm going to start with the one story line that's obvious, Justin, before I go to you, okay.
And before all that, I got to make sure I mention SportsCenter bar and gross. Susan, Ontario's best sports bar. It is the original home of the game sports podcast. It's where we recorded obviously our first show in Sue Sabrina, Ontario 2016 and they are presented within our in the pocket segment. Just so everyone is aware. Best sports bar in Susan, Ontario and obviously the game sports podcast joining spaces as I pull out the sticker, the suited a Village media platform, more information to follow and that will be live soon. Getting to last last week, as I mentioned technically last week for week seven of the National Football League. Russ Wilson.
Yes. The start that Steelers fans wanted to see. You have that quarterback controversy and everyone say, well, you know, you should stick with Justin Fields. You know what, go with a quarterback by committee. You know Justin, if Justin Fields goes into a game, he's looking shaky. You pull him right away. You put Russ in there. Russ goes in there. His next game, next week against the Giants, he's looking a little shaky. You pull him and you put fields in there. Russ is a great mentor for Justin Fields. He is a leader. He has that character. He's won a Super Bowl. I think Justin would like to maybe modify his game to be almost like Russell Wilson. They're very similarly built, similar style. Obviously, I think Russ has a stronger arm at that age than what Justin has. And obviously Russell Wilson looked very good and comfortable on that field last week. You know, you can tell he's been on the sidelines, really walk watching. And his, his arm, though, has been a real factor in that game last week. Just throwing, eating up this jets defense with throwing the football. Najee looking like that. Najee from a couple years ago. The offense is rolling. The steel curtain is looking fantastic there in Pittsburgh. This Steeler defense is truly a Super bowl contending defense. The offense is the question because of the quarterback situation, but if Russ Justin, if it's whatever it is, whoever's in that game, if they can play a consistent game, it's going to be dangerous to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which we didn't. If you're a Steeler fan, we as a podcast is what I mean, didn't project the Pittsburgh Steelers to be a team that could be flirting with the top of the division, battling with the Ravens, which is going to be a very tough outcome to have because the Ravens look out of this world. But the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a better spot than what people predicted them to be. And I think that is what Mike Tomlin likes. And he is also proving why he is one of the best coaches and longest tenure coaches in the NFL. So my thing is about Russ Wilson. Last week storyline with the Jets, Devante Adams did nothing on the field. Aaron Rodgers didn't know what was going on. Pittsburgh Steelers took care of the jets last week and it was great to see Justin.
[00:06:02] Speaker B: I mean, my big takeaway from that game is the Steelers defense that they were absolutely, they had to be lights out in that game to let Russ build some confidence playing O and the defense was like ten out of ten every single time they were on the field. Like scary. I don't, I can't remember that one. Uh, he's in your secondary, but he had the two picks and they were like, his positioning on those was absolutely unbelievable. Like his just sent ball hawking on the field was crazy. It was a good game. I'm not a Russell Wilson fan, admittedly. You can go back through the podcast and listen to me crap all over him. I thought he was shaky in the first, but that's probably rust.
Mike Tallman's facial expressions also are ten out of ten through that whole scenario. Also, him calling a timeout when you had twelve guys on the field and then tipping his hat to Aaron Rodgers when Rogers was trying to get the snap off quickly. It was a little bit of gamesmanship that I enjoyed.
And honestly, pickens, lighten it up when the week that I bench them in fantasy makes sense. So as a Steelers fan, I think there's a lot to look forward to going. Going forward.
[00:07:18] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:18] Speaker B: Although the Colts be you, so that's basically you lost.
[00:07:23] Speaker A: I saw you, wings. I haven't forgot.
[00:07:25] Speaker B: We'll get there, don't you worry.
[00:07:27] Speaker A: Beanie is the guy you're thinking of with the pics.
[00:07:30] Speaker B: Beanie, Mister Beanie Bishop. But like that, that was pretty well the game of the week, honestly, aside from the Lions game.
[00:07:37] Speaker A: Oh, thank you for saying it. Tell me how good.
That was a great football game. The Lions, Vikings that was kissed, it.
[00:07:48] Speaker B: Was on tv, but it was like that should have been at the very least a 04:00 game. Like, why is that game on at 01:00? Okay, the Colts and the Dolphins make sense. Cleveland figuring it out against someone at 01:00 makes sense. The Panthers at 01:00 makes sense. Like, there's a lot of teams you could put on. Philly and the Giants at 01:00. Great. Get that one out of your 04:00 and the primetime games. You should have your marquee matchups every week. Yeah. I mean, this was the best game of the week.
[00:08:18] Speaker A: And I'm a Steeler fan saying that that was, that was my game of the week.
[00:08:22] Speaker B: That was, that was a nail biter going both ways. And props to the Lions for winning that one. That's vision that division is going to be. Banana sandwich at the end of the so down.
[00:08:35] Speaker A: And Justin Jefferson, I keep forgetting how sick he is, which I shouldn't do.
[00:08:39] Speaker B: Because Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, I mean, the whole team there who thought Sam Darnold.
[00:08:45] Speaker A: Oh, wait, anyone who's played in Carolina or has played with the jets, if you're a quarterback and you leave, you're going to be the best quarterback in the league after. Okay, even the Bears are kind of flirting with that conversation, too. Now, bias aside. Bias aside. But Sam Darnold, okay, Baker Mayfield, just to name a couple guys, but Jared Goff, look, the Lions treated Stafford and got golf. And I can list all the assets I have up here. I'm not going to. But they, Stafford won, okay? He won the Super bowl. Okay? So the, the Rams got value for their trade.
[00:09:17] Speaker B: Teams won that deal.
[00:09:18] Speaker A: He did. They did, 100%. Now, the Lions weren't ready to win then, okay, now that was the point why they made the trade. Get a young quarterback who could be good, grow. Be that guy who made the Super bowl with the Rams because Garrett Goff me didn't make it. And you got some good draft picks now look at them. He almost had a perfect game. He had a perfect game up until his 20th row or near his 20th throw again. He had a 15 for 15 week. The guy is throwing the ball smart. His receivers are catching everything. St. Brown is gross. Gibbs is gross. That whole offense is gross. I like their defense even though they're missing Hutchinson. I this is a team that's can't miss to watch right now.
[00:09:55] Speaker B: I like the shit talking between Pickens and St. Brown on Twitter earlier in the week where he was just telling him he's nothing but a slot receiver. And then some fan chimed in underneath. I think it was a fan. I mean, I'd have to double check. It's too far in the archives of the x to go back and figure it out. But someone chimed in chirp Pickens and said, jared Goff has more receiving touchdowns than you this season.
Which was correct until Sunday night's game when he went off. So maybe that motivated him, maybe Ross helped, who knows. But I like those little chirps when they get mixed in on the Internet there.
[00:10:30] Speaker A: You gotta love it. And truthfully, the Ravens Buccaneers game was another game that, you know, obviously I wasn't going to into that game, but five touchdowns. Derek Henry like there 169 yards or something, right? I think it was 169.
[00:10:46] Speaker B: And he basically got them on two runs.
[00:10:50] Speaker A: Yeah, he only had like dozen carries.
[00:10:51] Speaker B: Not even like the broadcast wouldn't shut up about him not being in the game.
[00:10:56] Speaker A: He's leading in so many categories, rushing yards, touchdowns. I think he has reception touchdowns. I don't think that makes sense. But he has a lot of first. He's in first in a lot of.
[00:11:08] Speaker B: Just a team guy. Like it's crazy. Like he's just like, yeah, I'm just here to help. Help with 160 f yards. Like thank you for helping.
[00:11:19] Speaker A: We appreciate passes for Lamar Jackson. Man, he's. Yeah, he's a stunt. And Baker Mayfield had two int's but he also looked very good. Okay, I don't. 370 yards, three TD's. Yeah. Like this. This game was another banana sandwich.
[00:11:36] Speaker B: And it seems to be like the injury of the year now is like a broken something. That's what we're going with this season. Like every team just has some sort like it was. You can obviously go back on the Internet and watch the video now. But they didn't reshow the godwin injury at the end of the game last night. It's. That one's. That one's rough. You don't, like, see the guys get hurt. You know, they pull a muscle or something like that. Like, shit all over to Sean Watson all you want. Tearing your achilles is gonna fucking suck.
[00:12:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:12:05] Speaker B: Like, you watch it roll up the back of his leg like a reverse fruit roll up. That's kind of gross.
Yeah, like that. Like, all I could think of is that House of glass that Paris Hilton was in back in the day, and the guy, like, cuts her achilles with the wire cut.
[00:12:20] Speaker A: Yeah. House is the house of wax. Or House of, uh. House of wax.
[00:12:24] Speaker B: House of wax.
[00:12:25] Speaker A: Yeah, house of wax with Alicia Cuthbert. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's the one. My goodness. I saw that. Saw I don't wear.
[00:12:33] Speaker B: That's like a hundred years old. But anyways, that's, uh, that's our Halloween reference for the one thing I want.
[00:12:40] Speaker A: To say about last week before the pickups. It's a good way to end going into the pickup.
Marcus Mariada. Last. Last week, two touchdowns, 205 yards. The Washington commanders. Okay. As I sit here wearing Oregon duck sweater. Oregon Duck alum. The. Or the Oregon duck. The Oregon duck alum is what I mean to say.
Good game for him. Us. The commanders are a wagon. I'm on the wagon, but not as a fan. I'm just on that fan appreciation wagon. Loving it. The commanders didn't even have a name. They had to change their name, got their name. They didn't have a name. Now they have a name. Commanders. And you're like, why this name? And you're like, who cares? Because they're sick. This team is so good to watch, too. They're crazy.
[00:13:20] Speaker B: Crazy what a new ownership and, like, people that give a shit around a team can do to a team.
[00:13:26] Speaker A: Yeah. And Carolina's ass.
[00:13:29] Speaker B: Well, that's. I mean, there's two. Two different ownership groups took over at pretty well the exact same time, and you are getting the exact opposite results.
You got, like, sports guys that want to win with Washington, and then you got a billionaire who bought a toy in Carolina, and that's why just to.
[00:13:46] Speaker A: Enjoy and go bring his family to a game, to sit in the press.
[00:13:49] Speaker B: Box, throw drinks at fans or whatever, but, you know, yikes.
[00:13:52] Speaker A: And your Colts had a good week. I know you're Colts fan. I know they play the Dolphins, but I'm really.
[00:13:57] Speaker B: They tried their hardest to not win that game, and then they won the game. So I will take it. We are now above 500.
We're going into a gauntlet of, well, for us, games. We next Sunday, not this Sunday, next Sunday. We got flex to the Sunday night er against the Vikings.
So hopefully it's like last. The last Colts Vikings game was like 800 total points in the game, most of them against us. Fun.
[00:14:25] Speaker A: Oh, should be fun. No one is bigger ass than either the Patriots or the Panthers. And even the Jags.
[00:14:32] Speaker B: I talked to Patriots to win this week because I thought the Jags were total hot garbage. But tank Bigsby.
[00:14:39] Speaker A: Bigsby, big game.
[00:14:40] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:41] Speaker A: All right. I know time is of the essence. Hiking. It's great. Talk about last week. It's great to definitely wear this Oregon sweater. It feels nice to actually have a nice sweater. So I really like. It's good material too. It's really comfort. Comforting. But we got the pickup for week eight and thanks to everyone on the on TikTok that viewed. But obviously we had some, some comments and we had a comment state how close I was to a perfect week. I had one week. My first week was 15 and one this week I went well, Heiko will tell you the updated standings getting into our Gamesports podcast in the pocket segment. And the pocket is presented, of course, not just by the Gainsborough Podcast 91 network, but obviously through our original home at the Gain Sports podcast, SportsCenter Bar and Grill and Sabrina Ontario hike, the pickup that we choose.
[00:15:27] Speaker B: So in and first right now with a three point lead, we got keggers, gridiron picks, EJ. The Browns is the Browns. No name change yet. In second with a solid 69 points.
And then I'm in third. Hikes picks 64 points, eight point spread against the group here. And we'll see how this week goes. I'm gonna have to start getting wild and crazy to catch up.
[00:15:55] Speaker A: Honestly, the pickums have been exciting and we like the interaction. So please feel free to interact with us and share your picks with us and debate with us. We like it. So somebody I'm gonna go to someone help hike or try to dethrone. Try to dethrone me. I know. I can only say that for so long, cuz EJ is always, he's been the back to back to back to winner. And you know that sometime that kids gonna get hot. I'm just waiting couple weeks.
[00:16:19] Speaker B: Always get squirrely.
[00:16:21] Speaker A: Oh, so squirrely. And the last three years I was in first for the first eight or nine weeks. I don't remember that I have been in first, but then I go whoop. And I a little dropped and I stay in second or drop third, whatever it is. Hike. What's your picks this week?
[00:16:35] Speaker B: All right, so for the Thursday nighter, I got Minnesota over the Rams. Rams are in a bit of trouble looking at trading Cooper cup allegedly.
And going into Sunday I got Cincy over Philly because I'm not sold on the Eagles yet and Baltimore is gonna get a thousand points over Cleveland, Detroit over Tennessee, Arizona over Miami, jets over New England, Atlanta over Tampa. Only because Tampa doesn't have any healthy players left.
Green Bay over Jacksonville, Indy over Houston, maybe Chargers over the Saints again just because the Saints literally have no healthy players. Aside from Camara who signed a like 2020 $5 million extension today, I believe Buffalo over Seattle with their new toy Amari Cooper there.
Denver over Carolina, KC over Vegas, Washington over Chicago because I don't think it matters what quarterback starts there. Silver San Fran again, just because the only healthy receiver on San Fran got shot in the chest two months ago.
And then Pittsburgh over the Giants and the Monday nighterheendeh or is in the first tiebreaker. I got Pittsburgh 34, Giant 17, which I think is way too many points for the Giants, but I'm going to stick with it. And then the Sunday nighter, Dallas 24, San Fran 21. Most points this week. Baltimore fewest points this week, obviously Carolina. See what you got, Dave.
[00:18:00] Speaker A: Oh, poor Carolina. Pure ass. No, Annie Dalton's not going to be starting there any much longer. Okay, but good for Chubba Hubbard. He's looking okay. I like that canadian boy. All right, starting with the Thursday nighter, of course. Vikings, Rams. I got the Vikings over the Rams. Bengals over the Eagles. Ravens over the Browns easily. Lions over the Titans. I got the Cardinals over the dolphins, jets over the Patriots. Buccaneers over the Falcons. Packers over the Jags. Texans over the Colts, chargers over the saints. Bills over the Seahawks, Broncos over the Panthers. Chiefs over the Raiders. Commanders over the bears, cowboys over the niners and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Sunday nighter got to give it to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Of course going to have a whoever starts a quarterback doesn't matter. Like Justin said with the commanders, doesn't matter who starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're getting the win this week. And in that tiebreakers that we talked about through Yahoo. I think the scores can be 28 ten for the Steelers over the Giants and Sam Fran, I got 27 Cowboys 24 49 ers. Most points this week Baltimore. And the least is the absolute lonely. And for the. I don't know, every week that I pick Carolina Panthers having the least points this week, hike. That is the pickums this week and EJ has been putting in his picks. Everyone knows, obviously hike said the standings and everyone who's wondering where EJ is, we do hope that EJ will be back next week or the latest the following week, especially as we transition as our show goes onto another platform. So very exciting to get him back into the rhythm very soon.
[00:19:33] Speaker B: Interesting, interesting tidbit before we walk away for the week here, just looking at the Yahoo pick distribution amongst all the pools on Yahoo, 85% of Yahoo thinks that San Fran is going to win that Sunday night or still.
[00:19:49] Speaker A: Wow. Well, we both picked gets them.
[00:19:51] Speaker B: That's a pretty big swing from. So I'm interested to see what EJ picks in that game. Maybe we're just nuts.
[00:19:57] Speaker A: You know what? We are nuts. That's how you can end up 13 and two and 15 and one though in a week. You just guess. You didn't go by rhythm. You make a song out of your picks, like you just make a little song out of it and you get lucky. No, I'm just kidding. And Alvin Camara, as you mentioned, did get a contract extension. Thanks for that reminder. Two year deal with the New Orleans, with the Saints definitely having a good season, but the Saints were just off that start. That offense looked great, but then things have started to go in a different direction.
[00:20:24] Speaker B: Hopefully the supermodel there, Jake Hayner, gets the start this week. I thought he's looked way better at quarterback than Spencer. I'm a disaster rattler, so.
And just, just like to see it. That's, that's all I have on that.
[00:20:37] Speaker A: $124.5 million for Camaro. That's a couple of years. To be honest, it does seem very cheap. Obviously Camara, he's still 30, 29 years old, is still a good age for anybody, still has a good few years left and he still looks like he's in good shape down there, of course. But nonetheless, Alvin Camara getting the two year extension. Thanks for that reminder, Justin, to make sure that we mention here and in the pocket today, now we've talked even college a little bit here because of Oregon. We've talked last week. We've talked. Pick'em. You have plans this evening. So to make sure I don't uphold you any longer for going out. Eat those wings. Yes. And I owe you wings. And I, well, I owe myself hot wings for you to laugh at me is what I mean. So we'll definitely, I'll try to get that video taped if it's a sweet pain.
[00:21:21] Speaker B: Is what you owe me.
[00:21:23] Speaker A: I'm gonna enjoy it now that my stomach, I think, can go back to handling hot food again. And we'll. We'll see, though. We'll see, though.
[00:21:31] Speaker B: We were getting old.
[00:21:34] Speaker A: Yikes. I'm trying to. I got some weight here. Okay. But nonetheless, we have another segment coming up, and that's Brandon McCarthy, newcomer to the Game Sports podcast, who is with, is a producer through TSN. And Alex Parr will be joining us to talk a little hockey. We're going to be getting into a brief segment about hockey. We're going to have no redraft, no really ranking or getting back into it. We're just have a free flow discussion like Justin and I have had today. But that's, that's the environment for today's podcast. But next week, got some big in each segments coming up, the World Series going to be coming. You got, obviously, the Yankees, the Dodgers, and we're not going to be touching on the World Series today. We, due to time constraints. But you got the Yankees and Dodgers. So in the pocket we wrap up, Justin. But I am going to give one little bit of something towards baseball prediction to win the World Series. I said it was going to be Dodgers Guardians in the finals. I didn't want to be boring, is actually what I said and say Dodgers, Yankees. You can look back at the clip. It's on tick tock. But it ended up being the Dodgers and Yankees, much everyone's dismay. This is Dodgers year. Shohei Ohtani is getting that World Series this year. But, Justin, let's give baseball a little bit of love, because we couldn't fit into our agenda today, nor can we fit the WWE in or even any basketball news today. We did. We are going to fit a little greyhound tease in the next segment for all you Sioux people out there. But I do want to get your prediction about the, the, the World Series.
[00:22:54] Speaker B: It's la L. A has got it 100%. I mean, and to be honest, I'm rooting for Tae Oscar to, you know what I mean?
[00:23:01] Speaker A: Love it. Thank you for that.
[00:23:02] Speaker B: So one year, prove it. Deal. You know what I mean? Like, proved it. And he's gonna bank, you know what I mean? He's made himself money. He's going to the World Series. What a hell of a year for him.
And Ohtani, I mean, is only going to build off this. So, I mean, watch out the rest of the league for at least another year. I mean, yeah, the Yankees, okay, the Yankees, whatever. But the Dodgers are the team that everyone, you know, what? I mean, it's like that meme. You know the one where the. Yeah, that's. The Dodgers are the new team. All right, so Dodgers are it.
[00:23:34] Speaker A: They are what you build a team or.
[00:23:36] Speaker B: No, it's money.
[00:23:37] Speaker A: Look what money could buy. It's Shohei. Oh, Tony. We'll see this. I don't think there's anything that's gonna stop Shohei this year. Let's, let me remind everybody, Shohei didn't pitch this year. Let that sink in just for a second. Now, he had the year that he had. Maybe he does. He gets out of a starting pitching rotation and he goes into more of a bullpen, kind of, which is bananas to saying, anyone out there for baseball? Ba na nas peer bananas.
Thank you very much. Football. And we just threw a teaser for baseball. I love it. I love these free flow segments. They're so much fun. They not usually what we follow, but today it feels just right. But we're going to take a breather. Before I do that, I want to say thank you, Justin, and we will see you next week, my friend.
[00:24:19] Speaker B: Hey, I'll be here. And you know what? Just, just to grease you into the hockey segment a little bit. Screw George Peros. That's all I have to say.
[00:24:29] Speaker A: Right at the hat. I wonder what team we cheer for.
This has been the game sports podcast you've listened to in the pocket with some baseball flavor. When we come back, we got top shelf coming with Brandon and Alex, Brandon's debut show here on the game. Don't go anywhere. Welcome back to Game Sports podcast, David McKay continuing to host you this evening. Now, without further ado, I bring in the two great co hosts joining yours truly this night tonight to discuss our top shelf segment. Yes. Remind everyone that is hockey going first.
Former Sault Ste. Marie native now moved from Sault Ste. Marie down to the Ottawa area. He's not a Senators fans, though. Sense fans. He's still a leaf fan. The one, the only, Alex Parr. Par par, my friend. Nice hats.
[00:25:11] Speaker C: Thank you. Yeah, I got it from a buddy I went to college with. I hadn't seen him in a long time. He said, yeah, I was at the Jade's game, thought I'd pick you something up. My name, my name is embroidered on the side here. It says par guy on there.
[00:25:23] Speaker A: Par guys.
[00:25:24] Speaker C: Pretty fancy.
[00:25:25] Speaker A: Absolutely. The end. Honestly, Parr, it's always great. Have you back. Obviously last week was your first week back at a few months and we had some great discussions. Not all the clips have been uploaded yet, but I'll be sharing those. This week. We had some good blind ranking and some, we took an idea from this individual from the episode that didn't get posted. It's in the archive for pretenders and contenders, so I cannot take the credit for that. The guy in the middle here that I'm about to introduce, new member of the game sports podcast family. I met him at a wedding. Okay. And I wasn't able, this story didn't get aired, so I can say it a second time, which is great. My wife's cousin got married. Brandon was friends, is friends with the couple as well. Big E. Big E and Sabrina got married. And then at the wedding, Eric brings me over. He says, I got to meet, got to introduce you to this guy. He's on TSN, he's involved with producer.
He's a guy that can talk sports. He's a leaf fan. That's my guy. I need to meet this guy, talk to him. And guess what? I started talking to this guy. And guess what? We started talking about sports. And long story short, we were sober during this conversation.
And on top of that, I want to share that. We talked about joining the show. And ultimately, he did join the show. The one and only Brandon McCarthy. Please fill in. Brandon, anything that I missed?
[00:26:44] Speaker D: Yeah. Happy to be with you boys. Just hammered home some brisket. So I'm feeling good. Feeling sharp. And I will say, dave, we were talking least, but also we both were talking craft beer, too, because the venue was at a brewery. So that was nice to enjoy some beer and celebrate Eric and Sabrina. So what a night and love to be on here with you.
[00:27:04] Speaker A: Yeah. This is actually your first, I guess, official episode, even though it's your second official episode. Yes. No sense. If you get it, you get it. Now, I sit here this week wearing an Oregon duck shirt as I talked about my first segment. And part of the reason why that I am is because you and I talk about wearing football stuff week. I think you forgot that I decided to keep the Troy Palamalu jersey behind and represent one of the top teams in the state in college football. Oregon. My, my boys over there in Oregon looking real good. Real good. And you missed the jersey. So now I just look like a fool.
I've not worn this color before on this show, so I'm just here.
[00:27:43] Speaker D: Go ahead, Alex.
[00:27:45] Speaker C: I'm just going to wait for one of his classic five minute rambles. I got enough time to fully change to full football equipment if I need to. So I got some time here, Dave, don't you worry.
[00:27:53] Speaker D: You're set. You're set for St. Pat's. Any, any year. You just can mix and match all you want.
[00:27:58] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. Literally. I like that. Like that. I shaved all this week's not showing as beard, much beard as we had the first time. But guys, we're going to get into hockey. Before I get into that part, I want to share something with you with the Stu Greyhounds, obviously with this, with the game sports podcast joining the spaces platform here that's connected to sue today. Very excited about that. As I pop up a free sticker that they gave me here.
[00:28:20] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:28:20] Speaker A: Yep. Little bit lame to show on video, but nonetheless, their greyhounds are coming out with new slick black jerseys. Car, did you see those? You see those?
[00:28:29] Speaker C: I saw the tees. I saw the tees of it with their. It looked like a matte black helmet. They look really nice.
[00:28:35] Speaker A: Oh, they look sharp and I look. I got one greyhound jersey and it's not behind me. It's over there now. It's a Gretzky jersey. Obviously, I'm a fan of the Sioux greyhounds, being from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. I am buying that black jersey. Okay. I am buying that. That needs to be hung back here in some which way. It is looking sharp. Kudos to that for the Sioux greyhounds. I so far so good. We haven't seen it fully yet, but it's looking real sharp. But we're going to be talking about the landscape, the National Hockey League, given the short time that we have today. So, Brandon, I want to go over to you right now. This date of recording, it's October 22. Puck's about to drop between Columbus and Toronto. Obviously not getting into news about the games, but to date, we're a couple weeks into the season. We've seen some surprising storylines. We've seen, obviously the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking very improved on that back end. It just looks like a different entity on this team. And I think it does all start with Burube. I'm a. I am a fan. I was. I'm happy they hired him, even though I did say that Joel Quinnville would be my ideal candidate. But that may not be the best thing to say currently, but ultimately that dynamic of that team's changed. Ottawa's, you know, I feel like they're battling. They had a good win against Tampa the other night, too. It's, you know, it's Winnipeg off to his hot start. Nashville looking was off to a very slow start. It's. And I had my early pick last week saying that Sheldon Keef was going to be the Jack Adams winner. Okay. Because I'm liking how New Jersey's looking. So, Brandon, the whole landscape, the NHL, it's been an entertaining first couple weeks of season.
[00:30:06] Speaker D: Yeah, Dave, I mean, you mentioned October 22, we're recording and this is frozen frenzy today. So every team in the National Hockey League is playing a game right now. It's just absolute mayhem for control rooms and broadcasters and obviously for teams as well. So super exciting if you're a sports fan. And October is the best month really to be a sports fan. October 28, which is next Monday, will be the sports equinox, where all four major sports leagues, major sports leagues in North America will be coinciding of the World Series Monday nighter, a bunch of NHL games and a bunch of NBA games. So Monday, Monday, October 28 is going to feel like a Friday. I'm sure for a lot of sports fans sticking with the Leafs, I mean, I think one thing that's abundantly clear, like this team is Brubes team and it's each game, it has all berube. I mean, I think we've seen in years past where, you know, the Leafs will outscore their problems and then they come out hot for 20 minutes. They put up three, four goals and then they maybe concede a couple and kind of stop playing in the third period and they win at six four. And you can't really be happy with that because you're not playing a full 60 minutes. But what you started to see, and it's a small sample size, but what you've started to see is that they're learning to close and that's just the discipline, I guess you have to have as a player, but also as a coach to keep hammering home to your team. Last night was a good example against Tampa Bay.
[00:31:40] Speaker B: Right?
[00:31:40] Speaker D: I mean, they put up a touchdown. Obviously there's going to be pushback from Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is an outstanding hockey team, but they ultimately shut it down. And that is Berube. That is the free agents they signed. And obviously just a collective mindset of like, okay, we are a different club, there's a different style here, and we need to learn to kind of, you know, I think a team to emulate it would be the Florida Panthers, right? So they're, they're trying to get to that, you know, level of we will play the full 60 minutes and we're not going to take a shift off. So if you're, if you're a Maple Leaf fan, you're probably pretty pumped right now. It's been a. It's been a decent start.
[00:32:17] Speaker A: It has par.
[00:32:19] Speaker C: I can't say enough about every free agent signing and I need to send an apology out to Oliver Ekman Larsen because I was not familiar with this gritty throw in these reverse hit checks like I thought this guy was the guy from Arizona putting up a bunch of points in this season and then goes to Vancouver and has almost run out of town because he's not that anymore. And if he's not that, then what is he? He's an asshole. That's what he is. And I can't thank tree living enough for getting guys this offseason with that mentality. And I don't think even he knew how good stolars was going to be because he stole my heart so far. This guy, unreal.
[00:33:01] Speaker A: Just.
[00:33:02] Speaker C: I can't. I can't say enough good stuff so far. But the pessimist Leafs fan in me says maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. So Dave, how are you feeling about the team?
[00:33:12] Speaker A: You just made my light go on and off and my light agreement.
[00:33:15] Speaker D: It is spooky, buddy.
[00:33:17] Speaker A: Having a heart attack because of how.
[00:33:18] Speaker D: Good I love Michael Myers. Is nothing here?
[00:33:21] Speaker A: Yeah, he is. Halloween's here. I'm surprised I'm not looking up and he's staring at me just standing there. But look. Stole this like you said last week. Stole the show, stole the summer, all the nicknames you can think of. Honestly, Stolars had a great season in Florida last year as the backup to Bob. And it's hard when you back up to Bobrovski, right? There's a guy that is going to play most of the games and Knight was supposed to be the guy who was backing him up originally, right? Like then, obviously everything that happened was with Spencer Knight. But aside of that, Stolar got the chance and every time he was in the game he gave Florida a chance to win. And not only a chance to win, it's like a top. A great goalie option was a net and they were solid back end solid and goal solid up front. Everything was just unbelievable. And the one thing that I remember about Stolars last year was in the playoffs when Bob got pulled and he goes in against Edmonton. Edmonton just shellac stolars. But Florida didn't support stolars at all then. I remember reading on the platform in the summer when solar got science. Everyone doesn't remember when Emmett Tillet Amap. Hahaha. People were guessing the signing, but this is a guy who's a big goalie, covers a lot of the crease. He's athletic for his size. He's got that attitude. He's got that gritty side of him where someone comes in front of me, flicks the stick up the punches.
He does not put up with shit. And that's one thing my wife and I were talking about. Yeah, I'm including my wife in this conversation because she even said on the couch yesterday, we were talking about it, she said, finally someone standing up for their goalie. Finally someone pushing and getting dirty. Domi being Domi. But I'm seeing a different Domi. I feel like this year than last year, it's finally coming together for this team that fans want to see. And there is one big topic that I want to dive into, and it's about Scotiabank arena and signs, but I don't know if we're gonna have time to do it this week, so I might have to pause those. But what I can say about Scotiabank arena is that it was a little bit more energetic yesterday than it was the other week. And there's so many social media platforms I saw saying, oh, my goodness, it's like you're in a movie theater in schools of banquet. Start talking. Someone's gonna go around, go right. We're gonna look at you. It's ridiculous, but it's the suits.
[00:35:25] Speaker D: Yeah, the suits. They're enjoying their sushi rolls in the platinum club, man. They don't know they're watching a hockey game.
[00:35:31] Speaker A: They don't. And it's just a different identity and Berube story. They're up in the game and he's still getting mad at the ref. He's still telling the players, get your shit together.
Yeah. Yes. Don't take any shifts off. Right. And it's great to see they're playing with that intense game and he has people that he could put in and out of the lineup options. Little grand can't crack the lineup. This team is playing with a good identity right now, and it's exciting to see and it's part. You said this last week about Joseph Wall. I don't know what's going on. If it's, you know, mental, if it's that injury, I don't know what it is. But you don't need to rush him back because Hillary had a good first game. You had stolars who looked real good, right? Who's been looking real good. And Stephanie was been the steel of the summer. So besides the Leafs, there has been a surprise team, and that's Calgary to me, a little bit.
I still don't think this team makes the playoffs. I really don't think they make the playoffs. I know four games, five, six into his season. But if you're a Calgary fan there's optimism to that. But it seems like Calgary wants to take that step forward and make the playoffs because you have Huberto, you got cadre right, you got, you signed Barry this year. You still have Rasmus Anderson in the back end there. They still have a pretty good team of guys. But I feel like Calgary's got to think about selling. And when I speak about selling, I'm a big fan of Anderson and there's, you know, exactly what I'm putting down here. Okay. I know one team that would never would welcome another defenseman to really add to that great offseason that they just had and that's looked real good and you are picking up what I'm putting down. But Calgary has been off to an impressive start ultimately. Do you guys have anything to say about any other canadian teams that have maybe been a surprise out of the gates?
[00:37:15] Speaker D: Well, I was going to ask you guys, I mean, what's more surprising, Winnipeg's and rock and start or Nashville being a complete crapshoot? Zero five, especially after an offseason where they just went to town and got stamcos, Marshaso, Shay, they locked up soros and you know, yes, it's early but it's not ideal. But eventually, I mean the team is so talented and Barry Trots did his work in the off season. So you got to think like they're going to scrape together some wins and they're a team you'd love to see in the playoffs, but it was a disappointing start for them. But it's, I think like when you talk about Calgary, Dave, I think they're going to come back to earth at one point, but I think Nashville is going to turn things around.
[00:38:02] Speaker C: Oh, and five part Nashville, I get why people have their hand hovering over the panic button in Nashville. But with a team that you're bringing in big pieces, pieces that you need to perform form right away, so you're switching up your power plays, you're switching up your top lines. You got to get these guys adjusted to a new system. Five games isn't enough. You do need a month or two. Let these guys settle in. Their routines are going to be a little bit different. They're on different time zone. Let this all become a little bit more normal for them and they're going to be fine. Stam coast isn't going to stay this cold all year. Jonathan Marchesau is going to be a huge factor. Soros is going to get it figured out and if they have to just cancel the concert. I mean if it ain't broke, don't fix.
[00:38:48] Speaker D: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Cancel some big concert that they spent a bunch of money on and that'll get them going.
[00:38:56] Speaker A: I honestly think that the Utah is the biggest surprise in the league so far this year for multiple reasons. I have to say Utah, despite national being on five bread. I'll answer your question. I think Nashville being on five has to be the biggest surprise. Winnipeg, I'm not surprised. I had them in my top three for Canada. This team Winnipeg is built for playoff hockey. They've been waiting.
The only reason why they didn't make it forward last year is because Hullabuck decided to forget how to play goalie last year. And honestly the best goalie. I guess everyone has their bad games, but he had a bad series. If he was able to stop 89%, let alone 82 or whatever the heck he had in that series, they win that series. Right. It maybe doesn't, you know, Colorado doesn't get some goals. It was a very offensive, heavy series and I feel like the biggest surprise has to be Nashville. But like five games isn't enough. But. Oh, and five is concerning. Bar I would be I think I'm I'm I'm hitting panic.
[00:39:51] Speaker C: That's the Leafs fan in you. That's the leaf span in you panicking over nothing.
[00:39:55] Speaker A: It's but Utah, right. Arizona fans must be like, huh? Why? What did we do? Very easy what you did. You just didn't come to games and you played in a college hockey rink and there's more people that sit inside the GFL Memorial Gardens. If you don't know what that is. If promo said it's Tuesday, Marie, give it a Google. Okay. GFL Memorial Gardens has more fans than that ring cat. Okay. That's why fans, the energy. The team is different. They got surgical. They made some ads. They're looking like a better team. But they got to be my biggest surprise this year. To this point. I say this year like it's been the 85, 82 games, but five games in, six games in for them. That's a good impressive start for them. I think that's the building block that they need. So that leads me to my question. Utah's name. To almost end the segment, I have said Utah Yeti is going to be the name. I love the name Utah Yeti, but I want to go around to think if I'm putting you both on the spot. Prediction for Utah's name para, I'll go to you first.
[00:40:51] Speaker C: I mean, I haven't known it to be anything other than the yeti, but this is crazy. This, this might get me some comments and down below, leave it as hockey club. I like it. Why not Utah HC? I like that a lot.
[00:41:06] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:41:07] Speaker C: Okay. Let's get the branding down pat, though. We still need a logo. Like a cool, like football european logo. Yeah. Something, something different.
[00:41:16] Speaker A: Why not?
[00:41:16] Speaker D: Yeah. I feel like, alex, like, you know, when the, before Washington became the Washington commanders, I'm talking the NFL. They were Washington football club. And people were like, why don't we just stick with it? And then, you know, it, it kind of works for a bit, but eventually it's like, okay, we got to get this team a name here. They can't be the odd man out. So Utah hockey club fits right now. But I've heard Yeti as well. I do like Yeti, but maybe like Utah Blizzard or something. Like just something that has a bit of like, spice to it.
But you got to think like they, they got to get to this quick and think of a name because eventually it's just going to kind of become a little stale now.
[00:41:52] Speaker A: Yeah, the Utah Yeti. I'm giving a shout out to two BC productions on YouTube. I got it. If you know, you know two BC productions, that is a vintage name. So last topics. I know this. I ate into tie. My fault, my fault in terms of getting late for this recording. Okay. We didn't have this upload, Brandon, so we're kind of good on this topic. I. Well, it's kind of a two parter. It's predicting who you think is going to be in the Stanley cup finals and winter. Okay. And par. I gave Brandon a promise when that didn't upload, so that's why I saved it to say this week. So I'll table that for the actual last official part of the segment. But the Yegor Shasturkin, I was watching him. Yes. Last on last week, every save. Cha ching, cha ching, cha ching, cha ching. Glove save.
You know, the jackpot, right?
Unbelievable. Okay. But I would not pay a goalie $12 million. There's not a shot in hell that I would pay a goalie $12 million. I'm sorry. I said this to Brandon last week. Eight and a half is my cat. It seriously is like what I put. What Ottinger is getting paid. What? All marks getting paid. Swam again. I know they're Vasilevsky's making ten. Is Igor Shosterkin two? Two and a half million dollars better than Vasilev ski? Yes. The way he played against Toronto, he is. But overall, Vasilevsky has won a couple cups. He is not. I don't know how Igor Shasturkin has any pedigree to say that he thinks that he's better rather than saying the economy is worse or is better than what it was then. I don't know. So I'll go to you two par. First, Igor Shasturkin, worth pan the twelve. Or would you say walk?
[00:43:30] Speaker C: He's going to be the best goalie to hit the market in a long time. So he can almost decide what he wants. He can go play in San Jose, go make as much money as humanly possible because there's not much of a team to spend that money around. But if he wants to be on a contender, he's not going to make anywhere near that money. But like you say, percentage of the cap, like, if you look at what Vasilevsky signed for, percentage of the cap wise at that time, compared to what 11.5 million is going to be now. I don't know the numbers off the top of my head, but I can't imagine those two numbers are that far apart.
[00:44:00] Speaker D: Yeah, it's tough. And I said this earlier with you, Dave, last week. I mean, it, it's tough because he doesn't have a lot of leverage. Like, he hasn't, he hasn't won anything. Right? So I know New York has spent that. They've spent the dough in the past, but it's like. Yes, like, what he's done in the regular season is outstanding. He's like a top tier goaltender. He's been unbelievable for the Rangers. They've been to the conference final, but he ultimately has not won a Cup yet. And you mentioned Vasilevsky, like, he has that pedigree now. Right? And I think if he accomplishes that, and New York's a really good team, they have a chance to go to the cup final this year. Yes, but as, as Parr said, yeah, if he wants to go to an Anaheim, Chicago, San Jose, whatever. Yeah, go get your coin, brother. But if you want to remain in New York and win with a contender, then you're going to have to take a bit of a haircut, and that's just what it is. But it means you'll be, you know, a perennial threat in the east, and it's, they have a great team, like an unbelievable team. But then there's some players, too that are just like, I want my bag, so I'm just going to go to a crappy team and just kind of lay low for a little bit and. Fair enough. Go, go chase the bag. But I think until he gets that chip, I think New York can be like, we're here, and that's final.
[00:45:25] Speaker A: Yep, I agree. I think eleven was very generous.
I think they keep that on the table and say, take it or leave it. Okay, so last part. Quick prediction. I said this and Brandon heard me say it. He's gonna hear me say it twice. Stanley cup final. I gotta stick to the prediction the same as last year. I'm gonna say it. Edmonton Oilers Leafs final. I'm putting it into realistic this year, saying that I'm gonna have an all canadian final. Winnipeg fans like, hello?
No, but I'm saying, Leafs Oilers finals. And this is the last time that I am saying this for back to back years, and I'll never say it again. And I'm promising that I'll never predict this again. Toronto will win this year. It doesn't happen. You'll never hear me say it ever again. That is a promise. Leafs. Oilers cup finals. Leafs breaking the streak with Maxpatch already lifting that cup. And that iconic 67 is going to be an iconic pitcher. Never mind Matthews, Tavares, whoever else they get. Pacaretti getting that 67. The curse will break for the Leafs this year.
[00:46:29] Speaker D: Brandon, I love the enthusiasm, man.
I think it's going to.
I think it's going to be Edmonton, Florida. I think it's going to be similarly to 0809, Pitt and Detroit meeting up back to back years. And I guess if it's Florida again, that'll be three straight Stanley cup final appearances, which is unreal. But I could totally see, I mean, everyone's freaking out that Edmonton's been, you know, off to a slow start, but they'll regain their form. Like last year, everyone was saying the sky was falling and they fired Woodcroft, and November was a disaster. And then suddenly they. They rattled off. Three straight wins in the cup final were one win away from hoisting the cup. But I think that team is just as good.
Obviously, Skinner isn't probably the ideal netminder for them, but he got him there last year, and the Panthers, I mean, they just locked up their head coach and do a multi year extension. They got their core locked up, too, so they could easily go back there. I say it's going to be a repeat. Edmonton, Florida.
[00:47:30] Speaker C: I also agree on Florida, but Edmonton, you can't start this crappy twice and have me convinced you can go to the cup final. Dallas is replacing that spot this year and they're going to be Florida. Florida's too old to beat up. By the time they go into their 16th playoff round in the last three years, it's just going to be too much. And Dallas, who I think has just been waiting to come over that hill to finally just need some luck in the cup final sometimes too. I think that this is their year. I've been saying that for a bit now. Yeah. They're a few pieces away, though. I don't know if I want Dumba and Labushkin on my right side going into the playoffs. Deepen. That's what the trade deadlines for.
[00:48:07] Speaker D: I guess Dallas was in it in the bubble year, right? 2020.
[00:48:10] Speaker C: Yep.
[00:48:11] Speaker D: Against Tampa and then before that was like 99. 2000.
[00:48:14] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:48:15] Speaker D: Yeah.
[00:48:15] Speaker C: Sounds about right.
[00:48:16] Speaker A: Hall, Bill Garrett and the Darien Hatcher and the boys. Buffalo Sabres. That was an iconic Stanley cup final. I watched that out of camp at the young age of eight. But anyway, that's such a long time ago now. Jeez, I've been over there. Anyways, fellas, we're going to have a lot next week when we do this, okay? Because I've actually made sure that I'll be back on time next week and be able to record on time blind rankings, Redraft, get into some back and forth banter, especially Brandon could lead the charge with me in par. So we can chirp each other. We're going to have a little bit more interactive fun with that for the listeners to enjoy. But nonetheless, we'll be back next week on Tuesday. And I want to say thank you to you both for coming onto the show today and chatting an all over the place type segment of hockey.
Yeah, it's always great. So Brandon McCarthy, Alex Parr, different areas of Ontario, one in the GTA, the other in Ottawa, and the other one the heart of the Great Lakes. But obviously the Game sports podcast, big family. We're spread out and wherever you're listening, we appreciate it. I want to make sure you hit like phone, subscribe and all the platforms that you're on. Audio, video, that's anyone network, YouTube, Spotify, Apple, tick tock, Instagram, all over spaces you can find us. Okay, if you say you can't find us, search on Google. We're there. Park and verify it right now if I ask them to and share your screen. But we're not gonna do that cuz we're out of time. Either way, we enjoy your company. And we hope that you enjoy ours overall. And the game sports podcast been around since 2016 and it's definitely a big year for us here on the show. It's great to have Brandon a part of the family and with us being the ogs, myself and particular, but par overall as well, we'll have to make sure we watch a steeler Green Bay game together if they ever play each other. Par. Yeah, yeah. Round it up for sure. Nice hat. Nonetheless, thank you again, listeners. Make sure like fall and subscribe. And thanks for tuning in tonight. I'm here to remind you, keep your stick on the ice, ring your bats, catch touchdowns, drain your threes, and shoot your shots. Boo yah.
