Don't Jump Ship | The Game Sports Podcast

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign. [00:00:06] Speaker B: It's time for the Game sports podcast [00:00:08] Speaker C: is Your host, David McKag Jr. The game is powered by 91 Network. [00:00:12] Speaker B: 91N is a YouTube channel where you [00:00:14] Speaker C: can check out video editions of the game as well as other podcasts such [00:00:18] Speaker B: as full time podcasts, which we'll get to soccer in just one minute. Yes, on the Top Shelf segment where we open the show, we're gonna have a little bit of soccer just to start off, just a peak your interest a little further. But also the game is featured on [00:00:30] Speaker C: Spaces, which is through SU Today and Village Media. [00:00:33] Speaker B: You can follow the game on all socials, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. We're on all audio platforms. We're all over the place. Like I say on multiple shows. You can search us on Gemini Chat, GPT, Copilot, and it even tells you booyah. That's how much they know us. So you should have no excuse where to find us. Okay, I, you know, I know everyone has I started to see the preferences on the audio side on Spotify and all that. But hey, if you want to come check us out on video, it's a lot of fun to see myself, Brennan and all the individuals we have on here on the game have our facial reactions to things while we discuss the world of sports. Tonight's agenda. Top shelf is what we're starting off with. And secondly, more hockey. It's going to be Chuck a Puck with myself and Jordan Trudeau and Jaron Bellini. Team NOHA scout Jerem Bellini recapping the major junior and OHL draft in particular. No strike zone tonight. So you're gonna have me solo to wrap up, which you can consider as a third little mini segment to wrap up tonight's show. So that is the tee up and one last thing before I bring in the guests. Big news, big breaking news. It is my son's first birthday. On Friday this week, June 19th, Arlo McCaig turns nine or turns 19. No, he does not. He turns one years old on the 19th. And my wife and I are very excited. [00:01:49] Speaker C: I want to make sure that I give my son a shout out even [00:01:51] Speaker B: though he won't hear this. And one day he might look back [00:01:54] Speaker C: at this and be like, oh my God, my dad was embarrassing. [00:01:56] Speaker B: But nonetheless, happy birthday to my son. [00:01:59] Speaker C: I'll definitely make sure. [00:02:00] Speaker B: I wanted to say that. And guess what? I will say this. It's Father's Day this Sunday. Just saying. I'm not going to say happy Father's Day to myself. I'm going to say happy Father's Day to my dad and to all the father fathers out there. But just reminding those, if you didn't know it was Father's Day this weekend, [00:02:14] Speaker C: it's still time to get a gift for your father. Okay. [00:02:17] Speaker B: Nonetheless, let's bring in our individuals that we're doing on the first segment here on top shelf. Going to go first to bmac, because everyone knows BMAC at the bottom of my screen. The bottom might be the top or left of yours. Either way. Brennan, my friend. How's it going? [00:02:32] Speaker D: Dave? I don't know what was longer, the Leaf's ability to hire a new coach or that intro of yours. Holy smokes stuff. [00:02:39] Speaker B: Try to get it. Try to get it all in there. As much as I can. Okay, well, as long as I'm like John Cha, I'm. I'm. I'm okay with it. [00:02:46] Speaker D: Well, this week we're pleased to welcome my first cousin, Penateng's finest, the global ambassador of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Addison Barger's doppelganger, Johnny Clement McCarthy. What's going on, Johnny boy? [00:02:58] Speaker E: Good evening, gents. How you doing this evening, man? [00:03:00] Speaker B: Good, good. Happy for you to join us too. And you got an England sweater on. And to be honest with you, I'm Italian. We're not going to talk about Italy in this World cup nonsense because that's [00:03:10] Speaker C: just an embarrassment in itself. [00:03:11] Speaker B: So obviously all the Italians put on their Canada jerseys. [00:03:14] Speaker C: Okay, we put on our Canada jerseys [00:03:16] Speaker B: for this tournament, but nonetheless, World cup is so fire. Guys, I was in. I know this is completely off top shelf, but I said I was going [00:03:23] Speaker C: to talk soccer for a second, so. Not lying. [00:03:25] Speaker B: I was in Toronto for the opening of the World cup before I had to come home. And holy. First swear. Three, two, one. It was wild in Toronto, okay? That, the parties, the. All the, you know, the, the diverse. It was. Diversity was so great. Different countries, you had all the different jerseys and people chirping for fun. It was. It was great to see the World cup is. I'm so excited it's in Toronto. [00:03:49] Speaker C: It's. [00:03:50] Speaker B: And obviously spread out more. But to be there when it was on the opener, I tried to get tickets, but I wasn't paying $3,500 a [00:03:56] Speaker C: ticket to go watch Canada in their first game. I'm not gonna lie to you. [00:03:59] Speaker B: But John, I gotta say to you, you're an England guy, right? Is that it? That you're England guy? [00:04:03] Speaker E: Correct. Yes. I've been an England fan since I was a kid, but obviously, of course I'm cheering For Canada. My father is a die hard France fan. So during the 2022 World cup quarterfinals between France and England, it was a real challenge between me and my dad. So obviously I told him, I said, I gotta cheer for England. And he goes, well, I'm cheering for France. And France ended up winning that game. But we shook hands and I wasn't a sore loser about it and I went with the flow and I said, all right, I'm cheering for France from this point on, so let's see what happens. [00:04:35] Speaker D: How many beers did you and Uncle Johnny put away that night, Johnny? [00:04:39] Speaker E: I'd say probably the nerves were pretty tense, so I'd say probably two Guinness each because, you know, two 45 minute halves. So we had to kind of just all right, ease the tension a bit and made the best winner do the best. [00:04:54] Speaker D: Actually, I forgot to mention Dave. One of my nicknames for Johnny McCarthy is Goose Island. I'm sure we'll all be putting back some Goose Islands tomorrow for Canada versus Qatar. That game's gonna be electric on TSN. There's another game going on tonight, Wednesday, June 17, at Toronto Stadium, Ghana and Panama. So wild, wild time right now to be a sports fan. I think last weekend must have been one of the best weekends on the sports calendar ever. I was saying that to my dad. But let's stick with the NBA Finals and the NH the Stanley Cup Final. I want to ask you guys this. Can you remember a time where the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final were that entertaining? Like a certain year that that comes to mind? [00:05:38] Speaker B: You know, I want to be biased if I can say from like when you think of 2019, right, with the Raptors, right. That's when Canada was fully invested. And in 2019, you know who's on the NHL side was the St. Louis [00:05:51] Speaker C: Blues and the Boston Bruins. [00:05:53] Speaker B: St. Louis has, you know, never won a Stanley cup and they were the last place team in the National Hockey League up until January and they had a run with Chief as their coach. [00:06:04] Speaker C: May I remind everybody who was the coach of the St. Louis Blues during that time. [00:06:09] Speaker B: And then you had Gloria play. Gloria, right? You had, you had that going and it was in game seven where they won at the Garden. As a Leaf fan, to see a team win in Game 7 in Boston is something you don't see off. It's just entertainment in itself. So you know what? As much as this year, I think was more entertaining from especially an n, like not NBA, from an NHL front, I still will give the win on the 2019 as the Raptors, because I was like, you know, in it, seeing the Raptors win a title. So to answer that, 2019, but no other year other than that tops what [00:06:41] Speaker C: this past weekend and this year was. [00:06:43] Speaker D: Johnny, what do you think? [00:06:44] Speaker E: I gotta say, gentlemen, probably I agree with Dave. The 2019 year, when the Raptors won the championship and. And when the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley cup, because it was the first time ever that the Raptors won a championship. And it was also the first time in their franchise for the St. Louis Blues that they won a Stanley Cup. So that made it really entertaining because there was two organizations, it was their first time ever that they've won a championship. So I'd say that it was very entertaining from my perspective. And the fact that St. Louis won Game 7 at TD Garden, that was a very impressive win. And you could just tell that in that game St. Louis just wanted to win. And Craig Berube was the head coach at the time, and I remember his pregame speech and it was quite the scene. And he had players that wanted to win and one of those players was Ryan O'Reilly. And St. Louis was a powerhouse team that year. So I'd say 2019 was the most entertaining year in terms of teams winning championships. [00:07:41] Speaker D: I thought of 2016 as well. The Cavs come back against the warriors that year, I guess Sid lebron's first in Cleveland, right? [00:07:48] Speaker C: Sorry, I had to elaborate. [00:07:50] Speaker B: That was his first in Cleveland's first [00:07:52] Speaker C: title in 2016, right? [00:07:53] Speaker E: Correct, yes. [00:07:54] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:07:55] Speaker D: And then you had, yeah, Pitt, that was Crosby's second Cup and they beat San Jose, I believe. And then the ensuing year was. Was Nashville. So they went back to back. Obviously the NBA Finals that year was. Was much more enticing than the Stanley Cup Final, but I mean a solid year for the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final. And if you're a gm, boys of a championship winning team, you got to be feeling pretty confident. This particular gm, though, John Chaika, he's got his work cut out for him. He just hired Jim Hiller today. Before that, he struck a deal with the Flyers, trading Joseph Wohl and Simone Benoit. I really like both of those guys. To be honest, I was a little shocked that Joseph Wall is. Is heading to Philly. Love Simone Benoit as a depth piece on the back end. But in return, the Leafs get Samuel Ersin, Netminder and a bit of a smaller but so I hear is he's gritty and he's got some bite to him. Emil Andre, they're coming back. And a pick, Johnny we'll start with you. Do you like this deal or what do you take away from it? [00:08:55] Speaker E: Well, what I take away from it, Brendan, is. Yeah, I was a little shocked when I saw that Joseph Wall was traded because I think, you know, he's a very good goaltender. But the thing is, you know, and we saw it last year with him, is that he just was so unreliable because he was getting hurt a lot. And as we all know, that he was dealing with those personal issues. And in terms of Simon Benoit, I mean, he's just a great defender. And those are two really, you know, good pieces that we had. And they're both gone now. I don't necessarily think. Will they replace Benoit in Wall? I mean, fingers crossed. I sure hope so. I don't know too much about them, but, I mean, this is the first deal that John Cecca has made, so, I mean, we'll see what happens. I mean, he's now in charge of this organization and I. I just really hope it works out. But if it doesn't, then, you know, we may. He may have to go back to the drawing board and. Yeah, but we'll see what happens, gents. I mean, I mean, there's. They don't play again till. Was it October 10, 2026? When's the. Yeah, so I don't know. I can only. I can just hope that, you know, things will work out, but time will tell. [00:10:00] Speaker C: So, like Jim Hiller, the first thing was not on my card to hire. If you look back at recent click clips for the game, I was a big advocate of David Carl, and I [00:10:10] Speaker B: think Chaika and Sundine were also advocates of David Carl. [00:10:14] Speaker C: I just don't think David wanted to leave his. His post in the university, I feel like. Or he didn't want to take a job in Toronto, whatever the case may be. Then you look at other stories of Flores, it seems like the Leafs. [00:10:25] Speaker B: Look, it seems like they interviewed everyone [00:10:27] Speaker C: and their dog for. [00:10:28] Speaker B: For the. [00:10:28] Speaker C: For the position. From what? From the. From the stats. [00:10:31] Speaker D: I thought you were going to get interviewed, Dave. [00:10:33] Speaker B: I know I threw my resume in. [00:10:34] Speaker C: I didn't hear back. [00:10:35] Speaker B: But you had Joe Pavelski, you had [00:10:38] Speaker C: Peter Lavilette, right, Who obviously got another position. [00:10:41] Speaker B: And one that caught me was Joe Pavelski. [00:10:43] Speaker C: I was really down for that. [00:10:45] Speaker B: And that's the word I'm going to use, down. [00:10:46] Speaker C: I know that's really outdated, but that's [00:10:48] Speaker B: the term I want to use because the least we're thinking outside the box. [00:10:51] Speaker C: It's something that this organization hasn't done [00:10:54] Speaker B: in A long time. And for them to think outside the box. [00:10:56] Speaker C: I was digging it. I was down, as I'll say, and [00:10:59] Speaker B: bringing in Jim Hiller. We don't know what happened with Pavi. We don't know what happened with Patrick Wall. We don't know what happened with the Michigan coach that got interviewed. We don't know what happened with David Carl. We don't know with whoever else got interviewed, John grud. We don't. 41. Or I say 41 because that's the [00:11:13] Speaker C: 41st coach Leafs has hired. [00:11:15] Speaker B: So 41 other coaches that they probably interviewed with as a little joke. But Jim Hiller was obviously, you know, either the guy they wanted to go with above all these guys or maybe was somebody that they went with outside of that. And Jim Hiller comes with knowledge, experience. But I, I'm. I'm definitely giving Jim Hiller a chance. [00:11:32] Speaker C: I'm down for it. [00:11:33] Speaker B: As I've said three different times, I really think and wish that the Leafs should have went outside the box a little bit. This is outside the box, but I mean outside the box, the college, the player that run, I would have liked to see that. But Leafs nation, you got to give Jim Hiller a chance. And the last thing, Brennan, before you go, is the Wall trade and Benoit trade. [00:11:52] Speaker C: It was hard pill to swallow. [00:11:54] Speaker B: Wall was a fan favorite. Benoit blocking shots out there. The Leafs do clear cap space with this move. They bring in Andre, who does have potential. And the 85th pick in the draft this upcoming year, the third round pick, Ersin has upside too. [00:12:08] Speaker C: Okay. [00:12:09] Speaker B: And their Swede connections, Audrey and Ersin, [00:12:11] Speaker C: some sweet connections there. Sundin and Nylander. [00:12:14] Speaker B: It's a move that the Leafs had to make. And I'm sure they shopped around Stolars, but this is something that they felt fit. And that's the first big move that Chike has made. [00:12:23] Speaker C: First of many I would resume. [00:12:24] Speaker D: Yeah, here's what I'll say. Johnny and I were texting about this this morning. There's familiarity there with some of the core pieces with Hiller and Matthews and Willie and Tavares being the assistant from 2015-19. So. So that's a big thing. And I like a feel good story for an assistant coach. Like look no further than Nick Nurse, right? Boom. They win a championship. That might be too much of a glass half full, but it has been such an off the board, off season, unexpected hires that it's almost like that much more intriguing because for years it's been like, we gotta get the big fish Berubait Babcock. And then it's like, let's go all in. But I was driving home and I'm kind of getting that, like, Moneyball vibes where it's like, you know, who is this guy? Well, can he get on base? Like one of those things, like, let's. Let's kind of go off the board. We're not even the greatest insider in hockey had a clue it was materializing. So it's like, if you were to tell me May 1st that ruling the roost in Toronto would be John Shaika, Matt Sundin, Jim Hiller, and we had the first overall pick, I would say, go have another beer at the Brazen Head, because you're drunk. It's. But here we are, like, it's crazy. I still can't even believe we have the first overall pick, which we're going to get to. Dave has his top 10 mock draft in the queue, but it's kind of like that much more intriguing to me. And I get the sense that, you know, Matthews had a big take or big hand in this move. And, you know, Hiller, say what you want about him, he. He did decently well with the Kings. Right? And, you know, I, I. [00:13:53] Speaker C: Over 500. [00:13:55] Speaker B: Yeah. He lost the first round. [00:13:57] Speaker F: To who? [00:13:57] Speaker B: The Edmonton Oilers. [00:13:58] Speaker D: 97 and 29. Absolutely. And that's where Gary Bettman has the playoff format so skewed. And I think people like to come with the pitchforks right away, but let's see this play out, Johnny. [00:14:11] Speaker E: One thing that concerns me, boys, about, you know, Joseph Wall and Simon Benoit getting moved, and, you know, now they bring in a new coach, Jim Hiller. Right. 41st coach in franchise history, if I believe. And so the one thing that kind of worries me is just, I refuse to believe that this is a downgrade as opposed to an upgrade. Now, Jim Hiller, yes, he was the head coach of the LA Kings for three years, and then they fired him because they, they just, I guess the organization said, we just don't like what we're seeing. We need a different move. So in my opinion, I didn't see this coming. I didn't see Jim Hiller on the radar at all, at all. I saw someone like maybe Bruce Cassidy, Patrick Waugh, maybe even Torts, because we got the word yesterday that he decided to leave Vegas. I'm not going to coach here anymore. So I, Yeah, I just, I was hoping they would get someone like a Patrick Waugh or like a Bruce Cassidy, you know, like just hardcore guys, you know, not afraid to speak their Minds and would call out their players if they see something that they don't like. But I mean let's just hope that Jim Hiller, I mean he, he knows hockey and, and he's worked with, you know, Willie and Willie and Matthews before when Babcock was the coach. So I mean he's aware like he knows how they play and I believe he knows how Morgan Rielly plays too because Morgan Riley, Morgan Riel played for Mike Babcock as well. So I mean it's, it's not the end of the world that he's the head coach but I, I do have faith in the guy that he will, you know, understand how, you know, these players are and he'll try to work with them in terms of, you know, maybe producing a new coaching system or how they move the puck or how they finish their checks, you name it. So I mean, yeah, that's, that's how I feel about it and we'll see what happens. [00:15:49] Speaker C: The only thing that I want to leave in the taste for Leafs new nation is this. Think about how many coaches the Leafs have went through the last few years. How many gms then also look at the roster and how many of these guys are still here from all that change. I think I'm a firm believer and you hear about Morgan R potentially getting dealt, not getting dealt. He might not waive his no trade clause. If you're going to move him. I wouldn't make him have a choice. But that's not the point I'm making here. That needs to be the focus of the change is the culture in the room. [00:16:17] Speaker B: Yes. [00:16:17] Speaker C: You got to address the culture in the organization. I think from remove the cancer that we like to say in that organization. Get Scotiabank to stop being the frickin library that it is and get back to 2002 when that camera used to shake the time that Sundin got the tie in goal in Game 6. It's Carolina in the conference final. [00:16:33] Speaker B: Get those moments. But we've seen coaches in GMs give Hiller a chance. Chaika Sundin. [00:16:38] Speaker C: Yeah, you know, and yes, I'm in on that. We're past that. But they need to look at within because that's obviously where the problem is and that's what needs to be addressed first and foremost. And we've seen these changes with the organization needs to begin with the players. But if the players don't change, are they going to actually hold themselves accountable and show up when it matters the most and that is on the ice and that's something we haven't seen as a Leafs nation. If you. I say we as if you're a fan of the team like myself. [00:17:04] Speaker D: Also, massive respect to anyone who comes to coach the Leafs. You got to have a big set of, you know what to take on that role. So. Patrick Waugh, Bruce Cassidy, Peter Laviolette, you can't. You can't handle it. Well, Jim Hiller, you know, maybe it wasn't his time. In 2015-2019, you know, Babcock was the king there. Now he gets a second chance. I believe in second chances. And now that he's, you know, the big man behind the bench, maybe it'll work out for him. And I respect the hell out of people who take on the responsibility. And John Chaika, Matt Sundin, they. They liked what they heard in, in the interview, so let's roll with it. If it works, it's a grand slam in, in, in extra innings if it, if it fails. Well, I mean, it's ultimately on the players, really. [00:17:50] Speaker B: It's already been. It's already been. It's already been 76 over 60 years. Let. Let just keep rolling with it, right? [00:17:57] Speaker C: Yeah, keep rolling. [00:17:59] Speaker D: So I'm going to throw to Johnny, and then I'll, I'll. I'll ask quickly, Dave, for your take. Top 10 mock draft picks. Johnny, do you think the Leafs is it. Is it. Is it an easy pick, go for McKenna, or is there a chance they. They, you know, flirt with somebody else? [00:18:14] Speaker E: I think their best option is Gavin McKenna. I mean, he's, he's the first overall pick for a reason. And I think, you know, you just. You have a piece of gold sitting right there. So I think they have no other choice but to draft McKenna. And I just think. I think he'd be a great fit there, and I think he. He would be, you know, he would provide some help for Matthews and Willie, because I think if the Leafs do decide to pick McKenna, then I think Willie and Matthews will think, okay, we have this young kid coming in now. He's supposed to be really, really good. They're probably thinking, okay, the pressure's kind of off of us now, because beforehand, the pressure is always on Matthews and Willie to, you know, perform under the brightest lights. And so I think, yeah, I think they should draft McKenna. That's. That's their best option. [00:18:59] Speaker D: Love that. Do you want to go from 10 to 1, Dave? [00:19:01] Speaker B: You know what? I'll go 10 to 1. I like, I like that point. [00:19:04] Speaker C: I like that. Good point. [00:19:06] Speaker B: And you know what? I'll we like doing the format on [00:19:09] Speaker C: here that when we did the previous draft from the past, which we're going to start uploading some getting back to that segment. [00:19:14] Speaker B: I'm going to say the team say [00:19:16] Speaker C: we're proud to select and say who they're picking. I'm going to pretend I'm actually drafting for them and I'm the GM of that team. Okay. I'm going to put my fantasy hat on. [00:19:23] Speaker B: So. The 10th overall pick. The Nashville Predators are proud to select Tynan Lawrence with the ninth overall pick. [00:19:31] Speaker C: The Florida Panthers are proud to select [00:19:34] Speaker B: Wyatt Cullen with the eighth overall selection. The Winnipeg jets are proud to select Albert Smiths the seventh overall selection. The Seattle Kraken are proud to select Vio Boric with the sixth overall selection. The Calgary Flames are proud to select with a steal, Keaton Verhoff with the fifth overall pick. The New York Rangers are proud to select Caleb Malhotra with the fourth overall pick. [00:20:02] Speaker C: The Chicago Blackhawks are proud to select [00:20:04] Speaker B: Carson Carrolls with the third overall pick. This is where it's going to get fun. The Vancouver Canucks are proud to select Ivar Stenberg with the second overall pick. And Sioux fans are going to love this. The San Jose Sharks are proud to select Chase Reed, right handed shot the fenceman from the Sault Ste. [00:20:22] Speaker C: Marie Greyhounds. [00:20:23] Speaker B: And with the first overall pick, the [00:20:26] Speaker C: Toronto Maple Leafs are proud to select [00:20:28] Speaker B: from Penn State ncaa. He stands up for his family at the bar. Gavin McKenna is coming to Toronto. [00:20:36] Speaker D: I love that. I love that. And you know What? Make it three. I, I think McKenna is the choice. Johnny, you nailed it. You got a piece of gold sitting right in front of you. I know it's not like an undisputed like McKinnon or McDavid year, but you know, if, if Matthews walks in two years, you got Gavin McKenna to, to develop and make, make the face of, of the franchise and you know, he's Canadian. Like it, it pretty much fell on their lap, right. So I'm super excited. It's, it's, you know, great, great window right now to, to be a Leaf fan and I think there's going to be a lot more moves to come this offseason, gents. [00:21:16] Speaker C: Now let me tell you this though. I went with the picks. If the draft stays the way it [00:21:20] Speaker B: does, I have a prediction that San [00:21:22] Speaker C: Jose will trade their second overall pick. And I know everyone's like to who Toronto for Matthews? Because we've talked about it on this show. No, no. [00:21:30] Speaker B: With Hiller being back and, and in Toronto and being in. I think there's no way that that happens. Even though Lee fans would love it. [00:21:38] Speaker C: I do think San Jose trades number two. I don't know if that's to move [00:21:42] Speaker B: down or a player, but I think San Jose has an opportunity to either if draft the best player available, which is Reed or Stenberg, but they have a golden ticket to really get someone to be a number one guy with Celebrini or that number one defenseman instead [00:22:00] Speaker C: of having to wait for Chase Reed to develop for a couple of years. Just saying. [00:22:04] Speaker B: Or even Stenberg bringing another young guy, which is great. But San Jose will trade the number two pick. [00:22:10] Speaker C: That's my prediction. [00:22:11] Speaker D: Well, the draft is June 26th, so we're just over a week away. It's going to be fun. I hear there's like a little watch party at Scotiabank Arena. $10 to get in. So it kind of, it's kind of giving me 2016 vibes with Auston Matthews. I remember I was at Real sports watching, you know. Oh, I guess that was the lottery. But still I, you know, it was crazy to think it was 10 years ago, but man, here we are. An 8% chance to land the first overall pick. [00:22:37] Speaker B: Here we are in the last thing. Got to make sure I do because this is a part of the thumbnail. The Stanley cup champions are the Carolina Hurricanes. And I got to say something. I say some two things. Mitch Mar or three things. Mitch Mara didn't lift a Stanley cup. And I'm sorry. Chirp me all you want. I'm happy about that. I'm very pleased that Mitch Marner and Carter Hart didn't lift the Stanley Cup. I'll say it blunt. There it is, number two, Nikolai Ehlers, which is going to contradict my third point, but it's fine. Nikolai Ehlers is reaction about Winnipeg. Love it. Love it. He know he wanted to be there, but it wasn't the recipe to win and the fit wasn't for him. Love seeing that these guys on Carolina that just a bunch of people put together that Telosi put together and with all this cap space that he did and he still has 13 million in cap space to add to this team next year. Very exciting if you're a Carolina fan that they finally got it done. I'd love to see that roster. [00:23:30] Speaker C: They got it done. [00:23:30] Speaker B: Taylor Hall, Ehlers, Jordan Stahl, Stank Coven, all these guys. Bussy. Who doesn't love that story with Brandon Bussy? That is what I'm talking about. And the third and final point, Jordan Stahl stared in that microphone and said about guys not jumping ship and sticking it through. [00:23:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:23:48] Speaker B: And my wife and I almost yelled at the tv, but our kid was sleeping. We said, where do we find this type of guy to come play for a Toronto team or a team near you that you cheer for? Guys that stuck it out. Yeah, he won a cup in Pittsburgh. [00:24:02] Speaker D: But you know what? [00:24:03] Speaker B: He went to Carolina, played with his brother. They didn't do jack shit for how many years. They failed so much. And these guys stayed together. A lot of the core guys slaving stall, these guys stayed together. And yeah, don't get excited, Leaf fans, about guys staying together, but these guys that want to jump ship, Larkin requesting a trade, which we didn't talk about. You got guys like, who do jump ship, stick it out because the reward is so worth it in the end. And I loved the. That, that Stanley cup celebration was the best that I've watched in a lot of years. And that interview made me so damn pumped. It was exciting. I'll give you guys that. As the last point before we conclude, you just. [00:24:39] Speaker D: You just got me thinking. Next time we have Johnny on, we should do a top 10. 10 to 1. Guys who jump shipped and came back. [00:24:47] Speaker B: Mitch Meyer. Sorry. [00:24:49] Speaker D: That'd be a fun little 10 to 1. But Johnny would be for sure. [00:24:53] Speaker B: Yeah, I think you had something there. Hey, John. [00:24:55] Speaker D: Johnny. [00:24:55] Speaker E: One thing I'd like to say, guys, is I had no idea who Brandon Bussey was. I had no idea who he was. And all of a sudden he comes in and he's. He's a wall. Like, he's a wall. Like, he's stopping all these shots and like, he denied Vegas probably four or five golden opportunities in game six or something like that. And he's just shutting the door. I'm like, who is this guy? Like, he's just. He came out of nowhere. So, I mean, he just never know [00:25:19] Speaker D: during COVID That's the thing. [00:25:20] Speaker E: I mean, yeah, honest to God, Yeah, man. Like, you just. That's the thing about sports, right? And professional sports. Like, you just. You never know who's going to pop up, right? And I just. I point to someone like Brandon Bussey, like, I get. I give the guy all the credit in the world. Like, he just. He was a wall for the Carolina Hurricanes. And Rod Brenmore had all this faith in him. And Busty said, all right, just put me in the net and I'll get it done for you. And that's exactly what he did. [00:25:43] Speaker B: And Freddie Andersen lifting that cup, getting emotional because of Claude LaRue. I just loved that. I actually watched the celebration. Florida Wayne, the last two years, almost threw up. It was brutal. Because Florida fans, you don't deserve it. You never went to games. You only went to games when they were good. Sorry to say it. Tell you the truth, what it is. Carolina fans, they've been surging for years. They've been surging. They've been surging. Flying it in. Loved it. And Vegas, take a hike. [00:26:09] Speaker D: They. They had to get it done this year because Florida exposed them every year. I remember one time Johnny was over and they went to quadruple overtime. We went to bed and I woke up to take a piss and they were still playing. Remember that year when they swept them? Like they could just not get by Florida. But it was kind of, it's kind of like the, the wraps in 2019 when Braun finally left the east to go to the west. It's like now is the time. Like, go get your flowers. Because you know, it's a, it's a dogfight to the top again. Florida is going to be back next year. [00:26:38] Speaker E: Like, oh yeah, for sure. Barkov's coming back, right? You got, you have a healthy bark off coming back, right? Like, Florida is going to be good. [00:26:45] Speaker B: If Conor Hellebuyck. I'm hearing from people that hasn't been released yet, but from insiders that Hellebox requested a trade and he's only given three teams. Florida, Tampa and Vegas. [00:26:55] Speaker C: You know that he can't go to both those. The other two teams not going to Tampa. [00:26:58] Speaker B: The Vasilevsky's there. Vegas can't afford him. If they can, well, maybe they can. He's going to end up in Florida. And if that's true, I'm just. These are insiders telling me this that are. That's a problem. That, that, that's a problem. [00:27:11] Speaker D: That's a problem. [00:27:12] Speaker B: Larkin requesting trades. I hope he goes to Minnesota. But Larkin Halleck, these guys want to go somewhere hot. They want a 10 or they want to. They want to go win a cup and stack a team, turn into the NBA. It concerns the hell out of me. Go play. It's nothing more rewarding than to win a team that you've been with from the start, AKA Austin Matthews. [00:27:32] Speaker F: Okay? [00:27:33] Speaker B: These guys. You see how Mitch Marner didn't win in that emotion. You see Stall when he had that cup, he was like. It's like he won it for the first time. He had that thing. And then you have Brindamore with this, just throwing the cup around and the guy had his tarp off in the room drinking beer like stone cold Steve Austin. Like, give me all of that, man. That was just fantastic. [00:27:51] Speaker E: One thing I will say about Jordan Stall, guys is he's just that type of player. He's just wired this way. He won a Cup in 09 with the Penguins. [00:28:00] Speaker F: That's right. [00:28:00] Speaker E: But to me it looked like this Stanley cup championship meant even more to [00:28:05] Speaker C: him in a way. [00:28:06] Speaker E: Like he just enjoyed it even more. Right. [00:28:08] Speaker D: And he was a dog too. [00:28:10] Speaker E: Yeah, absolutely. And like he's been around a long time and, and so I just, I give the guy credit. Like he's, he's one heck of a player. And yeah, the Carol Hurricanes, they deserve it, man. Like the way they finish their checks and the way they chase the puck and the way they just, they, they follow the, the Rod Brendamore system. And once you can get your players to do that, right, especially when you have a really hardened coach like Rod Brendamore, you're going to win a lot of hockey games. [00:28:34] Speaker D: Yeah. And you can tell that group is super tight. I mean Svetchnikov, Martinook, Stahl, Ajo, Anderson, like they all stuck together despite some of those really frustrating losses to Florida. They stuck together. They bought into Rod. They would run through a wall for the guy. I'm happy for them. They're a likable bunch. Seth Jarvis, Johnny's boy. Forgot to mention him. Love that guy. He, it's, it's, it's awesome to see. One quick thing guys. You're talking about a trade. If the Leafs trade Matthew Nies, I'm selling my house. I'm selling my house. [00:29:08] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:29:08] Speaker E: Matthew, Nice. He's, he's too, he's too important of a piece. You can't trade him. I mean, he's going to be an up and coming player. How old is he, Brendan? He's only 24, 25. [00:29:17] Speaker D: He's early to mid 20s, I want to say. But they just signed him to a seven year deal last year, didn't they? So. [00:29:23] Speaker E: Yeah. So I think we got to give the guy a chance. [00:29:25] Speaker D: I think you absolutely give the guy a chance. Move on from Morgan Riley. I'll take a second round pick at this point just to dump that salary. [00:29:32] Speaker B: Seventh. Seventh. [00:29:35] Speaker D: All right, we got to get, we got to get the rest of the fellows on here. Johnny, before we let you go, where, where can everyone find you on socials, Johnny? [00:29:41] Speaker E: Well, you can, you can find me on Instagram and that's about it, man. That's about it. I mean I do have Twitt. I Don't use it very often. But yeah, Instagram is the the number one social media platform where you can find me. [00:29:52] Speaker D: Amazing. [00:29:53] Speaker B: John, I appreciate you taking the time dude to join us. BMAC talks about you. I get to have you on and chat a little bit extra. But Bells and Trudes don't mind. [00:30:01] Speaker C: They're. [00:30:02] Speaker B: They're good. They're all set to come in. Those has been top shelf. Brandon. Thank you for taking the time too my friend. And we'll be on in a couple. [00:30:08] Speaker D: Dude, you refer to John McCarthy as Goose Island. Dave. [00:30:11] Speaker B: Goose island, sir. I apologize. Goose island signing off. Goose Island. [00:30:16] Speaker C: Thank you very much. [00:30:16] Speaker E: Thanks gentlemen. Thanks so much for having me. Have a great night. Thank you guys. [00:30:20] Speaker B: That's JMac and BMac where we chatted top shelf. A little extended. It's my fault because we had the classic computer update and we started a bit late. So that is on the Acer computer at the McCaig household's fault problem this week. [00:30:36] Speaker C: Okay. [00:30:36] Speaker B: But let's do Chuck a puck diving right into it. Look at this. This is nice. Okay, we go from hockey talk to more hockey talk and truths. Connor was too cool to come on this week. [00:30:47] Speaker F: Okay. [00:30:47] Speaker B: Just. [00:30:48] Speaker C: Just thought I'd share that. [00:30:49] Speaker B: But let's introduce join us again for. Well again as officially on the show for the first time in a year. But you heard him on a clip that we uploaded on Facebook and through local socials. Jaren Bellini Team N oha Scout Bells before I bring in truths Bells. How you doing my friend? [00:31:05] Speaker F: I'm pretty good. [00:31:06] Speaker A: How are you? [00:31:06] Speaker B: Good man. I'm happy to have you on. I know we didn't get you on [00:31:09] Speaker C: before the draft and that's my fault. We already talked about that clip. It blame Dave. It's fine. [00:31:15] Speaker B: But we get to have you on after and there's some exciting news we [00:31:18] Speaker C: get to share on this show. [00:31:19] Speaker B: And you both know exactly what the heck I'm putting down by saying that we might have to get it out of the way first in the beginning [00:31:25] Speaker C: so I don't get too amped up [00:31:26] Speaker B: before we do that. Trude's Love the shirt. Hated that you didn't pitch last night. And it was a close game until the sixth inning which is really which I love if anyone wants to know we all we were winning one nothing going into the sixth inning against the very threatening Sioux Cardinals were the Pandas. But then we ended up losing the game 61 after six run inning in the sixth inning for the Cardinals to beat the Pandas. But we're Here talking chuck a puck. Trude's my friend. How's it going? [00:31:53] Speaker A: Better after the win. This is all updated now. It's all new for me. Riverside. [00:31:59] Speaker B: Yeah, it's all new and Riverside, everything. It's all updated. It's fantastic. Well, I say it's fantastic, but if [00:32:05] Speaker C: you don't know what's going on, it's complicated as hell. [00:32:07] Speaker A: Yeah, I had to put in him and everything, but it's. It's looking good. Yeah. [00:32:12] Speaker B: And we know we have two listeners that are going to tune into this show tonight. [00:32:15] Speaker C: Right? [00:32:15] Speaker B: We got to give them a shout out. [00:32:16] Speaker C: Truths yesterday. [00:32:18] Speaker B: Give him a shout out. Give him a shout out. [00:32:20] Speaker A: Yeah. My parents, Don and Mark, they're always pretty big listeners of the show. [00:32:26] Speaker B: I heard Mark was just strapped on the. The boots yesterday and almost joined the Cardinals because you were running late. [00:32:32] Speaker A: Yeah, I was running late. Had a little different. Had some commitments outside of baseball. You know, when you're a teacher, this is a big week. This is like graduation week, so. [00:32:43] Speaker B: That's right. [00:32:44] Speaker A: I was involved in. Yes. Couple. Couple different graduations. So congrats to all the graduates out there and those who have family members graduating. So. Yeah, that's why it's a bit of a busier week for me. But yeah, we're. We're here to talk hockey for one of the last times until the fall. [00:33:01] Speaker B: So it's like what they say on Wedding Crashers. [00:33:04] Speaker C: No excuses, play like a champion. I'm gonna say that flat on here, Bells. [00:33:09] Speaker B: All right, man, look, I gotta get this out of the way, guys. Number one, I need a jersey when he plays. Number two, the Sue Greyhounds ended up drafting the guy that Trudes and I were talking about saying, imagine if they drafted this guy. Nixon McCaig is a Sioux St. Marie Greyhound prospect of officially drafted by the Sioux Grounds. Big defenseman. There's a likelihood you get to see a McCaig last name actually make the Hound jersey instead of getting cut at the Hounds at the Hound camp like yours truly did. Okay. The only thing that got close to how was me playing for the Birds and the. No, for the Beavers and the Eagles. [00:33:45] Speaker F: Okay. [00:33:46] Speaker B: So the McCaig jersey, the Hounds had that jersey on social media when they gave it to Nixon. And I was excited. I thought they were getting. I thought it was coming to me like I was. [00:33:54] Speaker C: I thought it was. [00:33:55] Speaker B: What was all this coverage the last 10 years? You know, I was waiting for my Jersey. But Nixon McCaig is making. I'm going to call it making the Hounds. He's going to be on there and I'm going to be his number one fan at the glass, banging on that glass, pointing at my light. He's going to think I'm stalking him or something. But I want to know, I want you to know in advance, Nixon, my distant cousin. My last name's McCaig. [00:34:14] Speaker F: Okay. [00:34:14] Speaker B: But bells, I have to say, he actually got drafted. Trudes. He actually got drafted. I feel like that's so cool. You know, I, I had to, I had to vent on that. I think it was a, a steal of a pick in the round that got him in. [00:34:26] Speaker C: Bells. [00:34:26] Speaker F: Oh, yeah, yeah, I definitely agree. And yeah, it's just a matter. I, I think I said, I said to you off camera, I said, well, if he makes the team, we'll get you a jersey. Be intrusive, go in on a jersey. But I think it's a matter of when he makes the team because I think he's, he's just that good. So I, I think he'll be a sugar hound eventually. [00:34:44] Speaker B: That's so cool. [00:34:45] Speaker C: I had to hear a goal score by Nixon. McKay. [00:34:47] Speaker B: I might stand up, say, hey, we're here. But that aside, guys, OHL draft lot went on in Bells. [00:34:53] Speaker C: I mean, your picks are always pretty, pretty bang on. [00:34:56] Speaker B: And one thing I want to mention that I was pretty surprised who fell a little bit because I believe, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, early in the year, Cash was like a top rated, like he was projected to go first overall at the beginning [00:35:08] Speaker C: of the year, if I remember correctly. [00:35:09] Speaker B: And obviously he ended up dropping a [00:35:10] Speaker C: few, a few spots still went high, [00:35:13] Speaker B: but is there a reason why, and as people ask, because I talked about him on the show a little bit at the beginning of the year, is there a reason why you think that he fell as much as he did, even though it wasn't really that much, but that he didn't go first overall? Or am I incorrect assuming that he was supposed to go first overall back [00:35:30] Speaker C: in September as projected? [00:35:32] Speaker F: Yeah, I think not necessarily. I think, you know, any of the top five picks could have went now first overall. Like, I didn't even think, I didn't even think Clue Che was going to go first overall. He's obviously incredible player, but I think it was kind of a toss up on what, what exact player a team needed and ultimately team that picked up five. I don't know who exactly got him, but they definitely got a seal of a pick. It's a good. Oh, Sudbury got him. Yeah. So that's. Yeah, So I think he. He fell right on their lap and they didn't. Didn't think twice. [00:36:03] Speaker B: No. [00:36:03] Speaker C: Heck, no. [00:36:04] Speaker B: And Drew, you were high on Colin Kennedy, which has ties to the Sue. You know, there's some affiliation, I guess [00:36:09] Speaker C: you can call it, with Kane as well. [00:36:11] Speaker B: But obviously Colin Kennedy is someone you were definitely hoping the house would get, maybe get at 12. But, you know, obviously he goes two to Erie. You know, Erie is obviously getting a good player and calling Kennedy, you know, the. The top five picks and went Bells, [00:36:26] Speaker C: you put it on a good spot rate. [00:36:28] Speaker B: Top five picks could have went any which way. And not saying Kane isn't a first overall pick, but I was also surprised. [00:36:33] Speaker C: I thought he was around the 3 to 5 area is where I saw. [00:36:36] Speaker B: Where I saw Kane ultimately. But ultimately, ultimately you were a big advocate of Colin Kennedy truths. So I know there's a lot of suit ties there, so I want to give you that and then for you to kind of dive into the overall draft itself so you and Bells can collaborate and I can jump in. Because obviously the OHL draft has come and gone to some good picks. Then we got the offseason to focus on. But starting with Colin Kennedy, yeah, he [00:37:00] Speaker A: wasn't falling to the Greyhounds. I think everybody knew that once that he decided that he was going to go the CHL route. But Erie grabbing him at 2 is good because obviously, you know, there is suit highs there with. There is Chris Hartzberg running like their player development program. So about that, you know, he's. He's with his uncle there, and I think that's a. That's a great place for him alongside suproduct Evan Hedrick. So Erie looking to kind of move out of the bottom half of the Western Conference that they've kind of been in the past few years. They've been a little bit unlucky. Obviously, Schaefer going first overall and being hurt in his draft year didn't help them a lot. So they're kind of still in a. In a bit of a rebuild stage draft as a whole, I think. Not that the. Not that it would have been impactful right now for the Greyhounds to get a goalie, but, I mean, only one goalie drafted late was. I don't know if it's a concern or not, but, you know, when your goalie pool is a bit like, low. I mean, I. I was kind of surprised that they didn't target a goalie earlier, but I mean, there. There's still the import draft to look forward to. I. I'M hoping that's where they're going to maybe fill that hole. I know they do have one signed Will Computero and then Carter George is moving on. Landon Miller most likely will move on. I would assume so. You know the goaltender position is wide open, the starting goalie for the, for the Greyhounds. So was I a bit surprised that they didn't target more goalies? Maybe. Yeah. Maybe Bells can shed some light on that maybe goalie wise. It's also a difficult position to draft I think right. Because they develop at such a different pace. I was also surprised at the North Bay pick they took Owen Loftus right before the Greyhounds did. I don't know if I have ever seen or remember a goalie ever being taken in the first round. So that, I mean I was watching the draft back, I was like really surprised at that pick. But I was happy with the Greyhounds upper round picks. Obviously no second or third round picks hurts, but Jaden Lacastro just seems like a really, really perfect fit for the Hounds just to fill in for the hole that Chase Reed is going to leave. And then I was really interested in their first fourth rounder, this Alec Walker from the States, he's from Florida. I imagine he maybe have. Has some connection to Trevor Daly who also played in Florida. So maybe that was a reason why they were high on him to pick him. But I like his size, you know, 65181. It's always nice to, to get that size. [00:39:54] Speaker B: Love it. [00:39:54] Speaker A: And it'll get a, it'll give him a step up as a 16 year old looking to make this team. But, but other than that, when you're looking at the Greyhounds roster is actually pretty full. I know they're, they're losing some very impactful players, some top players, but they've actually. They only got about four or five spots open and they just signed a few of their last year's draft picks. So there's not a lot of spots up for grabs, just that goaltending spot like I mentioned. So Bells, I don't know if you got something to go off of that or. Yeah, maybe the goaltending pool wasn't either as strong or it's just kind of more of a like a gamble when you're drafting a goalie, right? I guess. [00:40:35] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah, that's, that's what I was thinking too. I was thinking maybe there's a plan, maybe there's a, there's a trade or something in place that they're, they're thinking because. Because I know Obviously last year they swapped goalies, pick up Carter George. So maybe there's something in place there. But I thought there was a lot of decent goalies on the board, especially with one going so high. And like you mentioned Loftus, like that was very, very high pick for a goalie. [00:40:57] Speaker B: Yeah, he didn't really do that good [00:40:59] Speaker C: to showcase Bells too. [00:41:00] Speaker B: Like if I. I'm sorry, maybe that's judgmental but like from knowing his stats and I even pulled him up to [00:41:06] Speaker C: make sure I'm right, he did have an 87 say percentage, 0.87 say percentage. [00:41:10] Speaker B: Two wins, two losses. At the OHL cup showcase we had a.305 G A but obviously this is a 4-29-2010. [00:41:18] Speaker C: The kid's young. [00:41:19] Speaker B: Okay, I don't, I don't want to sit here and judge someone who's, you know, 16 turning 17 years old, but obviously where I remembered having in my notes because we didn't talk about this in last show but for goaltenders he was someone high on my board but I didn't have him going until high second round, you know, maybe even low late first round. So I felt that that was a breach for, for North Bay. But they obviously see something that we don't. So you know, you have a loft school that high. You have the Hounds pick Lacasto. I think Raulston was a steal for Peterborough at 13. To be honest. [00:41:52] Speaker C: I think you were also in with Ralston Bell. [00:41:55] Speaker B: So leave you the floor with. [00:41:56] Speaker C: With all that. [00:41:57] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah, I, I think I had the Castro just one after all. I had them flipped pretty much. And I think Peterborough snagged Rolson right after the Hounds picked. But La Castro like great pick I think, you know, very, very happy with the pick. Definitely. It doesn't address the right side D. He's left, he's a lefty. But I mean, I mean it's not the worst that worst problem to have, I guess. I guess just looking at the way he plays is mobile. He's, you know, he's definitely a standout player. He captained a good team for the Marlies. I think he compared himself to a Zach Orensky type player and I think that's pretty, pretty spot on. Honestly. I was watching his, his draft, his little draft video there and he's just, just his skating is, is. Is really good. Stands out offensive and defensive. I think Towns fans are going to like him. [00:42:47] Speaker B: See, Utah was, I think it was [00:42:49] Speaker C: you and I texting Bells about it that really defocused a like that. But they don't didn't address the right handed D. Was that me and you or me and you? True. It's text. I think it was like me and you. Bells. [00:42:58] Speaker F: Yeah. Yeah, I think so. [00:42:59] Speaker B: And you were just mentioning that and you know the. It is what it is. You see, I'm a firm believer in a draft you need to take the [00:43:06] Speaker C: best available player at that moment of when you're getting picked. That's where I'm a firm believer on hot take. [00:43:13] Speaker B: Maybe it isn't. [00:43:14] Speaker C: Maybe it's too obvious of a take, [00:43:16] Speaker B: but I think Jaden was the right pick. [00:43:19] Speaker C: He was 100%. You could have went either way with Landon or Jaden. Truly you could have. [00:43:24] Speaker B: But defense and building from the back [00:43:27] Speaker C: end is always a good decision to do. [00:43:30] Speaker B: And the team that they have up [00:43:31] Speaker C: front and some guys returning. I think drafting D was the right decision. Not because they drafted just Nixon McCaig, [00:43:38] Speaker B: but because of Jaden I feel is the right. Is the right fit. And he's six, almost six two. [00:43:43] Speaker C: He's got some good size to him. [00:43:45] Speaker B: And overall the. [00:43:46] Speaker F: The. [00:43:47] Speaker B: His season when he. When he was playing and even when he. [00:43:51] Speaker C: When he played with the Marlies, as [00:43:52] Speaker B: you said, he also did pretty good at the showcase. [00:43:54] Speaker C: Only a few points, but he was definitely a standout. [00:43:56] Speaker F: Ye. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. No, I was gonna say. And he's like. He just. The key point of that is like he's. He's a captain too. Right. So like he's provides that leadership. I feel like he could be a good potential, you know, candidate to be captain of the Hounds and love that. And obviously, you know that it comes with a lot too. A lot of responsibility like a lot of show shows, I guess in. In the community in that too. So. Yeah. [00:44:20] Speaker A: Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. He has that captaincy kind of role and that like yeah, you're looking at. Chase Schellberger was the next right handed defenseman taken. Right. And he was at Flint at 15. So there was that right handed D available. Erie again got Jake Prunty at the. And just at the start of the second round too. So there was that right handed D available. But La Castro was obviously the. The one that they wanted. [00:44:53] Speaker C: Didn't need. [00:44:54] Speaker A: They did fill a need at D to take. [00:44:57] Speaker F: Yeah. And. And with. With Shellberger too. I think that was a matter of if he would actually report too. Like we don't know the conversations that go on. I obviously thought he would. He would have been a great fit for the Hounds to replace Chase Reed. But yeah, it was just A matter of if he, if he's going to report or if he's going to report to whatever team took him. I don't know exactly who took them to. [00:45:17] Speaker A: And you're going, you're going with the person you know that's going to report. You have a good rapport with. And obviously, you know the, with Daley coming especially, you know that the need to fill the defensive back end was, was even bigger just to build around those, those three. I call them the like three first rounders basically because I think Daley was a highly touted prospect, probably could have gone higher in the OHL draft had he like stated his commitment that Laos, Kaczynski and now Daley. That's. That's huge for the Greyhounds moving forward for their, their future. Cole Gazette too. Another local player taken by Flint again didn't quite drop to the hounds in the fourth round. Flint takes him at 52 in the third round. And they already have a SU product there, a Rylan Fellinger. So, you know, good, like, good for these local players, you know, going very high in the draft. It's really cool to see. I know that a lot of them leave now the second they get to like minor midget, maybe even just a little bit younger or U16. So. Yes. But it's, it's awesome to see. [00:46:31] Speaker C: That's really cool that, that conversation, us three. Maybe that's a good conversation to have at the beginning of the year about development hockey and needs to be talked about on this show. We've done it before in the past, but I was quite conservative on my approach. I think I just want to let it vent and I think I'll save that as a little teaser. And yes, people can think what does this guy know about hockey? And you know what? I still keep my ties with things. I see it and it ain't the same. It is not the same. And you know what? [00:47:03] Speaker B: We got an NHA scout on this that can will professionally speak to it when I'll probably just tell you how [00:47:10] Speaker C: I think it is, but that's a whole other conversation. Seeing local guys go up doesn't matter if they're local or if they went on to play to make their talent better. It's good to see them represent the Sioux and go high in the draft no matter where they go. You hope that they play in Sault Ste. Marie because you like to see that hometown feel. [00:47:29] Speaker B: But you know, success has shown that people have been successful. [00:47:33] Speaker C: Leaving here. [00:47:34] Speaker B: I let's pull out a friend that [00:47:36] Speaker C: we know A friend of the show, Hedrick, won a championship right now playing for the Hounds. [00:47:41] Speaker B: Right. [00:47:42] Speaker C: Playing for Erie. [00:47:43] Speaker B: So sometimes, you know, you can cheer for the Sioux local from afar and despite even ties with the Sioux, you [00:47:50] Speaker C: know, Colin Kennedy going to Erie and then you, you know, there's that clink King clue. This ties there too. But you know, the, the, the picks in the draft, there were surprising ones [00:48:00] Speaker B: and one that I want to highlight, [00:48:02] Speaker C: Bells and I don't know if you want to debate me on it, but I thought that Evan Banister going 30th to Sarnia was a steal. One of the biggest deals in the first round of the draft and big reason why is because this was somebody [00:48:17] Speaker B: who was rated in the top 10 back. I'm looking at my September notes. This was somebody again that was in like the top 10 ratings and really fell. And when he played in Credit river, he had 64 points over almost a couple points a game. Pretty near when he played like you saw him play at the showcase. He had two points a game at the Showcase. How did he drop to 30? [00:48:38] Speaker C: Is there something that we don't know, [00:48:40] Speaker B: commitment wise or is there just like did people forget that he was on the board? Like, what happened? I feel like this is a guy [00:48:47] Speaker C: who should have went top 50 team in my opinion. [00:48:50] Speaker F: Yeah, nothing. Nothing specific really with him. I, like, just like you said, I, I loved his game too. Like he's. He's got that leadership too. I think he was the captain of his Credit river team. But yeah, he was. He was a very standout player, very dominant player. Don't know why he dropped, but that's just, that's just the draft, right? I guess. Yeah. You don't know what you're going to get. Just like, just like the Hounds got a couple of good picks in the fourth round there. Some. Some players just fall in your lap and it's the way it goes. But yeah, I liked his game and the Hounds actually picked his good. His line made their bell chamber. I wanted to touch on that too. I guess the 15th round, pretty good steal there. So a lot of good players that came out of that Credit Credit river [00:49:33] Speaker C: program, to be honest. [00:49:33] Speaker B: The first time I've ever heard of it. [00:49:35] Speaker F: Yeah, I think it's new. I think it's pretty new. [00:49:37] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:49:37] Speaker A: Yeah. I've never heard of it. [00:49:40] Speaker B: I thought it was a men's league [00:49:43] Speaker A: where aided like or is it? [00:49:46] Speaker F: I. I mean, I honestly don't know. I think they're in the Omaha, which is like who plays the omhe Like York Simcoe. [00:49:54] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:49:54] Speaker C: That area Capitals, correct. [00:49:57] Speaker F: Yeah. [00:49:58] Speaker C: Pretty good. [00:49:59] Speaker F: Little. [00:50:00] Speaker B: They're so they play out of well Earn. [00:50:03] Speaker C: Earnscliffe Recreation center is what it says on here. Just look because I was. I just wanted to dive into it a little bit more. [00:50:09] Speaker B: They. [00:50:10] Speaker C: The Omha Omha. [00:50:11] Speaker F: Okay. [00:50:12] Speaker B: So like they. I really was interested in a lot [00:50:15] Speaker C: of picks this year, but that 30th pick for Evan Banister when I was looking at the draft so I didn't get the chance to watch it in in person. But when I was looking at the live updates I was like, where's evan in that first 50? Where'd he go? I was like if he falls to two. Oh yeah, the Hounds don't have a two. [00:50:29] Speaker F: Right? [00:50:30] Speaker C: That's what I was saying. If they, if the Hounds had a [00:50:31] Speaker B: two, they jump and take that. [00:50:33] Speaker C: But Sarnia gets at the bottom of the first round. [00:50:35] Speaker B: So you know, overall Bells, what do [00:50:38] Speaker C: you grade this OHL draft in general? [00:50:41] Speaker B: Do you have a team that you [00:50:42] Speaker C: would like to so three parter grade the draft a team that you would grade and a little extra analysis on the Hounds before we start wrapping up. [00:50:50] Speaker F: Chuckle yeah, I'd say the draft it wasn't like other years. I guess it was more, more defensive obviously. And then you see, you see the goalie go high in the draft and then you see a lot of Americans get picked again, right? So like not that it's a bad thing, it means it's, you know, it's a very, very talented draft but you know, it's, it hurts some of some of the Ontario kids because they, you know, they have less likelihood of getting picked due to these, the Americans coming in and wanting to play in the oh other than that I think, you know, so it was, it was still a pretty good, good draft. It was in person this year. So I think that was a good, good step for the ohl. Definitely get you know, management of the teams that just drafted them can got to meet their families in person and kind of have those conversations right away which is. That was nice to see. So I think overall that was a success this year and hopefully they can do it going forward too because all I hear was that it was a, it was a success there a team I guess that I haven't really, I didn't really follow many teams to be honest, like other than the Hounds. But I know Ottawa had a couple of good picks. Sudbury, the Northern teams were. I thought they, they were, they were good. Erie had a, had a good draft flint. So I, I think I Think the overall, the Western Conference will, will be, will, will be definitely stronger I think this year and years to come and, and the Hounds have to, you know, just kind of compete with that. Right. Like there's, there's obviously a lot of, A lot of good teams. Kitcheners obviously, they, they're great team. They had another good draft as well. London always seems to snag those American players that, you know, want to go play for the Knights and you know, [00:52:27] Speaker B: it's the only team they'll go to. [00:52:28] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah, exactly. But yeah, maybe not necessarily anymore, but yeah, the Knights always seem to have, have a good, good, good draft class. So yeah, no, I think, yeah, it's definitely just becomes more competitive league with better players entering the draft with the Americans. But as far as the Hounds, I think, you know, it was, it was a great draft for them. Like I think at first I was texting you, it was like they drafted La Castro obviously great pick, but I was like lefty. Like they picked out a lefty. Like they picked. You picked two in the, in the U18 draft as well. Two lefties. So it's like there's a lot of lefty I guess and. Yeah, crowded, crowded. A lot of internal competition there, I guess so to speak. [00:53:12] Speaker A: Left handed as well. [00:53:14] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah. McKeg, McKeg was another one too. But great, great pick. I really like him. Definitely I had him rated around there and he was drafted or rated second round I think, or around the 40 and he got picked in the fourth. So obviously great value there. Alec Walker, I think he's another good pick too. Like, definitely went with size. I think that's, that was kind of the main. Yeah, it seemed. [00:53:40] Speaker B: I think he's this podcast true. [00:53:42] Speaker C: It's. [00:53:42] Speaker B: We talk about size on this show all the time. I'm a huge, huge fan of tall youth. Big guy, especially defense. That Walker guy, five right, six four. [00:53:55] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah, he's. Yeah, definitely, definitely went with bigger, stronger guy. Another one too. Leo Parini. I think he. I don't know what round he went in. 10th maybe. But he. Yeah, you know he was, he's also. I think he's 6 5, 223. I saw like 223 pounds as a 16 year old. That's a big, That's a, that's a big fella. Yeah, for sure. And, and you and I both know and Drew. Drew's like play hockey against someone like that. Like that's. It's tough. It's tough to play hockey against someone like that. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And then I guess just one other guy I wanted to touch on and I think it was a major steal in the ninth round was Matthew Taylor. He played for Ajax. He, he lit it up like I think he had. He had, I saw 65 points in 34 games. And he's, you know, he's a smaller player, but we talked about all the big, bigger players, but he was their smaller pick. But he's, you know, he's, he plays like he has, he has size, he has speed and I think he can definitely step in one day and, and be a superhound as well, fill a role through. I think he's a centerman, so I think he can definitely step in. [00:55:01] Speaker C: Yeah, that's a good, that's a good point. I had someone at work at my full time job told me to talk about him. So thanks for reminding me because that was one pick that they enjoyed to hear as well. So that was, that's a very good point. True. [00:55:13] Speaker B: It's, you know, from the biggest hound fan that I know that being you. [00:55:17] Speaker F: Okay. [00:55:17] Speaker C: I just want to make the obvious. [00:55:19] Speaker B: What's your thoughts on the draft before, [00:55:22] Speaker C: before we go to wrap up the [00:55:23] Speaker A: show that, you know, is. That's a key phrase there because I know there's a lot of people that rival me out there, so. Nah, I'll be happy to see that. No, I think crown, you know, it'll be. I hope that the Greyhounds have a little development camp. I don't know when that would be held now because it's usually in May after the draft, but now the draft is in June and it already happened like it might not even happen because training camp's already at the end of August. So it'll be interesting to see these kids come in. I was, I was interested in the Brampton selection at third when they took Tanner Adams because it sounded like he didn't want to report and he made that pretty known. And just with the way that it's gone for Brampton the past year, obviously losing Porter Martone to the nc, Jack Ivan Kovich to the ncaa and then losing out on return for Adam Valentini because he like pulled his commitment to Kitchener last year, like to have a third overall pick and to gamble on it like that. I mean they will get compensation if he doesn't report. But I just, I, I question a team in that market that is, has already struggled and you know, obviously that franchise has bumped around. It was, it was an interesting pick for me. It was an interesting selection and the goalie selection too. I feel like the goalie selection for North Bay just kind of solidified the Hounds taking Le Castro. Otherwise they may have had a more difficult decision. So that was, that was good. I, I liked that at all. I really liked that personally, selfishly, as a Greyhound fan. But I hope that that goalie pick works out for our fellow North Bay friends in the North. And yeah, I'm interested to see these kids come out. There's a couple, two from last year's draft that I want to come back. This, this Max Taylor that you described, Bells, he kind of sounds a lot like. Sorry, Matthew Taylor. He kind of sounds a lot like Vincent Arnon who was a 9th rounder, a low round, a low round pick for the Hounds last year and he played U.S. nDP, played a couple of games for the U.S. nDP last year, but he had 80 points and 60 games in AAA last year. So, you know, there's a lot of skill now right now in the Greyhound system. It's all about, you know, finding a coach and then getting them all here and hopefully, you know, building for the future now that the Carter George deal didn't work out in everyone's best interests. But now it's time to, you know, surround yourself with a youthful, skilled team that you can hopefully build around and, and make a run at with the next two years. So looking forward to it. [00:58:10] Speaker B: I will have to say just quick [00:58:12] Speaker C: that I think Owen Sound deserves credit for their drafting. I feel like they need to be recognized and Obviously Bannister going 30, I think that's the steal of the draft and my favorite pick of the draft. Don't have to say it. I think it's already known. Just listen to the beginning of the segment. If you do so that I'll just keep that simple. But I was very impressed with Owen Sounds drafting that multiple picks in that first round to, to get some players and, and that's something that I was quite, I was really intrigued on their pick, but definitely was a, interesting draft and you could just see it in person. Love that. Finally. I think every, every kid deserves that moment, right? [00:58:47] Speaker B: Instead of being at home, you get [00:58:48] Speaker C: a call on your Sal, you're like, hello. Okay, thank you. Okay. Yeah, I got drafted by the house. [00:58:55] Speaker B: I bet you they're a bit more excited than that. It depends, you know, but it's, it's cool. [00:59:00] Speaker C: You're at the draft, you get your jersey, you know, it was really cool to see. And the Hounds were so good with their social media uploads. They're very good on social media. I Don't know how other. [00:59:08] Speaker B: I don't really check in a lot [00:59:10] Speaker C: of other OHL teams to be straightforward. I know Kitchener does pretty well. I was keeping an eye on them. [00:59:14] Speaker A: He does a good job. Yeah. In their posts too. [00:59:18] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:59:18] Speaker B: You know what? I will admit London's are is pretty good too, which is hard to admit, but I think they have the resources to do that. The but the Hound social media. Good job, Good job. Like they were really covering it very [00:59:29] Speaker C: well and that was great to see. [00:59:30] Speaker B: Any final thoughts about the draft, gentlemen, [00:59:32] Speaker C: before we wrap up? I know went a little bit extra today. TR I promised you 20 and we've went over 30, so it is the [00:59:38] Speaker B: last chukapuck segment of the season. [00:59:41] Speaker C: So it does give it justice. [00:59:43] Speaker F: Point. [00:59:44] Speaker C: And what better than to end it [00:59:45] Speaker B: with you, Bells, but any final thoughts [00:59:47] Speaker C: from yourself, Truja Bells, before we put [00:59:49] Speaker B: Chuck a puck to rest for the next couple months? [00:59:52] Speaker F: Yeah, nothing. Nothing crazy. Just looking forward to seeing everyone. All the draft picks come to camp and see how they perform and I'll be at camp looking to see how. How they do. And so I'm always interested to see how. How a team builds and. And comes together. So definitely interested in that. But yeah, just. I lost my train of thought there. We'll go to. We'll go to Trude's. Love that. [01:00:19] Speaker A: Yeah, it's. I love training camp. I don't know. Like, it's one of those things and maybe it's just something about being like outside in the summer for like. And then like you go into that cold rink and then you're like, oh, this is like refreshing. And then I usually. Well, luckily now I'm. I'm off that week, so I usually have the week off. So I get to go and watch the whole training camp, which I. I like to do and get a. Get a little look early look on the team before it's chosen. Yeah. Though the. The two most pressing issues right now are a coach, a head coach and a goalie. So I know Will Computaro is or was signed as of last year, so hopefully he takes on more of a starter role than a backup. Dave, I do have some headway on a coach, if you're interested. I was on. I was actually on a grad trip with. And our bus driver was Matt d' Agostini's dad. So we were talking just, you know, sports and hounds, obviously. You know, he told me about, you know, raising his sons, growing up in sports, and we were just talking about sports in general and we were we were discussing a head coach for the Greyhounds and he was wondering if they are possibly waiting on Jordan Smith who just won a Calder with Manny Malhotra right in Vancouver system last year. Now that's last year. Now they're moving up to Vancouver. If Jordan Smith is going to go with him then obviously Vancouver will have him. But if maybe if he doesn't he might find his way back to the Sioux for a head coaching job. I give him credit for that one. He. [01:02:00] Speaker F: He. [01:02:00] Speaker A: He was just, he was just. It was just a thought so but it's an interesting thought. [01:02:05] Speaker C: They have been the two finalists that I've been told my underground under under [01:02:10] Speaker B: what do you call it underrated pick [01:02:12] Speaker C: has been Jeff Craze, ghost assistant coach with Kitchener but he's extended until 20 next year so I don't know if that's gonna be a thing but funny [01:02:22] Speaker B: thing that you say Smith big I know Smitty big fan of the show, [01:02:26] Speaker C: big fan of the game sports podcast may I add. So if he comes on here I'm getting them first before anyone else does them. It's just anyone else getting lined interview [01:02:36] Speaker B: him besides maybe the Peter Ricci's sorry [01:02:38] Speaker C: this coming here just going to tell everyone in advance but I am hearing for is been a favorite to to come up to potentially take the job but waiting for Smith has been something we've been that I've been hearing as well but I've been hearing for is [01:02:53] Speaker B: the head head of the table right now. But it's interesting that they're waiting because [01:02:57] Speaker C: that you mentioned the waiting point because the Smith point would make sense and I truly think that maybe a Smith Forte connection both on the bench would be something that would be a good [01:03:07] Speaker B: a team and a duo because I think Smitty has the right the right [01:03:10] Speaker C: toolbox to go even after a year or two to go back up to HL and be a head coach if not go to the NHL within the next couple of years. So like I feel like his tenure with the Hounds won't be as long as John Dean is because of what he'll be getting offered to do. So I think having somebody at the Wings ready for when that does happen would be of the best interest for the Sault saving grounds to try to find a way to bring them both in as long as Forte would be okay with that and I think coming in to learn from Jordan Smith and being in the Ontario Hockey League under him, you know and in a local town in your hometown where you're going to Be kind of looking at a retool where you might see a Memorial Cupid in the next few years, where Smitty might not be here for that because he would move on. You might be the head coach in line for that. I think the opportunity is more. I think that's a better chance. Bells, I don't know if you have anything. [01:03:58] Speaker F: Yeah, no, I was going to say, well, Smitty. So Smitty coached me for the Thunderbirds for three years. He was great. Oh, he was excellent. Like, he. He pushed. He pushed you, like, just hard enough. You know, he gets. He gets a lot out of you and he gets. He gets you going for sure. So, like, he's, you know, very, very motivational type of coach. So I think he can get a lot out of these players if he's. If he's the guy Fortier. I don't know too much about him, but obviously local connections, always, always good here in the Sioux. I, I heard another thing that I, I heard. I read it on Twitter, actually last week. Todd Bertuzzi, his name came up. [01:04:37] Speaker A: Yeah, that was interesting. [01:04:38] Speaker F: Did you see that Truth? [01:04:40] Speaker A: Oh, that too. [01:04:43] Speaker F: Like, I think he. He'd already. He'd already sign. I think he's already coaching a junior team somewhere down south. But obviously, if the Ohl were to come. Come knocking, I think he would be. He'd be in. [01:04:57] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:04:57] Speaker F: But, yeah, I don't know. I don't know how true that is, [01:04:59] Speaker A: but, yeah, it's local. You just know it would be in good hands. And I think that's something that's like, big, right? Like if Jordan Smith's coming back here, you know, and it's not. It's not just one of those, like, oh, we're giving it to a local guy. It's like, no, like that. That's just, you know, that's just even more. That's adds even more value because, you know, Jordan, like, if Jordan Smith or Jason Forte were to come here and the great coaches that they are, not only will the Greyhounds be in good hands, but they're here for the right reasons because they are local, too. I had one more thing to say. Now I'm like, yeah, I. Oh, John Dean. Congratulations to John Dean for signing on with the Calgary Wranglers. Obviously, like, hey, moving up in. To the, to the pro ranks, that's. That's huge. And you know what? He. He was the. He was the coach for the Greyhounds for a long time. And I, I know that the player, hearing the players talk and about him Everyone seemed to love him, so he did have an impact here. They did develop some solid, solid players and gave them avenues and futures. So it was nice to see him get a little bit of recognition there. But yeah, no, I'm, I'm excited to see where this offseason goes. [01:06:10] Speaker B: So that's draft recap, that's local hound news, that's fun conversation all in one [01:06:16] Speaker C: here on the Game Sports podcast. [01:06:18] Speaker B: And Top Shelf isn't done. We still got a couple segments. I have a top shelf before we [01:06:23] Speaker C: have our break for the summer of Top Shelf. Essentially, as everybody knows, the summer months [01:06:27] Speaker B: as we hit July, we definitely follow that bi weekly schedule still. [01:06:31] Speaker C: But as we hit July into August, that's where the Game Sports podcast goes for a little snooze. Okay, everybody, that's where we take a little bit of a break. [01:06:39] Speaker B: And he just got me and Connor [01:06:40] Speaker C: Henderson or me and clips. That's what you got. Unless there's some hot topics in the. In the world of hockey that we do a jump on show. [01:06:47] Speaker B: But nonetheless, this has been the finale of Chuck A Puck, Season two of Chuck A Puck. [01:06:51] Speaker C: Okay, this. I can't believe two years of it has already gone by. Trude, it's, it's, it's wild. And obviously this has been the 10th year of the show. We're entering our 11th year of the Game Sports podcast. That is wild. That's, that's. [01:07:05] Speaker B: You would have told me 11 years ago. [01:07:06] Speaker C: I'd still be sitting in my house talking to you guys about sports. Drinking a beer would be one of the last things. But very happy. And I appreciate all the time that you take Druids and the time that you've taken on this show in last week with Eclipse Bells. [01:07:20] Speaker B: So, Bells, thank you for coming on and chatting our team NOHA scout to help out the Game Sports podcast. [01:07:26] Speaker C: We appreciate you taking the time, dude. [01:07:28] Speaker F: Yeah, thanks. It's always, it's always great coming on and talking hockey with you guys. [01:07:32] Speaker C: So it's always great. And we got a golf tournament coming up. [01:07:36] Speaker B: Hope you're ready to watch me suck at golf. Thank you. As always, my friend. Anything hot comes up, we'll make sure [01:07:44] Speaker C: we have clips and plans to address that with everybody. But again, always appreciate what you do and I'm excited for, for next year. [01:07:51] Speaker A: Yeah, thanks. Have a great summer, everyone. [01:07:52] Speaker B: Yeah. And see you on the diamond and [01:07:54] Speaker C: get on that mound when I'm up. [01:07:55] Speaker B: I want to. [01:07:56] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. Okay. [01:07:57] Speaker C: On a curveball. [01:07:58] Speaker A: Yeah, I'll try. I don't know. I. I'm I pit I did pitch the other day. You know it went okay. It probably went better than it has the past few years. [01:08:06] Speaker C: So no, it was last Connor answered this and said I was wrong by saying it by Aki or Colton Reed who's the better pitcher and don't talk about past Colton. Okay. [01:08:19] Speaker B: Colton and no offense to my hockey [01:08:22] Speaker A: tell you that too. Okay. [01:08:24] Speaker B: But I heard in the day by [01:08:25] Speaker C: Aki was better but that's yes. [01:08:28] Speaker A: Oh yeah. [01:08:29] Speaker B: Interesting. Love that. Okay. Connor was talking as a general before [01:08:34] Speaker C: so he did reference by Aki before [01:08:35] Speaker B: and Colton now and love playing you guys. [01:08:38] Speaker C: Colton. I had chats behind the plate where you probably shouldn't because I'm at that [01:08:41] Speaker B: but it was definitely a good time intrudes. Thank you, Bells. Thank you. [01:08:46] Speaker C: We will definitely have you guys on again soon. So thanks for taking the time. [01:08:50] Speaker F: Thank you very much. [01:08:51] Speaker A: Thanks. [01:08:52] Speaker C: See you later, boys. [01:08:52] Speaker F: Okay. [01:08:53] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:08:54] Speaker B: So that's Jaron Bellini and that's Jordan Trudeau for Chuck a puck. Wrapping up the show, I thought we'd [01:08:59] Speaker C: have time to talk a bit more strike zone. [01:09:01] Speaker B: But to give you that I said that I would promise you that. So I want to keep it very [01:09:05] Speaker C: simple with the show today. I want to touch talk about the Blue Jays and talk about my experience in Toronto before we wrap up the show. Instead of going as the MLB as a whole here on the game, we talk about MLB as a whole. Obviously we give a little bit more more discussion about the Blue Jays and the Tigers being a bit more of that local feel. A little bit more love to the brewers too. And you know, I've always been a closet fan. I guess you can say not fan. But I've always had a soft spot for the Padres and the Cubs but obviously die hard beating the bleeding the blue for the Blue Jays all Toronto. So I'm going to stick with talking about strike zone. But very brief today as we did plan for about an hour and 30 minutes on the show today. So I want to make sure that I stay within the time frame if not finished earlier. So the Blue Jays I'm going to start up by talking about the Rogers Center. I was live on the game last Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies where The Jays lost 7 to 4. They were losing 7 to 1. They were battling back. I saw some poor base running decisions from Nathan Lucas. Miles Straw was clutch. Max Scherzer got 3,500 strikeouts. Got to see I was great before Bryce Harper decided to hit a bomb off him. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Still finding his way to try to hit bombs but he's still hitting the ball with good contact, but more just hitting singles and doubles. This Blue Jay team has had a very interesting season. You know you I was very worried about how the Blue Jays would respond after being two outs away from winning the World Series into now and going into this year, all the injuries that they had and really having a battle through that, they've been hovering around.500. And then you play the Yankees, lose a critical series there, you lose a critical series against the Orioles, you have struggles against the Rays. A bit earlier last month, the Blue Jays are still not out of it. But talk about my trip to Toronto. The fan base is still so invested and believes in this team as you should and as do I getting this team healthy. It's still only June, there is still many games to go, just over 90 games of baseball to go. And the Blue Jays have had tale with history about winning 50 or 60 of those 90 last games to get into a spot. And they can certainly do that. And they're still obviously if they don't win the division, get into a wild card spot, especially with a healthy Blue Jays team, is very dangerous. So the Blue Jays have stayed in it. But what I see with this team is they're not cashing in with runners in scoring position, poor base running decisions and they cannot stay healthy. But when this team can get healthy, if those bats can eventually get hot, it's better that they're cold now than later. Then you're going to see this Blue Jay team that should have won the World Series last year. They didn't. But being two outs away, you can be very safe to say this team is deserving and has the roster to do it. And they arguably have a better roster than they did last year when they made the World Series despite not having Bo Bichette at the helm. Having a full pitching rotation, maybe moving Max Sergeant to the bullpen is a better decision. But speaking of the Rodgers center on my trip, the fans so invested, believe it in this team doesn't matter what the score is in the game. They love this team. They love the players. The players love each other. This is the type of team dynamic that sports teams in all different leagues need to adapt. Because despite when this team is down, they still have fun playing the game and enjoying the game that they love. That is what you need to start seeing from teams that are the Maple Leafs that you need to start seeing from other teams that you may love, that you may feel have a little bit of struggles. And today the Blue Jays traded Tyler Heinemann. Tyler Heineman got traded to the to the Angels for cash considerations. Obviously. Brandon Valenzuela comes in, the kid is a stud him and Kirk is a punt. One two punch allows Kirk to be able to rest and still have a good catcher behind the plate where he doesn't get overplayed. You can have Valenzuela behind the plate and then you can have Kirk. If you really want to risk that for your lineup card. It is fantastic for what this team has for potential. But the Toronto Blue Jays ultimately have a fan base that's so dedicated, well traveled and it very much should be proud to be a Blue Jay fan. I know as a fan I'm proud and the fans are so great and it's because of what this team does and how hard they try and they're never out of games. This is the potential of a Toronto fan base that I want to start seeing bleeding to another team in the city. But love my visits to the Rogers Center. Love going there. We go there multiple times much as we can a year, but it's been a little bit less obviously given changes in life. But the Toronto Blue Jays losing when we go there is not the most fun. But it was still a good game nonetheless and very exciting. Out of 36,000 were in attendance for that game. Love seeing the Rogers center packed. That's what that stadium needs to be. Beautiful view of the CN Tower, view of everything's perfect. The renovations in there are great. Terrific. Hyneman getting traded, not surprised. But right now the Toronto Blue Jays, they are currently playing Boston at the time of this recording very convincing win yesterday. A team that, that I think they could get a sweep on and really get back to. Hopefully if you sweep the series, a three game series that gets you to be in one game under.500 before you go, start paying the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley this weekend for a big tale at Wrigley Field. So these are the types of matchups the Blue Jays have to win in divisional series and Boston Red Sox just really not having fun this season after having a good year last year, getting into the playoffs for getting bounced by the Yankees. But the Toronto Blue Jays as a whole, what I'm really seeing is from a pitching perspective when they get healthy they'll be better. But the bullpen's been a challenge and the batting's been a challenge. My first point was to talk about my experience, my trip, the presence of the Rodgers center, seeing the fans wanted to bleed over and be that way for other teams but this team, the Toronto Blue Jays. My second point, sorry, was Tyler Heineman traded and how. I think Valenzuela outplayed him and that was a good move by the Jays to move them. Unfortunately, you lose the depth. But the third thing is I think the Blue Jays need to focus on looking at a way to bring in some more bullpen's abilities. Jeff Hoffman needs to not ever see the 9th or 8th inning at any point in a ball game. And you need to look at when this team gets healthy, what the plan is going to be. I think people are saying they might need another bat in the lineup. I really don't know about that. I think if you bring a power bat that's an outfielder, you might have to lose a Davis, Schneider or Jesus Sanchez or I'm not too sure. But if there is the right name out there, I think that could be intriguing. But I think if you can stock up the bullpen a little bit more and then let that pitching staff get healthy, I think the Blue Jays just starts seeing what the fans expected this season. But if I'm the Blue Jays, I'm looking at a bullpen help as of now because the current bullpen that they have, I'm not convinced that that's the type of bullpen even though a lot of names that were there last year just given the performance this year that that might not be the bullpen you want to see coming October if you can get to October. Those are my points about the Blue Jays and strike zone only. I can only stick to the Blue Jays this week. A lot of news there, especially given my trip to Toronto, but so we'll make sure we save talk about other teams and news for when Connor Henderson joins us on our next episode which again I'll remind you is in a couple weeks we're at bi weekly episodes but next couple of weeks is going to be the Canada Day week, okay. Which is also after the NHL draft before NHL free agency. So the show is going to have a unique schedule when it comes to the week of June 29th or July 6th. There will be an upload in between there for you to enjoy. And then going forward for July it's going to be pretty sporadic between hopefully some special edition shows, but new shows as we hit August, which will be taking a full month off if not, if not a majority of the month of July as well. So we only got a few new shows left to go until we take a break for this season before we get into season 11 of the game Sports podcast so we appreciate you joining and following along. We hope you enjoyed our Top Shelf segment, our Strike Zone or sorry, our Top Shelf segment and our Chocolate Puck segment and Strike Zone for the Game Sports Podcast, a solo version of Strike Zone. Thank you to Brendan, thank you to his cousin John for taking the time to come on John McCarthy, Brandon McCarthy, the family duo making appearance here on the show Trude's bells bells being a guest from the team NOHA scouting perspective and you, the listeners, for taking the time to always listen and be a part of now season 10 of the game Sports Podcast. Again. The next episode will be within before or after Canada Day. And I want to give a special shout out again to all the fathers out there and of course again to my son who turned one on June 19th. Amazing time flying by. Can't believe it. Unbelievable. [01:17:06] Speaker B: Until next time, I'm here to remind [01:17:07] Speaker C: you to keep your stick on the ice. Swing your bats, catch touchdowns, drain your threes and shoot your shots. Booyah.