The Game Is Back | NHL Season Preview | The Game Sports Podcast

[00:00:06] Speaker A: Greetings and salutations. Today marks a very special day for the Game Sports podcast and one of the reasons why will become very clear to you momentarily. But before we get there, today is also a challenging and emotional day for our team. Because September 29, 2026 marks four years since the sudden passing of of my co founder of the Game, my friend, a friend to so many. A father, a husband, and one of the most amazing, genuine, one of a kind human beings I've ever had the privilege of knowing, Scott Nason. Scott unexpectedly passed away on September 29, 2022. Every year we find a way to remember Scott and celebrate the impact that he had on the show and on all of us. But today I want to take you back to a special tribute we recorded one year after his passing. The Scott Nason tribute show 2023. That episode featured myself, Paul Van Wagner, E.J. russell, Rob Horn, Butch Davis, and Daniel Scarpino as we shared stories, memories, laughs and moments that captured just a little bit of who Scott was. Because the truth is, Scott has always been and will always be a part of this show and he will always be a part of the lives of the people who knew him. I think about Scott every single day. And if it wasn't for him, the Game Sports podcast wouldn't be where it is today. Quite honestly, I wouldn't be where I am today with the show without him. Every day and every time I sit down to record, there is a part of me that still feels like I'm sitting there with Scott. And I hope that through everything we continue to create, you can feel that same connection. Scott may no longer be here with us physically, but his moments, his memories, his impact and his legacy will continue to live on. And today feels especially fitting as I sit here recording what will likely be the final episode recorded in my home office, the original studio of the game, formerly 91N. It felt right to say these words before we begin this next chapter, because today isn't just another recording. Today is the relaunch of the Game Sports podcast. Today marks the beginning of season 11, and we're doing it in style on a day that means so much to the show and to so many people who knew Scott. So today, September 29th becomes a very special day for us and something very special for us. Scott Nason, Memorial Day for the Game Sports Podcast. Scott, we miss you every single day. I am forever thankful and and forever honored that I had the opportunity to call you my friend, my co host and my podcast partner. And just like every episode, we have ever done. But especially today, this massive announcement, this debut, this launch of season 11 and this next chapter of the Game Sports Podcast is dedicated to you, my friend. We miss you, buddy. Now let's get started. [00:03:10] Speaker B: Booyah. And it's time for the Game Sports Podcast as Your host, David McCaig Jr. The game is powered by and is a Studio 726 original series featured on all audio platforms where you get your podcast as well as the Game Sports Podcast YouTube channel. Yes, you heard that correctly. The Game Sports Podcast YouTube channel is now live for your enjoyment. To check out the video editions of the game. You can also check us out on all social media, TikTok, Instagram, wherever you want to search us, you can find us. That is the Game Sports Podcast. Now, tonight's agenda. This is the the opening show in our brand new studio. But I'm gonna get to that in just a second. I want to talk the agenda for this first show of season 11. We're gonna have Top Ched on our first segment. What is that people are asking? Well, we renamed Top Shelf to be called Top Ched. You know it. If you know it, you know it. Now the second piece of the show we're gonna have in the Pocket. The third segment of the show is gonna be Chuck A Puck and and then to end the show, we're gonna have a little strike zone. Justin Heiko is going to be joining me for Top Chad and In the Pocket. And Jordan Trudeau is going to be joined of course for Chuck a Puck and Strike Zone. Now let's get into the main beginning of the show that I want to present. I want to say thank you to Studio 726, to Brad, to Mike, of course to my team, to you as the viewers and listeners. But you get to hear and see this relaunch brand of the Game Sports Podcast with C season 11 having a fresh, slick, clean new look in our brand new studio inside of Studio 726, the game studio. And how excited am I? I can't even get all the words out that I want. It's been 11 years of this show and looking back to 2016, if you're someone who's been along for the ride since day one of the show or even if you're new to the show, it doesn't matter. You're going to be coming here for some electrifying content and all the work, all the changes that we went through on this show from being on live radio to being a local podcast and then being inside a previous studio Then transitioning to a podcast inside an office studio and now being inside our main and new studio in 726. We are very excited and very much more excited to bring you some fresh new news from the Game sports podcast. And as the show transitions on season 11, you're going to see some adjustments. So make sure you keep an eye on all the platforms as that transitions now, of course, again, thank you to Studio 726 for being a part of our family. We are very excited to go on this new chapter of the game. Now, without further ado, let's bring in the co host joining a very familiar face since 2016, since been with me since day one. Ladies and gentlemen, Justin Heik, my friend. The new digs, my friend. [00:06:06] Speaker C: Yeah, it's. It's good to be here. This is a. This is definitely an upgrade over the two guys one cup day. [00:06:13] Speaker B: So if you know, you know, we were at a sports center bar and grill where we used to record with our phones on a cup and there'd be me and Justin talking about football, hockey, whatever the case may be. We were talking out of a phone on a cup and then eventually we got our first microphone and then, wow, we just changed and things evolved. Since 2016 come a long way, my friend. [00:06:37] Speaker C: Remember carrying that whole tub, a tub of business in there, literally the mixer [00:06:40] Speaker B: in there, the microphones, everything. And people while we were recording were coming up and interrupting us mid. Mid conversation. Hey, what are you guys talking about here? We just have our headsets on and talking and people are curious about what it was. [00:06:54] Speaker C: Interesting conversation. [00:06:55] Speaker B: Sometimes, though, those are all caught too. Those are all. There is also a very, and I'm gonna say it, there is an episode out there that cannot be found that is three and a half hours long. And it's through automatic. It is good content. It's just a whole. [00:07:08] Speaker C: It's content. [00:07:09] Speaker B: It's just a whole bunch. [00:07:11] Speaker C: Call it what it is. [00:07:12] Speaker B: Exactly. A whole bunch of unorganized chaos is what I call that edition of the show. But thinking out loud, thoughts, literally, we were inside SportsCenter from 8 o' clock and we didn't leave till midnight. Okay. And there was a lot of wings eaten that night. [00:07:24] Speaker C: I remember we did it on wing night. [00:07:26] Speaker B: So, yeah, every time. Now look at where we are. Now. This is a clean, slick look. Now, before I get into top shed, I want to give you, the viewer and listener, the opportunity to help decorate this new studio. Look, if you know me, I talk a lot. I do a lot. I also like to look that slick and clean look. And that's what we're going for with the studio, as you can see. Look how beautiful this is. Mike. Brad. Oh, I can't thank Studio 726 enough. But we want you to be a part of the decoration of this studio. What do you think we need to add? Do you want to see some of the original content that we had, the jerseys up, that Gretzky picture that's iconic that I've had for over the last five years in the back? Or do you want to see something fresh, See our new logo? You can see all those. But we want you to be a part of decorating this studio and giving your opinion. So comment below, give us your feedback and what you think this studio should look like. Okay. Because we want to hear from you, but we're keeping the black and the colors. Okay. So you got to incorporate that inside what you want. You tell us what you want behind here and we will do that for you. And we'll definitely make sure we give you a shout out if we've used your ideas right. [00:08:35] Speaker C: I feel like there should be like some sort of like contest or something. [00:08:38] Speaker B: Maybe that's a maybe we'll leave that to the viewers and listeners as well. Do you want to make it a contest for the next show? Give your ideas below. We want you to be a part of it. You've been along for this ride for the last over decade. We owe that to you. Okay. Top Chad, I'm very excited to announce that that is off. That was an audible. That was a change. We've been calling our hockey segment Top Shelf for almost the last seven years. It's been a long time since the last seven years. And obviously with podcasts coming out of every which different way. You know, there. There was a change that we were discussing and how we're formatting this show and for hockey. We wanted to make sure that we had a name that still was connected to what we did. And we have two hockey segments on the show which was previously Top Shelf in Chock A Puck. Now we're renaming Top Shelf Top Shed, which I will confirm was originally going to be the rename of our podcast before people did reach out to me about that. But it's going to be focused on our hockey side. So Top Chad is just replacing the Top Shelf Shelf name as Chuck A Puck Still Remains, which is our OHL and major junior content, where Top Chad is going to focus on the National Hockey League in the national perspective. So, Justin, let's get into Top Chad let's take that puck toe drag. Top Chad. Now you know the meaning of what top chad means. And I did that a lot in hockey, believe it or not. Went top chat a lot. Don't give me that look. You know if you know. You know if you played with me or against me. Sorry goalies in advance. You. That glove was a little. Couldn't catch it all the time. Couldn't catch it all the time. [00:10:04] Speaker C: Any goalies feel free to come. [00:10:07] Speaker B: There we go. Now we want that interaction. [00:10:09] Speaker C: Please. [00:10:10] Speaker B: If you're a goalie that stopped me. I want to hear you below because I'm going to challenge you one on one. [00:10:14] Speaker C: Please reach out. I'd love these stories now. [00:10:17] Speaker B: Top Chad. Look. Season starting and what a blockbuster on the eve of the season starting yesterday. This has been talked about in so many which ways the last 24 hours. But Matty Nice going to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Corel Marchenko going the other way. Obviously other pieces involving Miles Wood, Mers England's Lorenz Andre and a conditional pick. All that being involved in the trade. But the main pieces of that trade be Maddie Nyes and Corel marchenko. Marchenko resigning. Six years. 12.5. Matty nice. Still there for six years at just over seven. Like, like very cat friend. Cat friendly. Definitely just a little nod to throw out there. If you know, you know. Justin, you're a Leaf fan. I'm a Leaf fan. If you're a follower of the show. We don't just talk Maple Leafs here. Okay. We tall National Hockey round. But obviously at least get a little bit of extra love because they are only eight hours away too. But this trade happens. Not unexpected. I don't care what anybody says. But I want your feedback and how you feel about this trade. We have to talk about it. [00:11:20] Speaker C: My knee jerk on this one yesterday. I was pretty upset. [00:11:23] Speaker B: I thought you were upset. Yeah, so was my wife. [00:11:25] Speaker C: But when you think about. You gotta look at it big picture a little bit. Like this is like three GMs that have tried to trade Matthew Nies now. So it like. I don't know. Is there something. Is there something we're not seeing? [00:11:39] Speaker B: What is miss? What do you need in the playoffs? Him power forward that can grind in the corners, gets good puck possession. But I have something to say about Marchenko on that too. [00:11:50] Speaker C: I'm gonna miss his dislike for the Florida Panthers. Like that's there. There was no one on the Toronto Maple Leafs that hated the Florida Panthers more than Matthew Nice between standing up in front of maybe, you know, I Don't. I don't. We could some injuries we could speculate and I mean his style of play given the injuries he's had. Some would say there's a bit of risk there. And Marchenko there's. There's a lot of up they know what they have in Matthew Nye or had in Matthew Nies. Marchenko has a lot of upside and truthfully if we're talking about this big picture, I think the Leafs may be preparing themselves for a life if Auston Matthews decides he doesn't want to be there anymore. [00:12:35] Speaker B: And people think that when I've talked to some people they feel that this is the opposite. They feel that they're trying to find a way to retain But I'm going to go on the other side to get people absolutely angry. Maybe this is to attract interest from someone else if they hit the open market too. I'm just saying. Or their fans aren't going to like that. You knew what I was talking about. But there Chaika has done more moves than I can ever tell by a GM since I've been a Leaf fan. You look back at the Pacquin days. Ferguson ew not going to go there. Chuck Fletcher still kind of young in those days but those they this team has went through a lot of GMs and boy wonder when he came in soon eight of Kyle Dubas, which is not a chirp that is that was his nickname going in and he's still a magnificent GM and hockey mind. He's the president of operations in Pittsburgh for a reason. You know we looked in the background of that it was Brendan Shanahan playing the strings a little bit on Dubas. Couldn't do what he wanted to do. Tree living sort of the same. And then last year as things happened he was let go midway through the season and then you know we it was all kind of just a mess last year and you bring in Chaika, which was not a popular hire by any means. Then Matt Sundin comes in. I love that whatever his title is senior advisor to hockey operations and he has all these different titles and people weren't a fan of Chaikin and say they don't want to work with him. But guess what he makes all these signings. He trades Matty Nice which apparently was getting traded for Zach Warinski earlier in the season in the offseason didn't happen [00:14:02] Speaker C: for as rumored as he was to not be liked around the league, he seems to have no problem making deals. So I was. I was skeptical going into this because again There was a lot of noise around this guy, but at the same. Like there were when Kyle Dubas came onto the Leaf. There were two boy wonders at the time and he was the other one. So I mean you can't. I guess this is a lot of speculation. You can't. The way Arizona was ran and the way Toronto Iran are two totally different operations. So you can't say he's gonna make the same mistakes he made in there. So you got to let him roll with it. And for the first time in a long time, it seems like there's a plan. [00:14:42] Speaker B: Yeah, like they 10 over 10 new players on the Saturday night roster. [00:14:46] Speaker C: It looks like puck possession speed. [00:14:48] Speaker B: Corral Merchenko is one of the top percentiles in the league for puck possession. [00:14:52] Speaker C: Like they're. They plan on keeping that puck in the offensive zone most of the game. [00:14:56] Speaker B: You know what teams are going to do. They're going to try to, they're going to try to pressure them to do that dump and chase game. But you know what, they have guys in their lineup that if teams do convert to that, they can handle that. Cone Sizzins, Nick Paul. Not saying these guys are going to put up 40 goals a season, but they can handle those games in those tough months. [00:15:10] Speaker C: The dump and chase isn't going to work. These guys got PTSD from Craig Barubi. Like it's not, it's not just. It's not going to fly. [00:15:18] Speaker B: And Radish with Riley, you got to like that as Lee fans now I know we went into this trade. It was a shocker around the hockey world. It was not nice getting traded. This is my take on it. Nice wasn't a surprise for me to get traded. He was holding that stick real tight in preseason. He was looking at, it seemed like off all of offseason he was hearing these rumors. Rensky, Montreal last year is always the center of trades. Was something going on? What don't we know? But you know what I do know? Toronto's gonna want, want a power forward that can do what he does in the playoffs and that's what people are going to make a joke about. You can joke about Zach Hyman, Nazem Kadri, these guys that they got rid of. I can tell you right now I would dream to have a cadre Hyman and NY's line right now and you Leafs had those players despite Dean being different eras. Maddie Nyes is going to be very effective in Columbus with Fantilli, Ken Johnson, there's guys there. They're going to be helping. He's going to fit that role. But something was not right about him this preseason. The Leafs did want to move on from him. They got a very big asset in Corel Marchenko, a guy who's did very well in puck possession, a guy who did also very well on a team that didn't allow him to exploit his skills as much as he could. And we're going to see something this year. And Montreal tonight is the opener for the Leafs. 83 more games after tonight to go. So there's been a lot of shows about this, okay? A lot of different podcasts, a lot of different channels have done this. A lot of people have seen clips about it and have interacted on the clips with it. But we want to give you our take, okay? We've been doing this 11 years, okay? And you know what? This is something for divisions that we've done a little bit different. We want to be able to have you to interact here on our first episode of season 11 in our new studio. And what Justin and I are going to do is we're going to go through the divisions. I'm going to do the Atlantic, Justin will do the Metropolitan and so on. We'll rotate through divisions to tell who you think, who we think are going to be the winners of those divisions. Then we have some other predictions by yours truly, perhaps MVP and so on. As we have the puck drop, which is actually dropping tonight. We're recording On September, the 29th puck drop is tonight starting in the National Hockey League 84 game season. Remember folks, 84 games in the National Hockey League. Now, two more games, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but it will make a difference when it comes to the end. Especially when I talk about this division, the Atlantic Division preview. Look, I'm not going to dissect each team, okay? I want to talk to you about how. One thing though. This division is by far the best division in the National Hockey League. It's not even close. And that's not a bias to Toronto. Heck, as a Toronto fan, I'd rather them be in a division that's like the Pacific or the Central. Sorry, more so the, more so the Pacific. But besides that, the Atlantic Division is the hardest division in hockey. Take it or leave it if you want. From first to last, giving. Florida is going to be first in the division. Second I got Montreal and then third, I got Buffalo. Fourth Toronto, which will be a wild card finish. And I got fifth that to Tampa Bay Lightning, which is another wild card finish. Boston, Detroit and Ottawa rounding out the division. Justin. [00:18:27] Speaker C: Interesting, interesting. And the Metro looks like Carolina pending any goalie disasters. I'm thinking it's going to take the division. They got Bussy there and I can't. Peter. [00:18:39] Speaker B: Peter Korchenkoff. [00:18:40] Speaker C: Yeah, I can't. I know he's Czech from the homeland, but I can't, I cannot say his name. Then Washington, Philly. I think Philly New Jersey could flip flop based on how the season goes. [00:18:51] Speaker B: Oh yeah. [00:18:52] Speaker C: Pittsburgh missing out, Rangers missing out. Islanders and Columbus rounding out the bottom. But maybe a flip flop there now with the Matthew Nyes move. [00:19:00] Speaker B: So yeah, that Marchenko trade. I did this pre Marchenko, but I didn't want to change it. I think this is how tough the division is in Atlantic. But the Metro department is going to be a bit more consistent this year. There's Washington did a lot this off season. New Jersey, Philadelphia is looking really good. I think Porter Marton's gonna have a great season. Central Division, this is my favorite division in the west that I'm going to be watching. I get to watch the Minnesota Wild and the Toronto Maple Leafs this year on November 12th at Scotiabank Arena. I still want to see the Arcana center first to last. Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoth, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle St. Louis Blues Round out the Central Division and Pacific. [00:19:42] Speaker C: Last but not least, Vegas leading the way. I think that's, that's pretty well a given there. Edmonton. Anaheim I think is creeping up there. They got, they got quite a team they're building down there. LA and San Jose I think could flip flop given how the season goes. [00:19:58] Speaker B: San Jose brainy. [00:19:59] Speaker C: Yeah, like I. That one I've been staring at for a while and I, I mean San Jose could even beat out Anaheim. But that's, this is our season preview. So you know, Seattle, Calgary and. Calgary and Vancouver around at the bottom. It's just rough for the Western Canadian team. [00:20:15] Speaker B: People feel that Vancouver is going to bounce back. They don't have the team. I don't, I don't feel. I think Vancouver is going to be selling really hard. I know Jordan Trudeau or Chuck a Puck co host is going to have something to say about that. Perhaps. Now I want to get to some, some trophy. Individual trophy winners. Okay, so MVP this year. I got Connor McDavid winning the. All right, Ross. I don't got anything that's going to be too surprising here, people. Just so you know, James Norris, Cal McCarr. Okay. Cale McCarr. That's not. This might come as a shock pending health. But I think despite where Dallas is going to fist Jake Ottinger, I'm waiting for that season about Jake Ondra to really take that step. I know the favorite there's the Vasilevskies, of course. And if Hollabuk was playing, which he's not, we'll get to Hollaback in just a second. I am picking Jake Onger. Now, before we get into the last topic on top shed here, there's a lot of legends moving on in hockey this year and I mean that from a show perspective. Hockey Night Canada's not what we're used to. It's not, it's not. [00:21:11] Speaker C: It's back now for PWHL starting in November, I believe. I think they're like six Saturday nights. [00:21:19] Speaker B: So we're seeing a change on the landscape from the National Hockey League. Amazon and, and these, these streamers are getting them. We're seeing it on the NFL. And these different. These are different already. Friend of the show, Kelly Rudy. I did have the chance to talk to him about it and obviously wished him the best on behalf of our show and he was saying that obviously there's going to be opportunities for him to look and explore other things and we hope that Kelly could take the time to come back on and chat with us. I'll never forget what Kelly did for us when we heard about the, the passing of Scott, how, how great that was and I'll never forget how great of a man Kelly is. But when I heard himself not being no longer on that panel. Elliot Friedman, Kevin Biaxa. Things still getting figured out there. Elliot Friedman's like the biggest free agent in media. That been the game. Couldn't afford them. I, I couldn't offer him a contract. Justin, I apologize. [00:22:03] Speaker C: I don't think we were, I don't think we were in the running. [00:22:06] Speaker B: I don't think so. Not yet. Not yet. Amazon's more involved. Prices are increasing on platforms and this is what's big. Things are increasing. We're seeing ticket prices increase everywhere. It is unbelievable. But to see the, the names changing. Friedman, bxa, Rudy. It's going to be a little bit different this year, but I'm still going to enjoy it. I didn't mind Amazon and all these. They're. They got good content on there and [00:22:28] Speaker C: bottle's on TNT now. She moved over there. [00:22:32] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:22:32] Speaker B: So there's been some moves a lot of things get used to this year. But the last topic, Justin and yes, we have notes we usually don't follow notes on this show. And I was going to put my table down, but I like showing the black table the new nice back table for the game. [00:22:43] Speaker C: I don't want to clutter it up with all this paperwork. [00:22:45] Speaker B: No, I don't. Contracts. I know we only have a few minutes. Few minutes means a handful here. [00:22:51] Speaker C: Talking about like my contract with the show. [00:22:53] Speaker B: Yeah. You just resigned Justin to a max contract. Asked him for a team friend, didn't take it. Connor Hallibuck, Dylan Larkin. Look at these contracts that are signed by these players. No movement clauses have requested a trade. Larkin. The holdout is for real on Larkin. The Connor Hallebuck thing is where I want to spin this on a brief point, but then I want to bring up the point that I'm getting to. Connor Helbach requested a trade. We all know this. Suspended by the team. He's not welcome in that locker room right now. If I'm the captain of the Winnipeg Jets, I don't want him in that locker room. If I'm Lowry, I'm saying I don't want you here. I know they would take him if you wanted to come back, actually, but there'd have to be some severe apologizing. You don't want to be here. We want players that want to be here. And the Winnipeg is such a special team. I thought a couple years ago, I thought this was a team that could be in a strong running to make the Stanley cup finals, if not win the Stanley Cup. I had a prediction where I thought it was either Oilers Leafs or Winnipeg jets and Leafs the year that Toronto lost to Florida in the second round. But Conor Hallebuck has requested a trade from Winnipeg on a no movement clause. And Justin, I think players that have a no movement clause, I don't give. And here it is, three, two, one for swear shit about anybody that wants to trade. If you have a no movement clause, if you sign that no movement clause, that is your fault. That is your. That is your decision. You're staying with that team. And if the player requests a trade and violates that no movement clause, you waive your entire no movement clause, which means the teams can trade you to any team that they want. Any team that they want. No team's gonna make a trade for you if you don't want to go there. So you don't even have to worry about that. But once you say I don't want to play somewhere anymore, your contract is now voided. And I think these no movement clauses, GMs have to stop throwing them around like candy. They have to Start throwing it around on tier level. I think contracts should be voided, like I said, and I think contracts have to be classified in tiers. Connor McDavid is a tier platinum. If you want the best player in the world, he makes over $20 million. When he signs his contract, he gets a no move. Kale Makar, eligible. McKinnon, if he had a contract, eligible. Matthews, you know, But Connor Helbuk, when he signed, he didn't get that. [00:25:05] Speaker C: So, like, we can go. You can go off on the no movement thing for as long as you want, but we don't know the details of the no movement. Is it a five team? Is it a ten team? Is it. He picks the team. [00:25:14] Speaker B: You only hear that it was three. [00:25:15] Speaker C: So, yeah, so he's got three teams he doesn't want to go to. So there's 20. [00:25:20] Speaker B: No, three teams he'll go to. [00:25:21] Speaker C: Teams will go, yeah. So, like you, yeah, the team's in a bad spot like you already. The team's trying to sell broken merchandise, essentially. So they're not. The offers you're going to get are junk. [00:25:33] Speaker B: Y. [00:25:34] Speaker C: The. Your best opportunity here, for both of them, is to kind of make amends, play it out till the deadline and move it along. I. I think that's. In a perfect world, how this situation rolls out. I don't like the media spin on this whole thing. It's been. It's. It's been months of this, truthfully, the whole summer, it's been the Hockey News they've grabbed onto to just beat us to the. You know, beat the death. Truthfully, you know, American players leaving, Canadian teams, Ottawa, everyone saw that coming. He wants to play with his brother. Okay. He's got a brother in Florida. Whatever. Other spins on that. I mean, they may have said some stuff on their podcast that would allude otherwise, but when the president of the country is tweeting you out, you know, you got to toe the line, I guess, a little bit. Hellebuck, I think, is more of a situation like Marner. He signed a contract he wants. He wouldn't have signed a contract if he didn't want to be there. I think the media circus around this is forcing him to just reconsider how he approaches hockey. I mean, Winnipeg was a pretty quiet spot up until this whole thing happened. [00:26:39] Speaker B: Very special team. And like I said, no movement clauses avoids it. And we're always hearing, like, Larkin, it's Minnesota, Vegas or Florida. Okay. In hollaback, we're hearing San Jose, you know, we're here, Buffalo, and we're hearing Vegas. Look, I know you want to go in a cup and do it, but there's nothing more proud than to win a cup to the team that you started and doing it with. And Winnipeg had something special. Now, obviously with some of the moves that's happened on that team, I think they got to start thinking future focus. They have their new 8th overall pick. Bork is their second line center right now. This team needs to shift cheval day off. Needs to not bend and break here though. Do not break. Let him sit in the rafters wherever. Let them sit in Russia. You're not playing anymore. [00:27:24] Speaker D: You're. [00:27:24] Speaker B: If you don't want to play until we find the deal that we want, you're not playing or you suck it up and come play while we try to find you a deal without being a distraction, which is not possible in today's day and age. Get your rear end to the rink Hellabak and play for the Jets. Wait until a trade happens that makes sense and also helps the team that you supposedly care for. I probably ruined Connor Hallibuck forever coming on this show and not being a fan, if you ever heard that. But that's, that's fine. You have no movement clauses voided if you request a trade and heluck get back in between the pipes for the Olympic Jets. [00:27:58] Speaker C: Yeah, we'll, we'll agree to disagree on that one. I. Yeah, I think he's, he's toeing a line and he's okay, he's comfortable. [00:28:06] Speaker B: But if he doesn't play for four years, I wonder what that will turn out like. It won't happen, though. That's what the players union will step in. But that's a whole other conversation. Justin. It's been top. Chad. [00:28:14] Speaker C: It's good. Good first little episode. Nice little edgy topic at the end there. [00:28:19] Speaker B: Yes. A little bit of fun. A little bit of fun. And we're going to take a quick breather, have a sip of our drink. When we come back, we're going to do a weird transition rate to football, then back to hockey. We want to keep you on your toes on this first edition of the game of our Launch on season 11 inside Studio 726. Don't go anywhere. [00:28:34] Speaker D: Be right back. [00:28:35] Speaker B: Welcome back to the Game Sports Podcast. Dave McKay continuing to host you this evening in our relaunch show of the Game sports podcast. So that was a little bit of enthusiasm because season 11 is now upon us inside our new studio here, inside Studio 726. Follow us on all social media platforms. To search us. Heck, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, any of these AI platforms can find us too. Okay, you have no excuse not to find the game Sports podcast. Justin, switch from hockey switching gears to football in the Pocket. It's going to be a little different. We have had a lot of different type of episodes with with within the Pocket. [00:29:14] Speaker C: We've had a lot of time to figure out. What doesn't work I think is the look. [00:29:19] Speaker B: You know we've talked last week. Yeah. And then we talked this week's games. [00:29:24] Speaker C: Well, nobody wants to talk last week because they all watched last week. They all watched it unless they're Cowboys fans. Then they want to talk about 25 years ago. So. [00:29:31] Speaker B: Yeah. And the Netflix documentary was actually pretty [00:29:34] Speaker D: good by the way. [00:29:34] Speaker B: Not gonna lie, I like that documentary. But the the things that we're going to focus on here on in the Pocket is going to be the focus about the week of games with the players to watch out for and then if if time allows given our pick them league we have a pick em league next year everyone will be able to join that are viewers and listeners of the show. But if we will do that this week we don't have winners that we are picking necessarily. This week we're highlighting the five best games to watch out for between the two of us and players look out for for your fantasy leagues to pick up, drop, trade or make sure that they're in your lineup. For our first segment of in the Pocket for season 11. Short, brief, clean and slick. Justin, top five matchups this week. There's a lot of interesting ones. Okay. I liked last week was enjoyable. I think my favorite game of the week bias was the Steelers Bengals game. There was a real firepower of a game that went down to the end. Big win for for Pittsburgh. Of course it definitely is for means of the division. I I really think that the NFL this year is not going to have those obvious picks. I think that's going to be the type of year. I think there's going to be a lot of storylines and surprises this year but it could be a hot take. [00:30:47] Speaker C: Very defensive so far this year. [00:30:49] Speaker B: Yes. [00:30:50] Speaker C: If you're a big fan of defenses, you're loving football this year that I mean the Broncos game Sunday night. [00:30:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:30:57] Speaker C: That you got. There was two different games that first half and that second half because that was absolutely bananas. That yeah safety. I can't remember his name right now but for the Broncos played like a man on fire out there the entire game and I believe the 49ers cut him. The 49ers who need safety help, cut him. [00:31:15] Speaker B: So matchups this week, though. Five matchups this week. Okay, I'll stay with my five, then you go to yours. But then you're gonna do your fantasy players. [00:31:23] Speaker C: Yeah, we've got a couple. Couple players to look out for, I think. I mean, there's an obvious. Not so obvious and off the board. And then I got to be maybe one little sleeper. [00:31:32] Speaker A: Oh, sleeper. [00:31:33] Speaker B: Little snooze. Yeah, like that. Top five matchup games for me this week. I got the Rams and Eagles is one. I think that's a snobby's pick given the elite teams that they are. Colts and Commanders. I love the international matchups. This is in London, 9am get up. Get your eggs and bacon out and your mimosas, bangers and mash. Yes, yes. Well done. Cowboys and Texans. Lone Star State battle, always a doozy. 49ers and Broncos. I still call this an elite matchup at Levi. I think it's going to be an exciting game to watch and I'm going to go bias Steelers and Browns because who doesn't love a divisional matchup? [00:32:06] Speaker C: It's. That's a prime time game and a primetime game. Everyone's getting ready for a solid 137 game. [00:32:14] Speaker B: That's going to be the score. [00:32:15] Speaker C: 13. [00:32:15] Speaker B: I agree. I'll one up you to say 14 7. [00:32:18] Speaker C: I don't know how it's going to go, but that's how Steelers, Browns games go every time. [00:32:22] Speaker B: Every time. [00:32:22] Speaker C: Steelers coming off a big win. Cleveland coming off a big win though. [00:32:25] Speaker B: I think it's going to be great. [00:32:27] Speaker C: Everybody's riding high so far this week. [00:32:28] Speaker B: Literally. Now you. [00:32:30] Speaker C: I got a couple. We had what we have. We won the same 49ers. Broncos was the same. So I'll give you that one. We'll allow it. And yeah. J, what do we got? Jagged Bengals is my first one. All right, so interesting stat. Trevor Lawrence has been pulled in the fourth quarter of the last seven games because that's how high or that's how far up the Jags have been on the scoreboard. [00:32:52] Speaker B: Interesting. And Joe Burrow is just begging for a break. [00:32:55] Speaker C: So that little offensive offensive showdown there. Raiders and the Chiefs. [00:33:01] Speaker B: Why are you a Swifty on me? [00:33:02] Speaker C: 2, 3, 0 teams. [00:33:03] Speaker B: I am a swifty, by the way, [00:33:04] Speaker C: for the division lead. The almost at Oakland. [00:33:09] Speaker B: Las Vegas Raiders in the Darth Vader Stadium. [00:33:12] Speaker C: Yeah. Could be the division leaders after week four. [00:33:16] Speaker B: Unreal. [00:33:16] Speaker C: Falcon, Saints, another division game. [00:33:19] Speaker B: These are games I did not have my docket. [00:33:21] Speaker C: Falcons Unbelievable. Prime time last week. We were not too high on that game when we spoke about it. [00:33:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:33:27] Speaker C: And Bijon, you know what I mean? If you had him in fantasy, you were. You're a big Bijan guy. [00:33:32] Speaker B: Big Bijon guy. [00:33:33] Speaker C: Now we did the 49ers, Broncos and Lions, Panthers. I'd like to see the Lions kind of get back on the horse here and keep rolling, keep things moving. The they're a little stressful through that last game and I think the Panthers are a good matchup for them to really pounce on. [00:33:48] Speaker B: Yeah, that's pun intended. [00:33:49] Speaker C: You did the that though. [00:33:50] Speaker B: I did. You like that? [00:33:51] Speaker C: All right. Okay. [00:33:52] Speaker B: Fantasy players of the week. Who are you telling people to pick up this week at fantasy or trade [00:33:56] Speaker C: well, I think or play well. Just play the waiver wires depending on the you know the depth of your pool is going to be a little iffy. But Brock Bauer is probably a must start this week after last week's performance. Big division game this week. Jalen Warren, Steelers running back popped off last week. Going to be a big, big ground game I think going into Cleveland this week. Off the board a little bit. Bill's defense against Drake may okay. The Patriots. I don't if someone knows what the Patriots are doing on offense tell us because I haven't been able to figure it out. [00:34:29] Speaker B: No, they surprised me last year. [00:34:31] Speaker C: Vrabel had his game blown up in the off season in the media there and team just can't do it. No off the board a little bit. Our sleeper so to say. Case Keenum still starting in Chicago. Khalif Raymond available in most leagues. So 14 points this week. [00:34:48] Speaker B: Love that. So those auto sleeper picks are massive and maybe you comment below but you think we the people should be picking up at their fantasy start the interaction on our social media platforms with that YouTube, the game sports podcast. Tick tock. Instagram the game sports podcast now football. Justin is already hitting week five. Week four, going almost week five, almost said five. It's week four. Flying by puck drop of the season. [00:35:11] Speaker C: Sportstober starts today. [00:35:13] Speaker B: Yes, it does. Baseball, baseball, baseball playoffs. Yes. Strike zone's gonna be a blue jayless playoff talk later on. [00:35:21] Speaker C: That's a little. That's a sad one. Hanging up jerseys. [00:35:26] Speaker B: Yep, it's very sad. Tear jerkers if you will. Justin. Thank you my friend. This has been the first episode of season 11. It was overdue. We're a month late. We're a month late and that's fine. But we're doing it for you. [00:35:38] Speaker C: New digs, you new Digs are pretty slick, everybody. [00:35:40] Speaker B: Yes, these are slick. And there's more to come if remember what I said, be a part of the discussion to help decorate the new studio of the game. By the way, the table and the plant over here stays. Okay, just making sure you know that. Now we're going to take a little break. When we come back, we're going to have some chuk a puck and I'm not going to chuck this puck because these are new walls. I'm not going to. I'm not going to be start denting walls in here, but if I get a bouncy puck, I'll get that. We have Jordan Trudeau coming on to chat with us for our third segment. Don't go anywhere. Welcome back to the Game Sports podcast. Your host, Dave McKay continuing to host you this evening. I got a new co host over in this fancy chair in our new studio at Studio 726, the game studio. Jordan Trudeau. Chuck a puck time, my friend. Let's throw him. Throwing pucks. I just kicked it out of the way because I kicked it to the middle. So you can win the prize. Chuck a puck. Third season of Chuck a Puck, my friend. Three years of doing Chuckle buck. Not as long as in the pocket spin or even top Chad for that for that matter. But this is a segment that holds close to us. The fans really enjoy, especially in the community, a lot of interaction on this show. The game sports podcast, working with Sioux Greyhounds News and Major Junior News is certainly appreciated. And we are a select community that is proud of the Sioux Greyhounds. But all the communities that have their OHL teams, very proud to have them. And it's a very proud league, just like the Q, just like the W. But overall, junior hockey is getting the recognition it deserves. More so too. And you're leading it truths. Like you said, I call the plays and you execute the plays, as we like to call it. Because you're the choco puck expert, I want to make sure promote that you're the chocolate buck expert. [00:37:17] Speaker D: Oh, thanks, Dave. I appreciate that. [00:37:19] Speaker B: I want to make sure I give you a nice give you get you all excited for this, for this launch show in our new studio. As I get excited with my hands, don't know what else I want to do. I might hit the mic. So I got to do it like that. [00:37:30] Speaker D: Yeah, you might have to, you know, like calm down on the hands a bit or just watch out for the mic. But you've been using your hands a lot. Yes, but it's been really Good. And I'm. I'm excited to get this show going. So. Yeah. [00:37:42] Speaker B: So let's. Let's chuck those pucks, even though we just did. And let's talk about it. We're already into the OHL season. Okay. Obviously we're a few weeks in and as you can see, a few weeks, weekends, whatever way you want to look at it. And we are launching our show in season 11 a little bit late because of obvious reasons about what we've been going through for the past few months. Just getting to where we want to be today. Teams are hot starting out of the gate. Double Sudbury, Brantford, London, obviously hot of the gate. Even. Even Sarnia hot out of the gate. Trades. Before everything got started, we talked about Tanner, Adam before, just via text and via conversation. Just got an absolute haul. 17 picks. Obviously a Nixon McCaig got drafted for the Sioux Greyhounds. That happened. So excited. [00:38:26] Speaker D: And he did. He did play a couple preseason games for the Greyhounds. And he looked good in training camp, so. But he's still a little bit young, Dave. Like, he's still only 16. So we're hoping, like, we're hoping that in a couple years, right, he'll make the team. [00:38:43] Speaker B: Look, a McCaig ended up having his last name on the back of a Greyhound jersey. The furthest I got was at a hound. At a hound. [00:38:49] Speaker D: Yeah. And what. Okay, what number would like, like just make the cake if he could be a number and have that McKeg. 13. [00:38:58] Speaker B: Do you want to know what number I wore at camp when I was there? 59. [00:39:02] Speaker D: 59. When I was there. [00:39:03] Speaker B: We're 59. [00:39:04] Speaker D: I didn't even know that they had [00:39:05] Speaker B: numbers on the back of T shirts, [00:39:07] Speaker D: but I didn't even know that they had numbers before 28, so. [00:39:11] Speaker B: Oh, it was for training for me. [00:39:14] Speaker D: Okay. [00:39:14] Speaker C: Okay. [00:39:15] Speaker B: So when you did workouts and beep tests and all that, they need to identify you as a number. [00:39:19] Speaker D: Who was the best player you played with that superhuman training camp? [00:39:23] Speaker B: Jordan Olin. [00:39:24] Speaker D: Oh, that makes sense. [00:39:25] Speaker B: Jordan Olin. Kanachi was there. Nick Cousins were there. [00:39:27] Speaker D: Oh, they were good. [00:39:28] Speaker B: Eric was an absolute beast and just like to fight and be a good hybrid all the time. [00:39:32] Speaker D: Jordan. [00:39:33] Speaker B: But you know who the best player player was on that ice? Jake Muzzin. Absolutely Muzzin. And Nolan Muzzin absolutely leveled me with my head down at the blue eye. And funny story, I saw him last year coming out of the leaf game. We said, muzz, it's kegger. He memory. Oh, my God. Gave me a hug because we Knew each other from training the cow and all that. And I talked about him hitting me. [00:39:54] Speaker D: So cool. [00:39:55] Speaker B: And muzz went. I didn't remember that. Were you okay? After I said I saw ptsd, I never. Like, I. I turned around, I received the puck just before the blue line. And I knew when I received the puck it was a bad idea. I heard strides, and it was the strides of Jacob Muzzin, everybody. Okay? And I took that and guess what? I got up. So those NHL players that didn't get up stronger that aside, it was one of the best experiences. It was great. I had a good camp. Not gonna lie. It was fun. I scored goals. The only goal aid in scoring was Robin Leonard. [00:40:25] Speaker D: What? [00:40:26] Speaker B: He did a cross ice, one timer, glove save on me. And after I went up and tapped him on the pad, he said, you no score on me. [00:40:32] Speaker D: Well, NHL goalie right there. Future NHL goalie. [00:40:35] Speaker B: He might be the best goalie I've shot against. I would say is up there. Robin Leonard is up there for sure. [00:40:40] Speaker D: That makes sense because he was. He's probably one of the best goalies in Sioux Greyhound history, if not the best. I know we had a couple other ones, but. [00:40:46] Speaker B: Yeah, fun little story we get to tell people. Okay. We all know Dave talks about when he played in his playing days. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. But Trudes. Okay, now I don't play. I played men's league now. Yeah, okay, we played men's league just for fun. We're all in the same spot now. But you know what? Still talking about the major junior scene. And the season's gotten underway and teams have started hot and the Hounds, pretty good start as well. Players have looked good out there. And we're going to talk about the landscape of the. Of the league and then talk hound. So let's go around the league favorites going into the season, teams that are hot. [00:41:19] Speaker D: Yeah, we said Sudbury, like early on. I don't remember me. And you were talking and we said Sudbury. The Sudbury Wolves were gonna be good. And they are 40 now. Right? So, like. And a big part of that is their goaltending. Like, we know Sudbury early on they went and got Tanner Adams. They. They have Cash Kwaja. Right. So the top three and top fifth overall pick of the last draft, they have a couple NHL prospect forwards. They have some solid defensemen. It was just going to be that goaltending. And their goalie, Paolo Frasca, had a.955 save percentage. He was the OHL goaltender of the week. [00:42:01] Speaker B: Is that good. [00:42:03] Speaker D: And he gets them to four, zero, [00:42:07] Speaker B: you know, so it'll be 68, no truths. [00:42:09] Speaker D: Wow. That's, that's. [00:42:10] Speaker B: The OHL's been putting things up saying, [00:42:12] Speaker D: I know, I saw that. [00:42:14] Speaker B: Road to 68. No, like what? No, I don't think any team. 68. No. [00:42:18] Speaker D: That would be incredible. [00:42:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:42:20] Speaker D: But I think, you know, great start for Sudbury. I did read somewhere that it was like their best start since like the 90s. 4 and oh. So that's, that's a really good, good problem for them to have a lot of youth. [00:42:36] Speaker B: They said they sacrifice getting rid of their picks. They have youth on that team. They were able to do that and look how well they're performing. For me, no matter how the rest of the season goes, a lot of promise there in Sudbury. They're a playoff team though. They, they're, they're going to be, they're going to be a top team in that conference this year. [00:42:50] Speaker D: Okay. Certainly, I think they will. They might be a top. Top three or four or even top two team. [00:42:56] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:42:56] Speaker C: So. [00:42:56] Speaker B: And they're gonna be one of the better teams in the country. [00:42:58] Speaker D: Certainly, certainly London 3. And I know we don't want to give a lot of chat to London on this. We're from the dark side. [00:43:06] Speaker B: The dark side. [00:43:07] Speaker D: A lot of the OHL teams. Right. You know, they, it's London versus everybody. [00:43:13] Speaker B: Literally always so good. [00:43:16] Speaker D: Always. And they do have four first rounders now on their roster with their new Finnish import coming in and reporting to them. So you know, they're going to be strong out of the gate. And also the Brantford Bulldogs, you know, coming off a really, really solid season where they sold off like all of their draft picks, all of their assets just to build a super team, didn't end up obviously winning the Eastern Conference final, lost to the Barry Colts, but so they're in a rebuild year and now they are 5 and O to start the season. So really, really impressive. [00:43:58] Speaker B: Aiden Kelly. [00:43:59] Speaker D: Spencer Iman. Yeah, Aiden Kelly. Eight points in his first five games as an OHL rookie. Not easy to do. So again, it just seems like they find these players and they find ways to make them the best player that they can be and develop them into really, really solid players. You know, we've seen Jake o', Brien, Caleb Malhotra come to that system. Like a lot of really, really good players. Jet Luchenko was traded there last year. Like they are a very well run organization, so props to them. [00:44:31] Speaker B: And London, people are also upset at London because they're an organization that Is attracted, especially from the import perspective. [00:44:38] Speaker D: Right. [00:44:39] Speaker B: This is, you know, when you're Sault Ste. Marie, you're Sudbury, you're more of those smaller. I use quotations because their communities are [00:44:46] Speaker D: growing like a smaller market. [00:44:47] Speaker B: A smaller market team. You know, obviously London has the credibility that it has for obvious reasons. They've had a lot of alumni in there, friends of the show. Rob Schremp. Those. Those are some names. One of the best. [00:45:00] Speaker D: Legendary knight legend. [00:45:02] Speaker B: One of the best and big fan of the show. Rob, if you had him on the show, you can definitely check out that episode. It's great. Our special editions are in on the YouTube channel, obviously. Patty Kane, John Tavares, the list goes on and on and on. Right. So the Sue Greyhounds, though, have a lot of names. They have the best name in hockey that hangs in that rafter. [00:45:22] Speaker A: It's there. [00:45:23] Speaker D: Best color. [00:45:23] Speaker B: Best color. Wayne Gretzky, one of the best playmakers of all time in the rafters. One of the best defensemen at all of all time in Paul Coffey. [00:45:32] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:33] Speaker B: All right. And obviously they've had a lot of legends come through and there's a lot of names that should be up there that aren't. Okay. I talked about the hounds all time, point getting point forward before, but nonetheless they're starting to do that. Recognizing. I follow Joe Thornton in the bathroom one time. Just kidding. Didn't follow him. Anybody. That's just a joke. Just a joke. So this season though, we. We have a lot that we can get into the season. So is there a sleeper team choose that you can think of? Is there a team that is a sleeper for you that could be a surprise this season? [00:46:05] Speaker D: Well, not to sound biased here, but it might be the Sault Ste. Marie greyhounds. [00:46:10] Speaker B: Love it. [00:46:12] Speaker D: Like, to be honest here, if you're looking at a team that was probably not expected to have such a fast start because they're built on more of a younger talent and younger depth. But the greyhounds are proving early, like they could very easily be four and oh, you know, if they didn't drop that game to Sarnia where they had that lead and then they blew it late very easily. Could be 4, 0. No, the Greyhounds have been impressive so far this season and like another sleeper pick, I guess the brand for bulldogs as well. I mean, if you're going with like Israeli considered that. I don't think so. I think Sudbury, Sudbury, like with the move that they have made, brought in Tanner Adams, they had Cash Kwaja, like, so that's the third and the Fifth overall. Yeah, good point. They got a really solid lineup through and through. It's just gonna be their goaltending. [00:47:01] Speaker B: And there's obviously the teams that aren't gonna be a surprise. [00:47:04] Speaker D: Guelph. Guelph. [00:47:05] Speaker C: Right. [00:47:06] Speaker B: Like, you gotta think of these teams that aren't. [00:47:08] Speaker D: They had. They had 10 players return from NHL camp this week. 10 already. And so they're a Memorial cup host. Well, they're the host. And they're already an OHL championship favorite and a Memorial cup favorite, like so. And you know, they're not done buying. Like, they're not gonna be done. So. [00:47:29] Speaker B: No, they're mortgaging that future. [00:47:30] Speaker D: Yeah. So I can't remember off the top of my head when golf is gonna be here, but, Sue, Greyhound fans, come watch Guelph Storm when they come to town because they are going to be like a really, really tough team for this greyhound team to play. [00:47:48] Speaker B: And Trudes myself will be there. [00:47:50] Speaker D: We will. [00:47:51] Speaker B: We got there. Got our passes there. Come say hi to us when we're. When we're up there. So the Greyhounds you talked about as being as a team, that would be. They wouldn't want to be biased in a little bit of a sleeper team. I'm already a big Trevor Daly Jr. [00:48:06] Speaker A: Fan. [00:48:06] Speaker B: Saw his dad in Starbucks. I didn't say hi. I knew when I was younger, I feel like it'd be weird. I don't like invading people's space, of course. But yeah, Trevor Daly Jr. Is. Is special. Heck of a shot. And the Castro fan. Fan of that as well. Big fan of Nixon, McCagg for various reasons as well. But truth jokes aside, Hayes being named captain. [00:48:30] Speaker D: Yes. Former. [00:48:32] Speaker B: I like to say former co host. Though Dustin's take taking a little time off from doing the show, but he's on here sometimes, so I like to call him a casual host when he feels like it, but obviously lives with. With Hayes of the Billet family. And we've had that. That was a great episode with Dustin talking about Billet Family. We had that as well. Check that out. Great content. Even though it's from last year, it's still great to watch. We have a special team with Drew Bannister back. Not who we had on our radar. If you listened to our show before, we were talking friend of the show, Jordan Smith. We were talking. Todd Bertuzzi was up there. I was talking about the Kitchener Ranger assistant coach as well. And Bannister comes back like this whole team. And we had a lot that we wanted to get into, but Landon Miller's back. There's a unique roster that has been built here with the Greyhounds this year. [00:49:20] Speaker D: Yeah, I think it's less top heavy than it was in the past. So, you know, last year, you look at, you had the big star like Brady Martin and Chase Reed, even Marco Mignosa, right? Marco Mignosa, the overage forward, like there wasn't a time when he wasn't on the ice that he wasn't dangerous or he, he was gonna get a. He might get a point at any given shift at any point in time. So you had those top end players, those star players this year. They bring in a lot of forwards and more defensemen that are another year seasoned. So even though they're younger, they do have the depth. They have a lot more depth. And to me, it's, it's the structure. It's the new structure and the new system that's been put in place. Obviously, Noah Louse, Ryan Kaczynski, Trevor Daly Jr. Those three key high draft picks for the Hounds really, really make it put on a show early on, leading the team in points and Ryan Kaczynski leading the league in goals just to end September. But no, it's, it's. I'm noticing the clear assignments in the D zone, you know, getting the puck back and then moving it crisp and quick out of the zone, making it really hard on other teams. And it's making them a really, really dangerous transition team where they can generate a lot of offense from turnovers at their own blue line and at other points on the ice. There's tons of attention to detail with this team. They know their assignments, they know their structure. The power play moves the puck very well. They can enter the zone, they can hold possession while in the zone and generate scoring chances. And it's just, it's exciting to see this early on. [00:51:04] Speaker B: So it's a different style. [00:51:06] Speaker D: It's a different style and it's, you know, we're going to see the offense just flourish, I think, especially with a player like Travis Hayes, who's been named captain Obvious choice, by the way, in my opinion, most popular. It was the obvious choice on Facebook [00:51:21] Speaker B: was the most popular vote. [00:51:22] Speaker D: Yeah, like, you know, he's been here heart and soul of this team for so long. You know, that's, that's, that's the perfect choice. That's the greatest choice. And like another player, Quinn McKenzie, like, you just go down the roster and you. There's a player that you just forget about if you're just, you know, discussing their depth and Whatnot. It's like, oh, yeah, they have that guy, too. Or, oh, yeah, they have that guy as well. Like, so. It is. It's so exciting. One sad note. Harris Pangretich, the Ottawa prospect, he's gonna be out for about four or five months, unfortunately. But that gives, you know, some younger players a chance to step up and get some ice time, develop under this new system that Drew Bannister and his coaching staff has put in place. [00:52:05] Speaker B: Yeah. And it's a. It's a different. It's a system that's familiar to Hounds fans, but different to these players. And what we've seen over the past few years. [00:52:12] Speaker A: One. [00:52:12] Speaker B: Right. It's a team that is gonna respect this coach. And he's a character coach. That's what I find, a character coach. And when I define a character coach as he's expect, he has expectations from his guys, but he wants to get the best out of his guys. But he has a structure, and he expects that to be followed. He expects it, and they should expect it from him. It's that character coach that in and other names. There's so many opportunities to bring in coaches this year that you could have thought of. And I'll be straight. I'll say it on the show. I'm a big fan of Jordan Smith. I thought that that was a pick. But you know what? Smitty is assistant coaching with the. Your Vancouver Canucks. [00:52:49] Speaker D: Well, yeah. [00:52:49] Speaker B: And made a big choice there. Obviously, being under Manny, my whole trial is a decision I know that he couldn't turn down. Having conversations with him about it and, you know, the Banister coming back, he wasn't. This is who they wanted. This is who Raftus wanted back. This was his decision from conversations. This is what he wanted. And this is what the Hounds have had success with Bannister in the past. I know there hasn't been a Memorial cup or an OHL championship since the 90s, but you know what? This team is on the right direction. And with guys like obviously Lacastro, Trevor Daly, and having guys like Laos as well. And I call him the NOAA scout. But also the game sports podcast scout Jaron Bellini called having on our show, by the way. Called it, picked it. [00:53:36] Speaker D: He called that. He. He called it on this show. [00:53:38] Speaker B: He did. And I. I said that I would get a McCaig jersey if McCaig gets on the team. And you know what? It happened. Looks like two of those things happen. Looks like I'm gonna be buying a Nixon McCaig jersey. Maybe that's what Needs to be thrown in the back here. And Nixon's gonna be like, what is this guy doing? What's his obsession with me? Just look at the last name, pal. The same last name. Okay? I don't think we're related. [00:53:59] Speaker C: I don't think. [00:54:00] Speaker B: Who knows? Who knows? But the overall team. And we had some good point here that I want to talk about. You already touched on. It was clear assignments in the D zone. [00:54:08] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:54:08] Speaker B: I love that structure. I love in today's game, the way the systems are played. That's something that. From. That I'm familiar in language with, but it's an enhanced way of looking at it now. I feel that a lot of coaches that are in the major junior realm and you watch the systems play in the O and the Q and you. In comparison to even college hockey and ncaa, the structure is required, is needed to be there. And it's still big in the game. The things that you don't see as much as those big grueling hits that are just like people are looking for that. You know, we don't have Colt nor out there on the ice looking to knock someone down. Okay. And you have the guys who can get dirty in those areas, but they're scoring goals for you, which is really special. And I. I think a player that it's gonna be really special for the Hounds is Laos I. Watching him play, I just feel like that that is something special that the Hounds have and a lot of players. I think the Hounds have a good team. And I'm excited to watch Landon Miller, though this year more than almost any. We didn't get a chance last year. Yeah. Carter George was there. [00:55:11] Speaker C: Right. [00:55:12] Speaker B: And it was great watching Carter George, you know, but what I always ask was that the right trade to make. I know people think that's a hot take, but we gave up a lot of assets. And I say we because I'm speaking as a Hound fan. I'm speaking Hounds right now. Carter George was a. Was this the team that was going to do it last year to be able to make that trade? Right. But I'm not questioning that. It's just I like to see Landon Miller get some opportunities this year as well, so. [00:55:38] Speaker D: And whether that opportunity comes with the Greyhounds or another team, I mean, when you look at the goalie situation for the Greyhounds right now, you know, you have two solid 18 year olds that have played two really good preseason games. And they have had some. They have had it one game each now in the regular season. And it looks like they can Develop at a really solid pace and also hold the net. Like we're not just throwing them in there hoping that they get better. It's like no, they, they actually have a strong base and foundation and they could stop pucks. They're. They can have good rebound control and they're both huge. Well, I think all goalies are just huge now, but. Yep, yep, but. So that could be a situation where Dave, if Miller plays good out of the gate, it could be best case scenario for Miller and the Greyhounds if they find Miller a better spot to play and also receive some compensation for that. So that's obviously just, just called in and feelers have been put out. But another interesting thing about Drew Bannister that I just wanted to mention before, you know, we, we move on is I actually, that was the year that I worked for the Greyhounds when I, when I kind of lived the dream, the dream without living the dream. And I, and I was an analytics intern for the team and I got to go on a few trips and I did their, their, their advanced stats for the team specifically, not for like the OHL network or anything like that. So I know a little bit if, you know, if he's still looking at what he's looking into that, what you mentioned, the clear assignments in the D zone and that structure, you know, it's a big part of his coaching philosophy and his game. So. And I'm sure he's even evolved that because he's come from now like from the AHL moving all the way to the NHL and now he's back in junior, so he has all that experience that he can just relay to these players. And it's just, it, it's. It's been really positive out of the gate. So it has good on them, good on him. [00:57:38] Speaker B: So final topic here for Chuckle Puck because then we have a heartbreaking topic with maybe a little bit of baseball, a little bit tearjerkers this week. You know, someone was cutting onions this weekend. Ticket prices. [00:57:50] Speaker D: Ticket prices. [00:57:52] Speaker B: No, we talked about last week. You know, not on the show. We talked about tough. We had a test run in our studio and topics that we were discussing this week and this topic that we wanted to discuss this week, the increase on prices has been a hot topic. It is a little bit of a dated topic, but I still think we should touch on it. Everywhere is increasing, obviously. Hound tickets. I've reached out to some fans and so got some information. There's mixed reviews about it. Obviously the seniors see it a little bit more from that, from that Direction. But I want your take about the ticket prices and the reaction about the recent increase on prices and putting you on the spot. [00:58:28] Speaker D: We put me right on the spot. [00:58:30] Speaker B: Right on the spot. [00:58:30] Speaker D: Right on the spot. [00:58:31] Speaker B: We're doing it. [00:58:32] Speaker D: Yeah. So I'm a huge stats guy. I'm gonna go on the stats. So the opening night attendance was the second lowest in the last eight years. Ten years, really, but two years missed for Covid. So, you know, that's telling because the opening night weekend, if you go back historically, opening night is one of the biggest weekends for greyhound attendants. [00:58:57] Speaker B: Even the whole ohl. [00:58:59] Speaker D: Probably the whole ohl, I would assume as well. Yeah. But the greyhound specifically, it is like, that is one of its top five weekends out of the year. So, you know, if that weekend is already low, then you know that you're in for a year of lower average attendance. The past weekend was 3030, 200. With a little bit of rounding there. I just, I understand what the greyhounds are going through. I understand what this city is going through economically. It's been a very tough couple of years, especially this year, within the past six months. It's been so tough on so many people. And, you know, my heart. Our hearts are with everybody, obviously, to come together in this tough time. So, I mean, without senior and child rates, I don't see more attendance happening. So I don't want to, like, give my opinion here and be like, wow, they should do this, they should do that. Like, but more so if, like, I don't see an improvement unless that child and that senior rate is put back or at least talked about. Right. Because I know the chat. There is a child. There is a child price for the value section. And I don't think that was there originally when they made the ticket. The new ticket pricing structure when they made it available. I don't think so. It might have been. Somebody maybe can correct me, but, like, I think going back to your point, you really put that in my head was like, yeah, like, we can have, you know, a ticket pricing model where it's location based, but I mean, to just kind of yank the senior price right out. Like, it just, it just seems like catch people off guard. Absolutely right. And that could explain some of the problems that attendance. Again, I'll say, like, my thing is, okay, a premium seat is, you know, sections 120 and like 1. I think it's on the, like on the ball, around the bowl. Like, the greyhounds shoot on twice. That's the premium section. And fan favorite is on the sides or it might be the other way around, but anyway. [01:01:07] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [01:01:09] Speaker D: Either way. What makes a premium seat a premium seat? Other than the difference in view? [01:01:14] Speaker B: You know, and truly, I'm gonna be straight with you from a fan perspective. You know, I've. And I've taken experiences fitting at the old gardens. This gardens. I've sat at a lot of hockey rinks in the National Hockey League. I've been to a lot of great rinks. And when I go to Scotiabank arena each year, I don't sit close to the glass. [01:01:30] Speaker D: Correct. [01:01:31] Speaker B: Middle. Those are my premium. You get to see the full view of the ice. [01:01:34] Speaker C: Right. [01:01:34] Speaker B: You're not looking around. Sorry, I moved from the mic there. No producer Mike's gonna be like closer to the mic. But you're moving around. Right. If I'm upset in the middle, I'm sitting like this and I'm. Yeah, but if you're not on video, you're not seeing what I'm doing. But I'm moving my head left and right more like this opposed to leaning. [01:01:52] Speaker D: But if you're. But. But that's at an NHL rake. Right. Like you're there and you know, you don't go. You don't go to NHL games or at least in Sault Ste. Marie, we don't go to NHL games every day. So I'm like, this is just a smaller market. Junior hockey. [01:02:08] Speaker C: True. No. [01:02:08] Speaker D: And I'm not saying your point is nullified or anything, but like kind of is with that. Like. Right. Like. Because didn't think of that. You know, that's an nh. Like there's. You're gonna see Austin Matthews and William Nylander up close. [01:02:23] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:02:23] Speaker D: You know, so you're paying more for that ticket. [01:02:26] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:02:26] Speaker D: At the. At the gfo Moral guards the way. If it's just the way the arena structured. I. Me personally, I don't see a difference between the value section or section from high up to high up to down have an upper or location. [01:02:41] Speaker B: So some ranks do. In the ohl of upper bowl, they [01:02:44] Speaker D: do have a concourse. [01:02:45] Speaker B: London, I think London does so well. [01:02:48] Speaker D: That's. That's a 9000. [01:02:49] Speaker B: That's different rings. [01:02:52] Speaker D: Some. Some rinks do. I know the odd. And Kitchener has. Well, that's. That has like a concourse. Like the seats go. It's like an auditorium. Like an auditorium. Literally an auditorium. That's why they call it the auditorium, I guess. [01:03:04] Speaker B: So fans that are outside of Sault Ste. Marie, because here on Chocapac we do obviously talk a lot about Sault Ste Marie greyhounds because that's the core of the show. We focus this segment on the Sioux grounds and this podcast piece, but we do touch on the whole entire market. So for those that are outside, we would like to know your reaction about your local rank. What do you feel are improvement opportunities and what I'm going to say from a perspective of opportunities. Number one, ticket prices we talked about. Okay. Every OHL team. I understand, as Trude says, from an economic perspective, yes, it's challenging times throughout the entirety of Ontario, Canada, the world. Look what's going on. Don't need to get into that. We're not a political podcast. Okay, I understand that. But you got to figure out and know your market, know your location. What's the thing we learn about location, location, location. It's exactly what we're taught a lot in business. But I'm talking right now in the second point about arena opportunities. What do you think your arena could do better? Or are you London and it's perfect because you have 9,000 people that can sit in that rank. This the. The GFL Memorial Gardens was first built as the Steelback center, then changed to the SR center, then now the GFL Memorial Gardens. [01:04:15] Speaker A: Gardens. [01:04:16] Speaker B: Memorial Gardens holds a close place to my heart because of the tower there. Remembering that as a kid walking through the gardens, seeing Don Cherry when he was coaching the Ice Dogs, all these great opportunities, all these great memories. But. So that's the first step. But when I go and look into this rank, I wish this rank, and this is a common feedback from the whole entire community, was built in a way that allowed us to have bigger events outside of hockey. But let's stick to the mindset of hockey here. Is this rank good for a major junior hockey team? And I think it is. [01:04:47] Speaker D: Me too. [01:04:47] Speaker B: I think it is. If you're looking at it from a perspective of trying to get events like you're trying to get an artist here that's a big music artist. I can't think of something. We've had some big names come to the sue, but I mean, I'm talking tra. Okay, no offense, but talking those higher levels, if you're talking big events like the some curling championships or the world Juniors, all this stuff that's not happening. Toronto, Ottawa, these bigger cities are going to have that before Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is the way that this rink is built is good for this community, but not good outside of hockey, if that makes sense. Because of what we can't bring. But we have. Have brought a lot here. But this rink has had a Lot of improvements. I thought the ice was brutal before. I think they've trade changed that quality of ice. I think it's faster now. I think they've done a better job at it. But let us know your feedback about the rink. My feedback is I wish they made it bigger and I wish it was actually in a different location. People wonder where I almost. This is a very hot take. Where the mall is. That's where the rink would have been. And around there, that would have been my first. But I love the idea of outlets. But we're not. We're not talking customer service. [01:05:55] Speaker D: I mean, we're. [01:05:55] Speaker B: But there's also an opportunity about it being. Or Black Road was before. Big landscape and a lot of opportunity. [01:06:03] Speaker D: That's what I would. [01:06:04] Speaker B: Truth. [01:06:05] Speaker D: That's what I would have thought too. Like. But I understand why they did it. [01:06:08] Speaker B: But no, not complaining. [01:06:09] Speaker D: It's. No, I know. [01:06:10] Speaker B: Great. [01:06:10] Speaker D: I know we're not complaining. [01:06:12] Speaker B: What's. What could be better maybe from our [01:06:14] Speaker D: perspective, that's absolutely the point. What can we improve upon to get fans in the building during this, like, tougher time? Right. That's. That's what we're looking for. [01:06:28] Speaker B: Yes. That's a good way to look at it. [01:06:29] Speaker D: And to. To be fair, I did some digging and told the Sioux fans out there the Greyhounds still do have the cheapest ticket in the OHL in similar markets. [01:06:39] Speaker C: Boom. [01:06:40] Speaker D: Cheaper than Sudbury, cheaper than Owen. [01:06:42] Speaker B: You can mention cheaper than North Bay. You can talk about ticket prices increasing, but look at where we are. That's how I wanted Trudes to end that point, despite the complaints being what it is. And we feel it, we appreciate it. [01:06:53] Speaker D: Absolutely. [01:06:53] Speaker B: Recognize it. But let us also recognize to you where our ticket prices meet in comparison to other people. What can our rank do better to make the hounds a better experience? That'll be the question for viewers. You have a lot of interaction on this episode. Okay. Got a lot of homework. I know you work full time. Look, I work full time. I got a Child at Home podcast and look comment below. It's worth the time to interact with your peers in your community or in the hockey world, sports world in general. Trudes, let's take a quick break. When we come back, let's wrap up the show with a little bit of strike zone. Feels a little odd doing it because we don't have our friend Connor Henderson with us. He's busy. He's busy. He's watching the Leaf game with friends. [01:07:36] Speaker D: Well, I thought he's very busy other than that. But he is very busy. [01:07:40] Speaker B: He's a very, he is a very busy guy. I'm just chirping him right now. We miss him. I will have him on perhaps hopefully next week. But we're going to talk about about a little bit of playoffs which had first pitch was this afternoon and we're going to do a little Blue Jays and Tigers, little feedback for about a handful of minutes. Under 10 for sure to wrap up the first episode of the game here. Don't go anywhere. Welcome back to the Game Sports Podcast. David McKay continuing to host you. I say that every time I realized. But it's fine because you know, I am. But you know what? It's fine. [01:08:05] Speaker D: TR helps you get in the zone. [01:08:07] Speaker B: It does. Segment four, Strike Zone, without Conor Henderson. You're joining us for this and I'd love to have both of you together, but we have a lot to talk about with this and it wasn't going this week solo on this segment either. Truths. There's a lot to touch on here. Okay, so I have a couple interesting facts I want to talk about when it comes to Strike Zone. Strike Zone is our baseball segment for the Game Sports podcast. We are a hockey focused podcast. So anyone's wondering about branding about the show Hockey Focus, but we like to talk about other content to make sure that other listeners can appreciate this content. The show. If it's your first time listening and it's okay. Trudez has his greyhound shirt on. We're still repping. [01:08:45] Speaker C: Okay. [01:08:45] Speaker B: Still repping. Okay. We still got our action figures on the table. We got everything. So let's dive into Strike zone. Playoff, first pitch. I'm not going to predict divisions. I'm not getting to that because by the time the show is uploaded as well, we could have the second games completed. So I'm going to tell you who I think my World Series is going to be and who I think is going to win. Okay. If you'd like to chime in on that too. Okay, I'm going to call the brewers and Rays are the World Series. Dodgers aren't going to make it. The brewers will win the World Series for the first time in their franchise history this year. And let me give you a hot take. Who has a better record against the al? The Brewers. What is the Brewers Dodgers record this year in their series? 43 brewers. The brewers have the Dodgers number revenge from last year. The record. And I don't have papers, folks. I just know this. A record 32 and 16 against the AL this year. The Brewers 31 17. The Dodgers pretty linear if you look at the AL, you got the Yankees and Brewers or, sorry, the Yankees and Rays. The Rays and Yankees had three two series difference the last five series of the season, which were held by the Yankees. But when it comes to playoff baseball, you look at that bullpen and small ball and the way Rays play and how wide open that AL is. The Rays are coming out of that division. The other side is what's harder about the teams in the Phillies. There's a lot of good teams in that side, even the wild card teams. But the brewers look something different. They look something different. Mazerowski, Toreno. The brewers have young talent. They learn from their mistakes. And with a potential lockout around the corner, why not make it interesting and help avoid a lockout by eliminating the absolute worst hated team. And I'm saying that word in the mlb, and that is the Dodgers more than the Yankees. Brewers win the World Series against the race. Truths. [01:10:44] Speaker D: Interesting. I mean, I like, I will go to your point. Like the brewers, like, so they have Bezerowski. Right. So let's say like, he is like, what could he throw? Like, yeah, but still, like, can you throw 116 miles an hour or something like that. I'm just probably like 106. [01:11:01] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:11:01] Speaker D: And so when you think about it, in, in a World Series, which is a seven game series, we're talking about baseball, he could, he could throw game one, game four, game seven, game seven. Like we saw Yamamoto do that against the Jays last year. [01:11:18] Speaker B: Yep. [01:11:19] Speaker D: I mean, and he won like three of the games. So like when you have a pitcher of that caliber and they are on and he's nearly unhittable. So that's a, that's a good bet. I hope you're right. I hope you're right because it would be so cool to see a Brewers and Rays World Series because I love the way the Rays play as well. I hate that they're in the Jays division and they always just seem to [01:11:47] Speaker B: have the Jays and the fans don't appreciate them. I'm sorry. The Rays fan base go to games. There's more. And this is not a knock to any OHL team, but there's more fans at an OHL team, an OHL game than the raise a Tropicana Field. And it's absolutely atrocious. And it's the truth. [01:12:02] Speaker D: Professional sports team. [01:12:03] Speaker B: It's the Tampa Bay Rays with junior Caminero players that are good talent and they don't go Yandy Diaz. I'm forgetting a whole. [01:12:10] Speaker D: Aranda. Jonathan Aranda. [01:12:13] Speaker B: You don't deserve a ball team. I'm sorry. You don't deserve. You deserve. That team is good, but you don't deserve it. The Montreal Expos would have better fan base. [01:12:22] Speaker D: There's a take. [01:12:23] Speaker B: Maybe we should go back. Oh, six. Look at all the people we have in Toronto. Where's Toronto? In the fan base. [01:12:30] Speaker C: Oh, in the. [01:12:30] Speaker B: In the attendance. Oh, yeah. Top five. I forgot how many sold out Blue Jay games this year. Out of over 80. 64 every game. That's when. 80 over on attendance. The Rays didn't even have that much attendance in 10 of their games total. I feel like. [01:12:47] Speaker D: And that's when the Jays aren't like. That's an off year for the Jays as well. [01:12:51] Speaker B: Listen, the Canada markets there. But I know there's other markets too. [01:12:55] Speaker D: I will tell you. Sorry. Thanks. I will tell you. I get fired up about baseball. I love baseball. [01:13:00] Speaker B: Fired up. [01:13:01] Speaker D: So the. But the raise. The way they play. Yes, the way they play. [01:13:04] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:13:05] Speaker D: Is. Is perfect for playoffs. They are like the Jays were last year. Yeah. So they like small ball. You look at like Chandler Simpson bunt [01:13:15] Speaker B: single, move the runner. [01:13:16] Speaker D: Yeah. They got another guy there too. Palacios, I think is fast. [01:13:19] Speaker B: Yep. [01:13:20] Speaker D: So like they got the speed. Not. And then they got the power as well. Junior caminero. Like 40 home runs. So like they got that nice balance and mix and it's. It's whether or not they get hot like I think they are. [01:13:32] Speaker B: They had some damage in their gills. They did this second half. [01:13:36] Speaker D: And that's the. That's the thing too with baseball. It's. It's kind of streaky. Right. Like you look at the Jays run that they went on the postseason last year. I was just happy when they beat the Yankees last year. [01:13:47] Speaker B: Diankilu. [01:13:50] Speaker D: Yeah. [01:13:50] Speaker C: I love that. [01:13:51] Speaker D: Oh, that was. That was amazing. [01:13:52] Speaker B: Springer's home run is more iconic than the bat flip. By the way. [01:13:55] Speaker D: I. [01:13:56] Speaker B: Sorry. [01:13:57] Speaker D: Exactly where I was. [01:13:58] Speaker B: Springer for both of those. Springer's hit is more iconic than Bautista's. [01:14:03] Speaker C: How's that? [01:14:03] Speaker B: We're not gonna get this year a Springer Dinger. [01:14:06] Speaker D: Yeah. [01:14:06] Speaker B: Yeah. You're not gonna get a Vladimir Guerrero hitting eight home runs and X amount of games. He only hits nine this year. I'm not there yet. We're not there yet. We have time. So I have brewers raised. What do you got for the World Series? [01:14:18] Speaker D: I got raise. [01:14:20] Speaker B: Okay, but don't say it. You're gonna say it. [01:14:22] Speaker D: Yeah, I'm gonna say it. [01:14:23] Speaker B: You're gonna say it. [01:14:25] Speaker D: And Dodgers. [01:14:26] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:14:26] Speaker D: I got the Rays and The Dodgers. [01:14:28] Speaker B: Who wins? [01:14:28] Speaker D: I got raise. I got raise. I do like. I think it has to. [01:14:32] Speaker B: Can they play at the Rogers center when they play in a teotropic airfield? [01:14:36] Speaker D: The it has to run out event. I don't want to say Dodgers luck, but something has to give eventually. [01:14:44] Speaker B: Yep. [01:14:44] Speaker D: In baseball. So your. Your luck or your. Whatever you want to call it. Baseball gods. Ma. Like average math. And it's all. It's all average math and baseball. Odds, probability, Moneyball. It has to give up somewhere. And the raise and see, this is the other problem I have. And this is why I hate making these predictions. The. The three top records in the AL. Two of them are going to be out before the ALCs because of the playoff structure. Oh, that. [01:15:18] Speaker B: You know what? So that's next week's topic. Okay, that. Love that. I want a baseball change. There might be a lockout coming. So there might be some changes. That's another point tonight I want to save time for too. But you got raised Dodgers. Who do you got winning it? The Rays. I got the Rays. Rays. Let me give you a hot take. Who's your playoff mvp? World Series mvp. [01:15:35] Speaker D: No, you're good. [01:15:37] Speaker B: I got Junior Kevin Monero. [01:15:40] Speaker D: That's what I was going to say. Right. [01:15:41] Speaker B: Junior Kevin Arrow. I think Junior is a playoff mvp. But the World Series MVP is going to be Jacob Mazeroski. [01:15:49] Speaker D: Because you picked the Brewers. [01:15:51] Speaker B: But that's fine than a World Series mvp. [01:15:54] Speaker D: Yeah, that's different. It's a way better pick than mine. I think the inevitable is going to happen. That we're not just going to say. But I think that's. I'm not saying anything. I just. [01:16:05] Speaker B: That's what it would have been better. You know, I picked the last three World Series victories and I predicted last year that the Blue Jays would lose in game seven. And it happened. Connor. [01:16:16] Speaker D: Oh, my God. [01:16:16] Speaker B: Did you do that? [01:16:17] Speaker C: I don't know. [01:16:18] Speaker B: I might have. I know why I did it. I did it because every year I have a joke. At the beginning of the year, I did pick. I picked the Leafs to win for hockey. I didn't pick the Blue Jays. You did. [01:16:28] Speaker D: I remember this. [01:16:29] Speaker B: So I picked the Blue. The Dodgers to win in seven with the intention that I didn't say the Blue Jays and to overwrite this game 7 curse in Toronto that it wouldn't happen. But guess what happened? The Jays were two outs away in Game 7 and lost to the Dodgers. Do you want to know something else? If you listen back to those clips I said on a play that has Never. Rarely happened. Double play was the first time in 77 years that the World Series has won on a double play. Look back at old shows, people. I creep, really. So baseball, for some reason, has been something I got right. So I'm going to. I'm going to be. I'm going to be honest about that. [01:17:06] Speaker D: Hope you're right. [01:17:07] Speaker B: I hope the brewers win this year. I would love. I've been to Great American Family park is, I believe, the name top my head changed from Miller. It's fantastic atmosphere. I watched the Blue Jays play there. I had a bet with somebody that Kirk would hit a home run, and he did on his next at bat and had to buy my wife and I two beers. [01:17:25] Speaker C: It was. [01:17:25] Speaker B: It was great. Brewers fans, you guys are awesome. I hope you guys win it this year for your first time in your world, in your. In your franchise's history. Got the team to do it, so get it done. But let's get to two other points before we go. Springer and Scherzer. Springer, we don't know. Scherzer's got to be retiring based on that exit. Springer seems the same way. [01:17:44] Speaker D: I would. I would assume when I watched it, like, he was pretty emotional, I think. Oh, yeah, he's done in Toronto for sure. For sure, sir. [01:17:51] Speaker B: For sure. [01:17:52] Speaker D: For sure, sir. [01:17:53] Speaker B: And, you know, Scherzer. For Scherzer. And you know, Justin Verlander is done. Obviously, I give. I mean, if he comes back after that exit from his daughter and everything, that I would just be so upset, but what a tearjerker. Truths. [01:18:07] Speaker D: I mean, I could barely watch that. Like, I was like, that's too much. [01:18:11] Speaker B: That's. That is cinema. [01:18:13] Speaker D: Well, how can you not be romantic about baseball? Right? [01:18:16] Speaker B: How can you not. I was gonna say, how can't you love baseball? But that is the right term. How can you be romantic about baseball? How can't you be? And another thing, on a brighter side, you don't have to watch, if you're a Blue Jays fan, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Anymore, do what he was doing this year, whatever the heck that is, that he was playing more like a men's league player. [01:18:34] Speaker D: He's gonna come back. He's. He'll come back next year. Yeah, he'll bounce. [01:18:38] Speaker B: It's gonna. It's gonna be interesting. Springer. I got a hot take. I don't think he's done. I know I sit here and say it, but he's not. I don't think he's done. I think he plays one more year, but not with the Blue Jays. I'll be that person. Scherzer's done. Verlander's done. We know that it's going to be an interesting off season for the Blue Jays. Very disappointing year. They should be in the playoffs. They should argue back to the World Series with that team. A lot of returning players, the assay battle, a lot of injuries. They had a whole rotation off all season. But if you're a good enough baseball team, good teams find ways to win no matter the sport. The Blue Jays did not. But they did give us some exciting baseball for the last month and a half. But it was a tough way. Tough way to go out. But there's some bright future there with Brett Bateman and Hobby Vladdy gets back to it. Okamoto looks good. There's some free agents this year. Suzuki low. There's a couple guys out there. I better not see something there. But Donna Blue Jay jersey ever again. I hear they might be back next year. That just my back. He just. Guy walks and he just gets hurt. It feels like after his 44 home runs with Baltimore. But gonna be an interesting offseason. But we're not there yet. We're in playoff ball. It's going to be very exciting. Especially the nl. Especially the nl. I'm very excited. The AL I'm not excited to watch. Not because the Blue Jays aren't there. Just because the teams aren't there. I think the AL is so wide open anybody could win. Even if the Kansas City. Kansas City Royals were played in it this year, I think they'd have a chance to run out. But the Rays are the superior team as we've talked about. But the last thing I'll say because the way the Dodgers are before we wrap up the show. Potential lockout. We can talk about this more with Connor when he's on the show. Is there going to be a lockout? Viewers Listeners comment below. Will there be an MLB lockout? Trudes, do you think there'll be a lockout this offseason? I think yes. [01:20:11] Speaker D: Well, that's what I was going to ask you. [01:20:13] Speaker B: Ask me if. Turn the tights. [01:20:15] Speaker D: If the Dodgers win, is there a lockout? If the Dodgers win the World Series, there's a lockout, yes. [01:20:22] Speaker B: What if they lose the world still because of contracts? I think 60 million. I think it's headache it needs to. This contract, this nonsense with contracts need to change. They need to really alter how the structures they have to help balance these other teams. The Rays can't keep players. The Athletics can't keep players. Yet when they're in Vegas, they will. But these other teams can't keep players. Toronto has a lot of money. They can keep players. Teams can't tax luxury, tax a lot of things you have to look at. But teams and players aren't. Sorry. Players aren't going to choose any different where they're going to go. They're still going to want to go play with the Dodgers, the Cubs, the Jays, but. [01:20:59] Speaker D: But why? Because the money is there or because those organizations actually develop their players well? [01:21:06] Speaker B: I think that needs to be the spin. They develop their players well, but they don't have money to buy other players. And players don't stay there. Moneyball hits that on the head. Johnny Damon left to go play with Boston and Brad Pitt was saying, I'll give you this. Oh, he said, if I give you this, he'd stay. It's a business. Everything is a business. Everything's a business. We talked about ticket prices. We talk about Scotiabank arena, the library, I call it. Look at the ticket prices that they have going there this year to watch a game. I can tell you the price. I won't tell you the price. Even though it's a season ticket. Everything is so expensive. I don't have season tickets. It's a friend who does. I just buy them from them once a year. So it's not cheap. Anything isn't cheap. You go buy a beer, it's $20 at a game. It's wild. Okay. By the way, Tropicana Field beer should only be five bucks there. [01:21:48] Speaker A: Okay. [01:21:49] Speaker B: Tickets should be five bucks. But ultimately contracts are the reason why we'll have MLB lockout, ownership, player revenue, team revenue. That's my take. [01:22:00] Speaker D: Yeah, I think it's heading that way. I mean, no matter what anyone thinks. [01:22:04] Speaker B: Let's give the. Connor can take the floor from stats. He would be scandal and scats stats, [01:22:10] Speaker D: perspective the best for that. I. I think while just the conversations I've seen as well, like they're nowhere near agreeing on a salary cap or a salary floor or the players don't want it at all. The owners want like complete control. So it's. They got a long way to go. [01:22:30] Speaker B: That's the whole other side. It's messy. Yep, it's really messy. Well, Trudes, it's been a joy, my friend. This has been episode one for season 11 inside the new studio. [01:22:39] Speaker D: Yeah. [01:22:39] Speaker B: A studio 726 original series the game sports podcast launching season 11. All of our segments on one show for you still giving you that familiarity of the show. There's still A lot of adjustments that we're going to be doing with the show as we continue and move forward. But for you, the viewers, listeners, the fans of the show, there's a lot of new things to check out. But also you can be a part of the design on the show. You can be a part of the interaction, the NHL discussions, the MLB discussions, the Chuck A Puck discussion, the football discussions, a lot of clips for you to be a part of. So while you're doing all that hit like follow and subscribe and we always value fan feedback and fans that want to be a part of the show or chime in, you want to come on the show and be a fan guest. We've done that. We've done that on the show. You want to come on, let us know and we will reach out to you here on the Game Sports podcast. Make sure you hit like phone. Subscribe on all the platforms of the game. That's YouTube, that's tick tock, Instagram. You can find us on Spotify, Amazon. I can just go on and on and on to search the Game Sports podcast and you will find us. 2016 is when we've been in existence truths. Congratulations, Wild you to everybody. [01:23:48] Speaker D: Yes. [01:23:49] Speaker B: Went from a phone on a cup to sitting in this beautiful studio. Work hard, people. Get to where you want to go. There's my inspiration for you. [01:23:56] Speaker D: Still having fun. And still. [01:23:58] Speaker B: And still have fun doing it. Trudes. Thank you to you, my friend, for coming by talking hockey and baseball. Hike. You're in the back room, the green room, we like to call it media room, production room, wherever room you're in inside the studio here for the game. Thank you for coming on as well to you, the viewers and the listeners of the game as well. And until next week, I'm here to remind you to keep your stick on the ice. Swing your bats, catch your touchdowns, drain your threes and shoot your shots. Booyah.