WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:04.160 NHL Stanley Cup Final started last night Game one. Edmonton 2 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:05.759 was able to get it done at overtime. It was 3 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:09.320 an awesome game. Such a grueling tournament. We'll do some 4 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:11.720 hockey now with our friend Belle Frasier from the Salt 5 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:15.320 Lake Tribune on a Thursday afternoon. Bell, Happy Thursday. 6 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:17.160 How are you good? 7 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:17.600 How are you? 8 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:19.600 I'm good? Thank you for your time. What'd you make 9 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:21.359 a Game one last night? And who do you like 10 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:21.960 in the series. 11 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:25.719 It was one of the most entertaining games we've had 12 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:29.679 all NHL Playoffs, let alone the series. You know, both 13 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:32.039 teams know each other really well. It's a rematch of 14 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:34.759 last year's Stanley Cup Final, and I think it was 15 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.399 really important for Edmonton to get Game one at home 16 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:40.560 because everyone knows if you give the Panthers an inch 17 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.520 will take a mile, especially winning on the road. They've 18 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:45.399 been really good on the road throughout the playoffs, so 19 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:48.439 defending home ittes is huge. And also, you know Leon 20 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:50.960 Drysdle is one of the biggest stars in this series. 21 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:54.200 He didn't score one goal in last year's Stanley Cup Final, 22 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:56.640 and he had two last night, including the game winning 23 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:59.439 goal in double overtime. So I think you're going to 24 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:02.240 see a different Edmonton Oilers team this time around. They're 25 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:05.519 out for redemption. It's hard to think Connor McDavid and 26 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.920 his crew, you know, let a loss in a Game 27 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.319 seven or whatever game it is, let the Stanley Cups 28 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:14.400 slip out of their fingers again. But on the flip side, 29 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.400 the Florida Panthers are that good. You know, they could 30 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:20.879 have won last night easily as well, and they have 31 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:22.840 a different kind of depth this year or two. You know, 32 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:25.120 their third line has been one of their best lines 33 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.359 throughout the playoffs. So I'm gonna go with Edmonton just 34 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:33.159 because the redemption arc, but I would not be surprised 35 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:35.599 at all of Florida pulled it off. It should be 36 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.519 a good series, though. If last night was the. 37 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:40.319 Preview, do you'd think we'll get six or seven games? 38 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:42.840 I mean, I've been bemoaning the fact, both in Pro 39 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.359 basketball and Pro hockey, neither the conference finals went seven, 40 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.840 and there really is nothing like a game seven in 41 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:51.959 the Stanley Cup playoffs. Certainly in the final. Do you 42 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.840 think we're going to get seven of these bell I. 43 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.719 Not to think it goes at least six alone, because 44 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:01.560 they're so evenly matched as far as you know, there's 45 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:05.319 not major major injuries. Obviously, Hymen's out for the Oilers 46 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:07.400 and the guys for hour out, but it seems like 47 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:11.039 both sides are holding up pretty well. So without you know, 48 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.159 any big losses in terms of personnel, I can't imagine 49 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:18.719 it doesn't go six, but we'll see. It's it's always 50 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:22.360 when you predict something that the opposite happens. So who knows. 51 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.759 I'm going to be irresponsible here. Sam Bennett's a free 52 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:30.039 agent two goals last night. A player like that, veteran 53 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:32.759 player with a Stanley Cup title in his back pocket, 54 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:35.560 type of player that maybe the Utah Mammoths could look 55 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.000 at and free agency with that twenty ish million dollars 56 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:38.800 at their disposal. 57 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:42.479 Yeah, I definitely think it's something they look at. I've 58 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:45.240 kind of been high on Sam Bennett honestly throughout this 59 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:47.759 I think that's more of the type of player that 60 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:50.520 they need, not only because he's a center and he's 61 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.280 been in the top six on a Stanley Cup winning team, 62 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:55.560 like you said, but he has real grit to him. 63 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.360 He's and he's controversial. You know, He's had some hits 64 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:02.280 and cost some concussions that people really aren't happy about, 65 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:05.120 which is completely understandable. You want to keep the players safe. 66 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.599 But he plays with an edge and he's physical, and 67 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.680 not that he's crazy, but I think he just has 68 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:15.199 a little bit of that, you know, like spider mentality. 69 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:18.639 That not to say Utah's fully lacking, but I think 70 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:21.360 he'd hold them accountable to a different level and also 71 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:24.199 make them harder to play against. People do not want 72 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:26.479 to play against Sam Bennett at all when he gets 73 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.039 on the ice, and that's something you usually see in 74 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:31.960 Utah's bottom six guys are you know, it's hard to 75 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.000 play against the Lost and Kraus, Josh Jone, Jack McBain line. 76 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.400 But to have someone of that caliber upfront would be great, 77 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.439 and like you said, he's able to produce. I do 78 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.280 think the price tag because of the season he's had 79 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:47.319 in the playoffs he's had, is going up. A lot 80 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.599 of NHL insiders have said that teams would be willing 81 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:54.360 to offer him ten million dollars AAV, which I don't 82 00:03:54.360 --> 00:03:57.960 think Utah would do force him. Bennett, given you know, 83 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:02.080 his age and also the players he's surrounded with in Florida, 84 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:04.400 definitely helped him. He won't be playing with you know, 85 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.319 Carter ver Hagen and Matthew Kashuk in Utah, So I 86 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:09.199 don't think they go at that price tag, but I 87 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:12.080 definitely think it's someone you look into. You make a 88 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.599 couple of calls, and that's definitely on their radar. 89 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:18.759 Any other you know, and again it's so early in 90 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.319 the process, and we'll do draft here in a moment, 91 00:04:21.399 --> 00:04:24.720 but any other I'm sure you review the free agency 92 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:27.560 list like I have in you know. Of course Sam 93 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:30.920 is top of mind because he's playing in the Stanley 94 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.120 Cup final. You know, I think the big name everyone's 95 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:36.480 talking about is Mitch Marner. I'm not sure that you 96 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:40.199 know he's only twenty eight, but maybe he's too. I 97 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:42.399 have a name for what Utah would look to do. 98 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.639 Any other names you want to throw out there that 99 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:46.800 Bill and a staff could look at to bring in 100 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:48.439 to help this team take that next step. 101 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:53.040 Yeah, I mean regarding Mitch Marner. I personally am not 102 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:56.120 on the Mitch Marner change just for Utah. I mean, 103 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:58.839 it's crazy to say don't be interested in Mitch Maarner. 104 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.639 If he came here, I'm sure he be great. No 105 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:04.160 one's turning down an one hundred point player. Who has 106 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:07.120 just the raw talent that he does. But I can't 107 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.560 imagine that it's Bill. I'm showing so little to wrap 108 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.600 up fourteen million dollars for seven or eight years in 109 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:17.319 Mitch Marner. I think that Utah would be much better 110 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:20.560 getting someone bigger, more physical, a little bit more rough 111 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:22.920 around the edges, who still has that scoring touch and 112 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.680 comes at a lower price tag. And there are guys 113 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:28.600 like that. I think Brock Besser from the Vancouver Canucks, 114 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:31.600 he's going to be a UFA. He's twenty eight years old. 115 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.639 Right wing believe. He had fifty points and twenty five 116 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:39.079 goals this regular season, and of note, he shares an 117 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.040 agent with Nick Buke's dad. Nick Bukestad's the USA, but 118 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:45.199 he spent last year in Utah and he raved about 119 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.160 the team, the ownership, and his exit interviews he said 120 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.839 it was the best place he's been, especially for his 121 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:53.959 family too. So you have to think that Besser's the age, 122 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:55.800 kind of has that in the back of his mind. 123 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.199 And his last contract had a six point six five 124 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:02.639 million AA, so you know, a lot more affordable. He's 125 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.800 going to get paid higher than that this summer, but 126 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:09.000 more affordable than a marner. Also, you look at Nikolai 127 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.160 Eilers from the Winnipeg Jets. I think that's another consistent 128 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:17.560 you know score. I think he's had twenty plus goal 129 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:20.120 seasons for a majority of his NHL career. Yeah, eight 130 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:23.319 of his ten years in the NHL. He was on 131 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.800 the President Trophy winning team this year with the Winnipeg Jets, 132 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:30.000 and he's coming off a seven year, forty two million 133 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:33.560 dollar contracts. So again, more in Utah's range and could 134 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:38.399 just add that backbreaking scoring touch. And then this is 135 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:41.519 long winded, but I think maybe under the radar is 136 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:44.759 someone like Ryan Donato from the Chicago Blackhawks. He's a 137 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.759 center and he was one of the only bright spots 138 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.839 for them this year. I imagine they tried to keep 139 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.959 him because of the impact he had, but he was 140 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:56.439 only on a four million dollar year for two years, 141 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:00.800 so he's not probably that top two center that Utah 142 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:02.560 was looking for. But if they wanted a little bit 143 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.240 more depth down the middle, they could look at that. 144 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:07.759 But yeah, Bill Armstrong very creative, and I have a 145 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:11.240 feeling that the biggest thing you Tall gets this summer 146 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.839 might be through trade and not even through free agency. 147 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.439 So we'll see what he does. But those are some 148 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:18.920 of the main names kind of floating around the NHL 149 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:19.800 market right now. 150 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:22.439 Okay, Bell for our listeners, totally not for me, but 151 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:24.879 only for our listeners. Tell us what an what an 152 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:27.439 entry level contract is and what it means. 153 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.720 Yeah, are you referring to Simyshevan Boot, Yes, Ed. 154 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:35.560 Gabe Smith, but Bell for our listeners, because I mean 155 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:37.519 I totally could break it down, but I don't feel 156 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:38.480 like it, so you go ahead. 157 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.040 Yeah. So, I mean they signed a bunch of guys 158 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:46.279 to entry level contracts last week. The biggest names are 159 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.160 Dimitri Simachev and Daniel Boot who were drafted in the 160 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.639 first round by the Arizona Coyotes a few years ago 161 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.759 and they were playing in the phl Over in Russia, 162 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:56.680 so that's very exciting. So they were signed to entry 163 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:00.839 level contracts and an ELC is entry level contract. It's 164 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:04.000 a two way contract for players who are signed as 165 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:06.639 rookie so they haven't been in the NHL. Yet. It 166 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.199 allows them to be sent back and forth between the 167 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.319 AHL without having to clear waivers. So the teams if 168 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.839 they want them to go develop with the Tucson Roadrunners 169 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:17.680 next year, they don't have the fear of putting them 170 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:20.600 on waivers and having them be claimed by any other 171 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:23.199 team once you're out of your entry level contract or 172 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:26.439 played a specific mannet games in the NHL, if you 173 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:28.519 get put on waivers, anyone can claim you. That's what 174 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:30.199 happened with Nikki Simone. 175 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:30.920 You know, the New. 176 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:34.639 Jersey Devils put him on waivers and Utah picked him up. 177 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:38.200 So it just allows them to sign an NHL contract, 178 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.440 play with the main club, but also if they need 179 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:42.799 more time in the developmental League, they're able to go 180 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:46.480 to Tucson or whatever their respective team is to have 181 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:50.399 that time and their cost efficient all under a million 182 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.679 dollars for Simashev and boot they both signed. I think 183 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.679 it was eight hundred and fifty or the AAV was 184 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:01.519 nine hundred and fifty thousand, but that was with the bonus. 185 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:03.799 So if you think about guys like Logan Cooley and 186 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.080 Dylan Gunter, we're on their entry level contracts still last year, 187 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.720 two of the highest point getters, but since they're. 188 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:11.679 Usually three year deals, if you. 189 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.720 Sign your top prospects to entry level contracts, they produce 190 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:18.240 for you at a low price until you eventually have 191 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:20.559 to resign them. We saw the Gunter extension. You're going 192 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:23.120 to see it Loagan Cooley extension. But yeah, those are 193 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:25.399 the types of contracts that the Mammoth kind of got 194 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:29.120 squared away this week, and Utah fan should be excited. 195 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.039 It sounds like Skimashev and Boot will be at development camp, 196 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:33.960 training camp and have a pretty good chance of making 197 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.080 the roster this season. 198 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.960 You referenced d Simone since you and I last spoke 199 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:42.360 one year, eight hundred thousand dollars contract, So what are 200 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.559 your thoughts on this transaction. 201 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.720 I love it. I'm really happy for Nick d Simone. 202 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:50.399 Just from you know, a human being side, he was 203 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:52.720 one of the best guys to talk to as a 204 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:56.200 media member, super open, honest and also just you know 205 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:59.240 kind doesn't have an ego to him, but that's the 206 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:03.159 story of grit and determination. He hadn't played an NHL 207 00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:05.639 game when he got this season, yet when he got 208 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:09.159 planed off of waivers in January from the New Jersey Devils, 209 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.200 he was on an expiring contract. He came into Utah 210 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:15.480 as a depth defenseman. He could have been sent down 211 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:19.120 to the Tucson Roadrunners, but he beat out Yuso Valinaki 212 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:22.320 and Vladislav Poletronics, who eventually got traded to the Pittsburgh 213 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:25.840 Penguins for that seventh defensive role. You know, he beat 214 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:28.519 out two guys who already had standing in Utah for 215 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:32.200 that position, and then when Utah had injuries, he very 216 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.440 seamlessly went into the lineup. And he's not flashy, he's 217 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:37.919 not trying to do too much. He was consistent, he 218 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:41.480 was predictable, he was responsible, and he's thirty, I believe, 219 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.559 so it's not like he's inexperienced. And that's what Coajondre 220 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:47.360 Turni always said, like Niki Simon knows how to take 221 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.559 care of business at the rank away from the rank, 222 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:52.200 so I think for them it's more of an insurance policy. 223 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.840 He's probably not going to play every night. He might 224 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.840 spend some time in the AHL, but it's good to 225 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.240 have that defensive depth and have someone that you know, 226 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:02.360 if you need to stop the bleeding because of injuries 227 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:04.759 or just settle the back end down, you have him. 228 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:08.159 It's only one year to cost efficient deal eight hundred 229 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:10.840 thousand dollars, and I think it shows the intention Bill 230 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:13.399 Armstrong has used when he brings these guys in. He 231 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:15.720 got Nick d Simone for nothing. They didn't have to 232 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:18.159 trade for him. His scouts and his staff did a 233 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:21.000 good job watching the waiver, why or what players were 234 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:23.159 on it, how they could fit in Utah were able 235 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.200 to bring him over, and now they sign him for 236 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:28.120 under a million. So I think that's just good work 237 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:31.240 from the entire organization and good for him too, good 238 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:33.080 for Nicki Simone to be able to stick around for 239 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:33.600 another year. 240 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:36.559 So it's a few weeks away from the NHL Draft, 241 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:39.639 and in year one of their existence, the Utah Mammoth 242 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.320 received luck that the Utah Jazz have now received in 243 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.440 fifty years. So a lot of people excited to see 244 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:48.120 what happens with this top four pick. So two part question. 245 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:51.279 First part is if they hold on to four, who 246 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:54.120 do you deem as best case scenario for them to draft? 247 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:56.440 And the second part, I've got your Twitter pulled up. 248 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:59.799 Is there a legitimate chance that they utilize this as 249 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:02.679 a bargainship in the trade the kidnets something bigger? 250 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:04.159 Yeah. 251 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.279 Well, I think the good news for Utah Mamits fans 252 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.720 is you can't really go wrong if you're in the 253 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.960 top five of the NHL Draft, especially this year, because 254 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.320 a majority of the forwards in the top nine even 255 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.360 are centers, and it's no secret most NHL teams are 256 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:20.720 looking for a center, but Utah definitely is looking for 257 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.919 a number two center to go behind Logan Cooley eventually. 258 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.159 So that's a lot of the guys and I think 259 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:28.399 someone that's been linked to Utah that fans like a 260 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:31.000 lot and scouts say that kind of fits the Utah 261 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:34.759 mold is Caleb de Noyer. Porter Martin is in a center, 262 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.399 but he has that size, that scoring ability. He's a 263 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.960 right wing, so he's in there. Anton Froundell is a center. 264 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:43.600 He had a good season playing professional hockey in Sweden. 265 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:47.360 Michael Misa obviously I think Utah would jump out, but 266 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.200 it's likely he's going to go in the first three picks, 267 00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:53.320 so he's kind of outside of the picture, I would say. 268 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:57.720 But the NHL Scouting Combine is this week where the 269 00:12:57.720 --> 00:13:01.600 players meet with every organization, say go through interviews and 270 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:04.399 they all get physically tested. And it was reported that 271 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:06.759 Michael Visa did go out to dinner with the Utah 272 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.679 Mammoth front office, So that's something to think about as 273 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.360 well as James Hagen's who was the consensus number one 274 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:16.120 You know overall pick. A year ago, everyone he was 275 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:18.320 super highly touted. Everyone kind of thought he would be 276 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:21.519 for his overall and his stock kind of dropped this season. 277 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.039 He was in the NCAA playing college bockey for Boston College. 278 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.159 But he's still a legitimate, you know, number one, number 279 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:30.440 two center. I actually got to talk to him a 280 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:33.679 few weeks ago. There's a story about that in the Tribune. 281 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:36.039 But he has a really good head on his shoulders, 282 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:38.639 and all of his coaches were saying if they had 283 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:41.000 even the number one pick in the NHL draft, they'd 284 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.399 go with Hagen. So, like I said, a bunch of centers, 285 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.960 I think the one thing they're probably going to lean 286 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:50.200 more towards his size, just because Cooley Keller. You know 287 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.840 a lot of guys in their top six are on 288 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:56.840 the smaller side. So I would say Caleb Danioier or portomartone, 289 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:59.759 but I don't know. I think Hagens could sneak in there, 290 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:03.039 and like I said, you can't really go wrong. And 291 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.440 then what was the second part of your question? 292 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.120 Sorry is there? 293 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:05.639 Well? 294 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.039 Real quick, thank you for saying it, saying Caleb's last 295 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.639 name for me, because I almost said it and I 296 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.679 would have completely destroyed it. The second part of the 297 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:16.639 question is the conversation about them using four as a 298 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.799 chip in a trade. How viable is that. 299 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.639 Yeah, I think it's definitely viable. And Bill Armsheng came 300 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.120 out and he said that. You know, we talked to 301 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:26.519 him ten minutes after they got the fourth overall pick, 302 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:29.159 and he said, that's an avenue we're always going to 303 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:31.200 look at. That's how they've gotten a lot of their 304 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:34.159 bigger players. You know, there was a couple of draft 305 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.679 picks and the services trade. It obviously wasn't fourth overall. 306 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:40.399 That carries a lot more weight, but he's done it before. 307 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:43.200 And I think the biggest difference here is the team's 308 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:46.840 picking within the top five, top seven, top nine. Weren't 309 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:49.440 seven points out of the playoffs last year. They weren't 310 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:52.240 one to two players away from being a contending team. 311 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:55.200 And Utah was supposed to pick fourteenth overall. They got 312 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:58.360 really lucky winning that second sequence and jumping up ten points. 313 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:01.879 So they're not in the to be rebuilding with a 314 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.200 top pick anymore. They're coming out of a rebuild. So 315 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:07.399 I could see Bill Armstrong knowing that it's probably going 316 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.679 to take two to three years for even a fourth 317 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:13.519 overall pick to fully pan out and have that NHL 318 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:16.200 fluency that you would want, and maybe you bundle it. 319 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:18.720 You bundle the fourth pick with someone who didn't pan 320 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:21.759 out for Utah, like Mattias Micheli, or a couple prospects 321 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:25.600 in Tucson or another roster player to get someone who 322 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:29.200 is NHL tested, who is a top six scoring winger 323 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:31.840 or center, and who can come in and have an 324 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:35.120 immediate impact. Because Utah's and win now load, they want 325 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.279 to make the playoffs next year, they want to keep pushing, 326 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:40.519 and you could argue that trading it for someone that's 327 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.279 been in the league for a few years that has 328 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.639 established themselves would work. And there are a lot of 329 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.720 teams in the draft order that would like to trade up. 330 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:52.039 You look at the Bruins or the Buffalo Savers. So 331 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.600 I definitely think it's in the realm of possibility. But 332 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:57.519 I also think it'll have to be the perfect deal. 333 00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:59.879 I don't think Bill Armstrong is going to let go 334 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:02.240 of that pick just to get someone that might work 335 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.799 in the top six, so it'll have to be a 336 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:06.840 really good fit. But yeah, one hundred percent, I don't 337 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:10.000 think anyone should rule that out until that draft pick 338 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:12.720 has a Utah amate jersey on after they call his name. 339 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.919 Let me throw this scenario at you, and maybe there's 340 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:17.759 nothing here. But Neil Smith joined us yesterday and he 341 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:20.679 brought up the Hagen's kid, the James Hagen's kid, because 342 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:24.039 he's a strong Islanders from Long Island. And so Neil 343 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.720 floated out the potential of the Islanders taking the hometown 344 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.679 kid at one. Uh and a lot of what I've read, 345 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.039 Bell and you tell me this. Matthew Schaffer kid is 346 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:35.320 thought to be among the best prospects, and some mocks 347 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:38.399 have him at one, but he is a defenceman. If 348 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:41.759 Shaffer's there at four, if the Islanders go Hagan's one, 349 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:44.039 then mesa two and maybe it's poor or three. If 350 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.960 Shaffer's there at four, does the Utahey club look at him? 351 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:51.799 I don't think so. One. I think there's I mean, 352 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:55.320 who knows, because the draft board changes in a second 353 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:57.440 based on a teen's pick. I think there's close to 354 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:01.639 a zero percent chance that Matthew shay For drops to three, 355 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.599 let alone four. But I also think Utah's pretty set 356 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:09.279 defensively for now. I mean their top six defensemen, they 357 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:11.599 all have locked up for the next at least one 358 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:16.480 to three years. They extended Ian Cole, they extended Olimada obviously, 359 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:20.599 John Marino, Sergichev, Jersey they extended last year. Michael Kestering's 360 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:23.799 still there. And then in Tucson too, they have Maverick Lamrude, 361 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.920 they have Art and Duda, they have Dmitriy Simaschev who's 362 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.640 coming in. Is going to fight for a top four 363 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:32.920 defensive position. So I don't think that's their need. You know, 364 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.440 everyone says you go for the best player available, and 365 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:38.240 probably at that time, if he was available, Schaeffer would 366 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.119 be the best one. But I think Utah desperately needs 367 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:45.759 a top four more than it needs a defenceman. And 368 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.920 it's interesting. Yeah, I think the hometown thing definitely probably 369 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.799 plays in for Hagens because he wants to be an Islander, 370 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.279 and I think that's something teams look for. They want 371 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:56.640 their draft pick to be excited to play for their organization. 372 00:17:56.839 --> 00:18:00.440 But I don't know if it's enough to you know, away, 373 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.400 probably a generational defenseman like Schaeffer. 374 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.599 All right, Bell, before I say you lose, I'm gonna 375 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:09.359 tie a little NBA topic into the conversation nowhere. I'm 376 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:11.079 not gonna ask you about the NBA, but I'm gonna 377 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:13.240 draw a little parallel. I'm gonna draw a little parallel 378 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:15.960 to see if there's anything here, because you know, as 379 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.799 we watch the NBA playoffs and the finals are about 380 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:21.319 to start tonight, you watch a team like Oklahoma City, 381 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:23.880 who resides in the West, where the Jazz reside, and 382 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:27.079 you realize just how far away the Jazz are from 383 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:30.200 being close to the top teams in the NBA. As 384 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:32.559 you watch the Stanley Cup Final, and as you watch 385 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:35.319 teams like Florida and Edmonton, and you try to draw 386 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:38.720 some sort of parallel between where the Utah well, oh 387 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:40.759 my gosh, I've been doing so well the Utah Mammoth 388 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.680 are now and you know, the top teams in the league. 389 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.759 Do you see a sizeable gap or do you see, 390 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:48.000 you know, a team that's not too far away from 391 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.559 throwing punches with the best teams in pro hockey. 392 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:55.960 Sizable, for sure, I think sizable. But it was actually funny, 393 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:58.440 you tell you NBA. I had Andy Larson, the famous 394 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:01.920 Andy Larson, on the podcast they that'll come out tomorrow, 395 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.920 and we actually talk about this kind of comparing the 396 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.799 NHL and NBA and where the Jazz and Mammoth are respectively. 397 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.839 But we talked about and we said, there's a really 398 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:12.440 big difference between a team and the NHL that makes 399 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:14.640 the first round and it's great to make the playoffs, 400 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.680 great to compete in the first round, but once you 401 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:19.160