WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.480 We are going to blink and it is going to 2 00:00:02.520 --> 00:00:06.559 be time for the second season of The Utah Mammoth 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:08.480 here in our market. And our next guest covers The 4 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:11.240 Mammoth for the Salt Lake Tribune, Belle Frasier on a 5 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:13.080 Monday afternoon, Hello, Bell, Happy Monday. 6 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:14.640 How are you good? 7 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:15.160 How are you? 8 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:15.839 I'm good? 9 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.760 So any downtime, any vacation. I mean, this is kind 10 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:21.399 of the time of year, Bell, where if you're going 11 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:23.120 to take some vacation, it feels like this has got 12 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:23.440 to be it. 13 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:27.519 Yeah, no official vacation. I went back to New York 14 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:31.280 and Boston where my friends and family are for two weeks. 15 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:34.640 Wrote some stories there, but was definitely nice to not 16 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:38.920 be so deep in the Utah Mammoth News for a second. 17 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:41.399 Take a bit of air, and now I'm so ready 18 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.359 for the season to start, really counting down the days 19 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.159 until even training camp from preseason, just so we can 20 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:48.359 get things going for sure. 21 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:50.679 All right, Bell, here's where I want to start. 22 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:55.399 What gives you the most confidence that next season, that 23 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:59.000 proverbial next step will be taken and we could actually 24 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:03.320 experience Stanley Cup playoff hockey and slick I think the. 25 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.280 Obvious answer there, and the easy one, I guess is 26 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:08.680 just seeing who they brought in so far this summer. 27 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.319 And I think the biggest top six to reinforcement is 28 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.439 JJ Peturca, who they traded for from the Buffalo Sabers. 29 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:18.280 You know, they traded Michael Pestering and Josh Stone, who 30 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:21.040 I know people were very sad to see leave, but 31 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:23.560 they didn't have to give up any prospects or or 32 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.439 for its overall pick. This trade came before the draft, 33 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:30.000 and I know people were nervous that maybe they would 34 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:31.599 have to give up the pick to get someone like 35 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:34.200 the Turka, but they did it. And what's really good 36 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:36.560 about him is his age. You know, he's right in 37 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:39.840 the range of Logan Cooley and Dylan Gunther. He's twenty three, 38 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:42.959 and his ceiling's really high, and he is a finisher. 39 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:46.120 He had a thirty goal season, and you know, I've 40 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:48.239 talked to a lot of Buffalo media and they think 41 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:51.480 that he's going to score a lot more throughout the 42 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:54.079 throughout his career and he's going to be happier in Utah. 43 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:56.359 You know, there are reports that he just didn't want 44 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:57.959 to be in Buffalo and he kind of forced his 45 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:00.400 way out of there. So I think the new and vironment, 46 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.319 the new setup and a team that's really on an 47 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:05.599 upward trajectory for him, that'll give him an opportunity to 48 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:08.400 play top minutes, to be on the power play will 49 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.800 be really important for Utah because that's something that they 50 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:12.960 were missing a bit last year, you know, going into 51 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:15.520 a third period being down a goal or not being 52 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:18.039 able to extend the lead. They had trouble scoring, So 53 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.240 I think someone like the Turka is important. And then 54 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:23.719 you also just look at the more veteran leadership they 55 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:27.560 brought in Brandon Tanneb and Nate Schmidt, the defenseman. Natech 56 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:30.159 Schmidt just won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers 57 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:32.199 and we got in the media call with him and 58 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.840 he was hilarious. He has a really out their personality, 59 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:38.240 which I think will be good for the room. He 60 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:40.599 has an edge to him as he plays, so he'll 61 00:02:40.599 --> 00:02:43.240 be a good third pair, you know, defensive depths for them. 62 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:47.039 And then brand of Tanneb too, also has spark to him, 63 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:49.879 and he talked about it. He wants to bring energy 64 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:52.240 to the bottom six and he'll score and he'll do 65 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.680 what he can, but he'll hit and you know, He 66 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:57.520 just adds a little sand paper for them. And then lastly, 67 00:02:57.599 --> 00:02:59.639 I think you look at their depth and goaltending. They 68 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.199 brought and v tech Fanicheck, who also was on the 69 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:05.479 Florida Panthers last year, as you know, second string, third 70 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:08.800 string goalie. But I think that just adds some insurance 71 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:12.280 for Utah. You know, we're not sure when Connor Ingram 72 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.840 will come back, so I think they really shored up 73 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:17.639 the areas where they needed one to two more guys 74 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:20.319 they didn't get them. Mitch Marner had a huge names 75 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:23.199 that may be headlined this summer, but they got better 76 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:25.599 in areas that they were lacking last year and now 77 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:28.199 it's just a matter of them building chemistry with those 78 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:28.719 new guys. 79 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.439 Do you have an update on Connor? 80 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:32.240 I mean I was going to ask that as a 81 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:35.199 follow up, and obviously it's a very sensitive information or 82 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:38.759 sensitive situation, and the information is sensitive too, and the 83 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:41.919 club has of course been great to make sure that 84 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:43.759 he gets helped and he needs But do you know 85 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:45.280 where we're at with that process now? 86 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:48.800 Yeah, last time we talked to Bill Armstrong, he said 87 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:51.960 that Ingram's been in the assistant program, that he's doing well, 88 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.639 and that they're hoping for the best for him. You know, 89 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:56.439 we also heard that he was playing in a men's 90 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:00.879 league recently, kind of getting his fitness back. Bill Armstrong 91 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:04.840 declined to comment on any timeline for his return or 92 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:07.120 you know, the specifics. He said he wanted to keep 93 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:11.120 those within the organization, which is understandable given the sensitivity 94 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:14.280 of the situation. But you know, it's definitely something from 95 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:16.040 the business side of a team that they had to 96 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:18.319 think about, and I think that shows with how they 97 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.319 brought in v Tech Fancheck because training camp is a 98 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:23.959 month away now, and I think they're just making sure 99 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.160 that they're ready for any situation. So that's all we 100 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:29.800 have on Ingram right now. It sounds like he's making progress, 101 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:33.319 but there's been no subsistence you know, return date for him. 102 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:34.480 Still some money. 103 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:37.079 According to the numbers I have in front of me, 104 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:40.920 he's still six million change to potentially bring in other players. 105 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:42.360 Do you think this is the group or do you 106 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.199 think that money will be used to add a little depth. 107 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:49.319 I think this is probably the group, but I think 108 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.319 if they were going to do anything before the season starts, 109 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:56.240 it might be a trade, and I don't think they will, 110 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:58.560 but I think if if they were to do something, 111 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:01.279 I don't see them use the rest of their cap space, 112 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:04.600 just because you know, Bill Armstrong is super responsible and 113 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:07.279 he also has Logi Cooley, who could be up for 114 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:10.560 an extension this year, same situation as Dylan Gunther was 115 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:14.240 in last year, and Gunther extended for eight years in September. 116 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:16.199 So I don't think fans should be freaking out that 117 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:19.600 Coolly hasn't extended yet, especially with the cap going up 118 00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:23.079 for the next few seasons. Seasons in the NHL, negotiations 119 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:25.800 are probably tougher and he'll still be with the team 120 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:28.920 next year if he doesn't extend. But I think because 121 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.480 there are players that they still need to lock up, 122 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.759 they'll probably try to keep that cap space. And you know, 123 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.920 they also resigned Jack McBain, who is an RSA for 124 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:41.839 a bit higher than fans or the team probably wanted to, 125 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.439 but it's because he would have been a USA in 126 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.079 two years, so they had to pay for those years. 127 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.399 He got four point twenty five million dollars on his 128 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:54.360 average annual values, So I think they you know, they 129 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:56.079 put their money where they wanted it, and I don't 130 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:59.040 see them overspending for something because right now. I mean 131 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:02.120 the internal competition that they have with the players they 132 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.639 have right now, their prospects. The guy that Tucson is 133 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:08.800 probably the best sits in for this organization. So they 134 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:11.560 have the bodies that they need, and I don't think 135 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:14.240 there's a glaring pol for them after the moves that 136 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:15.319 Byill has done already. 137 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:17.680 Well, it's been a minute since you and I have 138 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:19.279 been able to catch up, and I know you've been 139 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:22.560 asked about the Michael Karr Coney story, but I wonder 140 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:25.639 for my audience in this space if you could elaborate 141 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.759 a bit. I mean, I can remember watching that post 142 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:32.439 game presser when he essentially was like, yeah, it's not 143 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.680 going to work. And look, you always want to leave 144 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:38.360 space for people to have emotional reactions, and things like 145 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:40.600 making a living in contracts and money make all of 146 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:41.319 us emotional. 147 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:44.519 So no issue at all for the about face. But 148 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:46.639 how did this? How did this play out? 149 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:51.839 Yeah? So exit day interviews back in what was that April? 150 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:54.879 I think at the Deata Center. You know, guys talk 151 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:57.600 about howther's seasons but end Usually if you're a UFA 152 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:00.959 or RFA, you aren't as direct as my Carconi was, 153 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:04.600 but as journalists. We appreciate it, you know, we appreciate 154 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:07.600 him just coming in and speaking his mind. But on 155 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:09.639 that day in April, he said, you know, I love 156 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.079 the guys, They're a great group. I don't think there's 157 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:15.000 going to be an answer, a direct quote, he said, 158 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.360 I don't think we're going to agree on anything. I 159 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.480 spoke to the coaching staff and management, and I think 160 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.519 we're going to go in different directions. And we asked, 161 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:24.480 you know why he was feeling that way, and he 162 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:27.360 felt he wasn't given big enough of an opportunity for 163 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:30.360 Utah last year. You know, the year before in Arizona 164 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:33.160 he had twenty goals, and then last year for Utah 165 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:36.319 he was usually the thirteenth forward. He was healthy, scratched 166 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:38.120 a lot when he was in the lineup. He was 167 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:41.879 bottom six, so his numbers went down, but also his 168 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:44.480 games played went down. And I think that was a 169 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:47.360 good problem from an organizational level for Utah because it 170 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.399 meant that the younger guys were getting better and forcing 171 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:52.240 their way into the lineup. You look at someone like 172 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:55.399 Josh Jone who's no longer there, but Dylan Gunster and 173 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:58.519 Jack mcvain and those types of players. But it definitely 174 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:03.240 cost Carcony. So he was going out into the free 175 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:06.759 agent market and nothing had bit, you know, for the 176 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:10.399 first couple of weeks and on when was this a 177 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.639 couple of week July fifteenth or sixteenth, he signed a 178 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:17.279 one year contract with the Mammoth for seven hundred and 179 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:21.160 seventy five thousand dollars, which was the same average annual 180 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.639 value as his last contract. And when we talked to 181 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:26.399 him after the signing, he said, you know, he didn't 182 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.680 want to be taken out of context for his exit 183 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:31.399 day interview. He said that he always wanted to be 184 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:34.399 in Utah, but like you were saying, frustrations run high. 185 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:37.159 He had just talked to the coaching staff, so he 186 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:41.120 kind of walked back on not his want to leave, 187 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.200 but his thought that he wouldn't be part of the 188 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:48.240 future of the franchise. I think it's a fine signing 189 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.080 for them. I mean, I don't think Carconi is going 190 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:52.519 to have a huge role, but he likes playing with 191 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:54.200 a chip on his shoulder. He said, he knows he 192 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.320 has a lot to prove coming in in his situation, 193 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:59.879 but I imagine he's probably an extra ford or bottom 194 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:03.720 player again, just because of his size his stats last 195 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:07.240 year and just the guys Utah has coming in. But 196 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:10.000 he proves people wrong. He proves people wrong, and I 197 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:12.000 think a lot of fans would like to see that. 198 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:16.840 Any specific takeaways from the schedule release, I mean, I'm 199 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.440 seeing that eleven of the first fifteen games are on 200 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:22.639 the road, which is a tough start, but obviously they'll 201 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:24.559 come back around. You play the same amount of road 202 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:27.519 games as you do home games. But as you kind 203 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.039 of dug into that schedule release, Bell, what were some 204 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:31.240 of your main takeaways. 205 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:33.879 Yeah, it's exactly what you said. They have a really 206 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:36.519 tough start to the year. I think it was something 207 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:39.720 like sixteen of twenty or sixteen to thirty or something 208 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:42.399 to start the season or on the road, But you know, 209 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:44.600 they were a really good road team last year. Actually 210 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:47.639 they struggled at home more so. So you might think 211 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.519 it's a good thing for them to find their footing 212 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.000 and bond as a team and be on the planes 213 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:54.879 and hotels together and figure out their identity for the 214 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.720 team on the road before they come to Delta Center 215 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:00.799 and show off for year two. Start with a three 216 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:04.919 game road trip Colorado, Nashville, and Chicago before coming back 217 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:07.799 to Delta Center on October fifteenth for opening a night 218 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:10.679 against the Calgary Flames, and that'll be a four game 219 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:15.799 homestand so I think for them it'll test them immediately, 220 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.320 which is a good thing. You know, a lot of 221 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:20.600 the players have talked about not having that slump in 222 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:22.639 the beginning of the season like they did last year, 223 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:26.360 starting on time, and like you said, every team goes 224 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:29.240 through hard stretches in the schedule. I don't think you 225 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:32.039 can use it as an excuse for a poor record 226 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.720 or poor showing, So I don't think Utah will use 227 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:37.440 it as that at all. And I think you know, 228 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.519 one game or that people have circled on the calendar, 229 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:45.600 obviously the divisional opponents because those points matter more. And 230 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:49.159 then also I believe November twelfth, the Buffalo Sabers come 231 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:51.320 to town and that will be Josh jen and Michael 232 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:55.799 Kessing's homecoming as well. So there's definitely, you know, great 233 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:59.000 matchups to start the year. And although it's one of 234 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:01.200 the tougher road schedule, I think it'll probably make the 235 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:03.519 team better and if not, they'll just have to learn 236 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:05.840 from it as every other organization does. 237 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.440 How much of the road heavy schedule early on has 238 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:14.720 to do with the renovations of the building bill. 239 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:17.240 That's what we thought. But they're scheduled to play preseason 240 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:20.679 games at Delta Center. Their last two preseason games, I believe, 241 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.600 at the end of September our scheduled to be at 242 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:25.840 Delta Center, and those will be the first you know 243 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:29.399 event at Delta Center since the renovations. So I imagine 244 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:32.120 those games won't be the full effect. They'll definitely be 245 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:36.399 things that aren't fully ready yet. But supposedly, as of now, 246 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:40.080 those are supposed to be at the arena, and we 247 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:43.200 haven't gotten, you know, any changes on that. So I'm 248 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:47.000 sure it helps the Delta Center crew that they'll be 249 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:49.320 gone for the first week of this season. But I 250 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:52.440 don't think that's because there's any delays or change in 251 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:55.440 schedule for the renovations. I think that's all on track, 252 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:57.159 and you know, this just gives them a bit more 253 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.080 time to get everything ready for opening night. 254 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:02.080 So having an interesting conversation. 255 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:04.600 I had a little family reunion last week and chance 256 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.159 to catch up with a lot of my family who 257 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:09.000 I don't see very much, who are big sports fans, 258 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.440 and we were just kind of comparing the project of 259 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:16.399 the Jazz rebuild to the project of the Mammoth rebuild, 260 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.639 and the Mammoth are much further along. I think this 261 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:21.519 is probably year five or six of a rebuild and 262 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:24.639 the Jazz, I mean, it depends on what their messaging is, 263 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.840 which seems to change day to day. Now it's like, no, 264 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.159 we actually were tearing it down and the rebuild starts now. 265 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:31.919 So the Mammoth are further along than the Jazz are. 266 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.519 And I'm just wondering Bell. Throughout the course of your 267 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:38.240 time here covering the team, talking to players that have 268 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.919 been traded to Utah or draft picks that have been 269 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.720 drafted to Utah, It's a little bit different when you're 270 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:48.480 a draft pick because typically you're young, and ultimately you 271 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:52.679 work for the organization of the NHL Hockey League and 272 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.919 you have been assigned to the Salt Lake City office, 273 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:56.960 and I feel like you're more inclined just to accept 274 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:00.200 it and be excited. Do you sense any pushback at 275 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:03.600 all for hockey players wanting to come to our market 276 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:05.919 and stay here for quite some time. It's just it's 277 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.080 the main thing that the Jazz are run into. For 278 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.000 a number of years, they've been able to draft, they've 279 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.039 been able to develop, but they just can't retain. And 280 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:15.480 if you're going to win trophies, you have to retain. 281 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:16.919 Do you think the Mammoth are going to run into 282 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:17.759 any issues that way? 283 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:21.080 Yeah, I mean, I think there's been a clear shift 284 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:24.919 with the NHL and NHL players and NHL fans perspective 285 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.519 on Utah. And I know you're saying how the draft 286 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:29.639 picks don't really have a choice to be in Utah, 287 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:32.080 but I think the narrative around them has been really 288 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.799 different for the NHL. And I was actually talking to 289 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:38.320 you know, Andy Larson, our jazz writer, because it was 290 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.720 around the time where all the Ace Bailey drama was 291 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:44.240 happening and then these which got resolved. But these Utah 292 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:46.279 players get drafted, and you know a lot of them 293 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:48.639 were saying, I wanted to be in Utah. I was 294 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:51.080 hoping I got drafted by Utah. I'm so excited to 295 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.039 be here. The mountains are so beautiful, Like this is 296 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.960 one of the top teams in the NHL. I'm so 297 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:59.120 excited to be in this organization. And it was it's 298 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:01.679 a distinct, you know, change in narrative from what I 299 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:04.200 think has been reported about the jazz in the past, 300 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:07.440 and we talked about this before free agency opened for 301 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:09.519 the NHL that it was going to be really interesting 302 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.960 if they had to overpay for players or if they 303 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:14.960 were able to land any players, and they were. I mean, 304 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.879 they landed two Stanley Cup champions in Schmidt and Banicheck 305 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:22.120 and then Brandon Tannev. Although they'll be you know, bottom six, 306 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:26.039 more debt veteran role, he's a legit NHL and guys 307 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.919 who have been around the league and seen different markets. 308 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:31.279 So I think that's a really good sign for the 309 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:34.279 Mammoth and the fans in front office that guys did 310 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:37.799 sign here during free agency, and a lot of guys 311 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:40.919 resigned as well, you know, Ian Cole resigned, Alex Kurfett resigned, 312 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:44.159 Jack McBain resigned, Dylan Gunther resigned. Those are pieces of 313 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:48.320 your core moving forward. JJ Paterca, although it was a trade, 314 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:51.480 he kind of had to say. He forces himself out 315 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.480 of Buffalo and found a team that would work for him. 316 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:56.320 So I think that should be a positive note for 317 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:59.159 Mammoth fans seeing that players are willing to take the 318 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:01.480 chance on Utah. And I think there won't be an 319 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:04.480 official answer until, you know, probably five to eight to 320 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:06.240 ten years when the team is here and you can 321 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:09.960 actually see a pattern form or real opinions after the 322 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.519 first or second year. But I think for the way 323 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.159 they introduce themselves to the league and to the country 324 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:18.159 and to hockey fans, players want to be here, and 325 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.240 you know, it's only been positive feedback from us as 326 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.039 the media. We haven't you heard anything of that they 327 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.200 don't want to be here or anything of that sort. 328 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:30.480 What sort of information can you share with our hockey 329 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:34.759 fan listeners about the new experience in the building once 330 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:39.399 everything is done once and it may bleed into next season. 331 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.399 Anybody who's ever bought a house or built a house, 332 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:46.080 or had construction on anything, quite frankly understands that these 333 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:49.120 things are always delayed. But once that is completely done, 334 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:51.720 what sort of changes are in store? 335 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.600 What can you share there? 336 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:56.919 Yeah, well, it's going to be multi year project. I 337 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.399 think they're saying three to five off seasons because since 338 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.799 the Jazz and Mammoth are there, they only have the 339 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.639 summers to do the renovations. But this year they focus 340 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:09.200 on the lower bowl and just improving site lines for 341 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.519 those seats and throughout the arena. When it's one hundred 342 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:15.720 percent done. Every view will be full. There won't be 343 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.720 any blockages like there were last year. But they've blown 344 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.120 out the entire lower bowl and they're raising it by 345 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:25.399 three feet. I believe in pushing it back. So the 346 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:27.639 views that people love for the NBA and the upclose 347 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.519 nature of the Delta Center is still there, but the 348 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:35.399 actual like I'm trying to think of the word, but 349 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:37.559 it won't be a seat for hockey fans, so they'll 350 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.519 be able to see both goals. There won't be any 351 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.440 parts of the ice cutoff, so that's kind of the 352 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.279 tangible things they're working on. And then in the end 353 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:47.320 of the project, there's going to be a new parking garage, 354 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.919 there'll be a downtown plaza. You know, the entire downtown 355 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.360 area around the Delta Center is kind of being reinvented. 356 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.240 But people are going to have to wait a bit 357 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.919 for that. And I think the biggest thing that we 358 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:00.240 haven't even been let in on because it's to be 359 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.559 a surprise on opening night, is just all the branding 360 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:05.720 around the Mammoth. It's hard to even remember the Utah 361 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.759 Hockey Club branding now, so it feels like this team 362 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.960 has been the Mammoths forever, but the new in game activations, 363 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:15.599 the merge, everything on the JumboTron. I think it's gonna 364 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:19.200 be really cool to see how they bring this branding 365 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.680 to life in an in game situation instead of just 366 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:24.039 the social media stuff we've been seeing for the last 367 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.559 few months. So I think that's probably the biggest thing 368 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.920 that fans should look forward to. 369 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:31.160 You and I were spoiled as young hockey fans growing 370 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:33.880 up going to the Garden, so this question might be 371 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.000 a little bit unfair, But I'm wondering, Belle, when you 372 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:40.640 took the job, what you were expecting as it pertained 373 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:45.079 to atmosphere and fan participation year one for the Mammoth, 374 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:48.880 and then did the experience meet or exceed those expectations? 375 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:52.920 Definitely exceed. I mean I think I had no idea 376 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.400 what to expect in the first place, and the players 377 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.799 and coaches have said the same thing. But I think 378 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:00.960 I wrote about this in M A. Paul. But Opening 379 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:04.759 night was so special and magical because I think you 380 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:07.799 saw that utash those up and Ryan Smith and everyone 381 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:10.200 here had been saying it for years when they finally 382 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:13.160 got the NHL team, and it was true, and that 383 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:15.559 was One of my favorite parts of this entire season 384 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.319 was just watching this community fall so in love with 385 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:21.599 hockey but also be so dedicated. I mean, there wasn't 386 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.519 one night at the Delta Center this year where it 387 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:26.440 wasn't sold out or close to sold out and loud, 388 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:29.599 and people asking questions and coming up to us and 389 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:33.880 creating new chants and creating new fan tradition. So beyond 390 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:35.920 the hockey, I think that's been the best part of 391 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.920 being in Utah so far as just seeing how these 392 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.720 fans have embraced the team, have embraced the league. And 393 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.680 I imagine that just you know, times one hundred for 394 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.519 next season because a lot of people are more excited 395 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:50.880 about it. But yeah, definitely excuted expectations, and I think 396 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:54.000 it surprised a lot of people, just in the NHL 397 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:56.720 and in hockey in general. A pleasant surprise for sure. 398 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.119 So it'll be cool to see how that kind of 399 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.400 grows the next few years. 400 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.240 Do you have any inside insight or maybe inside information 401 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:07.640