WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:02.759 It's a challenging bump because you can't step on it, 2 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:05.120 but then you played for a long time. But it 3 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:08.080 has become synonymous with our next guest because she is 4 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:13.720 a Rangers fan like myself. Different generations. I go way 5 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:15.279 way back, and Bell is much. 6 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:15.679 Longer than I am. 7 00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:17.600 But we'll do a little hockey little Utah Hockey Club 8 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:21.280 with our friend, Belle Frasier probably Salt Lake Tribune Bell, 9 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:22.000 Happy Monday. 10 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:23.559 How are you good? 11 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:24.160 How are you? 12 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:27.039 I'm doing well. I'm doing well, all right? So what gives? 13 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:29.039 What's the biggest issue here? We got what five straight 14 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:31.960 l's at this point, and young team, and it's been 15 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:34.359 up and down all year, you know, not too long ago, 16 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.079 they put together a nice three game, you know, winning streak, 17 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:40.240 and now they've they've lost five straight. It does seem 18 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:42.799 like they have real issues closing. I guess that's fair 19 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:44.600 to say, because they can't hold on to a lead 20 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:47.560 when they have it. But what do you most attribute this, 21 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:49.479 this five game losing streak to Belle? 22 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.679 You're a spot on with the closing. I think we've 23 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:55.079 talked earlier in the season about for some reason, the 24 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:58.240 second period seems to be a struggle for Utah Hockey Club, 25 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:00.479 just with the goals they are giving again and not 26 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:03.280 being able to produce the other way. And most recently 27 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.879 during this five game losing streak, they've gone into the 28 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:09.519 third period with one goal leads, tied, with a two 29 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:12.480 goal lead, even and come out losing the game, whether 30 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:15.879 that be in regulation or overtime. So I think that, 31 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:18.920 you know, clutch scoring and defending of a lead has 32 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:22.400 been missing for this team. And it's partially I mean, 33 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:24.959 there's no excuses. They'll say that too. It's the NHL. 34 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:26.519 You have to see ready every night. That's what a 35 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:28.719 lot of the players were saying after last night's loss. 36 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:33.359 But they are missing two huge offensive pieces for them. 37 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:36.560 Dylan Gunster and now Logan Cooley are both out with 38 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.920 lower body injuries. Logan Cooley was ruled out indefinitely earlier 39 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.400 this week he got hurt in the Pittsburgh Penguins game, 40 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:46.079 and Dylan Gunster has been out for a few weeks now. 41 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:49.879 He's finally skating into regular jersey in practice, so coach 42 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:53.200 said he was day today, which is good news for Utah. 43 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.640 But when you take out two of your top six 44 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:58.280 forwards who accounted for you know, a quarter of the 45 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:01.359 scoring on this team before they were out. That's obviously 46 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:04.079 going to have some impacts in the lineup, and then 47 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:07.959 defensively too, it's they're finally closer to healthy. Sergachev and 48 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.800 John Marino are skating on the first pair and so 49 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:13.439 that's the bright side. But it feels like even when 50 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.599 players come back for Utah, they lose another guy. So 51 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.759 I think it's partially where it's a young team, it's 52 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:22.560 growing pains. Maybe it's fatigue at this point in the 53 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:24.680 season when we're talking about the third period, but it's 54 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.159 also that they're playing without two of their best players 55 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:27.719 at the moment. 56 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.639 What is the plan on that first forward line with 57 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:31.560 Logan going down? 58 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:33.039 Do you know what coach Torny is going to do? 59 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:36.400 Yeah, So Alex Kerkfoot has centered the first line the 60 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:39.159 last two games between Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, and 61 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.400 at this point he has played on every single Utah 62 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.159 line this season. He started mostly on the fourth line, 63 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:47.560 but his versatility, you know, he's a veteran in that 64 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.759 locker room, on and off the ice, power play, penalty kill, 65 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:53.319 he's kind of used in all situations and he played 66 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:55.400 with color and Schmaltz for a bit last year as well, 67 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:58.120 so it's not a completely foreign combination, but it's the 68 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:00.719 first time Utah Hockey Club fans are seeing it. And 69 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:04.800 Kerfoot actually scored in his first game on that line 70 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:07.199 two games ago, was a NetFront knock and goal, and 71 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:09.759 I talked to him earlier that week and he was saying, 72 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.120 I need to be better. I expect more from myself, 73 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.759 and I asked kind of specifically what he wanted to 74 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:17.080 be better at. He said, getting around the net, getting 75 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:19.400 pucks on net, and kind of fighting for inside ice. 76 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.240 And that's exactly what he did with the heightened responsibility 77 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.560 on that first line. So obviously it's not a perfect fix. 78 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:28.680 No one's going to bring exactly what Cooley brings. But 79 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:32.560 they're lucky that they've had other healthy forwards be able 80 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.080 to step up. And yeah, they haven't called anyone up 81 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.000 from the AHL yet because they have twelve forwards to 82 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:39.960 skate with right now. 83 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:43.080 So they did make a minor move today phyllis in 84 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:45.319 and maybe this is just a young player they like, 85 00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:47.840 maybe they need depth upfront, but they did bring in 86 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:51.800 Sammy Walker from Minnesota in exchange for future considerations. What 87 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.840 do you make of the minor move they executed earlier today. 88 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:58.479 I think it definitely is correlated to losing Logan Coolly 89 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:00.719 and losing a forward. I think it might just be 90 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.879 numbers wise, especially because he was assigned to the AHL. 91 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.680 Josh Doan right now was recalled when Dylan Gunther went down. 92 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:11.439 So the Tucson Roadrunners, who are Utah's HL affiliate, lost 93 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:13.919 a ford in their own roster, and now that Coolie's out, 94 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.920 you could expect them to call up another forward from 95 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.560 the AHL. But you know, I think we sometimes forget 96 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:21.600 that when they pull up a player, that team loses 97 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.279 a player. So in my mind, it could just be 98 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.879 numbers wise safety for if they need to call someone 99 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:29.720 like Kyler Yamamoto up or anyone else on that roster 100 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.759 just to have a thirteenth forward in practice, or someone 101 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:36.279 else gets hurt, that team is able to fill in 102 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:39.800 as well. And I think for future considerations, you know 103 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.560 you're not giving up much, so just another healthy, strong body. 104 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.120 I don't imagine him coming into the Utah line up 105 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.079 anytime soon, but good thing to have in your organization. 106 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.560 And he played at University of Minnesota, was in Minnesota 107 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:56.040 for a bit in the AHL too, So yeah, I 108 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.240 think it's a safe move that can probably only help 109 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:59.920 the team in terms of depth moving forward. 110 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:04.040 You referenced now that John Marino is healthy and Cirgchev 111 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:06.639 is back in the lineup, we're seeing those two skate together, 112 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:09.000 and a lot of people are being curious and waiting 113 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.360 for this opportunity. What are the early returns bell now 114 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:13.879 that we have a little bit of a sample size 115 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:14.959 with those two playing together. 116 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.879 They're both very complimentary of each other, which is funny. 117 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:21.079 We've talked to both of them obviously about playing with 118 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.079 each other. And Sergachev earlier in this year when there 119 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:26.040 were a lot of injuries on the back end, he 120 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:29.000 was skating with Michael Kestering and they split that up 121 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:31.439 because they said they wanted Sergachev to have the puck 122 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:34.879 more because he's obviously very puck moving defenceman leans into 123 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:37.240 his offensive game. But you know, John Marino is also 124 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:39.399 known as that of bit, so I think maybe people 125 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.920 were curious how they would balance that out. But I 126 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.439 asked Marino about that and he said, I'm just giving 127 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.199 the puck Sergatev if he's open, If we're in the 128 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.800 ozone and he's left uncovered. That's the guy I'm going to. 129 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.839 He's too good to not make a play. So I 130 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:55.480 think Marino is kind of holding on to that more 131 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:58.879 defensive defenceman style when he's with Sergachev and they've complimented 132 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:02.399 each other well, Sergchev talked about Marino's just smart without 133 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:05.160 the puck as well, the way he positions his body 134 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:08.519 and he takes off angles of others teams, let alone 135 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:11.000 his shot, and he filled in on the second power 136 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.600 play unit for a few games, and he's on the 137 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.800 penalty kills, So I think you see that same versatility 138 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:19.040 and also just load management. He's playing twenty one twenty 139 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:22.399 two plus minute tonight and it balances out for Sergachev 140 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:24.279 and the rest of the d course. So I think 141 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:26.720 when you see Shan Jersey eventually come out to all 142 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:29.319 of these players will be able to play twenty to 143 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.199 twenty three minutes and play to the best of their 144 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:33.839 ability instead of being shutched out a little thin. And 145 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:36.360 you see that with Marino coming in that's already getting 146 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:36.920 a bit better. 147 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:40.959 Thirteen road wins. That's more than Vegas, that's more than 148 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:44.959 the Kings. I mean, that's more than the Hurricanes and 149 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.199 it's more than the Maple Leaves or the Senators. I mean, 150 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:49.959 they're good on the road, bell but eight home wins 151 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:53.680 is the least amount of home wins in the Western Conference. 152 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:55.439 And you know what in the entire league, Now that 153 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:58.959 I have the stats in front of me, what gives what? 154 00:06:59.079 --> 00:06:59.279 I mean? 155 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:02.560 How can this team be really dynamite away from home 156 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:04.439 and still not being able to figure it out here 157 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:05.360 as the Delta Center. 158 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:09.519 It's really wild. And honestly, their road record more recently 159 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:11.639 has not it hasn't been as good as it's been 160 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.160 in the beginning of the season. So I think at 161 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:18.720 this point it's honestly just an unfortunate coincidence. It feels 162 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:21.079 like that this team is hitting a slump with injuries, 163 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:23.600 with just the dog days of the season, and they 164 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:25.959 happen to play a lot at home in January and 165 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:31.160 early February. Yeah, you feel awful and the fans and 166 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.959 you feel bad for the fans, and the players always 167 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.560 say that, you know, they want to win in front 168 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:37.439 of this loyal fan base so badly, And originally they 169 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:39.879 were saying, maybe we get too emotional on home ice. 170 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:41.959 We're gripping our sticks too much because we want to 171 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.199 win so badly that we're overthinking the game. But in 172 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.160 my eyes, at this point in the season, you know, 173 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:50.560 that's not an excuse anymore. Every single team plays forty 174 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:52.920 one games at home. Every single team wants to win 175 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.480 in front of their fans, whether they're a new franchise 176 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.240 or not. So I don't know if it's the nerves anymore. 177 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:00.519 I doubt it is. I think it's just they're working 178 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.199 through a tough part of the season when during the 179 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:06.839 month that they had close to eleven home games and 180 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.000 now they'll have three on the road before the Four 181 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.519 Nations break and kind of get to hit a reset. 182 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:14.800 But yeah, it's not the record you would want to 183 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:17.839 have when trying to win over a new community that's 184 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:18.839 getting into hockey. 185 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:22.160 So, look, there are a lot of games left. 186 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.000 I've heard all the players say that during their media availability, 187 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.680 and of course everyone says the right things, but you know, 188 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:29.639 as the old saying goes, if you want to make 189 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:33.360 the playoffs, it's getting late early. So fifty two games 190 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:35.600 played for the hockey club, so we're looking at about 191 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.039 thirty games left, and there is an eight point gap 192 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:41.440 between the Utah Hockey Club and the Calgary Flames for 193 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:44.759 the second wildcard spot. Do you feel like we are 194 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:46.720 starting to get to the point in the calendar where 195 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:48.759 it's no longer like, well, we got to trust the 196 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:50.799 process and do the right things, Like no, you've got 197 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:52.519 to win hockey games. You have to get points if 198 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.559 you want to be a playoff team. Is there maybe 199 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.559 a little more urgency with the group from your experience 200 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:00.639 that we've seen prior to this point the calendar. 201 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:04.039 Yeah, I definitely think there's urgency, But I also think 202 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.200 there needs to be just a general reminder that this 203 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.759 team it's okay if it's not a playoff team. You know, 204 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:12.120 I know it's a separate team in the Arizona Coyotes, 205 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:14.679 But when you look at that overlap during the fourth 206 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:17.159 year of a rebuild, and sometimes teams are two to 207 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:19.240 three points at the end of that, they're a bubble team, 208 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:21.600 and that's, you know, a step in the right direction, 209 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.559 even though it's not as fun and you want to 210 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.200 obviously make it to the first round, and especially in 211 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:29.039 the inaugural season. I think that's why expectations have been 212 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:33.360 so high. But I think fans it's disappointing. Like I 213 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:35.120 grew up a fan. You hate when your team misses 214 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:37.919 the playoffs, but it doesn't mean that this season was 215 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:41.200 a failure for Utah. I think if they went on 216 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:44.639 a run, it's obviously possible. Eight points is four games, 217 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:46.600 but then you have to rely on everyone else in 218 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.399 the West to go on a losing streak, which doesn't 219 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:52.480 look like it will happen. So I definitely think the players, 220 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:54.440 you know, we ask them about it basically every day 221 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.879 and they say, we're fighting for our playoff lives right now. 222 00:09:57.679 --> 00:09:59.440 They're very much aware of it. It's not like they're 223 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:02.960 throwing it and giving up that they're pushing. They want 224 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.080 to do it. But the way the numbers look and 225 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:09.080 with the injuries they're dealing with, I think externally, maybe 226 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.519 prepare for an early summer and that's okay, you know, 227 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.639 I think that was kind of the expectation coming in, 228 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:17.200 and then they have kept themselves in the mix. So 229 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:19.519 either way, I think the team is kind of where 230 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:22.559 they expected it to be, and that might be outside 231 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:23.360 the playoff picture. 232 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:26.240 And if you are correct, and the injuries certainly have 233 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.399 to be brought into play here and it is in 234 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:31.600 early summer, Let's just have a little fun here and 235 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.559 talk about potentially what this team is lacking with holes 236 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:38.840 to take that proverbial next step, maybe a year ago 237 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:40.519 or a year from now, I should say, and Bill 238 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:44.279 Armstrong talks often about this process where they're at with 239 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.919 clean books and draft capital. 240 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:47.879 It's very Utah jazz is quite. 241 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:50.480 Frankly, but what should the point of emphasis be if 242 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.960 they want to continue this upward growth or do you 243 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:54.919 think they just continue to kind of grow in house 244 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:55.960 with the pieces they already have. 245 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:59.720 Well, I think first before you look outside who to 246 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:02.159 bring in. They have some expiring contracts. You know, we 247 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.559 talked about Alex Kerfoot, Jack McBain, Dukestad, Logan Cooley can 248 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:09.159 be up for an extension, and Carel Vimelka is going 249 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.960 to be an unrestricted free agent. So those are pretty 250 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:14.279 core pieces of that team that I think Bill Armstrong 251 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.240 is going to have to make a decision if they're 252 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:18.519 going to be part of the future. I imagine they 253 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.639 hand Coolly a blank check and say not actually, but 254 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:23.879 I mean he's going to be a star on this 255 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.399 team for many years to come. I imagine the same 256 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.039 conversation is with Jack McBain. That's someone that they don't 257 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:31.360 want to lose. He's shown he can play the wing center, 258 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.919 you know, another guy that kind of does it all 259 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:36.480 with his physicality too. And then I think it's really 260 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:39.960 interesting looking at cREL Vimelka, even with the trade deadline 261 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.799 coming up. You know, Utah has two starting goaltenders who 262 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.679 have proven they can be great goalies in this league, 263 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.120 and a lot of teams that are pushing to make 264 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:50.480 a long run in the playoffs. They have everything but 265 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:54.559 steady goaltending. So it'll you know, do they deal with 266 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.960 Milka at the trade deadline to get a return in 267 00:11:57.960 --> 00:11:59.840 case they don't sign him this summer and he's just 268 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.879 because he's unrestricted, or do they decide to extend him 269 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:06.000 and really roll with him as the starter and figure 270 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.159 out what to do with Connor Ingram in the future. 271 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:12.960 So they obviously haven't talked about that publicly, but I think, yeah, 272 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:15.720 before they go out to try to fill holes, they 273 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:17.639 need to decide what holes are going to be left 274 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.720 with these guys who could sign different contracts this summer. 275 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:22.919 Tyler Tucker hate Utah. What's the deal? 276 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:25.240 It seems like he's fighting everybody every time these two 277 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.759 teams play. 278 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:29.679 Yeah, yeah, it's funny and yeah, he scored last game too, 279 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.159 not two games ago. I guess, yeah, it's fought Liam 280 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:34.840 O'Brien and Jack McBain. I don't know what it is, 281 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:36.679 but I guess he likes the Delta center. 282 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:41.320 Is uh is is our guy, spicy tuna, the tough guy. 283 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:43.559 Is he the enforcer? Like when when we need somebody 284 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.559 to fight? Does he established himself as this guy? 285 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:48.480 Yeah? And I think he knows that he knows his 286 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.440 role pretty well, and he says when he's put in 287 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.600 the lineup, he's gonna go out there, he's going to 288 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:55.840 be physical. I think he's had almost four fights this season, 289 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:58.360 so when he's in the lineup, you know that he's 290 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:01.000 looking to kind of stir the pot and choose his 291 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.840 spots to switch the momentum. But Jack McBain two, Obviously 292 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:07.559 he's a little bit more talented, little bit more skilled 293 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.879 than Lime O'Brien. But he fought last game and I 294 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:12.120 wouldn't call him an enforcer, but he's definitely one of 295 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:14.399 those guys that has an edge and holds the other 296 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:17.639 team accountable when they're on that ice. So yeah, those 297 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:19.919 are two guys that I think Utah's happy to have 298 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.399 and kind of the other team thinks twice when they 299 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.679 see them coming over the bench. 300 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:27.879 I feel like maybe the Blues are kind of emerging 301 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.120 as this random rival because of the physical nature. I mean, 302 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:34.960 you and I talked about to start the year, who who's. 303 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:35.559 The rival going to be? 304 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:37.720 I mean, fans want to know that, and the proximity 305 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:40.360 would indicate maybe it's the Avs. Are we getting closer 306 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:45.000 and closer because rivalries oftentimes, yes, geographical proximity helps, but 307 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:49.240 they're created over time, playing close, physical games, most often 308 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.919 in the playoffs, as you know. But are we getting 309 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.960 closer to understand who the hockey club's rival is? 310 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.360 It seems like Saint Louis could be one of those, especially, 311 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.679 I mean it's divisionals, so they'll play them one more time. 312 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.399 I think they close out the regular season in Saint Louis. Actually, 313 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:03.879 so they played them four times in a regular season, 314 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:07.679 So I think that automatically lends to more tensions because 315 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:10.240 you've played them so many times, and you know those 316 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:14.559 those two fights and the close games, and they're both 317 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.519 they're one point away from each other in the standings. 318 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.360 But like you said, playoffs, I think there's not a 319 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.879 real rival until Utah makes it to the first round. 320 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:25.279 I think the first team they face in the playoffs 321 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.799 will be the real rivalry that these fans are like, 322 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:31.840 I hate that team because, yeah, it sucks losing a 323 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.759 regular season game that was close, but you don't learn 324 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:38.120 real NHL heartbreak until you see your team lose a 325 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:41.759 Game seven or something like that. So yeah, I think 326 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.759 Saint Louis games are fun to get up for, and 327 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:46.960 really anyone in the Central Division. But my view is 328 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:51.080 there for first postseason matchup will be the official first 329 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.000 rival in Utah Hockey Club history. 330 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.960 All right, Bell, before I say you lose for a 331 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.039 couple of minutes we have left. 332 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.600 Let's move over to the topic that everybody really wants 333 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:01.879 to talk about as a parta to this Utah Hockey Club, 334 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:04.360 and that is names and logos and where we're at 335 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.799 Before we get to the logos that have been leaked. 336 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.679 I have not been able to visit with you since 337 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:12.440 the news came down that they went through the process 338 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:16.440 to try to make the Utah Yeti's name or reality. 339 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.039 So now we know that was the preferred name. 340 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.919 There are a lot of rumors even some players said 341 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.919 that was their understanding. 342 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:23.440 So what's your understanding. 343 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.480 Of just kind of that process, how it went down, 344 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:29.440 and any inside as to how disappointed they are down 345 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.120 there that their preferred name is not going to be 346 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:31.679 a reality. 347 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:35.360 Yeah, So in terms of the process, I think everyone 348 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.519 saw the articles come out a few weeks ago when 349 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:43.039 the Trademark Office rejected Utah Hockey Club's application trademark application 350 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.840 for Yeti's because of likelihood of confusion with the Yeti 351 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:49.000 Coolers company. So then people are asking what are they 352 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.600 going to do now, And so that entertainment group actually 353 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.879 came out and said, listen, we knew this was going 354 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:56.399 to happen far before we actually got rejected. We've been 355 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:59.639 in conversations with the Yeddi Coolers for months before January 356 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:03.279 trying to strike a coexistence deal. So basically that means 357 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.639 even if they got rejected by the Trademark Office, if 358 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:09.120 Yeti Coolers agreed to share the trademark and both be 359 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.960 able to use it in the commercial market but for 360 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:14.919 different products, and they agree within the two companies that 361 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.720 a consumer going into the store could tell the difference 362 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.840 between Utah Yeti's and Yeti Coolers, they could go to 363 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.279 the Trademark office tell them that and it would go through, 364 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:26.759 but YETI coolers denied that their leadership did not want 365 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:30.159 to enter a coexistence agreement. So this entertainment group made 366 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.799 the decision to just drop it, drop the name completely, 367 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:36.240 And I mean, I'm sure internally there was some disappointment 368 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:38.879 up with that, but I think it allowed them to 369 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:41.960 lean more into including the fans. As we know, they've 370 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:45.879 done another round of voting between Utah Hockey Club, Utah MS, 371 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:49.679 Utah Outlaws formerly Utah Lossatch, and it seems like this 372 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:52.720 could be the final iteration. Fans are voting all week 373 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.320 at the Delta Center. So yeah, I mean, I think 374 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:57.039 a lot of fans were tied to the YETI name. 375 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:59.799 I'm sure the organization was in some respect, but i 376 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:02.720 think people are excited about the new options and I'm 377 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.599 just excited to have a say in what the team 378 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.279 ends up being. 379 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:08.079 Do you have any insight as to what led them 380 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:11.599 to removing Utah Wassatch and putting in the Utah Laws. 381 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.720 I mean, outside of the fact. 382 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:14.599 It was a horrible idea at the you know, the 383 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:16.599 first place, But. 384 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.839 Do you know how they went about the process and 385 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:18.720 making that decision. 386 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.440 Yeah, it was just feedback from the fans. I mean, 387 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.200 I think you saw on social media and conversations at 388 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.519 the arena just no one liked it. Everyone was very 389 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:31.440 confused if it was just the concept of a mountain 390 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:33.720 range that was going to be their mascot. I think 391 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.559 people were also confused with the logo, how it looked 392 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.680 like a Yetti and it seemed like kind of recycled 393 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:41.000 of the Yetti plan with a name that didn't really 394 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:43.359 match it. So they just listened to what the fans 395 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:46.880 were saying, and Wassatch was never in the top six 396 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:50.240 from the last survey, but Outlaws was, so they stuck 397 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:52.519 to meet the fan opinion and they switched it out 398 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:55.160 less than twenty four hours later, and fans were able 399 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.519 to vote on a clean slate so they could go 400 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.720 back and cast their vote for Outlaws if they couldn't 401 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:02.599