WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:03.040 Brian Wilson passes away today at the age of eighty two. 2 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:06.000 My first concert was the Beach Boys at the Paradount 3 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:11.240 Theater at Madison Square Garden. Our next guest, Neil Smith. Neil, question, 4 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:13.080 right out the top, first concert. 5 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:13.400 You ever went to? 6 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:17.160 And where, Oh my gosh, you're not going to believe this, 7 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:20.839 and this is really going to make me sound old 8 00:00:21.239 --> 00:00:24.120 when I'm really not that old. I went in nineteen 9 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:29.120 sixty four to see the Beatles Maple Leaf Gardens. 10 00:00:29.160 --> 00:00:32.719 Oh wow, well that's an excellent first concert to attend, 11 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:33.600 I'll tell you that much. 12 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:36.399 Yeah, but when you're just a little kid, you really 13 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:37.679 don't understand what's going on. 14 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:38.000 E said. 15 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.759 You see all these girls fainting and being carried out 16 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:43.039 on stretchers and all that you heard about those days 17 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.840 with the Beatles. It was insane. And of course these 18 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:48.920 sound systems weren't that great back then, and all you 19 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:51.840 could hear was just screaming, like they just screamed from 20 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.520 the start of the concert whatever they called it performance, 21 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.640 you know, the whole way through. That's what I remember. 22 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.039 I don't know how old I was. I was. I 23 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:04.879 wasn't even born yet. I was an embryo and I 24 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:05.400 went to it. 25 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:08.079 That's did you Uh, did you ever go through a 26 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:09.200 Beach Boys phase at all? 27 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:10.599 No? 28 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:14.040 I didn't know. I did not. I you know. The 29 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:16.799 only one to me that I when I was young 30 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:19.959 that really knocked me over was the Beatles because they 31 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.640 were they were something that I've still never seen to 32 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:28.760 this day, a phenomena like that where everybody was talking 33 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:31.560 about this band because of the you know, when they 34 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:33.640 hit the Ed Sullivan Show and all that stuff. It 35 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:34.799 just went crazy. 36 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:38.239 Yeah, that's that's amazing you had that experience. I'm kind 37 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:40.280 of jealous. I'm not gonna lie, all right, Neil. Since 38 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:44.359 you and I last spoke on Monday evening, the Panthers 39 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:47.640 made quite a statement stomping the Oilers six to one. 40 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:50.519 Uh So, my question is, I know you've been on 41 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.719 Florida quite a bit, but if you're Edmonton where you 42 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.359 at right now, after after really getting you're a head 43 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:57.439 handed to you in Game. 44 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:01.280 Three, you know, at first I want to say that 45 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:06.200 it's not odd that a there's blowouts in the final. 46 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.800 Last year, Edmonton beat Florida eight to one in the 47 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:12.960 game and it ended up to Florida won the Cup 48 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:15.719 as we know two to one in Game seven, so 49 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:20.039 I don't expect Edmonton to that's shellacking the other night 50 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:22.639 is going to be something that we're going to see 51 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:25.280 going forward. I do think Edmonton's going to have to 52 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:27.759 make a lot of adjustments, and the first one that's 53 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:30.719 obvious to anybody is they've got to stay disciplined because 54 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.000 Florida loves to play a game where they can pull 55 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:39.120 you into taking penalties and pull you into the nonsense, 56 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:41.800 and they've got a lot of those guys. Sam Bennett, 57 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:46.560 Matt Kachuk, and Brad Marshaw on those guys are I'd 58 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.000 love to just irritate you and get you to get 59 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:54.439 outside your game. So certainly Evander Kine for the Oilers, 60 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:58.000 who took three penalties, I think in the first period, 61 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:01.080 is going to have to be a lot more disciplined, 62 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:06.400 as is Corey Perry and Jake Wohlman, who got a 63 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.680 ten thousand dollars fine from the league for a five 64 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:13.080 thousand dollars incident and another five thousand dollars incident both 65 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:14.479 in that game the other night. 66 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.680 Do you think Edmonton is falling victim? You know, it's 67 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:21.599 interesting because Edmonton is just more of this like skill speed, 68 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:25.319 kind of like elegant hockey team, and Florida feels like 69 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.400 they're full of the high school bullies you always hated 70 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.479 when you were a kid. Do you feel like Edmonton 71 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:32.680 is falling victim to maybe Florida's gamesmanship a little bit 72 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:34.240 as part of that what happened in game three? 73 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:37.520 I think that's what happened in Game three for sure. 74 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.639 I think the other thing is is that they didn't 75 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:45.319 they you know, they took penalties early and then got behind. 76 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:50.039 And I don't think Skinner is as good as Bobrowski, 77 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:52.159 but I don't think it was Skinner's fault. They lifted 78 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:53.919 him when it got to five to one, and then 79 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:57.199 Kelvin Pickard came in and they got one goal on 80 00:03:57.319 --> 00:03:59.639 him and that was it at the game ended six 81 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.919 to one. And I think that Chris Knoblock, the head 82 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.599 coach of Edmonton's going to have a big decision on 83 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:08.360 his hands or has already probably already made it, but 84 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.960 you know, or to make whether to go with Pickard 85 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:17.160 now that they put five past Stuart Skinner, or to 86 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:19.720 stay with your number one guy, which is Stuart Skinner, 87 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:23.199 and and think that he can you know, lead them 88 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:26.600 out of this and that's going to be very interesting 89 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:30.160 to see that. But Edmonton doesn't doesn't want to play 90 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.959 the kind of game they played the other night that 91 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:34.120 that they need to play five on five. They need 92 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:39.720 to keep those those Newton hopkins'es and dry sidles and McDavid. 93 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.199 Of course, they need to have them going out all 94 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:45.560 the time and not killing penalties and only being out 95 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:50.279 on power play. So they they felt prey to Florida's game. 96 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:53.800 Sam Bennett is now the Vegas favorite to win the 97 00:04:53.879 --> 00:04:57.959 con Smile Award. You know, we talked about the potential 98 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:00.959 as the Utah Mammoth into the season with a lot 99 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.759 of money to spend in cap space of maybe them 100 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.680 taking a look at Sam Bennett's is he playing his 101 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:11.040 way into a different economic stratosphere at this point? 102 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.959 I think he is. He scored thirteen goals I believe 103 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:17.839 it is in the playoffs, twelve on the road, which 104 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:21.560 sets a new record for goals being scored in the playoffs. 105 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.519 He's He's not a great point getter, goal scorer during 106 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:30.600 the regular season, but when playoffs come, he's always right there. 107 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.399 So I would think that the teams that will pay 108 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:37.319 the most money for Sam Bennett. Other than the Florida 109 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:41.160 Panthers are the teams that feel that this could really 110 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:45.160 put them over the edge. For example, Colorado Avalanche or 111 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:48.639 you know, a team like that, maybe the La Kings, 112 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:50.879 maybe that gives them an edge to be able to 113 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:55.560 beat Edmonton for the first time in the decade. But 114 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:59.079 I you know what, I think he's going to end 115 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:02.360 up back with the Panthers again. I think that's where 116 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:05.480 he'll sign and he'll take a hometown discount to fit 117 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:07.079 into their salary cap. 118 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.040 It feels like, and your point is well taken based 119 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:14.920 off of the blowout that occurred last year, and oftentimes 120 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:18.160 blowouts do happen, and last year was a wild ride 121 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.120 where you know, Florida wins three, Edmonton wins three, Florida 122 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.639 wins game seven. It does feel like there's a gap 123 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:27.240 though that has emerged between Edmonton and Florida. 124 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:29.160 Is that fair and if so, how big do you 125 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:30.120 think that gap is? 126 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:37.279 Well? I think that that the Florida could be up 127 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:41.920 three games to none right now, they are up two 128 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.240 to one. They lost the first game in overtime when 129 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:48.720 they had a lead, and for the first time in 130 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:53.639 thirty two times, they went into an intermission with a 131 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:57.959 lead and then didn't win the game. That's their playoff 132 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.120 record with Paul Maurice, as they hit gone thirty two 133 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:10.160 straight games winning win leading after either period. So I 134 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:14.639 think that that Florida has found a gap between them 135 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:19.720 and Edmonton. I think that Florida adding Seth Jones and 136 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.120 Brad Marshat at the deadline or close to the deadline 137 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:27.079 has really bolstered that team. I didn't see that coming. 138 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:30.079 I mean, I think Seth Jones is a number one defenseman, 139 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:32.920 but when you put him an eclat both out there, 140 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.839 they've got excellent puck moving guys. And then you've and 141 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.519 then the rest of them are good too on defense. 142 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:42.399 But then you've got Marshaw who goes in and fits 143 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.439 right in with the way Florida wants to play. You know, 144 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:49.000 on Boston, he was always the one guy out there 145 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:51.279 that was irritating everybody, and he's sort of like a 146 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:56.160 little you know, firefly going around bugging everybody all the time. Well, 147 00:07:56.199 --> 00:07:58.360 on this team, he's not the only one, Like there's 148 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:01.079 three or four of them that are coming after you, 149 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:05.480 biting at your heels all the time. So I do 150 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:07.480 think that they found a little bit of a chink 151 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:08.920 in the Oiler's armor. 152 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:12.240 Are they getting enough from dry Sidle and McDavid. I 153 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.759 mean most people believe to start the season, you know, 154 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.439 to start the series, it was really those two that would. 155 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:18.040 Drive the engine. 156 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.319 And I think I heard a lot of people say 157 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:22.519 those two might be the best two players when you 158 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.759 combine both rosters. I don't know if that's true. But 159 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.560 is Edmonton getting enough from their two superstars? 160 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:32.360 Well? They certainly did in Game one, when you know, 161 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:36.759 dry Citle had two goals in that game and McDavid 162 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.399 had two assists, and he made that outrageous play where 163 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:43.279 he peaked bark Off, one of the best defensive forward 164 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:46.440 in the league, and then deeked out ek Lad and 165 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:49.399 then fed it over to dry Citle for a magnificent goal. 166 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:52.480 So yeah, I do think they're getting enough out of them. 167 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:57.039 I think that the problem is is that they're not 168 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:01.720 playing the Oilers game. They're falling into the Panthers game. 169 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:07.679 And then they can't do that because you can't use 170 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:10.919 those gifts that dry Cycle and McDavid have. If you're 171 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:15.720 constantly trying to kill penalties and worried about physicality, you've 172 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:19.720 got to you've got to stay composed and play the 173 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.519 oiler type game, which is a speed game and not 174 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:26.240 a jump it in and bang around game. 175 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:29.720 As far as the coaching matchup goes, I was listening 176 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:33.200 to a Mark Messier interview and he was really a 177 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:35.519 plotting the job that Paul Maurice has done. Does this 178 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:37.960 feel like this has been a coaching mismatch so far? 179 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.279 Your thoughts on the battle between these two head coaches. 180 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:43.759 No, I don't. I don't think it's been a mismatch 181 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.879 at all. I think that I think that Chris Knoblock's 182 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:48.440 a real good coach. I think he said something on 183 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:54.320 the bench to the TNT interviewer, which I think was 184 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:58.759 Jackie Redman, and he said she talked to him in 185 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:02.720 the first period and he said, you know, we've already 186 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:05.679 taken four penalties, which is a recipe for disaster here, 187 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.360 and that's really what it was. It was a disaster 188 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:11.799 for them. So look, I think Paul Maurice right now, 189 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:15.320 at this stage in June of twenty twenty five, is 190 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:18.720 probably in the top three coaches in the league for sure. 191 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:23.799 I think Rod Brinda Moore's up there too. And by 192 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:25.519 the way, the best coach in the league doesn't always 193 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:29.000 win the Jack Adams Award because that goes to the 194 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:32.279 coach that does the best that particular year, and you 195 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:34.399 know whose team does the best, and so this year 196 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:38.320 it was Spencer Carberry of the Washington Capital is well deserved. 197 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.639 But I think Paul Maurice is an excellent coach. I 198 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:44.240 think he's got this group nailed. Like he knows this 199 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:48.399 Florida Panthers group, He loves them, he knows what makes 200 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:53.840 him tick, and I think it's really a magnificent job 201 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:56.559 that he's doing with his team. I think Chris Knoblock 202 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.960 has a bit harder job to do because he's got, 203 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:03.440 you know, he goes from Connor McDavid and Leon dry Sidle, 204 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:05.919 two of the top three players in the league for sure, 205 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.039 and then he's also got Casperry Kappan and playing on 206 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.720 the same team on the third or fourth line that 207 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:15.039 they picked up on waivers during the season, and they've 208 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.919 got others going in and out. So you've got, you know, 209 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:22.600 a diversity of talent to limited talent on that team. 210 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:27.279 It's it's not like Florida has a bunch of junkyard 211 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:31.080 dogs almost you know, they're they're just they're all playing 212 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:34.759 the same way. And you know, you've got the Oilers, 213 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:40.840 who are a great team, great talent, But I think 214 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.360 that Florida's, as you said earlier, has found a little 215 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.039 bit of a niche there. And we'll see tomorrow night 216 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:49.759 if they If the Edmonton Oilers tie the series tomorrow night, 217 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.039 it's a two out of three with two of the 218 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.840 games and Edmondson and it could go either way, I believe. 219 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:59.639 But if the Panthers win a course tomorrow night, then 220 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.720 you know what the fat lady is warming up? 221 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:03.399 I think, yeah for sure. 222 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:07.320 And you referenced your thoughts on what you you know 223 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:09.919 are what you think they need to do as far 224 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:13.080 as being more disciplined, and you know, it's always interesting 225 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.519 this time of year, Neo, like, we have both the 226 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:18.440 NBA and the NHL Finals on our station, and it's 227 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:22.080 that time of year where trophies are won, and when 228 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:25.399 the regular season is behind you and you've already won 229 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:29.759 three rounds in a playoff tournament scenario, it's always weird 230 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:32.799 to talk about potential adjustments because it feels like, all right, 231 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:35.159 it's June. We are who we are, and that's why 232 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.279 we're a finalist, Like, what can the Pacers do to 233 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:40.159 adjust to Oklahomas City. 234 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.080 I don't know. 235 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:42.960 I think Rick just has to do what he's done 236 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.480 because they're in the NBA Finals. But when it comes 237 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:50.600 to potential adjustments that Edmonton can make, is it line changes, 238 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:54.480 is it rotational changes, is it moving players around? Or 239 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:56.519 is it just like, look, we're in the Stanley Cup 240 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:58.360 Final again. We are who we are and we're just 241 00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.360 going to go be who we are. 242 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.600 I think it's the ladder what you said. I think 243 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:07.000 that Chris Knoblock is probably said to his group, we 244 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.679 have to go and play our game. We can't go 245 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:13.720 into game four and let them make us play their game. 246 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.399 We know how we want to play, we know how 247 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:18.639 we play, we know what wins for us, and we've 248 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.639 got to go get back to that and play that 249 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:25.480 and to help with whatever they're doing. And so that's 250 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:29.600 the kind of that's the kind of adjustment at this 251 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:31.639 time of year I think you have to make, which 252 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:36.440 is it's more general like, come on, guys, remember why 253 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:39.720 we're here because we're that good and play our game. 254 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.159 Don't get sucked into their game. And I don't think 255 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.240 it's the things like in the first round, you'll see 256 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:50.120 like you've got to adjust to somebody's third line or 257 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.639 the second line is doing so on, or that they're 258 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:55.159 playing the power play a certain way. I mean, by now, 259 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:58.679 each team knows each other, but they the Edminston Oilers 260 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:01.360 have to play the game that they that they've played 261 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:04.200 all season, which has been successful for them, the game 262 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:06.879 that they started playing in game three of the first round. 263 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:10.600 They lost the first two games in LA and then 264 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:14.080 found their footing in game three and went on to 265 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:18.279 sweep the LA Kings. After that they won in six. 266 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:21.799 So that's what they have to do here. They have 267 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:24.600 to go back to playing oiler hockey. 268 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:29.759 Yeah, and it's interesting because you reference the LA comeback. 269 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:33.120 I mean, they've been coming back all season and all postseason, 270 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:34.639 so it's hard to put a nail in them. But 271 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:38.200 what's your gut tell you. Let's move over to tomorrow night. 272 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.279 I mean, I know you referenced that if Florida wins, 273 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:42.559 it feels like it's on the precipice of being over 274 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.240 and Edmonton. If they win, then we have a different conversation. 275 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:48.159 But based off of what we've seen so far and 276 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:50.960 based off of what you just articulated with Thatminton's ability 277 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.000 to come back from adversity. 278 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.480 What's your gut tell you tomorrow night. 279 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:59.720 Boy, Oh boy, it isn't going to be a six 280 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.840 to one game. I can tell you that it's going 281 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.360 to be very close, and I it may come down 282 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:10.720 to Bobroski versus whoever Chris Knoblock puts in, either Telvin 283 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:14.320 Pickard or Stuart Skinner, but I think it's I think 284 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:18.200 it's going to be a very close, very close to 285 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:25.360 the vest type play in that game tomorrow. I That's 286 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:27.600 that's my sense of it, because these two teams are 287 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:31.879 so close in their ability in totally different ways, but 288 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.159 they're so close that I think that it's going to 289 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:37.360 be you know, it's going to be in a close 290 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:41.879 one goal game, maybe an overtime game when when this 291 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.919 happens tomorrow night. 292 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.519 As far as the decision that no Block has with 293 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:49.200 the goalies, either Stewart Skinner who's been the starter, or 294 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:53.519 Picker the backup, talk to me about that balance because ultimately, 295 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:57.000 you know, if he does pull Skinner and puts Pickard in, 296 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:00.559 and he stands on his head and they win, then 297 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.039 you probably roll with him, but you also run the 298 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.480 risk of alienating the guy that's got you there. I mean, 299 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.240 it's got to be a tough decision. That's not an 300 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.360 easy call for NA Bloc. 301 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.200 No, it's a very tough call. But let me tell 302 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:13.759 you what happened. And so in the first round, Stuart 303 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:17.799 Skinner started and they lost two straight. They put Pickard 304 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:21.879 in and he won six straight games. So then he 305 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.240 got hurt. They had to put Stuart Skinner back in 306 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.399 and he started winning and he's been winning ever since 307 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:33.039 up until Game three. So now he's got to make 308 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:38.000 the decision at this late point in the playoffs. Do 309 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.000 I go with the guy who hasn't played for two 310 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:43.360 weeks but did win six straight, or do I go 311 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.519 with the guy who's been winning for us but had 312 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:49.960 one game where he let in five goals. My gut 313 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.960 tells me my guess is, I'll go on the line 314 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.320 on this one. I think he's going to play Stuart Skinner. 315 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:57.000 I think that's what his decision will be, is to 316 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:02.159 stay with him and then if things don't go well early, 317 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:05.279 he's got Picker that he can that he can put in. 318 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.640 But I think that's the direction he's going to go. 319 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:11.200 All right, Uh, Before I set you loose a couple 320 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:13.680 of things about where we find ourselves out this way. 321 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:16.599 Of course, the Utah Mammoth are preparing for the NHL 322 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:20.079 Draft and the combine just took place. It is now 323 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:23.240 behind us. I've been a plenty of NBA combines. I've 324 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:26.119 never been to an NHL combine. So, as a guy 325 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:28.680 that was a roster constructor at the highest of levels 326 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:31.440 for so long, tell us about this process. The Utah 327 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.279 Mammoth with the number four pick in the first round. 328 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:36.920 They also maintain the majority of their other picks second 329 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:40.519 round and beyond. So what's it like for Bill Armstrong 330 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.559 and his staff to go to this combine and took 331 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.759 place in Buffalo this past weekend? And what are you 332 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.680 guys looking for as you're building a roster. 333 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.759 Well, I think. 334 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.880 They're just they're just looking at the They'll be there 335 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:55.759 talking to the players and seeing the players meeting the 336 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:59.119 real person and not just watching the kid down on 337 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:01.880 the ice in the junior league or college or wherevery place. 338 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.200 And they'll be able to see how mature he is. 339 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:08.119 They'll be able to see his physical maturity as well 340 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:12.920 as talk to him about his mental maturity. It's another 341 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.480 tool in your toolbox. But I don't think that the 342 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:20.920 combine in any way changes what you saw all season 343 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:24.799 long on the ice, and so I would fully expect 344 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:31.279 that the Utah scouting staff will have the four or 345 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.880 five players lined up that they think are the top 346 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:35.759 guys in the draft, and they'll be ready to pull 347 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:41.720 the trigger on their pick comes. I think the combine 348 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:44.039 is great, and it's something that's been integral out to 349 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:47.759 the NHL for a long time. But again, I don't 350 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:53.359 think it can change drastically what you've seen all season. 351 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:58.079 Interview process as a general manager or a head of 352 00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:02.519 scouting or assistant GM or anybody in this process, what 353 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:05.000 what are you looking for with your lot of questioning 354 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.599 when you're interviewing these. 355 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.799 Young hockey players who are all still babies. 356 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.880 I mean, it's hard to get a feel on the 357 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:13.440 maturity of somebody that is that young oftentimes. 358 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:15.039 What are some of the things you look for during 359 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.200 the interview process? 360 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.480 I think the maturity. I think that you know, how 361 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:22.279 close is this young man to being able to play 362 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:27.400 with men? You know, is he how mature is he? 363 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:32.720 How how well does he understand you know, what happens 364 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:37.359 at this level at the NHL level, And how long 365 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:40.680 do you does it? Do you picture until he's going 366 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:44.160 to be able to play in the NHL. You know, 367 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.759 you may see a great hockey player at eighteen years old, 368 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:49.440 but when you talk to him, you know, you find 369 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:51.680 out that boy he can't go into a locker room 370 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.799 with the guys we've got. I mean, he's got to 371 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:55.400 grow up a little bit. He's got to get a 372 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:59.839 little bit more mature. And as you know, Spence, eighteen 373 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:04.039 years old compared to nineteen years old is much more 374 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.200 than a year, and nineteen compared to twenty is much 375 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:10.920 more than a year. Say him thirty five to thirty 376 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:13.599 six to thirty seven, I mean those those are like 377 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:17.799 six months each of those. When you're a kid, there's 378 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:21.400 a lot of maturation that goes on both mentally and 379 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:24.880 physically when you're in your upper teens. And so I 380 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:28.000 think they'll be trying to judge where are these young 381 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:31.240 guys on the spectrum of maturity. 382 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.920 Neo, I just turned forty seven. I'm still trying to 383 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:37.119 figure it out. So you definitely I hear you there, 384 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:40.799 all right, But before I set you loose, I'll just 385 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.440 pose one more Utah, mammoth question to you, And we've 386 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.640 kind of discussed this in the past before, but we 387 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.960 have a lot of new hockey fans here. What sort 388 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:54.039 of type And you can go position, you can go vet, 389 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.559 you can go mentality, you can go whatever. 390 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:59.319 What sort of If we say, you know. 391 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:01.039 They're going to add the number four pick and he's 392 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:03.839 maybe ready to play, maybe he's not. Other than that, 393 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:07.000 whether it's trades or free agency. If we say they 394 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.279 add two or three pieces, what sort of pieces do 395 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:12.640 you think Bill's looking for for this hockey club to 396 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:15.720 take the next step next year and maybe make the postseason. 397 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:20.519 You know, I think I would think that he wants 398 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:26.519 to add a piece that is a mature type of piece. 399 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:28.920 And we talked last week about Ian Cole being on 400 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.079 the team as one the Stanley Cup. I think you 401 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:35.759