WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.839 This is Neil Smith, former president and GM of the 2 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:05.639 New York Rangers and the New York Islanders. Join me 3 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:09.080 and my co host Vic Morn for our podcast, NHL 4 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:12.759 Wrap Around for all the important news and views around 5 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:13.519 the NHL. 6 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.640 We are your home of the Stanley Cup Finals here 7 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:19.440 in Salt Lake City, Utah and the surrounding areas. We 8 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:22.920 have a rematch of the Stanley Cup Final from a 9 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:27.199 year ago that went seven games. Florida won the first three, 10 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:29.199 Edmonton came back and nearly pulled off one of the 11 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:32.119 greatest comebacks in Stanley Cup history, and then Florida was 12 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:35.119 able to get it done game seven. So tonight you 13 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:38.159 can hear game one on our radio station and Neil 14 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:41.240 Smith stops by to talk some hockey on a Wednesday. 15 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:43.039 Neil, Happy Wednesday, sir. How are you? 16 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:46.039 I'm very good, Spence. How about yourself? 17 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:50.119 I'm great, appreciate the time. First question, randomly, did you 18 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:51.439 ever work for Jim Dolan? 19 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:54.039 Oh? Yeah, you did? 20 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:56.880 Okay, Okay, that's what I thought. I think I thought 21 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:57.359 that you did. 22 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:00.439 So I as somebody who worked for the current and 23 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.039 you know, still the guy that owns the Rangers and 24 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:07.120 the Knicks. We exchanged a few texts, and I exchanged 25 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.040 a few texts with some other people as well. And 26 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:12.239 I'm biased because you know, Tom Thibodeau was Jeff's assistant 27 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:14.560 and we got to know him. And oh also, by 28 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:16.519 the way, he's a great coach that just did something 29 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:19.959 for you that nobody's done in thirty years. And look, 30 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:23.079 you handle it however you want. You know, you're a 31 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:25.959 very nice guy, You're a gentleman. I'm sure not asking 32 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:28.599 you to rip anybody to shreds. But what was it 33 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:32.480 like working for him? She had some insight into you know, 34 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:34.959 listeners that maybe don't really have a full picture. And 35 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:38.239 your thoughts on him moving on from coach Tiboda. 36 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:43.239 Well, you know, Jim is his own guy. I mean, 37 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:46.400 he's different than all the other people that I've run 38 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:51.239 into in that kind of position. He obviously inherited a 39 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.680 good deal of his wealth from Cable Vision, who was 40 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:59.359 able to buy the Madison Square Garden from Paramount and 41 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:03.480 they've had it since Jim was He was a little 42 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:07.920 bit unpredictable when I was there, and you really, you know, 43 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.439 you weren't sure what you were going to get from 44 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.840 day to day or how he was going to feel 45 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:17.319 about certain things, and sometimes the view that he took 46 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.639 of things were a view that you hadn't heard of before. 47 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:26.439 So it was difficult, let me say, it was very difficult. 48 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.319 One follow up question, we'll move away from Dolin specifically 49 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.199 because you know, as my mother often says, if you 50 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:35.319 can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. 51 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:37.800 Advice that I probably should hear to more. 52 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:40.159 But just how and this is going to sound like 53 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:43.039 a simp question, and maybe it is, but just how 54 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:50.599 important is viable, balanced, consistent ownership when it comes to 55 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:53.240 the success of a professional sports team. 56 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:57.479 There's nothing more valuable than that. You can have all 57 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.759 the great players, all the great coaches, all the great 58 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:05.159 all the great everything. But if you have somebody at 59 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:09.240 the very top who owns it and who you ultimately 60 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:14.400 everybody reports to, that's unstable or that you that doesn't 61 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:18.759 let the people below, who are knowledgeable and have been 62 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:22.599 doing the support their whole life. If they don't let 63 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:27.120 them run that business, that sports business, you've got no chance, 64 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:32.280 none whatsoever. You've got to allow your people to do 65 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:34.800 what they do, and if you don't, you won't get 66 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:35.680 the result you want. 67 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:39.840 What have been your early impressions with the Smith Entertainment 68 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:41.879 Group and Ryan and Ashley and the way they've kind 69 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:46.199 of been able to conduct their business to support Bill Armstrong, 70 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:49.919 his staff, coach Torny, coach Torny and his staff after 71 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:51.560 only one year here in Salt Lake. 72 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:55.479 Well, the one thing that I can say from a 73 00:03:55.560 --> 00:03:58.479 long ways away is that the Smith family stays out 74 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:03.319 of the limelight. They stay out of They seem to 75 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:05.680 stay out of the operational part of it. You don't 76 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:09.639 hear their name coming up saying that, well, you know, 77 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:12.120 they wanted to do this or wanted to do that. 78 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:16.160 They're very much in the background, which is what a 79 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:19.160 really smart owner does. They stay in the background. They 80 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:23.519 oversee the professional people that have got a background in 81 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:26.439 the sport, but they stay in the background and just 82 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:32.560 have leadership skills to lead those people that know the 83 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:35.439 sport really well and know how to work in the environment, 84 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:37.959 but they don't interfere with the way they've got to 85 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.360 work in the environment. And I think that the Smiths, 86 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:44.680 from what I understand, have done really good, really well 87 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.560 at that. And I'll point to one thing, you know, 88 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:50.639 would have been easy for the new owner to fire 89 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:54.040 everybody coming from Phoenix you'd had no success there, What 90 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:56.120 makes you think they're going to have any success here. 91 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:58.879 Let's get a whole new management group. But he didn't 92 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:01.759 do that. He gave them all chants to prove themselves. 93 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.160 Obviously to this point, he likes what he's seen and 94 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:09.279 he's staying steadfast with Bill Armstrong and his group. And 95 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:11.920 I think I really believe that's the way you lead. 96 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.519 You make your observations, you give people enough time, you 97 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.560 see how they work, and then you make your decision 98 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:20.079 from there. 99 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:24.120 Were you ever strongly encouraged or straight up forced to 100 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.480 go see a JD in the Straight Shot Show in 101 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:26.879 New York? 102 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:29.639 No? 103 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:29.920 Who? 104 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:32.000 That never happened back then? 105 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:36.360 Okay, fair enough, fair enough, all right? Macro thirty thousand 106 00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:41.680 foot view question. Neil's a proud Canadian. Look, you know, 107 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:44.759 whether it's Edmond Tin or any other Canadian team, But 108 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:48.560 what would it mean thirty two years since the Stanley 109 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:51.720 Cup was won by Canadian team, which is pretty wild 110 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:54.720 because y'all are the best hockey country it have been 111 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:56.800 for quite some time. What would it mean to just 112 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:00.000 the country of Canada for Edmonton to pull this off? 113 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:04.199 You know, I think it would mean a lot only 114 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.879 because Canada is, you know, compared to the United States, 115 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:10.319 is a very small population wise compared to the US, 116 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.439 and they've got the big elephants sitting next door being 117 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:15.040 the US that seems to be good at everything and 118 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:18.439 win everything, and you know, Hollywood and all the rest 119 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:22.040 of it. So for a Canadian team to win the 120 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:25.920 Cup after all these years, and it does mean a 121 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:28.800 lot to a lot of Canadians. Now, the people in 122 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:32.759 Calgary aren't cheering for Edmonton because that's their bitter rivalry. 123 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:37.040 So just because you know, there wasn't a lot of 124 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.920 Toronto Maye Leafs fans hoping that Montreal would win in 125 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:43.040 ninety three against La that's the last Stanley Cup they got. 126 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:47.879 But for the majority of Canadians, I do think that 127 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.600 you know, if it's Edmonton versus Florida and you're living 128 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:57.360 in Manitoba or you're living in Ontario, I think you're 129 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:00.519 probably going to cheer for the Canadian based team over 130 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:06.240 the American based team, only because it's in Canada. But 131 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:08.399 you know what makes me laugh about the whole thing 132 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:10.920 is all of the all of all of these teams 133 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:15.519 in the NHL are divided up amongst many nationalities, Canadian 134 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.879 and American being two of them, and so you might 135 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:21.279 be cheering for Edmonton, but you might be cheering for 136 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:24.279 a lot of American players and a lot of Russian 137 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:28.600 players and and so on. So it's you know, you 138 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:31.240 cheer for your city where you're from, and then I 139 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:34.959 guess once your city's gone, if you're in Canada, and 140 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.120 again I stress it, it's a smaller country, you cheer 141 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:38.920 for the country. 142 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:44.000 Before we get to the game tonight, excuse me and 143 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.160 this iteration of the series. What are your memories of 144 00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:49.120 this seven game barn burner from last year between these two. 145 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:54.040 Well, I had predicted Florida to win since the regular 146 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.160 season last year, and so when they got after that 147 00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:01.240 three nothing lead on Edmonton didn't surprise me. But when 148 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:04.839 Edmonton came roaring back and won three straight, that did 149 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:07.000 surprise me. And that's set up for a Game seven 150 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:10.680 that was spectacular. Florida, of course, as you mentioned in 151 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.639 the open winning it. I think it was two to one. 152 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:17.959 You know, they're both great teams, they're both a notch 153 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:21.000 above everybody else, and they're deserving it being in the final. 154 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:25.759 And this is a great final for the National Hockey 155 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:29.040 League because you don't have a Cinderella team going in 156 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:33.120 against a favorite. That happened. Sometimes some team that has 157 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.240 a wild card spot ends up, you know, by hooker 158 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:38.080 by crook, getting all the way to the final and 159 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:41.120 then they face the you know, the best team from 160 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:46.159 the other conference. And so this year you've got the 161 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.840 two teams that as the playoffs went on, you could 162 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:52.840 clearly see that Florida was a notch above the rest 163 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:56.080 of the East and Edmonton a notch above the rest 164 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.879 of the West. Now one could point out, well, they 165 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:01.799 both ended in third place in their division. Yeah, that happens. 166 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.639 You know, it does happen. Not everybody that wins the 167 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:09.840 President's Trophy, which is first overall, which Winnipeg one, ends 168 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:13.679 up in the final inside, very few do. So, you know, 169 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:16.120 they've gotten healthy at the right time, They've got all 170 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:20.080 their their gears in order at the right time, and 171 00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:22.600 I'm really excited about this series. 172 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.360 So let's let's attack this individually before we get to 173 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.039 the matchup, and let's start with Edmonton. You know, they 174 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:33.960 just have been able to respond to adversity throughout this 175 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:37.360 run in a very impressive way, comebacks left and right, 176 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:41.159 like they almost pulled off last year in the Stanley 177 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:43.480 Cup Final, but they lose the first two games of 178 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.039 their first series against the Kings, they win four straight. 179 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.919 They open game one of the second round series against 180 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.159 the Golden Knights by giving up the first two goals 181 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.360 before steady setting the Stanley Cup playoff record where their 182 00:09:54.360 --> 00:10:00.039 fifth consecutive comeback victory. And then against the Stars, the 183 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:03.320 Stars scores six straight goals to take game one and 184 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:06.279 then they gave up five goals total over the next 185 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:08.240 four games to advance in the final. So it's this 186 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:12.080 interesting thing where all of their series they don't start 187 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.399 out all that well, but then they figure something out 188 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:17.480 and then they're just ruthless. So let's start with the 189 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.240 Oilers takeaways and then we'll get to the Panthers and 190 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.519 we'll talk about the matchup. What stands out most about 191 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.759 this run from Edmonton, Neil Well. 192 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:29.039 The obvious is the most important thing, and that's Connor 193 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.240 McDavid number ninety seven. I mean, he leads to the 194 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:34.440 playoffs again this year and scoring and when he gets 195 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.879 the opportunity which she won't get a lot of them 196 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:39.759 against Florida, but when he gets the opportunity to dance 197 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:42.320 and go at that high speed, he can go at 198 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:46.120 and he is marvelous to watch and can do crazy 199 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:50.120 good things for the Oilers. So you know, he plays 200 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.960 on the line with Nugent Hopkins, who's having the best 201 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.639 playoff of his life. And then forty year old Corey 202 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:59.480 Perry is on his other side that won the MVP 203 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:01.480 of the league way back when he was with the 204 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:06.679 Ducks in seven or eight and and so, and that's 205 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:11.240 a formidable line because Corey Perry takes no prisoners physically 206 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:14.600 and and Nutent Hopkins is a first overall pick, and 207 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.360 Connor McDavid is McDavid. There's nobody else even like him. 208 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.120 And then on the second line, this is your second 209 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:24.480 line has Drive Cidle in the middle, who's you know, 210 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:29.320 leading the league and goals again this year. And you've 211 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:32.000 got again a tough guy with him and Evander Kine 212 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:35.480 and then Casperry cappen and on his other side. So 213 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:39.480 their first two lines are really good. They've got a 214 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:42.080 bomb of a shot on the point on the power play, 215 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:45.679 and Evan Bouchard Mattias at coolm who plays on his 216 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:50.080 left side, is is a really good defenseman, puck moving defenseman. 217 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:52.320 And then I'll just skip the goal, and the goal 218 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:55.200 is the one place where they definitely take a back 219 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:58.120 seat to Florida because Stuart Skinner I'll always played really 220 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:01.480 well in these playoffs, and so is Kelvin Pickard his backup, 221 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:04.600 He's always going to be a question mark until he 222 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:06.799 can get it done. Is is he going to be 223 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.120 able to play to the Paprowski level that he needs 224 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:13.919 to play at to be able to beat the Panthers. 225 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:17.840 Now over to the Panthers, what stands out most to me, 226 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.480 Neil is I'm kind of looking at some of these 227 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:24.080 numbers here. Nineteen different players have lit the lamp this postseason, 228 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:28.279 so clearly, clearly tremendous depth. They're averaging more goals per 229 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:31.360 game than they were last year, they're giving up fewer 230 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.919 goals per game than they did last year as well. 231 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:37.279 Their power play has been better, and their penalty killer 232 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.960 is the best in the playoffs. So clearly there's a 233 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.159 lot to like and there's not a lot to nitpick 234 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:43.000 about the Panthers. 235 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.600 What should we know about them prior to Game one tonight. 236 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.000 Well, what's really going to be interesting and may be 237 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.399 on the first base off if the two coaches or 238 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.000 let's say the visitors have to put their lineup in first, 239 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:57.320 and if they put in Barkoff's line, Barkoff, Reinhardt and Rodriguez, 240 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:00.919 maybe it's amazing as they'll go up against Connor McDavid 241 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:05.279 and Nuten, Hopkins and Perry. But Barkoff won this year, 242 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:08.320 for the second year in a row, the Selki Trophy, 243 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:11.639 which is the best defensive forward in the league. And 244 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:14.480 he's he is terrific at that, so he'll go head 245 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.440 to head against McDavid to try to shut him down. 246 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:22.960 But here's the other part. Out of the three finalists 247 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:26.000 for the Selki Trophy, Sam rein Hart was the other one, 248 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:29.159 and he plays on that line. And then you've got 249 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.440 Evan Rodriguez, who did a lot of damage in last 250 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.639 year's playoffs and can score. Their second line can score 251 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:37.639 with ther Hage and Bennett and Kachuck, and of course 252 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:42.519 Bennett and Kachuck are most known for irritating the living 253 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:45.960 heck out of the visiting team and whoever they play against. 254 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.879 That we haven't even mentioned Brad Marshaw yet, the former 255 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:51.879 captain of the Bruins, who plays on the line with 256 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:55.600 Lundell and lous Terrain and they got a terrific top 257 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:59.559 three lines there, and maybe not the star studded McDavid 258 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:03.159 Drice title type of name that everybody's heard of, but 259 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:06.159 guys that can all put the puck in the net. 260 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:08.360 And that's why you say so many different players have 261 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:12.240 scored for the Panthers, and I like their defense. Aaron 262 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:17.039 act Glad has been good offensively this playoff, and Foresling 263 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:19.320 was great last year. But Seth Jones that they got 264 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:23.440 in a trade from Chicago before the deadline has really 265 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:27.799 added some great one B depth. So if Aaron Ekled 266 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:30.639 is one A, Seth Jones is at least one B. 267 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:34.279 And then you've got Pubrowski, who pretty much a household 268 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.879 name now if you watch hockey, because they he won 269 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:38.200 it all for them last year. 270 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:41.840 All right, now that we've learned about both these teams individually, 271 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:45.480 right now, the money as far as betting goes on 272 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:50.519 sportsbooks going towards Edmonton pretty overwhelmingly. How do they match 273 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:53.759 up and X factors for both sides, as far as 274 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:57.799 how you think this thing is going to go, you. 275 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:03.360 Know, they match up extremely well. I think that the 276 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.200 Oilers are not going to get the opportunities that they 277 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:09.799 got against Dallas Vegas or in the first round against 278 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.559 the La Kings. They're not going to get those because 279 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:15.919 they're going to be Florida is a very good shutdown team. 280 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:19.559 Florida's going to have to capitalize on a few chances 281 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:22.480 they get. And again, I think it goes back expence 282 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:27.279 to Stuart Skinner versus Serge Brabrovski. If one of them 283 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:29.320 let's in a bad goal, it's going to be huge. 284 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.919 And when I say a bad goal, it doesn't mean 285 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.440 they should score from center. It just means a shot 286 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:36.360 that they should have had that they somehow didn't get 287 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:40.360 and the other team takes the lead. So I would 288 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.480 expect tonight that Edmonton would start out slow. They seem 289 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:48.000 to always do that at home for some reason, and Florida. 290 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.279 Florida's ready for them. I mean they've had more rest. 291 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:54.399 Both teams are very well rested. The other thing I 292 00:15:54.960 --> 00:16:00.480 should mention is that Zach Hyman dislocated his wrist against 293 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:04.039 Mason Marchmont on the Dallas Stars in that series, and 294 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:07.799 he's a huge part of the Edmonton Oilers. If he 295 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.840 was playing, he would have been one of the names 296 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.879 I would have brought up when we talked about Edmonton, 297 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:13.840 but he's out of the lineup. That's a bit of 298 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.320 a blow. 299 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.440 You know. 300 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:19.320 If you asked me to pick a pick a winner, 301 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.559 and we do it on our podcast all the time, 302 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.960 I don't know where which way to go. I've been 303 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:28.159 calling Florida for a lot of long time now, so 304 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:31.480 I would stick with that. But nothing would surprise me 305 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.200 in this series. Absolutely nothing. 306 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.240 Yeah, I was going to ask you because based off 307 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:39.559 of everything that I've been reading and watching, I've heard 308 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:41.320 a lot of people straight up say this is a 309 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:43.039 pick them and it could go one way or the other. 310 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:46.080 Are you surprised that the majority of the public money 311 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:50.399 is going the way of the Edmonton Oilers. 312 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.600 I am, and I think that they might. You know 313 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.759 that they might just be in love with the Connor 314 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:01.559 McDavid factor and the Leon Dreisidles and the new guys 315 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:05.440 on the block. And this is a revenge Cup and 316 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:09.839 that has favored the team that didn't win the year 317 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:13.599 before in a lot of times. I can tell you 318 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:17.000 that for sure, Florida is not as sexy as Edmonton 319 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.079 because they don't have Connor McDavid and Leon dry sidele 320 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.400 on these guys so they're not as sexy, but they're boy, 321 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.960 they're a hard working team. You should compare to two 322 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:29.759 great coaches. Chris knob Block for the Edmonton Oilers has 323 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.920 done a fantastic job. He came in part way through 324 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.359 last season, led them to the final, and now he's 325 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.759 leading them to the final again. And then of course 326 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:43.680 Paul Marie, who's in his fourth year with the Florida 327 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:47.880 Panthers and and has done a terrific job there. Their 328 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:53.480 first year, the upset the record breaking Boston Bruins in 329 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:57.480 the first round, and then last year we know what 330 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.319 they did and now here they are again this year. 331 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:02.960 So they're they're terrific, well prepared teams. The coaches are 332 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:07.559 going to have them really going hard. And again I 333 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:10.160 think it is a pick'm thing. I don't know why 334 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:13.119 all the money would be going towards Edmonton other than 335 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:16.119 if people, just as I said, just think, well, it's 336 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.799 their turn, so I'm going with them. 337 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:21.720 Fourteen of the twenty three quote unquote experts audespn dot 338 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:25.680 COM's hockey page has Edmonton winning the series. Tell me 339 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:30.440 about these two coaches, Neil and then attendant to that question. Oftentimes, 340 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:33.599 when you get this late into the season and you're 341 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.480 playing for a trophy. Yeah, you do make adjustments here 342 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:39.799 there game to game, but more often than not, you 343 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:41.960 kind of are who you are this late in the season, 344 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.920 and we're just going to do what we do. But 345 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.640 tell me about these two coaches and what sort of 346 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:48.039 adjustments you think will be necessary for one or the 347 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.200 other to come out on top. 348 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:53.599 Well, Chris Knoblock with the Oilers has to get that 349 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:56.799 power play going. Their power play hasn't been nearly what 350 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:59.720 it was last year, and they're penalty killing either, but 351 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:03.559 especially their power play. He's got to get when the 352 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:07.119 Panthers take up that penalty or take a penalty, they've 353 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.440 got to be able to threaten to take advantage of 354 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:12.240 that because one of the things about the Panthers is 355 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:15.240 they play that dirty, grimy game where they want to 356 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:18.480 get in your face all the time. On the other side, 357 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.359 you know they're going to have to lock down McDavid 358 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:25.519 and dry Sidle and that's a hard job. But they've 359 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:28.000 got two of the best guys for that in Barkoff 360 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.759 and Ryan Hard and as I said, backed up by 361 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:35.160 two guys with Bennett and Kutchuk. But Paul Maurice has 362 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:38.960 been around for a long, long long time, a really 363 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:42.559 good coach, and I don't think they'll be a better 364 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:47.079 prepared team than the Florida Panthers. But Chris Knoblock, who's 365 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:49.279 assistant that, by the way, is Paul Coffee, the great 366 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.039 Paul Coffee. He runs a defense for them, and he's 367 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:54.559 won a few Stanley Cuffs, so they're going to be 368 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:58.200 well prepared too. It's hard to you might hear it 369 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:01.759 in my voice. I can't give the to anybody. They're 370 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:03.559 both great and they're both deserving. 371 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:08.200 Is there kind of a mini rivalry budding here? I mean, 372 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:11.000 you reference Bennett and Kachuk, who are just irritants no 373 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.200 matter what. But and maybe it's because Mick David is 374 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:16.799 Canadian and you you're nicer than we are. But I 375 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:20.160 listened to interview with him and he didn't indicate there 376 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.559 was very much bad blood. But these two teams saw 377 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:25.359 each other year ago in a seven game series. Does 378 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:30.079 it feel like there's an underlying dislike sports hatred kind 379 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:32.680 of brewing. Here are these two teams that are maybe 380 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:37.240 not necessarily in a space where they have bad feelings 381 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:39.440 for one another, even though this is the second straight 382 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.279 Stanley Cup final. 383 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.119 They'll be battling for. 384 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.160 I think if they don't have bad feelings for each other, 385 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.680 they will have about ten minutes into the game, because 386 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:51.039 that's how intense this thing will be. Yeah, and they do, 387 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.880 they do have negative feelings. I mean, one team walked 388 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:57.240 off with the cup. The other team walked off in tears. 389 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:02.880 And so Connor McDavid wants to cement his legacy by 390 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.759 winning a Stanley Cup. It's one thing to be the 391 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:07.920 greatest player in the league. That's all good and well, 392 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:10.000 but you've got to win a cup to really cement 393 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:12.720 how good you are, and that's what Connor McDavid really 394 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:15.000 wants to do. At the other end, they're going to 395 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:17.279 try to stop them from They want to win their 396 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:20.039 second in a row, as their cross state rival that 397 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:22.960 Tampa Bay Lightning did just not too long ago. So 398 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:28.720 it's again it's going to be a battle. And you know, 399 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:30.799 I think that Dry Sidle and McDavid are going to 400 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:33.880 want the one thing they have never had and that 401 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:37.079