John Buccigross discusses Panthers being a win away from title

Energy Line is hosted by Julie Stewart-Binks and guest co-host John Buccigross. They discuss the Panthers being one win away from winning back-to-back titles, Connor McDavid in the GOAT conversation, whether the Oilers can come back and win this series and the impact Brad Marchand has had on the Panthers. They also get into who should start for the Oilers at goalie in Game 6, the key for them to win, the free agents on the Panthers and who stays and who goes, how life has evolved covering the NHL for ESPN and the chicken parm viral sensation.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and I
Heart podcasts. We'll going into the Energy Line with Nate
and JSB and today we are very fortunate to be

(00:23):
able to have in the one and only John Bouccie
Grass from ESPN. And you know him, And if you
don't know him, I don't even know why you're listening
to this podcast because you clearly don't know hockey, because
Bouccie is like synonymous with everything to do with hockey,
especially in the United States. And before we begin, this
podcast is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.

(00:46):
And Nate Dompson is not joining us today. He is probably,
you know, just playing golf for doing jiu jitsu whatever. No,
but he's uh, he's or hanging out with Taylor Swift.
We were discussing that last podcast. But no, Nate is
not in the podcast today, but Bouchie will be filling in.
And this is you're kind of like the Calvin Pickard

(01:08):
I guess of this podcast right now, Bouchie, but I
would be curious.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
I'll take that.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, okay, good. Interesting. As we record this, of course,
there's been five games in the series so far. Florida
now leading three to two and they can clinch the cup. Oh,
they can win the Stanley Cup on Tuesday at home
in Florida. And I mean when you look at this,
when you look at Game five, John, were you surprised

(01:38):
at how heavy the legs of Edmonton looked despite the
fact that that home crowd was absolutely electric.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, for sure, you thought there'd be a carryover from
Game four. They always seem energized at home. I'm not
sure how Florida does it when they make teams look
like that, And like, I'm sure in Game six Edmonton
will look great. You know, they might even score the
first goal. They might in the game. So it's just
it really is interesting in the hockey and the Stanley

(02:07):
Cup playoffs. A one day you can look so good
and a game that seems like it's the do or
die game. The Game five game is really Game seven vibes.
You think they would have come out and be the
better team early, but they weren't. It was Florida on
their toes and just felt much more comfortable. So whether
it's nerves or whether it's just you're not sure what's
going to happen that day you wake up and how

(02:30):
you're gonna feel collectively and individually, it did surprise me.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yes, Boujie, You've been covering the playoffs this year and
for many years since ESPN got the rights back, But
like when you come away from a game that we
just saw and it was kind of like a bit
of a surprise, I'd say, have you noticed maybe this
year games being like more difficult to predict the outcome
just because of what goes on on the ice, Like

(02:56):
it's very difficult to gamble on. I will say it does.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Seem that way. I'm sure again in the past has
always kind of been like that. You know, when our
first iteration of ESPN having hockey, I was hired nineteen
ninety six and we had it at the time, and
I covered and didn't cover my first Stillley Cup finals
since two thousand and one, So that was one, two,
three four I covered, And you know, two thousand and one,

(03:20):
Colorado's down three games to two, they go winning the
road and win game seven. Tampa Bay down three games
to two, Calgary can win the Cup at home. Tampa
Bay wins game six, go home, win game seven. So
I'm sure then two people have the similar vibe. What's
going to happen. This series is over, and I'm sure
right now most people feel this series is over and

(03:43):
Florida is going to take care of business, especially at home.
But again, Edmonton could easily go out and win. This
is obviously a close series. We can tell by all
the overtime games. It really is a close series. The
fact that they're both in the finals for the second
consecutive year tells you these are the two best teams,
and there's not a lot that separates them, but maybe
a little more separates them because of the Hymen injury

(04:05):
and because of the marshand addition, and how he's playing.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Okay, so many great things that you said there what
seems to be a trend at least this year, and
maybe it was last year or the year before, but
it's like it feels as though once Florida gets that,
like Game five, it's like they are ready to pounds
and just sink their claws into you, whereas like they
might not have been doing that in a Game one
or two. Of course, Carolina let's like take them out,

(04:33):
and maybe Tampa will take those out. But I'm looking
at the leafs, so I always have a bit of
a leaf skew here. You know, I'm from Toronto, but
like they just seem to be able to I don't know,
maybe it's like they just don't panic in the first
two games, but then they can just come out and
literally they've got you in their in their talents, whatever
their clause. Do you feel that way too, that they

(04:54):
just almost get better as a series goes on.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, I think they're conditioned that way. The famous you
know on ice miked up sound bite from Paul Maurice
last year. You know, keep pounding, keep ponting, because then
in game seven they have nothing left, right, kind of
like what we saw JJ spawn at the US Open
on Sunday, when you know he's comes out, it's just
making bogie after bogie after bogey. He loses his lead,

(05:17):
but then there's a rain delay. He collects himself and
goes out and finishes strong. He doesn't get upset when
his flag his ball hits the flag stick and rolls
all the way off the grain. He takes it. It's
eighteen holes, it's seven games, and that's really the mentality
you have to have. And they Yeah, I wonder though,
like we were talking about, maybe in the middle of
a series. Sometimes I don't say they take the game off,

(05:37):
but maybe there's just not enough desperation until they need it.
Sometimes you can win those games even without desperation. But now,
like you said, this is when they really tend to
pour it on. So we'll see. But last year they
lost Game six, and they only won Game seven by
a goal. And this year it's on the road and
not at home, so I'm sure they know this is

(05:57):
not This is far from over. McDavid could easily have
a three point game in Game six. Edmonton could easily
have two power play goals. You know, Bouchard has been
a little quiet at the top of that power play.
He could easily blast you home. So yeah, this thing
is not over yet. And if Emange is going to
win their cop, if Canada is going to break their draught,
if McDavid's going to win for the first time. Sometimes
it's easy, but a lot of times it's I number.

(06:19):
Back in the two thousand and four Boston Bruins down
three games to zero to the Yankees. I went on
ESPN Radio and I remember saying at the time to
the host, if they're ever going to break the curse,
this is how you do it you come back from
three down and go on to win the World Series. Well,
McDavid to come back three to two on the road
game seven home, that would be the perfect way for
him to win the Stanley Cup. So sometimes if you

(06:40):
can step away and say this would be the best
way to do it, maybe that can fuel you and
inspire you and realize this is a low margin game.
There's not a lot of difference between us. We can
easily get hot for two games and get a couple
of power play goals and win this series. It's clearly
possible for the oilers.

Speaker 1 (07:01):
And what you say there is just so accurate where
it's like this sliding doors type of analogy where it's like, Okay,
we think that this is what's gonna happen based on
what happened in game five with Florida just out battling them,
out playing them in every single way, and then it's like,
whoop can be a completely different story when he gets

(07:21):
the game six, and it'll just be like sitting there thinking,
my gosh, like what you know, there's just two different
outcomes depending on what could happen and everything that you
just said like feasibly could happen. And I was just so,
I'm in I'm in Toronto right now. I'm in my
childhood bedroom as I somehow seemingly have been in. Like

(07:42):
this is the I think this is at least the
third podcast we've done out of like not that many
where I've been at home, which is you know, that's
that's a bigger conversation of like why like wow, my
back again. Anyway, I was reading the Globe of Mail
and this morning I'm Cana's national newspaper, and I really

(08:02):
love the column CATHL. Kelly. He's a great opinionist, and
he had a really interesting quote. He said, the real
challenge isn't finding the guy with the quickest shot release.
It's finding a guy who thinks this could all end tomorrow.
And I wonder what you think about that.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, I think collectively, that's how Florida exists. That's how
they kind of play, It's how they operate. There's a desperation.
Matthew Kuchuck has it. I think it all started with him.
Once they made that trade, that seismic trade with Calgary.
It changed the entire trajectory because he took all of
the wisdom he learned from his dad he all the

(08:39):
leadership skills his dad gave him. Treat the trainers well,
treat the security staff well. When you walk into the arena,
say hello to them. I was talking to a Toronto
security guy when I was Kyra in the Autawa series,
the Auto with Toronto first round series. I had four
of those games or ESPN and the security guys that's
you know, Matthew's one of our. That was Brady because
obviously Brady and Auto were playing them in the first

(09:00):
round and it's like Brady does the same thing, you know.
He In fact, he was doing a lot an interview
with our pregame showback in Connecticut. I was just standing
on the side with Kevin Weeks, but he came right over,
like not many young men his age have that confidence
and have that wherewithal to come over and look an adult,
you know, twice his age more, shake his hand, have

(09:23):
like a very comfortable stance, look them in the eye,
have a little conversation like most young men can't do
that nowadays. And they were brought up that way and
so they're very popular in the room with trainers and
security and officials. They get away with a lot on
the ice. I think both of them get away with
a lot on the ice, much like Brad Marshand does,
because officials like them and they respect them, and they're

(09:44):
probably charming to them, and they talk to them and
they say their names things like that. And I think
it started with Kachuk and from there Barkoff doesn't have
to talk a lot like Joe Sakik of Colorado. Patrick
Waugh will take care of the of the vocal stuff
and you know, and so it's just a great dynamic,
much like Colorado with Sackek, where bar Barkock could just
be Barkoff, and now with Marshan, who's really yappy. They

(10:06):
were kind of a quiet team. Mon Tour was kind
of an alpha. They lost him, so they were kind
of quiet. You got some Finns and young guys and
Seth Jones a little quiet. But Marshan came on. I
think he gave them life with all of his verbal
skills on the ice and off the ice, his leadership
skills going to dairy Queen. Those little things are the
big things in life. Those are the things that bring

(10:28):
people together and energize the team. They're not for nothing.
They matter, and people who make work exciting make it interesting.
Those are the people. And you know, I just look
at ESPN, where some people that you just liked, they enjoyed,
you enjoyed working with them. They and I used to
bring in Oreo cookies just every day at ESPN, just
we'd all enjoy the cookies and talk about what the ten,

(10:50):
what's your five best Billy Joel songs? Like little things
like that is what gets a group the It erases
the mundane and makes every day fun.

Speaker 1 (10:59):
I think that's such a great point and so important
for people regards list if you're a hockey player or not.
And it's something that I didn't even realize until recently,
Like I realized, like it doesn't even matter how you do.
I mean, obviously you can do, you do a solid job,
but it's how you make other people feel they are

(11:21):
on your team. Because then if you can make them
feel better, you bring them together, they're gonna raise their
their game to another level. And all they're gonna do
is remember things that you've done for them. And you
just reminded me, but you said you brought in Oreos
for you know, your team. I was, so I'm back again,
I'm back home, and I covered the Olympics for CBC
this last summer from Canada, and I looked in my

(11:43):
drawer and I still have these medals. I'm holding up
a bunch of like fake gold medals that I gave
to everyone before. I was just trying to buy myself
some you know, some good grace before like they actually
got to know me. No, but I gave medals to
everyone I was working with beforehand because we were all

(12:04):
a team. Like, I didn't want to give it to
people at the end. I wanted to like motivate everyone
because you know, working obviously Olympics, working Stanley Cup, these
are long hours, these are you know, long days, and
things can get like a lot going on. So it
kind of cut the tension. It made them a bit
more fun, and I just realized, like I'm here to
do a good job, but like I'm not really here

(12:27):
to do a good job. I'm just I want to
make everyone else feel good. My main job is to
make people feel good, right, Like I think that gets
lost when you are a younger broadcast actually, or you're
working in an industry and you're like I need to
be number one, like I need to get to the top.
It's like, no, that's a completely wrong strategy, right.

Speaker 2 (12:46):
And I always That's one thing about my career toy
is man. I always played the long game. I always.
I've been there twenty eight years. I mean, because I
never was like you just said, it was all about
getting better at my job. You know what is my purpose? Well,
not one purpose does my family provide and protect my family,
and so work is just a vehicle to do that.
But improve. I always I'm a self improver by nature.

(13:06):
So I want to get better at my job. I
want to have fun with the people I work with.
I mean, going back to college playing intermural sports, I
was the guy that made a top ten team ranking
of like a USA today coaches paulled top ten intermural
basketball teams. At my small college, I'd put on the
cafeteria door. People couldn't wait on Monday to see what
the rankings were. And my little comments, you know, like
I always did. Still when we had a street hockey

(13:28):
league in high school, I made a newspaper. I wrote
it by hand with a flare pen. The hockey news.
I did the old calligraphy. I copied it write from
the hockey news that I used to get sent to
my house and the same lettering. I have standings, i'd
have player profiles, i'd have stats, and I just I
always enjoyed, you know, making things, whatever your daily thing
you do, whether it's a hobby or work, just make

(13:48):
it better with these fun little things that make them
more interesting, give life kind of a charge. And like
you said, it wasn't really to bring people together, or
it was more it was I just it was just
came kind of naturally. But if you can do that
for a hockey team, you can do that at work,
then it just takes away them and you look forward
to going into work, and then it becomes contagious as well,
and then more people are doing it. And we used

(14:10):
to have bets at ESPN. Okay, how many of the
how many of the when the people came up, give
us our shot sheets doing Sports Center describing what the
plays were for all these games we did the highlights for,
and we'd we'd have a contest how many people can
name the four Beatles or how many how many Beatles
can this person name? This is twenty years ago, right,
this person should know who the four Beatles are in

(14:30):
nineteen ninety eight. I mean, come on, I mean they'd
just broken up. When you were born, you should know
who the four Beatles are. Maybe not now, but although
I did, I teach them. I did teach my kids
going up that they know the four Beatles and they
can tell by who's singing which Beatle it is. I
should get out of the year for that. But yeah, yeah,
make work fun and whether it's a hot hockey team
or TV or at the post office or whatever, make

(14:52):
it fun and interesting and do little things like that
to take away the mundane. That's most of life is
taking away the mundane, because let's face it, there's a
lot of it and life is short. Make it interesting.

Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, wow, I mean it's to live by just we
should and it helps you just really enjoy what you're
doing then and it kind of peaks you out of
the moment of like, oh, I got to churn out
this shot sheet and make sure all these players' names
are right all this, and then it's like, you know,
we're not you're not doing rocket science, like we're people's
lives aren't on the line with what we're doing right now.

(15:22):
Like so, I mean, at the end of the day,
we're just we're so lucky to be able to do
this kind of stuff. And so when we talk okay,
so desperation. We talked about it with Florida. We I
think there's an interesting element of desperation perhaps with Brad
Marshawn because he's at a very interesting part of his
career and he has reignited himself. Where do you see

(15:46):
that desperation perhaps with him?

Speaker 2 (15:49):
Well it's that second Cup, right, it's again quick back
to golf. JJ Spahn won a major, but a lot
of people have won one. Then golfers, they really want
to be a guy who wins at least two, right, Oh,
I get a second one because the first one could
be Locke, it could be some but he also the
Martian was a huge part of his first Cup. Even
though he's a very young player, he was a huge

(16:09):
part of that Cup. He had a great Stanley Cup playoff.
He was hot, and he brought a certain element as
opposed to someone who's a passenger and gets a Stanley
Cup at a young age. So he definitely earned that Cup.
It's not that, but again it was you know, thirteen
years ago. To win another one at this part of
his career, what a great for him bookend to win
one as really a dumb, ignorant young kid who knows

(16:31):
nothing thinks he might win five or six to a
thirty seven year old now who's like, wow, all, I've
been through the disappointments of going to the Cup finals
twice and losing to Chicago and losing to Saint Louis
game seven at home when he had that terrible change
that led to a goal. Obviously, the embarrassment of having
a record breaking season and losing to Florida after being

(16:53):
up three games to one. He's a breakaway in game
seven to win the series, and regulation to win the
series in game five actually throughout three games to one,
Martian's got a breakaway fourhand back, five hole like he
scored the other night. Yeah, and the Bruins win the
series by five, and everybody's world changes. Florida probably buys
out Bobrovski, like the whole world changes. The Marchhan scores

(17:14):
on that breakaway. I'm sure he thinks about that every day. Wow, practically,
So to get one now, it'd wash away. It would
wash away a lot of his sins, you know, just
the losses that are so painful, and just now another cup.
At this age, they can share with his children and
his wife and then have this huge windfa always going
to get that was unexpected, probably a three year, twenty

(17:37):
five million dollar contract man. What a time to be
Brad Marshan right now. But he also could lose two
games in a row and have another massive, heavy heartache.
That's the great thing about sports, we don't know. And
then Florida loses two out of three Cups and their
narrative is completely different. Wow, most the Buffalo bills, you know,
I mean, it's funny. That's what sports is so delicious

(17:58):
and why this whole series is delicious.

Speaker 1 (18:00):
You just gave me like a literal shivers when you
just change that the narrative. It's like, oh, Brad marsha
on right, riding off into the sunset, and then it's
like right, and he's you know, he's getting the ceiling,
and it's like, oh, how the narrative can change so quickly.
And that is what we're seeing, like every game, the
narrative is so different. Okay, so desperation on the other side.

(18:23):
We'll get into the big guys in a second. But
another guy who I believe you know obviously has a
lot of desperation is Corey Perry, who's seen the Cup,
who's seen the cup being hoisted by the opposite team
four times very recently, he wonted. You know, we talk
about sort of rookie guys winning it. He won it.

(18:44):
It is a rookie year.

Speaker 2 (18:46):
And then he ten years ago.

Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yeah, and he's had to watch other teams hoist the cup.
I feel like that is just nightmare fuel. So when
your a guy like that and you're seeing your team,
maybe ooh, kind of oh, things might not be going
the right way. How do you think he like, what,
what do you think could possibly be going on in

(19:08):
his mind? Now?

Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yeah? Probably bad thoughts, Like you said, like I said,
it's gonna be another loss. You know, I think a
lot of athletes tend to be a little doom and gloom.
I know I was. You know, I always expected even
though a lot of times I performed pretty good in
my little high school career under pressure. I like those moments.
I enjoy them. But all day long it was boy,
I don't know if we're gonna win. Your nauseous, your
stomach hurts, and but once I was out there, I

(19:32):
really enjoyed it, and that so does Corey Perry. Obviously
he knows how to play with those feelings in his head,
in his stomach and that nervousness. He keeps it simple.
He knows his game. He enjoys it. He loves the stage.
He's an actor who enjoys the stage. So he won't
be a problem. But you know, I think, yeah, I
imagine a lot of his thoughts are negative more than positive,

(19:52):
because he's had more negative than positive. And that's that's
the you know, that's the scourge of the athlete. Obviously,
the riches and the rewards can be very great economically,
and obviously it's a G eight lifestyle. It's so much
fun to be around, you know, peers in a team atmosphere.
It's just full of love and affection and contacts is
great and I wish it worked that we did more

(20:14):
of that on all our our different jobs. You know, hug, fist, bump,
you know, yeah, and just have And that's why they're
so happy. I think, because they're around so much affection.
They're like actually touching each other. There's like body there's
like really real affection. And why I think that's why
they miss it so much when they leave the game.
They missed that every day affection and so but overall,
I think I think he's worried a bit about Man,

(20:37):
is this going to happen to me again?

Speaker 1 (20:39):
Right? And and I was curious about what his speech
was like in the locker room after when they were
down three nothing in Game four in the first period,
because they said he had some kind of speech, like
and Nate and I were talking about it. Nate said, like,
normally when they played on the Ducks, like gets laugh
would be the guy. Obviously they would say something. But
like if Perry did say something, he only spoke if

(21:02):
he really meant it, like he had something to say,
because he's more of a quiet guy. I think he's
probably a bit different on this team. I saw that,
you said, Okay, so we saw McDavid, Andrei Sidel just
Boom completely stonewalled in the last game, which I'm not
gonna lie and I was gonna bring this up. Just
gave me reminders of like Matthews and Marner being like

(21:26):
oop completely eliminated by Florida. So that was a bit.
That is That's something I've been thinking about quite a
bit recently.

Speaker 2 (21:35):
Yeah, it's real.

Speaker 1 (21:36):
Do you think that? Does that?

Speaker 2 (21:38):
Just I mean that was McDavid's first goal of the series.
You know, he has to score for them if they're
going to win this thing. You know, not having hymen,
the depth is not there. Like him and Leon have
to score. They have to both have big game six
and seven or it's just probably not gonna happen. There's
a million ways to win a game. I always say
that they could win two games without them scoring. They

(21:59):
did it, and they you know, leading up to this
Stanley Cup final and they were winning without McDavid scoring
a lot of goals. But you know, going back to
last year, he just has not scored a lot of
goals in the playoffs. He's been less of a goal scorer.
An amazing facilitator. But I really think because there's so
little time and space when he makes some of these jukes,
he's really got a think goal, think sniper, pick a spot,

(22:21):
yeah and start and every time he attacks the net,
and you know, it's hard to make that backdoor pass
against Florida, it's so little time. So I just would
like to see him really become a little more selfish,
a little more of an offensive goal scoring like a
Joe Sakic. Joe Sakic thought goals right even at the
center ice position, some center iceman things score first and

(22:41):
others are pass first, you know, and McDavid needs a
little bit of both. So no, I think it's real.
It's something they're going to have to deal with, and
it's going to be tough now because obviously down in
Florida they have last change. And that's why it was
a great advantage for Edmonton. We saw late in that
game they stuck out McDavid against the fourth line of Florida.

(23:01):
It's a big advantage for Edmonton. So it's going to
be tough in Edmonton because Barkoff and Bennett. It was
another shutdown guy too. You know, he gets out there
with dry Sidle and get Barkoff out there with make David.
These are two elite, big, strong center iceman who can
really skate and skate with them. Very few teams have that,
and so that's what makes it tough, and that's why

(23:21):
he wants to keep those two guys apart to try
to try to, you know, break up the matchups as
much as possible from the defenseman standpoint, get away from
Forsley and get away from Barkoff with somebody. So it's
but yeah, those guys must step up and it's not
always easy. It's a team game, I get it, but
they need to produce, they need to score.

Speaker 1 (23:39):
Right, And like we've talked so much on our podcast,
and I know everyone has, is like McDavid is the
guy that steps up when you need like this flash
of brilliance when you need him in this moment, make
Jesus all this kind of stuff. But the longer this
series has gone on, the lower I don't think that

(23:59):
that's necessarily the case for him, because there are moments
where he's to step up or needed to be that
guy and he hasn't been. And we know that he's
a great player, but sometimes I'm looking and watching him
against Florida, I'm thinking they've either figured him out or
he can't figure them out. But he's not the guy
that we've hyped up so much after we saw him

(24:21):
maybe against Dallas when he scored, we saw a couple
We've seen brilliant moments, but they haven't been necessarily consistent. Right, So,
in what way do you think this series, let's say,
just the Stanley Cup final, do you think is maybe
influence store affected just even his how people think of

(24:43):
him on let's say like the mount rushmore of players.

Speaker 2 (24:47):
Right, I don't think so. I think they realize that
he is still carrying this team to a large degree
that if you had a draft between these two teams,
he'd probably go first. But then of the top ten
players of just the Oilers and the Panthers of draft,
I bet like seven would be Panthers, right, even if

(25:08):
McDavid in Drycidle went one, two, and it'll be bark
Off third, and then Ryan Hart fourth, and they could
Chuck fifth and Bragi's you know what I mean Right
down the line, there's not another Oiler taken, so obviously
the Panthers. I use that as a good way to
figure out, just with the friend of yours, let's have
a draft. Let's have a Panther oiler draft. You go first,

(25:28):
f McDavid out to and I bet you'll have more
Panthers yeah, in the top ten than Oiler. Right. And
it's okay, So they're the favorite. And even though the
Oilers were the betting favor before this thing started, probably
mainly because of home ice, and it still could be
the difference. Right, they win Game six, Game seven is
the one you know most most you know any Stanley
Cup playoff games are fifty to fifty home and away.

(25:48):
There really isn't a big home ice advantage until game seven.
It ticks up just a little bit, and when you
score first, the first goal, it ticks up a whole bunch.
That's the key. Get the game seven. Score first. The
Bruins couldn't do it against the Blues, you know, and
they had that first period barrage against Bennington. They should
have been up to nothing. Cruise to victory doesn't happen.
Saint Louis wins, and that can happen, but no, I

(26:09):
think McDavid's the status is still strong. He looks good, like,
he looks healthy. He has a regular season speed that
I'm glad we don't always see in the playoffs because
he before two three years ago. He's carrying them so
much early he had nothing left at the end, He's
got a lot left. Like, he looks fast. It's just
getting that right role. Even in game six, he kind
of made that beautiful move. The puck just kind of
rolled off his stick. Sometimes it is just a variable

(26:32):
like that. It's random. It's such a fast game. You
need the puck to be in that perfect position. Because
once you try to fumble or move it, they're so
good they slap away right. So everything has to be
kind of right in the slot, right in position like Bennett.
Like Bennett, the puckets just finding him, you know, Kitchuck
comes down, that shot is blocked and it goes right
to his tail he en, you know what I mean?
Like that, that's when a guy's going good. And McDavid

(26:54):
hasn't had that kind of goal. I think his goals
expected are like very high this postseason. I think they're
supposed to be, like he's supposed to have like eighteen goals, right,
and so he hit the post last game, he could
have had two or three. So every game he could
have two or three. Now he needs to actually get
two or three. That's where the goal is expected. Thing.
It's like, well that's kind of a you know what
you think might be a goal. I might not think because,

(27:16):
like I said, it's not right in the holster, right.
He got to move it a bit and then it's
not the same kind of shot. It goes wide. So
if they can start getting breaks like that where a
rebound goes right to a guy's tape like it has
been for betted seemingly all playoff long it gets ripping
them in that's what they need. And again that can happen.
Everything could turn tomorrow and Edmonton could get all those

(27:37):
little weird little bounces where now they're getting the shots
right in the holster and they win four two, four
to two, that the bad and the bounces might go
start going against Florida. So that can happen in this game,
especially this game certainly sports, but hockey's a weird, variable
riddled game.

Speaker 1 (27:56):
It certainly is. And you mentioned scoring first. That is
something that's important, and Edmonton has not been able to
make them that is, has been able to do that.
I mean they have been outscored seventeen to four in
the first period in the last three games, been outscored
seven to nothing in the first period in the last
three game.

Speaker 2 (28:15):
That's the thing. They given up multiple goals every first period.
That has to change.

Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, you can't let everyone come in to your party.
You didn't really invite them and then be like, oh no,
all the beer's gone and I can't have a good time.
I okay, this is my Michael Scott, Like I literally
just make up an analogy and then just see where
it goes, but it doesn't. I'm making it up as
it's going along. Okay, We've got a lot more to

(28:41):
discuss with John butchi Grass from ESPN. When we return,
we're going to take a short break. We'll be right back.
Welcome back to Energy Line with Nate and JSB. We
are joined by John Buchigrass from ESPN talking all things
Game six and beyond about Stanley Cup final. And I

(29:03):
mentioned it at the top of the show that you're
kind of like our Calvin Pickard, But like, who do
you think starts skim six?

Speaker 2 (29:10):
I think it's Skinner. I think they go back to him.
You know, they can always bring in Picker if things
aren't good after the first period. But their goal should
be to be have a scoreless first period. Let's zero zero.
That should be their goal. Like, let's really shut it down.
Let's pretend like during the regular season they were a
great shutdown team and then when the playoffs started where
they were protecting leads. Remember Dallas couldn't get any shots

(29:31):
on goal in the third period. Although last time that's
how they should play defense first. Just zero zero at
the end of one. Let's play like that. Let's play
like it's two nothing with ten minutes to go. We're
winning to nothing with ten minutes to go in the
third period for the whole game. Like, I really think
they have to kind of change their mindset and do
that and you know, be on their toes for face offs,

(29:52):
don't get split by Brad marshanoff of center ized face
offf Like, they really have to get that way. Now,
I think they will backs against the wall. Now really
you can make up that your backs against the wall,
but now it really is. So I think I think
they'll come out with you know, one of their best
games and certainly a better start where they're really thinking
defense and uh in getting the puck out, simple plays,

(30:13):
and we'll see if they can pull it off. Maybe
it's not them and they can't play that way, but
you know, they can't keep giving up two goals in
the first period and just not against this team. You know,
they got a real lucky down in Florida with the
miracle comeback, but that's not going to happen again. So, uh,
they got to start thinking defense first when the drop
of the puck and win low scoring kind of defensive,

(30:35):
tight games, get that first goal and then try to
get the second one and then hang on Like that's
how they're going to I think they're gonna have to
win this.

Speaker 1 (30:40):
Thing, right and with that decision and goal I know
Chris Nablock had said, like, this is a difficult decision
to make because you know, the goaltending has been erratic.
Whilst good, it's just been you've had two you've had
your you've had one A and one A like both
of them have been really really good. And he said
it's not an easy decision. He says that they have

(31:01):
shown they can play extremely well. He also said it
would be nice to have some goal support, which I
think is very propos when you're looking at goalies. You're
looking at goalies a lot because maybe you're not necessarily
scoring a whole lot, but do you think, what do
you think you're like the main things of reasons why
you would go skinner overpickered, Well, he's.

Speaker 2 (31:21):
Done this before. We've seen not only with you know,
not only with the Oilers, but going back to junior hockey.
This he dealt with this for I think it was
a medicine hat where he was pulled in the middle
of the championship series multiple times that playoff run hold
in the middle of the of the championship series, came
back with back to back shutouts, they win the Memorial Cup.
He has so it's like, it's weird, this has happened

(31:42):
to him before. I think that's why he can handle it.
And like you said, it's not so much. You know,
it is partly the goalies, but it's hard when you're
playing behind as a goalie, the pressure gets ramped up,
like I can't give up the next one. I'll about
give the guy a lead, give the guy a one
nothing leader, really a two nothing lead. Now he's got
a house mindy to play with him, can be really
aggressive and free and loose, and they're just Yeah, the

(32:03):
team has put the goalies in a bad spot by
falling behind in the first period over and over again,
especially multiple goals. It's that makes it almost impossible to
play goalie because now you have to pitch a shutout.
And so yeah, score only scoring more, but scoring first,
and take some of the pressure off your netminder and
play with the lead. Don't chase the game. You can't

(32:24):
chase the game. Against Florida, they got lucky once, but
you can't do it again. I really think they have
to win low scoring, tight games three two. I know
the over is nailing here, but if it's an over game,
it's a Panther win. In my mind, they really have
to be an under team Edmonton. I think now they
got to figure out what how can we do this?
I think that's the way to do it, and obviously

(32:44):
score in the power play. They have to score in
the power play. They just have to. They can't compete
with this team five on five. You know, the marshan
Lundell lost to run in line has been just death.
Five on five. Marsh Martians in a perfect spot in
his career. He can only play sixteen minutes a night,
so he can go all out five on five, not
first power play, not first PK, not that responsibility. He's

(33:07):
playing completely free, sixteen minutes a night, not eighteen to twenty.
And it's the perfect spot for him. He's playing with
the house money. And even that's why I said, if
he were to leave Florida, go somewhere else and go
back to one or first or second line with that
pressure more minutes, I don't think he'd be the same player.
I think this is perfect for him to play with
these two guys next year as well, and to stay

(33:27):
in Florida figure it out, even if it takes a
little less to do that. But again, maybe it's just
a windfall move. Maybe Marti just wants to make the
most money he can in three years, especially if they
win the Cup, it's easier to do that. But I
just think staying there in Florida, you bring all your
wealth to Florida too, so now all the other stuff
is to getting taxedure your investments and things like that.

(33:48):
That's why that's why people move there, people who do
really well in life, because that's also not tax not
just your income. Because his income is about to go
down in two three years, but the other stuff will
still be there. He's got a nice little nut that
he can invest in. So that's why Florida it would
be a good transition for him him, a lot of athletes,
that's why they end up there. So I really think,

(34:08):
you know, but he's going to get some great offers
elsewhere because, like I said, those guys are valuable. Those
playoff guys are valuable. Bennett and him are showing that, geez,
maybe we shouldn't pay some of these guys. I know,
the regular season numbers. You know, Bennett's a sixty point guy.
Fifty sixty point guy, can't pay him ten, but you
see how important he is. But the same with him
though he's not a first line player. He's a second

(34:30):
line center. So if you're you gonna pay a second
line center ten. That's why I think in the end
he comes in at about eight million with Florida, make
less than Barkoff. He's perfectly slotted because he's not a
good playmaker. He doesn't make other people better, like there's
people open on the doorstep. He doesn't see the ice
that way. You know, he's a thirty goal twenty five
assist guy. He's not a playmaker, so that's why he's perfect.

(34:52):
Is kind of a shutdown, second line, shutdown guy who
can skate and hit, score goals, fight like he's great value.
But to me to go somewhere else as a first
line guy just for an extra million bucks or so,
I think could be miserable. And that's why I really
do think he'll end up staying there. I know it's hard.
They got eck lad Mar Shannon him who all want
a round eight and it's not gonna fit. So someone's

(35:13):
probably gonna be a little bit of a casualty unless
they all take about one million less that you know,
Eckblob maybe six point eight Bennett seven point nine Marshan,
you know, six point three his number. Maybe they can uh,
maybe they can make it work.

Speaker 1 (35:27):
Okay, I love that because I feel like you could
just literally have your own show of you debating yourself.
We're like, well this, but what about this? And like
but what this? But if we do that? I was
like I was watching, I just watched like PTI right
there with like.

Speaker 2 (35:42):
You and Mike and TONI.

Speaker 1 (35:44):
Yeah, yeah, I love that. I love that. But okay,
but those numbers that you just said. You know, there's
been kind of a lot of controversy about what players
might get paid, and like a Mitch Marner might be
getting a fourteen million, people are saying out there. So
when you say, like, say a fourteen million for Mitch
Marner and then you're talking about like eight million for

(36:06):
a Bennett or a marsh On, like, how does that
world exist? Like?

Speaker 2 (36:09):
I know, I know, I know, I know you're getting
at jewels. I know what you mean, because no doubt
anyone would rather have Bennett Marshan than Marty are in
a seven game playoff series, right, But Marner's one hundred
point guy. You pay a surcharge for his age and
one hundred points, so obviously you have to overpay a
little bit. That's a sur charge of a UFA. But
he's available. Guys like that don't become available very rarely

(36:31):
this day and age, because nowadays most teams, you know,
they can spend to the cap and they'll sign those
guys at age twenty five for eight years. They got
him till thirty three. Very rarely Jack Giicele became available.
That's why you do have to pounce like you should
have more. Teams should have overpaid for Jack Giicel. Once
Marshan came available, someone should have given them a one
like Florida but and a prospect they should have got.

(36:52):
Those guys are too valuable that time of year. But
if you're Sam Bennett, you're like, Elias Linholm's going to
make more than me. You really, yeah, really like you know,
and I get it. Lindholm might get more points, but
he's at seven point seven or eight if I'm bet
That's why I said. If I'm betting, I have to
get eight, I have to I'm not lyislim Holm is
not going to make more than me. I'm sorry. I
put my body on the line every night, and that's

(37:13):
why I just I just really do think eight times
eight or seven point you know, nine, nine, nine whatever
in Florida's going to be the number for he's going
to stay there. But yeah, Martyr is a guy. He's
just he's going to help you get there. But and
they just don't become available. So you're gonna have I
get it, you're going to overpay by twenty percent. It's
probably a twelve million dollar guy, but some he's going

(37:33):
to get. You know, he could get fourteen.

Speaker 1 (37:35):
Right, Yeah, I understand that tax that you have to
pay for him. So yeah, I hate to ask this
very obvious question. Who do you think pays that?

Speaker 2 (37:45):
Yeah, well, I think it'll I think, you know, three
or four teams will. So it's really what does he
want to play? I think Carolina will be very aggressive,
you know, I think Vegas will be very aggressive. Uh
you know, maybe the Kings. So now again, maybe say
at Carolina offers fourteen, maybe Vegas is more like, hey
we'll do thirteen, no state tax. And then maybe la

(38:07):
is like you know we'll do thirteen really good team
to La. So I do think it'll be something like
that with a maybe not the least desirable, but maybe
you know, Raleigh will you know, Carolina will offer the most.
And that's like, okay, do I want to word? So
he'll I think he'll have four to six good the
Bruins could offer him, you know, twelve point nine. He
might say, oh, twelve point nine for the Bruins. That

(38:28):
seems like fun.

Speaker 1 (38:29):
I like that'd be a great spitelest, like if he
was you know, Larry David to go there and just
screw it with Posterach.

Speaker 2 (38:37):
He can play with Paster, Knock and Boss. You can
play with Icle in Vegas. I think that's how he's
gonna look at it, pairing with somebody else, and who
do I pair it best with?

Speaker 1 (38:44):
It?

Speaker 2 (38:44):
For him? It's a goal scorer, right it is Posternach.
I goes more of a setup man himself. That might
not work. You know, who would he play with in La.
I guess he could play with Buyfield because Byfield he
could shoot it. Maybe he would be more of a shooter,
and that's fine. You know, Carolina, he's who's his match
Aho Okay, I don't know, there might not be a matchup.

(39:05):
So I wonder if you'll look at it that way,
like who do I pair well with? The money has
to be there in the neighborhood, and then who do
I pair with well? And then where do I want
to live? I just had a baby. That kid will
end up obviously going to school at some point, not
that you know, kindergarten five years away, so he'll be
at the end of this contract. He can all at
that point, he can adjust and all right, first second grade.
Then I'll go to where I want to go and live,

(39:26):
maybe where I want the family to be. So he's
got time for that. So yeah, that's it's gonna be
fun to watch. It's gonna be exciting. He's gonna make
it a fun summer on his decision.

Speaker 1 (39:35):
Yeah, he certainly will. Definitely this Toronto crowd will be
wondering where he goes. So you've been covering the playoffs obviously,
and I just I know I've watched you on the
games obviously in the Toronto Ottawa series and when I
was in when I was watching from the Canuck the
Canadian Bar in New York City here, and you guys
on there. It's wonderful and it's so funny, Boucie. Like

(39:57):
thinking back to when I first met you, like probably
a decade or so, we'll go like, uh yeah around there,
I'd say, and like it was the all the talk
about where the rights were potentially going to go and
going to ESPN and now seeing it come to fruition
and seeing you in the spotlight, seeing you hosting, seeing

(40:18):
you do play by play, doing like so much with it.
I mean, you are someone that is you remind me
of of Jeff Merrick in the sense that you grind
it out and you give everyone else their the praise
and you don't like you're very humble and you work
your ass off and you deserve it and you deserve

(40:38):
everything with hockey, especially because you're so passionate about it.
And from where I guess you guys have started with
with having the rights at ESPN to where you are now,
Like how have like how has it changed and how
have you changed as like a hockey broadcaster.

Speaker 2 (40:56):
Yeah, it was seventeen years in between having it, oh
four to twenty twenty one, and so you know, obviously
I'm better at my job, more composed, more informed just
all those years of experience. I wrote a hockey column
from one to twenty seventeen, so I was still kind
of in the NHL ecosystem. And then social media comes
along and with you know, the Booch Overtime Challenge and

(41:17):
college hockey, and start to cover college hockey, which is
obviously a third of the league has played college hockey,
so there's a connection there, and a lot of these
young guys grew up with me on social media. Asin
Matthews and all these guys. Matthew Barzel came up to
me once. I used to play the Booch overtime challenging guys,
so that's where they knew me. So I had this connection,

(41:37):
so we re entered the atmosphere of the NHL. Those
guys knew me that era, knew me from social media,
and then the college guys again, a third of the
league knew me from college. I was kind of their
pied piper. So it was a really easy re entry
in the atmosphere, like a rocket coming from the moon.
It was like the re entry point was very and
it was euphoric. Everyone was glad to see us. It

(42:00):
was really cool, so that it probably extended my career
at ESPN. It was it was good for that, and
who knows if I would have still been there, So
any had to do the draft and the draft lottery,
and you know, I wish I did more games. I
wish sometimes I had a bigger role because I have
such an insatiable appetite and amount of energy for it.
You know, I'd love to do. But overall, I'm just

(42:21):
so grateful and it's been a blast, and I can
still again that's what's still good about social media. You
can throw an opinion out, you can break a story
once in a while. You can be involved. I got,
you know, coaches and players texting me, which is fun.
Like I said, to be in that be, in that
ecosystem of the NHL, it's so much fun. And hopefully
I can hang on for a few more years here.
Contracts up next May first. You know, you always get nervous,

(42:42):
all of us when our contracts are coming up.

Speaker 1 (42:44):
Well, we'll pump you up that contract extension.

Speaker 2 (42:47):
We need you there. Well there's too Yeah, there's two
more years left on our deal. So hopefully that'd be
perfect and we'll see what happens after that. But I
hope that would at least I get those last two years.
Even if they said that was it, it's like, Okay,
that's cool. You know, I've had a good run and
to have two more years. But yeah, we'll see how
it goes. But it's been great and so many opportunities
like your podcast and other podcasts around, so it's you know,

(43:09):
even if it ends there or there'll be other stuff
to do, which is fun, and it's just it's in
the end, it's the game. The game is the thing.
I always say that it's about the game. It's about
the actual games. I know some people like to talk
about the game more than watching the game. I like
watching the game first, then talking about the game. It's
still about the game and about the players and the
final score and the scoreboard and that daily grind of

(43:30):
watching games every night.

Speaker 1 (43:37):
I mean, you really made it by coming on this
podcast in particular. I appreciate you shouting that out, but
you forgot to really dive in and mention the fact
that you're wearing your chicken parm shirt. But you also
kind of created a neat, sort of viral I don't know, moment,
like with the whole chicken parm stuff. Obviously, I know
that's your nickname for Ray Ferraro. And then now you've

(43:58):
got everything with chicken part. What's been the coolest situation
experience with the chicken parm bit?

Speaker 2 (44:06):
Good point, good, good question. No one's ever asked that.
Probably you know, we did it. We did a thing
called Skates Off this past season, trying to get them
to know the players off the ice. So I went
to the North End of Boston and Jeremy Swayman showed
up and we went to Tresca, which is Ray Bork's
restaurant in the North End, and we went in the
kitchen and we and we and Chef Rich there showed

(44:26):
us how they make the parm. I learned some things,
learned a lot of things which really helped my own
parm here at home. And so that was really cool
to do that and to be with the crew who
was excellent, and the way they edit it and it
came out. So I'll always have that right, So that's
kind of to me. It it kind of documented the
chicken parm thing by having on video, so I can,
you know, some show my grandkids thirty years from now

(44:48):
they look popap was once a you know, it was
a chicken par guy. He was younger, you know, and yeah, yeah,
I was in a kitchen once, so I was a
chef for a day, so that was really cool. And
just yeah, hearing from fans connect. It just kind of
started as a lark. I didn't ask for it, and
but you know, just kind of answer and now it
becomes a thing, and it's again anything to connect with
the fans. That's why I've always loved Twitter and now X.

(45:11):
I know some people, you know, lampoon it and the
bad parts obviously, but there's in our job, there's always
bad parts. People used to leave voicemails at my world
in nineties, well, like death threats, and I've got all
that kind of stuff, so I'm kind of used to that.
But just the way you can connect with people on
social media has been really to me. I look at
that as the positive, right and little things like boots you,
Overtime Challenge, college hockey, the chicken parm just a way

(45:33):
to connect with people. I enjoy that, and you see
them on the street, it's the first thing they say,
now chicken parmer is like, how do all these people
know this? It doesn't seem like a big deal to me.
It seems like a very quiet little thing, but apparently
it's bigger than I thought. But it's again, it's all
about connecting with people, right.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
And I love that. And it's also great as you
mentioned with swim and like kind of a great vehicle
for an interview. And yeah, it reminded me of like,
so I have right behind me and I bought all
that says drinks with Binks on it Rip, a show
I had on a different network, And by the end
of that show, and many times during it, like I
didn't really drink, right, so we would ask people what

(46:09):
their drink was. But then like I can't be drinking.
I can't I should be doing that. So you know,
sometimes I would like we would have a sip or
I would put grape juice in, like here's some behind
the scenes things, guys like, because I'd have to do
a couple of interviews in one day. Because one time
I had Katie Nolan on the show. By the way,
she mentioned she was shocked when I told her about

(46:30):
the people calling the station about how like working in
local sports, people would call after our broadcasts and like
tell us like awful shit about us. I'm sure you
know that was the that was the X that was
back in the olden days was people literally picking up
the phone and telling you it to your face. And

(46:51):
she was shocked about that. But yeah, I did a
show with her once and we wrote jokes for each
other and then we did shots based on like who
had the worst, like the worst joke of that. And
then I interviewed Luke voight right after, and I was
he wanted to drink scotch, and I remember being like,
I can do this job. So then when it comes
to chicken parm, like how much now are you actually

(47:14):
eating versus like just showcasing, because I mean that's a
lot chicken parm, Well.

Speaker 2 (47:20):
I don't feel pressure to eat it. I usually just
you know, rate other people when they send me a picture.
I don't feel although you're right, when you go out,
people expect me to get parm every time I go out. Now,
I don't eat out a lot unless I'm on the
road during the season. I like to cook at home.
I like to eat at home, cook my own food
for the most part. So so yeah, so but I

(47:41):
will go to a place and people know the bit,
and when I don't get it, they're shocked. Almost offended
that I'm not getting the parm. But sometimes I will
get it. So I try to read the room and say, Okay,
maybe I think they expect me to get the parm,
but you know, normally I like to get some chile
and sea bass. I can't make chili and sebass at home.
They don't have it at my supermarket. So I'm gonna
have that tonight because I can't get it at home.

(48:01):
So but yes, there is some pressure some times to
fulfill the bit.

Speaker 1 (48:05):
Yeah, it's a lot. It's it's a big.

Speaker 2 (48:08):
Trying to be authentic. I try to be authentic. That's
either way.

Speaker 1 (48:11):
When you're authentic, sometimes you got to sacrifice your stomach.
And but before I let you go, what has been
your favorite memory of the playoffs so far? Considering you
got to be a real part of it, calling so
many games and hosting and everything.

Speaker 2 (48:28):
Yeah, I mean certainly you know the ones I do.
I going to Winnipeg and experiencing Winnipeg High.

Speaker 1 (48:33):
Oh yeah, you and Kevin Weeks did that like crazy.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
Yes, schedule we did, and and yeah we did two
games and actually we went game one Toronto flew to
Winnipeg day off. Game one Winnipeg or whatever. Game was
back to Toronto game two, no days off, then day
off in Ottawa.

Speaker 1 (48:51):
So the hot spots.

Speaker 2 (48:53):
Yes, I like going to new places, so actually going
to Ottawa that was like another wink I checked off.
There's only a couple left. I think they call an
NHL game, it might be only one or two on
a ranger game. Yeah, those those usually big games. As
a fourth liner, I don't get to do those.

Speaker 1 (49:10):
You'll get one next year, I'm sure.

Speaker 2 (49:12):
Yeah, but I think every I think every other rank. Well,
now there's a game, and I did the first game
at the Mullet, so that was cool. But now they're
in Utah, so that's a fresh one I need to do.
So the Mullet might be the only rink now in
our three in our four years back in the NHL
that I haven't called. Uh that I haven't called a
game the new Utah rank I think. And Montreal to
so Montreal Massive Square Garden. I did the Policeman Versus

(49:35):
Fireman game at Masson Guarden, which is great. So at
least I have called a game there. And then you say,
so those three I haven't done, so hopefully I can
get them checked off.

Speaker 1 (49:43):
Next year, you'll get them checked off, especially they're rangers.
If you consider yourself a fourth liner, they'll let you
call that chokes hahaha. We never know how anyone's going
to do next year. You know who's winning the Stanley Cup.

Speaker 2 (49:57):
Well, I picked Edmonton before the season. I picked Edmonton
before the playoffs started. I went on PTI, which was
a big thrill last week with Tony and Mike. First
time I ever done that. I was actually nervous. Yeah,
I was like nervous. It was so cool to be
nervous again when you want to. When you're in the
business this long, not much really rattles you or gets
you excited. That got me really excited. And I said,
and I said to Tony and I have a cute

(50:18):
up Evonton and seven, So I need to bring that
back Banksy, that'd be that would be big for my
you know, renegotiation. I can just get that in the algorithm,
and you get that in the hockey algorithm. I had
a great tie too that John Ham liked. I was
doing a game in Winnipeg and I guess Leevey has
John Ham's number, you know. Somehow along the line, big
Steve Leaving you know he he cohorts with the rich

(50:39):
and famous, and I guess and he showed me the text.
He screenshot it because he was in the studio. I
was in Winnipeg. He goes, John Hann loves your time.
He's like, heyoochi got a great tie on. How cool
was that? I still got that text? Yeah? Really?

Speaker 1 (50:53):
Do you now just wear that tie like all the time?

Speaker 2 (50:56):
All the time? Right? And then leeve you sent me
a text. You got to give that tie a rest.
But that's that's the tie I warrant. So anytime's a
big deal. Oh this is the John hamtime. I gotta way.
If he likes it, maybe somebody else will like it.

Speaker 1 (51:10):
Yeah wow, Okay, Well I hope that your prediction comes
true because wouldn't we love to see a Game seven
rematch and now it's back in Edmonton because we know
those fans are just insane. I love watching them. They
don't sit on their hands. They are in it to
win it. And that is the best atmosphere that you
could possibly ask for.

Speaker 2 (51:32):
Every oiler game is like a Halloween party. We all
want follow.

Speaker 1 (51:34):
Oversh that's a great that's a great analogy. All right. Well,
John Buchigras thank you so much for joining us here Today, Guys,
you can watch ESPN's NHL Draft that's going to be
on June twenty seventh. It's amazing that we just kind
of keep on rolling. Once the Stanley cups over, it's
going to be the draft, and then it's gonna be
free agency and then it's basically the season starting all

(51:57):
over again. But yeah, John, thank you for joining us
and for everyone listening here. This has been episode twenty
six of The Energy Line with Naton JSB. Energy Line
is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcast. Thanks
to John Buchigos for filling in as a co host.
You're co host, by the way, if you didn't really
pick that up already, appreciate in voice for that one.

(52:20):
By the way, thanks to Jake Brown for producing the show.
Subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, wherever you get
your podcasts, and listen on the iHeartRadio app. Give us
a five star rating. Please write a nice review if
you feel like it. I'm Julie Stewart Binks and we'll
be a returning Game six. We'll be following Game six,
excuse me, of the final where there might be a
Stanley Cup Chip or it might be seeing in Game seven.

(52:41):
We appreciate you tuning into the Energy Line. We'll talk
to you in a few days. Energy Line is the
production of the NHL and iHeart Podcasts. For more podcasts
from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you get your podcasts.