Keith Yandle discusses the Conference Finals, Panthers’ success, broadcasting

Energy Line with Nate Thompson and Julie Stewart-Binks open up the show talking about the Panthers being a win away from ending the Hurricanes season. They also get into the Oilers-Stars series and how key Corey Perry has been for the Oilers being up 2-1. Former NHL player and Spittin’ Chiclets podcast host Keith Yandle then joins Nate and JSB. Yandle discusses the broadcasting world, his time with the Panthers, his former teammates’ success in the Conference Finals and his favorite stories playing with Jaromir Jagr. Yandle breaks down what makes Paul Maurice such a great coach, what Brad Marchand has brought to the Panthers, the Stars-Oilers series and some fun Biz stories.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.
Welcome on into Energy Line with Nate and JSB. I'm
Julie Shirpinks and he's former NHL or Nick Thompson. Panthers

(00:26):
are one went away from advancing to their third Street
Stanley Cup Final, and we'll chat with former Florida Panther
Keith Yandel in just a bit. Energy Line is a
production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts Natter Natir Tator.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
It is great to see you.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
It's been a week because we did not do an
episode on Friday, which felt like it felt like we've
been canceled. Has I had a nightmare about that. That's
just a regular day in the life of me. But
a lot has gone on since then, and I wanted
to talk to you about. Okay, let's talk about big news.

(01:01):
Florida could have had us sweep, didn't. How difficult really
is it to sweep another team? And how much does
that other team, like Carolina like fight tooth nail, like
to just stay alive.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Well, I think you said it, and it's good to
see you, Julie. Yeah, no, I think you said it.
I mean their their lives are on the line, like
it's do or die for them, so their backs are
against the wall. And credit to Carolina Hurricanes, like I
thought that they finally kind of responded the way they
needed to and gave some pushback to Florida because the
first three games it looked like it looked like, Okay,

(01:39):
this is going to be done in four games, and
the Carolina is going to go. However, many games they
haven't won in the conference finals that they keep, Yeah, fifteen,
I believe, Yeah, the status, Shane.

Speaker 4 (01:49):
So you know, it was good to see them respond.

Speaker 3 (01:52):
And I think to answer your question, yeah, game four
is always the hardest to win. I mean, I know
it's so cliche and everyone says it, but it is
because you know, it's hard to beat any team four games.
And I got to give credit to because I thought,
you know, Freddie Anderson was really good in the game,
Like he made some key saves, a key moments, and
I mean, yeah, it was a three nothing game on

(02:13):
the scoreboard. I mean really, it was a one nothing
game the game, right, and Carolina thought played really well defensively,
you know, they didn't they didn't give.

Speaker 4 (02:23):
They didn't give Florida.

Speaker 3 (02:24):
I think a lot of sustained pressure, you know, like
they had in the previous games, where you know, when Florida,
when they come on offensively, it's like a juggernaut. And
when they it's it's almost like two with Florida, Like
when they score a goal, they get better.

Speaker 4 (02:36):
It's like, yeah, they score a goal and all of
a sudden they come on harder, they power up the exactly.

Speaker 3 (02:42):
It's like it's like when you're playing Mario Kart and
you get start and all of a sudden, the power
and you start boost. You know, that's exactly what happens
to Florida Panthers. So I think Carolina, I mean, it's
you know, and I'll say it fucking cliche. It's one
game at a time. They got to look at you know,
they got to look at what it would be game five.

Speaker 4 (02:59):
And win that one. And but that's true. They have
to rob you. Hear Brodbrinda Moore to talk about it.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
He's like, we got to keep our pedal the met
our foot on the gas now because you know, you
know Florida, I.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
Mean that this team doesn't give a shit.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
It's like they're like no that like they lose a
game and Paul Maurice is joking, and he's joking in
the fucking press conference, like you know whatever, Like, yeah,
we lost a game, we got to win one more
and whatever.

Speaker 4 (03:21):
We're the floidath Panthers. We don't give a ship. We're
gonna play hard, We're gonna.

Speaker 3 (03:24):
Beat you on the score, but we're going to beat
you on the ice. And I don't know, I think it.
You know, maybe Carolina gets one more, but I just
don't see Carolina beating Florida four games in a row.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
I know, and I agree with you, and I think, like,
I love Paul Maurice's demeanor. I love everything about how
he conducts himself.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Like, I just think he's a unique individual.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
You've played for him, and I do you think, like, Okay,
so they won last year, They've been to now two
straight Stanley Cup finals, but like, do you think in
a way, they just already know that they are so
good and that they really do believe that they will
and can win the Stanley Cup. So none of this

(04:10):
really matters because that belief.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
Is so strong.

Speaker 4 (04:13):
That's such a good question.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
I like how you touched on it because I look
back even too before the playoffs and you look at
all the guys they had out and the interviews that
they had, like going going into the playoffs, and they
were kind of struggling going to the playoffs, right, but
they had so many of their key guys out of
the lineup, and you look at the interviews and it
was like yeah, you know, like Paul is like yeah,
we're we're good. You know, we're just when we want
guys to be ready to go for the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (04:35):
And it was like so.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
Like like hey, everybody, like we don't give a shit
about what's going on right now because we expect to
be in the Stanley Cup finals. Like you see it
from them, like you see the way they conduct themselves,
and it's like it's just another Every team is just
another little step. Like it's like they don't give a
shit who they're playing against. The goal is to win
another Stanley Cup and they expect to be there. You

(04:57):
can see it in that and you can see it
the way Paul it's so infectious, like you know he
it's like they more into his attitude.

Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, it's just kind of like no big deal. We
lose a game, we win a game, we lose a game.

Speaker 3 (05:09):
You know what I mean it's like we just keep
moving on, we keep chugging forward, and we're gonna and
we're gonna win another Stanley Cup. So I mean, this
team is scary good either, the best team in the East.

Speaker 4 (05:18):
I believe that.

Speaker 3 (05:19):
I think they're the only really team in the East.
I can compete with any team in the West. I
don't know if any other team could minus minus maybe
the Leafs.

Speaker 4 (05:26):
Minus maybe the Leafs.

Speaker 2 (05:27):
You're really going to go there right now, I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (05:29):
I do think that the two best teams in the
East were the Toronto Maple Leafs with the florid Panthers.
And then that just goes to show you Leafs fans,
how if it's any consolation, that's a good like you
know you were that close?

Speaker 2 (05:40):
Well that's number two.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Also, pal Maris used to coach the Leafs, but I
don't remember him being like that. I guess I missed
those quotes in whatever era that was that he took
them to this.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
Oh no he didn't. I forgot.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
They've never been into Stanley Cup final in a long
long time. Okay, But I do want to ask about
the Leafs because we haven't we haven't talked about it
but like seeing now, Okay, so we saw the whole
everything going off last week, destruction, Brendan Shanahan gets fired.
It's like the whole it feels like a whole change

(06:15):
of everything going on. They're gonna be given away free
tickets to the games, like what's going on in Toronto
right now. But you'd think seeing Florida first of all,
like get to three games up easyps against Carolina and
then looking back and being like, okay, the Leafs, although
the way they lost in games five and seven were embarrassing,

(06:38):
like had they maybe not lost as poorly in game
seven and they went to Game seven against the defending
Stanley Cup champions. I just feel like maybe you didn't have.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
To get rid of Shanahan because he's not even.

Speaker 1 (06:51):
On the ice, and the moves he made at least,
let's just say the last two years bringing in Brad
free Living and then Chief and the moves they made
were going in the right direction.

Speaker 2 (07:00):
Sure, you didn't win the Stanley Cup, but like you're
not worse.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
And I saw I call him in the Globe and
mail from cathl Kelly that was like they didn't win
the ultimate prize, but like they now have respects, which
they did not have for so many years. And I
just feel like, hey, maybe we should have waited a
little bit longer to just remind ourselves that hey, Florida's
pretty fucking good and that like maybe we were just
never going to get past them anyway, because we're just

(07:28):
not as good as Florida.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, and look back and you think about it, Julie, like,
not only did they take them to Game seven, but
the Toronto by Police were up to nine, I know,
and in game three they were back. They were they
were up two goals, they had a chance to go
up three.

Speaker 4 (07:42):
Nothing like it's and Stolars guys stole Oars Stollars.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
So I mean Benet ruined the franchise.

Speaker 3 (07:47):
Yeah, you have to look at a lot of different
variables that happened and and know that the Leafs were
right there. And and I to answer your question about Shanahan,
I think, you know, I think he's done a lot
of good things for Toronto, and I just I wonder
if it was just one of those things where okay, well,
you know, he's been a part of this old regime

(08:08):
of Dubis and all the things that have gone wrong,
and if it's Okay, we just need a new face.
We need to move on from that. I wonder if
that's a big part of it, And I agree with you.
I think that Tree Living and him bringing him Tree
Living in Bruby, I think it's been exactly what the
Toronto Maple Leafs need. I think the way that Tree
Living is constructed the team, you know, bringing in Bruby,

(08:30):
I think he's been a great addition for the Leafs
and he's changed the mindset of them. I think that
you're seeing the Leafs they're becoming a team that's hard
to play against. And when did when When could we
say that in the past, you know, we never could
say that. We never could say the Leafs were a
hard team to play against. And they went toe to
toe with the Forida Panthers. Granted, you know they laid
a couple eggs in a couple of games. But I

(08:52):
just think that, you know, with Brad tree Living still
behind the helm, I know Shanahan's not there, I don't
see it being a huge difference. Yeah, with Tree Living
just being there, and you heard what I can't remember
his name, you heard, don't know if you saw the
owner come out and he said thank you, Pelly, Yes, Pelly,

(09:13):
And he met with uh, he met with Berruby and
said that he was going to have him involved in
a lot more than he already.

Speaker 4 (09:18):
Is, which is great, which is really good.

Speaker 3 (09:22):
I think if you're going to have the coach involved
and you're going to be picking his brain and he
you know, he's there and he's in the trenches tree
living too, I think he's done a great job and
obviously has a good relationship with Berruby. So it's unfortunate.
I think with Shanahan, I just think it's one of
those things like with almost like Martyr, right, like they've
been there for so long. Maybe it's just a change
of change of they need to it's the.

Speaker 4 (09:44):
Optics look of it, right, I agree, Right, you need
to change change some looks of the leaves a little.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
Bit if you're gonna and that's an easy one to change,
for your for your fans and everyone who's going banana
sandwich over you. It's like, oh, well, we'll just get
here to Shanahan and then will whatever be better? And
it's like, actually, like that guy's like not even in
influencing really anything at this point.

Speaker 3 (10:07):
And I want to preface her. I think Shannan's done
a great job with the leaves. Yes, great job he has.
You know that they're not the leafs now if it was,
if it's not for him.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
Agreed.

Speaker 4 (10:15):
I think he's done a tremendous job with the leaves.

Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah. I just felt like kind of like ugh, meh,
like blah about it when I saw that news come out,
and I was just like, this guy made the leafs better.

Speaker 2 (10:28):
And I know that, like oh, you'd say.

Speaker 1 (10:30):
Like, well, dunder the chapun It's like yeah, but like
so many other teams didn't win during that time, and
they're at least not a laughing stock anymore like what
they were before he was there, and like I know
that some things could have been handled better, but it's.

Speaker 2 (10:44):
Like I don't know.

Speaker 1 (10:45):
I just got like I personally was like, how does
Chris Drury get an extension and Shanahan not? Like Chris
Drury had his team as the Presidence Trophy winners last
year and then he blew him up.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
They didn't even make the playoffs this year.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
Like I was just like, man, what And I then
couldn't I pretzeled myself. I was like, Julie, you got
to you gotta go get a life like these you
can't be thinking about if presidents of hockey clubs are
getting extensions or not. Like that's it doesn't have to
make sense at all anyway. And then the whole thing
with like Shanahan potentially going to the Islanders and then

(11:23):
like I heard through a source that like he was going.
It was like, yeah, things are good, We're gonna like
you're gonna go here, blah blah blah. And then Matthew
darsh obviously gets the job that that that, and then
it was like Nope, not happening.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know it's I mean, I think he's still gonna
end up somewhere. I mean, he's been in hockey forever,
he's the Hall of Famer, He's in a great job
with Leaves. I I would expect someone bringing him on somewhere.
I just I just don't see him not having a
job somewhere in the league.

Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah, because also he was with the league. He was
with you know, player safety. I feel like the league
as is back in that regard. Like he's also done
so much for the game.

Speaker 1 (11:59):
I don't know when I became like a Shanahan stand
so hard, but like it has happened in the last
couple weeks months. I did meet him once and he
was quite He was quite nice to me, So that
was nice. So that doesn't mean anything toward if he's
a good president or not, but I'd say that was
a good sign. And also I did go to a

(12:23):
store in New Jersey this weekend and they had Leaf's jerseys,
and I felt like it was a bit of a
troll game.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Not gonna lie.

Speaker 1 (12:31):
So you know what, it's just too soon to see
Leaf stuff around in and around the area.

Speaker 2 (12:37):
Right now.

Speaker 1 (12:37):
We're just gonna We're just gonna go good night, good night,
and good luck on the future. And we move on
to the four teams that are left, of which one
of them is Canadian in the Edmonton Oilers and a
Connor McDavid that feels like if he was to meet
the Florida Panthers again, he would make them his bitch

(12:57):
this time.

Speaker 3 (12:59):
Yeah. Nice, that was nice.

Speaker 4 (13:04):
You are you are cooking? Wow, you're cooking with that one?
Holy what a what a leader to that? Yeah. I
don't even I don't even know how to follow up
after that.

Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, I know, Connor mc david, he is a man
on a mission and I think he could this if
there was a year that he's going to make before
Panthers His Bitch, which both series aren't even over. But
now it just seems inevitable. The way he's playing, the
way he's speaking to the media, his look, like everything,
his his demeanor, it's like he is just it's it's

(13:37):
like it's all business. Every single game. It's all business.
It doesn't matter if he has zero points or five points.
He's the same every single game. His his look, his
like I said, everything so and on top of that,
you're seeing so many contributions from.

Speaker 4 (13:52):
Other guys that you know Connor. I mean, I don't.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
He only had what he had two goals the other night,
and now, I mean, he hasn't really been scoring goals.
He's got a ton of assists, but he's not scoring goals.
And you're seeing other guys come, you know, come to
the forefront. And and I loved his interview the other
day when I don't know if you saw it, I
posted on my story on Instagram and someone asked Connor
about Zach Hymen and how he's a wrecking ball out

(14:20):
there and he's hitting everything and he's the most physical
guy in the playoffs, you know, and he's not you know,
Hymen's not scoring like he has in the past. And
Connor says, he's like, you know, yeah, he's been a
wrecking ball out there.

Speaker 4 (14:30):
He's been a force.

Speaker 3 (14:31):
You know, he's doing you know, he's doing things that
maybe you know, he's not used to doing during the
regular season. He said, a lot of guys are doing that.
He's like, and that's what it takes to win. And
you heard him say that, and you're kind of like,
oh shit, Like this Edmonton others team is different, you know,
like they I got to give him credit. This this
team is the adversity they've gone through, you know, just

(14:55):
the disarray with their team during the regular season and
now you're seeing them now and how they've come together
in the playoffs and they are not and you look
at their team offensively, like all the fire power they have,
but they're winning games like you know, yeah, they scored
six goals last game, but they can still win games
one nothing two one, Like they're just this team. And

(15:16):
I know I haven't gotten into Dallas at all, but
you didn't ask about them.

Speaker 4 (15:19):
But I still I don't.

Speaker 3 (15:20):
Know how with the way that Conor McDavid's playing and
now Stuart Skinner's playing well too. Yes, all these things
are starting to come on for the Oilers, and it's
it's it.

Speaker 4 (15:30):
Doesn't look good for the Dallas Stars.

Speaker 3 (15:32):
And it's on top of that, they don't have Rupe Hints,
so it's like you lose your first line center and
it's you know, you're up against it right now.

Speaker 1 (15:39):
And I think you make like a great point with
them doing all these different things and them having been
in disarray in the regular season.

Speaker 2 (15:46):
That happened last year too. Remember they weren't.

Speaker 1 (15:48):
Even in a playof position at American Thanksgiving, and I
remember it was like they were the one of the
teams that was like, do you think they'll make the playoffs?
It's like, yes, because I think they have so much
talent that they can. And then of course do they
not only make the playoffs, make it all the way
to the Stanley Cup Final. And I just like, as
you mentioned, with like them doing whatever they can to win,
Like Connoric David scored the game winning goal in the

(16:10):
Four Nations tournament, which like ended up being such a
bigger deal than we even anticipated, and like the amount
of that was like the most watched hockey game according
to like you know, numbers and stats and whatever, since
the twenty nineteen Game seven of the Stanley Cup Final.

Speaker 2 (16:27):
So it's like everyone in the world was into that.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
Game and like Connor came up big in that moment,
and you think, this is that's just one of the
first steps of like getting this team. I think, like
what we again, We're always gonna reference it. But just
the images of him in that Amazon series of him
just being like what have it?

Speaker 2 (16:47):
Like yep, and like I think.

Speaker 1 (16:50):
That vibe is just like they're like, Okay, that's not
happening this year. We're gonna get there, and when we
get there, we're going to go for it.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
I don't even see that going to seven.

Speaker 1 (17:02):
I love how I'm already talking about a series it
doesn't exist yet.

Speaker 3 (17:05):
Well, yeah, doesn't it feel like I mean, just from
everything that's going on, it feels like it just feels
like it's inevitable that Connor McDavid is about to win
a lot of Stanley Cups. That's what it feels like
to me. It's like it feels like he's about to
the floodgates are about to open, and then that's it's
after that, it's like he's he's cracked the code, like

(17:26):
he already knows how to dominate the league. But it's
like once he cracks the code of how to win
one Stanley Cup, it's like he's going to win.

Speaker 4 (17:32):
A lot of them. He's going to be essentially, it
just feels like that. It has that feeling.

Speaker 3 (17:38):
The way he's conducting himself, the way he's leading this team,
it's just it just seems like this guy is turning
into really the best captain in the league. I mean,
everything he's doing, it's, uh, it's impressive to watch this
So Oilers team is is really really impressive.

Speaker 1 (17:53):
Yeah, he's well, he's making he's putting himself on that
Mount Rushmore that we talk about, Like that's where he's
getting himself to. And I'm when I said Mark Messier,
I should have said Wayne Gretzky.

Speaker 4 (18:04):
That's a good comparison to.

Speaker 1 (18:06):
I mean, both are very both are very good hockey players.
This is the one quote from Stuart Skinner. I like
that sports and I did, but he said, you don't
want to lose the thing that you have always wanted
your whole life. Oh and that just like gave me
like when he was talking about you know, he had
been out, you know he'd been pickered. Came in, played

(18:29):
for him, and then he came back in and he's like,
you have a love hate relationship with hockey, but you
don't want to lose the thing you always wanted your
whole life.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
I'm like, Oh, yeah, that's God.

Speaker 4 (18:40):
That's I mean, that is that's I mean.

Speaker 3 (18:42):
It gives me a little bit of a oh you
know like when I when I hear that, because exactly
because you know, I didn't win a cup, but I've
been close and I know that feeling, you know, when
you're you can almost you you. And it's funny you
bring it up because I've been in game sevens and
I with the conference finals, and I remember, I remember

(19:02):
the first game seven, I was a problem. This is
the first game seven I played in in a conference
finals getting god to the Stanley Cup. And I remember
the day of the game, all I started thinking about
was winning winning that game, and I was already thinking
about like what I was going to.

Speaker 4 (19:17):
Do with the cup.

Speaker 2 (19:19):
Oh, manifesting.

Speaker 3 (19:21):
I was manifesting, but almost I think getting ahead of
myself and not staying and.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
Not playing the game before the game right, playing the.

Speaker 3 (19:26):
Game before the game, but I was more like playing
my celebration after we won the Cup. And I think
it's just you know that I remember that vividly, and
you just you know, when when he says that, you
know that it hits, it hits hard. So you know,
you're seeing Stuart Skinner like he is taking advantage of
his opportunity right now, and because you know he lost

(19:48):
his net, he's coming back and now it's his net
and he's he's leading this team.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
I think, like I didn't want to interrupt you, but
I think he was discussing just playing in the NHL.
I didn't give that context, but I liked.

Speaker 4 (20:00):
It seemed like the cup thing.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
But I know, I like what.

Speaker 1 (20:03):
You said about you what how do you still remember
what you imagined what would be your Cup party?

Speaker 4 (20:09):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (20:10):
I think I think I remembered, Like you know, I
was like thinking about taking it back to Alaska and
like you know, taking it on a mountain or I
don't know, I was thinking of all kinds of stuff,
like running through my head of what I was going
to do with it, and you know, being in the
Stanley Cup finals and you know, all these what year
this was twenty eleven.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
Okay, so it was like before Instagram.

Speaker 4 (20:29):
So really I was like, I was like, twenty six you.

Speaker 1 (20:31):
Weren't thinking about like the Instagram picture of you on
a mountain with the cup? No, no, no, yeah, okay,
that's what I would saying.

Speaker 4 (20:37):
I was just I was just thinking about having the cup.

Speaker 2 (20:41):
What's going to be the best picture for the Graham with.

Speaker 3 (20:43):
The cup exactly exactly, what's what's going to get the most?

Speaker 2 (20:46):
Like, I think that's good. You were manifesting your party
or what you're gonna do.

Speaker 4 (20:53):
With the cup. I think it was.

Speaker 3 (20:54):
But I think, you know, and I still I still
think I had a pretty good Game seven I played in.
But it's still you know, it's just funny you remember
all those little things in those moments when I was like,
oh yeah, I remember thinking about that that that you know,
the day and apps so this, I mean, that's the playoffs.
So I guess we've talked about before. It's such a
mental a mental grind, and you have to make sure

(21:16):
that you keep your head focused and.

Speaker 1 (21:18):
Clear, which is quite difficult i'd say for any for
the average bear is focused and clear head.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yeah, but one question before we go to break.

Speaker 1 (21:28):
We mentioned, like, you know, just different things, like thinking
about the Cup, being in a Cup final, like Corey
Perry's been in the last four Cup finals four five Dallas, Montreal, Lightning, Edmonton.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
He's been in four.

Speaker 3 (21:48):
He's actually well, no, I think he's knowing that he
was in Dallas. Did you say Dallas?

Speaker 2 (21:52):
Yeah, Dallas when it was pandemic, Montreal, Montreal.

Speaker 1 (21:57):
Lightning, Lightning, twenty twenty three was.

Speaker 4 (22:01):
Edmonton again two anyways, I mean, I'm sure Jake will.

Speaker 2 (22:06):
Help us, but twenty twenty three, but.

Speaker 4 (22:08):
This will ask actually they win, this will be his
sixth Stanley Cup final, because is it six? He'll it'll
be his six I think because if.

Speaker 2 (22:15):
They make it. Yeah, it's been in five, he's lost time.

Speaker 1 (22:18):
He's watched other teams the hoisted Stanley Cup five times
straight times times four four times.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
That has to really fuck with you, it does.

Speaker 3 (22:29):
And thank god he's wont to Cup his first time,
like it's right way back his rookie year. But I mean,
I guess he'll showing you like Corey Perry like this guy.
I mean to me, that just tells you, like how
much he loves a game and he just wants to
be playing and you know, and then then you see
this year he's having like a career season, like he's
been unbelievable.

Speaker 1 (22:47):
But also I'm going to cut you off there, like
good does it not get in your head when you're
in like if he gets the cup final this year,
which we will do a deep dive on the idea
of like, Okay, what are all the things I did
in the past, even just down to the like which
shoe I put on in the day?

Speaker 2 (23:03):
Are like what type?

Speaker 1 (23:04):
Like how did I turn the water faucet handle? Like
I'll do the opposite when you not do the opposite
of everything you've done last four years?

Speaker 3 (23:13):
And you know how superstitious he is too big time
and so maybe maybe he has changed things.

Speaker 2 (23:19):
In everything becomes a whole different person.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
Who knows, I mean, but I mean, I mean, I
think the fact that he's been in that many finals
and in that short amount of time is is is
a huge compliment, Like it's for him to still be
playing at that level and playing at the highest level
and the steeling of playoffs in the finals that many
years in a row at his age, like I mean,
he's he's my he's forty. I mean, he's and he's

(23:43):
an zero three draft pick and he's still doing it.
And you're hearing like Connor and you hear Leon talk
about him, like Leon's like, yeah, this guy could play
till he's fifty because he's so smart. Like he doesn't
move well, you watch him, like worm can't skate, Like
he doesn't make Like he'll tell you that too, Like
he can't move, but he's so smart. He knows where
to be, you know, down low. He's you know, you

(24:05):
can't get the puck from him still. I mean, he's
just I really I really rooted for him because I
can't imagine going to another Cup finals and him not
winning it. I just I can't imagine. So I hope
he I hope he wins it this year. I mean,
he's been he's been fun to watch, especially in his age.

Speaker 4 (24:20):
It's been awesome.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
Right, it is quite amazing that he's playing at this
level at that age. And I God, what was I
gonna say? I mean, yeah, they don't give you know,
they don't give you like a participation finalist trophy in
the Stanley Cup yet, right, Yeah, maybe they will make
one if Corey Perry needs one. We have a guy

(24:43):
coming up on the show who knows a thing or
two about everything in hockey, and that is none other
than keith Yandle, former NHL player sixteen seasons in the show,
now broadcaster for Spitting Chicklets, TNT and Bleacher Report coming
up next.

Speaker 2 (25:06):
Welcome back to Energy Lighting the JSB.

Speaker 1 (25:08):
We're now please be joined by former NHL are spent
sixteen years in the show and played on a team
the Philadelphia Flyers with our own Nate Thompson. This is
keith Yandel joining the show. Thank you so much for
taking the time. We know that you are podcasting, broadcasting,
doing everything there is under the sun.

Speaker 2 (25:25):
And you're pretty good at it, so props to you.

Speaker 5 (25:28):
Well, yeah, thank you, I appreciate it. Yeah.

Speaker 6 (25:31):
No, especially this time of year, it's always fun to
talk hockey. Like the product that's going on right now
is just so fun to watch the storylines, and it's
so much different being in this position that we all
are in and you're just looking for stuff to happen
that you just want chaos. You want whether it's Biz
losing his mind about the maple leafs or you know,

(25:54):
you know, people wanting Darnell Nurse thrown out of the
world for slashing rupe hints and so there's just storyline
after storyline and it's just been so fun and you
just got to give so much credit to the players
for you know, giving us all this good stuff to
talk about.

Speaker 3 (26:09):
Yeah, yeah, it's talk about that a little bit. You know,
since retiring, now you're in the media side of things.
You know, you've been on TNT. You know, you're on
Spitting chick Lits, which is you know, you guys are
great and you know the dynamic with Biz and Wit.
You know, talk about how that's been going since retiring.

Speaker 6 (26:25):
Yeah, it's it's been great, I think for me, you know, retiring,
you know when you've only kind of done something your
whole life and all you know is hockey. I mean
it's tough that that first year is tough, and you know,
I jumped right into it, got into did some sports
and that stuff up and up in Toronto. They were

(26:46):
amazing to me, just really helping me out, putting me
with good people with Cassie Campbell and Anson and David
Amber and uh you know da behind the scenes up there.
So it's just amazing that they that they helped me
out like that. Just to get my feet wet. And
then you know, obviously the TNT s up has been amazing.
Did some of the Amazon Coast to Coast with Andy

(27:07):
Petrolla this year, which was amazing. She is such a
good bus driver with that show. I think that's only
on up in Canada, but hopefully it comes down to
the state. So that was a lot of fun. And then, yeah,
the chick Lits thing is just you know, obviously being
able to play with Biz and you know, see his
antics for five or six years. I forget how long
I played with him. You knew he was going to

(27:28):
be a character. I told him when he was playing.
I'm like, dude, you're going to be the next Don Cherry,
a guy that just it's you know, people just gravitate
towards and they want to hear you talk hockey. And
you know, Wit was Witt grew up with my brother
playing on the same team. So I've known Wit since
I was probably like six seven years old, and always
a guy that I looked up to, especially in the

(27:49):
Boston area. He was like that first guy that I
knew that kind of made it and was drafted high.
And you know, when you're a young kid, and I
was three years younger than him. So when you're fourteen
fifteen you see one of the guys that you grew
up with get drafted, it kind of pushes you a
long way. And just to you know, what they've done
for the game with spitting chicklets and bringing out guys personalities.

(28:12):
I say it all the time, like Nate, like when
we started, like everything was just so black and white,
like everyone had the same answer for everything. Everyone, you know,
no one wanted to dress outside the box. No one
even more like everything everyone had a black, black suit,
white shirt and you know, black tie, and it was
there was no going out of the box. So I
think what they've done over there with chickluts and getting

(28:34):
guys personalities and you know, bringing something different to the
game has been amazing.

Speaker 5 (28:39):
And then obviously.

Speaker 6 (28:40):
Others like yourselves coming up and doing the same thing.
It's it's such a good spot spot for the game.

Speaker 1 (28:46):
Wow, that was extremely comprehensive. And appreciate you going into
so much detail and all the different people you've worked with.
And I want to point out two people. First of all,
you mentioned just how great a bus driver Andy Petrillo is,
and I think that that is an incredibly spot on comment.
I worked with her well beside her during the Olympics
this summer, and I remember just watching her do the

(29:07):
primetime show and like, she's just she's just like a
magician really hosting a show. She can just do it
so well. And I remember seeing her do leave TV
and I was shadowing her like fifteen years ago, which
is giving away a lot of age right there, But
my thing, it's probably like twenty years ago.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
And so, but you did mention and I just want
to go to this.

Speaker 1 (29:28):
It's like the first person you mentioned there was Cassie
Campbell Pascal, who I really think it's it's so important
when former NHL players do highlight the fact that female
hockey players, women who played the game, who have you know,
won at the highest level, are credible analysts and you've
learned something from them. And obviously I say that with

(29:51):
like I know that she is. But women inevitably get
a lot of flak on TV regardless just because it
is the NHL is male, a male sport.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
But like, what is Cassie?

Speaker 1 (30:01):
Maybe what did what rubbed off on you that she
did did help you in your career?

Speaker 6 (30:06):
Just her preparation and the way that she saw the game.
And I'll never forget my first my first show. I
was going up there and I was talking to Rick
Nash and he was asking who's on the show, and
I said Cassie and he was like, that was my
favorite player growing up, Like not even just woman's player,
it was his favorite player. And you know that that
meant the world to I told her that, and it

(30:28):
meant the world to her. So but I think mostly
just the way that she prepared, the way that she
held you know, players accountable without kind of you know,
really burying them, I would say like her her approach
to it was she was almost teaching, you know, whether
she thought the player was going to listen or not.

(30:48):
She was almost like critiquing it as if she was
a coach, where she was, you know, pointing out a
negative but also telling you something you could do to
help yourself get better. And I think just the way
that she saw the game. Obviously she's been doing it forever.
Her husband's and assists GM who will probably be a
GM soon. So I'm sure like they're they're hot stoven
around the table, like talking hockey all day, Like you

(31:12):
can just tell it's so passionate for her and that's
the men's sports and then hearing her talk about the
women's side of the game was amazing too. But I
love her on TV. She does such a good job,
well spoken and literally one of the nicest people you
will ever meet.

Speaker 3 (31:27):
Talking about players with shift Gears a little bit before
we get into the flour of Panthers, I want to
talk about a player. I want to talk about Sasha
Barkoff And you got to play with him, yeah, and
you and I always hear you talk about a rave
about him, and I feel the same way. I mean,
he's really the only guy I think that has somewhat
shut down Connor McDavid right, like he's the only guy
he's beat him, you know.

Speaker 4 (31:48):
So talk about Sasha Barkoff and what you saw when
you play with him when he was young.

Speaker 6 (31:54):
It was I remember my first practice with him and
I skated over to Nick Bugstad and I was like,
is this guy this good?

Speaker 5 (32:03):
Like because I didn't.

Speaker 6 (32:03):
Really know a ton about him, Like it was you know,
he was still young, he was raw like he kind
of had he still had that baby face like where
he was a little like fat around the face. But
I'm like, is this guy really that good? He's one
of theo You cannot give him a bad pass, whether
it's two feet in the air behind him, he'll pick
it off out of the air, full stride, make a
good play, never puts a player in a bad position,

(32:26):
whether it's a pass or you know, anything, Like throughout
a game, he's never he's never endangering his his teammates.
But I think just the thing that impressed me the
most is like he could easily, and I mean this wholeheartedly,
he could easily score sixty goals a year, like easily,
but he is so unselfish he wants that you never
see him shoot at an empty net, Like he's always

(32:48):
looking to pass it to somebody else on the power play,
Like he could be a guy that you know he
could set up in the one timer spot and shoot,
but he's like, you know what, put me. If you
need me at the bumper, put me there, If you
need me in front of the net, put me there.

Speaker 5 (33:00):
Just zero ego.

Speaker 6 (33:03):
But the probably the biggest thing that I noticed besides
like his skill was and I think Yoger had a
lot to do with it. Like they were at the
rink all day every day those two and it got
to the point where, you know, Barkie was getting hurt
and like the GM at the time had to like
tell him, like, hey, you need to relax with you know,
hanging with Yog's like he might be you know, he's

(33:24):
one of you know, one of a million, Like not
many guys can do it like he can. So he
kind of had to, you know, tail off a little
bit with that stuff. But just at any point in time,
he was working on something, whether it was you know,
shooting a puck, shooting he'd get one of those big
medicine balls at the hotel, he'd shoot it against the wall.
He was always stick handling with something, just like a

(33:46):
true craftsman of his sport where he just wants to
get better every day. And it's it's not one of
those things like I need to score more goals, I
need to you know, have more Assistan. It's like what
can I do in the D zone with two minutes
left to win ourselves a game? And I see, like
I went to the game line last night and just
the little plays and obviously they didn't win last night,

(34:07):
but just the little plays that he makes. He everything
he does is just so unselfish, Like he could he
could get the puck and wheel it and go, but
he'll he'll drag two guys in and then make a
little baby backhand sauce to a guy of ver Haggy
flying up the ice. So I think it's just everything
that he does is so unselfish. And he's also the
only guy I've ever seen or played with that if

(34:29):
he wanted to go back and play d he could
play d E. Like wow, he skates backwards amazing. Most
forwards and tom or you know this. Most forwards can't
pivot left or right. It's either one or the other. Nope,
he is I'm telling I told him, I go, when
you retire, you should play another five years.

Speaker 5 (34:46):
That is as a defenseman. He unbelievable.

Speaker 1 (34:50):
Wow, that's that's some great intel on him. And just
the sort of note you mentioned of him working with
Yaramir Yagur, the fact you were around him, like, you know,
what a what a interesting experience? Is there some thing
that would surprise us the listeners, anyone who doesn't know Yagur,
that what it was like to be with him.

Speaker 6 (35:12):
Honestly, he was like I was a little intimidated by
him going in obviously just because of who he was,
but he is, he's a little kid. He's like all
he knows is hockey. All he wants to do is
play hockey. I used to love he loved blueberry muffins,
and I'd go to like Starbucks before a game or whatever,

(35:32):
and I'd grab him a blueberry muffin and he'd sit
in the back and he'd eat it as if like
he was doing something wrong, but he just loves sweets.
And would get him out, would get him out to
dinner maybe like four or five times a year, and
Tom or you know how much I love my dinners
on the road, Oh yeah, every single time. Because he
was such like a you know, he loved his cakes
and stuff like that. I'd tell the waiter that it

(35:52):
was his birthday and then like you know, you get
the sparklers up going just to like embarrass him, and
he just he'd sit there and he'd eat his cake. So,
uh yeah, just the little things like obviously the d
that he was on the ice, but I always found
those things pretty funny and just like you know, I
think he was probably like forty five years old when
he was playing with us, and just eating cake like

(36:12):
he was a you know, twelve year old, but he
was like hiding it.

Speaker 5 (36:16):
But unbelievable.

Speaker 4 (36:17):
Guy.

Speaker 5 (36:17):
I loved him.

Speaker 3 (36:18):
Yeah, he uh. I remember we played. I was playing
in Tampa. We were playing that one three one, you know,
and and they were they were getting ready to set
up to come towards us, and Laviolette told their team
just to stay still with the puck. So both coaches,
so literally both teams are just standing still during during
the play for like two minutes. And so they ended

(36:38):
up and blowing the whistle. But he leans up against
the boards while it's going on and leans on our
bench and goes, boys, he keep this up. I'm gonna
play till I'm fifty. And so we I like had
to cover my face. I was crying, crying, laughing so hard.
This is in the middle of the game. So I
was like, exactly, Yeah, guy's an absolute legend.

Speaker 4 (36:59):
I mean, it's just awesome. So I'd get back to
for a little bit too.

Speaker 3 (37:04):
I want to talk about Paul Maurice and what is
it you think that Like it's whenever they have a
bad game or they lose a game, it's just it's
the response. And I don't know if it's Paul saying
the right things or maybe he's just letting them do
their thing, Like what is it that Paul does so well?

Speaker 4 (37:22):
You think during the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (37:24):
I think this is all speculation.

Speaker 6 (37:27):
I think when he came here it was kind of,
you know, he had to change some things. And I
heard his training camps were crazy hard, like putting the
guys through the wringer.

Speaker 4 (37:36):
And they are I have been part of it.

Speaker 6 (37:38):
Okay, yeah, so I think he might have had to
change a few things like that. But honestly, I think
when you have guys like Barkie, Matthew Kachuck, Aaron ek Blad,
Sam Bennett. Now you have Marchie, you know Seth Jones
who is a captain in the league. You know Marchie
who is a captain. Like, these guys know what to
take and I think they all hold each other. It's

(38:00):
so accountable that it doesn't have to come from the coach. Like,
like I said, I have no clue he could be
coming in rah Rah every period. But they honestly seem
like a team where he just kind of has to
give them a game plan and they are going to
execute it, like not one guy doing his own thing, uh,
trying to go outside the box. It honestly just looks

(38:21):
like they're all pulling from the same rope at all times.
And uh, I think a lot of that. You have
to give credit to the leaders in that locker room
with with especially, I think the biggest thing like bringing
bringing Matthew over, bringing him down, it changed the complete
trajectory of this organization and what they've been able to
accomplish the last three years. What Uh, you know, he's

(38:44):
meant to the team, the city and and he's it
look like from outside looking in, it looks like he's
bringing more of like Barkie's personality out where Barkie's a
quiet guy, kind of keeps to himself, and and ver
Hague kind of the same way. Like you're seeing these
guys personalities where they're confident in themselves, they're you know,
excited to be playing meaningful hockey and they know what

(39:04):
it takes to win. And I think I think Maurice
just knows how to you know, get his guys going
and believe in themselves. And you hear his press conferences
and he's just so articulate. You know, every one of
them must watch TV, Like last night, I was talking
about Bob's gap on the empty net goals, like that's hilarious.
They lost the game, and you know he knows to

(39:24):
crack a couple of jokes and his team will be
ready to go tomorrow.

Speaker 5 (39:28):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (39:29):
I think those some great things that you mentioned right there.
And I remember talking with the media from Winnipeg last
year when the Rangers were taking on the Panthers in
the Eastern Conference Final, and they said, oh, you guys
are so interested and wrapped up in what Paul Maurice
is saying and has, Like, but he's saying some of
the like the greatest stuff that makes you think about

(39:50):
the game differently. But also he seems like he embodies
like they all seem as one like he you know,
you take on the personality of your coach.

Speaker 2 (39:59):
They kind of say, like in.

Speaker 1 (40:00):
Different ways, like he's a alpha, Like he's going to
come out and say what he wants to say and
he's not gonna have any not be apologetic about it,
but he's also going to be very thoughtful and kind
of make you like, wait, what did he just say?
Like kind of like very cerebral. Do you think that
that is real? In the room as well, I really do.

Speaker 4 (40:21):
I think.

Speaker 6 (40:22):
And then tom Or, you know him more than I do,
but I don't. I actually don't know him at all.
But he seems like one of those guys that's just genuine,
And I think in hockey too, it's hard. It'd be
hard to go up there and you know, say something,
then come into the room and have a completely different
point of view, like guys will call out your bullshit
and guys wouldn't like, guys wouldn't want to play for you,

(40:43):
and you would see it the way that guys played,
and guys play for him, and guys go through a
wall for him, and they you know, you see there's
clips of him flipping out on the bench, and if
he was a guy that wasn't honest with them or
wasn't truthful, you would see guys just quit on him,
right tom Or, It's like, yeah, if you're not if
you're not believing what the coach saying at all times,

(41:04):
if he is one hundred percent truthful, like guys will
easily shut it down and be like, Okay, we've all
heard this song and dance, but he's he's definitely a
guy you can tell that they believe everything that he says,
and they enjoy playing.

Speaker 3 (41:17):
For him, Yeah, I would say, and playing for Paula
Julie like he The thing I really was impressed with
him was his communication.

Speaker 5 (41:25):
You know.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
He was you know, even when I was in Winnipeg,
I was dealing with some stuff off the ice, and
he would brought me in right away, talk to me,
kept continue to communicate with me, check in with me,
and even like like a thing like you know, playing
on the fourth line, like you know, he didn't play
us a ton some nights, but he would let us know.

Speaker 4 (41:42):
He would talk to me after be like, hey.

Speaker 3 (41:44):
This is what I this is what was going on,
this is why you know. And he didn't have to
do that. That's great, but you know, it's that open
line of communication where a player, if he hears that,
he's like, Okay, this guy's trying to work with me.
You know, he wants me to be a part of
the team. And you know, Paul is he is. He's
a master I think at doing that and getting be
able to push all the right buttons with every single guy.

(42:05):
You know, I guess the other guy I want to
talk about as far as pushing buttons is Brad Marshawan
and the dynamic he's brought to this team and it's
almost like, you know, they lose some guys from last year,
you know, they lose you know, Monteur, I'm trying to
think of a blank his mother guy, you know, oh yeah, yeah,
oh yeah, you know, and then they bring in Marshan
and it's yeah, and it's almost like, you know, he's

(42:26):
coming to this team and he's added a whole nother
element what they what they already had, and it's like,
you know, other guys are kind of morphing into him
to a little bit. You know, what do you see
with Brad Marshawan as he's coming and help before the Panthers.

Speaker 6 (42:39):
Yeah, that third third line with LUs Ryanan in Lundel
in Marchie, like those two guys before Marchie was here,
they're good players, like they they're like Londel's a mini
Barkov and he's you know, eventually he's going to get
to that point where he can dominate games like Barkie
does because he's learned from Barkie since the day he's

(42:59):
got there. Another Finnish kid that just literally he's like
a sponge with Barkie taken in everything, but you see
like they, like I said, they're great players, but you
see Marchie kind of bring that little snarl into their
game where he's like, hey, if there's a whistle here
and there's two minutes left and we're down one, like
we're we're gonna go in and cause at uh cause

(43:19):
a little shit here. And it seems like they enjoy
doing it, like it's one of those things that maybe
they weren't used to doing. I mean, they were both
key components and last year's win, like playing hard minutes,
blocking shots. But you just seeing a little bit more
snarl from them, and I think Marchie's really helping them
out with that aspect of the game. And you know,

(43:40):
like you know more than anyone. It's that is an
asset that every player should have and if you have it,
it only helps you more. And he honestly for him too,
it looks like he's having so much fun, just like
being down here in Florida where I mean there's a
ton of media coverage, like people love the team down here,
but it's not like you're in Boston where you lose
one game and everyone want you know, wants to run

(44:02):
you out of town like he's it seems outside looking
in that he's having a blast being down here and
you know, enjoying the sun and enjoying you know, fun
hockey and and uh you know, in being able to
have a life too away from the rink.

Speaker 1 (44:16):
Yeah, it's kind of like it's there, like the new
Bruins in a way, like just that identity that they have.
And I mean, obviously Brad Mershan's a big part of that,
but in a different way where it's not as you said,
the media being like when you said that you just
gave me PTSD to Toronto media, but like.

Speaker 2 (44:33):
R I, P and so.

Speaker 1 (44:35):
But there's been like a massive culture shift obviously from
when uh, you know, we've talked about it before the
games in the past, when nobody would be going to Sunrise.
When I remember the Ducks, Ducks and Panthers, Oh, there
was like literally you could hear people cough in the crowd,
like there's nobody there at all. And then now it's
like a party, it's fun. They won the Cup last year,

(44:56):
they were in it, last they're in it two years ago.
Do you feel you were at the game last night?
This so we're recording this on Tuesday morning. The game
on Monday night they lost to the Canes. But you
feel as though this is just like a gentleman sweep
type of thing, or do you feel maybe like a
pushback from Carolina.

Speaker 6 (45:16):
Hopefully it's a gentleman's sweep game. I think Carolina just
to give them some credit, like they're they're playing hard,
and you know, they're knocking players out. As much as
you don't want to see guys missing time, they're you know,
careers out from he he went and hit Jordan Stall
and he took the brun end of that, so he's out.
Then you got Mikla out, Ryan Hart out, So you know,

(45:38):
they're doing what Florida has done to teams, kind of
wearing them down over a series. Whether it's too little,
too late, I'm not sure, but I think you do
have to give them credit of the way that they
responded to Brenda Moore last night. And you know, there's
so much talk about them having not won a Eastern
Conference game, and they were what zero for fifteen or

(45:59):
whatever it was, so you know, it's good for them
to get a win. I thought Freddy played really well,
but at the end of the day, you know, Like
I was talking to people last night at the at
the game who don't know a ton about hockey, you know,
just people learning the game and stuff. It's like, it's
so hard to beat a team for It's so hard
to beat anyone in anything, four in a row, Like

(46:20):
even if we're playing rock paper scissors, like to get
that fourth one is tough. You know, So even in
a you know, in a seven game series, even when
you know, you think you're a more dominant team, it's
just hard to beat a team four games straight.

Speaker 4 (46:33):
You know.

Speaker 6 (46:33):
It happened to them last year in the in the
finals against Edmonton, they go up three and then you
got to find a way to just win one. So
good thing for them that they put themselves in a
good spot where they you know, only need one more
to get up to, you know, get another trip to
the Stanley Cup finals. And I think, you know, like
we were talking about earlier, like they have that group
in there that knows, you know, even if we win,

(46:55):
even if we lose next game, we still get two more.
Like they know what it takes to win. You won't
see the panic in them that you might see in
another city, you know, especially because of the media. They're
not getting harassed by media and stuff like that. Maybe
Biz a little bit is harassment, but besides him, it's
all pretty smooth sailing.

Speaker 4 (47:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (47:16):
I mean I really finally was happy to see Carolina
have a response in game four, like I thought the
first three games it was like, yeah, basically they beat
him on the scoreboard and they beat him down on
the ice like it was like no, no pushback, And
I was like, Okay, they're Carolina.

Speaker 4 (47:31):
They got a little bit of a heartbeat now.

Speaker 3 (47:32):
You know, so shift gears in West now, since we
talked about Florida and Carolina quite a bit, is you
know Dallas and you know you saw wits oilers, you know,
come Alive, last Name and Connor vict David, right, and
how in the hell is Dallas going to beat Edmonton.

Speaker 6 (47:51):
In Edmonton's getting the secondary scoring, right, Like McDavid hasn't
he Well, he got to the other night, right, so
he's he only had three up till that point, like
he hasn't been him. I mean, he's obviously getting his
assist and he's pitching in when he needs to, but
he's finally getting some help, right, Like these guys are
scoring around them Evander Kayne's been great. Corey Perry, can

(48:12):
we talk.

Speaker 5 (48:12):
About about this guy? Unbelievable?

Speaker 4 (48:15):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (48:15):
Is it not insane? Forty years old doing I'm thirty eight.
I feel like I'm seventy eight. I don't know how
he's doing. So the good thing is is he's getting
that support and he isn't or he hasn't had to
be the guy to just take over a series when
everybody in the hockey world knows if he goes like that,
he can do it and you know, when he needs it,

(48:35):
him and Leon like those two can just win you
a game, win you a series.

Speaker 5 (48:40):
So Dallas, I love Dallas going into this series.

Speaker 6 (48:44):
I think they're just, you know, like maybe Edmonton in
the past they got a couple, you know, maybe one
or two, one or two too many passengers where they're
counting on Miko to kind of handle everything him and Outinger.
I think they're kind of counting on way too much
to win them games where they're not getting the contribution
from Robinson, Wyatt, Johnson, even Ben and Sagan, Like, those

(49:08):
guys are amazing players.

Speaker 5 (49:10):
I've been rooting so hard.

Speaker 6 (49:11):
I want Jamie Ben to win a Stanley Cup so
bad but it's just it's one of those things where
they just can't get it going right now. And I
think a lot of it has to do with how
good Edmonton's played, and they've you know, restructured their team.
You know, they've had you know, Stuart Skinner's been in
and out of the lineup. You know, Picker coming in,

(49:32):
he's either giving up six or giving up none. Like
there's been so many ups and downs with that team.
But you look at you know, Connor and Leon, they
they're just even keel and they're going about their business
and they seem like a real problem this year.

Speaker 1 (49:47):
So if we're on a collision course for a repeat
a rematch of last year, who do you think holds
upprehand of Florida and Edmonton?

Speaker 6 (49:57):
Once again? It's like any Cup winning team, it all
comes down to health. Whoever is healthy, like you know
at home, could be coming back right like that. How
big is that for them? Like that guy eating minutes,
you know, playing good hockey. But then it's I really
just hope that especially with how good migl has played,

(50:18):
I hope he's back soon, Ryan Hart, I hope he's back.
You just want to see a finals where both teams
are as healthy as they could be going in. Obviously
everyone's banged up, but you don't want guys kind of
you know, playing at fifty percent. I think it would
be amazing. And you know, obviously the Connor redemption tools.

Speaker 5 (50:39):
You can you.

Speaker 6 (50:41):
See it right now, like the DVD of him yelling
from last year and then this year. So it's like
it would be an amazing series. But I'll tell you
one thing for free, Like Florida wouldn't be scared of
anyone playing like they are not scared. The Russian Red
Army seventy eighteen came in. They don't give a shit.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
That's true.

Speaker 4 (50:59):
It was very true.

Speaker 3 (51:01):
I so like I think think about I guess you know,
when how Toronto loses now biz hops on the bandwagon
with the oilers, Right, let's go back to the leaf.

Speaker 4 (51:11):
Sorry, Julie, I want to talk.

Speaker 2 (51:13):
No, No, there's a lot there's a lot of time
packed this trauma here.

Speaker 3 (51:16):
I figure we'll talk about him a little bit, you know.
And you were around it with BIS you hear it.
You guys went back and forth with Florida Toronto, like
what is it you think that Toronto needs to do?
Is it you know it's Martyr not coming back for sure.
I mean that that's what I think. I think they
can't bring it back. But who else, Like what other
changes you think need to be made there in Toronto?

Speaker 6 (51:34):
Well, first off, I think I think what Brad Tree
Living's done there has been really good. Like the d
that he brought in this year, they've the last few
years they've all they've complained about is not having the
D he brings in tannev who you know, if there
was a Norris Trophy for a shutdown D man, he'd
be up for it every year. So bringing him in

(51:55):
is absolutely huge. All of Reckman Lars and huge, and
bringing in Stolars the front with Patcharetti, Like how good
was Pataretti in the playoffs? So like guys, guys that
you know Tree is brought in, I think have been
really good. I think it's just kind of I feel
so bad for those guys, like the heat that they

(52:17):
take from the fans, Like I just I really wish
And you know, every every team talks about like shutting
off the outside noise, but it's so loud there.

Speaker 5 (52:26):
You know they're.

Speaker 6 (52:27):
Hearing it, and I feel so bad, like you just
like Mitch Marner kid who grew up there, played for
his team. He's been so good for them for you know,
ten eleven years or whatever it is, getting booed his
last game, Like it's so hard for the guys, you know,
to play there in never mind, Like they need all
the support they can get. Like, I truly hate when

(52:48):
fans aren't supportive of their team. Obviously they have the
right to do whatever they want, but I think it's
gotta be one of those season like, hey, listen, it's
you're a Toronto fan. Listen right now. You haven't won
since nineteen sixty seven. Whatever it is, Maybe try something different,
be nice to the players, get their support, like get.

Speaker 5 (53:06):
Behind them, change it up for one year, one year.
If it doesn't work, go back to the old way.

Speaker 6 (53:11):
But uh I, I really do think that they're they're
in a good spot. You know, maybe one or two
bottom six guys, guys that can help you in the
playoff Like Max Stomy I thought was really good for
them this playoffs because he's a you know, grit, you know,
grit and grind type player. Uh maybe I thought Scott

(53:31):
Lawton was great. I hope they bring him back. He
was really good for them probably, you know, one of
their best players against Florida. You know, bring a guy
like that back where. You know, those guys are gonna
show up every game. They might not score every game,
but they're gonna you know, they're gonna wear that jersey
with pride and and you know, give whatever it takes
to win. But yeah, I think I think anything for

(53:53):
them is just getting a little more grit with some
bottom six forwards and uh, and they'll be good.

Speaker 1 (53:59):
Yeah, But it's the top line as well as that
question mark. Right, it's like sixteen and thirty four. It's
like playoffs. Those are the two guys that get the
most heat, and for good reason because and I know,
it's almost like a you know, Chicken and the egg thing,
like they probably aren't doing well because they're like under
so much pressure, like blah blah blah, they're dealing with
stuff whatever.

Speaker 2 (54:20):
If you were Marner, though, like, would you want to stay?

Speaker 6 (54:24):
I said it today on chick Lits, I would pull
a reverse John Tavares the sign with the Islanders.

Speaker 5 (54:31):
Oh wow, And I would take.

Speaker 6 (54:35):
Even if they offer them fifteen million, I'd be like,
give me, give me a million less than Toronto was
gonna offer, Oh just really.

Speaker 4 (54:43):
Just a mind fucker right there.

Speaker 1 (54:45):
I to really get people pissed off, but oh, I
like that spite list type stuff.

Speaker 6 (54:51):
It's it's also too, like you got to realize in playoffs,
like they're getting those guys are getting every team's tough matchup,
like they're getting the best eat and look at the
teams that they've had to play the last like the
Ruins when they were savage. Yeah, Florida has turned into
this savage team like Toronto. The Atlantic is UNBELIEVABLEMPAM. Yeah,

(55:12):
it's like it's not an easy uh you know, it's
not an easy game for eighty two games and then
when playoffs starts, like these guys are getting the toughest
matchups every single game, they're not like they're not just
getting the looks of the you know, best defenseman. Like
when those guys are on the ice, there's five guys
looking at them, knowing where they are just to keep

(55:33):
their head on their swivel and you know, really do
a job on them. So I think you got to
give other teams credit too for shutting these guys down
because we've all seen how good they are and what
they can do to this league. So I think you've
got to give teams credit, uh for what they've been
able to do to them.

Speaker 3 (55:48):
Yeah, I think that Toronto and Florida are the best
teams in the East for sure. I mean, if if
it's any constellation for Toronto fans, now you realize that
you're just you're right there with Florida because I don't
think there's any other two teams in the East. They're
better than those two teams. But I guess, like I
want to ask him to go back to the barstool stuff.
And now, like you're working with Biz, you you know,

(56:10):
you know, now you're you know, your teammates with him.
Tell us some stories like where there was you know,
pranks in the locker room, you know, the relationship you
guys built back then, and just tell us, tell us
something that we can we can hear about that.

Speaker 6 (56:25):
So Biz, oh God, where is it even start with
this kid? He's like, I remember when he got when
we picked him up on waivers. I called Wit because
I saw that he was in Pittsburgh, and you know
that was before Biz didn't have Twitter. No one knew
who he was. So I called Wit and I'm like,
how is Biz. He was like, I'm telling you right now,
you're gonna fucking hate him for the first like five

(56:48):
days he goes, then he'll be your best friend. So
I'm like, okay, like whatever, that's kind of weird to say.
But he comes in and like Shane Doane, who is
like the ultimate pros pro, like never I've never saw
him on the table at all, like unless the trainer
is like grabbing him, like hey, dude, get on the trainer,
get on the table. Your legs hanging on by a thread.

(57:08):
Like he wasn't going on. So when of Biz's first day,
Donor had something going on. He was on the trainer's
table and and Biz walks in and he's like, holy fuck,
Donor on the table again. And Donor's, you know, probably
at that time, twelve years in the league.

Speaker 5 (57:25):
And I'm like, oh my god, no, no, no, no no.
So he's like.

Speaker 6 (57:27):
Okay, So Donor, just being stubborn, just jumps up off
the table and then goes and gets ready in practice.

Speaker 5 (57:33):
And I'm like okay.

Speaker 6 (57:34):
So I was like I got to kind of show
this guy, like you can't really say stuff to the
captain like that in practice. So we're doing a drill,
I step up hit him. We get into like a
cross checking competition. He just sheds his gloves in practice.
This is I think it was the first day sheds
his gloves and I'm like with my stick, I'm like, hey, dude,
you hit me. I'm hitting you over the head with this.

(57:55):
Like there's no cameras here, no one knows, like I
am breaking my stick over your head.

Speaker 5 (57:59):
When then he picks.

Speaker 6 (58:00):
Up his gloves and like and then the best part
is is my ride home.

Speaker 5 (58:05):
I used to get rides to the rink. I hate driving.

Speaker 6 (58:07):
My ride home didn't left without me by accident. I
think it was Derek Morris. So I'm like, hey, biz,
I need a ride home. So with that day, like
me and him in the car for forty minutes and
that's when like we literally hit it off that day
and we've been boys since.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
Oh my god, what a great story.

Speaker 6 (58:23):
There old Hangar in his back seat with all these
affliction shirts and I'm like, what are you. I'm like,
you got to get a place. He's like, hey, can
I live with you? I'm like, no, absolutely not. I
was like, I got a family. You know, I didn't
have kids yet, but I had I had my girlfriend.
I'm like, dude, you ain't living with me, Like, go

(58:44):
find your own place. He used to live across the
place from across the street from some sushi place, and
if you ran out of toilet paper, he'd just go
over to the place instead of going to buy more.

Speaker 3 (58:59):
Yes, Yan's, Julie though, Yan's like playing with Yan's and
Philly like he's he is a glue guy when it
comes to like getting team dinners or any kind of
events together.

Speaker 4 (59:08):
And Wed I'm pretty sure it was your idea, Yan's.
We had this.

Speaker 3 (59:11):
We had this team drip dinner. We called it in Philly.
It was like one of the drip drip. It was
one of the first first uh, I think games.

Speaker 4 (59:18):
On the road we had.

Speaker 3 (59:19):
And so we go on the road and everyone goes
shopping and everyone goes gets like the most drippiest outfit.

Speaker 4 (59:28):
So guys are getting like track suits.

Speaker 3 (59:31):
I mean, James Van Reeves dykey, I mean, I'll let
you tell the rest of the story of brands. But
like it was unbelievable dinner.

Speaker 6 (59:37):
Just yeah, so JV we were it was in Washington.

Speaker 5 (59:41):
We had the day.

Speaker 6 (59:42):
Yeah, We're going shopping and like you know, there's regular
stores around Washington, like you could go into a you know, Zara,
you know, a place that's not going to cost you
a million bucks. And JVR is like, I'm doing this right.
So he goes into Gucci Louis Vatan spelling, spending like
seven thousand dollars in his outfit that he wore one time.

(01:00:03):
And he came on Chicklets the other day and I'm like,
I'm like, dude, come on the episode with your outfit on.

Speaker 5 (01:00:09):
He's like, I don't even know who that is.

Speaker 6 (01:00:11):
I'm like, okay, you spent seven grand or something and
never wore like he literally never wore it again.

Speaker 5 (01:00:17):
I'd wear it once a week just out of spite.

Speaker 2 (01:00:20):
Wow, he doesn't seem like the type of guy that
would do that.

Speaker 5 (01:00:23):
No, oh yeah, no, he spends it.

Speaker 6 (01:00:25):
Remember the looks we got walking into that restaurant, like
you know, like Georgetown and Washington, like it's kind of
prim and proper, and we walk in we got gold
chains hanging out like it was outstanding.

Speaker 4 (01:00:37):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (01:00:37):
It's like beam dinner in a way, like you know,
get everyone together like that. Wait, what was the outfit like,
if you can just like describe it.

Speaker 6 (01:00:47):
It was like a velor Gucci track suit with like,
you know, just all the g's all over it, like
shiny blue, with like the stitching down the pant and
then he had like some crazy hat on. And but
watching him shopping was one of the most special things
I've ever seen. It's like taking stuff, throwing it on
the ground. The lady's like, what is going on here,

(01:01:08):
and we're like sorry. And it was during like COVID too,
so we had like the chin diaper on and he's talking.

Speaker 5 (01:01:13):
Like the guys out of his mind. You got to
get him on. He's so funny.

Speaker 2 (01:01:20):
Oh yeah, he's great.

Speaker 1 (01:01:21):
Oh man, love those stories. We could talk to you
all day about you know, stories in the past. And
I appreciate the what feels like a very happy Gilmore
moment between you and Bizz, just like when you guys
find practice of just thinking about that. I'm like, I
love this kind of ratchet real moment. Thanks so much
for everything, and really appreciate everything you do broadcasting wise

(01:01:44):
and kind of you know, changing the game, as you mentioned,
just making things more accessible, more real, getting guys to
open up. I mean it helps all of us just
enjoy the game more. So keep up the great work.

Speaker 6 (01:01:56):
Thank you you guys too unreal Thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:02:05):
All right, So that was keithy Adele, a former NHL
player and now media broadcaster. That Nate you just mentioned
that he's one of the funniest guys you've ever played with.

Speaker 2 (01:02:16):
How why what.

Speaker 3 (01:02:18):
His humor he's just he's just so, he's quick, witty guy.
He's got funny little jokes, you know, and he'll he'll
make fun of guys quickly. I mean, I remember even
even playing against him. I remember, like I was playing
in Montreal, I think he was. He was still in
Florida at the time, and it was an exhibition game,
and he was on the power plan with the penalty
kill and I knew him a little bit just from
playing against him for so long. And and he shoots

(01:02:41):
a one time or I go down to block and
hits me like in the side of the leg, and
he like comes up to me after he's like, sorry Tom,
or it didn't mean to hit you there, But what
are you doing going down blocking a shot in an
exhibition game?

Speaker 4 (01:02:52):
You know?

Speaker 3 (01:02:53):
So I just start laughing or like or others since it, like,
you know, when like when I played with him in Philly,
you know, like we're we're in d C and we're
getting ready to I remember this for somebody, some stupid reason,
but we're getting ready to cross this and like the
crosswalk sign said like seventy five seconds. It was something crazy,
and he's like, hurry, we got to get across quick.
Stuff like that where you make jokes and you're just

(01:03:13):
like this guy's is constantly making little jokes like that.

Speaker 2 (01:03:16):
But he's got a dry sense of humor, like the.

Speaker 3 (01:03:19):
Best sense of humor. Just a great guy to have
in the room. He was so good for other guys.
I mean he was, he was. He was a blast
to play with.

Speaker 1 (01:03:26):
I love it so fun hearing what these guys are like.
And then now seeing you guys all be broadcasters too,
and it's like you're grown ups now, but it's like
what were you kind of back then, but like you're
still bringing it with you into the media space and
it's just great that, like because everything is as we
just talked about.

Speaker 2 (01:03:44):
Like more open and kind of fun.

Speaker 1 (01:03:46):
And Lou said, we get to hear these stories because
like you don't really get to hear the stories of
the old guys until it's like when you're around them
and the cameras aren't on.

Speaker 2 (01:03:56):
Yeah, and those stories are insane.

Speaker 3 (01:03:58):
Yeah, and Yan's has some unbelievable stories. I mean, the
guy he had the iron Man streak obviously forever, right,
which obviously we forgot to touch on bets.

Speaker 2 (01:04:05):
Okay, we didn't forget to touch on I didn't we
have enough tests.

Speaker 3 (01:04:09):
We didn't have enough times. Yeah, but no, I mean,
he just he's he's just one of those infectious guys
that you just want to have on your team. And
he I mean like he played forever too, Like people
will forget like how long he played, I know, and
he was so productive too, but yeah, he was. He's
a blast, and and he's so good, Like it's so

(01:04:31):
good for the game having Yans now on, he's on
spitting chicklets with those guys. He's doing stuff with Barstool,
like you know what he talked about, you know, doing
stuff for broadcasting. Like having a guy like that and
hockey is only going to help the game just because
of you know, his knowledge and then on top of
that his humor.

Speaker 4 (01:04:47):
He's just a funny guy.

Speaker 1 (01:04:49):
Right, He's like the ultimate double threat of a hockey player.
Former hockey player at Media has done really well and
has great personality like it's either one or the other
most of the time. But now that's that makes you
like the ultimate unicorn in broadcasting. I guess as I'm
just saying it right now. And you could also just

(01:05:09):
play for a really long time nater and be great
at broadcasting like you.

Speaker 2 (01:05:15):
Oh, it's another type of unicorn.

Speaker 4 (01:05:18):
That's true. That's true. I've learned. I've learned from the
best you.

Speaker 2 (01:05:21):
I'm not sure who that is, but I appreciate that.

Speaker 4 (01:05:24):
See.

Speaker 3 (01:05:24):
I see right here and put my finger up right
there were the awards behind you right there.

Speaker 2 (01:05:30):
Oh what these things? These things that are just behind me.

Speaker 4 (01:05:33):
Right here over your left shoulder. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:05:35):
Oh, I didn't even know they were in the shot.
I didn't know that my three awards I actually have. Like, kay,
if you won't be able to see people listening to
this podcast, but I have. This is an award above
my head here it looks like a water drop. It's like,
can they just make a ward not look like a
weird thing, like a weird statue. I it looks like

(01:05:57):
a fire I did some sort of fire glass thing.

Speaker 4 (01:06:00):
Yeah, like the other ones. The other ones look like
an academy Award.

Speaker 2 (01:06:03):
I know they're my oscars. Who called that? Rick or No?

Speaker 1 (01:06:08):
Bill Garon said I had oscars behind me. I was like, yeah,
I'm an actress as well. Okay, all right, well guys,
thank you so much for listening to episode twenty one
of The Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Energy Line
is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcast Thanks
to Keith the Endel for joining the show. Thanks to
Jake Brown and Bob Benner for producing the show. And

(01:06:30):
please subscribe to us on Apple, Spotify, wherever you get
your podcasts. Listen to the iHeartRadio app, and please give
us a five star rating if you feel inclined and
write a nice review. I'm Julie swip Binks. Use Nate Thompson.
Nate Now will be back on Friday as we react
to potentially the end of the conference final and thank
you for tuning into Energy Line and we all talk
to you.

Speaker 2 (01:06:49):
In a few days.

Speaker 1 (01:06:54):
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.