July 15, 2025 • 42 mins
Energy Line with Nate Thompson and Julie Stewart-Binks open up the show talking about Nate’s journey to New York, broadcasting camp and the state of NHL broadcasting. Newest Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers then joins Nate and JSB. Ehlers discusses his new contract with the Hurricanes, how his hockey journey started, leaving the Jets and the emotions that came with it, the extra time it took to finally sign and who he’s excited to play with on the Hurricanes.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome on into the Energy Line with Nate and JSB.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
I'm Julie Sturp thinks he's former NHL R Nate Thompson.
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
We are excited to be joined by a free agent
that made a new home this summer.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It's the newest member of the Carolina Hurricanes, Nikolai Eelers
all the way from Denmark. We are so thrilled that
he was able to give us so much time to
be able to talk with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You don't want to miss it.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And Nate, I believe that you are in the same
city that I am in right now, which of course
is the city that never sleeps, and I don't think
you have either. It is Manhattan in New York. Tell
us what's going on NewYork?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Holy shit, what a day I had yesday?
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Oh I felt like, I don't know, it.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Was like it was like a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode yesterday.
But I was scheduled to leave around ten fifty am,
got delayed till eleven thirty five.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Not too bad. So it was supposed to be.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Land at like eight forty five, nine o'clock. Well, we
get we're about what six hours into the flight, and
we get over Newark, fly to Newark and says we
have to like go on a holding pattern. So we're
like he's like, yeah, we just have to make a
lot of rights in the sky. And next thing, you know,
he's like, well, now we're just holding powder. We're not
gonna be able to land. We have to go gas up.
(01:39):
So we're gonna go to Norfolk, Virginia, Fltish Norfolk, Virginia,
gas up, empty, the laboratories.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You know, all the things they have to do. Flight plan.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
We're on the ground for like an hour and a
half probably, then we get all that done and then
we have to fly, drive, fly an hour and forty
minutes back to Newark. Finally land. I didn't land till like,
I don't know, well after midnight. It was the funniest
thing was is we'd land and then we had to
wait like another twenty minutes just to like get into
the next gate because there was it was.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
It was a mess.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
But obviously bad weather going on here, floods, a lot
of rain, so I guess safety first, but yeah. I
didn't go to sleep last night till like three am.
So yike, it's a long day yesterday.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Never fly into Newark. That's what we've learned recently. You posted,
like on Instagram a picture of Joe's pizza like five
hours like before I woke up, and I was like, oh, no,
Nate is going to be sheepy, really sheepych for the
podcast today.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Yeah, and you know, I guess you're right. It's safety first.
I mean, you're right, those those pilots, Like I thought
about the lastson, I was like, you know what, it's weather, Like,
what are you going to do?
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Like, there's there's nothing you can do about weather.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
And I'd rather us sit on the ground somewhere safe
than you know, deal with who knows.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
So it still doesn't make it.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Last last night was good, very annoying. It was a
long day, long unnecessary day.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Well you're in New York now and tell everyone why
you are here.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
I'm here.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
The NHL is put together a broadcasting camp. I went
to it last summer. It was great. It was you know,
they have Eddie Olchek, Steve Levy, Kenny Albert. I don't
think is coming. Brian Bouche was last year. I think
maybe Jody Shelley this year. So yeah, it's great. I
mean we have different kind of like modules or I
(03:36):
guess little stations. They split guys up. There's other former
players that come and yeah, they just kind of teach
and show us their knowledge and kind of you know,
show the things that they do to prepare. And you know,
we actually do like some live I guess you said,
mock runs of you know with Steve Leavy.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
I did last year at the desk. We did something
to record something.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
I think we're doing something this year with with Eddie
and Kenny, like a play by play things.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
So it's great. The NHL's doing this and they're trying.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
To, you know, help guys get into it, the guys
that want to get into it, and kind of give
them a little bit of a head start getting into it.
You don't kind of give them what to expect, you know,
how to prepare all those things. And yeah, I'm the
only guy coming back the second time, so I'll.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Be the repeating the year.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Eh, Yeah, repeating the year.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
I was always that kind of student, just need a
little extra help, you know, it's it going to the teacher,
after class.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Just really really sharpen up my skills.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Nate was held back in broadcasting camp you needed to
do another year.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
What was the what was your biggest takeaway last year
that you learned?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I think it's fascinating.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I think the preparation part. I think I didn't understand
the like how much that went into it. I think,
and not even just the preparation part of not not
even like the hockey part of it. I'm even like,
you know, the preparation of the speaking part and the
timing and you know, listening to your producer and all
(05:18):
those things. I think that those those things, learning all
of that all at once and here in and hearing
it from their point of view and you know, all
their ins and outs and you know the questions, I
mean everything all.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Of it was was so helpful.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I felt like I kind of knew what to expect
going into it this year, more so after hearing from
those guys and being able to have the opportunity to
come to this camp.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
So I thought, yeah, it was kind of like a
little bit of a cheat sheet.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
I think before getting to you know, getting broadcasting was
having this well.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I mean, like I think all the guys should have that.
Like I had to go, you know, like shovel the
shit in Saskatchewan for like a couple of years. And
that was after having my masters and like you know,
doing campus TV station and being like super bad at
all my like no one had to see me do that.
Like you get your reps and you go and then
and then like for you guys, sometimes it's like this
(06:08):
is the first time I'm doing it is on National TV,
and then you're like, wow, that's kind of like not
really ideal in that type of situation. Who's there this
year that's like a newbie that's like ooh, they want
to be in broadcasting that we would know.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I think it's I think there's a lot of guys.
I think, well, I think every single guys is new
this year. I'll meanly I coming back, like I said,
but I think it's like, I know, Rob shremp cal
Clutterbuck was another name I think is on there. I
don't know, am I supposed to be releasing these names?
Speaker 5 (06:39):
I know?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I was also like, yeah, like let's let's find out
who the new analysts that want to be out there are.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
I think it's I don't know, Yeah, but yeah, I
think there's definitely guy a lot more guys interested, which
is great and it's it's good for the league too.
It's good that young guys want to get into this
and show their personality off.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah, and learn like how to actually do Like so
much goes into finding the replay, like it's the play
go back to where the original like turnover happened right
before goal, or like ed Zoe was so quick at it.
I find he'll be like this goes all the way
back to like blah blah.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Blah blah, and it's almost like he.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Sometimes I'm just like he's clairvoyant, Like he's just he's
he's doing play by play almost in his own head
where he's like all right and boom that's where like okay,
Puck's turned over at the blue line, Da da da
dah goal, and then he'll be able to say like,
all right, you know this started back there, and he's
also obviously telling his producer at the same time, like
(07:37):
clip that from back there. And people don't really realize
everything that goes into the replays. They're like finding the spots.
I got to do color commentary once one time. You
can tell how well that went, But I really learned
a lot about how color commentary people also have to
Sometimes you're just like, uh, you know, it's like what
(08:00):
do they have to do? And you and you're like,
I mean, score, like you have to figure out a
way of saying like something that's a bit more polished
than just like yeah, they got to fucking figure it out,
like you know, even though that's like sometimes kind of
what it is, especially for the leaves if they're down
like six to one, you're.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
Like, I don't know what.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
I don't know what I would do right now instead
of just going home packing it in and being like
waving the white flag. So I think it's great they're
doing that. And how many days.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Do you get?
Speaker 4 (08:27):
We have a dinner tonight and then tomorrow just a
one full day and that's it. But yeah, I mean
I but by the way, going back to what you said,
like the color commentary, like in game color commentary, that
is I think the most I think we're doing that
with Eddie all of us, and that one's going to
be interesting because you're right, it's like so off the
cuff and you kind of have to you know, I
(08:51):
think we're gonna look at plays and you know everyone's
you know, everyone sees the game the different perspectives, so
it'll be interesting to see how guys break things down
and you know, find things were good yet wrong.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
It went wrong here, that's why this happened. Yeah, yeah,
it's it's gonna be good.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
I mean, it's gonna it's gonna be fun to to
learn and see and you know, it's only one full day,
but it's great.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
It's it's it's so great they're doing this.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
It's just a.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Blast and then like blast you with info. So then
Jody Shelley, I don't know about Jody Shelly being a teacher,
Like that's something I have a question mark about. I'm
saying that's a joke. Jody Shelly is great, and that
reminded me about my next point is Jody Shelley's girlfriend
is or was still is a bartender at my favorite
(09:34):
place to go to, which our producer Bob Bender told
me to give my recommendation to you.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
The Canuck is my favorite place to go to in
New York City.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
It's a Canadian in New York's hottest club is the Canuck.
If you want to see old vintage photos of Canadian
intricate history that probably wouldn't you know, resonate with anyone
else unless you are from Canada or played hockey. You
want to go to this place because they have every
(10:07):
I know there's no hockey on right now, but they
have every game on. I guess there's also really not
no games to well there's the All Star Games on,
but it's like amazing place to go get your poutine.
I mean, I guess you're American, you don't really give
a fuck about this ship, but like, this is my
favorite place to go to New York. And they have
like Canadian chocolate bars and it's a great it's a
(10:30):
great vibe. I'm a big fan of the canuck I
spent New Year's there one year, like by myself. I
went because it's like family. It's like cheers. Everybody knows
your name. Have you ever been to the Statue of
Liberty or Times Square?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Yes, A long a long time yes, yes, Julie Rimber
I used to.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
I used to play for the Islanders, like a.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Long time ago, like yeah, that was island Man and
all the things, all the things.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You were out, you were out and it.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Was a short, short trip to New York.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
You're you're playing at NASAU.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
I scored my first NHL goal here.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I know I played a NASA Caliseme, but I scored
my first NHL goal at MSG.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
On the night Obama was elected the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
WHOA, what a night.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That's crazy, right, it's crazy crazy?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Wow, how long you've been.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Playing Obama and I? Obama and I have that, we
have that in common. And then we also have in
common that we both were number forty four.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Oh my god, Nate, how about that.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
I know you were such a big Obama stan Holy cow, No, joky,
did you pick forty four because he was a forty
fourth president?
Speaker 5 (11:40):
No, forty four was just given to me when I
was and I loved it.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So I love those connections. That's really fun.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
I know, I know that's crazy. No, it's because I
it was.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
It was because I was wearing this hat and I
was walking down like Marina.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
I can't remember when it was a couple weeks, yes
you can.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And I was wearing and I was wearing this hat
and it was my hat from Phil but on the
front of it as forty four. We had a numbers,
we had our numbers on her hat, and I still
had it, and this guy was walking by and he's like, oh,
forty four. He's like, oh, there's there's a there's a
great play over there for for Obaba forty four.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
I love it forty four.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So he thought that I was like a huge Obaba
supporter because I had a forty four hat on.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
But what a perfect New York He clearly was not.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
He clearly was not a Nate Thompson fan.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Okay, So on that note, I wanted to say, you
said MSG is okay, so that's a really big deal.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
That's you scored your first goal.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
There.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We had Kenny albert On who had called that. But
I was at MSG four Weird Owl on the weekends.
It was an amazing concert. It was absolutely insane.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Weird al Is. I mean, he went, he went so
above and beyond.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I don't even know how He's a live like the
costume changes, the the the theatrics, the jumping around, the
everything he was. Let's just say the audience was a
little and I have to be and I was part
of the audience, so I'm putting myself in this was
a bit weird.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Audience was one of.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Those like, okay, everyone here is like a little bit off,
including me. So I bought these tickets back in September.
I had an MX pre sale for a concert in
July for weird Al.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
That says a lot right there.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Yeah, probably not the concert I probably go to, but
that is unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
So like it was, it was an interesting crowd.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, you obviously, I mean Amish Paradise is my favorite.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Yeah, that's actually actually.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Amish Paradise is a banger.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
It's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Fat eat it, Yoda saga begins.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
It's a good one that anyway, it's it's for an
audience that's that's that's out there. And so my friend
and I were talking about it. You know what, so
many people that like are kids these days, like even
in their twenties wouldn't even know who weird Al is
because they have like TikTok and god, now I sound
so old. It's like weird Al was big because we
(14:17):
didn't have memes or phones or YouTube.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
God, we are so old. We just had weird Al
on like a walkman, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Yeah, a CD player where he was the one making
the jokes of other Yeah, you're right, that's actually a
good point.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Weird Al was our meme. He was our music meme.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
We had nothing.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
We were we were starved for content when we were
so we were like all all up in weird Al's grill.
My brother and I said this, We're like, if weird
Al started today, I don't think he'd be big because
it would just be like another guy on TikTok trying
to do like a music parody and whatever. But weird
Al is he's got it. Oh and he started the
concert in the Rangers' locker room. That's what I loved.
(14:58):
He was like in the Rangers' locker room and they
had it like a video and he came out onto
and I was like, yes, I love this and like
hockey weirdol, hockey, weird all that.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Those were the people that were there.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
The weird guys in my dms that say I love
you Julie every single day that you know, are a
little off and like people that love Weirdell. That's sort
of like my my general audience. All right, we have
gone way above and beyond here on this show. Right now,
we're bringing energy to this energy line and that includes
(15:30):
one player on our line this week, which will be
Nikolai Eelers, who is the talk of the town after
signing with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he's coming up right
after this. Welcome back into the Energy Line with Nate
and JSB. And we are really thrilled to be able
(15:51):
to welcome in our next guest all the way from
Denmark right now, the latest biggest splash free agent signing
for the Carolina Hurricanes. That's none other than Nikolai Eelers. Nikolay,
thank you so much for taking the time to join
us here on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And just I got to ask you.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Since all the news broke and and and all the
life changes that have happened, how has it been for you?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
How have you felt.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
It's been It's been good.
Speaker 8 (16:17):
You know, obviously during the whole free agency started, that
period was it was a little crazier than I expected.
A lot of phone calls, a lot of time on
my phone and you know, talking to people, talking to
my agent and my family and so on. So but
it was exciting as well, but definitely definitely crazy. And
(16:41):
now it's just you know, excited for this and and
you know, getting ready for for the next season.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Why congrats my man. I love it. Good to see you.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Well, since you're in Denmark, take us back. How how
did hockey start for you being over in Denmark.
Speaker 8 (16:59):
I actually started in Germany, so my dad used to play.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
My whole family plays.
Speaker 8 (17:04):
My brother plays in my hometown as well, but my
dad was playing in Germany in Berlin at the time
that I was born, So I actually played in Germany
before playing in Denmark and then moving to Switzerland. And
when you have, you know, your brother playing and your
dad playing, you're starting hockey as well.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
So it was pretty easy for me, right And.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Then like you went to Halifax, that's got to be
a real big change when you when they sort whoever
pitched you on Halifax, what was that conversation like to
come on over to the queue and play in the CHL.
Speaker 8 (17:43):
Actually, the first pitch was was from Patrick Kine and
Tyler Sagan during the lockout year in I think it
was twenty twelve thirteen season when they played in Switzerland.
I played with them for a little bit as a
sixteen seventeen year old, and they were pretty sure that
(18:05):
I should come over and play in the CHL somewhere.
So obviously, when you have guys like that telling you
stuff that you know, it makes sense suddenly. And after
that I called my agent and told him, you know,
look into it. And you know, a few months later
I was a Moosehead, which was an incredible time, great organization,
(18:28):
great city.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
And what was that like Playing with Patrick kNN and
Tyler Sagan.
Speaker 8 (18:32):
At sixteen running around with a cage, It was pretty insane.
And you know, and John Tamars and Spetza and Roman Yosi,
you know, all the guys that were over there at
the time.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Was pretty cool. So, I mean it was just awesome.
Speaker 8 (18:50):
You know, I was sixteen, seventeen years old, so you know,
playing against those guys was just a dream. And you know,
they were playing in the league that I wanted to
play in. So you know, when you look at those
guys and when they talk, you listen.
Speaker 7 (19:04):
So it worked out.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
And looking at your junior career, it was it was
pretty amazing. But before we get into the free agency part, fly,
I kind of want to talk about Winnipeg, you know,
talk about what it meant to you. The city. I mean,
I know, in my short time there and just being
being there during the COVID season, you know, I loved
it there. I love the guys, the organization, everything, So
(19:27):
you know, I know how important Winnipeg was to me,
So talk about you know, I mean, you've been there
for a while, so talk about Winnipeg to you.
Speaker 7 (19:36):
We don't.
Speaker 8 (19:36):
We don't have time for that in this area.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
I was there for ten years.
Speaker 8 (19:42):
I was part of that organization for eleven and you know,
in some way, you know, I still you know, I
still feel part of the family, even though I'm not
going to be playing there anymore. Right, So I loved
it there. That city is is incredible. Uh, the organization
(20:03):
is is top notch. You know, the people there are
are unbelievable. So and obviously we've we've been able to
create something really good in Winnipeg. And and you know,
playing on a on a team like that was a
lot of fun as well. So I only have good
things to say about, you know, my time in Winnipeg.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
There's a reason I was there for ten years. So
I loved it.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I wish free agents, all free agents would hear that,
yeah really, because it's it was. It was an incredible
place to play. I loved it, and I was there,
and I was there during the COVID season. We couldn't
even do anything right, play Like I literally just went
back and forth from a rinked in my house and
that was it. But still, I mean, it was just
it has like we talked about it, it has like
a it has like a Green Bay Packers vibe. I
(20:49):
guess you could say if you can compare it to
the NFL, right, like.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
It's it's amazing, Nikola, We're big Winnipeg. We're a big
Winnipeg podcast because both both Day and I have lived there.
I only lived there for four months, but that was
when the Jets came back. I saw Jets two point
zero come back, and I remember being like, holy cow,
and I bawled my eyes out when I had to
leave to go to Regina, Saskatchewan, which was the only
place like that could have been worse really in that
(21:16):
moment to go to. I make a joke because I
love Winnipeg so much. I almost went there this past weekend.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
But I got to ask you.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I was listening to your media availability with the Carolina Hurricanes,
and you said that it was really emotional talking to
Cheval day Off and the guys from from Winnipeg kind
of telling them your decision, Like how do you approach
telling a team and an organization that you love that
(21:44):
like you're breaking up with them.
Speaker 7 (21:45):
I mean, I knew it was going to be hard
for me.
Speaker 8 (21:47):
At least they were the ones that gave me a
chance to live out my dream, right. So I've always
had a great relationship with you know, my teammates, the trainers,
the therapists, people around on the rink and and you
know Chevy and Mark Chipman so and Arnie. This year
(22:11):
was was, you know, incredible to me. So it was hard.
And yes it was emotional because you know, I'm not
leaving Winnipeg because I didn't like it. I was there
for ten years because I enjoyed it.
Speaker 7 (22:28):
I loved it.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
So saying goodbye to people that I've known and loved
to be around for for the last ten years was
was was very hard.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
Take us through the free agent process a little bit.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
And the second part I guess is is now you're
going to a new team, new coach. You know, everything
is new. What are your most most excited about? Being
a Caroline Hurricane everything. You know, everything is going to
be new to me.
Speaker 8 (23:01):
You know, new teammates, us, new therapist, new coach, GM surroundings.
Speaker 7 (23:08):
You know, playing style is going to be different.
Speaker 8 (23:12):
So I think it'll be it'll be cool to try
something new, and you know, that's what I kind of
was looking for, was a new challenge. And I think
this way it's going to be exciting. They've had a
great team for years and I think I can fit
in really nicely on that team. So I'm just excited
to get the next season going and meet the guys
(23:35):
and you know.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Get to started Nikola.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Just to kind of bounce off of what Nate had
said earlier, like we had Elliott Friedman on our last
podcast and he was waiting for you to sign somewhere,
and that was like the last thing before his summer started.
And I'm curious, like, from your perspective, what is it,
what would surprise us about what it's like to have
(23:59):
the entire hockey world waiting for you to sign somewhere.
Speaker 8 (24:05):
Uh, well, I had I had a lot of people
send me some memes and stuff like that because I
hadn't signed on the first day, and you know, I
had so much, so much other stuff going on in
my head at that point that you know, I I
didn't even look or think about you know, what people
(24:25):
were saying. I think, you know, I wasn't trying to
drag it out. I've said that too. I just I
wanted to put myself in a position at that time
to make sure I make the best decision for myself.
And you know, I wanted to take in all the
the impressions and and everyone I had talked to, and
(24:47):
I just needed the extra time. And I think I'm
glad I did that. Elliott maybe wasn't too happy with me,
but but I think he can forgive me for that.
But yeah, I just wanted to to get all the
information before I because it's a big decision, right like,
I'm I'm twenty nine and making a six year commitment.
(25:12):
So I wanted to make sure I put myself in
the best spot to make the right decision.
Speaker 7 (25:18):
And I believe I've done that.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Oh, I was just going to follow up when you
said you took just that little extra time to make
sure you had the right decision, Like what was going
through your mind during that time, What was sort of
the the crux of that decision that you needed to
go through.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
Again, I'd never been in this position before, right like,
this was probably the biggest decision I've had to make
in my entire life in a way, and being in
Winnipeg for ten years now needing to decide where am
I going to live for the next six years? Like,
you know, Winnipeg they drafted me. I went there. I
(25:53):
loved it. Now you know, you're standing there with you know,
teams that are interested in you, and you need to
figure out where where do you see yourself the next
six years, you know, living and playing. So I think
that was kind of you know, just again trying to
get all the information and all the impressions and and
everything to you know, sort that through my head. And
(26:17):
and for all the people that you know weren't too
happy with me dragging it out, I apologize, But this one,
this one needed to be done right.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
What was the most important thing to you signing as
a free agent?
Speaker 7 (26:29):
Play the interest?
Speaker 8 (26:30):
You know, there's a there were there were a lot
of teams that showed a lot of interest, and and
obviously that's pretty cool.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
You know.
Speaker 8 (26:37):
I just think that, you know, you want to play
for for a team, You want to play for a GM,
you want to play for a coach that really really
wants you.
Speaker 7 (26:46):
And I think Carolina.
Speaker 8 (26:47):
Was was, you know, really cool about that. I also
just saw myself fitting in with the way that they
play and the players that they have. You know, they
got a lot of good young players that you know
they're going to be good for the next five six years.
And you know, like I said before, you take in
all the information and you put it together and you know,
(27:10):
kind of like a puzzle, and then you you see
he you know, hey, I would look pretty good in
a in a King's jersey. I think there's a lot
of a lot of different things that you know, kind
of add up to Okay, this is this is the
decision I want to make.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
What are a couple of guys that you're looking forward to,
uh to play with on the team?
Speaker 8 (27:30):
I think you know, obviously Freddie. You know, he's from Denmark.
We've known each other for years, so I think that
was pretty cool as well to have a Danish guy
in the team. And other than that, you know, I've
I've watched Carolina play. I'm a big hockey guy. I
watch a lot of hockey, so I've watched Carolina play
and and you know, they got some some really good players,
(27:54):
some really young talented players, and and the decor is
is is great. So I don't know, I'm I'm excited
to go there. And and you know, just get on
ice with those guys and you know, shoot the shit.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
I love what you said about interest, like just because
I think that a lot of people can relate to that,
regardless of being a hockey player. Not like, you want
to go somewhere where people really really appreciate you and
you feel as though you can flourish at the highest
level possible, and it seems as though based on the team,
based on what you can bring, that that's likely going
to be a possibility.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
When you signed and all the news.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Came out, who was the first person from Carolina to
reach out to you?
Speaker 7 (28:33):
Oh a lot.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
You know, I talked to Freddie right away, you know,
I called him right away actually, just kind of telling
him like, hey, we're.
Speaker 7 (28:44):
We're going to be teammates next year.
Speaker 8 (28:47):
So, you know, a few of the guys, which obviously
again you know, that's something that's it just goes to
show what kind of team they are that you got
guys from the team reaching out and obviously coach GM
you know.
Speaker 7 (29:04):
Kind of every everyone in the organization.
Speaker 8 (29:06):
So that just to me showed that, you know, I
did make the right decision by you know, being part
of the Canes family.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Now being a part of the Kynes family, do you
do you get the expectation talking to guys, talking to
management coaches that it's it's time to win a cup
and and pretty awesome too to go from a place
like Winnipeg where you guys are winning and now you're
you're stepping into another team and have another chance to
win as well.
Speaker 8 (29:30):
I think on all the teams you kind of have
an expectation to to you know, you want to win.
You know, I think Carolina has a has had a
great team for years, and you know, I'm not going
there to just play hockey and and and have some fun.
You know, I want to go win games. And I
believe that organization is is ready.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
For for more.
Speaker 8 (29:54):
So you know, all the hard work, like we always say,
it starts in the summer. Uh, not as fun as
getting on the ice. But I'm excited to, you know,
see the steps that we can take as a team
this year.
Speaker 7 (30:08):
And you know that's the that's the most important part.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Nickla.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
I got to ask you how many people have, at
least when you first started in the league, messed up
your last name.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (30:18):
I think that's it's it's so hard because you know,
you kind of just you kind of just go with it,
like I understand what they're trying to say. Sometimes I
don't think aim is that hard either. I think there's
a lot of names in the league that are a
lot harder than mine.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Did you find that that was like the case, like
especially being in Canada where people saying, like, I'm Canadians,
I can make this joke like like a like as
an Ailer sincet like Eelers.
Speaker 8 (30:48):
You know, you got Elers and Eelers and I don't
know what else. But again, like you know, I probably
haven't you know, said every single name the right way either,
So you know in Danish it's it's different as well.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Oh what is it in Danish?
Speaker 7 (31:06):
Elis?
Speaker 8 (31:08):
Yeah, Elis's It's just it's just different, right, And I'm
okay with it.
Speaker 7 (31:16):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Still, we're gonna we're gonna start. We're going to use
the Danish version of your name. So wait, Nikolai el okay,
all right? Nate lost his microphone there for a second.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Sorry, uh, And I was gonna ask I don't even
remember how did you get the nickname fly? I mean,
I understand on the ice, But like, how did that
nickname come about? Because I'm calling you fly and I
forgot how you got the nickname?
Speaker 7 (31:43):
So did? I? Like, it's so many I remember.
Speaker 8 (31:49):
Somebody my first year or in my first camp, no,
I think it was my first year, tried to call
me Eels, but that wasn't It didn't stick just because
Keaton Llerby was there before me and they I think
they called him Eels or L's or something like that.
Speaker 7 (32:10):
And then I think it was.
Speaker 8 (32:13):
Thorburn, I think one who started fly and then you
know he was the thorb Dog and you know, then
I ended in fly dog and but mostly just fly.
And I'm not sure if it was because I was,
you know, just buzzing around on the ice, or if
(32:34):
it was because I was a smaller guy and I
was just like a fly or I I just I
think it was Thorburn that that started it all.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Okay, So because you guys were teammates, Nick, glad you
have any good stories about Nate from Winnipeg.
Speaker 8 (32:53):
I mean, like, like Nate said before, is the COVID year,
so like we didn't really get to do.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
A lot of fun stuff like we like we normally
do you know.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
Where you you you have some some good times with
the teammates and you know, you go for dinners and
stuff like that. So we were kind of that whole
year you know, was as much hockey as it gets, right,
but you know, I remember back we still found a
way to have a good time and you know, enjoy
(33:25):
each other's company and and you know, Nate's a pretty
funny guy as well, so I enjoyed it.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
Yeah, we had a good time. We had a we
had a.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
I have a video fly I sent to our group
chat of us. I don't know, someone snapped it of
when what we would do before we would go out.
You remember, like before we go out on the ice
with a tunnel, we had a little like handshake thing.
Speaker 5 (33:48):
But it wasn't a handshake thing. We weren't using our hands.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Hey, explain it, Nate for people who haven't seen it.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Well, it was more of like a thrusting, oh okay,
mom movement, you know what I mean. But we did
at the same time, you know, it was like, yeah, anyways,
it's fun.
Speaker 7 (34:06):
You have like a few of those with like a
few guys.
Speaker 8 (34:08):
Yeah, with Bucky, I've had one for ten years, and
stuff like that, but yeah, that one I remember.
Speaker 4 (34:15):
Now that's funny, it's super inappropriate, but whatever, it was great.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Oh bump and grind. You got to get you guys.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Going before you Everyone has crazy rituals in those tunnels
before you're on the ice, and you got to follow
through with them.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Yeah, well that Nate.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
We were saying that when I used to watch you
guys for the ducks walk out right cuts or whatever
you got.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Well, Nikola, I will have.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
To see what you end up, you know, kind of
acclimating to and in Carolina and who you'll be uh,
you know, bumping up against when you're going out there.
We'll be looking, we'll be looking for the tunnel cam.
I'm I'm good to let you go, Nate, if you
have anything else.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
No, it's good to see you, buddy. I'm just so
happy for you.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Congratulations go enjoy beautiful Denmark where you are right now,
and we look forward to seeing you on the ice
this fall.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
Thank you very much. Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
All right, that was Nikolai Eeler's recently signed to the
Carolina Hurricane six years eight point five AAV and Nate.
We were just discussing how lovely Scandinavians are just a
cut above everyone else.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
Really, they really are. They're just better people than everybody else.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Seriously, Yeah, you could tell. He's just genuinely decent guy.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Like good guy, really good guy. Like I love playing
with Fly.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
He's a super funny guy too, like kind of like
different humor, but I really enjoyed playing with him.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
We had a good time.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
And I mean, hell of a hockey player like this
guy is going to help Carolina, Like you know, they
they've always had trouble, like right, getting.
Speaker 5 (35:58):
Over the hump and scoring, right, we need more scoring. Well,
you're getting a whole.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Nother off of Dynamo and him and how like how
fast he is too, Like his speed just adds a
whole their element to their team. Their their team's already fast,
and now you add Nikolai Eeler's chances are he's probably
gonna be playing with Sebastianajo, and I mean he's not
He's not slow by any means either, So you just
add more speed to their lineup, and I think he's
(36:23):
going to be another player that fits in perfect with
their team.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
It's a great point that you made about the scoring
because as fast as they've been, they just like have
had these like really grind out, boring games, but like
haven't really scored as much. So that would be a
great spot for him. But for you you played with him,
Like we talked about it a little bit there. But
what's maybe something that the rest of like maybe the
(36:48):
Metropolitan Division or the East wouldn't know about Nikolai Eelers
because he's been playing in the West. That might be
like a surprise about his game.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
He has an edge to his game, he has he
has a bit of fuck you at him.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
I would say, like he he can play hard.
Speaker 4 (37:04):
He'll he'll run you over, he'll stick you like like
like Fly is not afraid to mix it up. And
he's a smaller guy, but he doesn't back down. And
that's the biggest thing that I took away from him
when I played with him, is he had that in him.
Like he would he would run guys, he would you know,
he would drag guys.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Into the fight.
Speaker 4 (37:21):
And I don't I don't know if people realize that
about him. You know, he's a guy that really cares
wants to win. You know, he's known as an offensive guy,
but he plays extremely hard. I mean I remember their game.
I remember a game we were in Winnipeg and he
got into it with Big Jumbo Joe Thornton, and like
it looked like they were gonna like drop the gloves,
and I mean, like Jumbo's way bigger than him, and
(37:43):
you know, Fly didn't back down. So that's just another example,
an instance that you know you're getting a guy that's
not afraid to mix it up too.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
That's great love to hear that about him. I think
a lot of people will be excited, especially in Carolina,
to hear that.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
And I was.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
I was curious, like I mean with his phone blowing
up on like through free agency, like you would have
to have that thing on do not disturb like beyond
like you couldn't even open it up, like because I
know I was gonna say, like there are reporters.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
I don't know if you've ever heard of this term,
but they power call you, and they just they just
keep pressing your number. Power call, power call, power call,
so you can't do anything, Like if you were on
your phone and you're just like, oh god, Julie's calling
me again, and oh Julie's calling me again, and and
then by at some point you'll be like, Okay, fine,
(38:36):
fuck it, I'll answer it. That's what I know a
couple of reporters that do that. It's not not a
very well looked upon strategy, but it does work, because
you guys, that's the worst strategy.
Speaker 5 (38:51):
That's what.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Boom boom boom boom.
Speaker 5 (38:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
I know a couple reporters that uh a network that
has four letters with it, that used to do that
for like football players, And I was like, damn, that's
I mean, it's it works, But I don't know if
that's going to help your relationship with the.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
Person going forward. Just keep bugging them, bugging them.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
But what about the fact that Kate we didn't talk
to him about this. There were a lot of rumors
about him potentially going to Montreal and the whole reuniting
or not reuniting. But like Patrick Lyne that that maybe
they made a good pitch for him. I think when
he said that, he you know, looked at all aspects
of where he, you know, want to spend the rest
(39:32):
of the next six years. What do you think about
the fact that like maybe Montreal was in the mix there?
Speaker 5 (39:37):
Yeah, I wanted to ask what other teams.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
I forgot to. I wanted to ask what other teams
would were in the mix, and I think my trial, Yeah,
that's another team that I heard and that that definitely
would have been a good fit as well.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
I mean, who knows.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
I mean, you know, maybe you know, like he's played
in Canada for ten years, you know, maybe he wanted
to be out of Canada, you know, and maybe maybe
that was a factor. And I can understand that. You know,
you're there's nothing it's not a knock against Canada. It's
just like you know, when you want to live in
the US for a little bit and play over there,
and you played in one country for your whole cold career.
(40:10):
So yeah, I mean that would have been awesome him
in Montreal too, So I don't know, that's it's just
all those shit of what it could is right in free.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
Agency, Yeah, and obviously too, I'm sure you know there's
the different things, the factor into that money playing, just
like various different things, and you know in your gut
when something feels right and when something feels wrong, and
if he felt that this was right, and I think
to your point, like the idea of he doesn't have
to have a cold winter. It can get a little
(40:41):
chilli and Raleigh, but it ain't snowing buckets like it
does in Winnipeg and Montreal. But I mean it could
snow buckets because I mean, gosh, like, who knows what
the weather's going to be anywhere these days.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
But I think it's a nice little if.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
You want to change things up, you go from Winnipeg
to Carolina, that's definitely for sure.
Speaker 5 (41:01):
And the media part too, like, oh yeah that too.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
You know you're not You're not under the mic, You're
not under the microscope anymore.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
Yeah, nobody is going to be talking you in Carolina,
that's certainly for sure. They'll be covering UNC, they'll be
covering anybody else. Really, No, I'm just they'll be covering
Bill Belichick. That's definitely their number one right now. Jokes,
if be we give a shout out to all the
wonderful Carolina media that's out there, and Nate and I
(41:30):
have been in that arena and that lovely, wonderful tunnel
that has so much wonderful air that breathes down it.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Wind, that wind, that wind tunnel.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
I have a I have a slow mo that someone
took of me interviewing Sammy votn in you want to
go way back, and it's just like my hair, I
like literally look like I'm in like a commercial for
like a Beyonce Like that was the one nice part.
You got to be on the right side of the
wind tunnel or else. It's really really bad situation. If
(42:02):
you're if you're a lady, that's for certain.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
All right, Swolla.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
We want to thank you guys for all listening to
episode thirty one of The Energy Line with Nate and JSB.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
Energy Line is a production.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Of the NHL and iHeart podcast Thanks to nik Lai
Eelers for joining us all the way from Denmark. Might
I add thanks to j Brown for producing the show.
Subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify wherever you get
your podcasts, or listen on the iHeartRadio app. And if
you guys could give us a five star rating right
in a nice review, it really helps us.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
I'm Julie druppinks he's Nate Thompson.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
We'll be back with another episode as we are off
next week.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Thank you for tuning in to the Energy Line.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
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.
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome on into the Energy Line with Nate and JSB.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
I'm Julie Sturp thinks he's former NHL R Nate Thompson.
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
We are excited to be joined by a free agent
that made a new home this summer.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It's the newest member of the Carolina Hurricanes, Nikolai Eelers
all the way from Denmark. We are so thrilled that
he was able to give us so much time to
be able to talk with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You don't want to miss it.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And Nate, I believe that you are in the same
city that I am in right now, which of course
is the city that never sleeps, and I don't think
you have either. It is Manhattan in New York. Tell
us what's going on NewYork?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Holy shit, what a day I had yesday?
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Oh I felt like, I don't know, it.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Was like it was like a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode yesterday.
But I was scheduled to leave around ten fifty am,
got delayed till eleven thirty five.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Not too bad. So it was supposed to be.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Land at like eight forty five, nine o'clock. Well, we
get we're about what six hours into the flight, and
we get over Newark, fly to Newark and says we
have to like go on a holding pattern. So we're
like he's like, yeah, we just have to make a
lot of rights in the sky. And next thing, you know,
he's like, well, now we're just holding powder. We're not
gonna be able to land. We have to go gas up.
(01:39):
So we're gonna go to Norfolk, Virginia, Fltish Norfolk, Virginia,
gas up, empty, the laboratories.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You know, all the things they have to do. Flight plan.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
We're on the ground for like an hour and a
half probably, then we get all that done and then
we have to fly, drive, fly an hour and forty
minutes back to Newark. Finally land. I didn't land till like,
I don't know, well after midnight. It was the funniest
thing was is we'd land and then we had to
wait like another twenty minutes just to like get into
the next gate because there was it was.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
It was a mess.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
But obviously bad weather going on here, floods, a lot
of rain, so I guess safety first, but yeah. I
didn't go to sleep last night till like three am.
So yike, it's a long day yesterday.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Never fly into Newark. That's what we've learned recently. You posted,
like on Instagram a picture of Joe's pizza like five
hours like before I woke up, and I was like, oh, no,
Nate is going to be sheepy, really sheepych for the
podcast today.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Yeah, and you know, I guess you're right. It's safety first.
I mean, you're right, those those pilots, Like I thought
about the lastson, I was like, you know what, it's weather, Like,
what are you going to do?
Speaker 5 (02:54):
Like, there's there's nothing you can do about weather.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
And I'd rather us sit on the ground somewhere safe
than you know, deal with who knows.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
So it still doesn't make it.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Last last night was good, very annoying. It was a
long day, long unnecessary day.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Well you're in New York now and tell everyone why
you are here.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
I'm here.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
The NHL is put together a broadcasting camp. I went
to it last summer. It was great. It was you know,
they have Eddie Olchek, Steve Levy, Kenny Albert. I don't
think is coming. Brian Bouche was last year. I think
maybe Jody Shelley this year. So yeah, it's great. I
mean we have different kind of like modules or I
(03:36):
guess little stations. They split guys up. There's other former
players that come and yeah, they just kind of teach
and show us their knowledge and kind of you know,
show the things that they do to prepare. And you know,
we actually do like some live I guess you said,
mock runs of you know with Steve Leavy.
Speaker 5 (03:55):
I did last year at the desk. We did something
to record something.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
I think we're doing something this year with with Eddie
and Kenny, like a play by play things.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
So it's great. The NHL's doing this and they're trying.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
To, you know, help guys get into it, the guys
that want to get into it, and kind of give
them a little bit of a head start getting into it.
You don't kind of give them what to expect, you know,
how to prepare all those things. And yeah, I'm the
only guy coming back the second time, so I'll.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Be the repeating the year.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Eh, Yeah, repeating the year.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
I was always that kind of student, just need a
little extra help, you know, it's it going to the teacher,
after class.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Just really really sharpen up my skills.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Nate was held back in broadcasting camp you needed to
do another year.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
What was the what was your biggest takeaway last year
that you learned?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I think it's fascinating.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I think the preparation part. I think I didn't understand
the like how much that went into it. I think,
and not even just the preparation part of not not
even like the hockey part of it. I'm even like,
you know, the preparation of the speaking part and the
timing and you know, listening to your producer and all
(05:18):
those things. I think that those those things, learning all
of that all at once and here in and hearing
it from their point of view and you know, all
their ins and outs and you know the questions, I
mean everything all.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Of it was was so helpful.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I felt like I kind of knew what to expect
going into it this year, more so after hearing from
those guys and being able to have the opportunity to
come to this camp.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
So I thought, yeah, it was kind of like a
little bit of a cheat sheet.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
I think before getting to you know, getting broadcasting was
having this well.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
I mean, like I think all the guys should have that.
Like I had to go, you know, like shovel the
shit in Saskatchewan for like a couple of years. And
that was after having my masters and like you know,
doing campus TV station and being like super bad at
all my like no one had to see me do that.
Like you get your reps and you go and then
and then like for you guys, sometimes it's like this
(06:08):
is the first time I'm doing it is on National TV,
and then you're like, wow, that's kind of like not
really ideal in that type of situation. Who's there this
year that's like a newbie that's like ooh, they want
to be in broadcasting that we would know.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
I think it's I think there's a lot of guys.
I think, well, I think every single guys is new
this year. I'll meanly I coming back, like I said,
but I think it's like, I know, Rob shremp cal
Clutterbuck was another name I think is on there. I
don't know, am I supposed to be releasing these names?
Speaker 5 (06:39):
I know?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I was also like, yeah, like let's let's find out
who the new analysts that want to be out there are.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
I think it's I don't know, Yeah, but yeah, I
think there's definitely guy a lot more guys interested, which
is great and it's it's good for the league too.
It's good that young guys want to get into this
and show their personality off.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Yeah, and learn like how to actually do Like so
much goes into finding the replay, like it's the play
go back to where the original like turnover happened right
before goal, or like ed Zoe was so quick at it.
I find he'll be like this goes all the way
back to like blah blah.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Blah blah, and it's almost like he.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Sometimes I'm just like he's clairvoyant, Like he's just he's
he's doing play by play almost in his own head
where he's like all right and boom that's where like okay,
Puck's turned over at the blue line, Da da da
dah goal, and then he'll be able to say like,
all right, you know this started back there, and he's
also obviously telling his producer at the same time, like
(07:37):
clip that from back there. And people don't really realize
everything that goes into the replays. They're like finding the spots.
I got to do color commentary once one time. You
can tell how well that went, But I really learned
a lot about how color commentary people also have to
Sometimes you're just like, uh, you know, it's like what
(08:00):
do they have to do? And you and you're like,
I mean, score, like you have to figure out a
way of saying like something that's a bit more polished
than just like yeah, they got to fucking figure it out,
like you know, even though that's like sometimes kind of
what it is, especially for the leaves if they're down
like six to one, you're.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
Like, I don't know what.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
I don't know what I would do right now instead
of just going home packing it in and being like
waving the white flag. So I think it's great they're
doing that. And how many days.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Do you get?
Speaker 4 (08:27):
We have a dinner tonight and then tomorrow just a
one full day and that's it. But yeah, I mean
I but by the way, going back to what you said,
like the color commentary, like in game color commentary, that
is I think the most I think we're doing that
with Eddie all of us, and that one's going to
be interesting because you're right, it's like so off the
cuff and you kind of have to you know, I
(08:51):
think we're gonna look at plays and you know everyone's
you know, everyone sees the game the different perspectives, so
it'll be interesting to see how guys break things down
and you know, find things were good yet wrong.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
It went wrong here, that's why this happened. Yeah, yeah,
it's it's gonna be good.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
I mean, it's gonna it's gonna be fun to to
learn and see and you know, it's only one full day,
but it's great.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
It's it's it's so great they're doing this.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
It's just a.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Blast and then like blast you with info. So then
Jody Shelley, I don't know about Jody Shelly being a teacher,
Like that's something I have a question mark about. I'm
saying that's a joke. Jody Shelly is great, and that
reminded me about my next point is Jody Shelley's girlfriend
is or was still is a bartender at my favorite
(09:34):
place to go to, which our producer Bob Bender told
me to give my recommendation to you.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
The Canuck is my favorite place to go to in
New York City.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
It's a Canadian in New York's hottest club is the Canuck.
If you want to see old vintage photos of Canadian
intricate history that probably wouldn't you know, resonate with anyone
else unless you are from Canada or played hockey. You
want to go to this place because they have every
(10:07):
I know there's no hockey on right now, but they
have every game on. I guess there's also really not
no games to well there's the All Star Games on,
but it's like amazing place to go get your poutine.
I mean, I guess you're American, you don't really give
a fuck about this ship, but like, this is my
favorite place to go to New York. And they have
like Canadian chocolate bars and it's a great it's a
(10:30):
great vibe. I'm a big fan of the canuck I
spent New Year's there one year, like by myself. I
went because it's like family. It's like cheers. Everybody knows
your name. Have you ever been to the Statue of
Liberty or Times Square?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Yes, A long a long time yes, yes, Julie Rimber
I used to.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
I used to play for the Islanders, like a.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Long time ago, like yeah, that was island Man and
all the things, all the things.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You were out, you were out and it.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Was a short, short trip to New York.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
You're you're playing at NASAU.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
I scored my first NHL goal here.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I know I played a NASA Caliseme, but I scored
my first NHL goal at MSG.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
On the night Obama was elected the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
WHOA, what a night.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That's crazy, right, it's crazy crazy?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Wow, how long you've been.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
Playing Obama and I? Obama and I have that, we
have that in common. And then we also have in
common that we both were number forty four.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Oh my god, Nate, how about that.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
I know you were such a big Obama stan Holy cow, No, joky,
did you pick forty four because he was a forty
fourth president?
Speaker 5 (11:40):
No, forty four was just given to me when I
was and I loved it.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So I love those connections. That's really fun.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
I know, I know that's crazy. No, it's because I
it was.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
It was because I was wearing this hat and I
was walking down like Marina.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
I can't remember when it was a couple weeks, yes
you can.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And I was wearing and I was wearing this hat
and it was my hat from Phil but on the
front of it as forty four. We had a numbers,
we had our numbers on her hat, and I still
had it, and this guy was walking by and he's like, oh,
forty four. He's like, oh, there's there's a there's a
great play over there for for Obaba forty four.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
I love it forty four.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So he thought that I was like a huge Obaba
supporter because I had a forty four hat on.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
But what a perfect New York He clearly was not.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
He clearly was not a Nate Thompson fan.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Okay, So on that note, I wanted to say, you
said MSG is okay, so that's a really big deal.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
That's you scored your first goal.
Speaker 5 (12:42):
There.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We had Kenny albert On who had called that. But
I was at MSG four Weird Owl on the weekends.
It was an amazing concert. It was absolutely insane.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Weird al Is. I mean, he went, he went so
above and beyond.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I don't even know how He's a live like the
costume changes, the the the theatrics, the jumping around, the
everything he was. Let's just say the audience was a
little and I have to be and I was part
of the audience, so I'm putting myself in this was
a bit weird.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Audience was one of.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Those like, okay, everyone here is like a little bit off,
including me. So I bought these tickets back in September.
I had an MX pre sale for a concert in
July for weird Al.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
That says a lot right there.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Yeah, probably not the concert I probably go to, but
that is unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
So like it was, it was an interesting crowd.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah, you obviously, I mean Amish Paradise is my favorite.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Yeah, that's actually actually.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Amish Paradise is a banger.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
It's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Fat eat it, Yoda saga begins.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
It's a good one that anyway, it's it's for an
audience that's that's that's out there. And so my friend
and I were talking about it. You know what, so
many people that like are kids these days, like even
in their twenties wouldn't even know who weird Al is
because they have like TikTok and god, now I sound
so old. It's like weird Al was big because we
(14:17):
didn't have memes or phones or YouTube.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
God, we are so old. We just had weird Al
on like a walkman, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Yeah, a CD player where he was the one making
the jokes of other Yeah, you're right, that's actually a
good point.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Weird Al was our meme. He was our music meme.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
We had nothing.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
We were we were starved for content when we were
so we were like all all up in weird Al's grill.
My brother and I said this, We're like, if weird
Al started today, I don't think he'd be big because
it would just be like another guy on TikTok trying
to do like a music parody and whatever. But weird
Al is he's got it. Oh and he started the
concert in the Rangers' locker room. That's what I loved.
(14:58):
He was like in the Rangers' locker room and they
had it like a video and he came out onto
and I was like, yes, I love this and like
hockey weirdol, hockey, weird all that.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Those were the people that were there.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
The weird guys in my dms that say I love
you Julie every single day that you know, are a
little off and like people that love Weirdell. That's sort
of like my my general audience. All right, we have
gone way above and beyond here on this show. Right now,
we're bringing energy to this energy line and that includes
(15:30):
one player on our line this week, which will be
Nikolai Eelers, who is the talk of the town after
signing with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he's coming up right
after this. Welcome back into the Energy Line with Nate
and JSB. And we are really thrilled to be able
(15:51):
to welcome in our next guest all the way from
Denmark right now, the latest biggest splash free agent signing
for the Carolina Hurricanes. That's none other than Nikolai Eelers. Nikolay,
thank you so much for taking the time to join
us here on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And just I got to ask you.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Since all the news broke and and and all the
life changes that have happened, how has it been for you?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
How have you felt.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
It's been It's been good.
Speaker 8 (16:17):
You know, obviously during the whole free agency started, that
period was it was a little crazier than I expected.
A lot of phone calls, a lot of time on
my phone and you know, talking to people, talking to
my agent and my family and so on. So but
it was exciting as well, but definitely definitely crazy. And
(16:41):
now it's just you know, excited for this and and
you know, getting ready for for the next season.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Why congrats my man. I love it. Good to see you.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Well, since you're in Denmark, take us back. How how
did hockey start for you being over in Denmark.
Speaker 8 (16:59):
I actually started in Germany, so my dad used to play.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
My whole family plays.
Speaker 8 (17:04):
My brother plays in my hometown as well, but my
dad was playing in Germany in Berlin at the time
that I was born, So I actually played in Germany
before playing in Denmark and then moving to Switzerland. And
when you have, you know, your brother playing and your
dad playing, you're starting hockey as well.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
So it was pretty easy for me, right And.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Then like you went to Halifax, that's got to be
a real big change when you when they sort whoever
pitched you on Halifax, what was that conversation like to
come on over to the queue and play in the CHL.
Speaker 8 (17:43):
Actually, the first pitch was was from Patrick Kine and
Tyler Sagan during the lockout year in I think it
was twenty twelve thirteen season when they played in Switzerland.
I played with them for a little bit as a
sixteen seventeen year old, and they were pretty sure that
(18:05):
I should come over and play in the CHL somewhere.
So obviously, when you have guys like that telling you
stuff that you know, it makes sense suddenly. And after
that I called my agent and told him, you know,
look into it. And you know, a few months later
I was a Moosehead, which was an incredible time, great organization,
(18:28):
great city.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
And what was that like Playing with Patrick kNN and
Tyler Sagan.
Speaker 8 (18:32):
At sixteen running around with a cage, It was pretty insane.
And you know, and John Tamars and Spetza and Roman Yosi,
you know, all the guys that were over there at
the time.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Was pretty cool. So, I mean it was just awesome.
Speaker 8 (18:50):
You know, I was sixteen, seventeen years old, so you know,
playing against those guys was just a dream. And you know,
they were playing in the league that I wanted to
play in. So you know, when you look at those
guys and when they talk, you listen.
Speaker 7 (19:04):
So it worked out.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
And looking at your junior career, it was it was
pretty amazing. But before we get into the free agency part, fly,
I kind of want to talk about Winnipeg, you know,
talk about what it meant to you. The city. I mean,
I know, in my short time there and just being
being there during the COVID season, you know, I loved
it there. I love the guys, the organization, everything, So
(19:27):
you know, I know how important Winnipeg was to me,
So talk about you know, I mean, you've been there
for a while, so talk about Winnipeg to you.
Speaker 7 (19:36):
We don't.
Speaker 8 (19:36):
We don't have time for that in this area.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
I was there for ten years.
Speaker 8 (19:42):
I was part of that organization for eleven and you know,
in some way, you know, I still you know, I
still feel part of the family, even though I'm not
going to be playing there anymore. Right, So I loved
it there. That city is is incredible. Uh, the organization
(20:03):
is is top notch. You know, the people there are
are unbelievable. So and obviously we've we've been able to
create something really good in Winnipeg. And and you know,
playing on a on a team like that was a
lot of fun as well. So I only have good
things to say about, you know, my time in Winnipeg.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
There's a reason I was there for ten years. So
I loved it.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I wish free agents, all free agents would hear that,
yeah really, because it's it was. It was an incredible
place to play. I loved it, and I was there,
and I was there during the COVID season. We couldn't
even do anything right, play Like I literally just went
back and forth from a rinked in my house and
that was it. But still, I mean, it was just
it has like we talked about it, it has like
a it has like a Green Bay Packers vibe. I
(20:49):
guess you could say if you can compare it to
the NFL, right, like.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
It's it's amazing, Nikola, We're big Winnipeg. We're a big
Winnipeg podcast because both both Day and I have lived there.
I only lived there for four months, but that was
when the Jets came back. I saw Jets two point
zero come back, and I remember being like, holy cow,
and I bawled my eyes out when I had to
leave to go to Regina, Saskatchewan, which was the only
place like that could have been worse really in that
(21:16):
moment to go to. I make a joke because I
love Winnipeg so much. I almost went there this past weekend.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
But I got to ask you.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I was listening to your media availability with the Carolina Hurricanes,
and you said that it was really emotional talking to
Cheval day Off and the guys from from Winnipeg kind
of telling them your decision, Like how do you approach
telling a team and an organization that you love that
(21:44):
like you're breaking up with them.
Speaker 7 (21:45):
I mean, I knew it was going to be hard
for me.
Speaker 8 (21:47):
At least they were the ones that gave me a
chance to live out my dream, right. So I've always
had a great relationship with you know, my teammates, the trainers,
the therapists, people around on the rink and and you
know Chevy and Mark Chipman so and Arnie. This year
(22:11):
was was, you know, incredible to me. So it was hard.
And yes it was emotional because you know, I'm not
leaving Winnipeg because I didn't like it. I was there
for ten years because I enjoyed it.
Speaker 7 (22:28):
I loved it.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
So saying goodbye to people that I've known and loved
to be around for for the last ten years was
was was very hard.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
Take us through the free agent process a little bit.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
And the second part I guess is is now you're
going to a new team, new coach. You know, everything
is new. What are your most most excited about? Being
a Caroline Hurricane everything. You know, everything is going to
be new to me.
Speaker 8 (23:01):
You know, new teammates, us, new therapist, new coach, GM surroundings.
Speaker 7 (23:08):
You know, playing style is going to be different.
Speaker 8 (23:12):
So I think it'll be it'll be cool to try
something new, and you know, that's what I kind of
was looking for, was a new challenge. And I think
this way it's going to be exciting. They've had a
great team for years and I think I can fit
in really nicely on that team. So I'm just excited
to get the next season going and meet the guys
(23:35):
and you know.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Get to started Nikola.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Just to kind of bounce off of what Nate had
said earlier, like we had Elliott Friedman on our last
podcast and he was waiting for you to sign somewhere,
and that was like the last thing before his summer started.
And I'm curious, like, from your perspective, what is it,
what would surprise us about what it's like to have
(23:59):
the entire hockey world waiting for you to sign somewhere.
Speaker 8 (24:05):
Uh, well, I had I had a lot of people
send me some memes and stuff like that because I
hadn't signed on the first day, and you know, I
had so much, so much other stuff going on in
my head at that point that you know, I I
didn't even look or think about you know, what people
(24:25):
were saying. I think, you know, I wasn't trying to
drag it out. I've said that too. I just I
wanted to put myself in a position at that time
to make sure I make the best decision for myself.
And you know, I wanted to take in all the
the impressions and and everyone I had talked to, and
(24:47):
I just needed the extra time. And I think I'm
glad I did that. Elliott maybe wasn't too happy with me,
but but I think he can forgive me for that.
But yeah, I just wanted to to get all the
information before I because it's a big decision, right like,
I'm I'm twenty nine and making a six year commitment.
(25:12):
So I wanted to make sure I put myself in
the best spot to make the right decision.
Speaker 7 (25:18):
And I believe I've done that.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Oh, I was just going to follow up when you
said you took just that little extra time to make
sure you had the right decision, Like what was going
through your mind during that time, What was sort of
the the crux of that decision that you needed to
go through.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
Again, I'd never been in this position before, right like,
this was probably the biggest decision I've had to make
in my entire life in a way, and being in
Winnipeg for ten years now needing to decide where am
I going to live for the next six years? Like,
you know, Winnipeg they drafted me. I went there. I
(25:53):
loved it. Now you know, you're standing there with you know,
teams that are interested in you, and you need to
figure out where where do you see yourself the next
six years, you know, living and playing. So I think
that was kind of you know, just again trying to
get all the information and all the impressions and and
everything to you know, sort that through my head. And
(26:17):
and for all the people that you know weren't too
happy with me dragging it out, I apologize, But this one,
this one needed to be done right.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
What was the most important thing to you signing as
a free agent?
Speaker 7 (26:29):
Play the interest?
Speaker 8 (26:30):
You know, there's a there were there were a lot
of teams that showed a lot of interest, and and
obviously that's pretty cool.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
You know.
Speaker 8 (26:37):
I just think that, you know, you want to play
for for a team, You want to play for a GM,
you want to play for a coach that really really
wants you.
Speaker 7 (26:46):
And I think Carolina.
Speaker 8 (26:47):
Was was, you know, really cool about that. I also
just saw myself fitting in with the way that they
play and the players that they have. You know, they
got a lot of good young players that you know
they're going to be good for the next five six years.
And you know, like I said before, you take in
all the information and you put it together and you know,
(27:10):
kind of like a puzzle, and then you you see
he you know, hey, I would look pretty good in
a in a King's jersey. I think there's a lot
of a lot of different things that you know, kind
of add up to Okay, this is this is the
decision I want to make.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
What are a couple of guys that you're looking forward to,
uh to play with on the team?
Speaker 8 (27:30):
I think you know, obviously Freddie. You know, he's from Denmark.
We've known each other for years, so I think that
was pretty cool as well to have a Danish guy
in the team. And other than that, you know, I've
I've watched Carolina play. I'm a big hockey guy. I
watch a lot of hockey, so I've watched Carolina play
and and you know, they got some some really good players,
(27:54):
some really young talented players, and and the decor is
is is great. So I don't know, I'm I'm excited
to go there. And and you know, just get on
ice with those guys and you know, shoot the shit.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
I love what you said about interest, like just because
I think that a lot of people can relate to that,
regardless of being a hockey player. Not like, you want
to go somewhere where people really really appreciate you and
you feel as though you can flourish at the highest
level possible, and it seems as though based on the team,
based on what you can bring, that that's likely going
to be a possibility.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
When you signed and all the news.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
Came out, who was the first person from Carolina to
reach out to you?
Speaker 7 (28:33):
Oh a lot.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
You know, I talked to Freddie right away, you know,
I called him right away actually, just kind of telling
him like, hey, we're.
Speaker 7 (28:44):
We're going to be teammates next year.
Speaker 8 (28:47):
So, you know, a few of the guys, which obviously
again you know, that's something that's it just goes to
show what kind of team they are that you got
guys from the team reaching out and obviously coach GM
you know.
Speaker 7 (29:04):
Kind of every everyone in the organization.
Speaker 8 (29:06):
So that just to me showed that, you know, I
did make the right decision by you know, being part
of the Canes family.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Now being a part of the Kynes family, do you
do you get the expectation talking to guys, talking to
management coaches that it's it's time to win a cup
and and pretty awesome too to go from a place
like Winnipeg where you guys are winning and now you're
you're stepping into another team and have another chance to
win as well.
Speaker 8 (29:30):
I think on all the teams you kind of have
an expectation to to you know, you want to win.
You know, I think Carolina has a has had a
great team for years, and you know, I'm not going
there to just play hockey and and and have some fun.
You know, I want to go win games. And I
believe that organization is is ready.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
For for more.
Speaker 8 (29:54):
So you know, all the hard work, like we always say,
it starts in the summer. Uh, not as fun as
getting on the ice. But I'm excited to, you know,
see the steps that we can take as a team
this year.
Speaker 7 (30:08):
And you know that's the that's the most important part.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Nickla.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
I got to ask you how many people have, at
least when you first started in the league, messed up
your last name.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (30:18):
I think that's it's it's so hard because you know,
you kind of just you kind of just go with it,
like I understand what they're trying to say. Sometimes I
don't think aim is that hard either. I think there's
a lot of names in the league that are a
lot harder than mine.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Did you find that that was like the case, like
especially being in Canada where people saying, like, I'm Canadians,
I can make this joke like like a like as
an Ailer sincet like Eelers.
Speaker 8 (30:48):
You know, you got Elers and Eelers and I don't
know what else. But again, like you know, I probably
haven't you know, said every single name the right way either,
So you know in Danish it's it's different as well.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Oh what is it in Danish?
Speaker 7 (31:06):
Elis?
Speaker 8 (31:08):
Yeah, Elis's It's just it's just different, right, And I'm
okay with it.
Speaker 7 (31:16):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Still, we're gonna we're gonna start. We're going to use
the Danish version of your name. So wait, Nikolai el okay,
all right? Nate lost his microphone there for a second.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Sorry, uh, And I was gonna ask I don't even
remember how did you get the nickname fly? I mean,
I understand on the ice, But like, how did that
nickname come about? Because I'm calling you fly and I
forgot how you got the nickname?
Speaker 7 (31:43):
So did? I? Like, it's so many I remember.
Speaker 8 (31:49):
Somebody my first year or in my first camp, no,
I think it was my first year, tried to call
me Eels, but that wasn't It didn't stick just because
Keaton Llerby was there before me and they I think
they called him Eels or L's or something like that.
Speaker 7 (32:10):
And then I think it was.
Speaker 8 (32:13):
Thorburn, I think one who started fly and then you
know he was the thorb Dog and you know, then
I ended in fly dog and but mostly just fly.
And I'm not sure if it was because I was,
you know, just buzzing around on the ice, or if
(32:34):
it was because I was a smaller guy and I
was just like a fly or I I just I
think it was Thorburn that that started it all.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Okay, So because you guys were teammates, Nick, glad you
have any good stories about Nate from Winnipeg.
Speaker 8 (32:53):
I mean, like, like Nate said before, is the COVID year,
so like we didn't really get to do.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
A lot of fun stuff like we like we normally
do you know.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
Where you you you have some some good times with
the teammates and you know, you go for dinners and
stuff like that. So we were kind of that whole
year you know, was as much hockey as it gets, right,
but you know, I remember back we still found a
way to have a good time and you know, enjoy
(33:25):
each other's company and and you know, Nate's a pretty
funny guy as well, so I enjoyed it.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
Yeah, we had a good time. We had a we
had a.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
I have a video fly I sent to our group
chat of us. I don't know, someone snapped it of
when what we would do before we would go out.
You remember, like before we go out on the ice
with a tunnel, we had a little like handshake thing.
Speaker 5 (33:48):
But it wasn't a handshake thing. We weren't using our hands.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Hey, explain it, Nate for people who haven't seen it.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Well, it was more of like a thrusting, oh okay,
mom movement, you know what I mean. But we did
at the same time, you know, it was like, yeah, anyways,
it's fun.
Speaker 7 (34:06):
You have like a few of those with like a
few guys.
Speaker 8 (34:08):
Yeah, with Bucky, I've had one for ten years, and
stuff like that, but yeah, that one I remember.
Speaker 4 (34:15):
Now that's funny, it's super inappropriate, but whatever, it was great.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Oh bump and grind. You got to get you guys.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Going before you Everyone has crazy rituals in those tunnels
before you're on the ice, and you got to follow
through with them.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Yeah, well that Nate.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
We were saying that when I used to watch you
guys for the ducks walk out right cuts or whatever
you got.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Well, Nikola, I will have.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
To see what you end up, you know, kind of
acclimating to and in Carolina and who you'll be uh,
you know, bumping up against when you're going out there.
We'll be looking, we'll be looking for the tunnel cam.
I'm I'm good to let you go, Nate, if you
have anything else.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
No, it's good to see you, buddy. I'm just so
happy for you.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Congratulations go enjoy beautiful Denmark where you are right now,
and we look forward to seeing you on the ice
this fall.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
Thank you very much. Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
All right, that was Nikolai Eeler's recently signed to the
Carolina Hurricane six years eight point five AAV and Nate.
We were just discussing how lovely Scandinavians are just a
cut above everyone else.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
Really, they really are. They're just better people than everybody else.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Seriously, Yeah, you could tell. He's just genuinely decent guy.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Like good guy, really good guy. Like I love playing
with Fly.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
He's a super funny guy too, like kind of like
different humor, but I really enjoyed playing with him.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
We had a good time.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
And I mean, hell of a hockey player like this
guy is going to help Carolina, Like you know, they
they've always had trouble, like right, getting.
Speaker 5 (35:58):
Over the hump and scoring, right, we need more scoring. Well,
you're getting a whole.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Nother off of Dynamo and him and how like how
fast he is too, Like his speed just adds a
whole their element to their team. Their their team's already fast,
and now you add Nikolai Eeler's chances are he's probably
gonna be playing with Sebastianajo, and I mean he's not
He's not slow by any means either, So you just
add more speed to their lineup, and I think he's
(36:23):
going to be another player that fits in perfect with
their team.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
It's a great point that you made about the scoring
because as fast as they've been, they just like have
had these like really grind out, boring games, but like
haven't really scored as much. So that would be a
great spot for him. But for you you played with him,
Like we talked about it a little bit there. But
what's maybe something that the rest of like maybe the
(36:48):
Metropolitan Division or the East wouldn't know about Nikolai Eelers
because he's been playing in the West. That might be
like a surprise about his game.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
He has an edge to his game, he has he
has a bit of fuck you at him.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
I would say, like he he can play hard.
Speaker 4 (37:04):
He'll he'll run you over, he'll stick you like like
like Fly is not afraid to mix it up. And
he's a smaller guy, but he doesn't back down. And
that's the biggest thing that I took away from him
when I played with him, is he had that in him.
Like he would he would run guys, he would you know,
he would drag guys.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Into the fight.
Speaker 4 (37:21):
And I don't I don't know if people realize that
about him. You know, he's a guy that really cares
wants to win. You know, he's known as an offensive guy,
but he plays extremely hard. I mean I remember their game.
I remember a game we were in Winnipeg and he
got into it with Big Jumbo Joe Thornton, and like
it looked like they were gonna like drop the gloves,
and I mean, like Jumbo's way bigger than him, and
(37:43):
you know, Fly didn't back down. So that's just another example,
an instance that you know you're getting a guy that's
not afraid to mix it up too.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
That's great love to hear that about him. I think
a lot of people will be excited, especially in Carolina,
to hear that.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
And I was.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
I was curious, like I mean with his phone blowing
up on like through free agency, like you would have
to have that thing on do not disturb like beyond
like you couldn't even open it up, like because I
know I was gonna say, like there are reporters.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
I don't know if you've ever heard of this term,
but they power call you, and they just they just
keep pressing your number. Power call, power call, power call,
so you can't do anything, Like if you were on
your phone and you're just like, oh god, Julie's calling
me again, and oh Julie's calling me again, and and
then by at some point you'll be like, Okay, fine,
(38:36):
fuck it, I'll answer it. That's what I know a
couple of reporters that do that. It's not not a
very well looked upon strategy, but it does work, because
you guys, that's the worst strategy.
Speaker 5 (38:51):
That's what.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Boom boom boom boom.
Speaker 5 (38:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
I know a couple reporters that uh a network that
has four letters with it, that used to do that
for like football players, And I was like, damn, that's
I mean, it's it works, But I don't know if
that's going to help your relationship with the.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
Person going forward. Just keep bugging them, bugging them.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
But what about the fact that Kate we didn't talk
to him about this. There were a lot of rumors
about him potentially going to Montreal and the whole reuniting
or not reuniting. But like Patrick Lyne that that maybe
they made a good pitch for him. I think when
he said that, he you know, looked at all aspects
of where he, you know, want to spend the rest
(39:32):
of the next six years. What do you think about
the fact that like maybe Montreal was in the mix there?
Speaker 5 (39:37):
Yeah, I wanted to ask what other teams.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
I forgot to. I wanted to ask what other teams
would were in the mix, and I think my trial, Yeah,
that's another team that I heard and that that definitely
would have been a good fit as well.
Speaker 5 (39:48):
I mean, who knows.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
I mean, you know, maybe you know, like he's played
in Canada for ten years, you know, maybe he wanted
to be out of Canada, you know, and maybe maybe
that was a factor. And I can understand that. You know,
you're there's nothing it's not a knock against Canada. It's
just like you know, when you want to live in
the US for a little bit and play over there,
and you played in one country for your whole cold career.
(40:10):
So yeah, I mean that would have been awesome him
in Montreal too, So I don't know, that's it's just
all those shit of what it could is right in free.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
Agency, Yeah, and obviously too, I'm sure you know there's
the different things, the factor into that money playing, just
like various different things, and you know in your gut
when something feels right and when something feels wrong, and
if he felt that this was right, and I think
to your point, like the idea of he doesn't have
to have a cold winter. It can get a little
(40:41):
chilli and Raleigh, but it ain't snowing buckets like it
does in Winnipeg and Montreal. But I mean it could
snow buckets because I mean, gosh, like, who knows what
the weather's going to be anywhere these days.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
But I think it's a nice little if.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
You want to change things up, you go from Winnipeg
to Carolina, that's definitely for sure.
Speaker 5 (41:01):
And the media part too, like, oh yeah that too.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
You know you're not You're not under the mic, You're
not under the microscope anymore.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
Yeah, nobody is going to be talking you in Carolina,
that's certainly for sure. They'll be covering UNC, they'll be
covering anybody else. Really, No, I'm just they'll be covering
Bill Belichick. That's definitely their number one right now. Jokes,
if be we give a shout out to all the
wonderful Carolina media that's out there, and Nate and I
(41:30):
have been in that arena and that lovely, wonderful tunnel
that has so much wonderful air that breathes down it.
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Wind, that wind, that wind tunnel.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
I have a I have a slow mo that someone
took of me interviewing Sammy votn in you want to
go way back, and it's just like my hair, I
like literally look like I'm in like a commercial for
like a Beyonce Like that was the one nice part.
You got to be on the right side of the
wind tunnel or else. It's really really bad situation. If
(42:02):
you're if you're a lady, that's for certain.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
All right, Swolla.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
We want to thank you guys for all listening to
episode thirty one of The Energy Line with Nate and JSB.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
Energy Line is a production.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Of the NHL and iHeart podcast Thanks to nik Lai
Eelers for joining us all the way from Denmark. Might
I add thanks to j Brown for producing the show.
Subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify wherever you get
your podcasts, or listen on the iHeartRadio app. And if
you guys could give us a five star rating right
in a nice review, it really helps us.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
I'm Julie druppinks he's Nate Thompson.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
We'll be back with another episode as we are off
next week.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Thank you for tuning in to the Energy Line.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
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.
Hosts And Creators
Nate Thompson
Julie Stewart-Binks
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