December 9, 2025 • 49 mins
On this week's episode of Energy Line Nate and JSB talk:
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Olympic Rink Controversy: Alarming construction issues in Milan threaten NHL participation. Nate and JSB discuss why a few feet matter so much on the ice, the consequences of a smaller rink on player safety, and get insider info on why the show will go on..
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Blockbuster Trade Talk: Is it inevitable that Quinn Hughes will be traded to the Devils to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke? Nate breaks down the massive package Vancouver would need in return and how the move instantly makes any acquiring team a Cup Contender.
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Are the Leafs Back? Toronto is surging despite goalie injuries. Nate and JSB discuss what's fueling the Maple Leafs' turnaround and how close the Atlantic Division race is.
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The Code and Corey Perry: Nate weighs in on Jacob Trouba's controversial hit on Ryan Leonard. Plus, the etiquette of using NHL nicknames, pranks gone too far, and Nate's takeaway from interviewing Corey Perry.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart Podcasts.
(00:25):
Welcome on into energy Line with Nate and JSB and
Julie Surpinks.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
He's former NHL or Nate Thompson.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Energy Line is a production of iHeart Podcasts and the
NHL and Tomer. We've got a lot going on here
today as we are getting ready for Leg's Olympique twenty
twenty six Milan Olympics, of which I will be at
regardless of whether or not NHL players will be there.
(00:55):
As we have heard from the Board of Governor's meeting
and Bill Daily giving an update on everyone wondering what's
going to happen with the rink size, the ice, is
it going to be ready, the building, all this kind
of stuff, and so really just to give everyone a
bit of you know, a background of course, is that
the last update is that the main rink in Milan
(01:19):
will be ready on February second. There is another rink
which is kind of like the b rink, and that's
going to be ready beforehand, so you know, just keep
that in mind. The main building isn't sealed, so that's
like that feels like a big, a big thing. And
then they're going to have test events January ninth, tenth,
(01:39):
and eleventh, and Bill Daly had said if the players
feel like the ice is unsafe, then we're not going
to play. However, he has said he doesn't feel the
issues are insurmountable. Nate, now that I've given everyone a
bit of a soliloquy on what's going on in Milan,
what's your what's your whole take on this?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
On this situation, it's uh, it's difficult, it's complicated, but
I understand both sides of it.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
I think the problem is, Julie, is that they've known
about this event for so long, and to mess up
on the dimensions of the arena when you had this
much notice and you knew the Olympics were coming. I
think that's the frustrating part. I think it's more of
the principle of it. Do I think the players can
(02:29):
play on this, Yeah for sure. Will the players probably
play on anything to go to the Olympics, Yeah, most likely.
But at the same time, like it's the principle of
the matter, like you have these dimensions of the rank
two hundred feet not one ninety six by eighty five,
two hundred by eighty five, just get that right, and
we avoid all of this talk, all of this hearsay,
(02:52):
and possibly the men you know, not playing in the Olympics.
Just it's kind of a mess, and it's it was
very unavoidable. So let's hope, like Bill Daly said, that
this is not that big of an issue and they
can fix it and we don't have to talk about
this anymore. And we're going to be playing. We're going
(03:12):
to have NHL players in the Olympics this year. We're
not gonna have to worry about this like that. That
would be a catastrophe if that does happen. I don't
think that's how going to happen. I would be shocked
if it happens. Yeah, but I totally foresee this being
fine and them figuring it out right.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Nate, I think you make some great points. It's very
very concerning that this even is a thing. Like as
you know, the Olympics, we knew about were happening. We
knew that there were issues with this the rink being
built about a year ago. They were off schedule. And
as someone who's going to be covering the Olympics, and
(03:50):
I've covered many Olympics, and I went to Milan this summer.
I had someone say, oh, if you're going to take
the one of the airports, drive to one of the airports,
you'll be passing by the hockey rinks, but you won't
see them because it won't be built yet. And it
was like a very dark IOC joke. It's alarming that
(04:10):
this happened. I do say that, you know, we have
known the NHL has always had their opt out clause,
like there is always an opportunity for them to be
able to say no, and understandably for the player's health
and safety and the rink being too small and all
these things are understandable that they would also say these things.
(04:31):
But I want to go Nate to your perspective. We
haven't talked about it, but like, what would it be
like for a hockey player to play on a rink
that is one hundred and ninety six point eighty five
by eighty five point three versus an NHL rank which
is two hundred feet by eighty five.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
It depends, And I think I say that because it
depends on which zone are they minimizing. You know, It's
like is it going to be the end zones or
is it going to be the neutral zone because it
makes a difference, like if they take that link way
from one of the end zones, then you're looking at
possibly the corners being smaller, you know, maybe the goal
(05:11):
line from the goal line to the boards being smaller.
And those are minor adjustments in a game where if
you're a defenceman and you're skating backwards and you pivot
to go forwards to get the puck, all of a
sudden that puck is in front of you way quicker
than it is normally and you have let's say Tom
Wilson behind you chasing you. That might make a play
(05:34):
different that Mike might come to a play where it
may maybe changes a game, who knows. But like those
little those little things of feet in certain areas of
the ice, I think can make a huge difference right.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Right, Like where's the neutral zone? Where are the nets?
Like where is sort of the space being compromised trying
to get around the net?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I think, yeah, that'd be fascinating.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I just asked a source about what that might potentially be,
and so I just put this out on Twitter. But
I said along the same points as you, Nate, like
I cannot imagine a world where they don't go like
it would have to be because okay, they're gonna have
this test event. I'm not sure exactly who's gonna be
(06:23):
in the test event. That's because they said if the
ice isn't good enough, we won't go or we won't play.
But then that means the players have to test out
the ice. That means everyone's already there. That means the
whole pomp and circumstances happened and debta da da all
the stuff. So okay, so maybe does one person just
said go over and test it out and he's like
(06:45):
yeah or nay, and then then they come back or
it's like the test event is just a whole bunch
of random people, like is it on the ice right?
Like I don't know who's deciding what's good and what isn't.
But I put this out like I was at Tokyo
twenty twenty in the pandemic, and we have to remember
that two Olympics happened in a global pandemic and Beijing
(07:10):
there were people that were quarantined based on being a
close contact and weren't able to compete in their events,
and the Olympics still went on. And I will say
this year, and I'm not, like, it's not something I've
really talked about publicly, but I wrote a book proposal
about the Olympics happening in the pandemic, both of them
(07:34):
because I came back from Tokyo and I was just
like really rattled by it because there was no fans there.
It felt like I felt bad for the athletes. It's
like it felt like all of this is for the athletes,
yet it felt like it was.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Taking away from the athletes.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
And I was super rattled, and it was how I
kind of dealt with the trauma being there and testing
issues and all this kind of stuff. And it was
denied by fifteen different publishers, which was probably a blessed
in disguise, and they were like, no one wants to
read about COVID right now, we're still in it. And
ironically that day I got COVID that I got that
(08:12):
back and so but it did help me learn a lot,
which is that the Olympics ain't stopping for nobody like
the show. Well, there's too much money. The contracts with
the TV contract with NBC alone is what propels this Olympics.
And you know they have put millions billions whatever into this.
(08:37):
They ain't it, Like the owners already have their ticket
packages to go over there. That apparently I just heard
on Ray and Driggs two hundred and twenty thousand euros
for this ticket package for the owners. Like they're you know,
they're doing all this kind of stuff. So the train
is already the train has already left the station. And
(08:59):
that's the thing that I don't think a lot of
people think. You can't just move it over to North America.
You can't move it to Switzland. You're gonna, you know what,
the show will go on, and it's not going to
be clean. Probably it's gonna be pretty messy. But you
know what, you'll only know that if you're there, because
I was at SOCH and there were a lot of
(09:22):
things that were not ready and not working. But you
would never know if you're watching on TV, you'd never know.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
No, you wouldn't. And I'm looking forward to you going
over there July because you'll be able to be my
insider info and you'll be able to see everything over there.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
But I you know i'll be sending those pics back immediately.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Oh, I know you will be. I know you will
be but I think though, I think even if and
I'm sure I don't know if this has been talked
about too much, but even if the dimensions don't change
or they can't get it fixed, I anticipate the players
probably still playing in those dimensions. I just think the
players care way too much, you know, how much they
(10:03):
we want to play the Olympics. There's a lot of guys.
This is their first time, so I think if it
comes down to it, we'll see. Obviously it's it's a
it's bill. They only said it's up to the players
and the PA. I'm sure, well, yeah, exactly when the
players and the Pierre involved, the players say ultimately we
want to play, they're going to play. So let's hope
(10:24):
that they get it fixed and we don't have to
get to that decision. But I anticipate we are going
to have it and help players in the Olympics this year.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
I mean, John Ham's already done an AD with the
Team USA, which was great.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
It was good.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We want Canadian tears loved it. Okay.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
So in whilst we've been discussing this on the program,
I texted a source about the dimensions and I'm not
sure if it's public or not.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
We'll have to see.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But about you know where things are, and he said,
blue lines move. I don't know how to convert this
into inches, but thirty centimeters close to the red line.
Goal line moves close closely to the end boards.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Okay, so they made so they made adjustments in the
neutral zone and the end zones. Basically, it sounds like,
how does.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That does that alter how you feel about it?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
I mean, I think that helps maybe a little bit.
It'll still change it'll change the ice a little bit,
but I mean, I don't know. I guess they'll have
to see after the testers. You know, I don't know
that this is This is a whole new experience for
these guys and myself. So I don't know this. We'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Mm hmm. It is uh, it is interesting.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
There are stories like this as somebody who's an Olympic
crack addict, like for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
You know, I'm obsessed with the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I'm actually wearing Team Canada it keep Canada shirt right now.
And this this happens all the time. My dad was
actually supposed to go to the Olympics in nineteen eighty
but Canada pulled out because of Soviets invasion in Afghanistan,
so like that's a little bit of a very different situation,
(12:09):
and that was that had also significant mental implications for
him as well. I talked to him about it at
the Kadi last year over a couple of wobbly pops
around the fire, and it was like the first time
he'd really gotten into it, and he said, is so
hard for him to talk about it, Like, imagine qualifying
for the Olympics and then not being able to go.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, that's crushing.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
So we hope that everyone's able to go to the
Olympics and that it's safe because lasting you know, God forbid,
we don't want anyone to get injured and anything like that.
No one player who is looking, of course, to be
going to leg is it Empique is by the way,
I also don't know if I'm saying Summer Olympics or
if I'm saying Olympics, So no friends out there.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I just loved saying it's just Olympique. Okay. Is Quinn
Hughes who is all over the.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
News Quinn Hughes all over the news because it looks
as though obviously Vancouver is selling and perhaps Quinn Hughes
might be a devil. He might be a red wing,
he could be a flyer. Who do you think wins
the Quinn Hughes stakes?
Speaker 4 (13:20):
I mean, for me, I think it's got to be
the Devils. I mean, it just seems inevitable to me
that he's going to end up playing with Jack and Luke.
It just seems like that is the end story here,
no matter what. So if you trade him to a
team like Detroit or Philly or I even heard Pittsburgh
as well at one point, like I it's inevitable, because
(13:45):
what are you going to do when and Matt jump
in here? I think he's got two years left on
his deal if I'm correct, two years left and you
have him for these next two years, Well, what are
you going to do when he becomes a free agent?
Like are you going to be able to resign him
knowing that he's still thinking about playing with his brothers?
(14:07):
I just think that's the biggest hurdle and for the Canucks.
Also for the Canucks, I'd say this Julie, like this
is a monumental, historic trade that they have to get
right because you are trading arguably one of the best
defensemen in the world to another team. So if you're
(14:28):
going to do that, you better hit on this trade.
You better hit on the draft picks, and you better
hit on the core players you are getting back from
New Jersey or whatever team you're trading him to, because
Quinn Hughes is going to that team and he's going
to change the whole team. Like if he goes to
New Jersey, they're a Cup contending team. Any team he
goes to that has a chance to make the playoffs,
they're a Cup contending team now with Quinn Hughes. So
(14:50):
this one is tricky because it's already causing so much
noise and it feels the same as it was last
season with the JT. Miller and Elias Petterson situation. This
is the same thing and it's following the Canucks. Canucks
are only as good as Quinn Hughes goes. That's how
good he is, and we've seen that. We saw that
last year. When he's playing, they're a different team. When
he's not playing, they're not the same team. They're a
(15:12):
bottom dollar team. So this is a really interesting way
for the Canucks and how they have to navigate this.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Quinn us has the rest of this year and next year,
so if you get them, you get like a year
and a half rental. If he's not going to sign with.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
You, youre right, and that will change regardless any team
who who gets him. So you know, we're not going
to get into it. But the Canucks got a lot
of stuff they got to figure out with the trade
or whatever happens with Quinn Hughes whatever that, but also
their whole organization that's been an absolute dumpster fire. So
(15:47):
if you were then if Quinn Hughes was to be traded,
what would what do you think what type of package
would a team need to give up?
Speaker 4 (15:58):
I mean it could go anywhere from I think you're
going to get. You're going to have at least one
first rounder, at least one, maybe a second rounder, maybe
another high prospect most likely, Like if you're looking at
you know the devils right like you like, there's this
Anton silliof. I think that's how you say his name
(16:18):
is their top prospect, Like he's going the other way.
He's going the other way. For sure, you're getting him,
and you're probably getting another good roster player, like you're
gonna get a guy with some term. They're probably gonna
want a guy with some term and a guy that's
a good roster player that's you know, not overly older
in the league, and he's going to be part of
their core. Like they're gonna have to make. They're gonna
(16:39):
have to make this trade that's gonna be for the
future of the core of the Canucks because, like I said,
you're trading Quinn Hughes like that is I mean, that's blockbuster.
That's to me. This to me, this deal is bigger
than the Miko Randon one last year because you are
trading I think arguably one of the best defensemen in
the world like he is that he is, he makes
(17:01):
that much of impact every time he's on the ice.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Right, And do you think that maybe it's even bigger
just because the nature of the potential trade of him
being united with his brothers.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Is yeah, I mean, could you imagine, Julie, Like, can
you imagine we have Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes and Luke
Hughes all in the same power play in New Jersey? Oh?
Speaker 1 (17:22):
My?
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Should you imagine that? Put Like, think about that and
think about the league and how exciting that is. But
at the same time, think about the new Jersey Devils
now with Quinn Hughes in their lineup, and you look
at their defense core and what they already have, and
then you add to their forward group and then you
add Quinn Hughes to that and you're like, Okay, this
New Jersey Devil's team is probably in time, probably could
(17:47):
win some Stanley Cups here. So it's exciting. This is
great for the league. I mean, I love the drama
of this, of him possibly leaving, which I think it's
just a matter of time. It's inevitable, and it's an
edible who gets them. To me, I think the Devil's
have to come out and be like, we're going to
get you now. Let's just let's just get him. We
only just get this over, Let's just get this whole.
(18:10):
Like Matt said, he only has a year and a
half left until he's a free agent, right.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Like, we come on, everybody, you know, let's just get
the plot moving, like we think this is going to happen.
And also, when when you started talking about the power play,
it just reminded me of the Sedines and it's like,
remember we had the exce on to him talking about them,
and it's like that innate sense of like the brothers
like they know, they know where and what, like they
(18:36):
were born with it.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Yeah, Like like I'm getting visuals of like you watch
Quinn's skate on the ice, it looks like he's floating
out there. And it's the same thing with Jack, Like
I'm getting visuals of both of them in the in
the offensive zone just doing marygo rounds with the puck
with each other, just playing and just play it back,
just playing keep keep away with everybody, Like can you imagine,
like it would be ridiculous, it would be silly when the.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Devil's a Cup contender immediately though, or do they need
to address goaltending before they're actually a cup contender because
there are goalies right now put them like back back
at half of the middle of the league.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
I think they're a cup contender immediately because once now
you have Quinn Hughes in the lineup. I think that
changes their team defensively, and I think that their goaltending
becomes better because of it. So I think they become
a cup contender right away as soon as they gets interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I'm sorry, is that maybe a little bit of a
Freudian slip, quickly thoughts on the fact that Rick Jockets
and Philly and they He's been linked to Philly and
he obviously has a relationship with them.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Yeah, I think again, like I'm sure. I mean, there's
thirty two. If I'm a GM in the league right now,
I am calling about Quinny Hughes, no matter what, if,
if if I don't have room or not, because if
you're if there's a chance that you can get him,
I think you have to. So I think Danny Brier,
knowing that he has a relationship with Rick Tackett, called
(20:05):
right away and said, listen, what's going on. Talk talking
to him at a pretty good thing last year. They
can reunite with that. So I'm sure every team is
calling and Vancouver is listening. So I just think that
at the end of the day, deep down in Quinn
Hughes's heart, he wants to play with his brothers. I
just didn't think that seems to be the case here.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
It would be weird if it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Really, I think at the end of the day, I
also just wanted to update you as I've been multitasking.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
As women are just usually better out at them men.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
I'm not gonna lie, but apparently you're also not supposed
to be multitasking.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
You're just supposed to be tasking.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Is that I've been texting with my source on the
Olympics and the test event is going to be the
euro Under twenties Japan, Estonia, Italy, Poland. Perfect for what
we need, doblehf refs very good.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Refs some working in American League. And I heard the
ice is great.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
We're going to have Olympics and NHL rosters. The NHL
guys are going to be there. I just think that,
and I think they're gonna get it fixed. I think
it's gonna be fine.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
I think we're barely The boards are great too, Athletica
boards from Ontario.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
No worries at all.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
They should be had they had enough time to get
it right.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
So yeah, So it looks like we have now confirmed
that the Olympics will go on here on Energy Line
with Naton JSB, and we have a whole lot more
to get to around the league and we will have
that including are the leafs back when we return on
Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Welcome on back to
(21:52):
Energy Line with Nate and JSB. So many different storylines
to get to you today, including Nate.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Do you think that Morgan and Geekee should be an Olympian.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
I hear a lot about that. Do I think he
deserves it? Yeah? Probably? Do I think he will be
on the team? No, I don't. I think there's too
many other guys playing in the top six because I
don't know where he I don't know where he would
slot in. I mean I think about every single player
in the role, and especially the top six, I don't
(22:25):
know who's going to go in that spot. I think
he's definitely, I mean, he's on the radar and I'm
sure there's been conversations about him, but I don't think
he's going to be on the Canadian Olympic team.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
No. Interesting, I've just been googling it and it's like
there's a lot of people that predict him to be
on the roster, although it doesn't help that he does
not kill penalties and he didn't make the Four Nations roster.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Yeah, and that's what it is, really. I mean, you
have to if you're going to play on this international
event for the Olympic team, you have to have a
role and every single guy leaving their team is first PK,
first power play, first line, second line, whatever whatever it
may be. But here you're not going to be the
(23:14):
guy that's going over first power play. We already know
who's going over for that, right first PK. You might
not be first PP. You might have to be second PK.
So your role is going to change. You know, you
might be used to playing twenty twenty five minutes, Well
now you're going to play ten to fifteen. And I
don't know where a guy like Morgan Geeky is going
(23:35):
to play over a guy like let's say Nick Suzuki
in a bottom six role. And I think at the
end of the day, you're probably going to take Nick
Suzuki in that role, knowing that he can play in
all different situations. So I think that's the biggest decision
for these guys in the Olympic process is finding the
roles for each player knowing that they're going to play
that role to the best of their ability. Right.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Well, to your point, that's exactly what Tyler Tiffoley said
to us about macln Celebrini and that you play any
type of role, And that's also what Patrick Kane said
to us about why he should be on the team,
how he could play any different role, as we know,
there's so many different things that can happen in this
tournament and it's short and it's a quick turnaround, and
he can't just be a good goal scorer because those
(24:19):
are those are roles, but they're already taken and it's
like being in a play. It's like, you might be
really good, this analogy already sucks. I'm about to say
you might be really good in drama class this year,
but there's people that have been here taking the big
roles for a while now. And like he's already got
twenty two goals this season in thirty games, but like, yeah,
(24:42):
obviously that's really good, second highest in the league behind
Nate McKinnon.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
But like.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
It's just like it's just it's too much competition for
these specific cross.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
And what do you say, is really too Like everyone
wasn't up in arms about Tom Wilson not making the
Four Nations team last year, Well they still won, so
so what do you say, right, Like, and Tom Wilson
should be on the Olympic team this year, and I
think he will be, but you know, the team Canada
is so good. You guys could send two teams if
(25:14):
you really wanted to. Yes, me is Team Canada.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Well, as I've said, I am wearing a Team Canada
shirt right now, so yeah, I am the general manager.
I am Don Sweeney. Also Don Sweeney connection. Is that
odd to have a Bruins connection there.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
For Morgan? Geegee?
Speaker 4 (25:36):
It is? And it helps. It certainly helps. I mean
I think it helps for the US team with Billy
Garren being the GM, with guys like you know, Brock Favor,
Matt Bowldie, the guys around the four nation team last
year for the US, So yeah, I mean, I think
it definitely helps. You have your own general manager seeing
you every game, knowing exactly what he's going to get,
what type of player you are, and he's able to
relay that to the rest of the staff. So I
(25:58):
think it definitely helps. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
So we're seeing an uptick in Brandon Hegel's play too,
despite Tampa Bay not doing that great over the last
handful of games. As I swiftly transitioned to the Toronto
May believes being back after a two nothing shutout victory
for the Hilda Beasts over Tampa Bay and in an kind.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Of interesting game in different ways. What do you make
about kick Nate? I did some math before this. Just
that's it. That's the headline.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I did some math before this and it ended up
being how tight it is in the East. Toronto is
two points out of second place in the Atlantic, but
they are also two points out of a wild card
spy in the East.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Yeah, it's wild. I mean, it's it doesn't make sense.
But I mean the Leafs are playing good right now.
They're playing good hockey. And I mean we were talking
about them two weeks ago and it was completely completely different.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Like they're dead in the water they end the season
right now.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Yeah, but but they look good, Like they had a
good game last night. They had. I thought they had
a really good game in Carolina too, Like they've they've
had some good wins lately, and they're getting contributions from
different guys, Like I even point out a guy like
Dakota Joshua, like he's been really good for them.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
The last last night.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Great, he's that's and that's what they brought him there for.
And that's what these guys, I think, these role players
that uh, you know, it took a little bit for
them to kind of maybe get acclimated. It's starting. You're
starting to see the benefits from it. And even a
guy I have to mention to a guy like Scott Lawton,
like I think since he's been in the lineup, I
think he's that type of blue guy player that kind
of brings it all together and you know, helps guys
(27:49):
slot in in the right spots they need to in
the lineup. And then I think too, you know, to
be able to keep your head above water to I
think what they're six two and two in their last
ten al the goal he's hurt, right, and you have
Dennis Hillenbe who I think I think they got to
(28:12):
run with him. I mean I've seen a small enough
sample size this season where he has shown, uh, he
can be a good goalie and he's obviously huge, so
I think they got to keep running with him. I
think the way they're playing defensively, getting like I said,
getting contributions from guys down coming back, tanav is coming back.
(28:33):
I mean things are looking things are looking pretty good
for the Leaves right now.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Why just like absolute roller coaster.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
For the Leaves, is it? Ever?
Speaker 1 (28:46):
It's a big psychological warfare for their fans, Like every
day it's like up and down?
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Are we in?
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Are we out?
Speaker 4 (28:52):
Were?
Speaker 2 (28:53):
You know, it's just the same.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
I think it's interesting though, because with stolars and wool out,
if you just have like hill to be I mean,
who's backing in my up?
Speaker 2 (29:04):
Do we know?
Speaker 4 (29:05):
I can't even say his name. I think Matt's got it,
Arthur Atamov. See, I was right, you can't even pronounce
the name. I looked at it before too, in my
little question.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Mark at the end there.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Okay, yeah, all right, so the backup goalie for the leaps.
We'll just keep it at that. Keep it simple, play it,
play it simple. So but why do you think let's
go a little bit better? Like, why do you think
they're playing better?
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Well? I think it just it's come down to I,
like I said, I think you've had Dakota, Joshua'll come in.
He's starting to play well. They're starting to get like
I said, they're starting to get contributions from those guys
Scott Lawton, I think has made things more stable in
their lineup. And then and then now you have a
healthy Austin Matthews just starting to play better as well.
(30:00):
Like you could see, he's starting to feel healthier, Like
I think that was the biggest thing that during the
beginning of the season, you know, he just did look healthy,
and now you're getting that. I think they're playing well
defensively too, like they are there. They've shut I mean,
to to do what they did last night, and obviously
Tampa's banged up, they don't have every guy in their
(30:20):
lineup right now, they have an all season, but to
do what they did last night, shut out the lightning
at home, and do what they did the game before
that in Carolina as well. I mean, those are impressive
wins back to back, and it shows to me that
you know, they're knuckled. They knuckled down defensively, and now
they're getting contributions from different guys. And then Hill he's
(30:43):
playing well. They're all all recipesly for winning hockey games, right.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
And Craig Brewy had really healthy scratched everyone essentially before.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
So I guess that's really what is it that.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
You said this or maybe be access at it, or
you guys probably both said like the thing you take
away from guysz ice time, like how you light a
fire underneath them. So I'm sure that that might have
that may or may not have had an impact on things.
I mean, it certainly seems like cause and effect. Okay, yeah,
I mean I think it had an impact on Dakota Joshua.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
He got helped to scratch that game, and you see
his response as he's come back, He's been pretty damn good.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
So yeah, totally agree.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Okay, let's send things over to the west coast of
Canada in that Tristan Jarry lands in Edmonton, and now
this is obviously a place that is looking for better goaltending.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Is this enough for them?
Speaker 4 (31:44):
I don't know, Julie. I is it enough if they
get Christian Jarry. I'm going to say yes. I'm gonna
say yes it is because I think and just no
disrespect to Stuart Skinner, but just the season he's having,
I think anything is going to be better than what
they've had this year in the goaltending department. And Jarry's
(32:04):
had a pretty pretty good year so far, I think,
respectively in Pittsburgh they've got off to a good start.
So I think if they can land a guy like Jarry,
I mean, I wish that they could get a guy
like Bennington. That would be the guy that I think.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Would be think Bennington.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Maybe I think Bennington and Edmonton would really would would
be a good fit. I think with his demeanor, the
way he plays, I think he would be a good
fit in Edmonton. I think just with his overall swagger,
I think would be a good fit him going there.
It'd be great for uh, it would be great for
Canadian media have it him there, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yeah, so I'm curious about that.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
When I was working this weekend at S and Y,
people were saying that Sports Night New York, they were like,
we don't like Jordan Bennington, like he's too much, and
as like, well, that's just a weird bias against him.
But like, I love Bennington because of his sassiness him.
I mean, okay, him stealing the puck that OV scored,
(33:09):
maybe not.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Like the classiest thing that he did. He gave it.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Back, But like I think he just I love his
axe murder or gene in him. I don't know, what
do you think?
Speaker 4 (33:19):
I totally agree. I think that's part of what makes
him so good. I think that's why he's able to,
you know, play the way he's able to play in
big games and show up and be the guys because
he has like a killer instinct swagger that he doesn't
give a shit what anybody thinks and he's just going
to go out there and be the guy. So I think, like,
(33:40):
if they can get a guy like him, can you
imagine having a guy like Jordan Bennington And if you're
in a Game seven and you got him and Connor
McDavid on your team, you're probably feel a little bit
more confident.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Well, yeah, like Bennington is like built for Game sevens.
I feel that's like his that's his sweet spot. That's
we saw him in Feign Nations saw them when they
won the Cup in Boston for Saint Louis. Sat was
clearly selling in a selling situation, I believe right now,
But then again, who knows any given day, Okay, I
(34:11):
want to keep things out west, but now we're going why.
I don't know why I'm doing. Where in the world
is Carmen San Diego right now? But like now we're
going to go south and we're going to go to
Anaheim where Jacob Truba had a bit of an elbow
SITUATIONWN against Ryan Leonard or not or was his shoulder.
There was a lot of hoopla around this hit that
(34:33):
happened in the game of the Anaheim Ducks taking on
Washington Capitals. What was your take on the hit.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
My take was, I think, and maybe I'm not being
sympathetic to Ryan Leonard here, but I think he needs
to cab his head up. I think he kind of
looks at his past behind him for a second, thinking
he's not going to get hit. I think if he
looks forward as he's doing that right away, probably nothing happens,
(35:02):
or maybe he runs into Truba and they collide and
that that that's it. But I think that the way
he turns, how he's kind of lower his head is back,
he's not even looking. He kind of puts himself in
a vulnerable position here. And it's Jacob Truba. Jacob Truba
(35:24):
we know is going to hit you. If you have
your head down, or if you cut through the middle
of the ice, you're going to pay in a way
from Jacob Truba. So I just think, and I understand,
you know, the league's trying to get away from certain
hits and headshots, but I think the headshot could be
could have been avoided if he had his head up
and he had his head turned the right way.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Okay, So tell me from a hockey playing standpoint that
like a good hockey player is that you as that
behind the net when you're he's trying to pass it.
He's so he's going one way, he's trying to pass
it the other way. He should where should his head be?
He should maybe do it blindly back or he has
(36:05):
to do it quicker.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Yeah, I mean, I think there's a way. I mean,
if you saw, let's say Nikita Kutrov goes behind the
net and does that play like, I don't think he's
his head is going to be looking back at the
same time as he's turning, Like as soon as he
makes that pass back right away, his head is coming
right back forward again so he can see what's in
front of him, or he sees what's the side of him, Like,
you're not going to leave your head behind you as
(36:28):
you're turning around the net. I just think, I just
think if.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
You're a milliseconds, I feel I know, I know, I
know it is, but I think that at the same time,
I mean, these guys are that good, right, I think
there's I think that there is.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
A little bit of a delay where he does hold
his neck there, he holds his head behind him where
he can pull it back, or he could have you know,
being a right handed he could have just dropped it
behind him without turning his head back. Yeah, this way.
You know, there was ways that he could have He
could have avoided having his head back and continuing to
(37:05):
turn into basically the other side of the net where
Truba met him.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Okay, so but for Truba on that side, a guy
who has been really well known for elbows and steff
then does anything lie on him for this if that's
like his persona.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
I mean it's tough because guys, I know I played
on the edge a little bit too. And and when
you're committed to a hit like that and you're going
into it, I mean you're, like you said, it's milliseconds,
Like you're not going to just get out of the
way and move Like your job is to be physical.
His job is to be physical. I think he plays
on the line. He does a pretty good job of that.
(37:46):
And I don't think his I don't think Jacob Truba
is going to pass up another hit because of what
he did to Ryan Leonard. I think it's just it's
a game of hockey. Things happen fast. Players get blown
up and some players I think sometimes the onus is
on them carrying the puck rather than the guy give
in a hit.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
Let's bring in producer Matt Here for his opinion, because
he's a Rangees fan who's seen a lot of Trouba
over the years.
Speaker 5 (38:15):
I think Trouba has gotten a bit of an unfair rap.
I mean, there are times where it's it's on the
line and it does look like it could be an elbow.
But at the same time, like every Truba hit is
a results it results on it's big, but it results
in a fight, which I guess is just a thing
now in hockey where like clean or not, you have
(38:35):
to fight after a huge hit and then b it's
like a two to three day debate on whether or
not it was clean or not. And I guess when
you're you know, like I'm in market, I used to
see the guy talk and be around the team whatever,
it just doesn't appear that his intent is to ever
hurt anybody. But I guess when you're watching nationally it's different.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
But I don't know.
Speaker 5 (38:58):
I think I think Truba plays a pretty good game,
so I give him the benefit the dow usually and
as a guy who had his head down way too
much in hockey, which is why I never made it.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Uh, you know, I understand.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
I've gotten I've gotten blown up to death.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
So I mean, haven't we all had our head down
because we're else are gonna put know where the puck is?
Speaker 5 (39:21):
Like you know.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (39:24):
That's for us, Nate, You're like, what wait?
Speaker 4 (39:27):
So I know I understand that I'm still not I mean,
I'm still not as good as some guys NHL. How
they can look up the whole time. That's that is
that is a skill.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
That is a skill.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
Okay, there are some NHL guys that I would like
to ask you about Nate and current players, but we're
going to take a quick time out here first on
Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Don't go anywhere. I
want to know what Nate thinks about another hit podcast.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
Oh what a tease. We'll tell you more after this.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Welcome on back to Energy Line with Nate and JSB,
and we are are getting set for a great week
of hockey. And before we get to the games that
we're looking forward to this week, I really wanted to
ask Nate some questions that I had based off of
listening to the Kuldchuck Brothers podcast, and first of all,
(40:21):
one of them was that you probably saw blow up
about how Matthew Kuldchuck doesn't like and I specifically say,
Matthew Kuldchuck full name, doesn't like when girls say his nickname,
and then later said he didn't like people using his nickname.
And I found that interesting. How do you feel about
(40:45):
like I introduced you immediately right out of the gate
as Tom or but I also call you Nator, Tater
or whatever, but it's nicknames are How do guys feel
about people using their nicknames that aren't on their team?
Speaker 4 (41:00):
Yeah, I feel the same way. I think I would
give you a pass because we are we're we're co
hosts on a podcast, and everyone calls me Tom around
here anyways, or for the most part when they come
on as a guest, so you have a pass. But
I totally agree with Matthew when it comes to random
people or like, yeah, our girls calling you by your
(41:22):
hockey nickname. It's just it's not it it's not it's
not it.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
So like a girl you were like interested in and
they called you Tom, Oh.
Speaker 4 (41:32):
Yeah, I know, I'd be like no, no, no, get away.
Don't don't say that.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
No, okay, okay, but like not I didn't play in
the NHL, but I have like random people in my
DM to call me Banksy or JSB and those would
be my nicknames. Those are just random dudes and so
but that just happens, Like you know, do you have
how do you feel about that happening? Just like random
(41:57):
people being like I had someone net working in hockey
this event last week that at the Devil's game be like.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Oh Speed, and I was like, who's that? Yeah, I know.
Speaker 4 (42:08):
That's that's weird to me. Like if someone that doesn't
know me that just automatically just called me Tom, I'm like, uh,
it's a little weird, you know, like I'd like to
me it's just Yeah, I agree with Matthew. I think
that that's it's it's odd when it's not someone you know,
or it's a random urseous as a girl, Yeah, say
(42:29):
saying your nickname toomer if.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
You're in an intimate situation with her too, it would
be just a real real logo sound for sure.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
You can see that.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
Yeah, That's why I asked Nate about some guy who
messaged me and he dropped Nate's name, and he said,
ned like that at your nickname, Because that guy could
have just been and I still haven't the Jerry's out
on that. He could have just been like, hey, I
just know that from knowing and listening and watching that
(42:59):
his nicknames.
Speaker 4 (43:00):
I think he did. He was just saying it from knowing,
you know which.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
Yeah, I asked Nate to give me some advice on
someone who'd messaged me who dropped Nate's name, and in
typical boy fashion, he was like, yeah, that guy's fine.
I'm like, no, is this man maybe gonna murder me?
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Like, I just need to know things. Things we think
about that you probably don't have, don't run past you.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
So other question I have based on that podcast is
Brady Kucheck told a story about basically a prank going
too far into the game about with Clo Drew, and
he kind of stinks it's great if you haven't heard it,
listen to it. So then based off of that, I'm
just curious if you ever had like a prank or
(43:48):
seen a prank go too far where it's like, uh, oh,
it's in the game now.
Speaker 4 (43:54):
I don't know if I've never seen a prank going
to a game like that, like that was all time,
Like that's crazy he forgot and then then nothing ever
bad happened from it, Thank God for him. But I
think the only one I remember that maybe drastic for
him and his wardrobe was when I played in Tampa.
We were on the road and Brett Connolly was a
(44:16):
rookie and he said something or did something to Ryan
Malone or whatever, and we had practice. Well, when practice
was over, his his suit pants were cut to they
were cut to shorts. So he wore his suit pants
and his dress shoes and his dress jacket out, but
he wore he wore them with shorts, so his suit
(44:36):
pants were shorts and they were cut up like they
looked like Peter Pan. And that was he didn't have
dress pints for the rest of the trip. I'm sure
you had to go get new ones. But yeah, I'd
say that was taking it pretty far. But he definitely
sent the message to Brett Connolly on that watch, which
was great. Now thinking about.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
It, wow, well yeah, at least, well that's unfortunate for him,
but it's uh, it's good. I guess it didn't get
into the game because of what. Yeah, Brady Kichuck mentioned
his old nogin forgot that he'd pulled a prank on Clolturi,
which is just exactly how I imagine Brady Kulchuck to be,
and also exactly how I imagine.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
Myself to be.
Speaker 1 (45:17):
I'd be like, oh no, I totally forgot that I
did that before, and now it's going to totally screw us.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
He said.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Luckily we won the game. Okay, So speaking of games,
let's get to our games of the week. What are
you looking forward to watching.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
Saturday oilers leafs Hockey Night in Canada. That one's going
to be must watch. You got McDavid, You got Matthews,
It's going to be that's gonna be a game, Julie.
Let's see where both teams are at. Hopefully they both
bring their a game and we have a great Hockey
Night in Canada that night, and I'll be in the US.
But I like watching the Hockey Night in Canada version.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
I appreciate that. I really appreciate that because I think
that the Hockey Night Canada version is I konny, even
though it's changed its iteration over the year. So yeah,
I got I mean Matthew's McDavid it's always that and
also ever since you know, they played each other in
four Nations and they're playing each other in the Olympics
(46:17):
because as we have decided on this podcast, they are ago.
And I think they're also pretty close in the standings too,
which doesn't mean anything because everyone's just it's just a
revolving door these days.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
So I agree on that game.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
I also like Rangers Habs Original six. Both of them
are also one point. I mean everyone's one point separated
in the standings, which I absolutely love.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
The West is definitely a little bit different, mostly because
of Colorado, but other than that, I wanted to ask
you final thought on saw that you interviewed Corey Perry
with scram Culture and what's maybe something that you took
a way from interviewing Corey Perry that maybe surprised you
(47:08):
or would people would find interesting about kind of talking
to him right now.
Speaker 4 (47:13):
I think just how articulate he is about the game
of hockey and how much he really cares about his teammates.
And I think that's probably why a big reason why
he's still playing and loves to play so much is
because he cares about his teammates so much, and he
wants to win, and he knows that he needs every
single guy on his team to win. So, in a
short answer, I think that's probably it is how much
(47:34):
he cares about everyone else on his team.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
Oh and was that the same when you were.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
With him, Yes, it was. He was a guy that, Yeah,
he knew that he needed every single guy on the
team to win, and he made sure that everyone was
pulling their part. And but he helped guys too, So
it was. It was a great interview. He was he
was awesome. He had a lot, we had a lot
of fun and he had some great answers.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Is he a guy that's makes any jokes ever, he
doesn't seem like it.
Speaker 4 (48:07):
Yeah, he's a he's a pretty uh reserved guy like
that would think I was the first time he's ever
done a podcast. So yeah, yeah it was. You know,
we got him to open up a little bit. But
he's a quiet, soft spoken guy normally.
Speaker 5 (48:17):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
So I texted you after I remember with the Kings,
like I just remember, I have this, I have this
photo on my phone. It's like Corey Perry is literally
horizontal somehow, He's like up like up against the boards
within like some scrum. It's like his body's not even
on the ice. It's like he's somehow worm like he's
somehow in this in the mix always but you guys
(48:40):
were talking about Dux King's rivalry stuff, which was always
always great. And I remember Pat Moran saying to me,
he used to get sick before those rivalries because he
knew he was probably gonna have to fight, and he.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
Just like couldn't sleep.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
So we love a good we got we love a
good rivalry in the NHL. Okay, I guess that's it
here for our episode. Energy Line with Nate and j
SP is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcast
We thank our producer Matt Teba for producing and joining
us here on the show and we will see you
guys next week. Energy Line is the production of the
(49:36):
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.
(00:25):
Welcome on into energy Line with Nate and JSB and
Julie Surpinks.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
He's former NHL or Nate Thompson.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Energy Line is a production of iHeart Podcasts and the
NHL and Tomer. We've got a lot going on here
today as we are getting ready for Leg's Olympique twenty
twenty six Milan Olympics, of which I will be at
regardless of whether or not NHL players will be there.
(00:55):
As we have heard from the Board of Governor's meeting
and Bill Daily giving an update on everyone wondering what's
going to happen with the rink size, the ice, is
it going to be ready, the building, all this kind
of stuff, and so really just to give everyone a
bit of you know, a background of course, is that
the last update is that the main rink in Milan
(01:19):
will be ready on February second. There is another rink
which is kind of like the b rink, and that's
going to be ready beforehand, so you know, just keep
that in mind. The main building isn't sealed, so that's
like that feels like a big, a big thing. And
then they're going to have test events January ninth, tenth,
(01:39):
and eleventh, and Bill Daly had said if the players
feel like the ice is unsafe, then we're not going
to play. However, he has said he doesn't feel the
issues are insurmountable. Nate, now that I've given everyone a
bit of a soliloquy on what's going on in Milan,
what's your what's your whole take on this?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
On this situation, it's uh, it's difficult, it's complicated, but
I understand both sides of it.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
I think the problem is, Julie, is that they've known
about this event for so long, and to mess up
on the dimensions of the arena when you had this
much notice and you knew the Olympics were coming. I
think that's the frustrating part. I think it's more of
the principle of it. Do I think the players can
(02:29):
play on this, Yeah for sure. Will the players probably
play on anything to go to the Olympics, Yeah, most likely.
But at the same time, like it's the principle of
the matter, like you have these dimensions of the rank
two hundred feet not one ninety six by eighty five,
two hundred by eighty five, just get that right, and
we avoid all of this talk, all of this hearsay,
(02:52):
and possibly the men you know, not playing in the Olympics.
Just it's kind of a mess, and it's it was
very unavoidable. So let's hope, like Bill Daly said, that
this is not that big of an issue and they
can fix it and we don't have to talk about
this anymore. And we're going to be playing. We're going
(03:12):
to have NHL players in the Olympics this year. We're
not gonna have to worry about this like that. That
would be a catastrophe if that does happen. I don't
think that's how going to happen. I would be shocked
if it happens. Yeah, but I totally foresee this being
fine and them figuring it out right.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Nate, I think you make some great points. It's very
very concerning that this even is a thing. Like as
you know, the Olympics, we knew about were happening. We
knew that there were issues with this the rink being
built about a year ago. They were off schedule. And
as someone who's going to be covering the Olympics, and
(03:50):
I've covered many Olympics, and I went to Milan this summer.
I had someone say, oh, if you're going to take
the one of the airports, drive to one of the airports,
you'll be passing by the hockey rinks, but you won't
see them because it won't be built yet. And it
was like a very dark IOC joke. It's alarming that
(04:10):
this happened. I do say that, you know, we have
known the NHL has always had their opt out clause,
like there is always an opportunity for them to be
able to say no, and understandably for the player's health
and safety and the rink being too small and all
these things are understandable that they would also say these things.
(04:31):
But I want to go Nate to your perspective. We
haven't talked about it, but like, what would it be
like for a hockey player to play on a rink
that is one hundred and ninety six point eighty five
by eighty five point three versus an NHL rank which
is two hundred feet by eighty five.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
It depends, And I think I say that because it
depends on which zone are they minimizing. You know, It's
like is it going to be the end zones or
is it going to be the neutral zone because it
makes a difference, like if they take that link way
from one of the end zones, then you're looking at
possibly the corners being smaller, you know, maybe the goal
(05:11):
line from the goal line to the boards being smaller.
And those are minor adjustments in a game where if
you're a defenceman and you're skating backwards and you pivot
to go forwards to get the puck, all of a
sudden that puck is in front of you way quicker
than it is normally and you have let's say Tom
Wilson behind you chasing you. That might make a play
(05:34):
different that Mike might come to a play where it
may maybe changes a game, who knows. But like those
little those little things of feet in certain areas of
the ice, I think can make a huge difference right.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Right, Like where's the neutral zone? Where are the nets?
Like where is sort of the space being compromised trying
to get around the net?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I think, yeah, that'd be fascinating.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I just asked a source about what that might potentially be,
and so I just put this out on Twitter. But
I said along the same points as you, Nate, like
I cannot imagine a world where they don't go like
it would have to be because okay, they're gonna have
this test event. I'm not sure exactly who's gonna be
(06:23):
in the test event. That's because they said if the
ice isn't good enough, we won't go or we won't play.
But then that means the players have to test out
the ice. That means everyone's already there. That means the
whole pomp and circumstances happened and debta da da all
the stuff. So okay, so maybe does one person just
said go over and test it out and he's like
(06:45):
yeah or nay, and then then they come back or
it's like the test event is just a whole bunch
of random people, like is it on the ice right?
Like I don't know who's deciding what's good and what isn't.
But I put this out like I was at Tokyo
twenty twenty in the pandemic, and we have to remember
that two Olympics happened in a global pandemic and Beijing
(07:10):
there were people that were quarantined based on being a
close contact and weren't able to compete in their events,
and the Olympics still went on. And I will say
this year, and I'm not, like, it's not something I've
really talked about publicly, but I wrote a book proposal
about the Olympics happening in the pandemic, both of them
(07:34):
because I came back from Tokyo and I was just
like really rattled by it because there was no fans there.
It felt like I felt bad for the athletes. It's
like it felt like all of this is for the athletes,
yet it felt like it was.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Taking away from the athletes.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
And I was super rattled, and it was how I
kind of dealt with the trauma being there and testing
issues and all this kind of stuff. And it was
denied by fifteen different publishers, which was probably a blessed
in disguise, and they were like, no one wants to
read about COVID right now, we're still in it. And
ironically that day I got COVID that I got that
(08:12):
back and so but it did help me learn a lot,
which is that the Olympics ain't stopping for nobody like
the show. Well, there's too much money. The contracts with
the TV contract with NBC alone is what propels this Olympics.
And you know they have put millions billions whatever into this.
(08:37):
They ain't it, Like the owners already have their ticket
packages to go over there. That apparently I just heard
on Ray and Driggs two hundred and twenty thousand euros
for this ticket package for the owners. Like they're you know,
they're doing all this kind of stuff. So the train
is already the train has already left the station. And
(08:59):
that's the thing that I don't think a lot of
people think. You can't just move it over to North America.
You can't move it to Switzland. You're gonna, you know what,
the show will go on, and it's not going to
be clean. Probably it's gonna be pretty messy. But you
know what, you'll only know that if you're there, because
I was at SOCH and there were a lot of
(09:22):
things that were not ready and not working. But you
would never know if you're watching on TV, you'd never know.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
No, you wouldn't. And I'm looking forward to you going
over there July because you'll be able to be my
insider info and you'll be able to see everything over there.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
But I you know i'll be sending those pics back immediately.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Oh, I know you will be. I know you will
be but I think though, I think even if and
I'm sure I don't know if this has been talked
about too much, but even if the dimensions don't change
or they can't get it fixed, I anticipate the players
probably still playing in those dimensions. I just think the
players care way too much, you know, how much they
(10:03):
we want to play the Olympics. There's a lot of guys.
This is their first time, so I think if it
comes down to it, we'll see. Obviously it's it's a
it's bill. They only said it's up to the players
and the PA. I'm sure, well, yeah, exactly when the
players and the Pierre involved, the players say ultimately we
want to play, they're going to play. So let's hope
(10:24):
that they get it fixed and we don't have to
get to that decision. But I anticipate we are going
to have it and help players in the Olympics this year.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
I mean, John Ham's already done an AD with the
Team USA, which was great.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
It was good.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We want Canadian tears loved it. Okay.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
So in whilst we've been discussing this on the program,
I texted a source about the dimensions and I'm not
sure if it's public or not.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
We'll have to see.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But about you know where things are, and he said,
blue lines move. I don't know how to convert this
into inches, but thirty centimeters close to the red line.
Goal line moves close closely to the end boards.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Okay, so they made so they made adjustments in the
neutral zone and the end zones. Basically, it sounds like,
how does.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That does that alter how you feel about it?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
I mean, I think that helps maybe a little bit.
It'll still change it'll change the ice a little bit,
but I mean, I don't know. I guess they'll have
to see after the testers. You know, I don't know
that this is This is a whole new experience for
these guys and myself. So I don't know this. We'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Mm hmm. It is uh, it is interesting.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
There are stories like this as somebody who's an Olympic
crack addict, like for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
You know, I'm obsessed with the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I'm actually wearing Team Canada it keep Canada shirt right now.
And this this happens all the time. My dad was
actually supposed to go to the Olympics in nineteen eighty
but Canada pulled out because of Soviets invasion in Afghanistan,
so like that's a little bit of a very different situation,
(12:09):
and that was that had also significant mental implications for
him as well. I talked to him about it at
the Kadi last year over a couple of wobbly pops
around the fire, and it was like the first time
he'd really gotten into it, and he said, is so
hard for him to talk about it, Like, imagine qualifying
for the Olympics and then not being able to go.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, that's crushing.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
So we hope that everyone's able to go to the
Olympics and that it's safe because lasting you know, God forbid,
we don't want anyone to get injured and anything like that.
No one player who is looking, of course, to be
going to leg is it Empique is by the way,
I also don't know if I'm saying Summer Olympics or
if I'm saying Olympics, So no friends out there.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I just loved saying it's just Olympique. Okay. Is Quinn
Hughes who is all over the.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
News Quinn Hughes all over the news because it looks
as though obviously Vancouver is selling and perhaps Quinn Hughes
might be a devil. He might be a red wing,
he could be a flyer. Who do you think wins
the Quinn Hughes stakes?
Speaker 4 (13:20):
I mean, for me, I think it's got to be
the Devils. I mean, it just seems inevitable to me
that he's going to end up playing with Jack and Luke.
It just seems like that is the end story here,
no matter what. So if you trade him to a
team like Detroit or Philly or I even heard Pittsburgh
as well at one point, like I it's inevitable, because
(13:45):
what are you going to do when and Matt jump
in here? I think he's got two years left on
his deal if I'm correct, two years left and you
have him for these next two years, Well, what are
you going to do when he becomes a free agent?
Like are you going to be able to resign him
knowing that he's still thinking about playing with his brothers?
(14:07):
I just think that's the biggest hurdle and for the Canucks.
Also for the Canucks, I'd say this Julie, like this
is a monumental, historic trade that they have to get
right because you are trading arguably one of the best
defensemen in the world to another team. So if you're
(14:28):
going to do that, you better hit on this trade.
You better hit on the draft picks, and you better
hit on the core players you are getting back from
New Jersey or whatever team you're trading him to, because
Quinn Hughes is going to that team and he's going
to change the whole team. Like if he goes to
New Jersey, they're a Cup contending team. Any team he
goes to that has a chance to make the playoffs,
they're a Cup contending team now with Quinn Hughes. So
(14:50):
this one is tricky because it's already causing so much
noise and it feels the same as it was last
season with the JT. Miller and Elias Petterson situation. This
is the same thing and it's following the Canucks. Canucks
are only as good as Quinn Hughes goes. That's how
good he is, and we've seen that. We saw that
last year. When he's playing, they're a different team. When
he's not playing, they're not the same team. They're a
(15:12):
bottom dollar team. So this is a really interesting way
for the Canucks and how they have to navigate this.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Quinn us has the rest of this year and next year,
so if you get them, you get like a year
and a half rental. If he's not going to sign with.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
You, youre right, and that will change regardless any team
who who gets him. So you know, we're not going
to get into it. But the Canucks got a lot
of stuff they got to figure out with the trade
or whatever happens with Quinn Hughes whatever that, but also
their whole organization that's been an absolute dumpster fire. So
(15:47):
if you were then if Quinn Hughes was to be traded,
what would what do you think what type of package
would a team need to give up?
Speaker 4 (15:58):
I mean it could go anywhere from I think you're
going to get. You're going to have at least one
first rounder, at least one, maybe a second rounder, maybe
another high prospect most likely, Like if you're looking at
you know the devils right like you like, there's this
Anton silliof. I think that's how you say his name
(16:18):
is their top prospect, Like he's going the other way.
He's going the other way. For sure, you're getting him,
and you're probably getting another good roster player, like you're
gonna get a guy with some term. They're probably gonna
want a guy with some term and a guy that's
a good roster player that's you know, not overly older
in the league, and he's going to be part of
their core. Like they're gonna have to make. They're gonna
(16:39):
have to make this trade that's gonna be for the
future of the core of the Canucks because, like I said,
you're trading Quinn Hughes like that is I mean, that's blockbuster.
That's to me. This to me, this deal is bigger
than the Miko Randon one last year because you are
trading I think arguably one of the best defensemen in
the world like he is that he is, he makes
(17:01):
that much of impact every time he's on the ice.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Right, And do you think that maybe it's even bigger
just because the nature of the potential trade of him
being united with his brothers.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Is yeah, I mean, could you imagine, Julie, Like, can
you imagine we have Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes and Luke
Hughes all in the same power play in New Jersey? Oh?
Speaker 1 (17:22):
My?
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Should you imagine that? Put Like, think about that and
think about the league and how exciting that is. But
at the same time, think about the new Jersey Devils
now with Quinn Hughes in their lineup, and you look
at their defense core and what they already have, and
then you add to their forward group and then you
add Quinn Hughes to that and you're like, Okay, this
New Jersey Devil's team is probably in time, probably could
(17:47):
win some Stanley Cups here. So it's exciting. This is
great for the league. I mean, I love the drama
of this, of him possibly leaving, which I think it's
just a matter of time. It's inevitable, and it's an
edible who gets them. To me, I think the Devil's
have to come out and be like, we're going to
get you now. Let's just let's just get him. We
only just get this over, Let's just get this whole.
(18:10):
Like Matt said, he only has a year and a
half left until he's a free agent, right.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Like, we come on, everybody, you know, let's just get
the plot moving, like we think this is going to happen.
And also, when when you started talking about the power play,
it just reminded me of the Sedines and it's like,
remember we had the exce on to him talking about them,
and it's like that innate sense of like the brothers
like they know, they know where and what, like they
(18:36):
were born with it.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Yeah, Like like I'm getting visuals of like you watch
Quinn's skate on the ice, it looks like he's floating
out there. And it's the same thing with Jack, Like
I'm getting visuals of both of them in the in
the offensive zone just doing marygo rounds with the puck
with each other, just playing and just play it back,
just playing keep keep away with everybody, Like can you imagine,
like it would be ridiculous, it would be silly when the.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Devil's a Cup contender immediately though, or do they need
to address goaltending before they're actually a cup contender because
there are goalies right now put them like back back
at half of the middle of the league.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
I think they're a cup contender immediately because once now
you have Quinn Hughes in the lineup. I think that
changes their team defensively, and I think that their goaltending
becomes better because of it. So I think they become
a cup contender right away as soon as they gets interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I'm sorry, is that maybe a little bit of a
Freudian slip, quickly thoughts on the fact that Rick Jockets
and Philly and they He's been linked to Philly and
he obviously has a relationship with them.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Yeah, I think again, like I'm sure. I mean, there's
thirty two. If I'm a GM in the league right now,
I am calling about Quinny Hughes, no matter what, if,
if if I don't have room or not, because if
you're if there's a chance that you can get him,
I think you have to. So I think Danny Brier,
knowing that he has a relationship with Rick Tackett, called
(20:05):
right away and said, listen, what's going on. Talk talking
to him at a pretty good thing last year. They
can reunite with that. So I'm sure every team is
calling and Vancouver is listening. So I just think that
at the end of the day, deep down in Quinn
Hughes's heart, he wants to play with his brothers. I
just didn't think that seems to be the case here.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
It would be weird if it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Really, I think at the end of the day, I
also just wanted to update you as I've been multitasking.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
As women are just usually better out at them men.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
I'm not gonna lie, but apparently you're also not supposed
to be multitasking.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
You're just supposed to be tasking.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Is that I've been texting with my source on the
Olympics and the test event is going to be the
euro Under twenties Japan, Estonia, Italy, Poland. Perfect for what
we need, doblehf refs very good.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Refs some working in American League. And I heard the
ice is great.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
We're going to have Olympics and NHL rosters. The NHL
guys are going to be there. I just think that,
and I think they're gonna get it fixed. I think
it's gonna be fine.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
I think we're barely The boards are great too, Athletica
boards from Ontario.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
No worries at all.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
They should be had they had enough time to get
it right.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
So yeah, So it looks like we have now confirmed
that the Olympics will go on here on Energy Line
with Naton JSB, and we have a whole lot more
to get to around the league and we will have
that including are the leafs back when we return on
Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Welcome on back to
(21:52):
Energy Line with Nate and JSB. So many different storylines
to get to you today, including Nate.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Do you think that Morgan and Geekee should be an Olympian.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
I hear a lot about that. Do I think he
deserves it? Yeah? Probably? Do I think he will be
on the team? No, I don't. I think there's too
many other guys playing in the top six because I
don't know where he I don't know where he would
slot in. I mean I think about every single player
in the role, and especially the top six, I don't
(22:25):
know who's going to go in that spot. I think
he's definitely, I mean, he's on the radar and I'm
sure there's been conversations about him, but I don't think
he's going to be on the Canadian Olympic team.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
No. Interesting, I've just been googling it and it's like
there's a lot of people that predict him to be
on the roster, although it doesn't help that he does
not kill penalties and he didn't make the Four Nations roster.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Yeah, and that's what it is, really. I mean, you
have to if you're going to play on this international
event for the Olympic team, you have to have a
role and every single guy leaving their team is first PK,
first power play, first line, second line, whatever whatever it
may be. But here you're not going to be the
(23:14):
guy that's going over first power play. We already know
who's going over for that, right first PK. You might
not be first PP. You might have to be second PK.
So your role is going to change. You know, you
might be used to playing twenty twenty five minutes, Well
now you're going to play ten to fifteen. And I
don't know where a guy like Morgan Geeky is going
(23:35):
to play over a guy like let's say Nick Suzuki
in a bottom six role. And I think at the
end of the day, you're probably going to take Nick
Suzuki in that role, knowing that he can play in
all different situations. So I think that's the biggest decision
for these guys in the Olympic process is finding the
roles for each player knowing that they're going to play
that role to the best of their ability. Right.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Well, to your point, that's exactly what Tyler Tiffoley said
to us about macln Celebrini and that you play any
type of role, And that's also what Patrick Kane said
to us about why he should be on the team,
how he could play any different role, as we know,
there's so many different things that can happen in this
tournament and it's short and it's a quick turnaround, and
he can't just be a good goal scorer because those
(24:19):
are those are roles, but they're already taken and it's
like being in a play. It's like, you might be
really good, this analogy already sucks. I'm about to say
you might be really good in drama class this year,
but there's people that have been here taking the big
roles for a while now. And like he's already got
twenty two goals this season in thirty games, but like, yeah,
(24:42):
obviously that's really good, second highest in the league behind
Nate McKinnon.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
But like.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
It's just like it's just it's too much competition for
these specific cross.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
And what do you say, is really too Like everyone
wasn't up in arms about Tom Wilson not making the
Four Nations team last year, Well they still won, so
so what do you say, right, Like, and Tom Wilson
should be on the Olympic team this year, and I
think he will be, but you know, the team Canada
is so good. You guys could send two teams if
(25:14):
you really wanted to. Yes, me is Team Canada.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Well, as I've said, I am wearing a Team Canada
shirt right now, so yeah, I am the general manager.
I am Don Sweeney. Also Don Sweeney connection. Is that
odd to have a Bruins connection there.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
For Morgan? Geegee?
Speaker 4 (25:36):
It is? And it helps. It certainly helps. I mean
I think it helps for the US team with Billy
Garren being the GM, with guys like you know, Brock Favor,
Matt Bowldie, the guys around the four nation team last
year for the US, So yeah, I mean, I think
it definitely helps. You have your own general manager seeing
you every game, knowing exactly what he's going to get,
what type of player you are, and he's able to
relay that to the rest of the staff. So I
(25:58):
think it definitely helps. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
So we're seeing an uptick in Brandon Hegel's play too,
despite Tampa Bay not doing that great over the last
handful of games. As I swiftly transitioned to the Toronto
May believes being back after a two nothing shutout victory
for the Hilda Beasts over Tampa Bay and in an kind.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Of interesting game in different ways. What do you make
about kick Nate? I did some math before this. Just
that's it. That's the headline.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I did some math before this and it ended up
being how tight it is in the East. Toronto is
two points out of second place in the Atlantic, but
they are also two points out of a wild card
spy in the East.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Yeah, it's wild. I mean, it's it doesn't make sense.
But I mean the Leafs are playing good right now.
They're playing good hockey. And I mean we were talking
about them two weeks ago and it was completely completely different.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Like they're dead in the water they end the season
right now.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Yeah, but but they look good, Like they had a
good game last night. They had. I thought they had
a really good game in Carolina too, Like they've they've
had some good wins lately, and they're getting contributions from
different guys, Like I even point out a guy like
Dakota Joshua, like he's been really good for them.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
The last last night.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Great, he's that's and that's what they brought him there for.
And that's what these guys, I think, these role players
that uh, you know, it took a little bit for
them to kind of maybe get acclimated. It's starting. You're
starting to see the benefits from it. And even a
guy I have to mention to a guy like Scott Lawton,
like I think since he's been in the lineup, I
think he's that type of blue guy player that kind
of brings it all together and you know, helps guys
(27:49):
slot in in the right spots they need to in
the lineup. And then I think too, you know, to
be able to keep your head above water to I
think what they're six two and two in their last
ten al the goal he's hurt, right, and you have
Dennis Hillenbe who I think I think they got to
(28:12):
run with him. I mean I've seen a small enough
sample size this season where he has shown, uh, he
can be a good goalie and he's obviously huge, so
I think they got to keep running with him. I
think the way they're playing defensively, getting like I said,
getting contributions from guys down coming back, tanav is coming back.
(28:33):
I mean things are looking things are looking pretty good
for the Leaves right now.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Why just like absolute roller coaster.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
For the Leaves, is it? Ever?
Speaker 1 (28:46):
It's a big psychological warfare for their fans, Like every
day it's like up and down?
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Are we in?
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Are we out?
Speaker 4 (28:52):
Were?
Speaker 2 (28:53):
You know, it's just the same.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
I think it's interesting though, because with stolars and wool out,
if you just have like hill to be I mean,
who's backing in my up?
Speaker 2 (29:04):
Do we know?
Speaker 4 (29:05):
I can't even say his name. I think Matt's got it,
Arthur Atamov. See, I was right, you can't even pronounce
the name. I looked at it before too, in my
little question.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Mark at the end there.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Okay, yeah, all right, so the backup goalie for the leaps.
We'll just keep it at that. Keep it simple, play it,
play it simple. So but why do you think let's
go a little bit better? Like, why do you think
they're playing better?
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Well? I think it just it's come down to I,
like I said, I think you've had Dakota, Joshua'll come in.
He's starting to play well. They're starting to get like
I said, they're starting to get contributions from those guys
Scott Lawton, I think has made things more stable in
their lineup. And then and then now you have a
healthy Austin Matthews just starting to play better as well.
(30:00):
Like you could see, he's starting to feel healthier, Like
I think that was the biggest thing that during the
beginning of the season, you know, he just did look healthy,
and now you're getting that. I think they're playing well
defensively too, like they are there. They've shut I mean,
to to do what they did last night, and obviously
Tampa's banged up, they don't have every guy in their
(30:20):
lineup right now, they have an all season, but to
do what they did last night, shut out the lightning
at home, and do what they did the game before
that in Carolina as well. I mean, those are impressive
wins back to back, and it shows to me that
you know, they're knuckled. They knuckled down defensively, and now
they're getting contributions from different guys. And then Hill he's
(30:43):
playing well. They're all all recipesly for winning hockey games, right.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
And Craig Brewy had really healthy scratched everyone essentially before.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
So I guess that's really what is it that.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
You said this or maybe be access at it, or
you guys probably both said like the thing you take
away from guysz ice time, like how you light a
fire underneath them. So I'm sure that that might have
that may or may not have had an impact on things.
I mean, it certainly seems like cause and effect. Okay, yeah,
I mean I think it had an impact on Dakota Joshua.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
He got helped to scratch that game, and you see
his response as he's come back, He's been pretty damn good.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
So yeah, totally agree.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Okay, let's send things over to the west coast of
Canada in that Tristan Jarry lands in Edmonton, and now
this is obviously a place that is looking for better goaltending.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Is this enough for them?
Speaker 4 (31:44):
I don't know, Julie. I is it enough if they
get Christian Jarry. I'm going to say yes. I'm gonna
say yes it is because I think and just no
disrespect to Stuart Skinner, but just the season he's having,
I think anything is going to be better than what
they've had this year in the goaltending department. And Jarry's
(32:04):
had a pretty pretty good year so far, I think,
respectively in Pittsburgh they've got off to a good start.
So I think if they can land a guy like Jarry,
I mean, I wish that they could get a guy
like Bennington. That would be the guy that I think.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Would be think Bennington.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
Maybe I think Bennington and Edmonton would really would would
be a good fit. I think with his demeanor, the
way he plays, I think he would be a good
fit in Edmonton. I think just with his overall swagger,
I think would be a good fit him going there.
It'd be great for uh, it would be great for
Canadian media have it him there, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yeah, so I'm curious about that.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
When I was working this weekend at S and Y,
people were saying that Sports Night New York, they were like,
we don't like Jordan Bennington, like he's too much, and
as like, well, that's just a weird bias against him.
But like, I love Bennington because of his sassiness him.
I mean, okay, him stealing the puck that OV scored,
(33:09):
maybe not.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Like the classiest thing that he did. He gave it.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Back, But like I think he just I love his
axe murder or gene in him. I don't know, what
do you think?
Speaker 4 (33:19):
I totally agree. I think that's part of what makes
him so good. I think that's why he's able to,
you know, play the way he's able to play in
big games and show up and be the guys because
he has like a killer instinct swagger that he doesn't
give a shit what anybody thinks and he's just going
to go out there and be the guy. So I think, like,
(33:40):
if they can get a guy like him, can you
imagine having a guy like Jordan Bennington And if you're
in a Game seven and you got him and Connor
McDavid on your team, you're probably feel a little bit
more confident.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Well, yeah, like Bennington is like built for Game sevens.
I feel that's like his that's his sweet spot. That's
we saw him in Feign Nations saw them when they
won the Cup in Boston for Saint Louis. Sat was
clearly selling in a selling situation, I believe right now,
But then again, who knows any given day, Okay, I
(34:11):
want to keep things out west, but now we're going why.
I don't know why I'm doing. Where in the world
is Carmen San Diego right now? But like now we're
going to go south and we're going to go to
Anaheim where Jacob Truba had a bit of an elbow
SITUATIONWN against Ryan Leonard or not or was his shoulder.
There was a lot of hoopla around this hit that
(34:33):
happened in the game of the Anaheim Ducks taking on
Washington Capitals. What was your take on the hit.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
My take was, I think, and maybe I'm not being
sympathetic to Ryan Leonard here, but I think he needs
to cab his head up. I think he kind of
looks at his past behind him for a second, thinking
he's not going to get hit. I think if he
looks forward as he's doing that right away, probably nothing happens,
(35:02):
or maybe he runs into Truba and they collide and
that that that's it. But I think that the way
he turns, how he's kind of lower his head is back,
he's not even looking. He kind of puts himself in
a vulnerable position here. And it's Jacob Truba. Jacob Truba
(35:24):
we know is going to hit you. If you have
your head down, or if you cut through the middle
of the ice, you're going to pay in a way
from Jacob Truba. So I just think, and I understand,
you know, the league's trying to get away from certain
hits and headshots, but I think the headshot could be
could have been avoided if he had his head up
and he had his head turned the right way.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Okay, So tell me from a hockey playing standpoint that
like a good hockey player is that you as that
behind the net when you're he's trying to pass it.
He's so he's going one way, he's trying to pass
it the other way. He should where should his head be?
He should maybe do it blindly back or he has
(36:05):
to do it quicker.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Yeah, I mean, I think there's a way. I mean,
if you saw, let's say Nikita Kutrov goes behind the
net and does that play like, I don't think he's
his head is going to be looking back at the
same time as he's turning, Like as soon as he
makes that pass back right away, his head is coming
right back forward again so he can see what's in
front of him, or he sees what's the side of him, Like,
you're not going to leave your head behind you as
(36:28):
you're turning around the net. I just think, I just
think if.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
You're a milliseconds, I feel I know, I know, I
know it is, but I think that at the same time,
I mean, these guys are that good, right, I think
there's I think that there is.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
A little bit of a delay where he does hold
his neck there, he holds his head behind him where
he can pull it back, or he could have you know,
being a right handed he could have just dropped it
behind him without turning his head back. Yeah, this way.
You know, there was ways that he could have He
could have avoided having his head back and continuing to
(37:05):
turn into basically the other side of the net where
Truba met him.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Okay, so but for Truba on that side, a guy
who has been really well known for elbows and steff
then does anything lie on him for this if that's
like his persona.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
I mean it's tough because guys, I know I played
on the edge a little bit too. And and when
you're committed to a hit like that and you're going
into it, I mean you're, like you said, it's milliseconds,
Like you're not going to just get out of the
way and move Like your job is to be physical.
His job is to be physical. I think he plays
on the line. He does a pretty good job of that.
(37:46):
And I don't think his I don't think Jacob Truba
is going to pass up another hit because of what
he did to Ryan Leonard. I think it's just it's
a game of hockey. Things happen fast. Players get blown
up and some players I think sometimes the onus is
on them carrying the puck rather than the guy give
in a hit.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
Let's bring in producer Matt Here for his opinion, because
he's a Rangees fan who's seen a lot of Trouba
over the years.
Speaker 5 (38:15):
I think Trouba has gotten a bit of an unfair rap.
I mean, there are times where it's it's on the
line and it does look like it could be an elbow.
But at the same time, like every Truba hit is
a results it results on it's big, but it results
in a fight, which I guess is just a thing
now in hockey where like clean or not, you have
(38:35):
to fight after a huge hit and then b it's
like a two to three day debate on whether or
not it was clean or not. And I guess when
you're you know, like I'm in market, I used to
see the guy talk and be around the team whatever,
it just doesn't appear that his intent is to ever
hurt anybody. But I guess when you're watching nationally it's different.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
But I don't know.
Speaker 5 (38:58):
I think I think Truba plays a pretty good game,
so I give him the benefit the dow usually and
as a guy who had his head down way too
much in hockey, which is why I never made it.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Uh, you know, I understand.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
I've gotten I've gotten blown up to death.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
So I mean, haven't we all had our head down
because we're else are gonna put know where the puck is?
Speaker 5 (39:21):
Like you know.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (39:24):
That's for us, Nate, You're like, what wait?
Speaker 4 (39:27):
So I know I understand that I'm still not I mean,
I'm still not as good as some guys NHL. How
they can look up the whole time. That's that is
that is a skill.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
That is a skill.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
Okay, there are some NHL guys that I would like
to ask you about Nate and current players, but we're
going to take a quick time out here first on
Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Don't go anywhere. I
want to know what Nate thinks about another hit podcast.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
Oh what a tease. We'll tell you more after this.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Welcome on back to Energy Line with Nate and JSB,
and we are are getting set for a great week
of hockey. And before we get to the games that
we're looking forward to this week, I really wanted to
ask Nate some questions that I had based off of
listening to the Kuldchuck Brothers podcast, and first of all,
(40:21):
one of them was that you probably saw blow up
about how Matthew Kuldchuck doesn't like and I specifically say,
Matthew Kuldchuck full name, doesn't like when girls say his nickname,
and then later said he didn't like people using his nickname.
And I found that interesting. How do you feel about
(40:45):
like I introduced you immediately right out of the gate
as Tom or but I also call you Nator, Tater
or whatever, but it's nicknames are How do guys feel
about people using their nicknames that aren't on their team?
Speaker 4 (41:00):
Yeah, I feel the same way. I think I would
give you a pass because we are we're we're co
hosts on a podcast, and everyone calls me Tom around
here anyways, or for the most part when they come
on as a guest, so you have a pass. But
I totally agree with Matthew when it comes to random
people or like, yeah, our girls calling you by your
(41:22):
hockey nickname. It's just it's not it it's not it's
not it.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
So like a girl you were like interested in and
they called you Tom, Oh.
Speaker 4 (41:32):
Yeah, I know, I'd be like no, no, no, get away.
Don't don't say that.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
No, okay, okay, but like not I didn't play in
the NHL, but I have like random people in my
DM to call me Banksy or JSB and those would
be my nicknames. Those are just random dudes and so
but that just happens, Like you know, do you have
how do you feel about that happening? Just like random
(41:57):
people being like I had someone net working in hockey
this event last week that at the Devil's game be like.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Oh Speed, and I was like, who's that? Yeah, I know.
Speaker 4 (42:08):
That's that's weird to me. Like if someone that doesn't
know me that just automatically just called me Tom, I'm like, uh,
it's a little weird, you know, like I'd like to
me it's just Yeah, I agree with Matthew. I think
that that's it's it's odd when it's not someone you know,
or it's a random urseous as a girl, Yeah, say
(42:29):
saying your nickname toomer if.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
You're in an intimate situation with her too, it would
be just a real real logo sound for sure.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
You can see that.
Speaker 1 (42:39):
Yeah, That's why I asked Nate about some guy who
messaged me and he dropped Nate's name, and he said,
ned like that at your nickname, Because that guy could
have just been and I still haven't the Jerry's out
on that. He could have just been like, hey, I
just know that from knowing and listening and watching that
(42:59):
his nicknames.
Speaker 4 (43:00):
I think he did. He was just saying it from knowing,
you know which.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
Yeah, I asked Nate to give me some advice on
someone who'd messaged me who dropped Nate's name, and in
typical boy fashion, he was like, yeah, that guy's fine.
I'm like, no, is this man maybe gonna murder me?
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Like, I just need to know things. Things we think
about that you probably don't have, don't run past you.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
So other question I have based on that podcast is
Brady Kucheck told a story about basically a prank going
too far into the game about with Clo Drew, and
he kind of stinks it's great if you haven't heard it,
listen to it. So then based off of that, I'm
just curious if you ever had like a prank or
(43:48):
seen a prank go too far where it's like, uh, oh,
it's in the game now.
Speaker 4 (43:54):
I don't know if I've never seen a prank going
to a game like that, like that was all time,
Like that's crazy he forgot and then then nothing ever
bad happened from it, Thank God for him. But I
think the only one I remember that maybe drastic for
him and his wardrobe was when I played in Tampa.
We were on the road and Brett Connolly was a
(44:16):
rookie and he said something or did something to Ryan
Malone or whatever, and we had practice. Well, when practice
was over, his his suit pants were cut to they
were cut to shorts. So he wore his suit pants
and his dress shoes and his dress jacket out, but
he wore he wore them with shorts, so his suit
(44:36):
pants were shorts and they were cut up like they
looked like Peter Pan. And that was he didn't have
dress pints for the rest of the trip. I'm sure
you had to go get new ones. But yeah, I'd
say that was taking it pretty far. But he definitely
sent the message to Brett Connolly on that watch, which
was great. Now thinking about.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
It, wow, well yeah, at least, well that's unfortunate for him,
but it's uh, it's good. I guess it didn't get
into the game because of what. Yeah, Brady Kichuck mentioned
his old nogin forgot that he'd pulled a prank on Clolturi,
which is just exactly how I imagine Brady Kulchuck to be,
and also exactly how I imagine.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
Myself to be.
Speaker 1 (45:17):
I'd be like, oh no, I totally forgot that I
did that before, and now it's going to totally screw us.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
He said.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
Luckily we won the game. Okay, So speaking of games,
let's get to our games of the week. What are
you looking forward to watching.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
Saturday oilers leafs Hockey Night in Canada. That one's going
to be must watch. You got McDavid, You got Matthews,
It's going to be that's gonna be a game, Julie.
Let's see where both teams are at. Hopefully they both
bring their a game and we have a great Hockey
Night in Canada that night, and I'll be in the US.
But I like watching the Hockey Night in Canada version.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
I appreciate that. I really appreciate that because I think
that the Hockey Night Canada version is I konny, even
though it's changed its iteration over the year. So yeah,
I got I mean Matthew's McDavid it's always that and
also ever since you know, they played each other in
four Nations and they're playing each other in the Olympics
(46:17):
because as we have decided on this podcast, they are ago.
And I think they're also pretty close in the standings too,
which doesn't mean anything because everyone's just it's just a
revolving door these days.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
So I agree on that game.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
I also like Rangers Habs Original six. Both of them
are also one point. I mean everyone's one point separated
in the standings, which I absolutely love.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
The West is definitely a little bit different, mostly because
of Colorado, but other than that, I wanted to ask
you final thought on saw that you interviewed Corey Perry
with scram Culture and what's maybe something that you took
a way from interviewing Corey Perry that maybe surprised you
(47:08):
or would people would find interesting about kind of talking
to him right now.
Speaker 4 (47:13):
I think just how articulate he is about the game
of hockey and how much he really cares about his teammates.
And I think that's probably why a big reason why
he's still playing and loves to play so much is
because he cares about his teammates so much, and he
wants to win, and he knows that he needs every
single guy on his team to win. So, in a
short answer, I think that's probably it is how much
(47:34):
he cares about everyone else on his team.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
Oh and was that the same when you were.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
With him, Yes, it was. He was a guy that, Yeah,
he knew that he needed every single guy on the
team to win, and he made sure that everyone was
pulling their part. And but he helped guys too, So
it was. It was a great interview. He was he
was awesome. He had a lot, we had a lot
of fun and he had some great answers.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Is he a guy that's makes any jokes ever, he
doesn't seem like it.
Speaker 4 (48:07):
Yeah, he's a he's a pretty uh reserved guy like
that would think I was the first time he's ever
done a podcast. So yeah, yeah it was. You know,
we got him to open up a little bit. But
he's a quiet, soft spoken guy normally.
Speaker 5 (48:17):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
So I texted you after I remember with the Kings,
like I just remember, I have this, I have this
photo on my phone. It's like Corey Perry is literally
horizontal somehow, He's like up like up against the boards
within like some scrum. It's like his body's not even
on the ice. It's like he's somehow worm like he's
somehow in this in the mix always but you guys
(48:40):
were talking about Dux King's rivalry stuff, which was always
always great. And I remember Pat Moran saying to me,
he used to get sick before those rivalries because he
knew he was probably gonna have to fight, and he.
Speaker 2 (48:51):
Just like couldn't sleep.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
So we love a good we got we love a
good rivalry in the NHL. Okay, I guess that's it
here for our episode. Energy Line with Nate and j
SP is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcast
We thank our producer Matt Teba for producing and joining
us here on the show and we will see you
guys next week. Energy Line is the production of the
(49:36):
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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