Blake Wheeler stops by: Cats repeat, McDavid's next move and Olympic roster announcements.

After two weeks on the road Jason Demers is back home, ladies and gentlemen! He joins Adnan Virk to break down the Florida Panthers' dominating Cup Final win and where the Edmonton Oilers go from here. Then Blake Wheeler talks about Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara and the Winnipeg Jets. Finally, the guys reminisce about Good Will Hunting and look at the Canadian and American Olympic roster announcements (spoiler: JD doesn't really care).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
NHL Unscripted is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts,
Well we come up this ball with here, folks. NHL Unscripted.
The Stanley Cup is over. The Florida Panthers are defending

(00:26):
Cup champs. Before we get to that, though, our producer
Tal has been very on this. He's got a new
thing that I already wants to promote. Tal, go ahead,
give it to us right of the gate before we forget.
It's a lead item. Okay, Panthers win, Buttal is a
new project.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Let's go.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
We'll make it quick.

Speaker 4 (00:39):
Appreciate you giving me the time to promote. It's called
Live Wire, The Loud Life and Shocking Murder of Alan Berg.
It has nothing to do with hockey, but it is
something that we've released with iHeart.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
It's very exciting.

Speaker 4 (00:51):
It's about this the story of Alan Berg, who was
a contemporary of Howard Stern and Don Imus in the eighties,
kind of like one of the first shock jocks, really.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Got people going, got people.

Speaker 4 (01:02):
Angry, yelling at callers on the rate, and then he
was murdered in front of his home in nineteen eighty four.
It was one of the biggest cases in the history
of the Denver PD and the investigation was just as
shocking as alan Berg's personality on the air. So Live
Wire available through iHeart and the iHeart podcast, iHeart podcast

(01:24):
app and wherever you get your podcast.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Sounds riveting, but way to bring down the room.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
Tell I was about to say time for a parade
before we get to the cup. JD's travels, this must
be interesting. You're watching the game now, Florida had it
in hand. Never know Edmonton comeback. When does the flight
get book though? You going to Scottsdale, going to Jersey.
It depends on how the game goes. You still got
a postgame wild night for Demurs.

Speaker 5 (01:45):
At two Nothing, I checked into my flight flying back
to Newark because as an analyst and an astute analyst
at that I was like, there is no possible way
Edmonton can come back yet again in the series. I
just thought they're emotionally drained, especially from the three Nothing comeback.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
They didn't.

Speaker 5 (02:06):
It was that game that they get Game four that
takes so much emotion, and we talked about on the network.
It's so hard to do that night in and night out.
Every time you're chasing, you're you're playing with urgency. You're
playing with desperation. You know, you're not playing uber defensive
because you're trying to get those goals back. You know,
you're not counter punching and kind of not sitting on

(02:27):
your heels, but you're Florida just had it a lot
easier because they always got out to a lead. And
it's much easier playing with the lead, I find than
playing from behind because night in and night out. You
can maybe do it for one night, but over and
over again, it just wears on you. And as soon
as they went up to nothing, you know, Edmonton once
again had a great start.

Speaker 3 (02:45):
They kind of have these every game.

Speaker 5 (02:47):
They'd have like two minutes where they they'd be buzzing
McDavid b buzzing and they'd have, you.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
Know, scoring chance of a scoring chance.

Speaker 5 (02:55):
Bob would stand on his head and then they'd make
like an egregious turnover, just like at Comb throwing an
absolute grenade to Evan Bouchard and then Bouchard, you know,
playing hot potato with it, and Sam rein Hard makes
just the probably I want to say goal of the
series in the playoffs, but Brad Marshad did that a
game before, you know, so It's like this team just

(03:16):
in Florida is just absolutely incredible and to nothing. I
went ununited and I showed everybody and I said, check
in now, two bags, thank you seed three f Yes,
I was in first class.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
You can suck it, veteran move. It's interesting now looking
at the Cup final, JD.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
Because after two games you're thinking instant classic, right, this
is when tallos a Godfather too, better than the original.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Here we go.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
Game four was an epic in and of itself because
Edmondson arrived from that. I gotta be honest, it's a
little frustrating. The games five and six kind of a lockdown, right,
as you said, Edmonton, they seem to be hurt more
by the travel back home to game five. I think
game six, like you said, when's Florida up two to nothing.
I'm not disparaging the Oilers. I'm crediting the Panthers. They're
a wagon. But we thought we make an epic Cup
final instead. It was good hockey, but ultimately Florida is

(04:01):
just I mean, they're a machine man.

Speaker 2 (04:03):
It was awesome.

Speaker 5 (04:04):
Well, the elephant in the room is Edmonton was a
better team last year.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
That's just it.

Speaker 5 (04:09):
I think we all tried to say they weren't and
they were a better team. They weren't this This the
team last year was much better, much faster. They had
a lot of young talent on the team. And you know,
the big the big thing that you know, was more
and more apparent as the series went on, was the
absence of Zach Hymen. I mean, Zach kymon over one
hundred hits. His physicality, the way he gets the net,

(04:30):
he provides a lot more depth for that lineup. And
there's a lot of guys that were kind of out
kicking their coverage show to speak, in terms of of
playing more minutes than they should have been. And that's
just because they got all their depth got pilfered by
the Saint Louis Blues who just offer sheeted the shit
out of them, and they couldn't match it, and they
didn't want to match and they ended up bringing in

(04:51):
Jeff Skinner and Victor Arvidson for you know, rot was it,
Ryan McLeod, Dylan Holloway, Philip Roberg, all those guys they
could have maybe kept for the same amount of money
that they gave Arvidson and Skinner, and maybe in hindsight,
it's easy to say. Now, yes, they got to the
Stanley Cup finals. I am not disagreeing that this team
had an opportunity to win a cup. But do I

(05:11):
think this team was better than last year?

Speaker 3 (05:13):
No? I don't think so. And Florida was better than
last year.

Speaker 5 (05:16):
I think this that team is a different animal, and
I didn't think they'd be able to kind of you
know a lot of you know, they lose Brandon Montour,
they lose a couple of big pieces, and everybody's kind
of going, like, you know, Lomberg, some some physicality, and
they go, these guys are gonna be able to do
it again. And I mean they looked even better they got.
I mean, you know, Boston Bruins basically gave them a

(05:37):
Stanley Cup by giving Brad Marshall for a second round pick,
which is conditional and is now a first round pick,
but they can't use that in twenty twenty eight. So
I'm like, who the fuck are you eyeing in twenty
twenty eight that you're gonna draft what the thirty the
thirty second overall pick. Take that's a hell of a
pick to get thirty second.

Speaker 1 (05:56):
Think about dude, in the NFL, they say, first round
picks are like fifty percent of success. Right to your point,
when you're a great team, give me a first round pick.
I'm like, maybe that's twenty percent success rate, Like it
sounds good to go first round pick in twenty twenty seven.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
You go, okay, whatever. Marsham was a steal.

Speaker 1 (06:10):
I mean it was ridiculous how good he played, not
only the character on the ice, obviously off the ice.
They beat Edmonton at games three, five, and six a
combined score of sixteen to four in the first period
of games three and six.

Speaker 2 (06:21):
I know you said's had a good start in Game six, but.

Speaker 1 (06:23):
Of overall three, four, five, six, they had scored them
nin ninth to nothing. And the trio of Marshann, Bennett
and Reinhart this is Tal's favorite stat. They outscored the
entire Oilers team in the series JD eighteen to seventeen.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
Three dudes, that's unreal.

Speaker 5 (06:38):
Yeah, I mean the depth, the scoring, the unlikely scores
of this team, not Sam Reinhart. Reinhart, I think it
came out he was playing with like a Grade two
mcl sprain, which is pretty painful. But he looked better
as the series went on and he's Sam Bennett, the
cons my twinner. I just back up the bringstruck baby,
because he is gonna get paid and as he should be,

(07:01):
because that you pay him for what he did in
the playoff. He is electric factory, he's physical, he's dirty.
He you know, chicken wings certain players and goaltenders and
takes people out of games. But thinking go and you know,
Toad drag you because he has all that skill in
brad Marsham, which is you know, the more I was.

(07:22):
I played with him when I was sixteen and in
monked and we came into the league, into the queue together,
and you know, everything I've heard about him since he's
went on, and people try to say he's a dick
and he's a villain and he's a little bit of
a prick, but like he is like a very very personable,
nice guy, very outgoing, very welcoming to everybody. He is

(07:44):
a little you know, he's very direct, and you know
he's a competitor. But you know, there's all these stories
that were coming out. You know, we were talking to
James Hagen's we used to you know, projected to go
number three overall this year. One of the draft picks
and Jcobrien. And the first thing they said is when
they went into the Florida Panthers locker room, the one
guy that grabbed them to have breakfast with him or lunch,

(08:05):
I can't remember. It was Brad Marshall sat down with them,
talked told them about what to look for in the league,
said congratulations, like I hope you know, gave them tips
and tricks, and I'm like, that's something that's very cool.

Speaker 3 (08:17):
Being a steward of the game.

Speaker 5 (08:18):
You know, being forthcoming with your time is is something
that not a lot of superstars do and you sometimes
take that for granted, of like passing of the torch,
and Brad seems to have done. And I mean, look
what he's done with that line of Lundell and lost
to Ryan. I mean they were they were so good.
That was the best line in the finals and maybe
the best line for the Panthers overall throughout that Stanley

(08:41):
Cup run. I mean, you couldn't you match up against
Barkoff and Kachuck and then you have to play against
Marshall and lost to Ryanan and Lundell. It's like that's
that's a first line on over ten teams at least
in the in the NHL. So it's I don't know
how you could beat him. I mean this team could
go again and win next year easily. Feels like.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
I'm glad you mentioned Ryan and that third line.

Speaker 1 (09:02):
I was just listening to your buddy, Doug Waiter, of
course to right work with the San Jose Sharks, listening
to an HL network radio and he said, you know,
Florida to him was a better team because picarly that
third line, because those guys were good contributors a year
ago lost Ryan Londell, but they went to a different
level this year.

Speaker 2 (09:15):
To your point, you can mention.

Speaker 1 (09:16):
Depth, but like Florida's guys, they're just rolling out three
lines and they're getting it done.

Speaker 2 (09:20):
In terms of the great babes of all time, I
mean el mcfirst is probably number one.

Speaker 1 (09:24):
Number two is Babe Ruth. Number three is Babe the
movie Babe Pick in the City. Fourth would be Babe Die.
And I mentioned because Sam Reidhart becomes the first player
since Babe Die in nineteen twenty two to score four
goals in a Cup clinching win. I remember when you
said to me at one point, the Oilers have held
this series like maybe thirty three minutes. The final total
is this Panthers spent two or fifty five minutes and

(09:46):
forty nine seconds in the lead. That's a new NHL record,
and that's at a four hundred and twenty eight minutes
of total ice time, So they led sixty one percent
of the time. And to your point, if someone says
that they have dynasty, I'm like, okay, two to three,
I wouldn't quite saydynasty. I think you need to get
to three. But are they the favorite win the Cup
next year? Yeah, caunse I see them winning a three peat. Absolutely,
Why couldn't.

Speaker 5 (10:05):
Yeah, It's different than you know, the Tampa Bay Lightning team,
which I feel like they kind of got into some
cap trouble and you could see them trying to piece
this together in the third year and we all thought
they would get it. And I just think this Florida team,
like I don't even know. Yes, they have some injuries
to some key players, but I mean Bill Zito was

(10:27):
he just came out today and said they gave him
carte blanche spending the cap again, and I'm like, he's
gonna go get He's gonna go get some big players,
and he like fires from the hip, and you know
they're gonna let eck Blad walk. I can't see them
resigning k Blad, So he's.

Speaker 2 (10:41):
Gonna walks Gnice for Bennett.

Speaker 5 (10:44):
I think eight. I think he takes eight by eight.
Why wouldn't he? And I think he would even take
something a little bit less. And I think he loves
it there. He wants to stay there. I think it's
very the grass isn't always greener, and and you know,
an extra million here and there, yes, is beneficial. And
I know Matthew Kachuck was on you know TSN at
the end of when they had the cop talking about

(11:06):
those guys and saying like I tell them, go get
your money. But I listen eight by eight in South Florida.
The rink is right there in Victoria Park. It's ten
minutes from your house. In a golf cart. You know
you've to go. You go to Ameron Banker and to
the fan base is great, very rabid fan base. Now
your love beloved in the city, Like, why wouldn't you stay?

(11:26):
I think Marshan's the one wild card. I don't know
if he comes back. I think he might. You know
it's gonna be I think with his kids and family decision,
he might who knows where he might go.

Speaker 1 (11:35):
You could see seven years of age, three years seventy. Yeah,
can that get that done?

Speaker 3 (11:40):
I just don't know.

Speaker 5 (11:41):
I don't know if they'll spend it on him either,
because you know, it's interesting. That's an interesting one for me.
I think they'd love to have him back, but I
don't know if the number will be right. And I
feel like Marshan's gonna do something weird, like he's gonna
go to either play with one of those Cole Harbor
buddies of his either said the kid, or he's gonna
go play Nate McKinnon. So I feel like I wouldn't

(12:02):
be surprised to see something like that or even like
go to a Toronto and try to win there. So
it's it's gonna be what is going on inside his
mind and what kind of legacy he wants to book,
because it's really whatever he wants to do. Because he
cemented himself as a Hall of Famer, I think, uh,
and it would he's one of those first ballot guys,

(12:23):
so I I yeah, it's gonna be very interesting to
see what he does. But I think they'll be able
to find some d Man. You know, ec bottle go
and they'll figure out a way to bring somebody in.
But yeah, this Florida teams set up again just to
their cores signed for a while. I mean they're set
up again to go on a fricking run and look
out Atlantic Division.

Speaker 1 (12:42):
The previous cap at six point one two five millions.
We'll see sign me up at those options. He said,
I want to see Marshton in Colorado, and I think
it'd be fascinting. Imagine him with McKinnon and what would
happen there with the Avs. Bennett by the way, fifteen
playoff goals, he wins the cons my ufa July.

Speaker 2 (12:55):
First, let's get to McDavid.

Speaker 1 (12:57):
There's the casual hockey fans JD who go, all right,
so this guy's the best player on the sport, like YEP,
might get two thousand points one day, okay, a ton
of points. But unfortunately, as the series went on, clearly
he looked warned at he and Lean and DRIs altogether.

Speaker 2 (13:10):
Now my buddy's a Levatard show. I like to call
him micoverrated. We're not gonna go to that level. But
exactly then, just to hop it on the Sunrise.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
Now, nice guy knows about hockey.

Speaker 5 (13:21):
Correct, mcover rates steven A. It's like watching steven A
talk to Sue Ban correct.

Speaker 2 (13:26):
I'm like, oh, p K, we got twin.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
He's got twelve shots and shut though he's the best
player in the world.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
What's he doing out there? He's gonna score a hat trick.
I'm like going go talk about not the NBNA can't
just score forty.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
Having said that, Big David visibly upset during that Game
six postgame media session, and I'm with you, the Florida
was the better team, McDavid.

Speaker 2 (13:45):
Next year's the last year of his contract.

Speaker 1 (13:47):
You've got Evan Bouchard's in RFA, Corey Perry captain, and
Connor Brown, Trent Freederick John Klingberg.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
Also to become UFAs.

Speaker 1 (13:54):
Specifically for McDavid, how would you evaluate this playoff run,
this like a final?

Speaker 2 (13:59):
What he does moving forward?

Speaker 5 (14:02):
Well, I I don't know. I just think, you know,
I don't think they had a good team. Like I
don't think they had a team as good as people
were thinking. I thought Vegas, you know, was run down.
I think Vegas was a little over range. I thought
the whole Pacific Division, which was supposed to be, you know,
this juggernaut, but they were all kind of separated by
a couple points leading into the playoffs. Like LA was

(14:23):
the only team I thought had an opportunity of the Pacific.
I said, the Central was way better. And by the
time Dallas got to Edmonton, I mean, they had to
go through a gauntlet of teams, and I just think that,
you know, Dallas has a lot of questions in terms
of you know, you get those. I don't know if

(14:44):
they just didn't have enough hard skill guys, because Edmonton
kind of pushed him out of it, but you can't
out physical Florida, and I just think, I don't know,
I just think Edmonton didn't have this great team.

Speaker 3 (14:57):
I thought the third line was slow.

Speaker 5 (14:59):
I thought the fourth line was nonexistent for them, whereas
you know, Florida, the fourth line really provided a lot
of spark for them and was like kind of a
you know, they were just this lightning rod for this team. So,
you know, I think, what's crazy is we finished and
I'm like they're like, well, what happens next with these

(15:19):
two teams? And I'm like Florida just seems like they
don't have to answer a lot of questions. There's not
many like contracts that are coming up. It's pretty ho hum.
They're going to be set for next year. But Edmonton,
I'm like, they got a million questions. What do you
do in nets? What do you do on the back end?
What do you do for depth? You lost all your
young depth? You have not much in the in Bakersfield.

(15:40):
I don't think that can come up. I think they
depleted a lot of their stuff. You know, you have
Connor and Leon. You signed Leon. I assume Connor's going
to sign. I think Connor signs a one to two
year deal extension at like fifteen to eighteen million, and goes,
show me what you guys can do before committing. I
would if I'm Connor, I'm not committing to eight to

(16:01):
ten years, like eight years and there's no chance, because
what the hell you gotta do. There's talks today that
Evander Kaine is probably on the chopping block. They need
a number one goalie. I assume an offer sheet to
Joel Holfer's in the cards, because you know, Saint Louis
fucked them, So I'd go right back and offer shoot
Joel Hofer and try to take him and that would

(16:22):
make for a good one two punch with him and
Stuart Skinner. And you know then you look up front
and you know then now they all signs are pointing
that Trent Frederick is signing an eight year deal for
thirty million, And I'm like, what in God's name is
that deal? You're eight years for Trent Frederick? Guy was
hurt all year and in the playoffs was okay. He

(16:46):
had a couple of hits and a couple good games,
and you know, you're really banking that this guy is
gonna be healthy and come out of the gate flying,
and he might. He might just do that, and I
look like an idiot once again.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
But but four million dollars for a year a guy
was a non factor.

Speaker 5 (17:01):
Yeah, eight years, give me a years for I'll come
out of it, tire, I'll come out now and sign
eight years for seven hundred thousand, and you'll get the
best goddamn Jason E.

Speaker 3 (17:11):
Murz ever if you want to give me that kind
of term.

Speaker 5 (17:13):
Yeah, but like come on, like why, like why there's
no reason to give him eight years? Like, I know
you traded and it was a bit, It was a
lot of whatever they traded him for it was kind
of a big ask, like you don't have to prove
anything and sign him eight years. Tell him take four
years at four million and sit down and shut up,
like come on, like you're telling me that it's just crazy.

(17:35):
So you know that that's what they did. You know,
Victor Arvidson I think wants out of there. Jeff Skinner's gone,
Klingberg's gone. What do you do with Walman? You have
to pay Bouchard. I think Bouchard was the only teamon
that was pissing a drop. And in terms of in
that finals with moving the pucket, I know they're statistically
some guys looked really good, but I thought.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
Those o their mobile defensemen.

Speaker 5 (17:58):
Yeah, they struggled, they couldn't move that they couldn't break
out the bucket. Maybe that maybe we're making too many
excuses for Edmonton, saying they're not good enough and not
just appreciating how fantastic the Florida Panthers are and how
perfectly put together of a team they were and how
much of a masterclass that playoff run was. I'm like

(18:20):
trying to think of a team in my time playing
that was as good as this team and as dominant
on the Ford check just in the playoffs, so you
know they're banged up kind of going through the playoffs,
but that finals was lopside. I don't care what anybody says.
Three games in overtime, they could Florida could have swept them.
Florida could have swept them, and I would not have
been surprised. So, you know, going back to Connor, and

(18:44):
I am assuming Connor's gonna stay. I can't imagine he wouldn't.
I can't imagine Leon would have signed thinking Connor wasn't
gonna stay. But you know they're very close. I think
their wives are very close. But again, you know, all's
fair and love and money getting paid and going to
other teams whatever that means. But I think he does

(19:07):
take a one to two year deal though, And and
if I'm Edmonton, I go, here's two years at like
an eighteen million or whatever you want, whatever the most
expensive contract, and we'll show you that we're going to
build a team around you. But they have a lot
of questions to answer, and I'm I'm worried for him,
So we'll see how they do and see where they
can go. But you know, ed Nan and tal that

(19:29):
like with Connor and Leon. They'll drag you to the
playoffs every year like you're gonna get there, I think,
or get close to it. So but is it enough
to is it enough to have those guys to win
a cup? It's shown two years in a row that.

Speaker 1 (19:44):
No interesting calling the Hofer because everyone's saying they definitely
need an upgrading.

Speaker 5 (19:48):
Oh oh my god, that's Gibson. I fucking spend everything
to get a goalie there. They've never the best goalie
they've had in the McDavid era. Is is what Mike Smith? Yeah,
he was the best goaloy they've had in the McDavid era.

Speaker 2 (20:00):
And Mike Yeah, he was like in his late thirties,
all right, Mike Smith.

Speaker 5 (20:05):
Sergi Bobrovski, Like that's the gold standard. That's what you
gotta find for McDavid. Is that guy, Like because whatever
you want to say, how good Florida was, Like, Sergei
Bobrovski was out of this world, Like he was so good,
so solid. I think he if he gets a shutout
in that game, he gets the con smythe so over

(20:25):
Sam Bennett. But you know, congratulations to samue Laura Bennett.

Speaker 1 (20:29):
We'll get to Blake Wheeler in a second. One more
thought here, which is always the injuries. This is always
the most amusing part for some people. As the Cup
found ens, you go, Okay, this guy is playing with
the torn labram, he has like, you know, one testicle.
This guy had a broken arm. Like they's just dragging
themselves there. How about Matthew Kachuk He scores the cup
winning goal playing with a sports hernia and a torn
abductor muscle. Unblieveableformance by him. But I'm curious, is a

(20:53):
guy who lived it and played it? What is your
rehaction when the series ends and they go, Okay, here's
the truth. Lower body injury meant this. He had a tornkneecap.
He literally had a torn hamshreem was playing off the boat.
What's your rehaction when all this stuff comes out?

Speaker 3 (21:05):
I actually love it.

Speaker 5 (21:06):
It's like my favorite day of the year because I'm like,
I wouldn't because you know, the guys that you know
the funniest part of all that we're talking about. It's
like the guys that have all the torn shit and
you know, played great, and then you see a guy
that like kind of was okay, and it's like he
had a bone contusion and you're like you're like, oh
you diarrhea, you have like oh he had like he

(21:29):
had the fluid's right. And then the best part about
this is every time the NHL, like all the fans
on Twitter, they compare all that to like.

Speaker 3 (21:36):
The NBA injuries.

Speaker 5 (21:37):
That's always like, I guess Tyrese Halibert and have like
a calf.

Speaker 2 (21:41):
Strain or something not play well in game five.

Speaker 5 (21:44):
Yeah, so they're like, we're surveying a calf strain and
they show Alexander Barkov's hands like split open with like
thirty stitches and he played with it. And it's like
it's like, yeah, is are we still going to debate
that the NBA versus NHL.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
I guess we will, but it's fine. But yeah, it's
my favorite day.

Speaker 1 (21:59):
We got some more hockey coming up, plus a little
talking about good will hunting. Let's coming up in a second,
But first, Blake Wheeler had an unbelievable career right now,
just set out this last year. Not sure if he
will come back to NHL, but he's got great stories
about playing with Winnipeg Jets, playing in Atlantic and eleven stories.
But with fans reacting to a shootout. What that all means?
Wheeler stories on Phil Kessel and Zadano, Chara and Brad Marshall.

(22:21):
All that more coming up. Blake Wheeler is next after
this on NHL in scripted.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
Our Next Guest.

Speaker 1 (22:38):
Drafted fifth Ough braw By The Phoenix Coylties wanted to
score nine hundred and forty three points in one and
seventy two games the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets,
and New York Rangers. It's a pride of I'm gonna
mess up the pronunciation Wayzata Blake, James Wheeler.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
Blake, great to see you, man. Did I get that right?

Speaker 6 (22:55):
Why is that a you were close?

Speaker 2 (22:57):
Why is that close to enough?

Speaker 1 (22:59):
You know after not playing this past season, I know
it must have been challenged. You just kind of watch
last night. But our initial thoughts of that Stanley Cup Final,
it was such an epic after two games, the Oilers
showed such great result, ticularly over time, but it felt
like for me, just as as a fan on a
lifelong observer of the sport, the travel they didn't help Evington.
Going back to Game five, they seemed at a gas

(23:20):
and Game six, Florida just really took it to him
and it was clearly the more formidable team.

Speaker 2 (23:24):
How did you see it?

Speaker 7 (23:25):
Yeah, I think after four games it was a great series.
It was you know, the talk was, you know, of
all these overtime games and it was like the theater
was was was.

Speaker 6 (23:34):
Really high caliber stuff.

Speaker 7 (23:35):
And then you know, Florida in game five, in Game six,
they just showed why you know they're the they're the champs.
And that Game five in particular, I think was the
biggest surprise. I wasn't surprised at all by last night.
I thought that that was probably what was going to
go down last night. But Game five, going back to Edmonton,
after that win in Game four in Florida, you know,

(23:57):
I thought I thought we were going to see a
different Edmonton Oilers team. I thought they were going to
come out and yeah, be flying. I thought I thought
that was gonna be like a first period like you
sometimes see that team put together on their home ice.

Speaker 6 (24:07):
So that was the difference in the series.

Speaker 7 (24:09):
You know, when it was two neults in Florida after
the first period in Game five, like that, I think
sent shockwaves through that series.

Speaker 1 (24:16):
It's well said you're in Boston for the rival of
a young punk named Brad Marshan. He obviously stepped up
with a great Stanley Cup file Nashville Trade by Bill Zo.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
What was he like as a rookie.

Speaker 7 (24:26):
Yeah, I think he's just hungry. He was hungry to learn,
he was hungry to play. I mean, I think he
was just a guy that was willing to do whatever
it took to earn his way into the lineup to stick.
You know, he came in, I think he was playing
a lot, you know, lower in the lineup, and he
just kind of kept chipping away and kept earning more
and more and more to the point where Game seven

(24:48):
to the Stanley Cup Finals, you know, he's that line
with Patrice berger On and Mark Reki. They were the
difference in that Game seven. So this is not new
territory for him. He's been doing it. You know, even
said back back to you know, his early days in
the league. And no surprise that he's a huge factor
in the Stanley Cup finals.

Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yeah, no question.

Speaker 1 (25:05):
It was great for the Panthers as they've now made
three straight Stanley Cup Finals.

Speaker 2 (25:08):
They win back to back Cups.

Speaker 1 (25:09):
Obviously, Blake have been around the game for so long,
been around so many wonderful personalities. I'm curious about what
was your first impression of Zadano Chara when he arrived
in Boston.

Speaker 2 (25:17):
You see this just Monstra on ice? What was that Like?

Speaker 6 (25:21):
He's intimidating.

Speaker 7 (25:22):
I mean, he's big, big guy, and he's just yeah,
the size, the presence. I mean, you ever see him
with his shirt off? He you know, he's pretty pretty
well put together. And uh, you know, outside of that though,
like his leadership, I mean how he approached the game
every day like he was a guy that was willing
to do whatever it took to like soak every single

(25:44):
ounce out of his ability to help that team win.
And you know, from a leadership standpoint, that's something I
really gravitated towards. Something I really learned from and took
with me, was if you want to be an elite player,
that's what it looks like. And and he he like
personified that every single day.

Speaker 1 (26:02):
So it's funny he mentioned char with the shirt of
how is the jokes have been a plenty of Phil
Kessel the shirt off, and yet the guy was an
iron man, one of the all time great goal scorers.

Speaker 2 (26:11):
Ever, what was Phil like in college.

Speaker 6 (26:15):
Oh man, we were so young. I mean we were
eighteen years old.

Speaker 7 (26:18):
He's Phil is just like such a lighthearted, great personality.
He was such a fun guy to be on a
team with. You know, I was lucky enough to play
on a number of teams with Phil. And yeah, I
mean the talent speaks for itself. Yeah, his goal scoring ability,
but his hockey IQ, I think is what stands out.

(26:40):
I mean, just he just he's one of those guys
that maybe he doesn't get enough credit for how he
makes the guy he he has made the guys.

Speaker 6 (26:47):
Around him better.

Speaker 7 (26:49):
And he was just one of those guys that when
you know, you could put him on the first line,
you could put him on the third line, and he
was gonna, he was gonna he was gonna boost everyone's.

Speaker 6 (26:58):
Level around him.

Speaker 7 (26:59):
So, uh, what a phenomenal career he had. You know,
I think when eighteen years old, if you would have said, hey, Phil,
you're gonna, you know, have the NHL iron Man Record
one day, I think we all probably would have laughed
at that. But you know, he just like I said,
those great players, they just find a way, you know,

(27:20):
to be great, and he figured out a way to
stay healthy and stay effective and play at a high
level for a really long time.

Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yeah, I just say the best ability is available.

Speaker 1 (27:29):
It's surely Phil Kess always brought that along with all
those snipes. You played three years at the Gophers University
of Minnesota. What was it like for a kid growing
up in the state of hockey then played for the Gophers.

Speaker 7 (27:38):
That was the dream. We didn't have an NHL team
for most of my childhood. I mean the Wild came
back when I was in high school, so I never really.

Speaker 6 (27:45):
I mean the their first.

Speaker 7 (27:48):
Run to the Western Conference Finals, I think that was
maybe the only time I ever really cheered for the Wild.
And then playing for the Winnipeg Jets, you're not really
a Wild fan. So yeah, like not having an NHL team,
every Minnesota kid's dream was to play for the Gophers.
I mean those were our between the guys playing in
the state high school hockey tournament and the guys playing

(28:08):
at miri Uchi every single night.

Speaker 6 (28:10):
Uh, that's all. That's what we watched. That was our TV.

Speaker 7 (28:12):
That was our hockey night in Canada, that was our
ESPN Wednesday Hockey Night. Like that was that was it
for us. So when I got that opportunity I was.
I mean I felt like I had, you know, accomplished
all my goals, reached my dreams, and the rest was
going to be gravy.

Speaker 1 (28:27):
Yeah, it was always unusual to me hear about like
in Texas as big as football days and obviously people
love the Cowboys, but like you know, five night Lights
and high school football is really special in Minnesota. I'd
hear people say even after the while came back that like,
there's nothing bigger than like high school hockey.

Speaker 2 (28:43):
Ago, how can that be?

Speaker 1 (28:43):
There's an NHL team there, but like that's that's the
passion that the fans have for hockey any level.

Speaker 7 (28:48):
It feels like in Minnesota, well, it's a cultural thing too,
And I think that that's what it makes Minnesota unique
and really special is you know that weekend in March
every single year, the state comes together and to have
nineteen thousand people watch, you know, high school kids play
in a hockey tournament. I mean there's there's nothing there's

(29:09):
nothing cooler and as cool as it is, you know,
for like the game, it's like the the like the festive,
the festival of it. It's like a very like it
just it galvanizes the state. It brings people together, and
I think that's what's so cool about it is you
you know, you'll have one section of people from way
northern Minnesota, a section of people from southern Minnesota, a

(29:30):
couple of sections of people from you know, the the
metro area, and they're all chanting and rooting for their
teams and their players and same thing. I mean, that
was like my childhood dream was to be on that ice,
So that was like another huge moment for me in
my life.

Speaker 1 (29:45):
Yeah, that's pretty cool to think about. Obviously, you were
an incredible player, particularly with the Jets. To think of
all those memories you had there. I went to Winnipeg
for first time this season Amazon Prime, got to see
what it's like there.

Speaker 2 (29:54):
That culture makes me think of Minnesota, just how much
they love the hockey. They're in the passion.

Speaker 1 (29:58):
What was it like arriving in Winnipeg Jets two point
zero after the team had been gone for fifteen years.

Speaker 6 (30:04):
Yeah, the people were just so excited.

Speaker 7 (30:09):
The atmosphere was electric every single night. I mean, there
there are some some games kind of especially early on
I remember where it wasn't really going our way, and
I mean they're.

Speaker 6 (30:18):
Still chanting they're still.

Speaker 7 (30:21):
You know, that was what made it incredibly special in
what you know made playing in that market so unique
is that you're playing in front of, like us, this
small community, and you look up in the crowd and
you're gonna know a ton of those people and they
genuinely like love this team, like they love the team.

(30:42):
And I think that as players, that gives you a
little bit extra you know, boost to go out there
and kind of like do a little bit extra, go
that extra mile. You're you're playing for yourself, you're playing
for your teammates, you're playing for your families, but like
that is a community that you want to play for.

Speaker 1 (30:57):
Yeah, one hundred percent, you're right. They pack in those
fifteen thousand fans are going nuts. This current Jets team,
look at they had something special. Unfortunately able to advance
past the second round. Again, you're not there just asking
as an observer, an elite player, what do you think
happened there with Winnipeg.

Speaker 7 (31:12):
Yeah, I think that you know, first and foremost, they
ran into a really tough matchup in the first round.
I mean, when when that matchup came out, you win
the President's Trophy and then you're playing against maybe the
hottest team in the league going into the first round.
That's a tough matchup. And I think that matchup, as
well as how Saint Louis played them like that was

(31:34):
a war every single night. I mean, I think a
lot of guys were pretty beat up after that series.

Speaker 6 (31:39):
And you know, they I don't want.

Speaker 7 (31:42):
To use the word lucky, but they snuck by Saint Louis,
and so there was kind of this feeling that maybe
getting getting through that round was going to like propel
them and and and and maybe that was going to
like push them towards you know, who knows how far.
But to me, it just looked like in that Dallas
series they were out of gas. That Saint Louis series
took a ton out of them.

Speaker 3 (32:03):
You know.

Speaker 7 (32:04):
And I think that they have an incredible core to
build around. There's just little tweaks. I think that that
team needs to get to that next level, and I
think that it could be out there for them, you know,
this offseason. I don't think they need any home runs.
You know, they have the guys that can put the
puck in the net. They got a pretty good goalie
I've heard, you know, they got some some really great

(32:24):
pieces on the back end. So it's almost like what Florida,
You know, did I think when Bill Zito took over
and they had this great core, he made the big
swing for a Mattkachuck obviously, but you know then it's
just how can you.

Speaker 6 (32:37):
Supplement that core to kind of push past to that
next level?

Speaker 1 (32:41):
Yeah, Connor Hellbuck winning his third Vestna, first time Hart
Trophy winning, obviously, Swipeley Connor, all those great stars up front,
Josh Morrissey as well.

Speaker 2 (32:48):
I'm curious.

Speaker 1 (32:48):
Also there's rumors right now, Blake about maybe hockey went
back to Atlanta. You're in Atlanta very long with the Thrashers.
But I'm a little skeptical myself. I just think it
hasn't worked out the past. Maybe it can be different
depending on where the arena could be. But what do
you think about potentially NHL coming to Atlanta.

Speaker 7 (33:03):
I think just everything on paper makes a ton of sense.
It's a huge market. It's more or less the capital
of that region of the United States. So from an
NHL standpoint, it makes a ton of sense to try
to make that work. I think that what probably gives
us a little bit more juice, right now is the
success that that team in Vegas had not a traditional

(33:25):
hockey market, no reason why the team should be successful.
And you know it's one of like the pre eminent
or premiere franchises now in the NHL. Like that is
a destination now. And the most important piece of this puzzle,
which I think the first two iterations of the Atlanta
teams failed at, is the team needs to have success early,

(33:45):
so you know they that there needs to be a
model built where that team is going to have success
because it's almost like the field of dreams thing where
if you build it, they will come. Yeah, you got
to put a quality team on the ice and give
people a reason to go watch, because you've seen it
in Vegas, you've seen it some of these new markets.
When you get people through the door and they watch

(34:07):
a NHL game live, they're hooked.

Speaker 6 (34:09):
They love it.

Speaker 7 (34:11):
That's that's I think our game's biggest challenge is how
do we get people in the seat to where our
product now takes over and it's so good. It's just
you know the success of the Thrashers, I think it
faded really quick because they didn't put a quality product
on the ice. And I think that no matter what
the sport is. Like, if you know the Dallas Cowboys

(34:34):
have five straight years of losing, like the interest kind
of drops. It's just the way the nature of being
a fan goes.

Speaker 2 (34:40):
Now you're one hundred percent right.

Speaker 1 (34:41):
People keep talking about you ever think that there'll be
six straight Sailing Cups in Florida's in the lightning in Florida.
I'm like, listen, if there's a winner, people will go
there's twenty thousand fans packet in Sunrise going nuts.

Speaker 2 (34:51):
It's not like it isn't can It's not like it's
in traditional markets.

Speaker 1 (34:53):
But you're right, if fans are winners, as you see
it in Vegas, it certainly worked out.

Speaker 3 (34:56):
I'll go ahead.

Speaker 4 (34:57):
Yeah, I just wanted to get back to your time
with the Thrashers while we're on that topic. Obviously weren't
there that long, but I would love to hear any
memories of your time with that franchise and at that
moment in your career.

Speaker 7 (35:13):
Yeah, that was that was definitely a stepping stone moment.
I mean it was it was very bittersweet. It was
really tough to get traded from Boston, especially with where
that team was at. Like you knew that there was
something special there and there was a real opportunity for
that team, and obviously they wanted that year, so that
made it, in hindsight even more tough. But strictly individually speaking,

(35:36):
you know, getting traded there. Craig Ramsey was my coach.
I had him as an assistant coach in Boston for
a couple of years. He basically took me, took me
aside and said, you're just gonna play. Go play like
there's no don't worry about making mistakes, don't worry about anything.
Just go out there and play. You're gonna be playing,
and let's see what happens. That was what I needed
at that point in my career. I needed somebody just

(35:56):
to you know, sort of take the chains off and
just say, hey, go go do your thing and let's
see what let's see what it looks like. So strictly
individually speaking, it was a It was kind of a
turning point in my career where there was a little
bit of freedom given to me and some opportunity, and
lucky enough, I was able to take advantage of it.

Speaker 4 (36:14):
And were there specific moments with that market or the
fans where you kind of realized, oh this is this
is a little different for a kid who grew up
in the state of hockey.

Speaker 6 (36:24):
Oh yeah, Uh.

Speaker 7 (36:26):
There was a couple There was a couple of moments.
I mean, I remember there was a I believe we
were playing on a Tuesday night in Atlanta against Florida.
And keep in mind, coming from Boston that you know
that TD Garden was eighteen nineteen thousand, like rowdy every
single night at that point, and there I think they
announced five thousand people in the crowd. There couldn't there

(36:48):
couldn't have been two thousand people there, and I had
it dawned on me. I was like, like, I could
you could do almost anything out here and nobody would care.
So that was kind of a wild moment, going from
like a pressure cooker in Boston where like every single
move see him to feel like it was scrutinized, and
now it's like nobody's even here to care. And you know,

(37:11):
then another moment that's really funny. My dad was at
a game at some point when I was there, and
we went into overtime. Overtime ended, we went into a shootout,
and so the first player was going in the shootout
and there was a gentleman and his son sitting next
to my dad and he starts to panic.

Speaker 6 (37:30):
He's like, where's everyone? Where'd everyone go?

Speaker 7 (37:31):
Why are they letting him just go in all alone
without anyone defending him? And so my dad had to
explain to him, Well, after overtime they do this, everyone
gets a BREAKAWAYO. So that was kind of another funny
moment of Yeah, we're in a new, new place for sure.

Speaker 4 (37:48):
That the problem you probably had when you arrived in Winnipeg,
where everyone there, I'm assuming knew the game inside out
and probably knew the whole roster already by the time
you got you guys got there.

Speaker 6 (37:58):
Oh did they ever? Yeah? I wasn't.

Speaker 7 (38:00):
I was not fortunate enough to play in the first
preseason game in Winnipeg.

Speaker 6 (38:05):
They split the squad.

Speaker 7 (38:07):
I got to go to Columbus and the rest of
the boys stayed in that first preseason game in Winnipeg. Yeah,
preseason game, I mean apparently was out of control. I
think I think, you know, buff laid a couple guys out.
I think Mark Stewart might have got into a fight
within like the first thirty seconds of the game. So yeah,

(38:27):
you could you could feel that vibe like the minute
you know, we got going in training camp, the minute
the game started. That first home game was I mean
that felt like a you know, a playoff game. It
was sot A lot of really cool moments from that
first year.

Speaker 4 (38:42):
Yeah, you've had the distinction of playing with both Chara
and Buff. I mean, two of the biggest most intimidating
dudes at least in recent history, which.

Speaker 3 (38:53):
Went scarier in the game for one thing.

Speaker 4 (38:55):
And is there a particular moment for either one where
you realized, oh my god, this guy is just an
absolute monster out there.

Speaker 7 (39:03):
Yeah, I mean there's like there's no picking a winner
in that.

Speaker 6 (39:09):
I don't think. You know. The scary thing about both.

Speaker 7 (39:16):
Of them is that like they had a switch where
I think that like there was no like they just
didn't care kind of what happened to you anymore, you know.
And and Buff in particular, like when he flipped that switch.
I mean you saw it a couple of times with
like how he hit people, but also like he'd be
willing to break his stick over your head. And and

(39:36):
he's just so so I think you have a guy
that's that size, that moves that well, and he's got
that mean streak to him. That's I think what makes
those guys very unique because that's a that's a complete
package where it can be really intimidating and it's it's.

Speaker 2 (39:52):
A lot more fun.

Speaker 7 (39:53):
Let me put it this way, it's a lot more
fun being on their side than going against them.

Speaker 4 (39:58):
Right, And getting back to the State Hockey Tournament in Minnesota,
we're all really familiar with those amazing all hockey hair
teams from the tournament every year. Was that a thing
guys were doing when you were in the tournament? And
what was your what was your salad of choice for
your big moment?

Speaker 6 (40:15):
Unfortunately not, Yeah, unfortunately not.

Speaker 7 (40:17):
That was not a thing yet. Social media hadn't been
born yet. I think I still had a flip phone
back then. So yeah, no, nothing cool like that. I
think the coolest thing you got to do is just
skate to the blue line, look in the camera and
say hi to somebody. So that that's about the extent
of it from what I played.

Speaker 4 (40:37):
And last thing for me is from your time in Winnipeg. Obviously,
you know the thing things ended there a certain way.
I don't know how you would refer to the way
things happen with the captaincy and then of course coming
to New York. Now that some times passed, maybe you've
had a little more time to to think about it.
What do you what is I guess your main takeaway
from the end of your time in Winnipeg after such

(40:59):
an incredible run there with the Jets.

Speaker 7 (41:03):
Yeah, I have nothing but just the best memories and
experiences in Winnipeg.

Speaker 6 (41:08):
And you know, all those things they happened for a reason.

Speaker 7 (41:12):
And you know, I am incredibly grateful I got to
be a captain of an NHL team.

Speaker 6 (41:18):
You know, not many people get to say that.

Speaker 7 (41:20):
So I look back on my time in Winnipeg with
a ton of just incredible memories and yeah, like I said,
you know, nothing but but positive experiences for my time,
you know, getting to be a captain of an NHL team,
and you know, all good things come to an end,
so you know, at the end, it was it was

(41:40):
my time to move on, and I truly felt that way.
And you know, I feel great that, you know, the
whatever my group of Winnipeg Jets helped build, you know,
has set that organization up to continue to have great success.
So yeah, I'm extremely proud of like the foundation that
myself and a lot of my teammates that were kind

(42:02):
of in that first group of Jets two point zero.
You know, that foundation that we built, you know, to
help that franchise have have success going forward.

Speaker 4 (42:13):
Yeah, and it just was obviously we we we didn't
get into your your actual playing status at the moment,
but is there anything in particular you just want to
share about kind of what you're what you're enjoying now
as a dad, you know, at this point in your
in your life. You mentioned your your oldest being in
a tournament recently, So what what is your main focus

(42:33):
right now?

Speaker 6 (42:34):
Yeah, I'm I'm coaching youth hockey.

Speaker 3 (42:38):
Yeah, it's the best.

Speaker 7 (42:40):
I was just in Chicago for for a Mike tournament.
So that's that's where I'm at now. But it's it's
a blast, it's it's it's so much fun getting to
share this with my kids, you know, and and now
getting to be there fan and cheerleader and trying to
help them with little things if they want to help. Uh.
You know, kids tend to not listen to their parents,
so sometimes that's a that that's a challenge as their

(43:01):
coach too, is you know, it's in one you're out
the other year.

Speaker 6 (43:04):
So we're having a lot.

Speaker 7 (43:05):
Of fun with it though, And like I said, there's
there's nothing better than watching them, you know, do some
of the same things that I got to do, and
all the youth tournaments and just what youth hockey is
all about, and going through that with them has been
a blast.

Speaker 1 (43:18):
I was gonna say, just tell the kids listen. Don't
listen to me off the ice, but on the ace
you have to listen to me. Okay, if you don't
listen to bedtime or eat your vegetables, but on these seriously,
when I'm trying to help you out here.

Speaker 7 (43:27):
Okay, yeah, exactly. They for some reason, they you know,
it doesn't click. It hasn't clicked yet, you know, their
their teammates. They they look at me, uh, with a
little bit more respect. And my kids are the ones
that aren't on a knee, aren't listening. And so trust me,
we've had we've had a lot of a lot of
drive home talks about.

Speaker 3 (43:46):
That growing paints as well.

Speaker 1 (43:48):
Blake Wheeler obviously outstanding NHL player for a long time.
Hopefully you see it back on the ice. Class act
both on and off the ice. These were great stories
man can't can't thank you enough. This was great stuff.

Speaker 2 (43:57):
Hopefully well chat again at some point down the road.

Speaker 6 (43:59):
All right, guys, thanks a lot for having me.

Speaker 1 (44:10):
We discussed on the previous episode, bation on the script,
some of the rosters coming out.

Speaker 5 (44:13):
Amazing interview. By the way, Now, I'm glad you liked it, Jeddy.
Obviously you could not. I was not able to be there,
and I'm glad that you took over and you crushed it.

Speaker 1 (44:21):
Teal dominant as well. He had some great questions and
he fed me all the questions. Yea, I love to
tell that's right, Cinophon sixty. When the last time you
saw a good Will hunting JD, I'm sure you've seen
it at some point in your life.

Speaker 3 (44:32):
Uh, probably like two weeks ago.

Speaker 1 (44:36):
Really, Al, so you're a big good Will hunting fan? Yeah, hello,
so I saw it the one time. Obviously, he came
up ninety seven, really enjoyed it, and I just never
got to run this thing again.

Speaker 2 (44:43):
There's so many good movies.

Speaker 1 (44:43):
Obviously came out that your Boogie Nights in particular is
a big fan of. But I said, obviously reading this,
Rober Willie's not gonna watch good Will hunting again, So
pop it in.

Speaker 2 (44:51):
I gotta be honest.

Speaker 1 (44:51):
First ten minutes, I'm like little dated reminds you how
much I hate people from Boston annoying accents. These are
a bunch of annoying guys riding around their cars, taking
their tough shit. They get in the fight fights in
his brutal gus fan Sands directing it like he Scorsese.

Speaker 2 (45:03):
This terrible slow motion close, a bunch of the go
this is this is.

Speaker 1 (45:06):
Pretty garbage, acual. I might just fast forward just the
Robin Williams scenes. We finally get to the twenty minute mark, okay,
and once Robin shows up, here we go. Plus, I
do love Stelling scars Guard. He's great playing the professor
who is just so aerodyite and uptight. He's got the
day scarf, which you already loves.

Speaker 3 (45:22):
That is the best. When he lights he lights the
papers on fire. To me, this is a yoe.

Speaker 2 (45:27):
That scene is so comically he lights. Somebody just wants no, no,
He's blowing up the asses by the tell you man.

Speaker 1 (45:33):
Once Robin showed up and Billy Crystal close friend of
Robert Williams. He said in that book he goes Honestly,
I think it's his best performance because it's the only
one that I saw that I really didn't see Robin like,
I just saw him as Sean Maguire. And I tell you, man,
those sees him and Damon together, it's like raging bowling
in the ring.

Speaker 2 (45:46):
It was absolutely outstanding, especially that Damon.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
It's just such a prick. And again I find him obnoxious,
but that is the point of the character. He is
this guy who's brilliant but a real dick. So many
people are from Boston, and he's testy. He starts blocking
Robin's wife, who he doesn't know is dead. Robin grabs
him by the throat. Hey, don't you watch a chief
what you say?

Speaker 3 (46:03):
He's gonna better. I can hear brigagitate.

Speaker 1 (46:05):
Gordon Wood times up, and then he gives him that
great monologue how you don't know anything, you're just a kid.
You know, a whole speech about Game six, seventy five
year old series Carlton Fisk and you know it wasn't there, girl.

Speaker 2 (46:17):
It's amazing and it's really as well as movies j D.

Speaker 1 (46:21):
You don't see anymore now, right, And those guys said
that at the time, like I do think the backstory
behind Goodble Hunting is as fastening as the actual movie.
These guys are not quite journeyman actors, but they're missing
out in the big roles. They both audi incentivele but
now didn't get it. I'mitioning for school ties. No, Brendan
Fraser got it. Why don't we write our own script?
They write their own script. They win an Academy Award
and it's becoming massive superstars and Damon is the lead role.

(46:41):
But I gotta tell you, Affleck, I do love that
scene where you know, he's talking, Hey, what happened with
the girl?

Speaker 2 (46:46):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (46:46):
She left?

Speaker 1 (46:47):
Okay, I'll sorry to hear about that, and he's like,
you know, you're such a smart kid, and Damon gives
him the you know, I'm tired everyone seeing it.

Speaker 2 (46:52):
Oh it to yourself.

Speaker 1 (46:53):
Affleck's so good in that scene that if you owe
it to me, you owe it to me. If twenty
years from now, we're gonna watch all of us, Yeah,
we're gonna go watch our kids playing Lily like oll Kill.

Speaker 5 (47:01):
You know what's the best part of my day The
walk up from Acadia House. I'm gonna knock and you're
not gonna be there.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
Because I killed the habit you have. You got the
winning lottery tick.

Speaker 5 (47:16):
And here's the thing with that two things. I have
two points in that movie. Yeah, is he actually smart
or does he just have a photographic memory.

Speaker 1 (47:25):
Well, here's the part that this, I mean, you do
have to stretch credulity here. So this guy is a
what a word, fuck.

Speaker 3 (47:33):
Hard as a rock right now.

Speaker 2 (47:38):
Take a.

Speaker 1 (47:40):
He's one to five smartest guys in the world when
that comes to mathematics, because scars Guard is in the
top ten.

Speaker 2 (47:45):
And he says to him, only five people can understand this.

Speaker 1 (47:47):
And this guy just has to be a janitor's hanging
out boss with his buddy's getting drunkn and dropping lines
at bars while he's picking up mini driver.

Speaker 2 (47:55):
Like I was like, all right, I mean whatever, I guess.
I guess. I'm not saying tough guys can't be smart,
but stretching a little bit. The guy's like a genius level.

Speaker 5 (48:03):
My favorite line apparently the line at the end when
he picks up the paper and says, I got to
see about a girl and he goes smart smart ass,
I think is what he says.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
No, so I read the book, so that yeah, he
that was that libbed correct.

Speaker 1 (48:16):
Yeah, they did ten takes where he just he looks
the note it's back Damon's voice over and says, hey,
tell your professor, I'm not gonna show up the job
to go see about a girl. I probably Robin looks
at it, ten takes something and then to take the uses,
he goes, son of a Bitch stole my line, and
Damon was watching it play back, tells Van Sant the direction,
you got it.

Speaker 2 (48:31):
That's unbelievable.

Speaker 8 (48:32):
That's the that's awesome and that's honestly well, the most
memorable parts of the movie is the Son of a
Bitch stole tell a great performance by George Plimpton, of course,
the noted writer, playing one of the therapists who Damon
starts in furry that he's a raving homosexual and Plimpton
takes umbrage at that.

Speaker 4 (48:49):
So yeah, I know, great performance from George Plimpton, who's
not even an actor, playing as you said, the uptight therapist,
and uh yeah, that's that's one of the things that
sticks out for me. He's in the film for like
ninety seconds and that's always a great a fun early
scene for me that I enjoyed the movie. Plus Geordie Plimpton,
the father of experiential journalism. He actually played a preseason
game for the Boston Bruins.

Speaker 1 (49:11):
That's right, paper Line, I think is the book where
he played. It was a quarterback for the tread lines.

Speaker 3 (49:15):
To play a quarterback for the Lions.

Speaker 4 (49:17):
And then there was a book called Open Net where
he played goal for the Bruins. He was like forty
eight years old too and.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
Did not know how to skate.

Speaker 4 (49:24):
I love it, George, But yeah, George Plimpton, great performance.

Speaker 2 (49:28):
An Oscar winning role, and performance by Robin Williams.

Speaker 1 (49:31):
He said when he won the Oscar, obviously he was
so thrilled in his speech, you know, he thanked Ben
and Matt thanked Harvey Winston, which has not aged well.
You mentioned his dad was past, and then after you
say he saw Burt Reynolds, because Burt Renin's are pretty best,
and Robin's like, I'm sorry, man, like Boogi Nights is awesome.

Speaker 2 (49:44):
He probably should have won too, but this is the
way it goes.

Speaker 1 (49:46):
Robin had not won for Awakenings and dead Posts aside
in other movies. So it's just a great movement. I really,
I really do think it will. Huntings held up, Well,
I haven't seen it a long time. I had not.
I'm glad he saw it recently, tal go watch it again.
It's really really well written and well dumb. Everybody, especially
that cast.

Speaker 3 (50:00):
All right, they're gonna be back in here for gord sake.

Speaker 2 (50:02):
Gordon, would do you like Apple?

Speaker 3 (50:05):
My brother loves that am Apples?

Speaker 2 (50:06):
Yeah, I was like, it's ok.

Speaker 3 (50:07):
I kind of rollway my friend.

Speaker 2 (50:09):
Yeah, my boys wicked smart.

Speaker 1 (50:12):
So we went over the European Well yeah, Casey Affleck
also very irritating, at least in that movie. We went
over the European players announced the Olympics in our last episode,
just missing the Canadian in the US team.

Speaker 2 (50:21):
So now you're all waiting, Hey, who are the six?
They're gonna make it.

Speaker 1 (50:23):
The Americans announced Quinn Hughes, Jack Eichel, Austin Matthews, Matthew Kachuck,
Brady Kuchuck, and Charlie McAvoy. Canada name's Mick, David Crosby, McKinnon, mccarr,
Brayden Point and Sam Rein Hurt.

Speaker 2 (50:36):
Nobody cares yet, but let's go Canada.

Speaker 3 (50:38):
I don't care. We'lle can give a give a baker's
fuck about that. I had.

Speaker 5 (50:44):
I had to talk about that at the finals. I
was like, we got viewership. I'm like I and I
said it on air. I was like, I do not
care about this one bit, don't.

Speaker 3 (50:53):
No dud it. In August. What are we trying to
sell here? It's the Olympics.

Speaker 5 (50:57):
Everybody's watching correct, first time NHL players back in a while.
It's gonna be so much fun. I don't care who's going.
It's gonna be It's not about the play is It's
about the crest on the front, the maple leaf on
the front.

Speaker 3 (51:11):
Go Canada Go.

Speaker 1 (51:12):
We discussed the Stanley Cup getting dented with Phil Pritcher,
but Stanley appears to sustain some serious damage once again.
Cameras appear to show Stanley being pastoral, a noticeable chip
taken at the top of the bowl. Damien's gonna chip
on his shoulder and Goodwill hunting this Stanley is missing
a chip? Are the Panthers a little too rough?

Speaker 2 (51:28):
Now?

Speaker 5 (51:28):
Get a little too big for the bridges here? I
like it, you know, rough it up a little bit.

Speaker 2 (51:34):
Interesting? Take you don't mind Lord Stanley getting bruised?

Speaker 5 (51:37):
Well, my gripe I have, and I'll give you my
gripe I have with with the media world is you know,
we get through the finals and it's over, and you know,
I'm like, I'm itching to get on a plane to
get home, and I'm getting like texts from guys like
the empty netters. Guys are texting me and they're just
like like we rage and it's the Cup night, and
I'm like, what do I give a fuck about the
Cup night? I'm like, I want to go home. I've

(51:59):
had enough. I've done my job. My job is that.
I'm like, I'm not I didn't I'm not part of
this team. I'm like, I'm happy for the guys, but
I'm not going to the elbow room until six in
the morning being like, can I.

Speaker 3 (52:10):
Get a thiep out of the Cup?

Speaker 2 (52:12):
Now?

Speaker 3 (52:12):
You don't care?

Speaker 5 (52:14):
You know, jeez, nothing against the fans, but like I'm
not saying, like the fans, yes, that's amazing, and the
people that, like, you know, close family and friends. But
I'm like the media, Like i'd like some media people
being like, oh, tonight's to night. I rip it up,
and I'm like, I've been going hard for two weeks.
His whole finals last time to.

Speaker 1 (52:32):
Sleep, Sam the Man, Let's acknowledge Sam Rydhert just crushing life,
as Taul put it, married his wife Jessica. Fifty seven
goals twenty twenty three, twenty four second Austin Matthews scores
the Cup winning goal. Florida wins the Cup for the
first time in Francis history, signs a sixty nine million
dollar contract extension. Wins at four Nations with Team Canada.
Scores four goals in the Cup clinching game as Florida

(52:52):
wins the second straight year and biggest one of all.
Gets named as one of the first six for Canada
the Olympics next year.

Speaker 3 (52:58):
What a run for Sam, Sam who Sam Bennet, Sam
Ryd Hurt. Oh yeah he did. Yeah, that's great.

Speaker 5 (53:05):
Yeah, I'm happy for it. Yeah, Sam Reinhart, I listen,
I think not enough credit goes to this defensive game. Honestly,
that series with bark Off, like they had to play
against Connor and Leon and they shut them down and
and Leon had a great speech visibly upset. Of course,

(53:27):
why wouldn't they be. They've lost twice to Florida. That
absolutely suck And apparently like somebody tweeted out that if
this was like miked up, it was like personal, like
the way guys were talking to each other, like there's
visible hate. People were saying some nasty stuff to each other.
But Leon said it, he's like, you know, the first
two lines other than that game six where Ryan Hart,

(53:49):
you know what, goes off for four goals. He goes,
they didn't really do anything offensively. He goes, it was
the lost to Ryning line in the Loundell line. He's like,
they kind of dominated us. And he's like it's tough
because you know that's just a wave of attack, the
waves of attack that Florida has. But Sam Reinhardt defensive
did such a good job but shutting down Leon and
Connor the way his stick, he has such a good
stick on the penalty Gil very underrated, very smart in

(54:12):
when he attacks, and I mean he's got such a
deceiving shot. Mike Johnson talked about it. It's it's not
the hardest shot, but he just picks his spot and
he's very accurate with it. And yeah, I've met him
a couple of times. A great guy too. Almost bought
my house in Florida. Really, Yeah, I didn't pay enough
money though, so didn't get it. He tried a low
boy a little bit, but yeah, I tried to get
me a little It's okay, Hey, it's art of the deal.

Speaker 1 (54:32):
Yep runner out for the selfie as we finish up
here on NHL Unscripted. Honestly, this has been a ton
of fun here. We still have more episodes to come,
not many. We're gonna have one with our buddy Sam Cosantino.
Sam's gonna break down the draft use of course the
draft experts. Unbelievable job on sports and NHL network. And
we do also have to mention fortal live Wire out
now from iHeart podcast. We started with that, we closed

(54:54):
with that one more goodwill hunting story.

Speaker 5 (54:57):
Another live Wire is isn't that a song from Motley Crue?

Speaker 3 (55:02):
Like a Motley Crue hung live Wire?

Speaker 2 (55:03):
I remember live Wire? Was that music sharing thing everyone.

Speaker 3 (55:06):
Used to do.

Speaker 5 (55:06):
Yeah, an hour off the rails? Well, look up, I
remember loub I remember Lubewire. Was this ky jelly? Any continue?

Speaker 2 (55:16):
So the Seemen Robin says, he talks me his wife
used to fart.

Speaker 1 (55:19):
Yes, that's an ad lib. The asyncrasies right, and then
you see Damon start laughing. So watching it, I was like,
Damon's laughing really hard, and so they both start losing it.
So what happened is probably they started ad libbing, and
sure enough, Robin goes in this whole rip about how
oh she'd fart so much something that would.

Speaker 2 (55:33):
Lay a match?

Speaker 1 (55:34):
And then Damon said, is that how she died? Because
you lit a match? Her fart was so explosive? So
Fancy used their cutaways because they're just losing their minds.
Laughing starts if you watch it, like it's funny, but
they're laughing really hard. And the reason why is they
did like twenty minutes of ada libbic, which is just
ridiculous fart jokes, which didn't end up making the movie.
But that's part of the genius of being a good director.

Speaker 3 (55:52):
That's just so good.

Speaker 5 (55:53):
Yeah, just like tal Edward Scissorhands snap.

Speaker 2 (55:57):
A last thought for eight Mini Driver. I mean, I
kind of liked her.

Speaker 3 (56:02):
She's she's kind of she's got she's got something for me.
She's always got some for me. That could be it
the big mouth.

Speaker 1 (56:08):
I like it, like he dumped on Oprah. It was unbelievable.
Many driver thought this, I've got Matt Damian, No, I.

Speaker 3 (56:13):
Know they were dating.

Speaker 2 (56:15):
Oh yeah, he broke her heart? Man. How do you
like them apples?

Speaker 5 (56:19):
Matt Damon? How do you like them apples? What is
Matt David's personal life? Is he married?

Speaker 2 (56:23):
He's married, He's got three kids. His wife Brazilian woman.
I don't know the name of here.

Speaker 3 (56:29):
She's all done, ye know he he doesn't speak English.
Definitely a tractor.

Speaker 1 (56:33):
It's interesting counterpoint to Ben because Affleck is as everyone
knows is personal life is always in the papers alcohol,
whereas Damon like, I'm just married guy doing this thing.

Speaker 5 (56:43):
If only his married life was like the movie The
Accountant and organized, all would be better.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
I know that note.

Speaker 1 (56:50):
Thanks so much for checking on scriptedhlng script We're taken
next week off oh Sam a cause for concern. Sam
Cosy will join us for a draft recap. Yes, get
some sleep, buddy. This has been fun. It makes you
check out live wire now from iHeart podcast Thanks for
checking out hl un Scripted.

Speaker 2 (57:07):
We'll see us soon.

Speaker 1 (57:22):
NHL Unscripted is a production of the NHL and iHeart Podcasts.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts,