Rodrigo Abols is Ready for Milan: Olympic Roster Breakdowns, Auston Matthews is Back and Best Films of 2025.

Back from the Winter Classic, Jason Demers shares his experience in Florida with Adnan Virk before the guys get into the recent Olympic roster unveilings, the World Junior Championships and the return of Auston Matthews. Then Flyers forward Rodrigo Abols stops by to talk about Latvia's hopes for the Winter Olympics, locker room prank wars and his long road to the NHL. Finally, Adnan lists his top 10 films of 2025 before the guys discuss Will Ferrell's referee cosplay and the surging Kraken.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
NHL Unscripted is a production of the NHL and iHeart
podcasts coming up on NHL and Scripted, SEML File and
sixty the Best Films of twenty twenty five, plus recapping.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
The Critics' Choice Awards.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
A special guest from the Philadelphia Flowers and also an Olympian,
Rodrigo Obbols is going to join us, and a big
week for Austin Matthews as the Jets are grounded JD.
We kick it off though with JD doing South Beach
Annual Winter Classic the New York Rangers. Unbelievable in outdoor
games six and zero. You were there, a true Miami affair,
a tribute to Mimivice, the pregame affair, the Panthers players

(00:53):
rolling up the game of prey to sports cars and
look like you had a blast.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Uh yeah.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
I got worked like an absolute mule by the NHL
and the league as I as I do consistently for
It was a great event though, Man, what a show.
They spared no expense. I got to call the game
for NHL International, which is really cool. We did that
kind of practice stream on NHL YouTube, which is amazing.

(01:18):
And then you know, we get to the day of
the game and I show up to the rink and
they said, hey, you're going to kind of help with
the arrivals and you're going to do arrival interviews. And
I said, yeah, I've be sure, no problem, you know,
happy to help and I'll grab some guys. And they're saying, hey,
the Florida Panthers is going to be pretty cool. They're
coming in you know, ferraris or whatever. So it's like
you're gonna have to They're announcing car by car. So

(01:41):
we get closer to the game and I get to
the rink and I do my couple of hits for
the NHL Network and the guy, the liaison guy that's
grabbing me to bring me to the he's bringing me
to the arrivals. He goes, hey, he goes, are you
comfortable MCing? And I said, oh, I said what there.
He goes yeah, he goes, you know, we don't have
a host. The host isn't here. You're gonna have to

(02:03):
m C. And I'm like at this point too, I'm like,
wait a minute, no, this can't be true. I said, okay,
So I go I'm like I walk outside and they're
like it's like a whirl when I get outside there like, hey,
here's the names you're gonna announce, and you get a
weight on que you gotta pump up the crowd, brutal
and I'm like, okay.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
No extra money for this, just a random Oh no.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
You best believe on the expense report this month there
was an extra day's pay for that, because that is
not in my contract.

Speaker 4 (02:37):
I had no idea I was doing that. And then I'm.

Speaker 3 (02:40):
Sitting there the Florida Panthers are late by like thirty minutes,
and here's Jason Emers, former NHL player, and all my
humbleness and everything, and I'm grinted. Teeth played in the Olympics,
so I let's go Panthers.

Speaker 4 (02:56):
Pumping the crowd up.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
It was just reduced to being a huckster. That's what
you want.

Speaker 4 (03:00):
Oh it was great. I mean listen.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
It was on top of that, I had to call
all international too after, so I had to do color.
So I'm like losing my voice out there. So I'm
literally losing my voice as I'm screaming for NHL for
the Florida Panthers to be frickin thirty four minutes late
in all their glory but it was by all accounts,

(03:24):
it was an amazing entrance, probably one of the better ones.
Matthew could chuck and bark off in the first car,
just like incredible atmosphere.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
There were so many fans.

Speaker 3 (03:34):
They're Rangers fans and Panthers fans and sorry to go
along because it's a funny story.

Speaker 4 (03:39):
So they go, hey, you're gonna.

Speaker 3 (03:41):
Announce each car one by one, and he goes, you're
gonna announce you know, here's the list, and I said, just,
you know, make sure it goes quick because I also
have to grab guys for an interview. And I know
these NHL players they're gonna walk up here and they're
just gonna get out of the car and leave. They're
not gonna wait for twenty minutes. They go, no, no, they'll wait.

Speaker 4 (04:00):
They'll wait. We'll make them wait, We'll make them wait. Sure, okay,
make sure.

Speaker 3 (04:04):
So I like a guy relaying the names to me,
and of course, you know in like car six is
Sergey Bbrovsky and and Sam Bennett and I'm reading the
car too, and I see Serge Lebrovski just mow past me,
and I'm like, well, this is just a fucking mess.

Speaker 4 (04:18):
Now, so I'm just trying to keep up. I'm like, yeah,
keep yelling.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
The names, and I'm yelling names of guys that are
like already in the building.

Speaker 5 (04:24):
Like I'm just like in.

Speaker 3 (04:25):
Car number five, right s Morovsky looking I was wearing
a suit looking like Richard Dawson.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yes, it was, it was.

Speaker 5 (04:35):
It was.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
It was a sight to be to behold. And it
was a very cool event. And uh, you know, I think,
I know it got a lot of flak for like
the Moniker Winter Classic and it being you know, it
being in South Florida.

Speaker 4 (04:48):
But it was really cool, man.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
And when they opened up the they open up the
roof and the windows. I mean, it was what an
amazing venue. It was cool, it wasn't warm, it was
really nice in the building. And yeah, the fans were
it was. It was well done and I think it's
something that's going to be I see how they do Tampa.
But for that, that was like perfectly executed.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
I was about to say Tampa hosting an outdoor game
February first, So I'm with you, that's a little bit
more concerning. This was smart because the fact that it's
obviously well done with the refrigeration and keeping the roof.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
You know, as you said, it was a cool atmosphere, Tampa.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
I don't know how that's gonna work, but as you said,
in terms of like execution, NHL has been a plus
with this, and you get casual fans right that they're
not really into hot but they love watching the Winter Classic.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
It's it's a huge hit.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
It's great and the MC was pretty darn good as well.
Outside and you're hearing, oh, is that Jason Emers, Yes
it is, folks.

Speaker 4 (05:42):
It's me, like you said, like a.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
Richard Dawson family feud type. I love it.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
You were just channeling that kind of style, just like
everybody fired up like a raw raw guy.

Speaker 5 (05:51):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (05:51):
Speaking of getting fired up, rosters officially in for the
Winter Olympics taking off February sixth.

Speaker 2 (05:56):
A lot to go over here, So let's do Canada first.

Speaker 1 (05:58):
Tom Wilson, Nick Suzuki, bohorvat In, Sam Bennett, Mark Scheifeley
Connor out thoughts on that first five. But Dar's a
surprise to me because I just thought put him on
the team and then if he's hurt and can't play,
no problem, just replace him.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
But not even named the team.

Speaker 4 (06:13):
Your thoughts.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, they they gave him the injury replacement nod. I
think they kind of I don't know if they ever
never wanted him on the team, and this injury kind
of provided a little bit of a shelter for them
to say, hey, no we're not taking him. It was
you know, and then they kind of double down saying
like the injury wasn't a part of it, and I'm like.

Speaker 4 (06:34):
You just admit it, Yes it was. It's like it's fine.

Speaker 3 (06:36):
You kind of didn't want him and you're like, hey,
this is you know, do I think leaving him off
was a good idea. I think he had earned, you know,
to at least be potentially seriously considered for an extra.
But you know, they have such a good team and
they have so many options in Canada, it's just going
to come down to the fit need for John Cooper

(06:59):
and that coaching staff. You know, I for sure they're
very much big on and team can undefined roles, not
just taking the best possible offensive players. They want to
find roles up and down the lineup. So, you know,
the biggest one for me for Canada was probably on
the back end. I think I understand the back end
the trust you you know, as a defenseman, you want

(07:20):
guys you're comfortable with, comfortable playing with, you know. But
there's a lot of guys you know that we're having
good campaigns. Jacob Chickrian didn't even get considered.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
You've been big on Chickrin.

Speaker 3 (07:31):
I was big and I said we'd riot. So I'm
still setting up that date to riot.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
You said that on an NHL network. I remember we
all yeah, but.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
We're still setting up that date. I got to get
a few things put together for that. But uh, you know,
a lot of moving parts when you want to riot.
Uh you know people what whatnot in flights and you
know schedules. But sure, uh, you know, I think you
know a lot of people, said Matthew Shaffer. But I
think you know Matthew Shaeffer's first year. I think they're
cognizant Team Canada of like how much hockey they want

(07:59):
him to play, because this is like the most hockey
he's played ever, and it's like he's adding the Olympics
on top of that. I think would be a disservice
to him and would just you know, would just kill him.

Speaker 4 (08:09):
He's a young kid, so I think he's going to be.

Speaker 3 (08:11):
In every Olympics and World Championships if he's not in
the playoffs moving forward, But this was I think this
was a good decision. Who knows, you know, we're still
far away. There's still a month left, and in a month,
there's a lot of injuries, and you could see with
this condemnsed schedule and with the way the injuries have
been mounting on a lot of teams. You know, Devon

(08:31):
Taves just went down in Colorado. You could see him
slide in potentially to this spot if there's more than
one or two injuries.

Speaker 2 (08:39):
Canada very center heavy. They added four forward to weren't
at four nations.

Speaker 1 (08:43):
Three of those guys are centers celebrating Suzuki and horror
fat As far as the Americans are concerned, you mentioned
roster construction of Canada's very cognitive, having guys playing their
correct roles.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
Billy Garrett was clear about that. I think it's a mistake.

Speaker 1 (08:55):
He's not gonna have Jason robertson there. Cole Kawfield because,
as he said, no, we like having structure like guys.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
I was certain to find rules.

Speaker 1 (09:02):
Adam Fox, Lane Hudson are out your thoughts of the Americans,
particularly Robertson RoboCop not making the list.

Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well, you have Robertson to Brincat in Caufield. You got
to take one, like, you got to take one of
those guys because you need game breakers. And what happened
to I know, four nations is only four teams, and
but the US lost too in a one goal game essentially,
so they lost in a one goal game. They needed

(09:29):
that moment where it doesn't matter if Cole Coffield or
Jason Robertson are having a bad game. They find the
back of the net and they find a way. And
I find it very shocking that you would leave off,
you know, the top US board goal scorer right now
at the moment, and Jason Robertson and the points leader,
and it's Donning. You know, his the way he is
on the power play, the way he can you know,

(09:51):
he scores these weird goals where you're like, how did
this go in? But he's just got a nose for
the net. And you know, I thought he was having
a great year. So I'm very surprised. I know they
seem to be really leaning on his playoffs and how
kind of at times he you know, can disappear in
the playoffs or he's not you know, as as dominant
when the you know, not as dominant when kind of

(10:14):
the stakes are elevated. But I just think it's a
big mistake, and I think this US team is probably
the most pressure on them moving forward because if they
don't win, everybody's looking to looking at Billy Garrin for
Robertson or Cowfielder to Brincats. So to me, I think
their decor is one of the most stout in UH

(10:34):
in this tournament. I know the Adams quite huge Jakeson,
but I think Seth Jones earned it over him, And
after that, I think those other five is pretty set,
you know, and I don't think after you know, it
was either Fox or Jones and you're not bringing one
of them as an extra. So Jones gets it, and
then he gets injured in Florida after Matthew could Chuck
drapes the Olympic the you know, the US flag during

(10:56):
the during the anthem when they announced the team USA.
He drapes the US flag on his shoulders with Adam
Fox and the Bill, and then Jones proceeds to get
injured in the game, So you know, call that karma
or whatever it is. But I think he hopefully's okay,
and because he's really earned it. Seth Jones the way
he's played, and I love their decore, I like their goaltending,

(11:17):
and it's just those three guys up front. I think
they made a mistake and not bringing one of them.

Speaker 2 (11:22):
Definitely built from the back end.

Speaker 1 (11:23):
Jones in front of NHL and scripted our friend Tony
Luff and the NHL Network saying with the guards of
Jason Robertson, he said, I love the Herb Brooks line
form miracle, not looking for the best players, looking for
the right ones. Jason Robertson is both. We'll see it ultimately.
If that ends up harming with the.

Speaker 3 (11:37):
Guards of Bill g A, then I want to ask
you a question. Please, you know reason five thousand of
why we need a video element for the show. Like
Tal Pinchewsky has been coughing up along since we started
the show, and if people can see this right now,
I feel bad because he needs a lozenge or something.

Speaker 4 (11:56):
And Tal, what's going on right now?

Speaker 2 (11:58):
Because I just noticed a squinting. I didn't see the coughing.

Speaker 3 (12:01):
Oh he's been he's been hacking a lung up there.
Tell what's going on? It's got whooping cough.

Speaker 2 (12:09):
Oh, whooping coughs, brutal geez.

Speaker 4 (12:14):
I know, I know it's not it's just yeah, you
could never use that mic again.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
But it does raise the larger issue with JD is
saying a little hon your meeting right now? Can we
get a video element? People have been saying a podcast
in twenty twenty six. How do you guys don't have
a video element? How are you not on YouTube? I
can just watch your show.

Speaker 3 (12:32):
We might as well be chiseling on rock and sending
it out to people.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
We're old school here. Tell put it in some of
the other teams.

Speaker 1 (12:42):
I don't care that much, but if you want to
just give it a little cursory thought here j D
Sweden highlighted by a pair of wild goalies Yes for
Volstad and Phil Gushism, as well as the absence of
Mattias Echo, Michael Beckland and our guy William Eckland Finland
what we expected, Oliver Captain making the cut finish need defense.
That's where Jason Deverz needs to be finished and just
go listen. You guys don't even have enough defenseman.

Speaker 2 (13:03):
I can do it. I'll be six defense, no problem.

Speaker 3 (13:06):
Well they always just well it's different than four nations
because they don't have to take NHL guys. There's a
couple guys, you know, Miko Lettnin's in there. I think
there's one or two guys that are playing in the
Finnish league that are brought there. But I mean, listen,
there's some there's some teams. You know, Team Sweden's my
dark course to win it. Uh, I think they're stacked.
I didn't love the Willy Eckland snub. I think we

(13:26):
had him on the show fan of the show. Yeah,
I was a little shocked at that. So that's my
Team Sweden number one. The best part of that, you know,
offer sheet by the Saint Louis Blues, is that Philip
Robert gets the nod ahead of Mattias at home for
the Olympics, and just more salt in the wounds that
they kind of gave up.

Speaker 4 (13:46):
On him for eck home.

Speaker 3 (13:47):
And you know, Broberg's just having a good year, even
though you know, Saint Louis is still kind of the hunt.
But yeah, I'm surprised with Willy Eckland. I thought he
did enough to earn it. But this Swedish team is
they're sneaky man. They go and win World Juniors and
then now can go back to back and maybe do
the World Championsschampionship's that Jesus Christmas World Championships as well,

(14:08):
and do the triple crown.

Speaker 2 (14:09):
I like to call it nice. Well, let's tako little
World Juniors Junior mafia.

Speaker 1 (14:13):
As Sweden beats the Checks four to two in Minnesota
win their first World Junior Hockey Championships ince twenty twelve.
That's a back when Meeka has been a jadd scored
the ot winer for the Swedes. You just saw Mika
putting on a show there at the Winter Classic. Canada
does get bronze six to three win over the Finns,
but it was disappointing obviously for Canada. McKenna had a
strong tournament I will say fourteen point seven games, but

(14:34):
ultimately I was texting our friend A J. Raddick was
calling the games for USA and when USA lost to
fell and he said the door is open for Canada.
I'm like, let's go, he said, but Checkie is going
to be tough. Ultimately, Canada falls in the semis. Sweden
ends up winning it all I care about as long
as Canada wins on home soil next year's Red Deer,
it's gonna be setout. It's like it's been three years
and we have a won, right USA unable to three
people the first time ever. The Americans don't win on

(14:56):
home soil for the first time, as long as Canada
wins and Red Deer will be happy. But I think
it is good news JD for the sport overall, when
in the past it was always Canada winning. Now it's legit,
like now other teams are true contenders. You will see upsets,
and I think certainly frustrating for Americans, not only losing
on home soil, but not great crowds in Minnesota.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
They love their.

Speaker 1 (15:15):
College hockey, they love their high school hockey, but disappointing
attendants for the World Juniors in Minneapolis, Saint Paul.

Speaker 4 (15:20):
Yeah, this is supposed to be the state of hockey, right.

Speaker 5 (15:24):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (15:24):
What happened? MANI? Where were you? We're Warriors coming out?

Speaker 3 (15:28):
You didn't want to watch the Latviaver's Denmark, particularly your
fancies in minus sixty degree weather?

Speaker 2 (15:33):
Whatelse?

Speaker 3 (15:34):
Was were you doing ice fishing? Come on, get out there,
you know the US. You know, people were really harping
on that, and I'll touch on that quick is you know,
I just think that the World Juniors might not do
it for the Americans, especially in Minnesota. But I don't
know why they wouldn't give it. You know, you put
the Winter Classic in Florida. I tweeted about this. Why
not put the World Juniors the next time it's in

(15:55):
the US in Florida. Put it Put it in a
tourist area, you know, because during the holidays, a lot
of people are traveling, you know, and I think a
lot of people are getting out of this and the
win and everybody. They're trying to go, Hey, let's you know,
in the US, let's put it close to north and
we're gonna get the Canadians that are gonna come down. No,
the Canadians are gonna go to Florida. They're gonna go
to Disney World or whatever they're gonna do. So I

(16:16):
think why not attempt maybe putting it in South Florida
or Tampa Bay close to Disney World. You know, you
get some of the Europeans. It's a closer travel day
for the Europeans, because you want Europeans to come in
also and visit and come see their their kids, their
their their families, all that stuff. So you know, it's interesting.
I would wonder to see if they'd entertain that. But

(16:38):
you know, to the tournament, you know, chech Ye they
played it. They out Canada, Canada, and there's a lot
of talks since that tournament of like minor hockey is
in shambles in Canada, and look at what we're doing.

Speaker 4 (16:51):
We're not winning.

Speaker 3 (16:52):
We're we were once a proud nation at the World Juniors,
used to crush everybody.

Speaker 4 (16:55):
Now we're not.

Speaker 3 (16:56):
But and I kind of jumped on that train a
little bit because I watched that check you game and
I was pulling my hair out because defensively, I think,
you know, I just don't think they had a good tournament.
I think they were you know, goaltending was okay, but
their decoor was was very, very sloppy. You know, miss
cues all over the ice. You know, I know Zane
Perrek won, you know, the points score, defenseman of the tournament,

(17:20):
set records, but defensively he was porous.

Speaker 4 (17:23):
He was not helping.

Speaker 3 (17:24):
You know, they were just very much looking only for
offense and only for that power play. So but when
you look at the Canada team, they had six guys
that are in the NHL. And if you have those
six guys, you know, Maclin, Celebrady and Matthew Schaeffer both
qualify for.

Speaker 4 (17:36):
The World Juniors.

Speaker 3 (17:37):
If they're there, they dogwalk the whole tournament. They win
by six thousand goals, just because they have two of
arguably the best players in the NHL right now, you know,
not just the World Juniors. So you know, it's fun
to see these other teams getting up in Sweden's really
developing a lot better, so as Chechia. They're starting to
play a really good brand of hockey. So I don't

(17:59):
think Canada's in trouble necessarily, but I do think that
they're there is an issue that they need to start
looking overall in the way you know, Canada hockey's being
played and being taught. So that was my takeaway from
the tournament. You know, that was my uh what I saw,
and I don't think listen, we're looking at the first
overall pick. No one really separated themselves. You know, the

(18:22):
best player of that top three was Stenberg in Sweden.
I know, had thirteen points, but he was he was
he was kind of a power play merchant. Sorry fourteen points.
He was a power play merchant in that tournament. And
he didn't and verahf either like Veraoff didn't start the tournament.
He didn't play great, neither did McKenna. So I'm a
little it's gonna be interesting to see you could see

(18:43):
a surprise pick first overall this summer in July.

Speaker 1 (18:47):
Yeah, Stuke Grimson, the grim Reaper, said to me while
watching the game. He said, listen, I think unless mckinna
gets hit by a bus, he's a number an overall pick.
He said, this guy Steenbrick is unbelievable. Like, this guy's
an absolute stud And I'm with you on that. He
had an excellent tournament.

Speaker 4 (18:58):
Hit by a bus in Grimson fashion.

Speaker 2 (19:01):
Yeah, like this sulf doesn't happens too.

Speaker 1 (19:03):
A couple more talks, we gets to our special guest flyers,
Rodrigo Obbols. The Jets are grounded, The Sins are struggling.
The Jets at the bottom of the NHL standings for
winning the President Trophy last season. General manager Kevin Schall
they have spoke to the media on Monday and didn't
have twenty answers admitting he didn't necessarily see it coming.
We've talked with the Jets JD. They're old, they're slow,
they only have one line, etc. How about Ottawa though

(19:24):
I just got back to the nation's capital. The Sens
lose to Red Wings money their last Atlantic Division GM
Steve Sales says that we have adjusted the team's expectations
when he said Auto will contend when we're ready. I
root for Travis Green, but I feel bad for him
because I'm watching that game.

Speaker 2 (19:38):
They're up nine to zero shots, they're all over. The
Red Wings had a goal.

Speaker 1 (19:42):
Tom McClean smartly calls time out, has the goal disallowed,
the one chance to get Bam back of the net.
Red Wings were like out shot sixteen to seven, yet
led three to nothing after one. That's what happens when
you're relying too much on Levy Marilin and as Lenis
Olmark is out due to personal reasons.

Speaker 2 (19:57):
Outawa deserved better.

Speaker 1 (19:58):
But this could be disappointing after making the playoffs last year.

Speaker 3 (20:01):
Are they taking a step back? They just need gold,
you know. And again I think this Atlantic in the
Eastern Conference, I mean, they're four points out of a
playoff spot. So it's not. It's not this grave danger.
I think the Jets are awful. I mean, put a
fork in them right now.

Speaker 4 (20:15):
This is this team.

Speaker 3 (20:17):
They had an opportunity last night to win, and you know,
they gave up that goal lead, and I just think
they're you know, and I think, you know, for me,
I was going sell it, sell the farm. And I
saw somebody who read somebody talking about it. This could
be like a good kind of you know, you know,
it seems bad and it seems bleak, but they could

(20:39):
just fall themselves out of the playoffs, pick up a
top three pick, and then be right back to where
they are because they have all the piece They have
a lot of good, high end pieces that are locked up,
so it's not like they need to sell the farm.
They just maybe get a top three pick, they get
a Stenberg or they get a McKenna and Averrhaf and
they're off to the races. So and they just kind
of rebuild on the fly. It's not even a rebuild.

(21:03):
This is a retool. But yeah, there there's no way
they're making the playoffs. They they We said it three
weeks ago, four weeks ago, we talked about it's getting
late early I mean it's passe do it's uh, you know,
the alarm's not going off. They hit snooze one thousand times.
You ain't getting up now he's dead? Are you just
you just watching tal Kospa.

Speaker 1 (21:23):
They're coughing up a lung right now, just like tall.
Is our last topic before we get to our special guest.
A big week for your boy, Austin Matthews. The leaves
are still digging their way out of this hole, but
after Austin Matthews getting buried in Toronto.

Speaker 2 (21:35):
He's back. This is what Austin can do.

Speaker 1 (21:37):
Seven goals, eleven points to a current five game points
streak at least went three to zero to two. He
was in the NHL's third Star of the Week. He
passes Matt Sundeen the franchise leittering goals.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
Nice moment last day. He sees Sundeen out there honoring him.

Speaker 1 (21:49):
The city Toronto was done with this guy two years ago,
but he scored sixty nine goals two seasons ago.

Speaker 2 (21:54):
Is Austin Matthews back?

Speaker 4 (21:56):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (21:56):
Add Nan a very stute question and his stute observation, Yeah,
Austin's playing. Austin's playing, and uh, you know the best
hockey of his season and and maybe the last couple
of years. And you know, we've always wondered with him
with injuries, and I think at the end of the day,
that might be something that hampers him long term. But yeah,

(22:17):
this team's kind of really dealt with a lot of adversity,
a lot of injuries. I was out, you know, talking
about I've hedged my bets saying they were going to
miss the playoffs on the NHL Network and then here
Nostra demurz and I'm saying, I think they still sneak in.

Speaker 4 (22:30):
They're built for the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (22:31):
So I like hedging all over the place because then
I'm never wrong and I'm always right in some format.

Speaker 1 (22:36):
I'm glad you abought that, because last week you're like, yeah,
I said the Leaves were going.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
To make it.

Speaker 1 (22:39):
I go, I thought you said this was the Leafs
team that was built in Craig Bruby's image.

Speaker 2 (22:43):
They were heavy on the buck. I thought you actually
said this was their best chance to be successful.

Speaker 4 (22:46):
So I just, okay, I'm like, the key to this
business is you just convolute the waters enough.

Speaker 1 (22:51):
Like the Ducks when I'm definitely no he definitely said
Ducks plaffs.

Speaker 3 (22:54):
Now, and I'm going to say the Ducks are miss
it now. I'm going to turn that I've been saying
it all year. Ducks are gonna miss too much information
out there. Yeah, the Ducks are struggling right now. Jesus
get to the mayple leafs. Yeah, they've just been man,
they just kind of ham an egget. Troy Stetcher comes in.
He's playing some great hockey. You know, Jake McCabe's out,

(23:14):
Brandon Tannem's out. They get Brandon Carlo back. You know,
Stolars is out, and you got Joseph Wole kind of
finding his footing, you know, the missing Willie Neelander. But
Austin Matthews the kind of key point, the engine that
drives the bus here is he's been scoring, man, and
when he's scoring, they're a very dangerous dominant team. So
him and Matthew and I have been really good together,

(23:35):
playing some good hockey, and hopefully they can keep it up.
They got the one thing I noticed I was looking
at some stuff today is they got fifteen games until
the break, only one against a division opponent.

Speaker 2 (23:45):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (23:46):
So the rest are all out West in one sentence
from one Metropolitan So that's a that's a tough schedule
where you're you're not getting those kind of points playing
your division, and then after the break, it's all you're
it's all their division. So it's gonna be very interesting
to see. So you need to kind of get those
points because if you're too far back come the start

(24:06):
of you know, post break, now every game is a
four point game. You know you're losing the teams in
overtime where you're winning an overtime and teams are getting
the loser points and the kind of floating.

Speaker 4 (24:15):
So this is their moment. They got to make a
push here.

Speaker 1 (24:17):
Yeah, nothing worse than the loser points, like, oh we lost,
we got the play come on like.

Speaker 4 (24:21):
At the end the day, like what we three two
to one. Would be nice for one season for them
to try it out at the NHL.

Speaker 2 (24:25):
I'm with you, I think it's appalling quite frankly.

Speaker 1 (24:27):
In the Eastern Conference, the number one team is Tampa
Bay fifty five points in Carolina and the.

Speaker 2 (24:32):
Columbus Blue Jackets are worst at forty three.

Speaker 1 (24:34):
Twelve points separates everybody like that's ridiculous, like that.

Speaker 4 (24:38):
How about in the Pacific not one team in the
Pacific would be in the playoffs in the East.

Speaker 1 (24:43):
The Pacific sucks Vegas so bad. Vegas lost eight of
nine games and they went up the standings.

Speaker 4 (24:48):
It's stupid seat so funny.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
Anyways, coming up next, this guy is an unbelievable gass
and a great guy of roof for seventh round pick
way back a day but the Vancouver Canducks and right
now he's got a home in the Philadelphia Flywers.

Speaker 2 (25:00):
Rodrigo Obbols is going to the Olympics for Latvia.

Speaker 1 (25:03):
He's got great stories of what his experience has been
like overseas and also now playing in Philly.

Speaker 2 (25:07):
He's coming up next right after this on NHL unscripted
our special Guest Draft.

Speaker 1 (25:26):
In the seventh round, one hundred and eighty fourth overall
by the Vancouver Canucks in the twenty sixteen NHL Draft.
He signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers
in twenty nineteen, and, after years of playing in Sweden,
made his NHL debut at the Philadelphia Flyers last season.
He represented his native Latvia at the twenty two Winter
Olympics in Beijing. He'll be back representing his country next month.

(25:46):
In Milan, the only Rodrigo in NHL history. Rodrigo obbels
good to see him.

Speaker 2 (25:51):
Man, How you doing good?

Speaker 5 (25:52):
Are you guys? Thanks?

Speaker 1 (25:53):
Flixenf Flyers are rolling right now. Huge win against the Ducks.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
Trevor Zegres was fired up last night.

Speaker 1 (25:59):
How good is it right now to be a Philadelphia
Flyer and being a team that's playing better than I
think some people expected.

Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (26:04):
Sure, it's a lot of fun winning games, you know.
I think we've done a good job this year of
kind of bouncing back from losses, and I think that's
what's keeping us up up high in the standings. And
you see how tight it is. You can really afford
to go on like a two to three game losing street,
otherwise you're down in the standings. So definitely a lot
of fun in the room once once you win the games.
But even when we lose, I don't think we don't

(26:26):
lose the confidence and the trust in what we do,
so that that helps a lot as all.

Speaker 3 (26:32):
Uh, Rodrigue, I'm a big fan of your story. I've been,
you know, reading up on it the last few days
and just talk a little bit about that.

Speaker 4 (26:39):
A seventh round pick.

Speaker 3 (26:40):
I'm from the school of being a seventh round pick,
you know, and I heard you know this year when
Rick Tackett came in, you were only slated to play
like one game in the preseason, and then after game one,
he's like, I need to see this guy again. I
need to see this guy again. You end up making
the team, and you know you've been a big piece
for this team.

Speaker 4 (26:57):
So just just.

Speaker 3 (26:58):
Talk about your story and the lead up to getting
here and kind of a stabbing yourself in the NHL.

Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yeah, obviously a journeyman type of the type of story,
but uh, kind of once once I was in Florida
and Covid hit, I felt like, uh went back to
Sweden and then uh as Bill Zido came in and
they kind of did a whole turn around there and
there's a bunch of stuff going on there where the
following season, like Tampa and Florida, we're fearing an HL team,

(27:26):
so there were any spots left to go there, so
we kind of parted the ways there. Uh. And then
the dream the dreams always obviously alive once you're while
you're playing. Uh, just trying to but it wasn't too
focused on it. And then the last summer Danny Danny
Sens sends a texta agent and kind of I felt
to myself that I kind of all wait to come

(27:47):
and give it one more shot to kind of once
I'm done and finished, I kind of have an answer
to myself, could I or I couldn't. So I'm not
one of those guys so who tell the stories of oh,
you know, if that, that and that didn't happen, I
would be there, you know. So obviously a lot of
a lot of fun last year kind of having my
debut and boring Bowl. But then to kind of just
you know, you you experience the lifestyle of NHL and

(28:09):
you you want to scraw, the scratch and claw your
way to stay in it.

Speaker 4 (28:13):
That's the truth.

Speaker 5 (28:14):
So H got another contract, and yeah, I had a
good summer of training and uh had a good had
had a good camp and uh, I think I showed
the strengths I have. But you know, it's it's a grind,
especially this year when I'm here up up all year.
It's it's definitely a challenge to kind of keep that
level every game.

Speaker 1 (28:32):
Yeah, and it's always important to have a good relationship,
like you said, not only with the front of opposit
in terms of Danny bre are reaching out your agent
and giving you the shot, but also your head coach
Rick talking it's his first season in Philadelphia, but he's
a veteran coach. Clearly it seems like you're his kind
of player. What's your relationship like we talk, I.

Speaker 5 (28:46):
Think it's it's real good. Uh. I think I liked
it in the during the camp once once he got
to know each other, he kind of right away said
what he wants to see from me and what I
have to do to get into the lineup and to
stay in the lineup. And I think as a player
in my role, it's it's easier then because you're not
you're not thinking about that yourself. You're kind of just going. Now,
I've been doing the things that were feeing asked of you,

(29:08):
and uh, I think that helps a lot. And the
whole coaching staff as a as a whole has been
really helpful. Whenever there's a dip in the game, they
see it, they acknowledge it, they show a video, they
show you know, not only the bad, but also kind
of mix into good, so you can see the difference
of when you're playing good and when you're playing not
so good. So I think it's it's it's been all
good and you know, them coming in. I think it's

(29:30):
it's helped my case because when the new coaching staff
comes in, it's it's a fresh set of eyes and
kind of you have a new chance to through yourself maybe,
whereas you know, when you have a coach who's been
there for a couple of years here or you kind
of has his mind set up on where who plays.

Speaker 3 (29:45):
Yeah, and I mean listen, you being a twenty nine
year old too, you understand kind of you know, sometimes
when you're younger, you're a little bit more hesitant to
take what the coach is saying. And you've kind of
explained the way you're trying to scratch and claws, so
you're going to do with the coach ask of you.
But you know, being a twenty nine year old rookie,
talk a little bit about that, like, you know, did
you guys have rookie party yet? And if you did

(30:08):
have rookie party where the guys like, hey, take it
easy on him, because you got some twenty four year
old veterans being like, hey look at this rookie, and
you got you know, you got a kid you're you're
twenty nine, you've been in the Olympics. Just talk a
little bit about that being your age and being a rookie.

Speaker 5 (30:22):
No, the rookie party is still on tap, so it's
still on the way here. It's such a condensed schedule
with the Olympics. It's honestly they've been fighting their way
to to kind of fit it into the schedule because
now I think in January we have like fifteen game
to thirty days. So no, it's it's it's been a
lot of fun.

Speaker 4 (30:40):
You know.

Speaker 5 (30:41):
Obviously there's a lot of like I'm older, so I
kind of know the game, but there's still a lot
of things I don't know here that I'm still learning
every day myself, so just trying to do my best
whatever I can. So it's it's definitely been a lot
of fun. But there's hasn't been a lot of a
lot of hazing and stuff like that like back in
the day, so that's probably a good thing like that,
So I don't don't feel as a rookie that bad.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
So yeah, and you turn thirty this week, so you
can hold your own. If anyone tries to, he can
beat up. And as far as his team overall, Zecres
has been a great story rod Rigo, He's been a
point of game player, obviously rejuvenated in Philadelphia. Travis Kneky
has been wonderful for years. Obviously, Sean Couturier has been
a great leadership player. Sanahaim's going to the Olympics. Who's
somebody on this team that you've gravitated to. Who's somebody

(31:25):
that you have a good relationship with?

Speaker 5 (31:28):
I mean, naturally with the sweets as I played in Sweden,
so lo on, so that those are the guys that
are kind of kind of hanging around with the most.
But you know, there's cubbing in last year. You hear
about how good the room is and you're like, okay,
like how good could it be? But then you see,
like from day one you get in, it doesn't matter
if you're a HL guy ANHLD guy. Everybody's bonding with everyone.

(31:49):
Everyone's even like the you know, just making you feel welcomed.
Like the first day I got into Gym, obviously I
didn't I didn't know anyone, but right away Scott Lawden,
who's down in Toronto, he comes up. He's like, hey man,
nice to meet you, Like we talked about the Worlds
of the year before we played in the World else
He's Likeriga is my favorite city and like stuff like that.
So I think that the you know, they don't have

(32:11):
to do it realistically, but you know, they take their
time to do it, and this makes every guy feel
welcome and feel more comfortable, which uh and obviosite. Then
it helps you perform better and you you know, the
more comfortable for you feel, the better you can play.
So I think that's a good thing they got going
on here, and that's uh, you know, something I'd try
to keep doing now as well, whether it's here or

(32:33):
wherever I play in my career.

Speaker 3 (32:36):
Who kind of keeps it, you know, the lightest in
the room because you know, I know Rick Talcket's a
little I played for him, his little gruff and can
at times. He likes guys to be locked and he
likes guys have fun too. So but like, who's kind
of the guy I know, do you have zegres? But
I know, you know, I played with Travis Connectney and
and Cuturia. I know these guys all have great personalities,
But who's the guy that kind of keeps it light

(32:56):
and keeps everybody laughing in the room.

Speaker 5 (32:59):
No, I think I think Zegris is. Zegres is one
of a kind of I don't thin. I don't think
I've seen that guy have a bad day in my life.
So you know, it's every day he comes in with
a smile and that kind of just affects everyone else
around where you just keep a positive attitude no matter
what happens. And they had they had some prank wars
going on here, so that was pretty pretty funny to
watch around. So it's it was getting a bit of

(33:20):
out of control. So I think it's settled down now
a little bit, but it was there was some good
stuff going off.

Speaker 3 (33:26):
Oh best, let's hear it. Best prank Who's who's prank
and who?

Speaker 5 (33:30):
And so far I'm not gonna name any names, but
there there was some you know that icy hot icy
one on the on the underwear.

Speaker 2 (33:41):
Oh man, that's a disaster.

Speaker 4 (33:44):
I've seen that one done before.

Speaker 5 (33:46):
Yeah, but uh, for what it's worth, a guy who
got frank he was absolutely buzzing that night in the
game because that was done at the morning skirt. I'm
pretty sure he had like one or two goals. So
he's like dude, they have to get icy hot every
day now, so you know, hockey players are super surface, so.

Speaker 4 (34:00):
A little icy hot on the balls goes a long way.

Speaker 5 (34:03):
I guess the leggs going for sure.

Speaker 1 (34:07):
Just to go back to the world stage, you have
a couple of Lafean hockey legends, Rodrigo and your coaching
staff Sandus Oselnch and Archer's urbe. How big a deal
is it playing for two the all time greats from
your country.

Speaker 5 (34:19):
Yes, sand this is going to be new for me.
I never never play for him behind a bench, but
you know you've heard the stories of uh, how great
of a captain he's been in the national team and
pretty much everywhere he's been, so uh, then he definitely
knows the time for the right word, and uh, Archers
have been have been really great. He's he's kind of

(34:40):
another guy who's you know, always positive, always giving you
motivation and kind of you know when day when they
speak up, everybody definitely shuts up and listens up because
what they you know, what they say, they mean it,
and that there's a reason why they're talking at that point.

Speaker 3 (34:55):
Well, the Labvian program, too at the the world stage
is slowly improved year over year, and you guys really
stay in tournaments and I mean you only twenty three
you beat the Americans four to three and overtime at
the World Championships for bronze. You were on that team.
Talk a little bit about that experience and like are
you trying to pull from that going into the Olympics
this year?

Speaker 5 (35:16):
Yeah, that was that was a mind blowing experience. Uh,
you know, we start to tournament oh and two, and
that tournament is so short that like oh and two
is not really obviously ideal, and then we were outle
off like seven in a row, I think, or whatever
it was until until we lost to the Canadians and
the and the Semis there. But there's just another case
where actually their day, someone asked me like about, uh,

(35:38):
what's what's a good what's a good team? I guess
when you feel it. And there's like similar vibes going
between the Labdean team and here where everybody buys into
their roles and everybody's happy for each other. So it
doesn't matter who scores as long as the guy and
the you know, maroon in white jersey or in our
case here orange and black jersey. So as long as

(35:58):
the guy, the guy's their team. I year, you're happy
for him and you want to see guys do well.
And uh, I think that's that's that's what keeps good
teams going, especially maybe teams were not expected to do
us as good. They kind of take it, take it,
you know, as motivation and obviously a lot different higher
the US team we're going to face in the first

(36:19):
game against the in the Olympics rather than the bronze game.
But I think it's fun. I think everybody's excited. You know,
you watch these guys every day on YouTube pulling off
filight reels, and now you have four lines of them.
Who can you know, put you on Instagram? So that's
a big challenge for us. But like I said, for us,
we we love these short tournaments because it's just one game. Uh,

(36:42):
you know, anything can happen in hockey in one game.
We're going to go out and do our best. And
I think that's since since the days of Bob Harley
and the national team, he's kind of changed that mindset
were before we would I remember when I started in
the national team, we're like playing the big teams. We're like, okay,
if we if we don't stay in early. It's done though,
you know pretty much for you we we're not even
like we don't even believe that we can win. But

(37:04):
since he came in, we're we definitely believe we can
beat every every team we're playing. And uh, that showed
I think in our results.

Speaker 2 (37:12):
Yeah, and part of that point, like you said, in
one game, anything can happen. You've got good goal to here.

Speaker 1 (37:15):
You've got Archer, Shee Loaves and Elvis mers liacoln So
how nice is having those goalies going into the Olympics.

Speaker 5 (37:20):
Yeah, for sure, even even the blests. He is the
guy who almost pulled up Sid and so really good.
He's still he's still kicking around. He's he's in Germany.
I think he's two years from row. He's a goalie
of the year there, so I think he's just aging
like wine. So I think for us, it doesn't matter
who who who we put in that all all three
of them can give us a good chance to win
a game. And that's you know, really exciting, uh because

(37:43):
then you kind of play for the goalie. That's that's
kind of our our our we play with a lot
of hearts, so you see the guys even in the
in the world when we beat like Sweden, guys are
blocking shops with their faces and everything, the whole locker
rooms and ice pegs. But if you, you know, you
win the game, it's it makes it definitely worth it.

Speaker 3 (38:01):
Uh, talk about being a dad as well, you know,
you try. I think it's four years old, yes, four
years old, like you know, seeing the you at the Olympics,
seen you at the World Championships, but you know it
was quite young.

Speaker 4 (38:15):
What jersey is he like?

Speaker 3 (38:17):
Does he like the Latvian jersey more than the Philadelphia
Flyers jersey?

Speaker 4 (38:21):
Or is it just as he chosen? Yet? How's that
working out?

Speaker 5 (38:26):
Oh, it's it's an awesome ads now. Uh, you know
he's he's pretty much understands what's going on after every
game now seeing him in the oh he does. Yeah,
it's it's super exciting. I remember we came back from
like the long road trip. Now obviously he doesn't understand
the road trips yet why I disappear for a week.
But then I remember we came back late night. He
was already sleeping in my wife's Like he's waiting for you,

(38:48):
like you're the Santa Claus or something like he was,
you know, super excited for me to come back. And
he still sleeps in our bed, so and I remember
it late next to him, it's like three am, and
he like, I guess he felted me, like woke up sleep.

Speaker 2 (39:01):
He's a god.

Speaker 5 (39:03):
And I promised him on the off I usually take
him here to your training center, kind of get him
on the ice because you know you love to do it,
so I'll take him to start me.

Speaker 6 (39:10):
We're going to play hockey tomorrow. I was like, no, yes, yes,
but it's three Yeah, let's go back to sleep, all right,
and we'll pass it that. So as for New Jersey,
he's got the Flyers jersey right now. The national team
jersey has been ordered, so he'll have that in the Olympics.
So I'm sure he he just represents whatever represents. So
it's it's definitely a lot of fun right now seeing
him go around kind of being pumped for me after games.

(39:33):
He's like even yesterday, I was kind of like feeling
down on myself, like I don't think I had the
best first period. Obviously that goal against I wish I
could get back, but luckily the guys pulled through and
we won but then even like how we were dressing
for for to go to bed and he's like that
you played really well, and I was like, oh, buddy best.
So it just kind of warmed her heart, you know.

Speaker 1 (39:55):
It's like you're mini me. It's fantastic. Yeah, exactly, supporting
in Lovey the whole way through. I have to ask you,
how did you get the name rod Rigo? That doesn't
strike me as a common Laftean name.

Speaker 5 (40:04):
No, there was a player. I think Rodrigo Lovins Uh.
He was really good friends at the time with my dad,
So I think that's where the inspiration come from. And
there are some funny stories for sure with.

Speaker 2 (40:17):
With the name.

Speaker 4 (40:17):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (40:18):
I think when I wrote to my billip mom in Portland,
first of all, she couldn't believe that, like I was
writing in English so well, and she's like, no chance,
this is the guy writing it. And then she's like,
you do, Brodrigo. Is this like a Mexican or a
Spanish guy coming? And it's the same in Florida when
I order an Uber, I get into Uber and the
guys go right away kept Pusa. I'm like, no, no,

(40:39):
that's I got nothing in Spanish. Sorry, just nake.

Speaker 3 (40:44):
Well, I was gonna ask, like, your English is fantastic,
and do you know did you learn playing in the
Swedish league, because you know you don't have any lappings there,
so she kind of got to you got to speak
English with the guys or how'd you kind of learn
because you're you're like I said, you're fantastic.

Speaker 5 (40:59):
Yeah, English was pretty much so that that played in Sweden.
So it's more like when I was a kid. First
of all, you know, you're watching TV and when you're
a kid, you're just a sponge, so you're just picking
up everything and in English. So English was kind of
the second language I learned, and it was sweetish and
starting school I also picked up rushing because it was
mandatory in our in our school and back in the day,

(41:22):
so brocking four languages. So it's a helpful.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
O Seki's guy right now, who.

Speaker 5 (41:29):
You got Swedish? Yeah, So that's pretty much English is.
You know, it's even in school back home, it was
like starting from second grade, we have to learn it
in the school I was going to, So it's been
around my my whole life.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
That's great.

Speaker 1 (41:44):
I did all that, I like I said, you could
fool anybody, don' when we think you're laughing, they think
you're just some guy.

Speaker 4 (41:49):
From Russian too.

Speaker 2 (41:50):
Absolutely, tw what do you got for Rodrigo?

Speaker 4 (41:53):
Just a couple of quick ones, Rodrigo.

Speaker 7 (41:55):
I'm curious about your international experience, you know, obviously it
took you a little while to finally get to the NHL.
Between playing in Swede in COVID and your experience in Florida,
I mean, I gotta know, what, what's the closest you
came to thinking to yourself maybe I'm just not gonna
make it or did you never give up on that

(42:16):
dream to be in the NHL.

Speaker 5 (42:18):
Uh? I think after like the COVID one coming back
and you start realized, like twenty four, twenty five, twenty six,
you're like, Okay, I guess, like you know, for me
playing like playing in the world, when I play against
you guys, you know, I feel like I can't play there.
So that's what kind of kind of like, you know,
it keeps the dream alive, I guess. And then just

(42:40):
stringing a couple of good years together in Sweden, you know,
just it's a lot a lot about like the place
and opportunity and I feel like for here for me,
this was the perfect place and opportunity to come and
try kind of last year in the situation flyers where
there were some openings in the center to try and
make it. And you know, I don't think last year.

(43:01):
I had the best camp last season, coming in for
the first time, she first time, a lot of new stuff,
smaller ice again, getting used to all this stuff. But
that helped me, I think this year to prepare in
the summer better, knowing what I need to work on
and kind of working out my game in the summer.
So but yeah, for sure there's spotsbery you don't think
like okay, it's dead, but you're like, okay, the chances

(43:24):
of getting back are getting smaller and smaller every year.
But then you know, looking around my best friend who's
in in Florida, Bolinskas he he had a similar kind
of story where he would get b man and and
then uh in the Czech League signed signed a contract,
went over pert seriously. He didn't play that much in
the in the playoffs, but still was was there on

(43:46):
the team for the first Stanley Cup. In the second year,
he played a couple of games, scored a big goal
against Toronto, so he kind of like in a in
a way inspired. Okay, it's it's possible, like he just
did it, like why not me? And uh, luckily I
get the chance to do it, and.

Speaker 7 (44:01):
You mentioned right place, right opportunity. I've got to get
your impression of Philadelphia. Ad NaN's a big Philadelphia sports guy. Eagles, Phillies, Sixers.

Speaker 4 (44:10):
The fans suck.

Speaker 1 (44:12):
Look Eagles right here, ready to go big game for
the Eagles on Sunday.

Speaker 7 (44:17):
All the teams are enjoying a moment right now. It
seems I'd love to hear your sort of welcome to
Philly moment and just your your impression so far the city.

Speaker 5 (44:26):
Yeah, it's it's it's been great. I have no no
what do you say, No, no complaints at all. I've
loved every minute I've been here. You obviously you see
the you know Phillies had a good regular season. There
the Eagles winning the super Bowl last year, and you
see and how how rowdy and how rallied behind the
teams the fans get. I think that kind of also

(44:47):
motivates the guys like, hell, we we want to be
there as well. We want to be that team who
like gets rallied behind. So it's it's absinitely a lot
of fun.

Speaker 2 (44:54):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (44:55):
When's my first Eagles game this when we got back
this Sunday where I played the Commander, So that was
that was fun. Uh obviously discover.

Speaker 2 (45:03):
The brutal game to go to the I know, I know,
we got.

Speaker 5 (45:07):
Some tickets in the suite, so I think it was
it was it was nice to go too. So uh,
you know, even even like again back to my kid,
he kind of still understands it and he loves the
e A. G. L. E. S stands. So whenever he
got to touchdown, he was pretty pretty pumped up. So
it's it's it's it's it's fun. It's definitely a lot
of fun. So U and it kind of like makes

(45:27):
you want to perform better than uh maybe expected again
and you know kind of you see the crowd we
had we had yesterday and for it's similar in the playoffs.
So that's something we want to bring back to the
to the city of Philadelphia.

Speaker 1 (45:38):
Well, it's been a fantastic here for the Philadelphia Flowers.
Watching that game last night, when Jim Jackson said the
Flowers officially the halfway mark of the season and on
pace for over one hundred points. That is eye opening.
Fifty one points right now, forty one games played you
guys overall or third in the metro. But you got
games in hand on the Islanders and on the Hurricanes,
So congrats and having a great season in Philadelphia.

Speaker 2 (45:58):
Go Birds this Sunday against the Niners. And good luck
of course of the Olympics.

Speaker 4 (46:02):
Yes, thank you.

Speaker 3 (46:03):
I'm going to get my lapping jersey now, so all right, perfect,
I'm a big fan of yours man in your story,
so keep it going, all right, I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (46:19):
Once again, thank you to Rodrigo Obbels.

Speaker 1 (46:21):
When it comes to Rodrigo's I love Rodrigo Prieto, who
is a great cinematographer. Work to Martin Scorre says he
kills the fire moon in the Irish move But that's
of course where my brain goes when it comes to
Cinephile in sixty our best films in twenty twenty five
will kick it off with number ten, A Little Prayer,
a little independent film.

Speaker 2 (46:36):
It's by the Southern Family.

Speaker 1 (46:38):
David Strathairn unbelievable, one of the best roles of his career.

Speaker 2 (46:41):
Really enjoyed this film.

Speaker 1 (46:42):
A Little Prayers by Number ten movie Number nine, Sinners.
Everyone's talking about vampire's blood, gore, white people, raping black culture.

Speaker 2 (46:49):
You got it? Really yes? Ryan Coogler might win an
Academy Award.

Speaker 4 (46:53):
Really yeah.

Speaker 1 (46:54):
Ryan Coogler might win an Academy work Best Original Screenplay.

Speaker 4 (46:57):
I hate this list already.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
Number eight.

Speaker 1 (46:59):
Blue Moon Ethan Hawk will get his first nomination for
Best Actor treat Performance Lorenz Hart. He's been promoting the film,
by the way. He was on Colbert the other night.
He was talking about Blue Moon, which he hopes people
are seeing. Obviously independent film can get the word out,
and he said his sibl his kids are being asked,
what's it like having a famous dad? They're like, what
nobody cares about that? It's all but Maya Hawk. Course,
his daughter is in Stranger Things. Finally, wrapping up on

(47:21):
New Year's Eve. Number seven, What has been number seven?
I uh, number differs. It is Jay Kelly, which I understand.
It's not for everyone's taste, as tal was saying, gets
annoyed by Noah bomb Back a little bit, but George
Clardy the role fits him like a glove. I think
it's a literate script by Bombback and Adam Sandler giving
perhaps the best performance of his career. Maybe you'll finally
get that long awaited Academy Award nomination. Number six Paul

(47:44):
Thomas Anderson, The Coronation is complete, one battle after another.
My man has been nominated for eleven Academy Awards. He's
never won five times. He's been nominated for screenplay, three times,
for Director, three times for Best Picture, never won Critics'
Choice worths.

Speaker 2 (47:57):
Just happened on Sunday.

Speaker 1 (47:57):
Pete Anderson wins Best Picture, Best Director, It's Coming, Best
Adaptive Screenplay.

Speaker 2 (48:02):
It's Coming. Get Ready for the Oscars. Number five Magazine Dreams.

Speaker 1 (48:05):
Jonathan Major's would have been nominated for an Academy Award
until his private life went sideways. This film came out
two years ago and finally got released. Now came out
at sun Dance. Had a great stir modern day taxi driver,
but a bodybuilder trying to overcome some personal demons. I
thought it was a brilliant film. Number five Magazine Dreams.
Number four, Bring out the Kleenex Hamnet. Jesse Buckley just
won Best Actress Critics Choice Awards. I think she should

(48:27):
win the Oscar for Best Actress. It's about William Shakespeare
and his wife, true life story. If you love period pieces,
if you love to cry, if you like an emotional
moment at the theater, go watch Hamnet from Chloe Shao
previously won an Oscar for No Madland Number three. We're
gonna get Talis thoughts on this because he just saw it.
It's Marty Supreme, one half of the Saftie Brothers. Josh
Saftie timitated the better one, right, the better one. Let's

(48:48):
be honest. Betty Saftie makes this magic machine. Nobody liked it.
Josh Safties's Marty Supreme. It's become a sensation.

Speaker 2 (48:54):
A twenty four is a home for independent film.

Speaker 1 (48:56):
For them to put sixty to seventy million dollars in
an indie movie, This was a huge bet. They put
in Shallow May and one half of the Safties and
it's coming through big time. I know Shalla May with
this persona can be a little bit irritating, he can
be a little bit arrogant. He's smashing Kylie Jenner, but
he gives a hell of a performance. This is back
to back years though he's been brilliant. He was outstanding
as Bob Dylan didn't win the Academy Award. I think
this year he wins for Marty Supreme playing in the

(49:18):
nineteen fifties Ping Pong champion him versus DiCaprio. A great
head to head race number two, another Iranian masterpiece. It
was just an accident. Jafar Panah. He's the director. He's
been jailed in his native Iran for one year because
the films that he's made have been critical to to
Italian regime. This film, I think will not only get
nominated for Best International Film, He's got a good chance
of getting nominated for Best Director. It's an incredible film

(49:40):
with a with a literally haunting ending. It is so
powerfully done and number one a streamer for you. It's
on Apple TV plus a four and a half hour
five part documentary, mister Scorsese, the best director of all time,
Just indulging the greatness of Marty. Rebecca Miller directed at
Daniel day Lewis's wife Intimate stories about Marty does not
shy away from his personal foibles.

Speaker 2 (50:01):
The man has been married.

Speaker 1 (50:02):
Five times, had a serious cocaine addiction. He's also getting
some of the greatest films.

Speaker 2 (50:05):
Of all times.

Speaker 4 (50:06):
Married five times, that's right.

Speaker 1 (50:08):
Stories about raging, bold taxi driver, Goodfellas, the Wolf of
Wall Street. The Irishman is so much more, mister Scorsese
my favorite film of the year.

Speaker 2 (50:15):
Tal give us your thoughts on Marty Supreme.

Speaker 7 (50:18):
Loved Marty Cypri. I mean, I'm a big Saftie Brothers guy.
I loved uncut Gems. I've been in on them since
the Lenny Cook film. The Lenny Cook film, I saw
that a screening of that and thought, who are these guys?
And they've been crushing it since then. I think we
can conclusively say that Josh is the He is the
brains behind the operation.

Speaker 1 (50:39):
Uh typical, you know, very Saffi Brothers, exhilarating anxiety.

Speaker 7 (50:43):
Written, very New York, breakneck pace, NonStop. Chalomey is fantastic.
Like you said, it's it's between him and DiCaprio for
the Oscar and I love they They keep doing this
thing where like I've never seen more non actors cast
in a big film, like David Mammott has a small
role able Forrera.

Speaker 1 (51:05):
George are unbelievable, He's up, George, George Gervin has Like
these guys are not actors, They're.

Speaker 2 (51:12):
Just like Paul's husband of the movie Kevin O'Leary.

Speaker 4 (51:15):
There's another one.

Speaker 7 (51:16):
Isaac Musrati has a small like the actors in this film.
I loved it, A great film. I really enjoyed it.

Speaker 3 (51:25):
Yeah, I saw an article on Kevin O'Leary is saying
it was the first time he's been yelled at. They
did like twenty takes. He's like, I think we're good, Josh.
Josh's like, no, we're good when I fucking say we're good, yeah,
And Larry's like, oh shit, okay, es this out is.

Speaker 1 (51:40):
A man from a shark take. Let's get to more
movie talk somewhat.

Speaker 2 (51:45):
Will Ferrell. We always love seeing Will Ferrell like King's Games.

Speaker 1 (51:48):
We've seen him where checkered face paint, dress up his
buddy the Elf. But this time New Year's Day, j
D Kings and Lightning Game dressed in full referees gear.

Speaker 2 (51:56):
He's even mimicking the.

Speaker 1 (51:57):
Refs when they're making calls in the ice. Sometimes I
think things are played out.

Speaker 2 (52:01):
I gotta be honest with that. This thought was pretty funny.
The fact he kept what the bit the entire time.

Speaker 3 (52:06):
I think, like, I honestly think Will Ferrell is high
on mushrooms every day I just he's living his best life.

Speaker 4 (52:14):
Man.

Speaker 3 (52:14):
I mean that guy, he's a great advocate for the game,
Like he's a true fan of hockey. And it's fun
to see when you have these celebrities that are big
fans like that. I mean, it's not like he's sitting
up in a suite. He is on ziglass, right, So
it's pretty funny when he's just sitting with What I
think somebody's said is like where did he source all
that gear from? Like he had the official helmet everything,

(52:34):
so I know he's not I wonder if he skates,
like I wonder if he actually skates at all and
plays just for fun or he just loves the game.
So it's always interesting to see these celebrities that are
super fans of the game if they actually skate, because
some of them don't. It's like, you love hockey and
you don't skate at all. I feel like it kind
of goes hand in hand a little bit.

Speaker 2 (52:53):
Now, that's a good point.

Speaker 1 (52:54):
Like there's guys Dennis Larry's always playing celebrity hockeys. Will
Or Nett a course a big hockey fan. Do you
have a favorite celebrity interaction you have when you play
in the NHL.

Speaker 3 (53:03):
I mean when I played in the NHL. I mean
the one I always go to. I was like my
first year in San Jose, my first playoffs, and we
were in LA at the Staples Center, believe it or not.
And I always waited out in the tunnel before we
went on the ice, and I'd kind of give knuckles
to everybody. And so I'm waiting there and I'm sitting
there and it's like two minutes before we go out,

(53:24):
and the couple kids come running by at Staples Center.
I called Staples afore it was Crypto dot com. I
just Staples A better name, better name. So the two
kids walk by and you know, in King's jerseys, and
they're like high five in me, and I'm like, oh,
what's up, guys, And I kind of look up and
their dad kind of walks by and you know, very
you know, sheep, sorry, sorry, sorry for bothering you.

Speaker 4 (53:44):
And I look up.

Speaker 3 (53:45):
It's David backhum like and it's like my first year,
you know, I'm twenty two, and I'm like holy shit.
So I'm like I'm like whoa, and he goes, hey, man,
he goes like, you might have my kids, like take
a picture with you, and I'm like sure, and I'm
like looking and the coaches room is like right across
the hall, and the media guy who's Tom Holly is

(54:07):
the assistant gam in San Jose. Now I'm like looking
at him and he's kind of like, we go for
it if you want to, like And if if they'd
have caught me doing a picture, I would have been
fucking sent to those I'm saying that I'm like Jesus
Christ is so somewhere. So somewhere in the household of
David Beckham, there's a picture of me, and I tried
to get a hold of it, but there's a picture

(54:28):
of me with his kids. So maybe his kids have
a picture of me on the fridge. But somewhere in
that house there's a picture of me, or on an
iPhone in the iCloud. It's on the cloud somewhere I
have a picture of David Beckham's kids, So.

Speaker 4 (54:42):
I love to get it.

Speaker 3 (54:44):
I heard I heard Victoria watches the show or listens
to the show. Because we don't have a video element,
so if she's watching poshpice she.

Speaker 2 (54:54):
Listen, she'd be one of the show.

Speaker 1 (54:56):
If we had a video element, we'd have a chance,
but no video element not happening. All right, last thought
here ready to bear the Seattle cracking last week wondering
about Mason marsh with the Blue Jackets, Jad refused to
take the bait.

Speaker 2 (55:07):
He said, they're right in this thing.

Speaker 1 (55:08):
Eight one and won their last ten games in a
playoffs the Pacific Division, Vegas, Anaheim, The Kings all struggling
out West. The Crackner a boring team. Let's be honest,
Layne Lambertho is just gonna keep them nice and dry.
Coppocco Eli told them in heading to Italy, they're gonna
be rested after the Olympics.

Speaker 2 (55:26):
Can seeatt'll make a run.

Speaker 3 (55:28):
On this Pacific Division. That's an emick. And I was
talking about the Olympics to somebody saying the teams that
I was just on the phone with Alex Goldgowski yesterday,
a fan of the show.

Speaker 4 (55:39):
Uh, And I said, how worried are you?

Speaker 3 (55:42):
You know, I'm like, the Wild's got ten guys going
or eight or ten guys. He's like, I don't love it.
He's like, it's a lot of hockey. It's a lot
of hockey. And I'm like all these teams, these top
teams like Dallas. You know, I looking at Dallas as
like a potential team to sneak. They have a lot
of players, but no Robertson going, so he's going to
be healthy. But you look at all these big teams,

(56:03):
they all get a bunch of guys on floor, and
that's dangerous. Like condensed schedule Olympics, if you're not in
a playoff spot by the time you get to the Olympics,
I think it's really gonna be very difficult to calaw
your way back in after So I really feel like
these fifteen games are going to decide ninety percent of

(56:24):
the playoff teams. I think it really is this last
push because once you come back, you know, who knows
it's gonna happen in the Olympics. If guys are injured,
guys are gonna be exhausted coming back, and you don't
have much time once you get back. I mean, you're
on this final you know what is it. They're going
to be probably around close to sixty games, so you
have twenty games stretch. I mean, it's gonna be interesting

(56:46):
to see. So I think Seattle can do it with
with so many guys. I mean, you look at I
don't get it. It makes no sense to me. They've
went on this run since Lane Lambert had that media
scrum when he only allowed the team reporter or the
team media guy to ask him questions and he nixt
anybody else from asking them questions.

Speaker 4 (57:05):
There's one on one.

Speaker 3 (57:06):
I mean, that's a bad look. Come on, there's a
bad look. But they've been on a run since. So
Lane Lambert pulling all the right strings. But you got
Philip Grew, Philip Grubauer, resurgence, Joey Decord. Not one guy's
got over thirty points on this team. It's like, how
the fuck are they doing it? But they just pull
it off, And I like, personally, honestly, I've watched a

(57:26):
couple of games. I haven't watched many Seattle games because yeah,
they're done. I got to focus on teams that are
in the playoffs. I guys are watching these fucking guys
Foresling on the call.

Speaker 2 (57:38):
Yeah exactly, I'm thrilled for for he calls it America's team.
I goes cracking.

Speaker 3 (57:41):
But maybe the Democrats team huge thing? Who would be
the Republicans team?

Speaker 2 (57:50):
Dallas Stars got me something deep in the heart of Texas.

Speaker 4 (57:53):
It's not really the Dallas is really more.

Speaker 2 (57:55):
Of like become more cause of Paulitan.

Speaker 4 (57:56):
You're right, yeah, be Florida.

Speaker 2 (57:58):
No, yeah, Florida or Utah, one of those two Utah.

Speaker 4 (58:01):
No, that's the more Mons, that's the more Mons theme.

Speaker 2 (58:05):
We had an idea because JD and I are doing
a double dip today.

Speaker 1 (58:07):
We'll just see this later, say an NHL and scripted
by the way, guest heavy show Christian devoorka the Flyers
just on a new contract. Steve Cooley is my old
buddy from Toronto, and we have David Panoto, so heavy
guest list. What Jad and I wanted to do was
take our show, which again featuring three great guests and
cleaning NHL.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
Player and put it on unscripted.

Speaker 1 (58:23):
We were nixed though, by Bob Bender, so we had
to do this entire episode I'll see you in a
couple of hours and do another episode which could have
been a could have been a bonus NHL in scripted.

Speaker 4 (58:32):
Yeah, we were.

Speaker 3 (58:33):
We were nixed by Bob en Tal because we were
we would be cutting We're taking food out of Tal's mouth.
Meanwiley said we'd cover the costs, but you know he.

Speaker 7 (58:43):
I appreciate the effort to double dip with the NHL network,
But you know a for effort.

Speaker 1 (58:49):
That NHL Tonight First Shift is like a podcast style
show to Jad's pointment, but we're going to do the
exact same thing later today would have.

Speaker 3 (58:55):
Been six billion dollar company. And you're telling me you
don't got the funds to throw video on. Come on, now,
help us out, folks. Let's out a petition.

Speaker 2 (59:05):
I like it.

Speaker 1 (59:05):
Let's get let's get the masses going here in twenty
twenty six, let's try to get a video element for
NHL and scripted.

Speaker 2 (59:12):
See how that goes?

Speaker 4 (59:13):
Soft?

Speaker 3 (59:13):
Yeah, we get, we get the We get the one
shout out at every Winter Classic on the Jumbo Tron
that is ten seconds. And I was sitting there with
what's with us, sitting there with Josh ketzup, and I.

Speaker 4 (59:26):
Said, well there, hey, there's our marketing. We got it.

Speaker 3 (59:29):
I said, I know that every single fan in the
stadium is looking at the board being holy shit. Let
me go check out on script they're not having a beer,
enjoying their night. Let me tell you a great job.
I appreciate, I appreciate, appreciate the help from the league.

Speaker 4 (59:44):
I really do.

Speaker 2 (59:44):
We did record some new promos. Hopefully they'll get the
word going. Thank you.

Speaker 4 (59:48):
What's gonna be high energy promos, folks, I'm not sure
about that.

Speaker 2 (59:51):
Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.

Speaker 1 (01:00:08):
NHL Unscripted is a production of the NHL and iHeart Podcasts.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
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