Sam Malinski from the Point: Young Guns Firing, Ducks Soaring and the B's are Buzzing.

Jason Demers takes a break from playing golf at Pinehurst to talk with Adnan Virk about the trio of Bedard, Carlsson and Celebrini going off, the Anaheim Ducks taking flight and whether or not the Bruins are for real. Then Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski shares his favorite Brent Burns stories, Nathan MacKinnon's food bullying and why he never thought he'd play in the NHL. Finally, Adnan reviews Yorgos Lanthimos' latest film and the guys talk about Jakub Dobes' emotional postgame response and Nathan MacKinnon taking over the league.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
NHL Unscripted is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.
Coming up on NHL Unscripted, how about the emotion that
a mont Rocadia's goaltenders showed after a regular season loss

(00:27):
and he's been outstanding this season. We'll talk about yak
abdobush Sin the file and sixty the buzzy new film
from that Bad Boys cinema, Yorgos Lanthemos' new film. It's
called Pogonia. It's starring Emmastone and now he's very skinny.
Jesse Plemons. Our special guest is Sam Malinsky of the
Colorado Avalanche. As we are chopping at the bit here unscripted,
JD back from the course, getting little notion. What do
we got?

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Ketchup chips, avocado oil, potato cut I'm not Pinehurst boys
with no contract waiting to be signed.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
That was what to say. You know what it's like
being a guy who played at the highest level, but
also what it's like when you're waiting for a new deal,
not sure if things are gonna go. So you can
relate to the situation right now, playing without a contract
since Halloween.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, trying to be trying to deal with this Wi
Fi here as well. But we're gonna make it work.
Ladies and gentlemen. We've just we're just trying. We me
and you come to work every day. That's all we do.
We put on our work boots, we work eighty hours
a week, and that's all we're expecting is a little
love back.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
All I want, literally, one thing is just me and JD.
NHL lework. This can't be that hard. Last Friday I
did NHL Tonight first Yip with Steve Conry. Very nice man,
but I'm like you plug JD in there. That's an
hour of goodness, easy way to kick off your weekend.
And then Saturday you were after me. How can we
not just align this great the old trade may maybe
I have the authority to do that. I'll just call
up whoever, Like I had Dave read with me Canada

(01:53):
USA Women's hockey puck drop but not intermissions. And then
NHL Tonight going to Rangers Islanders. You came on after me.
We're just gonna start like wife swapping. I'll just make trades.
I'll text Reader, go, hey, can you give me diverse?
We got problem? You would have worked early, would have
been great.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
I would have loved to have work her. I worked
the ten or twelve shift that night. I wasn't home
till two in the morning, but I grind and I digress. Listen,
this is it's a young man's league. And uh we
work in the same building but and live in the
same state, but never see each other. So riddle me
that I got a question. Riddle me that.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, I just got back from Edmonton. And as a
guy who's well traveled, literally, you went to Italy on
your delayed honeymoon, you played in Russia, You've been all
over your well versed in culture, et cetera. Can you
name me another place where you would do this. I
went to Deadmonton and my goal was to not go
outside at all, and I was able to pull it off.
I took a flight with Thomas Hickey Jersey to Calgary.

(02:48):
From Calgary to Edmonton, got hotel late Sunday night, went
right to bed. Next morning morning skate JW. Mariott as
you know which, you didn't stay at that hotel for
some reason near in the Cup final, but the JW.
Marriott is connected. Yeah, went to morning skate with Pronger
and Jodi salidrst. The crew came back, watched a movie
on my phone. Not great, but hey, screener season. I
got on the phone, gonna watch it. Pogonia Great, we'll

(03:09):
get into that later, went back to the game, took
a REDI right after the game twelve fifteen am, as
you know, that airport's a good thirty minutes away, and
then went home. Can you think of me a place
where there's a greater disparity between this. The rink is awesome, awesome,
there's not a bad seat, as you know at Rogers Place.
The fans are electric. It was a great game. They
were down three one after forty McDavid scores twice, puts

(03:30):
the team on his back. They went in overtime. Can
you think of another place where the hockey is so
good but the city is so eah.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Winnipeg, that's a good one.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
That's awesome in the worl. I'm like, I try it
to go outside Candialife Center. But the game is awesome,
the fans are into it. I love it.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
Winnipeg's up there. I mean, honestly, let's let me throw
you into a little segue, into the quack quack segue Anaheim.
I mean that part of town of Anaheim isn't the
best by the Honda Center. It's not great, but they're
playing some fantastic hockey. And when you they get that
horn goaling that gold horn. Nice the fucking fog horn.

(04:13):
I tell you what. That's a hell of a place
to play when it's rocking.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
Okay, I love the segment. We'll dive into a second.
I just want Tally to confirmed because I've never actually
been to a game to go see the Ducks. Can
you see the Ducks. I've never seen the Ducks game.
I always want to go to the Ducks game.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
It's a good building. I like the building.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
There's a train that goes right there that literally spits
you out right in front of the building. I think
the energy, especially when the team is winning, is great.
It's I've actually always said it's a very underrated fan base.
When the team's good, as they have been for most
of the time that they've been in the NHL, the
building is pretty rocking.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
And when you.

Speaker 3 (04:47):
Get like a nice Kings Ducks rivalry game there where
you know all all the Kings fans took the freeway
down to cheer on their boys, it can get pretty
Rowdy's it's a fun place, not a ton of do.
Once the game's over, you just get back on the train, basically,
but you run home, solid building, especially when the Ducks
as they are now are absolutely balling out.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
Oh I love it. Roach to Hana Center. That's a
great segue. Leo Carlson has taken over the NHL cutter coach,
what a trade? Doesn't want to play for the Flyers, Fine,
you can play for the Ducks. We'll get Jamie Drysdale
goa to among the league leaders and goals. Jacob Truba
leads a league and plus minus anaheim best offense in
the league. Joel Quinnville is gonna be a finals for
the jack Adams. It could be the fourth time they'll

(05:30):
have done so. He one in two thousand with Saint
Louis was a finalans for Chicago and Florida the late
Pat Burns when they were three times with three different teams. No,
Schue de Murz is back. You said watch up for
the Ducks. You said they'd be a playoff team. They're
on fire right now.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
I'm hard as the rock.

Speaker 4 (05:45):
Guys.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
I'm gonna tell you what because I'm right again. I
you know, they they drop one last night, which is,
you know, against the team that is the team to
beat in the NHL right now, the Colorado Avalanche and
Nathan McKinnon is on a fuck another level. And Cale
mccarr as well. This might be the biggest lopsided Norris

(06:06):
win of all time with Cale mccarr this year, he
is If he does not get one of the votes,
if he stays on this trajectory, I would be shocked.
This would be the biggest landslides. It is Nick Lindstrom
in the seven years he wanted to row. This is unbelievable.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
It's a bold statement how much people love Quinn Hughes,
what a great player he is. And you're saying that's.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Quinn's been hurt. If Kile mccarr stays on this, Quin
whu has already missed some games. There's nobody after Quinn.
You got Lane Hudson, There's nobody mcar but Leo Carlson
and Carter go to both of eleven goals. This ducks team. Man,
oh man, this is fun. One of the quickest turnarounds

(06:47):
I've seen from a perennial bottom feeder to a I mean,
I said playoff like that. I was seeing him in
the playoffs. This is a cup contender. This is a
cup contender. This team. Jacob Trueba leading the league in
plus mind. This team has put together. They're one piece

(07:09):
away from like really really making it a very a
very strong case to beat the team to beat. You know,
you look at some of those contracts, Frank Fatronto kind
of on the fourth line. He's a goal scorer. You
could see a lot of teams wanting somebody like him.
With that contract, you can go out and get another
depth piece there, maybe another depth defenseman. They're missing Radco Gutis,

(07:32):
but Drew Helison has stepped up. They got a great
goaltending group. We keep talking about him every week, but
they keep just It's just amazing to watch. And Leo
Carlson is a budding star in the making like he is.
You got Maclin Celebrini, you got Connor Bdard, and you
got Lio Carlson. Those three, the league is in great
hands moving forward for the next ten to fifteen years
with these three guys. And you know you had thrown

(07:55):
Matthew Schaeffer. This is a very We're entering the golden
age of the NHL. I think when you see that
change of the guard. You know, you got those top guys,
the Crosby's, the Ov's, the co Paitars, the Dowdies, they're
kind of all leaving. And then now you have Connor
and McKinnon that are the tops of the top. But

(08:16):
then just below that you got this young guard coming
through and they are just they are just they look
so good. They are they are all types of skilled offensively,
can play both sides of the puck. And it's gonna be.
The NHL is in a really good place right now.

Speaker 1 (08:34):
It's amazing. I think Anaheim saw twenty one point improvement
in the standings year over year. That was only good
enough for twelfth place in the Western Conference. So Greg
Cronin gets let go Q comes in sixty seven years
of age, had not coached in the NHL since twenty
and twenty one, and you Cryder from the Lorax.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, look, Flora looks like the Lorax.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
I want to listen. True, but great Cryder's friend and
teammate with the Rangers. But also I mean Alex Klorne
radco gutis, you know, getting part of a veteran corrier
that Paperdick liked. I mean, overall through fifteen games. I
can't reiterate this is enough. Four point one to three
goals per game. They put up seven goals and wins
against the Sharks, the Bruins, the Panthers and the Stars,

(09:13):
and said Verbeek, we're playing fast. We certainly have speed.
Five on five. Under Quinvill, they've been fantastic. They've got
from two point three six goals a game jed to
three point two to one. That's that's demonstrative improvement.

Speaker 2 (09:25):
Joe Quenville, the Lorax opens it up. He looks like
the Lorax. Tell me, how about Lucas do Stell. They
were twenty third in the NHL. Why do you think
it's per game? Why do you think they traded John
Gibson because they had Lucas do stal That's why they
got rid of him. Why did you trade him? They
brought in They have just the perfect mix of veterans

(09:46):
and young guys. And Chris Kraded coming from New York.
He's a perennial twenty goal scorer. He's great for that
power play. You got Truba, you got Goudas kil Rn,
you got Ryan Strom. That's not even playing. He's still injured.
Troy Terry who is one of the more underrated players
in the NHL skill wise, just he's just doing some

(10:07):
phenomenal things for that line with Leo and Cutter and
you know, Mason McTavish, you got be Beckett, Seneke, these guys.
This is a great, great hockey team and they're gonna
be good for years to come.

Speaker 1 (10:22):
Love the photo conference for the Ducks last on in
just third of the NHL, and goals set were expected.
Nine O eight's ay percentage. It's a great movie, the
low Rex and definitely Quinbole's mustache. It's a good Halloween
look as well. Nine goals in twelve games for Crider
that segues us to youth is served you talk about
the you as you kind of just alluded to JD
of the fact that the league is in kid hands, all
these great young players. So McKinnon, as you said, different level. McDavid,

(10:45):
obviously I saw at first hand Monday with Wage just
took over the gameless. Two goals laid against the Blue Jackets,
Willie Neilander, Jack Eichel. But as of Wednesday, three youngsters Carlson, Connor,
Bdard and Maclin celebraty your boy all ranking in the
top five in NHL scoring, but Darren Carlson named second
and third Star of the Weeks by the fact they
can't drink alcohol yet. In the US, we the Spin

(11:07):
and check Lich segment we had an Amazon Prime was
who wins a cup first, McDavid or Badard in Prongress
and I'll raise you one better. I think it'll be Macklin, Celebrini,
Sharks al win a cup. Let's go before McDavid and Baard.

Speaker 2 (11:18):
I was like, Wow, I can't even get on Amazon Prime. Man,
They're bringing Chris prong Ground. It's just crazy. How much
good work too. You just you think you put good
workout there and they reward you what they don't costa coast.

Speaker 1 (11:31):
You can do it. But Amazon Prime, we can't get you.

Speaker 2 (11:33):
Apparently, no, I can't. Apparently Monday nights is a day
I don't work. It's a sabbath for me. Yeah, listen,
Connor bdard Is, I think a lot of people need
to give him his flowers because from where he was
last year, and there's a lot of rumblings and mumblings

(11:54):
about his attitude and how he was developing in his game,
and he wasn't playing a tin for game. He looks
great right now. He's playing, he wants the puck, he's
playing hard on the puck. He's elevating this team. The
Chicago team is doing way better than I think anybody
could have predicted. And anybody that's saying that they knew
this was going to happen as lying through their teeth.

(12:14):
And then the same thing goes for Macklin and San Jose.
You know San Jose to be seven to six and
a couple of what three seven six and three right
now I think is so positive for this franchise. They're
playing some great hockey. It's exciting, it's fun, they're playing,
they're playing good defensively, they're getting good goaltending. But they're

(12:37):
also just I mean Macklin, Leo and Connor, these three guys.
It's going to be fun to watch them in the next,
like I said, the next ten to fifteen years, and
youth is serving. They are serving absolute, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
shit right now. And like I said, I can't keep
reiterating that the league is in good hands. I don't

(12:58):
know how long they'll keep this up because I think
it will be tough for Macklin and Connor based on
just their team. But you know Leo, I didn't expect
Leo to have this big of a jump. He looked
like he put on ten to fifteen pounds this offseason.
He looks fantastic. It's just a good overall team top
to bottom. This team is just sorry, not this team.

(13:21):
These young guys are just fantastic. And I mean Macklin
with that overtime pass to cal Him Graft last night,
just amazing. That's set up he had to Will Smith.
It's just a good changing of the guard right now.
And I don't think anybody could expect this to happen
as quickly as it's happening right now.

Speaker 1 (13:39):
So the young stars right now looking great in the NHL.
It's good news for the league. Our latest installment now
of imposter syndrome are the Bees for real? Don't look now.
After losing six in or zero last month, the Boston
Bruins have now won eight of nine games. They've rocked
it up the Atlanta Division standings. David Pashanak gets a
milestone last night. He's rocking it up as far as
being a point per game kind of guy. And Morgan

(14:00):
freaky deeky geeky shut up to taw among the league
leaders with eleven jad. I saw them against the Senators.
They had no offensive gym, they couldn't get the puck
for the neutral zone, and all of a sudden they
went on a tear. I would have told you this
team stinks, not gonna make the playoffs. Well now they're
listening to Marco Sturm. I mean, look fantastic out there.

Speaker 2 (14:19):
A nice stem, give me a nice stam. Listen. Do
I think they'll keep it up? I'm still adamant that
they won't keep this up. I think Jeremy Swiman has
been playing some great hockey as well, but they've just
been keeping games tight, relying on these one goal games.
I think they're They're one of the top teams playing

(14:39):
one goal games. They're just to hang in there. Carried
by Posternok twenty two points. I know it's not, you know,
anything to scoff at in terms of the league, but
they're just playing a right They're playing a good brand
of hockey, and I just think that if I'm in Boston,
this is about as happy as you can be for

(15:00):
the group of guys that you have. I don't think
they'll keep it up. I think eventually it's going to
revert to the mean. But they're just winning the games
and you need to win them, and they're coming up
with some great clutch moments early in the season. Morgan geeky.
You know, I love to quote by Posternoch there a
couple of weeks ago he said talked about Morgan geeky
and how he wants him to be more of a

(15:22):
shooter because he thinks he has one of the better
shots in the league and is kind of pushing Morgan
and telling him, hey, man, like, when you have the opportunity,
don't look to pass, just shoot fire the biscuit. And
you're seeing that, you're seeing the fruits of that, and
that's great from your captain and Pasta and the guy
that you want leading your franchise is to be uplifting
guys and uplifting guys in your line and other think

(15:43):
he's doing a great job. And yeah, it's a fun story.
There's a lot of fun stories early in the season.
I don't think the Bruins make the playoffs this year,
and if they do, it's the last wild card spot.
But early on it's exciting to watch.

Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, I still think that a lack of offensive talent. They're
kind of a team in transition in terms of identity.
But I'm with you right now, they're rolling a good
news for Storm, who's a great guy. I thought on
Nikito's a door off. Speaking of the Bruins drilling Austin Matthews,
he left for a lower body injury in the second part,
did not return. He still needs to be evaluated. But
Craig Burubi, obviously chief not a guy who isn't afraid

(16:17):
of a little tough stuff back in his playing career,
said to him, I said to the media should say
after I think it's a penalty. Personally, I'm not the referee.
I don't like it. I don't like to hit. Matthews
is in a vulnerable position, so whatever, nothing I can
do about it. Do you think JD should have been
penalized in the plays the door for the bright by
Way said, it was a normal play. I didn't really
hit him. I hit my right shoulder ninety nine percent
of my hits at NHL or with my right shoulder.

(16:38):
There was really no intention to hurt him.

Speaker 2 (16:42):
It was a clean him. It wasn't It wasn't much
to it it's just the way he fell into the boards.
He was in that weird spot where you're like two
three feet from the boards and backing up into the defenseman,
and I just didn't think he thought he would get
kind of rolled up like that. Tudorus a big boy,
so I just think it was one of those things

(17:04):
that he wasn't coming like from one hundred miles away.
He kind of slowed up a bit, he just used
his body and I think just Matthews fell awkwardly and
that Breuvey is going to be mad, of course, he's
they're fishing for something in Toronto and fishing for a
way to rally the troops. But I don't think it
was anything that was super malicious from Zadoroff. I think

(17:24):
that's the way he plays all the time, and that's
what we get. I know, Toronto fans are gonna be pissed,
but we saw Domie try to go after him as well.
But I just think Matthew's big guy too. He's you know,
over six to two and strong kid, and Matthew Zadorff
just leaned on him a bit. But it's just Matthews

(17:45):
just seemed like he's been banged up last year a
little bit. He's fighting through some stuff. He seemed healthy.
I hope it's nothing that was from last year, lingering
that he hurt or it's nothing like a shoulder. But
time will tell. But I don't think zadoroff as much
as I want to be on that page of he's
a you know, it was being a shit and was
was trying to cause some havoc. I think he just

(18:08):
was was finishing his check and unfortunately these things happen
in the NHL. It's a quick game. Things happened in
the moment, and I just hope Matthews isn't out for
long and he's he's he's gonna be okay.

Speaker 1 (18:20):
And that's what least fans are hoping for as well.
In the meantime, not some Condrey scoring a goal in
this one thousandth game for last place Calgary. A great
night for nas. He saw his parents there, He saw
at one point all the Flames wearing the Cadrew jerseys.
Was very cool. A nice moment there. He could be
on the move though, because everyone knows the Flames right
now stink. In the meantime, speaking of struggling, the Blues
are at the bottom of the Central and they made
Jordan Tyro a healthy scratch. How about what Ryan O'Reilly said.

Speaker 5 (18:43):
JD can't guess six what pass to save my life?
So as you're not gonna have much successive you know,
I'm playing pathetic like that, So it's it's stupid. I
don't know the answer. I've had one good year in
my career and I don't have an answer.

Speaker 1 (19:00):
As far as Cairo is concerned, specifically, this guy's got
a hefty contrey, like six seasons remaining eight point one
two five million dollar capit on his contract, and the
contract includes a full note trade clause which kicked into
effect this summers. The Blues would need his approval before
treating him anywhere. The NHL Toronto native over the past
four seasons, he's been very productive, particularly five on five,

(19:20):
three times seventy point winger. He's only twenty seven, but
a healthy scratch. Clearly Montgomery was sending a message to Kyrou.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
Yeah, I don't know how you can move that Cayro
deal yet again. You know, you look at the Zegres
deal and that's kind of probably what the framework is.
You sign these kids young nowadays because you understand that
if it doesn't pan out, somebody's still gonna be willing
to take that contract. On versus, if you're giving you know,

(19:48):
Cayrou's twenty eight, twenty nine, you're give him a seven
year deal, It's hard to offload that. So, you know,
can I see a Toronto looking I think Toronto desperately
needs some speed. I think it's gonna be interesting. The
trades is here. If somebody can pull it off, It's
gonna be very difficult pull it off because you know,
depending on what the precedent is for what is the return.

(20:11):
You know, you look at the Nick Schmaltz, the Nods
and Cadre's Jordan Cayrou. You know, there's Ryan O'Reilly. I
think you know you look at Ryan O'Reilly and Jonathan
marshas so on Nashville. These are two guys that I
think are are primed to be traded if it keeps
going the way it's going for Nashville because they can't
wait around too long with those contracts. But yeah, Jordan

(20:33):
Cayrou Man Saint Louis is a fucking mess, Like it's I.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
Don't understand it because last year they were disappointed and
they make a push towards the playoffs, you go, they've
turned the corner. Now they've progressed again.

Speaker 2 (20:44):
Yeah, it's caustic. Saint Louis. They do this kind of
every year, and I just don't know when when's the
year when you can't just kind of call your way back.
And I just think they might be too far out
to do that. And you know, you got Robert Thomas
still in the holloway kind of. Kyrou's the expendable one.
They got a lot of guys signed to long term deals.

(21:04):
But I could see somebody taking that contract, and I
could see in Toronto they can make it work. But yeah,
it's it's it's going to be very interesting because if
I'm making a trade and I'm a team right now,
you want to do it right now versus waiting closer
to the Olympics deadline, because for the sole reason that
you want, you want the guy that you're trading for

(21:26):
to have some opportunity to kind of get comfortable and
get comfortable in the system. And if they can't, you know,
you do you don't you want a little bit more runway.
So doing the deal earlier versus later, I think it's
a lot more beneficial this year, especially with the Olympics,
So I expect to see something the next three weeks, if, if,
if anything, I can't see somebody waiting till after Christmas

(21:47):
to make a trade. I just I wouldn't understand it
as a as a organization. I think you kind of
got to be a little bit running gun as a
GM and if you think you need to make a move,
you got to make a move now.

Speaker 1 (22:02):
And tal Jad has given you. Jordan Benington's Now we're
speaking the Blues. What's the latest? What are we getting
bitter on the show?

Speaker 2 (22:08):
I've reached out to him.

Speaker 3 (22:10):
I think, uh the whole uh hulla blue over him
trying to steal the OVI puck maybe uh sentiment to
hiding a little bit.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
I'm not sure. I haven't heard back working on it.
Come on, Tom, for Fox's sakes, get that get that bitch,
get up.

Speaker 1 (22:28):
We gotta get better on here. At some point we
come back. We do have Sam Malensky, Yes, talk a
little talking with a guy who played collegiately for Cornell Universe.
That means he's smart, right, talk about what it's like
right now, player based team the coloriadlines. They've looked great
so far. I we'll talk about Milnsky, the pride of
Lakeville South High School. Well, Nathan McKinnon stories for us,
maybe some stories with the Cronkeys, all that more. Next

(22:49):
to Sam Malensky on NHL and Scripted after this, our
next guest played collegiately for Cornell Universities.

Speaker 2 (23:09):
You know he's smart.

Speaker 1 (23:10):
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the
Colorado Avalanche in twenty twenty three has since become a
fixture on the blue line for the NHL's most exciting teams.
It is the pride of Lakeville South High School. That's right,
Sam Malinsky, Sam, Welcome to NHL and SCRIPTO.

Speaker 6 (23:24):
Great to see him, man, Yeah, you guys too, Thanks
for having me on.

Speaker 1 (23:28):
So the Avalanche have looked great so far this season.
I mean, there was a tough first round defeat against Dallas.
What was the message conveyed by either coach Bednar or
just by your teammates of how you were going to
approach this season?

Speaker 7 (23:40):
Yeah, I mean, I don't think we needed a change
too much, just kind of a revenge revenge tour for us.
I thought we had a really good team last year
and a similar team this year. So we just kind
of wanted to learn from that and make sure we
can get it done this year.

Speaker 2 (23:57):
Sam just talk a little bit about being a young
guy coming on to a team that is expected to
compete for Stanley Up year after year.

Speaker 4 (24:06):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (24:06):
You know, when I started in San Jose, it was
like I felt it was such a beneficial moment for
me to come into the NHL when I had a
team that was that was trying to make the Stanley
Cup finals every year. And and how has that helped
you as a player.

Speaker 7 (24:20):
Yeah, I mean it's just it's exciting for me to
be able to be on a team that really does
contend for the Stanley Cup every year. I think it
kind of holds each of us to a different standard
and for me as a young young guy, kind of
throws me into the fire jumping into playoffs last year
and getting that whole experience and just wanted to keep building.

(24:43):
I guess with we only got one round in last year,
and I know I'm it's only my second year in
the league now, but I'd like to make a run here.

Speaker 6 (24:53):
I'm excited for it certainly.

Speaker 1 (24:55):
I mean, you have that confidence about you, which is important.
Every young player needs that you know when you look
at some of these players a year around, obviously same
your game speaks for itself, But what is it like
playing with the likes of McKinnon, mccarr and so much
other great talent around you.

Speaker 6 (25:09):
It's pretty special.

Speaker 7 (25:10):
Yeah, I think about that all the time, Like that
other guys when they first signed, they go to teams
where they maybe don't have players obviously like Nate and Kale,
like they're two of the best.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
In the world, and teams that stink.

Speaker 6 (25:25):
Yeah, I mean for.

Speaker 7 (25:28):
Just to be able to play with those guys right away,
Like I just remember being in a bit of shock
my first training camp and they're just such great people too.
So like being able to be on the back end
with Kale and talk to him about some stuff that
he does in his game and his the way he
prepares and yeah, just everything about being around those guys

(25:52):
I think has helped me a ton.

Speaker 2 (25:54):
You know, I heard John Michael Ales compared to Kill
mccarr recently. I initially when I watched you, you know,
ten to fifteen games, I kind of said, you have
a lot of the same movement, say body language is
Kale a lot of the Schames, A lot of the
same skill set, Like, how surreal is that to hear that?
And like, what have you learned? What's the greatest thing
you've learned from playing behind cal mccarr.

Speaker 7 (26:18):
Yeah, I mean, it's obviously pretty surreal hearing that. Like
I think it's for me in my head, I'm like, Okay,
that's probably just because we're about the same size, both
have white tape, both righties.

Speaker 6 (26:30):
Like simple stuff like that.

Speaker 7 (26:32):
But yeah, it's pretty cool to see, like people even
just saying that, And I know I'm a long ways
from Kale. He's obviously the best defenseman in the world
in my opinion, but yeah, just learning from him, like
watching what he does at the blue line, and he'll
grab me during practice and we'll just kind of take

(26:56):
turns walking the blue shooting through tires, and he teaches
me different stuff, whether it's looking through the tire at
the net as if it's a shot blocker and whatever,
and just helps you pick your corners a little easier.

Speaker 6 (27:09):
So there's there's a.

Speaker 7 (27:11):
Ton that I could say, and it's kind of hard
to pinpoint one thing that he specifically helped me on.

Speaker 2 (27:16):
So explain that tire thing, just for the people listening.
Because I know, you know a lot of fans, you know,
wonder how do d man work on their shot? And
you know when I played, it was you know, you'd
shoot through a chair. We'd pull like a desk chair,
and you got to get it around and you also
have now you have tires of getting through. Explain just
that sequence of how you set that drill up and

(27:36):
how helpful it is for you to kind of pick
those shots when you're when you're you know, practicing and
then in a new game.

Speaker 7 (27:43):
Yeah, I mean, when you're practicing it, obviously nobody wants
to stand in front of you and pretend to be
a shot balker.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
It's case to hit him.

Speaker 7 (27:50):
So we stick a tire out there, and yeah, the
whole goal is to shoot through the tire and hit
the net, specifically if you can hit a corner, hit
a corner. And I think my habit as I always
look at the tire to make sure I'm not hitting
it or whatever, and Cale would always tell me, you know,
look at the net, and so that way you hit

(28:12):
to tire your corner and eventually you just naturally avoid
the tire with your peripheral vision. So yeah, that's pretty cool.

Speaker 1 (28:22):
Interesting going to use all different tricks when it comes
to playing as good.

Speaker 6 (28:26):
Yeah, yeah, exactly, He's he's got that one. Mastered that drill,
So yeah, the tire drill.

Speaker 1 (28:32):
You were part of a dominant Cornell team Sam twenty
nineteen twenty twenty top ranked team in the country, only
have COVID force the season to be canceled. How tough
was it to not get a chance to take your
team the Frozen four.

Speaker 6 (28:46):
Yeah, that was really tough.

Speaker 7 (28:47):
I mean it was I was a freshman and we
were just pretty dominant, and I didn't really I think
at the time, I didn't realize how special that group
really was. Like we were just running through teams like
no problem, and I was pretty unfortunate that we weren't
able to play that one out. I think we're all

(29:10):
looking at a chance to make a run there, and
then I guess going into the next season too. Not
being able to play that whole year was definitely a
little weird, but gave me some time to focus on
some different specific skills and my skating and put on
a little weight and muscle as well.

Speaker 2 (29:31):
What was the toughest thing about that development wise for you?

Speaker 7 (29:37):
Yeah, I mean it was just not playing games for
so long was really hard, and it was kind of
it was tough, like mentally, like I didn't know at
that point whether I didn't know what my future held,
you know, Like my freshman year I started to hear
that maybe I could end up playing pro and then

(29:57):
not playing a whole year, I was like, well, now
is that still going to be a thing, Like, so, yeah,
it's not like I felt I didn't feel great on
the ice that whole sophomore year just without playing games
and getting that experience. But yeah, I was still love
to work on different like shooting and just kind of
some of that basic stuff. But yeah, that whole COVID

(30:19):
situation was very weird.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
Certainly was tough for everybody. The good news is not
only did you play at Cornell, but also playing in
the state of hockey. I mean playing in Minnesota State
High School Hockey Tournament with Lake build South High School
in twenty seventeen. It's the only place I can think of,
Sam if you ask somebody, hey, it's the only place
where high school hockey is the biggest thing. It's bigger
than North hockey, it's better than college but everything it's

(30:42):
high school high I guess maybe you could say football.
I guess high school football is so huge, a fada,
night lights and everything, but what is the experience, Like,
can you convey to somebody what that is like? High
school hockey?

Speaker 7 (30:52):
Yeah, it's pretty incredible. I mean I didn't really realize
it at the time. Again, but like hearing now from
all my buddies who you know from Canada, they left
home sixteen to go play junior hockey, and for us
to be able to stay at home and play hockey
and go to school with you know, the people we

(31:13):
grew up with is pretty special.

Speaker 6 (31:14):
And be able to live at home with your.

Speaker 7 (31:16):
Family, and you know, that's something we all dreamed of too,
is playing in the Excel and be able to play
in the state tournament, a chance for the state championship.
And yeah, I guess we were able to finally make
that tournament my senior year, which worked out perfectly for us,
and I guess we ended up losing in the semi finals,

(31:39):
but still just such a cool memory to be able
to play in front of eighteen thousand people at that
rink and in front of all your friends and family.

Speaker 2 (31:48):
Did did you watch your brother Jack when he took
him to the finals, and is there bragging rights in
the house a little bit because he got just a
touch further than you.

Speaker 7 (31:57):
Yeah. No, I followed all of those pretty close to
He had some crazy matchups. One he lost in triple
over to so yeah, he did make it further than
me in that one. And he actually ended up winning
the state championship with his football team too. So he's
got I know, I got no rings.

Speaker 1 (32:20):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (32:22):
I mean, speaking of older brothers, you know, and and
I played with Brent Burns early in my career, and
you know, I considered him just an amazing specimen. You know,
not only to watch this guy day day by day
how he carries himself, but also just how big of
an absolute crazy individual caveman this guy is. Like I

(32:46):
know you've been just a little bit with Brent Burns,
but like, give me just a little bit of an
inside view of the things that I already know but
the fans don't know about about Brett Burns and how
crazy this son of a bitch is.

Speaker 7 (32:58):
Yeah, I mean, I think he explained it pretty good.
Like Burns, He's he's one of a kind. Like I
heard stories about him and with Jack Drewy being here
last year, he kind of told told me about him,
like sort of what to expect with him, and.

Speaker 6 (33:16):
Yeah, he's just.

Speaker 7 (33:17):
Like, first of all, he's just like the best person ever,
Like he's really good role model and so good for
our locker room, ton of fun to be around always.
And then he's got that side of him too where
he's like almost it almost reminds me of juniors, like
playing hockey back when we were eighteen nineteen. Some of

(33:39):
the stuff that he does, and you think, like, man,
this guy's forty, Like he's got.

Speaker 6 (33:42):
He's going he's going home to his kids.

Speaker 7 (33:44):
And then you see him like on FaceTime on the
plane with his with his kids, and he's in dad
mode and it's like this is not the same guy
who's just talking to but it's it's pretty funny.

Speaker 6 (33:54):
He's all time.

Speaker 2 (33:55):
What's what's the like, what's the craziest just wacky thing
that you could tell that's obviously within reason that that
birds he does like people would that you're just kind
of like because when I played with him, he had
like these like Yu gi oh toys on the plane
and he was eight years older than me at that
point and I was like this guy's like the handsome brother,
Like he's playing with his fucking toys right now. Like

(34:17):
this guy's like a Nora's Trophy defense and he's playing
with his toys. Like is there anything crazy you've seen
where you're like, wow, that's that's wild.

Speaker 7 (34:25):
I mean there for sure is I can't think of
anything that's too crazy right now. But like just you
see him getting on the plane and he's got like
it'll be like a two day trip, Like I have
a duffel bag in my backpack, and then he has
two suitcases that could fit a person inside of them.
And then he's got his huge camel backpack on top

(34:47):
of that, and it's like, what do you possibly have
in there? Like it's pretty crazy, Like you really think
we haven't got the full show and tell ye out
of the backpack yet, But I know he's got like
I thought I heard like some switchblades in there. I
don't know he's got.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
And it's like and then it's like this backpack it's
like folklore, like you don't know, no one knows truly
what's in it.

Speaker 1 (35:13):
It's like seeing some things.

Speaker 2 (35:15):
It's seen some things.

Speaker 6 (35:16):
Yeah, yeah, it looks heavy, I know that.

Speaker 1 (35:21):
I can only imagine what's in the back. Play that
game with Brent Burns next time. Trying to guess you
mentioned McKinnon earlier a little bit, Sam, He's an absolute
monch from when it comes to fitness and nutrition as
a guy who likes an occasional chocolate bar, Like, how
much does he chastise you if you if he sees
somebody have a little junk food?

Speaker 7 (35:37):
Yeah, no, he he for sure does. I mean I
found that out pretty quickly my first year.

Speaker 6 (35:45):
Oh yeah, being the young guy.

Speaker 7 (35:47):
Yeah, I think I think any young guy coming to
the team sort of finds that out quickly. But just
like I would always eat peanut butter and jelly before
the games and just a quick sandwich. And he told
me pretty quickly that he did like that very much,

(36:07):
so so he cleaned up my diet pretty good. And
you know, like looking back now, it's like if I
do feel a lot better just with.

Speaker 6 (36:18):
The way I eat.

Speaker 7 (36:18):
And I mean I watched the way like he treats
himself as far as saunas and cold tubs and taking
care of his body too, And I think it definitely
makes a difference.

Speaker 1 (36:29):
I know it's a tough spot to be in samy
shit said, listen a minute. It worked for almost. Come on,
a little peanut butter and jelly.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
Let's go.

Speaker 7 (36:35):
Yeah, exactly, don't even don't even think about cookies or
anything like that.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
What's the what's like your your pregame meal that you
were having? Did he make Did you kind of change
your pregame meal from when you came into the league
since being with Nate, like anything specific that changed, like
going from fish to steak or pasta or rice or
something like that.

Speaker 7 (36:55):
You know what I he did. He didn't like that
that I ate pasta. He always does sweet potatoes, and
so I switched to that for a little bit.

Speaker 6 (37:08):
And honestly, I think this is probably a mental thing
for me.

Speaker 7 (37:11):
But last year I started not I wasn't playing very well,
and so I went back to my pasta and then
I started playing good again and said, no, I'm just
kind of enrolling with that and telling myself, you know,
everybody's different, like you need to do what works for you.

Speaker 2 (37:24):
So, hey, Nate, take a step back. I got this.
I'm going pasta.

Speaker 1 (37:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (37:30):
Now that it's my second year, he leaves me alone
a little more and lets me do it.

Speaker 4 (37:33):
That's gonnay.

Speaker 1 (37:34):
Sound like it's peanut M and M's here at midnight
like a pasta. It's okay. You know you got some
good coaches in.

Speaker 2 (37:38):
There, right.

Speaker 1 (37:39):
I want your head coach likes to Jared Bedna, one
of the coolest guys, especially with that salad. Can you
confirm Sam, like, how much head and shoulders is he
putting in that hair?

Speaker 7 (37:47):
I gotta think a good amount. It sure seems like
he's got it, got a good head of hair.

Speaker 6 (37:51):
For his age.

Speaker 2 (37:55):
I want to know one thing. So when I was
in San Jose to start, I had a video coach
named Brett Heimlich and I think he might be stowing car.
He's around there. How greats Brett? And you got any
funny Brett stories for the fans at home? Because he
was He's one of Joe Thornton's like favorite guys, and

(38:15):
Burnsey for a little bit as well in San Jose.

Speaker 6 (38:18):
Yeah, No, Brett's here, He's great.

Speaker 7 (38:21):
I think you'd probably want to bring on one of
our equipment guys to get a good story from him.
They got to have some good stories from going out
in Nashville and wherever that over else they've they've had
some good times. But yeah, I know, Brett's great. He's
great to have her in the locker room and a
ton of fun.

Speaker 2 (38:39):
Jumbo gave him the nickname Clitti and geez he used
to call he used to call him the clit Brett
high like the best best nickname of all time for
a video coach. Unbelievable him next time you see him,
to say, hey Clitty, see what he says. He's going
lab to jumpo Oh.

Speaker 1 (39:02):
I don't feel like a list gut any nicknames, but
when it comes to the owner, the Cronkies also owned
two other exciting teams right now, Sam and the Nuggets
and the Rams. Have you been able to enjoy any
of the perks associated with either of those teams. You're
busy right now playing, but maybe some swag or maybe
beating some of those players.

Speaker 7 (39:19):
Yeah, I mean, we got a really cool experience right
before the season started. We played preseason game I think
it was in Vegas, and right after we just flew
over to LA and we got to go like on
the field and watch the Rams nice do their warm
ups and watch the game from the suite and they

(39:41):
kind of decked us out with some hats and some
custom jerseys. So that was a really cool experience and
I don't think any of us realized what we were
getting there, but it was.

Speaker 6 (39:51):
It was pretty sick.

Speaker 2 (39:53):
Yeah, just like talk about the you know, Colorado being
a hockey destination, I feel like now and you know,
when I started, it wasn't necessarily like a place where
guys were pining for, but now it's just it's such
an amazing city and atmosphere. Just talk a little bit
about the arena and just the atmosphere and being in
those playoff games in Colorado.

Speaker 7 (40:15):
Yeah, I mean it's a pretty cool rink, really good fans,
great atmosphere, and as far as playoffs, like, I think
back to my first playoff game last year and I
knew it was gonna be nuts, but I came out
from the tunnel and it was like nothing I've ever
seen before.

Speaker 4 (40:32):
Heard.

Speaker 7 (40:34):
Pretty incredible experience there, And I think part of the
reason everyone wants to come here is just like the
culture that we built and being on a winning team
and a true Stanley Cup contender, I think is what
people definitely look for. And on top of that, I
think Denver is just a great place to live too, Like, yeah,

(40:55):
it's like sunny almost every day. The winters are very
mild in my opinion, being from Minnesota.

Speaker 2 (41:02):
Were you I just want to but your your first
playoffs was was your first game? Was Landeskog in that
game where he'd already played a game Landy? Was that
your first game as well? In the playoffs?

Speaker 7 (41:14):
That was my first playoff game too, Which made it
even crazier.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
To take us through that, man, because like I was
just thinking of that because I remember watching that game,
and I remember during the game, They're like, it was
your first playoff game as well, Like talk about that,
because that is just that is incredible, Like I played
against Landy, uh followed his story. Just take us through
that whole day, the whole you know, the whole week

(41:38):
leading up to it, you learning you're going to play,
and then being in that situation there.

Speaker 6 (41:44):
Yeah, it was unbelievable.

Speaker 7 (41:45):
I mean, like like I said, coming out from warm ups,
like they were the whole crowd is chanting his name
the entire warm ups and I'm sitting there like trying
to get ready and get rid of the nerves, and
it was just like the coolest, the coolest warm ups
I've ever been a part of Without a Doubt and
then just the game on top of that was pretty special.

Speaker 6 (42:06):
But just seeing like everything Landy was able.

Speaker 7 (42:10):
To overcome and get to where he's at now, where
he's a he's back in the lineup regularly and just incredible.
Like Landy's he's like the ultimate leader, Like he just
seems like the you know, the best person. He's been
so good for our room this year, Like he's just
brings such a calling and fun.

Speaker 6 (42:32):
To our locker room.

Speaker 2 (42:33):
Yeah, Like when you have those guys like and you'll
you'll feel it as you get longer in the league
because you get a long career ahead of you. But
just like those guys that are able to it's it's
like unexplainable, but they just calm down the room of
the bench when they're in there, you just know they're there,
and it's just such a nice feeling to have as
a player.

Speaker 7 (42:53):
Yeah, and he just like whenever he talks, like you know,
he's got something good to say, it's always purposeful.

Speaker 6 (42:59):
And Yeah, Landy's just he's the best.

Speaker 3 (43:04):
Sam you mentioned going to Sofi to see the Rams
game before the season started and getting decked out in
the gear some of the guys had to make a
bit of a statement to the media when you got
back to Broncos Nation after that, can you test a
little bit like were you feeling a little bit of
the heat.

Speaker 1 (43:18):
From the locals when you got back from so far?

Speaker 7 (43:21):
You know, I did not even think about that being
an issue, and then my one of my friends texted
me about it, saying all the Avs fans weren't too
happy about it, and the Broncos fans. But then I
started to think about it a little more and I
was like, actually, if the Broncos went to a Dallas

(43:43):
Stars game and they all had Dallas Stars jerseys on,
I'd be like, what the heck, Like it's a little
it's a little messed up, but like, yeah, no, Luckily
I didn't have to do any any media with that
ans or anything.

Speaker 2 (43:56):
Sam, you just tell him, I go where the owner
pays my checks. And he told me that we're going
to Sofi. I'm going to a goddamn Sofi game.

Speaker 6 (44:03):
That's exact out.

Speaker 2 (44:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (44:05):
Yeah, they offer you that experience and some jerseys, like
you're not going to turn that down.

Speaker 3 (44:10):
Right, And we've spoken, you know, we spoke with some
guys who were high draft picks, first round picks, second
round picks, and told us about the pressure of being
a prospect getting picked time in the draft. But we
haven't talked to too many guys about what the pressure
is like as an undrafted free agent coming out of college.
You know, what was it like for you losing part
of your you know, collegiate career to COVID and then

(44:31):
coming out from Cornell wondering if you'll get an offer,
where where you'll get an offer?

Speaker 2 (44:36):
What was that like for you personally?

Speaker 3 (44:38):
And what was it like to then get a call saying, hey,
we have an offer from one of the best teams
in the league for you.

Speaker 7 (44:44):
Yeah, I mean for me, I feel like I was
pretty good about just taking everything one day at a time,
Like I held myself myself to a very high standard
and wanted to play a certain way. But like I wasn't.
I never got ahead of myself. I never really thought
I would play in the NHL. Like I was when

(45:05):
I was in juniors. I was just trying to make college.
And then once I got to college, I was like, Okay,
I just got to make the lineup here, and then
I gotta get better, and then NHL started to get
a little bit in my head, and then signing with Colorado,
I still wasn't positive. I didn't know how long it
would take me to get up up to the Avalanche.

(45:27):
But I was just kind of like, hey, I'll start
with the Eagles and do my thing there and just
build confidence and just kind of slowly climbed the ladder.

Speaker 2 (45:35):
I guess what was there a moment that you kind
of realize this is the path for me? Because I
had a similar you know, I got drafted when I
was twenty, and I was kind of in junior being like, listen,
I'm just gonna you know, I'm just gonna go play
college and that's it for me. Was there a game
or a moment where you were like, oh, wow, I
think I could make this work.

Speaker 7 (45:59):
I mean, it's kind of hard to say, Like there
is moments probably along the way, Like I think my
junior year of college I started to that was kind
of my breakout year, I guess, And actually freshman year,
I remember my agent brought up that a few NHL
teams were asking about me, and I was like shocked

(46:22):
by that.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
I was like, sometimes that's enough.

Speaker 7 (46:24):
Confidence wise, Yeah, it was, That's when I really started thinking.
I was like, Okay, so that can now be my goal.
I guess if they are actually interested. And then my
senior year, I just felt like I had a month
I think it was February or something where I really
started to dominate and take my game to the next level.

(46:46):
And so I think that's sort of when my confidence
really took off.

Speaker 1 (46:50):
Well, it's a great story. Hopeing you continue to dominate
this year with the Colorado Will you will you will,
We believe in you, SA NHL script gift and go
Big Red. Great stories there from Cornell. Obviously she still
had a great time there and best of luck. We
appreciate this was fun.

Speaker 6 (47:06):
Yeah, a ton of fun. Thanks for having me on, guys,
appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (47:17):
Thank you once again to Sam Lensky. Great stuff there. Meantime,
cinephil and sixty buzzy new film from your ghost Lanthemos.
That's right, the bad boy of cinema. The Greeks around
it again JD. His new film is called Bagonia, starring
Emmastone and Jesse Plemons. And listen, he's a guy polarizing
with his film. There's no question about it. I thought
the favorite was obviously a very good movie. He loves
work with Emmastone. She basically said she'll work with them,

(47:39):
you know, the rest of her life. Anytime that there's
a project available, she'll work with Lanthemos. Butgoni is a
very odd film. I't know if you ever saw Death
in the Maiden Ben Kingsley movie, but it's about Guty
Jesse Plemons essentially is taking revenge on Emma Stone. She's
almost like a stand in if you said it, like
these pharmaceutical companies and like you know, big farmer that's
so to speak. So essentially he captures her and I'm
not saything else about that, but things get a little dark.

(48:01):
There's some torture here, uh Emiston. If you've seen The
Shaved Head, I mean, this is a port of humanity
at its worst. And one thing about Lanthemos is he
does not really show humanity in the best of light.
Like this movie may or may not be about aliens,
but it's definitely about alienation and how it feels right
now the average person against all these corporate heads. And
I can just imagine being in a movie theater again.

(48:21):
I watched it on my phone, being people like screaming
and cheering at the TV. You see what's happening. It's
another dark movie. Again. I liked it, But this guy man,
he puts you through the ringer. That's all I gotta
say about. But Gonia, are you gonna see it any interest?

Speaker 2 (48:36):
Calling in the mothership? Calling in the mothership? He's really.

Speaker 4 (48:44):
No. No.

Speaker 2 (48:44):
But that's isn't that? That's like a scene in the movie.
He this, This director really likes Jesse Pleman's and Emma
Stone together. Right, they've done a couple movies together. Now
go ahead, ta That's all I got.

Speaker 3 (48:57):
I was just gonna say, I'm a fan of Emma
Stone and Yrgos.

Speaker 2 (49:01):
Is this a Greek thing?

Speaker 3 (49:02):
Is like the morbid darkness is out of Greek trait
because uh kinds of kindness and.

Speaker 1 (49:09):
Yes, poor things obviously poor things.

Speaker 2 (49:11):
I agree. The Greeks are dark, little bleak, the bleak Greek.

Speaker 1 (49:15):
I mean the bleak dark movie. Colin Farrell in that
opening scene of The Lobster, they asked him are you
are you heterosexual or homosexual? And he goes, well, a
little bit of both. They go, well, we've we've changed
that answer. That's to be the one or the other.
And he gives his twenty second part and eventually he's like,
I guess I would have to say heterosexual, but but
he doesn't say it convincingly. Later on, John c Riley

(49:36):
gets his hand put in a toaster for masturbating. I
was like, what the It is dark stuff these Greeks, man,
but poor things in the favorite both greade. I don't
think PAGONI was as good, but it was definitely dark
and definitely entertaining. Let's talk about yak Abdobus j D
top rookie going the NHL so far, which is why
I was shocked when I saw what he said after
Montreal lost four to three and overtime to New Jersey,

(49:57):
his record of six oh one. And you look at
these numbers at Montembeau's say percentage is like eight sixty
to use a Jason de Burr's comment, dog water, Dobish
is like nine to twenty. I'm sure both of you
guys know, And LaBelle Provence you're like, hey, it's Dobish,
like for the Vesident, like forget about mont too, it's
a terrible contract. It happens, let's move on. But Dobish
visibly upset, like emotionally shedding tears, saying it's on him.

Speaker 6 (50:18):
Ah, it just sucks.

Speaker 4 (50:20):
But you know last year that you no, no, just.

Speaker 1 (50:29):
It happened last year, it happened this year, you know.

Speaker 5 (50:32):
Loose through those guys in ot So just disappointment in
myself just pretty much it.

Speaker 1 (50:38):
What did you make of the emotion? I was struck
by just how passionate he was over loss, considering how
good he's been.

Speaker 2 (50:44):
Yeah, you know, I dealt with a lot of performance
anxiety when I played in a lot of stress and
ups and downs, and you know, seeing guys that are
vulnerable like this is always for me always strikes a chord. So,
you know, seeing him and as much as I want
to kind of give him a hug and be like
if I was his teammate, be like, just take a breath,
like you're it's okay, it's one game, you'll be fine,

(51:05):
but understanding that, like these kids take this seriously, and
these players take it seriously, and it's life for death,
life for death at times, and we forget about that,
and you know, you take out the money and these
people that are just and kids that are competing to
be the best, and sometimes that emotionality gets the best
of you. And I think dobeesh, you know, if I

(51:28):
were to sit with him, I just tell them, just listen,
it's it's one game. You're gonna be fine. Just bounce back.
But to see him kind of release all of that
after the game was kind of, you know, just a
little bit of a magnifying glass onto what professional sports
can be at times for some of these players. And
you know, I know people will listen to Scoff and
I'd be like, Yeah, you're making the money and you're

(51:49):
fine and this and that, but you know, you make
the money for such a short amount of time and
then you have to live the rest of your life,
and you're not kind of taught how to be a
human other than just being a professional athlete. So I
think for a guy like Dobish, who's probably put everything
he's had into becoming a professional athlete, it's kind of
one of those things. Every loss feels that much worse

(52:12):
and that much deeper. And and I appreciated his vulnerability,
and I hope he's all right, and I hope that
somebody grabbed him after and gave him a big hug
and just said, hey, it's all good, and we got
you in next game, we're going to win it and
forget about it. Because he lost the game and still
got a point, so he stays' loss in regulation. But

(52:34):
I just think for him, it's it's going to be
really just bouncing back and just just keep playing your game.
That's it.

Speaker 1 (52:42):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it. And he's been playing
a game at a high level right now. It's the
Montreal Kayanes. Fans appreciate his passion, appreciate what he's doing.
Let's close things off the not and Nathan McKinney you
mentioned earlier, JD with a run he's been on. As
of Wednesday, the league MVP now leads the league in goals, assists,
and points. Four goals in twelve points over his last
three games. He's actually never won the Rocket Shard or

(53:02):
the art Ross, so never said the most goals, never
said the most points. And the last player not named
Kuchioff who you always have stumped for is being underrated
McDavid or Drysolo. When the art Ross was twenty sixteen,
Crazy Patrick came was with Chicago. Is this the year
Nate Dogg gets the Rocket restored or the art Ross
trophies and now officially becomes the best player in the world.

Speaker 2 (53:25):
Yeah, he's been up there for a while now. I
just think he's a he's a fucking horse man. That
guy is just a he's a minuteta minuta that is.
That is Nathan McKinnon for you. He is just a dog. Great.
He is half horse, half man, horse cocking it all
over the place. Nathan McKinnon. Uh, yeah, I just think

(53:50):
I thought Kutchirov was robbed the last few years. But
Kutcharov hasn't really performed to the level that we thought.
But Nathan McKinnon, Man, give it to him, all right now?
Early first, what is it? Fifteen games of the season. Yeah,
normally I think what do we call this? You get
let's not Yeah, let's not give a quarter mark like
you're you're trying to horn me up too early. Let's wait,

(54:12):
let's wait, let's just wait. Wait five games and then
we can do you know, in the next three weeks,
and we don't have a contract, and we'll be doing
this show and I'll be I'll be my boxer's no
shirt on with Cheetah's coming down my chest. God, and
I tell you what, we'll talk about we'll talk about
Nathan McKinnon.

Speaker 1 (54:30):
Then thirty two points in seventeen games. You know, right
the scott teams most teams have played around fifteen sixteen
seventy that's fourteen goals. Is particularly eye opening in today's game.
I mean, this guy is just just on a run
right now?

Speaker 2 (54:42):
Am I wrong?

Speaker 1 (54:43):
No?

Speaker 2 (54:43):
Am I wrong?

Speaker 1 (54:44):
Well that's right, Bob Bender likes me doing am I wrong? Segment?
So there's your am I wrong?

Speaker 2 (54:48):
You don't want if we can get a sponsorship for
we could do it, but not allowed effort. Am I wrong?

Speaker 1 (54:54):
Well you're not wrong on that. They're definitely not wrong
on that. We're efforting as we speak. Thanks once again
to Sam Malinsky. He was a great guest. This is
a really fun episode. You gotta get back the course,
my friend. Great stuff. You're unscripted. Thanks to tell thanks
and to our crew. Hey, go ahead and tell your friends
how much you love NHL and Scripted. Okay, spread some love,
feel let's get some more clips on social media. Spread
the word or Twitter ig and we'll be back at

(55:15):
it next week.

Speaker 4 (55:16):
We hope. I love you guys.

Speaker 1 (55:33):
NHL Unscripted is a production of the NHL and iHeart Podcasts.
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