October 15, 2025 • 18 mins
David Dwork of The Hockey News joins the show to preview the Panthers @ Red Wings game on Wednesday, and give his early impressions of the NHL season at large. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Where do you go for Ireland's biggest thrillers, craziest finishes,
wildest upsets and fiercest post match debates.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good afternoon too, there, You're very welcome to the program.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
An awful lot of live sports on the way, well
over a million of you.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Go to Ireland's number one radio station, Artie Radio one.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Listen now on art Radio Player.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
COLLEENI did you know of your age? Between twenty five
and sixty five? While you can get a free HPV
cervical check. It's one of the best ways to protect
yourself from cervical cancer.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
And you know what, I actually checked you only recently
when mine was due and no exaggeration, it will be
less than five minutes.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
You go online to HC dot Ie forwards last cervical check,
but in your PPS number, check in the data birth
and then they tell you when your next appointment as.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
You Oh my god, it's real and you can check
your on the register on the website. You can phone
one hundred and forty five forty five fifty five.
Speaker 6 (00:46):
If your test is due today, you can book today
or HSE dot Ie fourth slash cervical Check.
Speaker 7 (00:52):
Excited to talk to David Brk He is the hockey
writer for The Hockey News and looking forward to the
man between the Red Wings and the Panthers. He joins
Us on Exus and Bros On the Lindsay Hunter Foundation
Guest Line. David really appreciate it very much. Florida the
two time defending Stanley Cup champs. They've been there three
years in a row. They're so well coached by Paul Maurice,
(01:14):
They're so deep. They play such a physical, hard game
to uh to to try and combat. Are you how
surprised are you that they've been able to keep up
this style of play for as long as they have,
Considering they've played more games than any other team in
hockey during that three year stretch.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It's a little surprising, I think, maybe less surprising now
that we've seen it happen for a few years. It's just,
you know, when Paul Maris arrived in South Florida and
him and Doozito, they had this conversation before he was
brought in. They had a vision here in South Florida
of how they wanted the team to play. They knew
there was a coach available that could make it happen potentially,
and they've had they had the players in place at
(01:56):
the time, with Sasha Barkov, Aaronet, Glad sam uriin Hart,
guys that could potentially be like the pillars of this style.
And over the last three years, all they've done is
bring in guys that buy in immediately. They get addicted
almost to winning and to the camaraderie that's been built
(02:17):
in the locker room. And it's just bred this amazing
culture of players who come to work every day. They
hold each other accountable and they all have the same
goal in mind. And even now this season with missing
players like you know Barkoff one mentioned in Matthew kit
Chuck till Musk knows it's done to make you Koulikov's
out of the lineup. And they've been able to keep
churning along and well, they're not getting maybe the big
(02:37):
results they've seen in years past. The games can be
a little bit closer this year than they've been used to.
They don't have a problem turning along and playing the
style of play. They know how successful it can make
them and you know here they are doing it in
year four and it's still very hard for teams to
keep up. So it's just the testaments to them and
it's that motivation that's going to keep them going.
Speaker 7 (02:56):
Well, I'm sure you get the same thing for a
lot of the coaches we've covered. Well, no matter the
sport we hear, you know, they've got to be careful
because eventually their voice gets old with players. It's Charlie
Brown's teacher, you know what I mean? It just it's
want wanh wanh. How does Paul Maurice do it and
remain as effective with the players that he has in
(03:18):
his locker room?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, I kind of alluded to it before, but with
this team he doesn't have to do a whole lot
of coaching. I mean, you know, obviously there's going to
be a lot of video sessions and his assistants and
everything that they do a lot of work with the players,
but in terms of like getting this to their faces,
trying to get motivated, trying to be be a different
differentiator in terms of a head coach getting into his
(03:41):
players heads, getting beyond just the x's and o's of it.
This is a team that doesn't really need that kind
of raw ros stuff. They don't need a head coach
that's going to be inspiring them all the time. Because
they do it on their own. And that's part of
what's made this locker room such an enviable one around
the league. It's that players show up here and they
it gets to work, and they understand that when you
(04:02):
get here, you can have a lot of fun, you
can have the best time of your hockey career, but
you need to put in the work to get there.
And Paul Maurice, like he's at the top of that mountain.
He's the voice, but it's it's to a point where
you know, the teacher doesn't have to be running the classroom.
It's just it's a really cool situation. So I don't
think that as long as they continue to find a success,
(04:23):
and that's on the players more than it is the
coaching staff at this point. Yeah, I think Paul Maurice
is just going to continue to be that guy and
just keep throwing out quirky lines and keep being very
supportive of his players. And it's just that it's a
great situation. I'm just serious to see, like how long
it's going to last and how long it keeps this going,
because it's just really cool.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
Yeah, what's the secret, sauce do you think? I mean, look,
every sport has a team, a franchise that is viewed
as the gold standard. It's hard to argue that the
Panthers are not the gold standard in the NHL. What's
the secret sauce?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
If at all? I think Bill Zito, the general manager
of the Panthers, has been just He's pushed every right
button since they hired him. And it's credit to Panthers
ownership and Panthers management Mac Caldwell, who has since moved
on from the franchise. But they've hired so many of
the right guys over the years, and that's such a
big thing because you can have a team with an
(05:18):
owner who's happy to spend money, you know, until the
cows come home. But you've got to make smart decisions.
You've got to make smart hires and that's something that
the Panthers have done. And Bill Zito, since they hired
him in September of twenty twenty, every move he's made,
starting from the very first moves when he brought in
Patrick Hornquest and radco gutis two guys that absolutely started
changing the shift or shifting the culture in the locker room.
(05:40):
And it's started from very from the very beginning with Zito,
and he's been able to make moves for trade deadline
moves for Sam Reinhart or Sam Bennett's used me the
draft move to bring in Sam reyin Hart, obviously the
Maggie to Chuck trade. Do you think about all the
defensemen that have come in out of the team over
the last few years, Breden montsour all over at Larson
made Schmidt, guys that have rejuvenated their careers. It's become
(06:03):
a place where you know, not only people come to win,
but if you're having your tough time in your career,
you can come to South Florida, put in the work
and all of a sudden, And I mentioned Oliver Ekman
Larson as a guy who I always just referenced, but
you know, his career was in a tough spot when
he got to South Florida and then he turns it around,
shows that he can still play, and boom, he gets
a big contract from Toronto. So there's a lot of
(06:23):
things that have come together to make the Panthers the
team that they are. But I always go first thing
as Bill Zi though, like he's done everything right with
this team. He hasn't won GM of the Year. He's
been a finalist of two times. But he's got the
Stanley Cup. He's got his name on the Stanley Cup
a couple of times, so I'm sure that's more than
enough for him. But definitely Bizito's the guy.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
Yeah, he writes for the Hockey News. David dwark joining
is here on Exis and Bros. You can fam on
Twitter at David d w o r K on the
Lindsay Hunter Foundation guest Line. Six straight years now, David,
we've seen a team based out of Florida play in
the Stanley Cup finals, Tampa and of course Florida. Now,
(07:02):
what has been the biggest change in hockey outside of
the warm weather teams that have found success and created
more of a following, but maybe more importantly, more kids
wanting to play the sport instead of your traditional sports.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I think with moosth of the Lightning and the Panthers
as you've seen over certainly over the last decade or
so here in South Florida. But I know Sampa has
been doing a really good job of it for a
while now. And you start from the ground floor, you
invest in youth rinks, you start going getting kids involved,
getting families involved the hockey programs up in Central Florida
(07:41):
and now here in South Florida have grown exponentially over
the last few years. And I have young kids, so
I've been I've been an eyewitness to it over the
last few years, at least with my oldest who's nine.
But just seeing the way that they've reached out to
the community. They have rinks all over town, and that's
really what you got to do because you're getting them
into the game, they're enjoying the game, but then you're
(08:02):
also having events with players. You get them out to
the Panther games, and it's all kind of working in
synergy with each other. And obviously when the kids want
to go to the games and the kids are begging
their parents, they want jerseys, they want to see their
favorite players. That's how you grow the game. That's how
you get it generationally interested, and how you keep it
going for years and decades. And I think they figured
that out. It's not like a tough situation or a
(08:23):
tough equation, but they certainly figured that out here in
South Florida. The new ownership, particularly is a Viola family
has done so much to reach out to the community
to build up They built this beautiful new practice rink
and for a Lauderdale with multiple life surfaces, that's always
humming with people moving through and they put money into
the other rinks around town as well. There's a brand
new brink that just popped up in Boca Ratone. So
(08:46):
it's just growing and growing and it's really cool to see.
And that's something like me who I started playing roller
hockey as a kid down here before really really popular,
whether there's just started so to see what's become now,
it's really awesome and have the finding success at the
same time as the game is growing so much aroun town.
Speaker 7 (09:04):
It's just for me, it's really close to Yeah, I
love that for sure. David Dwarf Hockey News joining us
here on the Lindsay Hunter Foundation guest line. Outside of Montreal,
no team has appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals more
than the Detroit Red Wings in the history of the sport.
No team based in the United States has more Stanley
(09:26):
Cups than the Detroit Red Wings. But it has been
a long time since this team not only you know,
made a bid for a Stanley Cup, but made the
playoffs in general. I know it's early, it's only three
games deep. And they're coming off back to back wins
over Toronto. What's your early impression of the Detroit Red
Wings from.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
A farm I like the Red Wings because they're a
strong mix of youth and veterans, which I think can
be very good for a team like Detroit trying to
get back into the playoffs. I love the veteran goaltending
that they went into the season with. I'm a goalie myself,
so I'm always seeping an eye on that position. But
coming back with Talbot and then adding John Gibson, I
think two very veteran heavy goaltenders that have had success
(10:07):
in their careers. That's a great place to start. And
then obviously guys like Caner and Debrinkat are going to
be great. I'm a huge Dylan Arkin fan. I feel
like he's one of the most underrated players in the
NHL because he does so many things right and he
just doesn't seem to get the attention that he deserves.
And then obviously got guys like Raymond Cider. There's a
lot to be excited about Detroit and this speaking with
(10:28):
some of my colleagues before the season, they were certainly
a team that we saw who wasn't a playoff team
last year in the East that could make that jump
this year. To see them win the home at home
against the Maple Leafs was really cool. I'm sure that
was a big deal because it's a long time American
Canadian rivalry. You mentioned a couple original six teams and
Detroit with all their success. So I was growing up.
I grew up rooting for the Red Wings before the
(10:50):
Fanthers existed because I'd collected hockey cards and the name
Steve Eiserman just jumped off the page of me, and
so I became a Red Wings fan before I knew
a whole lot about hockey. So I grew up used
to the Red Wings making the hots to make the
playoffs every season and having someone to root for when
the Panthers with fizzle out all the time. So I'm
selfishly personally rooting for the Red Wings to get back
into it as well. But something that we've maybe been
(11:12):
thinking was going to happen the last couple of years,
I think perhaps this will be the year that they
jump back in because such a great hockey town, such
a great fan base, they deserve to be back in
the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (11:22):
So you mentioned Steve Eiserman. No pun intended here, but
how much thin ice do you think he is on
considering this team as in a nine year drought and
a lot of his free agent signings and trades have
not turned out the way he expected them.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
That's a good question. I don't have my finger on
a pulse of Detroit, so it's a curious thing. I
know that it's between the success that he had before
he came back to Detroit when he was in Tampa,
and just the situation that he came into when he
arrived in Detroit. I would imagine that they give him
a bit of a leash to see if he could
work things around, maybe get the cap in of our
(12:00):
situation as he starts bringing in some of those players,
but that'll only get you so far. And as a
fan base that has been so used to ownership as well,
that it had been so used to succeeding year after
year after year that you know, eventually this record is
going to get tired of being played. So I would
imagine that he would have some stretch of the leash
(12:21):
to work with his magic. But yeah, maybe another year
or two like this, and not so much because this
is the story franchise. They deserve to be back in
the glory days.
Speaker 7 (12:30):
Yeah, I'd be surprised if it was two years. David
Dwerk from The Hockey News joining his fam on Twitter,
David d w o r K great follow if you
love the sport of hockey like he does. You mentioned
the Conference, the Atlantic the Atlantic Division. I should say
not the Conference, but the division. I think it's the
hardest in hockey. I truly believe this. I think it's
one of the most challenging in all of sports. When
(12:53):
you look at the depth and you see how good
Florida is, and you know how young but improved Montreal is,
and how steady Toronto has been in Tampa has been unbelievable,
and Ottawa should take a step. Not sure about Detroit,
Buffalo or even Boston, who's off to a good start.
What do you think is the biggest challenge in the
Atlantic Division?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
The biggest challenge there's so many good teams and there's
only you know, maybe five playoff spots total. And that's
if you take away you know, the wild card spots
from the Metro, which this year made you know, I
wouldn't necessarily count on that happening with the Rangers looking
like they're back, the Flyers trying to back into where
the Devils are going to be better than they were
last year. That hurts the Capitols like they're all coming
(13:35):
at you. So it's going to be tough. I mean,
so many teams that you mentioned in the Atlantic very
well could be playoff teams, and obviously you got Toronto,
Tampa Ottawa looked really good last year, and as you said,
they're coming up Montreal playoff team last year. They're looking
good to start the season. You never know what to
expect from Boston because they've lost a ton of players,
but they just seem to keep turning out wins. David
(13:55):
poster Knock is an amazing leader. I'm just thinking about
that video him the other night making the save with
the empty and that behind them.
Speaker 7 (14:00):
Was really cool.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So yeah, it's going to be very tough. Eventually, you
have to think that the Sabers are going to figure
things out and go back to the playoffs because the
law of averages and everything. So yeah, I think I
agree with you at the Atlantic. Well, it may not
be the most top heavy as it was maybe the
last couple of years, it's certainly you make an argument
that it's the deepest division in the league. It's it'd
be very hard to get into the playoffs if you're
(14:22):
not taking a run at one of the top spots,
which right now, I mean, you know, it's hard to
pick a team. You want to see the Panthers while
they're hurt is a Toronto, Well they're you know, they
lost miss Marner. Their goaltending hasn't been that great. You know,
Tampa they should be good, but fast LETSI hasn't been
great to start the season, and They've got a ton
of time. There's a lot of reasons to like enjoy
the Atlantic Division. But if I'm one of those teams
that I'm not plowing away, you know by December January,
(14:44):
it's going to be fun for us stands to watch
how it all plays out as the season comes down
the stretch.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
Last question for you, how much surprise was there from
you when Connor McDavid signed it to your extension in
Edmonton ath at all.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
I was a little surprised. Yeah, may have hit the
ground a little bit when I saw that deal, just
because you don't see it out outside of South Florida,
really where everybody's been taking these team friendly deals to
be on the Panther. It's like other teams. You see,
you know the deal that was signed by Corotapriestyle and
you're like, oh, okay, but then all of a sudden,
the David deal comes down, the Ico deal comes down.
(15:19):
There's another one that escaping me that came down last
week that that guys are leaving a little bit more
money on the table. And you're starting to get this
this mindset of you know what, with what Florida's done,
They've built this crazy team. They're going to have more
cap space even though they've got everybody locked up, And
if you guys want to can they want to compete
with that. And I get you want to make as
much money as you can while you can, because you're
(15:40):
setting yourself your family up forever. I totally understand that,
and nobody's going to assault a guy for thinking that way.
But so many of these guys are uber competitive and
hockey players in general, the team sense is a big
thing from a young age. So to see that these
adults who are in a position of power are starting
to take their team and winning a little bit more seriously,
(16:00):
or maybe not more seriously, but just putting more thought
into it contractually than they have. Yeah, I think it's
nothing but good for the game. Hopefully it leads to
more money into the game, so that way these players
who are leaving the money the table, they recoup it
down the line with bigger deals and endorsements and things
of that nature. But overall, as a fan, you know,
(16:22):
I'm excited to see things happening the way they are,
and I hope it continues that way because it's only
going to be good for the game.
Speaker 7 (16:27):
Same here, I apologize, I got one minute, so I
know it's we're up against it, but I got to
ask you this question because I love the sport. I
think the players are fantastic. I don't think the NHL
does a great job of marketing their teams or the
league in general, or their players. How do you feel
about that and what could they do to improve that
one minute?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I think that they're starting to do it now by
some of the campaigns that we're seeing that are involve
the players, Like there's one right now, like they're playing
the Dolly Parton song, you know, showing the youth players.
I know last year they had them showing their highlights
and kind of last.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
All Star stuff was good.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, like what they did with
four nations was awesome. Like, I think that they're on
the right path and getting people excited about it. I
think that that combined with the players just letting them
be more personal, like letting the fans see who these
guys are, because hockey players are great. Hockey players are
some of the best people in the world. I love
covering hockey. So I think that you're right that they
(17:23):
haven't done right in the past. I think they're starting
to figure it out now. They've got some good hires
in the league office and they're they're marketing their social media,
so I think that they're on the right path hopefully,
you know, I'm sure I'm talking to a fan base
that every you know, I would love to be a
part of, just because it's a bunch of hockey nuts,
so to hear to hear the excitement, so hopefully it'll build.
But yes, I'm with you, like they're on the right path.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
It's good stuff, man, that's encouraging news. It helps to
have you covering the sport. It helps to have you
as a backer of the sport as well, it's great
to visit with you. We appreciate the time. Keep up
the great work for the Hockey News. All the best
during the season. Thanks David, my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Where do you go for Ireland's biggest thrillers, craziest finishes,
wildest upsets and fiercest post match debates.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Good afternoon tea there, you're very welcome to the program.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
An awful lot of live sports.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
On the way, well over a million of you. Go
to Ireland's number one radio station, Artie Radio one. Listen
now on Arte Radio Player.
Speaker 4 (18:21):
COLLEENI did you know of your age between twenty five
and sixty five? Well, you can get a free HPV
cervical check. It's one of the best ways to protect
yourself from cervical cancer.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
And you know what, I actually checked only recently when
mine was due and no exaggeration, it took me less
than five minutes.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
You go online to HC dot Ie forwards last cervical check,
but in your PPS number, check in the data birth
and then they tell you when your a next appointment
to you.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Oh my god, it's for real and you can check
your on the register. On the website. You can phone
one hundred and forty five forty five fifty five.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
If your test is due today, you can book today
or HC dot ie four slash Cervical Check
Where do you go for Ireland's biggest thrillers, craziest finishes,
wildest upsets and fiercest post match debates.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good afternoon too, there, You're very welcome to the program.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
An awful lot of live sports on the way, well
over a million of you.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Go to Ireland's number one radio station, Artie Radio one.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Listen now on art Radio Player.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
COLLEENI did you know of your age? Between twenty five
and sixty five? While you can get a free HPV
cervical check. It's one of the best ways to protect
yourself from cervical cancer.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
And you know what, I actually checked you only recently
when mine was due and no exaggeration, it will be
less than five minutes.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
You go online to HC dot Ie forwards last cervical check,
but in your PPS number, check in the data birth
and then they tell you when your next appointment as.
Speaker 5 (00:40):
You Oh my god, it's real and you can check
your on the register on the website. You can phone
one hundred and forty five forty five fifty five.
Speaker 6 (00:46):
If your test is due today, you can book today
or HSE dot Ie fourth slash cervical Check.
Speaker 7 (00:52):
Excited to talk to David Brk He is the hockey
writer for The Hockey News and looking forward to the
man between the Red Wings and the Panthers. He joins
Us on Exus and Bros On the Lindsay Hunter Foundation
Guest Line. David really appreciate it very much. Florida the
two time defending Stanley Cup champs. They've been there three
years in a row. They're so well coached by Paul Maurice,
(01:14):
They're so deep. They play such a physical, hard game
to uh to to try and combat. Are you how
surprised are you that they've been able to keep up
this style of play for as long as they have,
Considering they've played more games than any other team in
hockey during that three year stretch.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
It's a little surprising, I think, maybe less surprising now
that we've seen it happen for a few years. It's just,
you know, when Paul Maris arrived in South Florida and
him and Doozito, they had this conversation before he was
brought in. They had a vision here in South Florida
of how they wanted the team to play. They knew
there was a coach available that could make it happen potentially,
and they've had they had the players in place at
(01:56):
the time, with Sasha Barkov, Aaronet, Glad sam uriin Hart,
guys that could potentially be like the pillars of this style.
And over the last three years, all they've done is
bring in guys that buy in immediately. They get addicted
almost to winning and to the camaraderie that's been built
(02:17):
in the locker room. And it's just bred this amazing
culture of players who come to work every day. They
hold each other accountable and they all have the same
goal in mind. And even now this season with missing
players like you know Barkoff one mentioned in Matthew kit
Chuck till Musk knows it's done to make you Koulikov's
out of the lineup. And they've been able to keep
churning along and well, they're not getting maybe the big
(02:37):
results they've seen in years past. The games can be
a little bit closer this year than they've been used to.
They don't have a problem turning along and playing the
style of play. They know how successful it can make
them and you know here they are doing it in
year four and it's still very hard for teams to
keep up. So it's just the testaments to them and
it's that motivation that's going to keep them going.
Speaker 7 (02:56):
Well, I'm sure you get the same thing for a
lot of the coaches we've covered. Well, no matter the
sport we hear, you know, they've got to be careful
because eventually their voice gets old with players. It's Charlie
Brown's teacher, you know what I mean? It just it's
want wanh wanh. How does Paul Maurice do it and
remain as effective with the players that he has in
(03:18):
his locker room?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, I kind of alluded to it before, but with
this team he doesn't have to do a whole lot
of coaching. I mean, you know, obviously there's going to
be a lot of video sessions and his assistants and
everything that they do a lot of work with the players,
but in terms of like getting this to their faces,
trying to get motivated, trying to be be a different
differentiator in terms of a head coach getting into his
(03:41):
players heads, getting beyond just the x's and o's of it.
This is a team that doesn't really need that kind
of raw ros stuff. They don't need a head coach
that's going to be inspiring them all the time. Because
they do it on their own. And that's part of
what's made this locker room such an enviable one around
the league. It's that players show up here and they
it gets to work, and they understand that when you
(04:02):
get here, you can have a lot of fun, you
can have the best time of your hockey career, but
you need to put in the work to get there.
And Paul Maurice, like he's at the top of that mountain.
He's the voice, but it's it's to a point where
you know, the teacher doesn't have to be running the classroom.
It's just it's a really cool situation. So I don't
think that as long as they continue to find a success,
(04:23):
and that's on the players more than it is the
coaching staff at this point. Yeah, I think Paul Maurice
is just going to continue to be that guy and
just keep throwing out quirky lines and keep being very
supportive of his players. And it's just that it's a
great situation. I'm just serious to see, like how long
it's going to last and how long it keeps this going,
because it's just really cool.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
Yeah, what's the secret, sauce do you think? I mean, look,
every sport has a team, a franchise that is viewed
as the gold standard. It's hard to argue that the
Panthers are not the gold standard in the NHL. What's
the secret sauce?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
If at all? I think Bill Zito, the general manager
of the Panthers, has been just He's pushed every right
button since they hired him. And it's credit to Panthers
ownership and Panthers management Mac Caldwell, who has since moved
on from the franchise. But they've hired so many of
the right guys over the years, and that's such a
big thing because you can have a team with an
(05:18):
owner who's happy to spend money, you know, until the
cows come home. But you've got to make smart decisions.
You've got to make smart hires and that's something that
the Panthers have done. And Bill Zito, since they hired
him in September of twenty twenty, every move he's made,
starting from the very first moves when he brought in
Patrick Hornquest and radco gutis two guys that absolutely started
changing the shift or shifting the culture in the locker room.
(05:40):
And it's started from very from the very beginning with Zito,
and he's been able to make moves for trade deadline
moves for Sam Reinhart or Sam Bennett's used me the
draft move to bring in Sam reyin Hart, obviously the
Maggie to Chuck trade. Do you think about all the
defensemen that have come in out of the team over
the last few years, Breden montsour all over at Larson
made Schmidt, guys that have rejuvenated their careers. It's become
(06:03):
a place where you know, not only people come to win,
but if you're having your tough time in your career,
you can come to South Florida, put in the work
and all of a sudden, And I mentioned Oliver Ekman
Larson as a guy who I always just referenced, but
you know, his career was in a tough spot when
he got to South Florida and then he turns it around,
shows that he can still play, and boom, he gets
a big contract from Toronto. So there's a lot of
(06:23):
things that have come together to make the Panthers the
team that they are. But I always go first thing
as Bill Zi though, like he's done everything right with
this team. He hasn't won GM of the Year. He's
been a finalist of two times. But he's got the
Stanley Cup. He's got his name on the Stanley Cup
a couple of times, so I'm sure that's more than
enough for him. But definitely Bizito's the guy.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
Yeah, he writes for the Hockey News. David dwark joining
is here on Exis and Bros. You can fam on
Twitter at David d w o r K on the
Lindsay Hunter Foundation guest Line. Six straight years now, David,
we've seen a team based out of Florida play in
the Stanley Cup finals, Tampa and of course Florida. Now,
(07:02):
what has been the biggest change in hockey outside of
the warm weather teams that have found success and created
more of a following, but maybe more importantly, more kids
wanting to play the sport instead of your traditional sports.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I think with moosth of the Lightning and the Panthers
as you've seen over certainly over the last decade or
so here in South Florida. But I know Sampa has
been doing a really good job of it for a
while now. And you start from the ground floor, you
invest in youth rinks, you start going getting kids involved,
getting families involved the hockey programs up in Central Florida
(07:41):
and now here in South Florida have grown exponentially over
the last few years. And I have young kids, so
I've been I've been an eyewitness to it over the
last few years, at least with my oldest who's nine.
But just seeing the way that they've reached out to
the community. They have rinks all over town, and that's
really what you got to do because you're getting them
into the game, they're enjoying the game, but then you're
(08:02):
also having events with players. You get them out to
the Panther games, and it's all kind of working in
synergy with each other. And obviously when the kids want
to go to the games and the kids are begging
their parents, they want jerseys, they want to see their
favorite players. That's how you grow the game. That's how
you get it generationally interested, and how you keep it
going for years and decades. And I think they figured
that out. It's not like a tough situation or a
(08:23):
tough equation, but they certainly figured that out here in
South Florida. The new ownership, particularly is a Viola family
has done so much to reach out to the community
to build up They built this beautiful new practice rink
and for a Lauderdale with multiple life surfaces, that's always
humming with people moving through and they put money into
the other rinks around town as well. There's a brand
new brink that just popped up in Boca Ratone. So
(08:46):
it's just growing and growing and it's really cool to see.
And that's something like me who I started playing roller
hockey as a kid down here before really really popular,
whether there's just started so to see what's become now,
it's really awesome and have the finding success at the
same time as the game is growing so much aroun town.
Speaker 7 (09:04):
It's just for me, it's really close to Yeah, I
love that for sure. David Dwarf Hockey News joining us
here on the Lindsay Hunter Foundation guest line. Outside of Montreal,
no team has appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals more
than the Detroit Red Wings in the history of the sport.
No team based in the United States has more Stanley
(09:26):
Cups than the Detroit Red Wings. But it has been
a long time since this team not only you know,
made a bid for a Stanley Cup, but made the
playoffs in general. I know it's early, it's only three
games deep. And they're coming off back to back wins
over Toronto. What's your early impression of the Detroit Red
Wings from.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
A farm I like the Red Wings because they're a
strong mix of youth and veterans, which I think can
be very good for a team like Detroit trying to
get back into the playoffs. I love the veteran goaltending
that they went into the season with. I'm a goalie myself,
so I'm always seeping an eye on that position. But
coming back with Talbot and then adding John Gibson, I
think two very veteran heavy goaltenders that have had success
(10:07):
in their careers. That's a great place to start. And
then obviously guys like Caner and Debrinkat are going to
be great. I'm a huge Dylan Arkin fan. I feel
like he's one of the most underrated players in the
NHL because he does so many things right and he
just doesn't seem to get the attention that he deserves.
And then obviously got guys like Raymond Cider. There's a
lot to be excited about Detroit and this speaking with
(10:28):
some of my colleagues before the season, they were certainly
a team that we saw who wasn't a playoff team
last year in the East that could make that jump
this year. To see them win the home at home
against the Maple Leafs was really cool. I'm sure that
was a big deal because it's a long time American
Canadian rivalry. You mentioned a couple original six teams and
Detroit with all their success. So I was growing up.
I grew up rooting for the Red Wings before the
(10:50):
Fanthers existed because I'd collected hockey cards and the name
Steve Eiserman just jumped off the page of me, and
so I became a Red Wings fan before I knew
a whole lot about hockey. So I grew up used
to the Red Wings making the hots to make the
playoffs every season and having someone to root for when
the Panthers with fizzle out all the time. So I'm
selfishly personally rooting for the Red Wings to get back
into it as well. But something that we've maybe been
(11:12):
thinking was going to happen the last couple of years,
I think perhaps this will be the year that they
jump back in because such a great hockey town, such
a great fan base, they deserve to be back in
the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (11:22):
So you mentioned Steve Eiserman. No pun intended here, but
how much thin ice do you think he is on
considering this team as in a nine year drought and
a lot of his free agent signings and trades have
not turned out the way he expected them.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
That's a good question. I don't have my finger on
a pulse of Detroit, so it's a curious thing. I
know that it's between the success that he had before
he came back to Detroit when he was in Tampa,
and just the situation that he came into when he
arrived in Detroit. I would imagine that they give him
a bit of a leash to see if he could
work things around, maybe get the cap in of our
(12:00):
situation as he starts bringing in some of those players,
but that'll only get you so far. And as a
fan base that has been so used to ownership as well,
that it had been so used to succeeding year after
year after year that you know, eventually this record is
going to get tired of being played. So I would
imagine that he would have some stretch of the leash
(12:21):
to work with his magic. But yeah, maybe another year
or two like this, and not so much because this
is the story franchise. They deserve to be back in
the glory days.
Speaker 7 (12:30):
Yeah, I'd be surprised if it was two years. David
Dwerk from The Hockey News joining his fam on Twitter,
David d w o r K great follow if you
love the sport of hockey like he does. You mentioned
the Conference, the Atlantic the Atlantic Division. I should say
not the Conference, but the division. I think it's the
hardest in hockey. I truly believe this. I think it's
one of the most challenging in all of sports. When
(12:53):
you look at the depth and you see how good
Florida is, and you know how young but improved Montreal is,
and how steady Toronto has been in Tampa has been unbelievable,
and Ottawa should take a step. Not sure about Detroit,
Buffalo or even Boston, who's off to a good start.
What do you think is the biggest challenge in the
Atlantic Division?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
The biggest challenge there's so many good teams and there's
only you know, maybe five playoff spots total. And that's
if you take away you know, the wild card spots
from the Metro, which this year made you know, I
wouldn't necessarily count on that happening with the Rangers looking
like they're back, the Flyers trying to back into where
the Devils are going to be better than they were
last year. That hurts the Capitols like they're all coming
(13:35):
at you. So it's going to be tough. I mean,
so many teams that you mentioned in the Atlantic very
well could be playoff teams, and obviously you got Toronto,
Tampa Ottawa looked really good last year, and as you said,
they're coming up Montreal playoff team last year. They're looking
good to start the season. You never know what to
expect from Boston because they've lost a ton of players,
but they just seem to keep turning out wins. David
(13:55):
poster Knock is an amazing leader. I'm just thinking about
that video him the other night making the save with
the empty and that behind them.
Speaker 7 (14:00):
Was really cool.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So yeah, it's going to be very tough. Eventually, you
have to think that the Sabers are going to figure
things out and go back to the playoffs because the
law of averages and everything. So yeah, I think I
agree with you at the Atlantic. Well, it may not
be the most top heavy as it was maybe the
last couple of years, it's certainly you make an argument
that it's the deepest division in the league. It's it'd
be very hard to get into the playoffs if you're
(14:22):
not taking a run at one of the top spots,
which right now, I mean, you know, it's hard to
pick a team. You want to see the Panthers while
they're hurt is a Toronto, Well they're you know, they
lost miss Marner. Their goaltending hasn't been that great. You know,
Tampa they should be good, but fast LETSI hasn't been
great to start the season, and They've got a ton
of time. There's a lot of reasons to like enjoy
the Atlantic Division. But if I'm one of those teams
that I'm not plowing away, you know by December January,
(14:44):
it's going to be fun for us stands to watch
how it all plays out as the season comes down
the stretch.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
Last question for you, how much surprise was there from
you when Connor McDavid signed it to your extension in
Edmonton ath at all.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
I was a little surprised. Yeah, may have hit the
ground a little bit when I saw that deal, just
because you don't see it out outside of South Florida,
really where everybody's been taking these team friendly deals to
be on the Panther. It's like other teams. You see,
you know the deal that was signed by Corotapriestyle and
you're like, oh, okay, but then all of a sudden,
the David deal comes down, the Ico deal comes down.
(15:19):
There's another one that escaping me that came down last
week that that guys are leaving a little bit more
money on the table. And you're starting to get this
this mindset of you know what, with what Florida's done,
They've built this crazy team. They're going to have more
cap space even though they've got everybody locked up, And
if you guys want to can they want to compete
with that. And I get you want to make as
much money as you can while you can, because you're
(15:40):
setting yourself your family up forever. I totally understand that,
and nobody's going to assault a guy for thinking that way.
But so many of these guys are uber competitive and
hockey players in general, the team sense is a big
thing from a young age. So to see that these
adults who are in a position of power are starting
to take their team and winning a little bit more seriously,
(16:00):
or maybe not more seriously, but just putting more thought
into it contractually than they have. Yeah, I think it's
nothing but good for the game. Hopefully it leads to
more money into the game, so that way these players
who are leaving the money the table, they recoup it
down the line with bigger deals and endorsements and things
of that nature. But overall, as a fan, you know,
(16:22):
I'm excited to see things happening the way they are,
and I hope it continues that way because it's only
going to be good for the game.
Speaker 7 (16:27):
Same here, I apologize, I got one minute, so I
know it's we're up against it, but I got to
ask you this question because I love the sport. I
think the players are fantastic. I don't think the NHL
does a great job of marketing their teams or the
league in general, or their players. How do you feel
about that and what could they do to improve that
one minute?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I think that they're starting to do it now by
some of the campaigns that we're seeing that are involve
the players, Like there's one right now, like they're playing
the Dolly Parton song, you know, showing the youth players.
I know last year they had them showing their highlights
and kind of last.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
All Star stuff was good.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, like what they did with
four nations was awesome. Like, I think that they're on
the right path and getting people excited about it. I
think that that combined with the players just letting them
be more personal, like letting the fans see who these
guys are, because hockey players are great. Hockey players are
some of the best people in the world. I love
covering hockey. So I think that you're right that they
(17:23):
haven't done right in the past. I think they're starting
to figure it out now. They've got some good hires
in the league office and they're they're marketing their social media,
so I think that they're on the right path hopefully,
you know, I'm sure I'm talking to a fan base
that every you know, I would love to be a
part of, just because it's a bunch of hockey nuts,
so to hear to hear the excitement, so hopefully it'll build.
But yes, I'm with you, like they're on the right path.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
It's good stuff, man, that's encouraging news. It helps to
have you covering the sport. It helps to have you
as a backer of the sport as well, it's great
to visit with you. We appreciate the time. Keep up
the great work for the Hockey News. All the best
during the season. Thanks David, my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
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Speaker 2 (18:07):
Good afternoon tea there, you're very welcome to the program.
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