Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
To help us preview that game. We're going to head
out to the Kiwi Common Spirit Health Hotline and bring
on Evan Rawool. He's with the Denver Gazette. Evan really
appreciate the time, man, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I'm good, and unfortunately I have bad news that it's
eight twenty two actually more Cassie.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Oh all right, Well, I appreciate that because because what
happens sometimes with these games is it says eight, right,
and then you're like getting amped up, You'll fired up
and you're like, oh I got another twenty minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
No, I appreciate that national TV stuff.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
That's why.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, I mean, we had some injuries last year that
may have slowed us down. We still finished first in
the division. But uh, talk to me about this year
and the health of the team and outlook.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, they're going to be missing some guys to start
the year too. Obviously, Gabe's not back. Val is still suspended.
He'll be out at least until next month. And then
our Terry Likin is not going to be back until
next month either. It sounds like so they're starting a
little shorthanded. They still got the stars, but it's it's
you're gonna be a different team for this first month
and a half, and they're gonna have to keep their
(01:03):
heads above water because I think tonight they're gonna be
dressing five rookies, which has been pretty I mean, that's
not common in the Jared Benner in the last five
or six years. So there might be some growing pains
this first month, but the stars are still there and
they're gonna do what they can to hopefully, I guess,
keep everybody above ground until like an miss, you can
at least get back.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
But should that impact how we feel about this team,
because You'll be honest, I sort of feel like they
have the talent because they have well the best player
in hockey to be able to make the postseason almost
either way. So is at this point it's just sort
of like, hey, just tread water, do the best you
can find your way into the postseason because that's when
all this really matters.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, I think at this point that's where it is,
especially with how this season is going to go with
these guys, and they seem to start the year two
years ago after the Cup run, they just they killed
themselves you at first in the conference and they ended
up going on in the first round just because they
were running these guys in the ground McKinnon, mccarr ran
and then so I think you just need to get in.
The NHL is just that way where if you get
(02:04):
into the playoffs, anyone has a shot. So as long
as the Ads get in, and I think they will,
they have as good a shot as any depending on
really a lot depends on the Shushkin and how kind
of things go there. But when you have Nathan McKinnon
and cal McCarry, anything's possible with this team.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Well, let's talk about defense. Then let's talk about the
goalie position and what's going to happen there, because there's
been some rumors about possible trades for the Colorado Avalanche
to strengthen that position.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, it's a contract year for Alexander Gyorgyev, so he's
got a lot to prove, He's got a lot on
the line. This year. They've got eustacean in as a backup.
So the last two years Yorgia have started over seventy
five percent of the games, and in a perfect world,
I don't think the has really want that. So if
Andon comes in and plays well, he's he's going to
(02:52):
take some of that load away from Yorgyev, which is
really what they need, but especially this first month, they're
going to need those goalies to be good because I
will say, side of you know, the injuries are dealing
with right now. Goltenan is probably the biggest question mark.
And it's fair because George was very inconsistent last year
and you just don't know what you're going to get.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Chatting with Evan Raoulf with the Denver Gazette last couple
here for you really appreciate the time and I know
this really early to have this kind of conversation, so
I'm not trying to sound hyperbolic, but based on the
fact that the Abs have kind of been uh well
they've been bounced early. I mean, this is a championship
window when you have Nathan McKinnon. So is there any
pressure added pressure on Jared Bednar this season?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I don't think so. I mean, the Abs, the organization
just loves him. They've stud with him through everything. Uh
and the reality is he's a really good coach. Once
you get down to those final eight teams, it's really
tough and he's had you know, I think he's been
bounced in the second round a lot outside of that
Stanley Cup here, which has some fans frustrated. But he's
a really good coach. I think he's got the backing
(03:56):
of the organization. And then I mean I think the
especially the organization, understands that, you know, with the valve
situation the last two years, some things have just been
out of his hands. So I don't think there's a
lot of pressure on him. Depending on how the season goes,
I thinks just sput her out of control, maybe, but
as long as they get in the playoffs, I don't
think there's really any pressure on him to potentially lose
(04:17):
his job.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Give me a player or two that we should look
forward to seeing this upcoming season that maybe that wasn't
here last year, that could give us some hope that
it is going to right the ship.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Well, there's going to be two guys I guess on
the second line tonight that I think fans are really
interested in seeing, and their two rookies. Nineteen year old
Callum Ritchie. Super talented, six foot two, He's a big guy.
He's right shot hold off a ridiculous goal in the
preseason which made the highlight reels. But he's going to
get a run here to start the year with all
these injuries to see if he can stick. It's been
(04:51):
a while since the ass to have the teenage forward
on the lineup, so it'll be interesting to see how
that goes. And then on the other wing of that
line is rushing forward Nikolai Blanka, who came over at
the end of the year last year and played two
playoff games. But he's been probably the most consistent player
through training camp and he's he's a little pitbull on skate.
He's not big. He's a lot like Archiy Liknen, where
(05:12):
he's not big, but he goes into all the dirty areas.
And those two are going to be on the wing
of Casey Middlestat tonight, so they're going to get a
good look and they're really the two guys best fit
to kind of push for some offense beyond the top
to the big guys up front. So it'll be interesting
to see how they adjust in front of what's going
to be a crazy, crazy group tonight in Vegas.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Here all right, Devin, really appreciate the time. Enjoy your
time in Las Vegas this evening. As the AVS season
gets underway. We'll check in with you down the road man.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Thank you sounds good. Thanks for having me
To help us preview that game. We're going to head
out to the Kiwi Common Spirit Health Hotline and bring
on Evan Rawool. He's with the Denver Gazette. Evan really
appreciate the time, man, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I'm good, and unfortunately I have bad news that it's
eight twenty two actually more Cassie.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Oh all right, Well, I appreciate that because because what
happens sometimes with these games is it says eight, right,
and then you're like getting amped up, You'll fired up
and you're like, oh I got another twenty minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
No, I appreciate that national TV stuff.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
That's why.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, I mean, we had some injuries last year that
may have slowed us down. We still finished first in
the division. But uh, talk to me about this year
and the health of the team and outlook.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, they're going to be missing some guys to start
the year too. Obviously, Gabe's not back. Val is still suspended.
He'll be out at least until next month. And then
our Terry Likin is not going to be back until
next month either. It sounds like so they're starting a
little shorthanded. They still got the stars, but it's it's
you're gonna be a different team for this first month
and a half, and they're gonna have to keep their
(01:03):
heads above water because I think tonight they're gonna be
dressing five rookies, which has been pretty I mean, that's
not common in the Jared Benner in the last five
or six years. So there might be some growing pains
this first month, but the stars are still there and
they're gonna do what they can to hopefully, I guess,
keep everybody above ground until like an miss, you can
at least get back.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
But should that impact how we feel about this team,
because You'll be honest, I sort of feel like they
have the talent because they have well the best player
in hockey to be able to make the postseason almost
either way. So is at this point it's just sort
of like, hey, just tread water, do the best you
can find your way into the postseason because that's when
all this really matters.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, I think at this point that's where it is,
especially with how this season is going to go with
these guys, and they seem to start the year two
years ago after the Cup run, they just they killed
themselves you at first in the conference and they ended
up going on in the first round just because they
were running these guys in the ground McKinnon, mccarr ran
and then so I think you just need to get in.
The NHL is just that way where if you get
(02:04):
into the playoffs, anyone has a shot. So as long
as the Ads get in, and I think they will,
they have as good a shot as any depending on
really a lot depends on the Shushkin and how kind
of things go there. But when you have Nathan McKinnon
and cal McCarry, anything's possible with this team.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Well, let's talk about defense. Then let's talk about the
goalie position and what's going to happen there, because there's
been some rumors about possible trades for the Colorado Avalanche
to strengthen that position.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, it's a contract year for Alexander Gyorgyev, so he's
got a lot to prove, He's got a lot on
the line. This year. They've got eustacean in as a backup.
So the last two years Yorgia have started over seventy
five percent of the games, and in a perfect world,
I don't think the has really want that. So if
Andon comes in and plays well, he's he's going to
(02:52):
take some of that load away from Yorgyev, which is
really what they need, but especially this first month, they're
going to need those goalies to be good because I
will say, side of you know, the injuries are dealing
with right now. Goltenan is probably the biggest question mark.
And it's fair because George was very inconsistent last year
and you just don't know what you're going to get.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Chatting with Evan Raoulf with the Denver Gazette last couple
here for you really appreciate the time and I know
this really early to have this kind of conversation, so
I'm not trying to sound hyperbolic, but based on the
fact that the Abs have kind of been uh well
they've been bounced early. I mean, this is a championship
window when you have Nathan McKinnon. So is there any
pressure added pressure on Jared Bednar this season?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I don't think so. I mean, the Abs, the organization
just loves him. They've stud with him through everything. Uh
and the reality is he's a really good coach. Once
you get down to those final eight teams, it's really
tough and he's had you know, I think he's been
bounced in the second round a lot outside of that
Stanley Cup here, which has some fans frustrated. But he's
a really good coach. I think he's got the backing
(03:56):
of the organization. And then I mean I think the
especially the organization, understands that, you know, with the valve
situation the last two years, some things have just been
out of his hands. So I don't think there's a
lot of pressure on him. Depending on how the season goes,
I thinks just sput her out of control, maybe, but
as long as they get in the playoffs, I don't
think there's really any pressure on him to potentially lose
(04:17):
his job.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Give me a player or two that we should look
forward to seeing this upcoming season that maybe that wasn't
here last year, that could give us some hope that
it is going to right the ship.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Well, there's going to be two guys I guess on
the second line tonight that I think fans are really
interested in seeing, and their two rookies. Nineteen year old
Callum Ritchie. Super talented, six foot two, He's a big guy.
He's right shot hold off a ridiculous goal in the
preseason which made the highlight reels. But he's going to
get a run here to start the year with all
these injuries to see if he can stick. It's been
(04:51):
a while since the ass to have the teenage forward
on the lineup, so it'll be interesting to see how
that goes. And then on the other wing of that
line is rushing forward Nikolai Blanka, who came over at
the end of the year last year and played two
playoff games. But he's been probably the most consistent player
through training camp and he's he's a little pitbull on skate.
He's not big. He's a lot like Archiy Liknen, where
(05:12):
he's not big, but he goes into all the dirty areas.
And those two are going to be on the wing
of Casey Middlestat tonight, so they're going to get a
good look and they're really the two guys best fit
to kind of push for some offense beyond the top
to the big guys up front. So it'll be interesting
to see how they adjust in front of what's going
to be a crazy, crazy group tonight in Vegas.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Here all right, Devin, really appreciate the time. Enjoy your
time in Las Vegas this evening. As the AVS season
gets underway. We'll check in with you down the road man.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Thank you sounds good. Thanks for having me
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