KRAKEN WEEKLY: Give me some respect, Grubauer games, a look out east (11/17)

Mike Benton, Everett Fitzhugh, Al Kinisky with the Nov. 17 episode of Kraken Weekly, joined by SiriusXM NHL Network Radio host Dave McCarthy. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Jordan Everley. This is Vince Done. This is
Jaden Schwartz. This is Jared mccannon. Ya, this is Ryan Lindren.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
This is Madders.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to Cracking Weekly with Mike.

Speaker 3 (00:12):
Ben cornerpool of the season is right around the corner.
We're almost to Thanksgiving and the Seattle cracking a saying.
As far as the standings in the world of halves
and the have nuts, we're still here. Yes it's November,
but the cracking are still making noise and we'll cover
a bunch of this from this past week. Welcome to
Crack and Weekly to begin the season, of course, podcasted

(00:34):
weekly on the Crack and Audio Network side via the
iHeartRadio app. Just sign up for free to get this
on demand at sports Radio kjar dot com. Everett fits you.
Al Konisky joining our roundtable in just a bit plus.
We'll also be joined by Dave McCarthy, NHL Insider host
also on sirius XM NHL Network Radio. He's in charge

(00:57):
the Sunday Brunch among other things out into but with
a pretty clear view of what's happening here for the
Eastern Conference, Sam with a Kraken are facing ahead of
this four game road trip coming up, which begins tomorrow
against Detroit, after that Chicago, Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders.
Dave McCarthy of sirius XM NHL Network Radio joining us
here on the drop a little bit later on. We're

(01:20):
gonna get to some highlights in just a bit. But
last week you couldn't paint maybe a better picture than
five points possibly out of six with a Kraken coming
back home to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets,
and San Jose Sharks, and maybe faltering a bit in
a very winnable game last Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets,
but rebounding swiftly to beat Winnipeg convincingly and then dishout

(01:45):
some payback against the San Jose Sharks, all the while
still trying to navigate additions and losses in their lineup,
the latter, of course, due to injury. Could Jared mccannb
be back though soon along the way, Could Joy the
Core be back soon as well? Lane Lambert's got more
on that we'll hear from him and justin bit as
he met with the media in Detroit earlier today. But

(02:06):
Here's how matters progressed with the Kraken back home, looking
to swipe as many points off the table and stay
in the thick of the race right now, time for
second in the Pacific Division and continuing a trend at
home at six one and three, which shows they are
in games and in them to win them.

Speaker 4 (02:26):
Eight seven shots cracketly there. Ben Myers gets loose for
Winter ten. Stop Winter is coming.

Speaker 5 (02:40):
Ryan Winter ten gets it started here in Seattle three
seventeen to play in the first one.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
Nothing cracking.

Speaker 6 (02:49):
We just talked about how much I'd like this fourth
line combination. Right now, what in the ace? You get
a big safe by Matt Murray. The other end goes
to fourth line.

Speaker 4 (02:56):
They equal to work.

Speaker 6 (02:57):
Ben Myers picking that fuck up top of the circles.
He's gonna lead in the net like you did earlier.

Speaker 4 (03:02):
He sells the shot and at the last second back end.

Speaker 6 (03:05):
Over to widgeted one timer past greaves one nuff you crack.

Speaker 7 (03:09):
Mark Schenko through center. He's got Fantilly Fan Tilly gets.

Speaker 5 (03:13):
By backhand fix same by Matt Murray. He goes down
and stones Fan Tilly's back hand right hand.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
It's Charlie Coyle waits for the signal.

Speaker 4 (03:26):
Coil picks up with the pucket.

Speaker 7 (03:28):
He'll bring it near signe Coil into the circle, back
to the hashbargs.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
Row slots shot off the bar.

Speaker 5 (03:35):
He scores, and the Columbus Blue Jackets take the extra
point in the shootout.

Speaker 4 (03:42):
Final two one.

Speaker 7 (03:43):
Pushing a turn old in the offensive end. Here is
it's done from the near side Schwartz.

Speaker 5 (03:49):
Since Stone tane Schwartz right circle toward the goal. Copocco
got a piece of it on the way through, and
the Seattle Cracket tied the game.

Speaker 4 (04:07):
One one four forty five left it period number one.

Speaker 6 (04:12):
Well Channer students and the bitch does doing a nice
little criss cross the blue line. Dune picks up dot puck.

Speaker 4 (04:18):
Slides it down to Schwartz.

Speaker 6 (04:19):
Schwartz does what we've been talking about, puts one hard
on that Copo Cocko's up front, get the piece of it.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
This game is tight and one done.

Speaker 4 (04:27):
Left wings to the front of the net, goes Winterton.

Speaker 5 (04:29):
Shot put up over, It's done, crashes the goal. Ryan Winterton,
with the shot done, follows it up and he'll loft
it over the head and down the rainbow on Connor

(04:50):
Helli buck We're.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Tied it too well.

Speaker 6 (04:53):
Jee Jet's defense breaks breaks down four season front the net.
He doesn't know to go to Schwartz or to drop
down to Winterard, and to go to s leaves Winterton
wide open to step out and put a puck on
that issue, said vice. Dunne crashes down, finds that rebound
beats Hellibuck over the.

Speaker 7 (05:08):
Shoulder, two two outs, toll of it back to the
point Vince dun straightaway tallman.

Speaker 4 (05:13):
It shouts stood.

Speaker 5 (05:22):
Helly Tlbanen with a rocket from the right side. It's
a power play goal. Fifteen forty nine to play in
the third.

Speaker 6 (05:31):
We're tied at three, but much look the same goal
Elliethoven scored the other day.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
It's just on a power play.

Speaker 6 (05:36):
Top of the circles, cracking and moving the puck around
the perimeter. But it gets back to Vince dun at
the point he sends it down to tolban In on
that right circle. He puts everything into it, beating Hillibluck
plocker side down low.

Speaker 7 (05:47):
This game is tight and mclears back to Marshman in
the circle. It's a hip check in the the master.

Speaker 2 (05:54):
Calm down black.

Speaker 6 (05:57):
Start.

Speaker 8 (06:03):
Maddy vaneers top of the right circle.

Speaker 5 (06:06):
He finds every down lo tick tack goal the captain.

Speaker 4 (06:10):
Let's the Cracking on top by.

Speaker 5 (06:12):
A four to three score.

Speaker 6 (06:13):
Well, this one starts with a Mason Marshman down that
right side. He turns his body to protect the puck,
gets it back to Matty Veneers as Jordan Nibley is
swinging around the backside of the dead We had a
great angle for him. From up here you can see
Maddie waiting for Jordan Nibley to get into position.

Speaker 1 (06:29):
As soon as he was.

Speaker 6 (06:30):
There, boom on a stick, tap of the net for
three crackt re Seattle, extra attacker off for Winnipeg.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
Ryan Lingrett, he'll push it up the boards Winnipeg.

Speaker 9 (06:39):
Not a little hold the line.

Speaker 4 (06:41):
Matt Eveneers near side the captain box in stood back
to back goals for the captain. He's got two.

Speaker 5 (06:57):
The cracking ahead by too five three, one thirty five
left at Seattle.

Speaker 6 (07:04):
One of the ways the Cracker we're gonna have to
win this game was puck battles. In that time there
not even ears with a puck battle win along the boards,
pokes it forward, finds deffinitely over the far side of
the ice, all by himself empty net goal for seven.

Speaker 4 (07:17):
Second at goal.

Speaker 6 (07:18):
For seven iss into by Matt Evaneers five three.

Speaker 4 (07:21):
Cracking Seattle back.

Speaker 7 (07:23):
Is Chandler Stevenson right circle, centering faded crack.

Speaker 4 (07:34):
Chaden Schwartz the back tour Tapan.

Speaker 5 (07:38):
After Chandler Stevenson went around John Klaiberg, Schwartz finishes to
play one nothing cracket eleven forty six to play in
the first.

Speaker 6 (07:48):
A great outlet pass by Alexiak through the neutral zone
cross fights Jenner. Stevenson has a full head of steam.

Speaker 4 (07:53):
Going down that right side. He's a left hit and shot.

Speaker 6 (07:56):
He puts it over the far side of the ice
where Schwartz is right Harden than that easy tap him
one up.

Speaker 4 (08:02):
In fraggles eight sets up the puck on the left side.
Here's ex him near side Cello.

Speaker 5 (08:08):
Brady clove save bye girlour my, oh my, hi wow
a goal.

Speaker 4 (08:15):
Line Marshmitt down low.

Speaker 2 (08:17):
He sends it up top to Larsen.

Speaker 4 (08:19):
Right side shot stove.

Speaker 5 (08:28):
The big cat Adam Larsen on the prowl. Three fifty
five left here in the second, it's a two to
one Seattle lead.

Speaker 6 (08:37):
Well, fantastic offense is on pressure by Seattle.

Speaker 4 (08:40):
Maddy Beers.

Speaker 6 (08:41):
Maddy paneers with some spectacular work below the goal line.
He gets it out to Adam Larson from Marchmant and
Larson steps into a shot, beating the Delkovic top shelf,
his first of the season.

Speaker 5 (08:54):
Two under the near side crack and get it out
two on one Stevenson left side, tolming it Farsark j
down town.

Speaker 10 (09:02):
He's Ellie Golvin in now points and six of his
last nine.

Speaker 5 (09:13):
The Cracking go back to back up up pair.

Speaker 6 (09:17):
Three one a great Son exit from the cracking end
of the ice, Doulton Chandler Stevenson, he's got an option
for a shot he elects. Defeated over to Ellie Tovenan
on the sea path.

Speaker 1 (09:26):
One timer.

Speaker 6 (09:27):
This is three one fracking now.

Speaker 7 (09:29):
Al semmer Bride, they'll shoot that one blocked in front, Adam.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
Larsen down to one bead.

Speaker 4 (09:33):
Ryan Lingert slaps it up the board Seattle Towardy.

Speaker 8 (09:36):
After that, Jaden Schwartz has got two and the Seattle
Cracking go up four one.

Speaker 4 (09:52):
With three twenty nine to play in regulation.

Speaker 6 (09:56):
Well, there's that hard work I talked about. This time
it's Ryan Lingard in the corner going to battle and
getting the puck up the boards and who's waiting for
it there, James Schwartz and he AMers this puck down
the ice into the open cage for one cracket.

Speaker 11 (10:10):
I just wanted to be a hard team to play against.
How do you feel that team's progressing in that regard.

Speaker 12 (10:15):
I think we're doing a good job.

Speaker 1 (10:17):
Our guys.

Speaker 12 (10:19):
You know, they are committed. They've done a good job
of that, and I feel like, you know, they're starting
to take ownership of the way we play. So I
think we've done a good job.

Speaker 11 (10:32):
You've the last couple of times you've talked to the media,
you've mentioned right as a shooter. What is your take
on that?

Speaker 2 (10:40):
That is it?

Speaker 11 (10:41):
His shot? Is his his ability to know when to shoot?
What what makes him a shooter?

Speaker 12 (10:46):
I think it's his shot, you know, and he does
have a pretty a decent knack for knowing when to shoot.
Although we're still working with him, I think we can
help him out in that manner, you know, And as
he gets used to the wing here a little bit,
I think you'll find different areas of different ways to
get his shot off.

Speaker 11 (11:06):
Anything obviously home standing, get five ou to six points,
anything that you wanted to work on both today or
on this road trip to be better that they're coming
out of that Homestand.

Speaker 12 (11:17):
Yeah, I think we want to work on being better
and in a lot of different areas, you know. I thought,
you know, at the start of the game last game,
and certainly at the start of the second period, we're
we're pretty I don't know if i'd use the word loose,
but you know, we gave up some opportunities and our
goaltender had to bail us out. So you know, we've

(11:40):
continued to talk about creating offense. We found a way
to score some goals the last couple of games. But
just because you know, you shut a team down, or
just because you score a few goals, doesn't mean you
don't have to continue working on each and every part
of your game.

Speaker 7 (11:55):
Up on the quarter portal of the season, you talked
a little bit about play being hard to play against.
But outside of that, what are the areas you feel
from day one to now your team has improved the
most on and where do you feel this team can can.

Speaker 13 (12:07):
Get better at?

Speaker 1 (12:09):
Well?

Speaker 12 (12:10):
I think we you know, I think defensively, we've done
a pretty decent job, you know, with with how we
want to play. I think there's been you know, there's
been improvements from day one, and again, like I said,
it's just you have to continue to to work on things,
continue to improve on things, you know, through the neutral zone.

(12:32):
I think we're doing a decent job. I think, you know,
I think we we try to play fast. I think
there's some nights when we can play faster and then
you know, offensively, that'll help piggyback our offense and and
you know, help us score more. But certainly, you know,
there's it's it's it's always a work in progress, and

(12:56):
I think the guys have I think they've done a
good job to this point. But that's just to this point,
and you know, what happens from here is what matters you.

Speaker 6 (13:05):
Maddie and Stevie on the PK looks like today for
a little bit. Is that just giving you a third
option or is that situational thing?

Speaker 12 (13:13):
Well, they both play it anyways. You know today they
did it together simply because they were on the other
power play and we wanted them to get reps. So,
you know, typically if you're looking at our PK pairs,
you know, Chandler was starting with Karta and now Freddie is.
But you know the reason they were together today, that

(13:35):
two of them was because we you know, they had
just played on the Power Play and we wanted to
get them some reps on the Palley Kill.

Speaker 11 (13:43):
Any updates you got two guys here, Decord and mccayn.
Any updates on those.

Speaker 1 (13:47):
Two progressing nicely?

Speaker 12 (13:49):
Both of them practice today, so you know, both of
them still on IR and we'll see where we go
here tomorrow, but certainly having them here and having them
in practice as a positive sign.

Speaker 11 (14:00):
Back in Seattle, Coppo and Murray.

Speaker 12 (14:03):
Yeah, Coppo is still week to week and Murray is
being evaluated. We don't have we don't have an update
on him until we get a little bit more information.

Speaker 7 (14:11):
Looking at this road trip, do you break this down?
How do you break this road trip down? Is there
a baseline of points you're looking for? What's that goal
for you in these next four games?

Speaker 12 (14:22):
You just take it one game at a time, and
you know, we we want to put our best foot
forward to try and win every every game we're in,
regardless of whether it's you know, this road trip or
a homestand or whatever we might whatever we might see.
So you know, there's the goal is to win every night,
you know, and I know you're not going to but

(14:43):
that's the goal and the focus is the next game.

Speaker 1 (14:45):
All right.

Speaker 3 (14:46):
That update from Crack and head coach Lane Lambert meeting
with the media after practice in Detroit earlier today with
the Kraken finishing the homestand two oh and one from
the highlights you heard and they shootout loss against Columbus
and then roaring back with a win over the Winnipeg
Jets and again San Jose dishing a little payback.

Speaker 1 (15:06):
To finally get back. Now on the road.

Speaker 3 (15:09):
Everett Al joining us now for the roundup. And fellas
we were talking about a week ago, where was the
bar set five points out of six. I'll get to
that here in just a little bit. But let's us
not burry the lead. Fence US back in Detroit. Fence
US back in Detroit. Sound the alarms, Walt, listen, Mike.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
The parade, Bring out your friends. The parade's going now.
The parade last.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
Night was really nice. The police escort from the airport
to the hotel was lovely.

Speaker 7 (15:42):
I thought that the fireworks were a nice touch. The
fireworks were real nice touch. They brought out some Detroit legends.
Miguel Cabrera came back. Ben Wallace was there.

Speaker 2 (15:53):
Nick Lidstrom was there as well.

Speaker 7 (15:55):
Barry Sanders rarely see Barry Sanders in public, but he
was there also, So it was great to be welcomed
back home, befitting of me.

Speaker 3 (16:04):
You know, when you can get Barry Sanders out to
a public event, your big time. So my only question
now is have you bought the extra bag to bring back.

Speaker 1 (16:13):
The key to the city.

Speaker 13 (16:16):
It's a digital key now.

Speaker 3 (16:19):
They have that thing on the app now where you
have to scan it and you know, put put in
your face or your password. We can go off on
this for about an or twenty minutes here with a
digital landscape. But let's do this here. I think Al's
got to get to mom Spaghetti, that's the Eminem's restaurant
here in a little bit. We got to let him
go as well too, So we're gonna get right to everything.

(16:40):
Five points out of six fellas from this last week,
the Columbus game, the Winnipeg game, the San Jose game.

Speaker 1 (16:46):
I admit to feeling a.

Speaker 3 (16:47):
Little bit of peril after what I thought was a
very very winnable game against Columbus last week. But did
the cracknever turn the tables against Winnipeg and San Jose
to the point now where I'm already calling it this
is a team that is forming into something real. But
I was saying this last week. People take notes. The

(17:10):
Kraken are winning games when they aren't at their best.
And the more important part of this is they beat
a legit Winnipeg team. We know that that that they've
got their awards. But they are doing this now without
Jared McCann and we'll talk about this soon, but he
might be back. Largely without Freddie Gadreau and largely with

(17:31):
a goaltending situation in flux.

Speaker 1 (17:34):
Last couple of weeks.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
They haven't had to pitch perfect games against some very
very good teams to begin this season.

Speaker 4 (17:41):
So I say, if folks enough respect, respect.

Speaker 2 (17:48):
No respect, I tell you, I tell you they's crack
in here. No listen.

Speaker 7 (17:53):
I think Seattle, they're playing the way that they have
to play.

Speaker 13 (17:57):
Right.

Speaker 7 (17:58):
You've got points in three straight, You've got points in
nine of your last eleven.

Speaker 2 (18:02):
I think if you can.

Speaker 7 (18:04):
Keep this up, you know, for every ten games, every
twenty points, if you're bringing home fifteen out of those
twenty points, fourteen out of those twenty points, you're going
to lose, you know, but if you can continue to
rack up points where it matters, I mean, you're still
going to be playing after April sixteenth. And I think
right now what they're doing is is exactly what we expected,

(18:29):
what we thought, and that was playing good hockey, that
was playing competitive hockey.

Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know, say what you want about the offense the last.

Speaker 7 (18:37):
Two games, it's come around with nine goals in two games.

Speaker 2 (18:40):
But I do feel like this team is.

Speaker 7 (18:43):
Doing exactly what I think was expected of them internally,
and that was playing good defense and being at every game.

Speaker 6 (18:52):
Yeah, I would add to that, and I posted these
stats on Twitter yesterday that Seattle is the only team
with three goaltenders. With three goaltenders, but Seattle is the
only team with three cold goaltenders that have played five
games or more, all three of them that all have
nine hundred or better save percentages. There are other than
that three, but not all three of them have nine

(19:13):
hundred save percentages and they don't all have five games.
So what that tells me is that Seattle has a
three goalie system, which we've talked a lot about about
how long is this going to go in the season
that's currently paying off. It's paying off because Joey Tocord
goes out with an injury. Philip Grubauer plays some of
his best hockey that I've seen in two seasons. Matt
Murray looks fantastic. They're both filling the gap. Matt Murray

(19:36):
goes out and injured, Joey to Cord likely coming back
sometime this week. Like this three goalie system is paying
off right now in the month of November, and the
stats showing.

Speaker 2 (19:46):
And I think you're getting with the three goalies. You're getting.

Speaker 7 (19:51):
The performances that I think number one you would expect
to get, but you're also making life. I guess it's
a double edged sword, difficult or easy for management and coaches,
right because I mean it's easy because at least now
you know that you've got three goalies through the first
eighteen nineteen games.

Speaker 2 (20:10):
Of the season. You know that you can put in
and get results.

Speaker 7 (20:13):
But I also feel like you know, and I think
you and I al are on this same page, and
I think Mike hereer this as well. It still might
not be advantageous to carry three goalies into January, into
the Olympic break, So you would. You'd like to think
that there may have to be a decision at some
point made, But right now it's working and they're finding

(20:36):
ways to win.

Speaker 2 (20:37):
And obviously, you know, I say this understanding how it sounds.

Speaker 7 (20:44):
You're helped by the fact that there have been injuries,
which you don't ever want injuries. But when Joey goes
out for those four games, Matt Murray and Philip Gruenbauer come.

Speaker 2 (20:52):
In or to play very very well, you know you're
you've got a good problem to have. But I also
still maybe go back to the I wonder how long
you can continue to have three goalies.

Speaker 6 (21:06):
I'll add to what you said Thereret is when when
a Goldie goes out injured, you're not crossing your fingers
going gosh, I hope the backup can cover the lobo.
I hope the guys can really keep tucks. These guys
are playing fantastic even when you got one goalie out injured.

Speaker 7 (21:21):
Yeah, and the last game Matt Murray goes out in
the last seventeen seconds of the game, I didn't have
the oh bleep feeling like, man, now you've got a
cold goalie coming in. You knew that Philip Gruenbauer played
really well his last game. I felt bad for him
because he got tested early in that second period and
the guy came in ice cold and he had to

(21:42):
make some, you know, really remarkable saves and he did
just that. But you're right like that, the confidence was there,
and I think a lot of that credit goes to
Collins Zulianello and and how he's been able to Goldie
coach for Seattle, how he's been able to manage the
loads and work with the goaltenders and all of that,
and you know, I think it's been a good system

(22:04):
so far.

Speaker 3 (22:04):
The injuries are a part of this, which leads us
here from the goalie conversation and this caroussel into this
next one. Coppo conco is week to week. Jared mccam
we hinted at this maybe maybe not, but looking like
maybe he could be back here for this week.

Speaker 1 (22:20):
Matt Murray. Status of courus very very very much up
in the air.

Speaker 3 (22:24):
So depending upon when this gets sorted out, a decision
might have to come as far as this goalie caroussel.
But I touch on this with Coco out who's going
to be that next man up right now? Because I
think We've already sawd this part with Matty Baniers's line
he and Jordan Eberley, and to some degree, you have
to admit, last couple of games, Mason Marchman have looked great.

Speaker 6 (22:47):
Mason Marshman has moved around the lineup a little bit,
and I think that you're starting to see a little
bit of what he can bring with this combination he's
on right now in Veneer's and every and if he
makes those other two guys better because of his big
man play, if his work along the boards, if getting
pucks to Maddie and Ebbs for shots on goal feeds

(23:09):
into his game, then I like it. But I think
that it's taken eighteen games to figure out where the
best spot for him is, and it looks like over
the last couple anyway, this might be the right spot.

Speaker 7 (23:20):
Yeah, I think Marchman. I mean, it provides a really
good opportunity for him. I think, you know, I'm gonna
go back to Shane right, Ellie's Hobden. You know, Tolbanden
continues to get points, right, he's been. It was a
slow start to the season for him, but et has
found a way to get points. He's got points in
seven of his last nine.

Speaker 2 (23:39):
I believe I have written out.

Speaker 7 (23:40):
Yeah, seven of his last nine games, Hobanen has got points,
so he's his game is starting to come along. So
you know, I'm looking at him to step up, continue,
not not even step up, but continue his recent offensive success.

Speaker 2 (23:53):
I'd love to see Shane Wright, you know, get a couple.

Speaker 7 (23:56):
Of more and put himself, you know, back on the
score sheet, back to back games, three of every four games,
things like that. So there it does prevent or present
some opportunity. And also Yanni Newman. You know, I think
Yanni Neuman last game he only had five and a
half six minutes, so wondering, you know, what he can do,
how can he continue to improve and grow in his

(24:17):
role as well?

Speaker 3 (24:19):
He only had eight shifts in that game. And Lane
Lambert explained more of this in post games, saying that
because the whole flux of penalties that really threw his
rotations at five on five for a loop, and unfortunately
Newman was the odd man out. So people watching the
game real time of thinking, okay, what did he do
to not earn more ice time out there? But if

(24:41):
you go back and think there is still there is
still a room for him because of his big frame
that he can use and then definitely his shot. So
the assumption would be coming up for Detroit this week,
coming up for Chicago, if you can keep playing stable
at five on five, very well be more chances for
Newman to be productive.

Speaker 6 (25:02):
Yeah, it's a great comment, Mike, and you're right with
Ty Karche and Freddie Gadriau, the other two guys on
that Newman line doing penalty kill. If you take six
penalties in a game, they're playing an extra six minutes.
If you figure they're playing half the penalty kill, they're
playing on extra six minutes of hockey. So that coupled
with the six minutes they play five on five, there's

(25:23):
your difference right there. So it's not penalizing Yanni Neuman.
It's because he's not part of that special teams group
that had to play a lot in that sentas a game.

Speaker 3 (25:31):
Now, here's the one thing about when Jared mccannon is
fit to get back into the lineup, who's going to
be the odd man out or who's going to maybe
feel that strongest sense of competition. Yanni Newman has a
specific fit for his type of game, especially here on
the power play. That's going to create a little more
internal competition. I would think, not just on special teams

(25:54):
because McCann fits back there, but also mccam is one
of your top six guys. Newman's more lotted up and
down the lineup right now.

Speaker 7 (26:02):
Yeah, I think this when with McCann coming back, assuming
it's set some point on this road trip, we hope.
I think it presents an issue that you've got with
the goaltenders as well.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Right, it's a good problem to have. You don't envy it.
But I think for me, and when I say.

Speaker 7 (26:21):
Odd Man out, I don't necessarily mean out of the lineup,
but maybe having to find a new spot as Mason
marshmot because right now he's on that top line with
Veneers and every well, nineteen ten and seven have had
a lot of chemistry and history together in the last
couple of years. So I think, you know, let's say,
for argument's sake, McCann comes back tomorrow against the Wings, right,

(26:44):
So then are you going to slide Marchment back to
the third line with you know Catten and right are you're.

Speaker 2 (26:51):
Gonna put right back in the middle, move Catton to
the wings?

Speaker 9 (26:55):
You know what?

Speaker 2 (26:55):
I mean, like like, there's a lot that.

Speaker 7 (26:57):
Could happen with that, and again this should just be
speculat but I think that's the spot where McCann's gonna go.
But as far as lineup goes, you know, maybe it
is Yannie Duman coming out.

Speaker 2 (27:07):
Who knows.

Speaker 6 (27:09):
Well, I would add to that and just say that,
you know, when I look at the lineup, I think
that Yanny Newman is probably the guy that gets moved
out of the lineup. You probably shift somebody from that
left side. You got Marchman, Schwartz, Tolbanan, and Kara whoever
can play the right wing shifts over. Okay, probably probably
tol Winterton comes down to that fourth line to fill

(27:30):
the new Newman slot. That opens up the slot from McCann.
And I don't disagree with you, Everett that I have
to think that that McCann starts in that top line
with Veneers Neverley, but maybe not. I mean it doesn't
play in the game. In the game in Detroit tomorrow
and March Vaneers Neverley put up three goals between the

(27:50):
three of them. Maybe you don't want to break that
up right away, but I gotta believe at some point
he ends up there.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
I was gonna say too. I mean that that's the
perfect point.

Speaker 7 (27:58):
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right, I mean
you're fixing off really well. Yeah, exactly exactly if you
And that's where I think a lot of times we've
seen this with Dave Hackstall, with Dan Biosma.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
Before.

Speaker 7 (28:09):
You've played some good stretches of games with the lineup
that you have, you bring someone back into that lineup,
and now you're like, oh goodness, like, well, I really
don't want to break up X, Y and Z, but
you know, yeah X is in so and so spot,
but X works really well. So again it's those puzzle
pieces and yeah, McCann's got to come back in.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
But like you said, they're coming off of a five
point night.

Speaker 7 (28:34):
Let's say, do you really want to break that line
up on what would that be Thursday in Chicago?

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Again, assuming he comes back in tomorrow, we're gonna get just.

Speaker 6 (28:44):
As simple as stock wrecking them one through twelve. That's saying, okay,
number twelve, you get bumped, and you know you've got
to figure out who's playing best with who. Sorry, Mike, go.

Speaker 3 (28:52):
Exactly we're gonna get to Dave McCarthy in a little bit.
He's been doing his homework on this team and has
got a great based viewpoint of the Western and Eastern
Conference as well in a pretty important matter we're touching
on as far as what's coming up here for the
crack and on this next swing. Dave McCarthy again joining
us here from sirius XM NHL Network Radio. In just
a bit, I want to touch on Freddie Gudreaux because

(29:13):
I mentioned, in comparison to a guy like Ryker Evans,
there's really not so much a D man that you're
putting in like Evans where you're gonna see a boltload
of points. Like say, I'm just using the extreme version here,
Cale mccarr, but he makes this defense and this team
much more mobile, especially breaking out of their zone. Likewise,

(29:35):
with Freddy Gadreau, there's an impact you feel sometimes that
will reach deeper numbers or not even hit the stat
sheet as well. I go back and think, first off,
the face offs that will come around. He had a
rough night against San Jose, but that's gonna eventually turn
around because he's your most important faceoff guy, arguably taking
more heat off of Chandler Stephenson. Then there's this impact

(29:58):
I think Shorthanded and the one show he nearly put
on taking the puck away from Will Smith, taking off
of a breakaway and just missing under the bar on
Alex Nadalkovich. He's not going to pop your thirty goals
a year. He still could hit fifteen to twenty, but
there's so much more he does to help keep this

(30:18):
lineup together, which is why he was such a welcomed addition.

Speaker 6 (30:23):
Yeah, we had a chance to talk to him a
little bit today in the media scrum, and you just
get a sense from listening to him that he knows
his role, he knows what he brings to a team,
and he wants to show it every single game, whether
that is winning a face off, whether that is getting
an odd breakaway, contributing on the score sheet when he
can making his linemates better. He's not looking to crack
the top line, even the second second line. He wants

(30:46):
to play the best hockey he can possibly play on
the fourth line and contribute as a fourth liner.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
And I love that about him.

Speaker 7 (30:53):
Yeah, I think the cracking had been very lucky to
have Goodreau and Ben Myers in that fourth line center spot.

Speaker 2 (31:00):
They've really been able to hold the four down.

Speaker 7 (31:02):
And I think for me, just having watched Ben Myers' game,
the only difference.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
That I see between those two is just that Freddy's.

Speaker 7 (31:10):
Been doing it longer and then he's a bit more refined, right,
So I think with Freddy coming back in, it was
a little seamless at least for me. But I thought, Freddy,
you know he got that breakaway, right, there are a
few other additional things he could do on the PK.
I think he got five PK shifts in that game, right,
So you're seeing the more refined bottom six grinding role

(31:33):
that he can play, and ultimately it led his success.
I mean, you don't score last season eighteen goals, two
years before that nineteen goals, Like that's not an accident.
That's because of how he plays. You're not getting, you know,
thirty seven plus points in three of your last four
years on accident.

Speaker 3 (31:50):
And that's so important because the way that this team
has to operate, there's no bona fide, elite level top
line superstar here to carry them in games like Ronto
Can Edmonton, Cam Toronto.

Speaker 1 (32:02):
Who's got there?

Speaker 3 (32:03):
She still has Austin Matthews though, even if Guinny Malkin,
who's found the fountain of youth with Sidney Crosby out
in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 1 (32:08):
To keep them right now in the conversation, so.

Speaker 3 (32:10):
Goodrou is a very important part of this here as
far as the depth side of things, before we get
to Dave McCarthy. Big names off the board. Recently here
I took note of in the NHL where we were
thinking of this is going to be the land of
milk and hunting here for free agency this next summer.
It is drawing up awfully fast. Adrian kemp Age just

(32:31):
signing his extension with the Kings. Add to that Jack
Eichel is now extended. Carell Capri saw the Minnesota Martin Nhius,
Connor McDavid. The one and only the last set of
names available right now are Timmy Peneren who is thirty four,
Rasmus Anderson, Alex Tuck, Mike Matheson, John Carlson, Nick Schmaltz,

(32:55):
Adam Lowry and Malkin who is now thirty nine years
of age, which leads me here to this. It gets
us right back here to this most important thing of
why you have to solve this issue internally. You have
to draft and develop your own talent today or use
what you have to make a trade here. So how
far along are we with seeing with what guys are doing,

(33:16):
like say, not just Shane right, but also Matty Banier's recently.

Speaker 2 (33:21):
Yeah, I mean I think it's.

Speaker 7 (33:23):
This, This is a big year for those two, and
I think we're already starting to see it a lot
with Matty Beaneer's right, this is I think his best season.
That not obviously from a number standpoint, but from the
way that his game is evolving and developing.

Speaker 2 (33:37):
He's becoming a two way centerman.

Speaker 7 (33:38):
He's been playing, you know, very responsibly defensively, He's getting
more PK time, which is nothing new, but you're just
seeing all areas of his game start to come together.
And I think after this season, the Kraken, you know,
unfortunately aren't probably going to be saved.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
By free agency. You know who else is on that list,
James Fordgen Yeah.

Speaker 1 (34:00):
Also, I gotta save your own guys now too.

Speaker 7 (34:03):
You gotta say, you gotta save your own bacon before
you can go out there and eat someone else's.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
So you like that one out.

Speaker 1 (34:10):
Save that one of the drafts?

Speaker 7 (34:12):
Yeah, No, I think, uh yeah, just going through this
list right now, A lot of really good middle six guys,
a lot of guys that can be some great ancillary pieces,
but there's no one on this I'm just looking through
right now.

Speaker 1 (34:27):
Don't move a superstar needle. They don't. I mean, well,
O Bekin's yes, but he's also up there in the
in the the the Amalcan territory with Age yea, but.

Speaker 7 (34:37):
Hey he's still a ve right, I mean, maybe we
can go from one Washington to another. Right, you're closer
to Russia on this side anyway. No I say, I
say that in jest, but no, I do think you
know you're gonna start looking now, O Coachella Valley, You're
gonna start looking at some of these guys who are
overseas or in junior hockey. Who who you're looking to

(34:58):
make that next step? Jagger Fercus just one AHL player
of the week. You know he's coming along nicely as well.
This could be an opportunity for Fercus next year to
come in and be be that next wave.

Speaker 2 (35:10):
Right, So, internally, I think as where a lot of
these issues, potential issues are going to have to be solved.

Speaker 3 (35:18):
Well, here's I'm gonna get onto this here and fits
perfect segue because as a crack can continue to work
and develop. We now have I mean Oscar Fisker moleguards
in this conversation of potentially helping this team, but he
serves a different type of role. But we look at Fercus.
You mentioned player of the week Jacob Mallanson coming also
off his first hat trick of his pro career as well.

(35:42):
Fercus is hot. Malanson plays a game that is easily
translatable right now to how this Kraken team plays.

Speaker 1 (35:49):
So who's closer right now to an AHL call up?

Speaker 9 (35:52):
You think.

Speaker 6 (35:54):
I mean Mitchell Stevens as well. I was gonna that
through Mitchell Stevens in there as well. You know, we
liked what we saw from Ben Myers who just got
sent back down. There's a handful of guys, Mike that
that that could fill the bill and and some of
them are playing really well right now. And sorry, let's
go ahead.

Speaker 2 (36:12):
Well, I was gonna say you kind of hit the
hit the nail on the head there.

Speaker 7 (36:15):
I think for me, you know the way that Oscar
Fisker Molgard played in preseason, I think it was John
Foresland who called him Dnty Moore. Just you know, a
nice meat and potatoes stew right, like he's gonna work
hard for you, and I think he's you know, you
were saying Mike that that he's pretty close. You know,

(36:38):
I think that Jacob Allonson. We saw a lot from
him last year in the one game that he played,
and then in training camp as well. So you know,
it all also depends on what happens with this team, right,
You're hoping the team stays healthy. You're hoping that you
don't need to call guys up. But now you're looking
for who's gonna be the best option to fit your role,

(37:00):
to fit your needs. Knowing what they have in a
Jacob Malanson in an Oscar Fisker Buleguard, I would probably
venture those two or maybe ahead of Furcus a little
bit on the forward side of things. Obviously on the
defensive side of the puff Kale Flurries here, Josh Mahurris here,
So you would need to have a couple of more

(37:22):
injuries to get you know, de prospects up here.

Speaker 2 (37:25):
But I mean Villi.

Speaker 7 (37:26):
Odoviden, Tyson Jugnas. I would love to see Tyson Jugnaf
in a game that matters, not preseason, right, So I
think the Kraken have a lot of really good options that,
at least based on how they've performed, I'm very comfortable
with putting them in a lineup, you know tomorrow if

(37:47):
you had.

Speaker 3 (37:47):
To Detroit, coming up, Chicago, coming up, Pittsburgh and the
Islander result wrapping up this back to back this next weekend.
Perfect time now to go to the Beacon Plumbing hotline.
Great to introduce Dave McCarthy here to crack and Weekly,
a steamed host of the Brunch. You can hear him
on sirius xm NHL Network Radio. Does fantastic workout there

(38:08):
other Leaves and Toronto Bass Ventures as well.

Speaker 1 (38:12):
Dave, great to have you.

Speaker 3 (38:13):
Are you taking care of our good people over there
like Scotty Loflin, mccernin and to the rest here for us.

Speaker 9 (38:18):
Big boys, they can take care of themselves. They tend
to be in very positive moods without my effortvescens helping
him out.

Speaker 1 (38:26):
J Con Everett's boys also in that mix too as well.

Speaker 3 (38:30):
Dave, all first begin before we kind of go around
the horn with where the crack and are head of
here for this East Coast road trip, just on the
general sense of where this team is at exactly winning
records so far, and we're almost to us Thanksgiving. They
beat Winnipeg five to three days before this show. They're
doing this without Jared McCann. They're doing this recently without

(38:52):
Joey Decor. They're doing this without the eighteen goals that
Freddie Goodreaux had last year. And they're doing this still
waiting for a top line bona fide star forward to
either develop or if they can acquire one. So really,
at this point in November, what are the remaining questions
about the Kraken that you or others might have from

(39:14):
say twenty thousand feet at this point of the season.

Speaker 9 (39:17):
Well, I've been really impressed with what I've seen out
of the Kraken to this point. When they roll through Toronto, Man,
was that two or three weeks ago? Now? I just
I really like their team game, Like you could tell
that a system and a style and an expectation have
been installed by Lane Lambert and everybody was playing to that.

(39:38):
I think that's what Seattle needs to do in order
to have success. They do not have the horses to
be able to run up and down the ice and
to get into a track meet with teams on a
nightly basis and expect to win. That that will not work.
And so what I think Lane is asking him to
do is not easy. But if they're willing to buy in,
I think they've got a group that that can have

(40:00):
success playing that way. And I was impressed how the
whole group seemed to commit to that style. You know,
I think for some teams a good start is more
important than others. Now, Tampa Bay started no good, but
you know, I don't think too many people were concerned

(40:22):
about Tampa Bay. And there we sit there, they're starting
to come there. I think they're gonna be okay. For
a team like Seattle that came off a down year
last year, I think it's important to come into the
year have some success off the hop and I think
I've talked to a lot of guys that can totally
change your mindset as a group. When you start coming

(40:45):
to the rink, you start to feel like you're a
good team, You feel like you have a chance. What
the coach is telling you not only is it making sense,
but it's working and it's yielding results, which makes you
want to double down in and recommit to that even further.
Compared to if you're you're not having success, uh, and

(41:05):
then you get to to us Thanksgiving or as you
guys call it in the United States Thanksgiving and and
and you're a good team and you see yourself in
a playoff spot and not really springboards your your team
moving forward. So I don't think you could have asked
for a better start. My primary question with Seattle is

(41:26):
will they be able to score enough? They don't have
to score five six goals every night, but will they
be able to score enough? I think that's gonna be
my question moving forward with them this year because defensively,
from a system standpoint, goaltending, I've been pretty impressed. From
from that standpoint.

Speaker 3 (41:46):
What was it about Lane Lambert in what he did
behind the bench last year with Craig Bruby that you're
reminded of, which is translating here to this good start
here so far?

Speaker 9 (41:57):
Well, the Leaps played a simple style defensively last year,
and they did not shoot themselves in the foot very
often like under Sheldon Keith. They played a very high octane, aggressive, entertaining,
also high risk style. And when Craig came on board

(42:19):
and brought Lane on board, the mandate was to simplify
their game and to install a system that may not
be as entertaining in November and December and January, but
would have more success in April and May, and they
hoped June, but they didn't get there. But we saw
strides in that direction, and like I said, they didn't

(42:42):
shoot themselves in the foot. There were a lot of
games last year where the result was pretty much packaged
up by the time the third period start. I know,
because in writing the game story, I never felt like
I was writing with my hair on fire, like oh
my god, it was too go well, come back here
with three minutes left. None of that. It was usually

(43:02):
up you know, three one, four two, And it's steered
at home quite well. And I think Lane had a
big part to do with that, because that's a lot
of what I've seen from Seattle this year. Just a
predictable style and a reliable style. It's gone away in
Toronto this year, and you start to wonder how much

(43:23):
a guy like Lane Lambert had to do with the
style here in Toronto last year and with the results
that they're having now in Seattle. I'm going to suggest
probably quite a bit.

Speaker 7 (43:36):
Dave when you're when you're traveling around the rinks and
you're talking about these teams you're hosting your shows. I
loved your your opinion on the Kraken, But what's the
general feel about this team, the direction they're going, the
personnel that they have. I know that you know, with
us being tucked up here in the corner, it can
be a little bit hard to get news out of

(43:56):
the P and W if you're not Vancouver. But what
are what are the folk saying about this team? Do
they believe that this is sustainable? Do they believe that
the Kraken can can go to the playoff spot? Well
to get a playoff spot?

Speaker 13 (44:09):
What's that general feeling about Seattle around the league?

Speaker 9 (44:13):
Yeah? I look, I would say coming into the year,
I was a little confused with the direction that Seattle
was going in. They went out and accumulated a number
of nice pieces, but at term and at money in
some cases that made you raise your eyebrow a little bit.

(44:35):
And so I think, to me, the expectations were lower
coming into the year, like they were in a you
gotta show me category before I really start to buy in.
But having said all that, like I said, if they
play to the style that they seem to be adhering to.
I think it's a group that can have success. Do

(44:58):
I think they're a Stanley Cup contender, No, I don't.
They're They're far from that. But but they're a team
that I think can be a hard out on a
lot of nights. How do you get from from that
to the next level of being a cut contender. You
need Matty Beniers to raise his game to another level.
You know, He's a guy that they've really committed to

(45:20):
and is sort of that that young centerpiece that you
kind of need to build around these days. A guy
like Shane Wright has started to show some signs as
to why he was a high draft pick and he
started to make a contribution. They need him to take
his game to another level. Capo CaCO, same thing. So

(45:42):
what I would say right now is that I think
they're a team that should set their their goal on
being a wild card team at worst, because I think
they've shown that they can hang in the pack. And
you know, at this point in the year, we look
at the the division and I'm just pulling it up
on my phone right now to make sure I don't

(46:05):
miss anybody, But you know, you look at Anaheim, do
we see them sustaining. They've gone off to a great start.
Maybe they'll come back to the pack a little bit. Edmonton,
I think we all think at some point we'll figure
it out, always do, always do, and then they always
seem to figure it out. Vegas has kind of gone

(46:26):
in the skids lately. I do expect them to be better,
but they're dealing with a lot of injuries right now.
So if you're in LA, I was impressed with what
I saw out of them last night, to be honest
with you, But but I think you look there and say, well, okay,
maybe Edmonton, Vegas will we'll get rolling. Why why can't
we be the third team? Why can't we be the
fourth team in that division? Why can't we be in

(46:49):
that position? So that's how I see Seattle. I think,
given how they've started, I think it would be a
disappointment now I would be if they didn't at least
make make a wild card.

Speaker 6 (47:03):
Dave with the krack and getting ready to head out
east to play Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh in the Island. Based
on Lane Lambert's style that we've been talking about, who
do you think is going to give Seattle the toughest
game in terms of competing with that kind of style. Obviously,
Detroit coming off of a big six to three win
over a Sea Above the Ana Hunting Ducks and how
they're playing, and you know, we know what's going on

(47:24):
with the Dard in Chicago and Matt Schaeffer in the Island.
So who do think is going to give the krack
and the toughest game over those four.

Speaker 9 (47:35):
That's a tough question. Look, I've been impressed with what
I've seen from Detroit this year. I think they're a
much better team than they were a year ago. I
think is similar to what we've seen in Seattle. Todd
McClellan has installed a really good system in Detroit where
they are not hurting themselves as much as they had
in the past. There's some more maturity in their game.

(48:00):
I think they're they're kind of built similarly in that
they don't really have like an a one star. They've
got a collection of very good players, like a Dylan
Larkin to me, is a very good player. He's not
a you know, one A in the league type thing.
Lucas Raymond is a very good player. They they've got

(48:21):
and then they've got some you know, some skilled guys,
but also grinding type guys up front, like an Andrew
Copp and you know guys like that. To me, that
that play a similar style to what they look for
in Seattle. So I think Detroit will be a tough test.
Pittsburgh has been really interesting to me though, all Like,

(48:41):
I didn't have any expectations for them coming into the year.
And look, we just turned the clocks back a week
and a half ago. If Guinny Mugan hasn't turned the
clocks back an hour, he's turned them back like six
eight years the way he's played. So we'll see. Do
is there a little bit of Sweden hangover by the
time they get back? Maybe? But they're a team to

(49:03):
me that you have to watch closely.

Speaker 4 (49:07):
Now.

Speaker 9 (49:07):
They're not a free out because they've got their their
top guys playing like top guys. Crosby doesn't need to
turn the claw. He's always been good, continues to be.
Eric Carlson looked rejuvenated to me. There was a spring
in his step that I haven't seen in his game,
maybe since the hundred point year in San Jose a
few years ago. He was really impressive. They've added some

(49:31):
young players. Ben Kendall, like, watch this guy, eighty one
right handed shot, similar size. Tell me he doesn't look
like Phil Kessel when you watch the Penguins, Yea looks
like the same guy out there. So he's added an
injection into their team. I think Pittsburgh could be a
team that challenges Seattle for sure. I just I really

(49:53):
like how they've played this year.

Speaker 3 (49:55):
I'll tell you what, Dave, I'm in my forties right now,
and I'll have whatever Geno, Malkin and Crosby and everybody
else is having out there right now. That seems to
be the old Fountain of You type of thing. But
Dave McCarthy joining us right now on Crack and Weekly.
I want to touch on Chicago because I think, to me,
two ways to look at this, and they're another team
that is surging out of their rebuild like what San

(50:18):
Jose has done and taking place in that conversation. Not
surprising to me is the way that Connor Bodart has
taken the reins and is now in that superstar conversation
for the next young tier. To me, I think it's
a support around him that might be a bit more surprising.
And I'm not sure maybe Spencer Nyson times gets the

(50:38):
credit he deserves. And we talk about hellabug shasterk and
even Logan Thompson a ton as far as top tier
goalies in the league, but his numbers are up there
right now with them. So you know, all things consider
Jeff Blaschell now behind the bench, how long do you
think Chicago keeps us up?

Speaker 9 (50:55):
They've been way better than I expected. And you're right,
Like you look at a guy like Tyler Tuesy. I
wondered what that guy was going to offer. But honestly,
when he was in Toronto a couple of years ago,
I didn't really think his game was that good. I
thought he really struggled to get around the ice. But
he's he's had success so far this year nine goals

(51:16):
in sixteen games. Can't ask for better than that. Andre
Burkowsky guy, he knows you guys know well in Seattle
has been a nice ad to their group table with terror.
Vinen has always been a guy that has been able
to produce. Frank Nazar has taken a step from a
guy that had only played what fifty games before he
got fifty million bucks to a guy that looks like

(51:38):
that was a pretty good decision on the part of
kylein Davidson to lock up long term. So how long
do they keep it up? I don't know. I'm not
convinced yet that they're going to be a playoff team.
I mean, I think the Central Division is the toughest
division in hockey right now. Colorado is a wagon. They're

(52:00):
insanely good. Nathan McKinnon, Yeah right, he's putting up four
or five points a night for fun. Dallas started slow,
they've got it rolling. I looked at them as a
Cup contender coming into the year. Ditt Over Winnipeg, Utah
has been much better. I like their team on the
whole right now, better than Chicago. And so if you

(52:25):
are the Blackhawks, where are you getting into the playoffs?
Can you be better than all but three teams in
the Pacific? Might be a tough ask. I don't necessarily
see that. So they've taken steps. Connor Bedard now looks
like a guy who's really comfortable in the league. I
think he's discovered the way in which he needs to

(52:46):
play in order to have success, and he's playing more
of a professional game now, not a game that you
have success in junior hockey just because your leaps and
bounds better than everybody. But that's suff doesn't work when
you get to the NHL. There's more of a National
league element to his game now, is the best way
I can put that. So I think they're coming. I

(53:10):
just don't think they're there yet at this point.

Speaker 13 (53:14):
I know that we talked on the Chicago black Hawks.

Speaker 7 (53:17):
All those teams for the Islanders are a team that
I think a lot of folks, I mean, are we
surprised at how well the Islanders are doing? Are we
disappointed that they're not doing better?

Speaker 13 (53:27):
Matt Shaeffer, I think.

Speaker 7 (53:29):
I don't want to say he's come out of nowhere
because you're the number one pick, but for him to
lead the rookie defensive scoring race, you know, I think
is really really good for a team that, again, you've
got a couple of stars in that team, they've had
a little bit of turnover. What do you notice about
the Islanders that that has gotten them to as of

(53:49):
right now.

Speaker 13 (53:50):
Within three four points the first place in that division.

Speaker 9 (53:55):
Yeah. Look, I think Matt Shafer has been an incredible story.
This is a guy that they should be jamming in
front of cameras as often as they can. Right, He's
a guy that you know, only market around the island.
He's probably lead around. This guy, he is awesome. I
had the chance to talk to him in the summertime
a little bit, just after he got drafted, and I

(54:15):
asked him him, like, you sure you're eighteen? You're not
like twenty seven? Sure, because like, I don't know if
I've ever met a more mature eighteen year old in
my life. And he's not. He's not like eighteen and
eleven months. He's like eighteen in a month or two.
He's a young eighteen. And I think what what's happened.

Speaker 13 (54:33):
Is September of seven is when he was born.

Speaker 9 (54:36):
So he just turned eighteen, Like I vividly remembers September
of seven. That's hard to believe.

Speaker 13 (54:43):
It was a freshman at Bowling Green State University. That
was a fun year.

Speaker 9 (54:46):
There you go. Not a lot I've met it was.

Speaker 4 (54:49):
It was not that long ago.

Speaker 9 (54:51):
Yeah, So look, I mean, I think what what's happened
with the island is that this guy's come in. He's
immediately what I've been told been, What's what I'm trying
to say? The group has bought into him like they
they've He's immediately become one of the boys instead of
at times, you know, veterans can be a little bit uh,

(55:14):
we'll see what the young guys got. Okay, well you
gotta earn a little bit of here, but nothing crazy,
but you gotta hearn it. I think because of how
well he's been received by the group, it's brought the
group together. And what you see now, I think with
the Islanders it's a bit of a pack mentality when
they play. You know, when anybody goes near Matt Shaffer,
like the whole team is jumping in. And I think

(55:35):
that's brought the group together and and and they're now
playing really is a tightly knit group after a bit
of a slower start to the year. Like I think
they've got they've got enough talent where they should be
in the mix. But I think what Shafer has been
able to bring to the group has really brought this
group together and taken a collection of what has been

(56:00):
decent parts. I really unified the group. And then not
only unify the group, but you're adding a guy in
Matt Schaeffer who's just been an incredible injection of his
own talent on the ice. I like this Islanders team.
You know, I was wondering Washington if they would tail
off a little bit this year because everything went well

(56:22):
last year, like just about everything broke their way, had
the OV chase and all of that, and you wonder
if there might be a little bit of a letdown,
and it seems like there might be. So, you know,
if you're the Honors, you say, does Pittsburgh hang on?
Maybe can can the Raiders score at home once? I
don't know if they can't, Like they should be good,

(56:42):
But I think the Islanders have done enough now to
show themselves where you should look at trying to stay
in the mix as a wildcare team. I've been really
impressed with what I've seen out of the Islanders.

Speaker 6 (56:54):
So far, Dave. In the Eastern Conference, you know, obviously
there have been some surprises early on in the season.
We talked about Pitt's for a moment ago. But who
do you think hasn't shown their full potential yet from
the East? Like who I mean, not just a surprise,
but maybe there have been some key injuries. Who do
you think in the next you know, twenty games, pops
out and really shows what they can do well.

Speaker 9 (57:16):
I wouldn't sleep on the two teams from the Sunshine States,
like they just got to find a way to hang
around Florida here in Matthew Chuck's getting back on the
ice in a couple of weeks, so that takes us
to you know, early maybe by you know, this time
next month, he's back in the fold. And then never
doubt Billy Zito's ability to get something done to enhance

(57:39):
his team because they are in win now mode. So
I think they've been lying in the weeds. They're only
a point back of Detroit right now. They haven't really
played any good what is signing Bradley Marshan has been
for them. He has really kept them afloat a thousand points.
Like I don't know, but you I love everything about

(58:01):
this guy. I've been able to do a brunch this
year where I haven't mentioned Bradley Sunday because he's got
a thousand points now this week. So Florida is one
of those teams and Tampa is one of those teams.

Speaker 13 (58:16):
You know.

Speaker 9 (58:16):
Bradon points a little bit slow to start this year.
I think he'll get it rolling. He's a very consistent,
reliable player, and their their line, and they've only played
sixteen games and played too many games either, so that's
working in their advantage. Florida and Tampa Bay, they're just
too good to count them out at this point in
the year.

Speaker 7 (58:35):
As we come up on American Thanksgiving, everyone wants to
talk about, you know, teams that are in.

Speaker 13 (58:40):
A playoff spot.

Speaker 7 (58:42):
You know, eighty percent of the time are in If
you look at the East, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Jersey, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Islanders, Detroit,
out West Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, Anaheim, La, Seattle, Utah, Chicago.
Of those sixteen teams, who are the contenders, who are

(59:02):
the pretenders? Who replaces who? I know we talked about
Edmonton in Vegas. They're always going to find a way
to get there, you know what.

Speaker 13 (59:10):
Together.

Speaker 7 (59:10):
But when you look at this list, how much movement
given the schedule, given the back to backs, given the
Olympic break, how much movement do you foresee between now
and you know, obviously playoff time, but in the next
six to eight weeks.

Speaker 9 (59:29):
Honestly, Everett, I think this year, I think there could
be more than we're accustomed to. I'm just doing the
math here. I'm using a calculator because that's why I
joined this business. They told me there would be no math, so.

Speaker 3 (59:41):
Any nice use of the iPhone. Also, yeah, I love
it secret weapon.

Speaker 9 (59:46):
It works well, and you keep it below the camera.
I'm willing to be transferent. I can't do that kind
of I figured it was around twelve and I'm like, no,
I think that's that's that's seventy five. That's not enough,
So we'll call it thirteen teams. That's three that are
in right now. If eighty percent is our rule that
come out, I think it could be more than that

(01:00:07):
this year, Everett. I really do, just because number one,
the teams that are out looking in, there's not that
much distance between them and the cut line. Only two
teams in the Eastern Conference are more than two points

(01:00:27):
out of a playoff spot right now. In the West
that's a little bit more stark. Vancouver, Saint Louis, Nashville,
and Calgary are more than two out of a playoff
spot right now. So that leaves Minnesota, San Jose, Vegas,
and Edmonton. I think because so many teams are bunched up,

(01:00:48):
and we see teams on the outside looking in that
we expected to be in and I think will be
in by the time the year is done. Edmonton, Vegas
in the West, without question, Florida, Pampa Bay, the New
York Rangers. It's getting tight to mention Toronto and that

(01:01:08):
the way they've been playing, we expected them to be in.
Like that's that's a lot of teams that you know,
a lot of people would have been willing to place
bets on that would make the playoffs at the beginning
of the year, before the season started. I don't think
that many teams are going to miss that we expected

(01:01:29):
to be in. So I think more than three that
are in right now are going to fall out just
because of the teams, the caliber of the teams that
are off to slower starts. But I think we know
are probably going to get it together. And just how
tightly bunched the standings are. I don't remember a year
in recent memory where there's been quite this much parody
throughout the entire league. I mean, there's really how many

(01:01:52):
How many teams are we willing to write off right now?
Like I can't even write off Washington team, So I'll
right off Buffalo in the East, Hey, that's one, Calgary, Nashville,
Saint Louis I think put a fork in them. I
don't like Vancouver. I don't think they've been very good either. Minnesota.

(01:02:12):
I'm not willing to write off. So that what is
at six out of thirty two teams? Yeah, that I
think the rest of it six minus thirty two is
twenty six. There's still ten teams that are outside looking
in right now, and I could see at least four
to five getting in.

Speaker 3 (01:02:29):
Well, folks, if you love your parody, you're getting your
meals worth the money's worth here and appropriate that us
Thanksgiving is creeping up here on us. And then maybe
too early here to talk about trade deadline stuff.

Speaker 1 (01:02:38):
But Dave, this is great.

Speaker 3 (01:02:40):
We'll get you back on soon and by this time
hopefully we can talk more about trade deadline names at
some point.

Speaker 1 (01:02:45):
But man, you do great work.

Speaker 3 (01:02:47):
Thank you very much, and tell folks again where they
can find you on Sirius XM.

Speaker 9 (01:02:51):
You got the brunch Sunday brunch every Sunday, wild right
Sunday brunch on a Sunday. Who would have thought eleven
am Eastern, So it's early for you guys out on
the West coast, But anybody, anybody we get from the
West coast. We're very appreciative. Eleven am Eastern every Sunday.
And I forgot to say this coming in. I know
my buddy down in Colorado at Colorado O'Connor mcgay. He's

(01:03:13):
a big frasier guy, and so am I. So instead
of on the way and I'll say good night, Seattle,
thanks for having me on.

Speaker 1 (01:03:22):
Thanks buddy, all right, great stuff.

Speaker 3 (01:03:24):
Dave McCarthy joining us here on Sirius XM always welcome
back here, does a great job of the Sunday brunch
as well.

Speaker 1 (01:03:30):
He and Fits go way way back.

Speaker 2 (01:03:31):
But bring back ice Cap.

Speaker 7 (01:03:33):
I tell him I didn't get a chance to say
it all my I missed that show.

Speaker 9 (01:03:37):
You know that?

Speaker 7 (01:03:38):
Oh my goodness, that was the best part. We land
at Boeing at one o'clock in the morning. I got
a twenty five minute drive home. I flip on ice Cap.
If we're lucky, I hear some of our calls. If not,
you get to catch up on the whip around from
the night. I know they do it in playoffs, but man,
the job that he did with ice Cap was I

(01:04:00):
wish they would bring that show back. Who who do
I'm looking at the camera as if this is recorded
on video. Who do I have to talk to to
get Ice Cap back? That's what I want.

Speaker 1 (01:04:10):
I think you've got a couple of folks that you
know there in US as well, so we can fish.

Speaker 2 (01:04:14):
We have five dollars.

Speaker 3 (01:04:15):
We can officially start the Cracking Audio Network petition right now.

Speaker 2 (01:04:19):
Bring back Ice Cat, put it, put it in the
till I love it, till.

Speaker 3 (01:04:22):
Loved having that on when I would go home on
the way home after a postgame wrap up, no matter
how rode as well. All right, Dave McCarthy joining us again.
He is the host for Morning Brunch on Sirius XM
NHL Network Radio. Let's touch on a couple more things here.
Chandler Stevenson set the bill at Berkeley Catton that cat
came out of the bag, pardon the expression, this last weekend,

(01:04:45):
and it's it's it's a fun thing because I think
number one, it shows that Catton's here to stay for
quite a while, if not for good. But we can
kind of read between the lines here on this one.
But they want to get him out of the hotel Catton,
and then get him now into a more stable situation.
All different example, Joe Thornton with Macklin, Celebrini, Patrick Marlow
with Will Smith and San Jose. But now Catton can

(01:05:08):
enjoy some family cooking. You know, we've heard that he's
gone grocery shopping now on his own with some teammates.
That's the feel I picked up from others additionally, But
I mean this is important because these are things that
you can't take for granted, and we usually do when
we get older and older. But at nineteen years of age,
you are still trying to figure out life. So this
is a pretty big deal here for Berkeley Catton.

Speaker 7 (01:05:28):
I absolutely love this. I think this should be mandated
around the league. The fact that you've got a young
kid coming in in his NHL debut season, living with
a vet, who's won a couple of cups, who's played
with the best, who is one of the best.

Speaker 2 (01:05:45):
I cannot love this enough. You know, I think Al
you and I talk so much.

Speaker 7 (01:05:50):
About how you can never underestimate the power of a
home cooked meal.

Speaker 2 (01:05:55):
You can never.

Speaker 7 (01:05:56):
Underestimate the power of rolling around on the floor plane
with kids, right. I think Chandler Stevenson joked around. He
was asked, you know, why'd you do it? And he goes, oh,
babysitting for one, right, But I love it.

Speaker 2 (01:06:09):
I think this is great.

Speaker 7 (01:06:10):
He's gonna absorb so much about preparing and living in this,
in this world that is the NHL.

Speaker 2 (01:06:16):
Even if Chandler.

Speaker 7 (01:06:16):
Stevenson doesn't say anything, he's gonna see Stevenson eating breakfast
every morning. He's gonna see how he prepares and what
he does on a nightly basis. And for a nineteen
year old kid who's moved, who's been living away from
home for however long, right, four or five years now,
and I think this is awesome. Kudos to Chandler Stevenson.

(01:06:36):
I hope that when Jacobrien comes in here, I hope
that you know, it's Shane Wright, it's Manny Beeneers, it's
Jade Schwarwood, McCann, whoever it is. I hope that they're living.

Speaker 2 (01:06:47):
In their house. I cannot love this enough.

Speaker 3 (01:06:49):
And all tee this supper you here, because I talked
with Stevenson afterward and I said, oh, you're the Bill
of Dad now, and he had that look of all
how the tables have turned.

Speaker 6 (01:06:59):
Yeah, not gonna say, Mike, is that for a guy
like Berkeley and anybody coming out of junior hockey is there.
They're used to living with a billet family, and every
billet is different. You know, mine's probably different than than
the Berkeley's was. And you know, some of them are
very hands on and there's a family dinner every night.
Some of them are a mix, and some of them
are kind of on your own. I don't know what

(01:07:20):
Berkeley's was, but if it was kind of that frequent
family dinner environment, that that's what he's used to, it's
pretty it's pretty shocking to suddenly be in a hotel,
you know, by yourself. And I talked to him a
little bit about this the other day, and he had
transitioned from a standard hotel into kind of like a
long extended stay location where there was a kitchen. But

(01:07:40):
you walk home at the end of practice, at the
end of the game, and it's this not walk home,
but you get dropped off at home or whatever, and
it's this empty room with an empty kitchen. You're like,
I don't really know what to do here, and you
find yourself eating out a lot, which isn't the best
you know, as far as healthy eating goes. So to
get into a situation where as you, yeah, not only

(01:08:00):
is he around a pro like like Channer Stevens and
somebody that plays the same position that he wants to play,
somebody that wants to have the same success that Channer
Stevenson has had. And he can observe all that stuff,
but to be in that family environment, it's a great
transition from that world of junior where you have that
every day with your billet family to the NHL where

(01:08:23):
you're going to get it for a period of time
until he feels, you know, comfortable enough to say, hey,
I think I'm ready to go do this.

Speaker 2 (01:08:29):
On my own.

Speaker 7 (01:08:30):
That's a great word, comfortable. I was I was just
about to say, right that, your job is to play
in the NHL. Your job is to be a hockey player,
and whatever can be done to help you feel more
comfortable in your job like that, that's what's important. And
you're right, Like he gets his own room, he gets
his own bed, like we're talking to him, like we're
sending one of our own kids off to junior right now.

(01:08:52):
I love it, but no, but I think it's so
it's so important, right, Like we we so many times
see athletes as commodities, as numbers, as stat lines, and
we forget this is a nineteen year old kid living
two thousand miles away from home, one percent playing in
the in the National Hockey League, Like, holy bleep, but

(01:09:14):
he bleep, Like that's that's freaking scary. So to be
able to be able to stay with a guy who
was there, who's from your home province, who can talk
your language and all of that. Again, I we could
do another hour on this topic alone about why.

Speaker 2 (01:09:34):
I love this so much.

Speaker 6 (01:09:35):
And you know who probably loves it the most is
mister and missus Catton. Like, you know, it wasn't too
long ago that they were making dinner for him and
that sort of thing, and obviously through junior that changes,
and it just makes them feel a little more comfortable
that he's not alone each night sitting in his room going, well,
I'm in NHL now, but I'm sitting by myself.

Speaker 2 (01:09:52):
So as a parent, we're parents, it probably makes them
feel good as well.

Speaker 7 (01:09:56):
So like you're nineteen years old, you're living in a
pretty nice old time, right. I wonder when the novelty
wears off, right, like, because you're you're gonna be You're
gonna be Kevin McCallister for a few weeks, right, Like
they're gonna be ordering the Sunday and the Fool Cheese pizza.

Speaker 2 (01:10:12):
But like I wonder when when it wears off?

Speaker 6 (01:10:14):
Right, Well, it's pretty I'll just add one more thing
on that. It's pretty easy to answer that question. Fits
because we go on twelve day of road trips and
we stay in a lot of the same hotels. Like,
as nice as it is, what do you love the
most coming home to your own home and having your
own home cooked dinners? So I bet you it wears
off pretty quickly, especially it's not like they're they're not

(01:10:36):
staying in a hotel during training camp and during pre
season like this, this uh living in a hotel starts
very early on, and I bet you it's probably a
week or two when that that Kevin ms McCallister feeling
wears off.

Speaker 1 (01:10:50):
Let's get to our three stars before we wrap this
up here.

Speaker 3 (01:10:53):
I'll begin as my third star with Maddy Benier's only
twice in the last ten games he's been on the
minus side of plus minus. Now you want to say
Mike plus minus doesn't count these days, Well, it depends
on context here, but he's getting tougher matchups. He's playing
shutdown defense, He's now starting to become productive six points

(01:11:14):
last seven games when he's on the ice. His line
and he especially are creating more than they're giving up
in that span. For those who say, Mike show me
the metrics, well, he's owning fifty two percent of shot attempts,
best of any center for best on the Kraken and
guests who also who's number one his new line mate,

(01:11:34):
Mason march Men.

Speaker 1 (01:11:36):
In that span.

Speaker 3 (01:11:37):
We all thought that he needed Coppocaco, it's apparent that
he needs Jordan Eberley. He's been great. Plus maybe if
the Winnipeg game tells us more, we're seeing something here
with that line together, him, march Mit, Matty Beneers will
see how long it stays together. But madd he's been
playing some great hockey. He's my third star. Second star
goes to Philip Grubauer, who played his best when they

(01:11:59):
needed him the most, coming in relief for Matt Murray
in the San Jose game. The stop on Will Smith
was great breakaway and we can do a deep dive
on you know, the steink kicking motion. We're gonna be
out of time though pretty much soon here on this,
But the gloves save on Macklin's celebriny My goodness, that
was phenomenal, and in a second period where it was

(01:12:20):
sink or swim time and Philip Grubauer was this team's
life raft. My first star goes to Jayden Schwartz. Quota
the way through roughly of this season. It's been your
MVP so far, five points, last four games. He has
looked great no matter who he's played with, and he
had a very inspiring game once again on Hockey Fights

(01:12:41):
Cancer Night. Two goals. That's leadership. Jaden Schwartz is my
first start.

Speaker 2 (01:12:45):
Of the week. Mike, you stole them. I got the same, Sorry,
but you stole them same.

Speaker 7 (01:12:52):
Three, but in different order. Two and three were pretty
tough for me. Where I want to rank them. I'm
gonna go Schwartz for third, barely. I got Maddie number two,
and then Phil I mean twelve out of ten, no notes,
I mean he the game he had against Winnipeg, coming

(01:13:14):
in ice cold to stop five in a row in
the second period against San Jose. You mentioned the Will
Smith breakaway, right, he shut it down. He was big
when he needed to be. So those are my three
stars of the week. All right, Well, I'll change it
up a little bit. My third star goes to Ben Myers.

Speaker 6 (01:13:34):
I was real happy with how he played while he
was up, and I was a little disappointed to see
him go down. I think that he's definitely someone that's
got something to give to this team, and he's right
on the edge of being a full time cracking player.
So my third star goes to him, Ben Myers. My
second star goes to old Man old Man specifically and
Jordan Eberley and Jayden Schwartz. I like the way those

(01:13:57):
two guys played.

Speaker 3 (01:13:57):
I want to clip this and play it back for
them in the r this next time I hear the conversation.

Speaker 6 (01:14:02):
Being an old guy myself, I appreciate the way those
two guys have led over this past weekend, over the
season so far, and obviously contributing on the score sheet
as well. So second star absolutely goes to those two gentlemen.
And then my first star, Philip Gribauer. I don't have
to repeat everything that was said, come in in cold.
The way he played. I've seen him play for the

(01:14:23):
past two seasons plus you know this year as well.
I think the Winnipeg game was his best game that
I've personally seen him play. I wasn't here for the
playoffs in the second year. I hear a lot of
he looked like he did in that playoff run. So
if that's the way he's going to look when he plays,
he can be my first star every week.

Speaker 2 (01:14:42):
Yeah, we're getting a lot of a lot of I know,
folks love this term.

Speaker 7 (01:14:45):
We're getting a lot of flashbacks to playoff grooby the
last week here. I mean this season overall, right, but
I think in particular the last handful of games that
he's had to come in, you know, in Joey's absence and.

Speaker 2 (01:15:01):
Of Matt Murray.

Speaker 7 (01:15:02):
I mean, this is about as playoff groovy as we're
gonna get as we've seen since that playoff run.

Speaker 3 (01:15:09):
All right, beauty, great stuff, guys, Thank you very much
for joining us. They got to hit the roading it
out the door here in Detroit. Ever it fits you's
got more family hands to shake, babies to kiss as
well out in the motors city. It's great to see
him back in his home element here evera fits you,
alconiski with us a course on our round table for
cracking weekly to note again four games coming up here

(01:15:31):
for this week tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (01:15:32):
The Kraken in Detroit on air four.

Speaker 3 (01:15:36):
Pm ninety three three KJRFM, Emerald Queen Casino, Crack and
Audio Network pregames served up by Frostbrewed Corps, Light Shoes Chill,
opening at three thirty. Then on Thursday against the Blackhawks,
Saint coverage puck Drop opening up at five pm from Chicago,
We're on air at four thirty. The bat to back
hitting us of course, opening up on Saturday the Kraken

(01:15:57):
at the Pittsburgh Penguins only visit this season. Listen to
PPG Paints Arena four pm Pacific time, puck Drop on
air three point thirty, Take note Flagship coverage Sports Radio
nine point fifty KJAR and back on the FM dial.
Sunday two pm Pacific Punk Drop from UBS Arena, Cracking
taking on Matthew Schaeffer and the New York Islanders. Airtime

(01:16:19):
coverage opening up one thirty pm Pacific that day. We're
at Tom's Watch Bar all day, right across the street
from Climbing Pledge Arena.

Speaker 1 (01:16:29):
Stop on in and hang out with us. If you're
around the area and wherever you may be, we certainly
hope that you can join us.

Speaker 3 (01:16:35):
Big thanks again to Dave McCarthy for joining us here
and Foreverett and Al. I'm Mike Betting for Cracking Weekly.
Talk to you tomorrow, see you you're home for

Speaker 12 (01:16:43):
The Cracking Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM