KRAKEN WEEKLY: Lineup shuffling, Detroit reaction (12/8)

The Dec. 8 episode of Kraken Weekly, hosted by Mike Benton with Everett Fitzhugh and Al Kinisky, and joined by Jonathan Davis. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Jordan every missus, Vince done. This is Jaden Schwartz.
This is Jared mccamnon ya, this is Ryan Landren.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
This is Mattie Banier's.

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

Speaker 3 (00:13):
When we say we're gonna get you geared up on
game day, we really mean we're gonna get you geared
up on game day. Not just for Cracking this morning,
but Kracking Weekly sets the table for an incredibly busy
stretch coming up over the course of the next seven days.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Mike Benton with.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
You ever of fits you al Konisky with us shortly
as well, And of course you can hear this podcasted
on demand by finding the Cracking Audio Network via the
iHeartRadio app. Just sign up for free to get it
at sports radio kjar dot com. Four games coming up
this week, three at home, a one off trip as

(00:50):
well to Utah. We're gonna talk more as far as
what's ahead here on the Crack Inside. Additionally, Jonathan Davis
joining us. You can hear his work routinely as a
correspondent for XM NHL Network Radio covering a ton of
the West Coast, and we're gonna get with Jonathan in
just a little bit here too, talk about the cracket
heading into this week. Additionally, matters around the Western Conference

(01:12):
and how the Krakens stack up against the likes of Minnesota.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
The Kings, and much more.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Jonathan Davis joining us on the show later on today.
But first things first, here's a little taste of what
happened this last week on calls from Everett fits you
and Alkiniski told it up top.

Speaker 4 (01:31):
Montor shot breaks his stick back to Toleran. It scores
Ellie tolanand right as the power play expires, but it's
the kracket on the board. It's a free one at
Minton oiler lead Well.

Speaker 5 (01:46):
I'll turn it out with a broken stick. Shot from
Montour at the point, but it gets down to Tolben
it he doesn't break his ship. It's stick on the
shot and it finds the back of the net. Three
one admotor.

Speaker 4 (01:58):
Come Seattle into the defensive zone of the high slot
as Winterton forced off.

Speaker 6 (02:03):
The puck now.

Speaker 4 (02:03):
Turned over in front, backhead scars, Freddy Gadreau forces the turnover,
undresses Calvin pickered out in front and the Seattle crackhead
pulled back to it in one twenty seven seconds to
play in the first three to two Edmonton well.

Speaker 5 (02:22):
Freddy Gudroau showing why it's so important to go on
the attack on the on the fore check, and it
was Leon Dreisidle in the hash marks right in front
of his own goal that gave up that puck to
Freddy Gudreaux. And it was a nice toe drag move
that he got skinnered to bite on. Came back against
the grain, buried it in three quarters of an open
necks lark.

Speaker 4 (02:41):
It wings getting behind the defense, shot light side from
Raymond and a big.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Hit same cay I towing the cards.

Speaker 4 (02:48):
Anybody hears turns away Raymond's thresher now everly to mar
shot Brandon Montour from the right circle, goes far down
and the Seattle crack and tie this game one one,
three four left.

Speaker 5 (03:10):
In the first well, this place starts back in the
seattle out of the ice many years with a great.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
Move to alleviate a redwind.

Speaker 5 (03:16):
Checker feeds it up to him and every everybody grunts
gets the offensive. New line, creates some traffic, draates the
screen drops into Montour. Montour goes blacker side top shelf.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
This title this game.

Speaker 4 (03:28):
Titan Washington gets it off the board here side done,
Rick Whine, Larson fires start a laser from Larsen on
the right side, has a crack and Reid tie the
game thirteen sixteen to play.

Speaker 6 (03:49):
The second two's aside well some.

Speaker 5 (03:52):
Excellent four checking by the cracking at the other end
of the ice, Carja moves that buck back to dun
Dunn slided it over to Larsen and Larson with a
se n shot for three different players, gets his second
of the season miss Games title.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
Tuber behind the cage in front of break it bick
same by Joey to card.

Speaker 4 (04:10):
He goes down and slaps it out of mid air
with the glove. The cracket ice it the other way,
but my goodness, Joey's a card, a.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
Goal saving save.

Speaker 4 (04:24):
Nine twenty four, letting the second tie a Timen right
sign Tolvenen up.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
Top shot Larsan sky.

Speaker 4 (04:38):
Plong bomb from Adam Larson Reeds erected in by Chandler Stevenson.

Speaker 6 (04:46):
He broke his stick on the shot.

Speaker 4 (04:48):
The Seattle Crackett take a three two lead seven fifteen
to play.

Speaker 5 (04:54):
In the second well, Chander Stevenson posts up with that
slot area Hashmarks presentsu stick. Carson gets that shot off
and it goes off the shaft, but Chandler Stevens stick
off the left ear of John Gibson boh and into
the natal Linger back again.

Speaker 7 (05:09):
Patrick Kane walks in and scores two twenty nine a
play in the third.

Speaker 4 (05:22):
The Red Wings take the lead late for to three
NHL goal for nine to seven for Patrick Cage.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
So the bottom line the last two games matter off
at the previous five havn't gone exactly has planned the
Krack and dropping a nine to four defeat to the
Edmonton Oilers this last Thursday, where the experience was quite
combustible when you consider the Kracking going through goaltending and
penalty kill issues that night, and Edmonton icing as close

(05:53):
as a guest to a healthy lineup, especially on the
power play, and the Kraken finishing on the tough side
of his to read that night, nine goals giving up
new franchise record for one game, four power play goals
giving up, also a new franchise record for one game.
The Kraken were so close very next night this past
Saturday to snapping out of their recent skid, but a

(06:16):
pair of goals by Detroit in the latter stages. Each
a period two in period three were a game changer,
and Detroit eventually getting a four to three win on
Patrick Kane's game winning goal with two twenty to nine
left in regulation. Tough to take because the Kraken putting
together a pretty solid effort for much of the first

(06:36):
forty minutes, despite Detroit cashing in on their only man advantage.

Speaker 1 (06:41):
So going to.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
Bed, the Kraken ending the evening three points out of
the cut line in the Western Conference, their record eleven
nine and six, twenty eight points and three back each
of the Edmonton Oilers and the Utah Manmoth. After the
loss to Detroit, here's more reaction for up defenseman brand
A Montur.

Speaker 8 (07:00):
As a defensive group, I mean, how much did the
other night just impact the group as a whole, and
how much how important was it to come back and
just try to do a better showing here.

Speaker 9 (07:11):
I don't think it impacted really anything other than maybe
a little reset, get back to kind of basics. But yeah,
good game, good team over there, desperate team over there
that needs some wins as well, and you can't let
up one late at the late in the game.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
There.

Speaker 8 (07:27):
How do you feel the guys played overall? I mean
it looks I mean, guys came back, we took the lead.
It looked like you did a lot of what you
wanted to do, a.

Speaker 9 (07:33):
Little bit more energy, you know, got in the for check,
a little bit more of zone time. Third period. Kind
of a little boring think on our side, but kind
of team that's pressing to get collect points as well,
and they found one late.

Speaker 8 (07:48):
We've talked a lot about creating more scoring chances for
the team. It looks like lately you've been getting a
lot more puts to the net.

Speaker 6 (07:53):
I mean, how much?

Speaker 8 (07:54):
How much has the shoot first mentality?

Speaker 9 (07:56):
Do you think me personally or team?

Speaker 3 (07:58):
Uh?

Speaker 9 (07:59):
Yeah, I mean I guess we don't we you know,
we have a tough time scoring goals. No that we
can't score goals. It's just not going in or we're
just not getting enough to the net or making a
hard on our goaliet making hard on the d. So
the best way to kind of get out of that
is to shoot more pucks at net. And yeah, we're
trying to. We're trying to get on there. Last couple
of games, we've got a few more. But again, that's

(08:21):
still something that we can keep keep working on.

Speaker 3 (08:23):
All right, Well, here we are with the Crack and
still hanging around this playoff mix, but after what was
a tough one to take on Saturday without further ado
ever it fits you, Al Kadisky here for our roundtable.
Jonathan Davis for Serious XM NHL Network ready to be
joining us a little bit later on here for an
outlook of the Western Conference teams on this schedule this week.

Speaker 2 (08:44):
Here.

Speaker 3 (08:44):
But I mean, guys, let's first just get into it
from this past week and just get right into the
deep end. And I'll kind of categorize this from two
places shout outs and then concerns. And I'll begin here
with this because for all intents and purposes, is you
take that Thursday game and just throw it out the window.
It was a low point onlike maybe any other. So

(09:07):
a lot of this, from what I'm looking at, is
more geared to more focus towards Saturday against the Red Wings.
So my shoutouts here to begin with the second period
on Saturday, and even going back a little bit into
the first barad it showed that the Krack and were
in control of this and against a very skilled team
and a team that can make a sweat defensively any

(09:28):
given night, and I think for the body of work
that they have built up trying to stay away from
the penalties. That was a big issue of course early
in the game, and it was a carryover from Edmonton.
Five on five play looked fantastic, and then they found
a way to put their foot on the gas pedal
and finding ways to get offense from their defense, and

(09:50):
it clearly showed that Detroit was giving them point shots
and the Kraken kept going right back.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
To that well over and over and over.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
Secondly, I think for me is Lane Lambert and he
made a tough decision sitting Jamie Alexiak, but it's becoming
clear there are no favorites on this team, and if
you have to sit, you sit, and that's called accountability.
I mean, Alexiak's a pro. He's not the first VET
in this league, of course, to take a seat in
the press box and a situation like this, and the

(10:19):
odds say that he'll be better off here for this,
but yet it sends a crucial message here, I think
to the rest of this entire team as far as
what Lane Lambert wants to set in place. My third
shout out here for this week is puck play. I
thought it was much better for Saturday, more shot attempts
as well, less one and done's and there was a
shooter's mentality which got better as the game went along,

(10:42):
but then unfortunately dried up in period three. My concerns
and I'll just get through this year to clear the
floor for you guys. First off, the Thursday clunker, because
goaltending and special teams had a rough night for the
Ages and has cleared the crack and knew what they
had to do to basically get out of the gate
and respond here for Saturday. Secondly, rush chances at the
wrong time against Detroit, and it was late in period two,

(11:06):
late in period three, and this came back to haunt them.
Third the penalty kill. They're still in one right now.
It's clear something's very amiss and they're letting too many
passes get through the box through the interior. But it
also puts on a strain I think for not taking
a penalty which can affect teams of five on five.
That's my concern right there. The Kraken, we're good at

(11:27):
that for the most part. On Saturday, but you've got
to be good at this again, coming up here against
Minnesota where they own the ninth best power play in
the entire NHL.

Speaker 6 (11:36):
Yeah, that's a lot.

Speaker 4 (11:37):
That's a lot to digest. I mean, I think you're
spot on. I think for me, the shout out that
I will give is just I think Saturday as a whole,
stopping at the result. You know, they needed a bounce
back from Edmonton. I like the game they played against
the Wings. It was a heartbreaker. You know, Patrick Kine

(12:01):
is as good of a goal scorer as we've seen
in our generation. You know, he's he's scored a million
of those type of goals and eighty third career game
winning goal.

Speaker 2 (12:11):
For that one.

Speaker 6 (12:11):
So but yeah, man, you know this week was it was.

Speaker 4 (12:16):
It was a frustrating week for a variety of reasons.
I think, you know, Alan and I were talking about this,
anytime you put up four you should win the game,
unless you gave up nine. And I think Jordan Ebery
pretty much said all of that in his media availed
before the Detroit game.

Speaker 6 (12:33):
But no, I like the puck play this week.

Speaker 4 (12:36):
I like the response in in the second period, But
I think overall the game I Also, I'm gonna give
a special shoutout to Vince Done, who are going to
revisit in my in my three Stars week, I'm gonna
I'm gonna give a shout out.

Speaker 6 (12:50):
To Vince Done because.

Speaker 4 (12:53):
For the first time, I think in a couple of games,
he stood up for for his team. And I'm not
saying he hasn't done it. I'm not calling him out
in particular, but there have been a number of occasions
in the last handful of games where Berkeley Catton, where

(13:15):
Freddy Gadreau, a handful of others have been taken the
task by other teams, and the Kraken didn't have the
physical response that I think they should have had. I'll
go back to the Saturday game against Edmonton, right, say
what you want about Darnol Nurse and Marshmitt and all

(13:36):
that other stuff that was.

Speaker 1 (13:37):
Going on and on Saturday.

Speaker 6 (13:38):
Off about it last Saturday.

Speaker 4 (13:40):
Yeah, and I know I went off on it last week,
but it's like, you know, where was that in the
second period? I didn't need that in the third period.
So we're gonna chase Darno Nurse. We're gonna go around
and do all that.

Speaker 6 (13:51):
Tiki tac stuff.

Speaker 4 (13:52):
But when Freddy Gadroau gets two handed into the wall,
when Berkeley Catton gets plastered against the boards and there's
no response, that was bothersome to me.

Speaker 6 (14:03):
That's a concern to me.

Speaker 4 (14:04):
So I'm going to give Vince Dunn, you know, a
shout out for in that game against Detroit, trying to
mix it up and trying to be a shift disturber, as.

Speaker 6 (14:16):
We like to say.

Speaker 4 (14:18):
So those are my thoughts following the last couple of games.

Speaker 5 (14:21):
Yeah, and I'll just add onto that too. You know,
the Vince Done standing up for Jordan Everley after he
took an elbow to the face. You know, Vince Dunn
didn't fight, didn't spare it, didn't take a penalty, but
he responded right away. And I think as a player
on an opposing team, if you know that someone's coming
for you, if you do something on a line in

(14:42):
this case it was Vince Done, guess what, you're less
less likely to do. It doesn't mean it's not going
to happen, but you're less likely to do it. Now
the opposite, It's also true if there is no response,
then guess what. All twenty guys on the team, they're
all tough guys. Everybody's a tough guy because they know
they can be a tough guy, and so other teams
need to know that there will be a response if

(15:02):
they step out a line, and I don't think right
now that's the case. So yeah, I agree with the
kudos to Vince Done. I think the other thing about
the game against Detroit, the four to three loss, is
this time there were no self inflicted wounds, you know,
not the last Edmonton game that won.

Speaker 2 (15:20):
Before that.

Speaker 5 (15:21):
We saw bad changes, we saw bad penalties, selfy neutral zone.

Speaker 10 (15:26):
Players couldn't catch a pass. It was very sloppy. Yeah,
it wasn't that in that loss. So, you know, Mike,
you and I talked about this in the post game.
I guess, you know, maybe on paper, a step forward.
Obviously the result is the same, a loss in regulation,
but a step forward. I think to make that next step,
they're going to have to get this special team's thing

(15:48):
sorted out. And again I'm not saying you're turning it
into a twenty twenty five percent power play overnight and
one hundred percent on the penalty kill, but you've got
to start working your way back up the standings right
now at the bottom with the penalty kills. So something's
got to change there. Ros that will be a weak
spot going forward.

Speaker 4 (16:06):
Yeah, the you know the power play, It's funny you
say that because I'm gonna use I'll use Detroit Edmonton
clearly because they're the last three teams that the crack
in the three games they've had. You've got Minnesota coming
in here. You've got the La Kings coming in here
as well, and then you go to Utah. You've got
some really good skill on the teams that you're about
to face and that you have faced. And I think

(16:28):
the biggest difference that I've noticed between Seattle's power play
and the other power plays are that the Red Wings
and the Oilers they are zipping that puck around it is,
they're stretching out the PK. It is scene passes, rink wide,
dot to dot, back door tap ins.

Speaker 6 (16:48):
You know.

Speaker 4 (16:48):
The the Kraken PK seemed just to be in a
blender half the time. And then so I'm looking at
those power plays and yes, you give credit to Connor
McDavid and Lean drys and Dylan Larkin, Maurice Sider.

Speaker 1 (17:03):
You've got to break it to.

Speaker 4 (17:05):
Break it, You've got a number of high skill guys
that let's frank, let's say it.

Speaker 6 (17:10):
I'm not I'm not throwing smoke here, I'm not throwing
shade and don't have those guys. I get it.

Speaker 4 (17:17):
But when you see just the speed that other team's
power plays operate with, the crispness of their passes, the
sharpness of their system, you know their their ability to
get pucks through. That for me has been the biggest
glaring thing that I've noticed about the Kraken power play

(17:42):
versus the other power plays that we've seen in the
last hanfle of games.

Speaker 3 (17:47):
I want to touch on the penalty kill because often
it's also said that your goal is got to be
your best PK or now that goes hand in hand
structure and goaltending on top of that, but on the
overall scale, with Joey Decore, I thought into the second
period he was building a strong, strong case against the
Red Wings for a redemption game. That third goal he

(18:08):
gave up to James Van Riemsdyke, maybe he wants that
one back. Patrick Kaine scores off the rush wide open,
beat some gloves side as well. So at this point,
back from injury, what's our reaction to Joey to court
at this stage.

Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, I thought that he had a great save on
the drinket opportunity. Highlight real save.

Speaker 1 (18:27):
That's phenomenal.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
It was phenomenal.

Speaker 5 (18:29):
And to your point, Mike, I thought that, yep, he's
going to have one of his games here and put
his team in a position to win. And let's be honest,
he did you know, three goals or less, you're putting
your team in a position to win. And unfortunately the
Crack can give up that fourth goal. But I think
at least one or two of the goals. I think
Joey to the court is going to look at tape
and think I probably should have had that one or

(18:51):
played that one differently. The van reems that goal. You know,
we looked at the repail a little bit. I'm not
a goalie. I've never played goal, but it looked odd
to me that Joey Decord had his right knee down
and it was that side of the net that Van
Riemsyke put the puck in.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
I don't know why that and you went down.

Speaker 5 (19:10):
I don't know if he was thinking about pushing across
to try and make the save if the pass got through,
but that may have opened up enough daylight for Van
Raamske to put that puck in. Again, that's my non
goalie view of it. I'd be interested in his thoughts
on that. Probably off the air.

Speaker 4 (19:26):
Yeah, I mean, I think Joey coming back. He's getting
back to the form. And anytime a goalie has an injury,
you never know how that's going to impact him, right,
I mean, goaltenders are they're quarterbacks, They're.

Speaker 6 (19:41):
They're the most scrutinized. They're the ones.

Speaker 4 (19:43):
Who were in the spotlight at all times, you know,
because they're always on the ice, So you never know
what lingering effects can come with injuries. You know, there
have been number numerous times throughout you know, the history
of this league where you know, yeah, a goalie is
well enough to play, and and but is he Is

(20:04):
he one hundred percent? So not suggesting that Joey isn't
one hundred percent, but you never know what could happen
or what's been happening. But I think that for him,
you know, we're slowly starting to see the flashes of
where the of the of the consistent greatness that we
saw a lot of over the last couple of seasons,
and it takes some time. So I mean, Joey now

(20:26):
has started UH for five games in a row and
six of the last seven now for Seattle.

Speaker 6 (20:34):
So I wonder with Minnesota in here tonight or.

Speaker 2 (20:37):
LA on.

Speaker 4 (20:39):
UH Wednesday, I wonder maybe if Grubauer will get one
of those two games, we'll see, you know, Ley Lambert,
as is the case with a lot of coaches, very
tight lipped on the goaltending schedule in the calendar. But
you know, I'm he's still the number one on this team.
I think, yes, he's probably had some down games, but

(20:59):
I think we view them as down because Joey Decord
sets such a high bar for himself. These last couple
of seasons, Joey Decord has been a large part of
the reason why Seattle has been in the playoff conversation
until you know, later in the year then they fell off.

(21:21):
So I think our expectation and our standard of Joey
Decord rightfully, so you know, you're a five million dollar
goalie is high, and I think anytime you see like,
oh wow, you know he's I don't want to say struggling,
but he's not making scorpion saves every other night, like.

Speaker 6 (21:36):
We're used to seeing. It's it's it's.

Speaker 4 (21:39):
Maybe a bit of a bit of a desert mirage,
if you will. He's still a good goalie, but because
he's not winning every single night anymore, you're saying to yourself, Oh,
what's going on.

Speaker 6 (21:50):
I still think he's the number one on this team
and he's getting back to that level.

Speaker 1 (21:55):
Now. I'll let you take it away after this year.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
But also wouldn't surprise me to see Philip Grubauer against
Utah because he looked great and had two wins against
him last season as well.

Speaker 5 (22:04):
Yeah, I mean that's the whole question, right, And we
talked about this in the booth before the last two games.
Is after that nine to four loss to Edmonton, would
we see Joey to court again? I thought we would
see Philip Grubauer, But the argument was presented, you give
your number one, Joey's your number one. You give your
number one an opportunity to redeem himself.

Speaker 10 (22:21):
Yes.

Speaker 5 (22:21):
Yeah, So he goes out and the team loses to
Edmonton in that game, So then you think, okay, probably
going to see Groenauer for Detroit again. Joey starts again,
So I'm o for too. Over the last two games
on who I think might be starting. I'm not sure
if Grubauer will go against Minnesota or not, but again
I'm going to say it wouldn't surprise me if he did.

Speaker 3 (22:43):
We had a top line that remained consistent, and after
that everything else shuffled on Saturday and we didn't even
get the defensive core here with alexiak out as a
healthy scratch.

Speaker 1 (22:52):
But mccam, ben year Zebralee, you see something there.

Speaker 3 (22:55):
And I want to touch on Maddy later on here
because this is I think a very important part of
this conversation with his growth and where the crack and
are at here for this season. Ellie tolven and Chandler
Stevenson Coppocco, then Mason March meant Freddie Gadreau, Berkeley Catton
and some shuffling went around a little bit there, but
then he had Ty Cartier, Shane Wright, Ryan Winterton with

(23:17):
limited exposure, still look pretty effective and pretty solid. And
a spoiler alert here, Krchi may be coming up in
one of our three stars at the very end of
this here for this drop. So as far as the
forwards are concerned, what did we make out of the
lineup changes?

Speaker 2 (23:34):
Love the three star teas. It's very well done.

Speaker 5 (23:38):
I think this is just going to be something that
we as broadcasters need to get used to, is that
Leid Lambert is not afraid to make an in game
adjustment on a regular basis.

Speaker 2 (23:48):
I mean, there.

Speaker 5 (23:49):
Aren't too many games over the course of the first
twenty six where I think all four Ford lines have
stayed in tact throughout the game. I mean, there's certainly
a lot fewer of those games than games where there
hasn't been adjustments. I just think that he's okay with,
you know, making those tweaks in game, hoping to squeeze
a little more juice out of his lines. And as
far as the lineup goes in that that Detroit game, yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (24:11):
Mean I liked, you know, writ and Gadreu in the middle.

Speaker 5 (24:14):
I'm that bottom six, and I thought Coco was going
to fit in well with that.

Speaker 2 (24:19):
Tolbyn and Stevenson line. Stevenson such a great playmaker.

Speaker 5 (24:22):
I thought, you know that both Coco and Tolbden would
get some great opportunities for shots on goal. I know
Coco's only had one since he came back into the lineup,
and he's the kind of guy that should be scoring
every couple of games and grabbing, you know, especially in
the top six multiplay games every few games as well.
So I know he wants more personally out of his game.

(24:42):
I thought that that line might be the right combination
to do it.

Speaker 4 (24:46):
Yeah, I like, I liked the look of that line.
Toilvan and Steven Coppo Coppo Coco. They've got a little
bit of everything.

Speaker 6 (24:54):
I think on that line. I have zero issue.

Speaker 4 (25:00):
With Lane Lambert sometimes blending up the lines. I love
the game within the game, and I think that is
the sign of a coach that's active, that's dialed in.
He sees things that maybe aren't looking right, or maybe
the crackheader being exposed in this area. And you've got

(25:21):
the pieces to plug and play, and this lineup lends itself.

Speaker 6 (25:26):
To do just that.

Speaker 4 (25:27):
You've got a number of guys I think everyone in
this lineup, I mean maybe outside of your top line,
everyone in this lineup can play everywhere else. Right, I
would feel comfortable with car Cha, right, Ryan Winterton as
your second line. I would feel comfortable with Marchmint, Gaudreau

(25:47):
and Catton as your second line.

Speaker 6 (25:49):
Right.

Speaker 4 (25:49):
I think that everyone on this roster can play anywhere.
But I will say the one thing that and I
gotta I gotta phrase this carefully because I'm not trying
to from a position of criticism or or combativeness. But
I think the one thing that I'd like to see

(26:11):
more of is maybe more consistency for Shane Wright and
Berkeley Catton, especially young players in the league. You're trying
to see what you have with Shane Wright. And I
know I'm starting to sound like the Internet and the
people that are like Shane Wright's ally got eight minutes
in the fourth line tonight, Yeah, play right more.

Speaker 6 (26:32):
I get it. I know.

Speaker 4 (26:33):
I know that I'm coming off as a fan right now,
and please to our loyal listeners forgive.

Speaker 6 (26:37):
Me, But but I don't know.

Speaker 4 (26:39):
I would like to see Shane Wright in that in
a spot for five consecutive games. I'd like to see
Berkeley Catten in a spot for for five consecutive games
and see what you have with them.

Speaker 6 (26:53):
But outside of that, I think that the.

Speaker 4 (26:56):
Lines that that we're seeing every night, I'm fine with them.
The defense has never been the issue. The personnel. I
think if you look at the crack and defensive personnel,
it got probably one of the best decours in the conference.
But you know, it's just you're trying to find that
mix every night that works. But I think because you've

(27:17):
got so many versatile players in your bottom nine forward group,
it can be hard to find a consistent mix.

Speaker 3 (27:28):
The issues kind of override maybe the personnel matters here
with him being on and we saw this a long
time before he got hurt. But Jaden Schwartz, how much
does this team miss him? How do they react here
for this week?

Speaker 5 (27:40):
As far as the lineup, yeah, I think you're really
seeing the impact of having seventeen nine of the lineup.
Special teams, physicality, you know, NetFront, presence, all of the
above are impacted with him out of the lineup, and
you think, well, it's going to give other guys opportunities
to do the same that that gay just hasn't been

(28:00):
filled since since he's been out, So you're not gonna
You're likely not going to see him for the remainder
of December. You know, when in January he's back, who knows,
but you know they're going to have to continue to
look for ways to try and solve the missing piece
of Jaden Schwartz.

Speaker 4 (28:19):
There is a there is a certain calmness about Jaden Schwartz.

Speaker 6 (28:23):
When he's on the ice, when he's on the.

Speaker 4 (28:25):
Bench, he's in the locker room, you know. And I
think I said this last week too. It's almost like
everyone just gives this, all right, bro, kind of here
we go, right, And I think you're missing You're missing.

Speaker 6 (28:42):
That al Al loves. I love the visual that Al gives.
You need a guy that's willing to go to the.

Speaker 4 (28:48):
Net and score a goal off his face, and Schwartz
is a guy who will do that.

Speaker 6 (28:54):
Never mind the power play. You're missing that net front guy.

Speaker 4 (28:58):
You're you're missing a player that I think adds that
little extra for everyone else in the lineup. I think
he is a player that people will say, oh, if
he can do it, I can do it. If he's
doing it, then I'm going to the corners. If he's
going to the front of the that blocking shots, then
I'm gonna go block shots. And you miss that piece

(29:21):
of your of your identity. With Swartz out of the lineup,
and and Alan and I were talking, this also presents
an opportunity for other players to step.

Speaker 6 (29:30):
Up in that role.

Speaker 4 (29:31):
I know, Yannie Newman was a name that you know,
I'd love to see him use his frame and his
size and add a bit more of a power physical
element to his game. Coppolcaco, I know that it's been
a rough go for him this season, but again that
size of his you know, if he can safely and

(29:52):
healthily go to the dirty areas and and and add
a little bit more of that of that, you know
what you to your game to his game. I like
where the Kraken are going, but you do miss so
much with Schwartz that might not always show up on
the score sheet.

Speaker 5 (30:11):
I'll just add to that list Ellie told you to lead. Yeah,
team sixty three hits, Mason Marshman sixty five two twelve.
There's a couple of guys that should be in front
of the net every single time they're on the ice.

Speaker 3 (30:20):
Well, certainly, when you go back and think of who
you miss the most, it's guys who are closest to
your own identity. I mean, when you have a guy
out like Schwartz, who's a leader based on his experience,
who's a leader based on how he plays, you go
to the front of the net. That's where this team
has to live offensively. And not only that, but the
way that he's able to get pucks, clean up ice,

(30:41):
he makes smart plays. It fits this system here to
a t, which I mean, I think going back when
he was knocked out, of course, what do you know,
it was a play at the front of the net.
But you're kind of thinking, Okay, holds your breath right now,
because this is where it's going to get really, really
tough to fill that kind of hole. And you know,
it's one of those adversity moments that that this team

(31:03):
has to respond with. So I love what you mentioned,
Everett and the fact that it's gotta be next man
up here, and you have plenty of veterans, plenty of rookies,
especially Yannie Newman, who have got to find a way
not just to live offensively off his shot, but find
a way to also live right at the front of
the net.

Speaker 1 (31:20):
This door is wide open now.

Speaker 4 (31:22):
I'm gonna I'm gonna gush over Jaden Schwartz. Oh just
a little bit more. When I look at players in
this league that have been around for a while, they've
won Cups, they do the right things, and I cannot
think of a time in the five years now that
we've had Jaden Schwartz.

Speaker 6 (31:40):
In our organization where I've said.

Speaker 4 (31:42):
Man, he didn't look good tonight. Man I need more
from him. Man, he just doesn't have it tonight. I
cannot recall a single time ever saying that. And he
is a guy that does everything right. He does everything well.
He might not be great eight at anything in particular,
but he does everything so well and that's what makes

(32:06):
him a great player and the consummate pro.

Speaker 6 (32:10):
Whatever you want to whatever you want.

Speaker 4 (32:12):
To say, Jaden Schwartz, I think around the league is
probably one of the more underappreciated, not underrated, because I
think everyone knows his game, but I think underappreciated for
the value that he brings to a lineup.

Speaker 2 (32:30):
Yeah, there's two things you can count on. One is
the is. The is the the effort.

Speaker 5 (32:34):
Like you said, there's a lot of things well, but
the effort is going to be there every single game.
That leadership is the other thing. And I'll just add
you know, everybody wants to talk about details and jams.
Swartz is one of those guys where he knows what
the right details are, he knows how to execute those details,
and he will share those with other players making the

(32:55):
team better as well.

Speaker 4 (32:56):
I remember last year I think Jaden Schwartz had a
a lengthy point drought and you could tell that he
was You could tell he was frustrated.

Speaker 6 (33:05):
You could tell that he was.

Speaker 4 (33:06):
Upset, but but you didn't he didn't let that shine
through in his play, you know.

Speaker 6 (33:16):
And it was it was something it was two years ago.

Speaker 4 (33:18):
I forget what it was, but there was a time
I remember when Schwartz had a lengthy point drought and
he wasn't scoring like he wanted to and all of that,
but he never let.

Speaker 6 (33:27):
It get him down.

Speaker 4 (33:28):
And he was still doing so many things to help
the team. I mean, if they were if they gave
out third assists, he probably would have had twelve of
them because of how he started plays and how he
helped break the puck into the zone, and and and
he would hit a guy and he would create the turnovers.

Speaker 6 (33:44):
So again I'm talking in circles, but I just I.

Speaker 4 (33:47):
Love the guy and I really appreciate what he does
and what he means and brings to this lineup.

Speaker 3 (33:53):
I want to get to Maddy Beniers here. When you
look at the numbers, you first look at this, I
think in two different ways. Three goals in his first
twenty games. You may be looking for more out of
him defensively, he's looking dialed in. You're leading a SIS
guy as well on this team, and he right now
is tied with the team leading scoring with Jordan Eberley.

(34:14):
He's on pace for a fifty point season. Now you're
looking for more maybe as he gets older and older
and older, But as of right now, that is emerging
to be his second best output in his best season
since he won the Calder Trophy back in twenty twenty two,
twenty three. So what do we make out of Maddie's
progress so far this season?

Speaker 2 (34:33):
Yeah, we talked about this in the broadcast, Mike.

Speaker 5 (34:35):
I've been real happy with Maddie's game from his own
blue line in this season. And I think that you know,
you do you say, well, does it make up for,
you know, the lack of scoring?

Speaker 2 (34:49):
Maybe? Maybe not?

Speaker 5 (34:50):
You know, I if he's playing in last year's system,
he's probably got a lot more goals, but his plus
minus probably looks worse because he's not as playing as
much defense. So, because this team has bought into this
defense first structure mentality, a guy like Manny Bneers is
not going to score as often. I just I truly
believe that. And it's not just Maddy. You bring any
top scorer in if they're going to play this style

(35:12):
of hockey, they're not going to score as much. And
some players don't like it. But as far as what
I can tell, everybody's bought into this system, and you
have to sacrifice a little bit to buy into it.
Maddy's fully bought into it. His his his stick work
along the wall, on the wall, his battles. He's coming
up with the puck more often. The Monteur goal last night,

(35:35):
he picked up the puck inside of his own blue line,
made a couple of dip backs, you know, shook off
his attacker, and then fed it out to every to
set that goal up. So that doesn't happen for Maddy
vaneers one two years ago.

Speaker 2 (35:48):
I don't think. I think he gives that puck up
and that goal never happens.

Speaker 4 (35:52):
Yeah, I the fans side of me is screaming three goals?

Speaker 6 (35:57):
What are we doing here?

Speaker 4 (35:58):
But when you when you watch his game and you
see just how much he has matured and grown on
the ice, in the locker room, he's a leader. He's
a voice on that bench. You know, he he is
I genuinely believe that Matt eveniers Is is a top

(36:20):
two way forward definitely in the in the division, if
not the Western Conference already. And and and I think
you know, there's been a number of folks who are
who were giving him, you know, Dark Corse, uh, Dark
Corse Selki.

Speaker 6 (36:37):
You know potential right this year.

Speaker 4 (36:39):
So I love the way that Maddie's game has has evolved.
I love seeing how responsible he is. He is starting
to get in the mix a bit more. He's added
a little bit of a physical elements.

Speaker 1 (36:52):
Gone next level now with him. I saw that the
other night.

Speaker 4 (36:55):
And when I say physical element, I don't mean he's
getting in there trying to fight guy. But he's not
shying away from board battles. He's going into the corners.
He's not afraid to take a hit to make a play.
He spins off of guys. And you're right, you didn't
see that two years ago. So his hockey, IQ, the
way that he's played the game has has gotten so

(37:17):
much better. He has been a joy to watch. But
I'm gonna put my fan hat on and I'm like, Maddie.

Speaker 6 (37:23):
I need more than three goals. I love you, I
need more but I get it.

Speaker 4 (37:27):
I love that his game has become so complete, and
you're right, al in this system, you're going to sacrifice
a few things, you know, But I think that you know,
if we're talking first half pre Christmas Kraken MVP, I
mean Maddy Mniers is on that list for me.

Speaker 5 (37:47):
Yeah yeah, And you know, as far as the fan goes, yeah,
that hat nearby, but I'll put it that imaginary fan
hat on. I would say, why can't he be both?
Why can't he be the two hundred foot center that
you have to become this year and still score goals?
That's what the fans want.

Speaker 6 (38:03):
His last goal, I remember when was this.

Speaker 4 (38:06):
This was back against Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago.
That goal he scored just a snipe from the circle.
Like you forget sometimes that Maddy Beniers has a really
good shot and you see it in practice, you know,
he he I remember last year he was working on
his release a lot after practice and trying to get

(38:26):
a fraction of a second quicker with his release. I'd
love to see him use that shot more and again
we've talked about it. Funneling pucks toward the net. Laine
Lambert has said multiple times on the record, off the record,
I want these guys to be more selfish.

Speaker 6 (38:42):
I want guys to shoot the puck more.

Speaker 4 (38:44):
And you know, the famous Michael Scott once said, you
miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take,
So listen, I want Maddie to start shooting the puck more.
But I'm with you. You know where he's grown so
much in his game is just so valuable for what
this team's trying to do.

Speaker 1 (39:03):
I'm going to go down.

Speaker 3 (39:04):
I'm going to go down this legendary player's resume as
far as point totals, which began more or less at
the prime of his career, when he began to win
and win successfully, thirty nine points, fifty two points, fifty seven,
sixty four, thirty two in a shortened year, sixty two,

(39:27):
fifty five, sixty eight, fifty three, sixty three, then seventy nine,
fifty six, et cetera. That player was Patrice Bergeron, And
that's the player Matty Beineer's wants to be.

Speaker 6 (39:38):
That's his that's his favorite player.

Speaker 4 (39:40):
That is to a lot of folks, compare want to
compare him to being from Boston. Listen, if you're telling
me the Cracking I've got Patrice Berger on two point.

Speaker 6 (39:50):
Oh, I am probably fine with that.

Speaker 5 (39:52):
Yeah, yeah, And you know, going back to that comment
you made about his shot, his shot release. If you're
listening to this right now, now you're saying, I don't
know what you mean by shot release. What's a fast one?
What's what's what's a slow one? Fast one? Watch the
game winning goal by Patrick k last night. Yeah, he
receives the puck and not in the best position. He
actually has to choke up on his stick a little bit.

Speaker 2 (40:14):
But from the.

Speaker 5 (40:15):
Time that puck hits the blade of his stick until
the time he gets it off, it's barely a second.

Speaker 2 (40:20):
And I think when.

Speaker 5 (40:21):
You've got to release like that, you don't have to
have the hardest shot, but if it's accurate and it's quick,
you're going to score a ton of goals. And I
know that's what Maddie Deniers is working on.

Speaker 3 (40:29):
Yeah, all right, Fitz is gonna go take a break.
Let's go to the Beacon Plumbing hotline right now. Time
to bring on our special guest, his debut here on
Crack and Weekly. His name is Jonathan Davis, a Vson
hockey betting analysts You can also hear him as a
correspondent on Sirius XM. NHL Network Radio does some fantastic
work based on the West Coast. Jonathan, great to have you.

(40:51):
Thank you for joining us here. And I first want
to dive into this. The krack And will be out
there before the holiday break in Los Angeles, and it
takes me back here. It's a growing up in the
Glendora area where sometimes I mean managed shorts weather on
Christmas Day, I mean, Jonathan, for the trip out there.

Speaker 1 (41:05):
Do you think that we're going to be backing light?

Speaker 11 (41:08):
Yeah, I mean, look, I just before we started this interview,
I was just out of the beach and watching all
everybody surfing. It is you know, for a guy it
was born in Montreal and raised in Toronto. I made
the right decision a long time ago to trade snow
for beach.

Speaker 2 (41:25):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (41:26):
You take me back, and I think you nail the
secret here to success. Spend less money on clothes and
more on experiences. Let's get down to the this part
of the week here, the crack And are playing in
a stretch of eleven games and twenty days. It's getting
busy and this could have a major effect on their
playoff fortunes and they're still trying to figure out figure

(41:48):
things after going winless in five in a row. Now
they can play defense, their goaltending has been mostly dialed in,
but they're experiencing a ton of issues as far as
offensive generation, pedally kill issues. Also on top of that,
when you consider the overall scope of the season, So
Jonathan to you, what's weighing on their playoff hopes from

(42:09):
both sides when you consider how their strains stack up
against the rest of the league and what they're needing
to level up with.

Speaker 11 (42:17):
Well, I mean, look, the biggest problem that they face
is that they're offensively challenged.

Speaker 12 (42:21):
I mean, you know, Matty Veneers and Jordan Everley with.

Speaker 11 (42:25):
Sixteen points lead the team, and that puts them about
one hundred and forty first in scoring in the NHL.
So if you're the opposition, you know, and you're putting,
you know, you've got all the lines on your on
the whiteboard of your you know, the cracking there's not
a big heavy game planning issue.

Speaker 12 (42:44):
So I think you know.

Speaker 11 (42:46):
Then you know, not having a game breaker really hurts
the cracking. And for the early part of the season,
you know, they were able to do it because whether
it was Joey deccord or Philip Grubauer or Matt Murray,
they were getting saved and they were able to stay
in games.

Speaker 12 (43:02):
And right now, you know, they've gone.

Speaker 11 (43:04):
You know, it wasn't long ago that they were what
top too or at least top five in goals against,
and now they're sitting you know, I think around fifteen.
So if you can't score and now you're starting to
give up goals, it makes it really tough for this
cracking team that's been able. You know, look, their success

(43:25):
early on is being able to get games to overtime
and pick it up.

Speaker 12 (43:29):
That that loser point, there's no I mean, you can't
hide behind that.

Speaker 11 (43:32):
So you know, for this front office, they've got to
find a way to get themselves more guys that can
can score.

Speaker 12 (43:41):
Because when you look.

Speaker 11 (43:42):
Back to you know, look when they that year that
they took you know, they knocked out Colorado, there are
six guys that are no longer on that team were
from that year.

Speaker 12 (43:53):
You know, I look back, it's it's like the Org Strand.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
Wehenberg Donado.

Speaker 4 (44:00):
City.

Speaker 12 (44:01):
Yeah, geeky, So you know, six.

Speaker 11 (44:05):
Guys you haven't been able to replace. So it's it's
tough when you can't score and now you're really relying
on your goalie to bail you out, you know, most nights.

Speaker 3 (44:14):
And we had a conversation here also losing Jaden Schwartz
out of this mix until maybe the last part of
the month, maybe even to New Year's certainly really dense
the plans here as far as far as this is concerned.
So top line scoring with that has been a big
part of the discussion in the hockey world here for upgrades,
I mean, is there a certain type of player, Jonathan
you think that is the best fit in this situation

(44:36):
or is this a matter of whatever guy that you
can get to pump in you more points that makes
the upgrade worth pursuing.

Speaker 11 (44:44):
I don't think they're one player away, if that's what
you're asking. So I think there's there's just more more
than one player that this team needs to be able
to take itself to the next level. I mean, so
you know, yeah, they're not one right away, That's that's
pretty much it. Or they're not one player away, I
mean unless unless they do some major overhaul with this roster.

(45:09):
You know, look, there there's definitely some some things, you know,
guys to get excited about. You know, I love you know,
look Shane, whit continues to develop, and you've got ty
Krcha and you've got oh my god, I'm.

Speaker 12 (45:23):
Trying to think of the kid out of Spokane.

Speaker 11 (45:28):
Yeah, so there are you know, but this is a
team that's a couple of years away.

Speaker 12 (45:33):
They're not just one not one player away.

Speaker 5 (45:35):
Jonathan, you know the krack and have obviously employed this
defensive first structure this season. And you know, my broadcast
partner Everett and I talk about it a lot that
it tends to be boring hockey from a fans standpoint,
but as you pointed out, when you're having trouble scoring goals,
your only option is to try and keep them out
of your own net. What do you think about that
approach to the game and is it something that's sustainable

(45:58):
through eighty two games and potentially in the.

Speaker 11 (46:00):
Laos Well, look, Kings fans can echo those same thoughts, guys.
You know that's the problem here in Los Angeles. I
mean I took a look at the numbers. They're like
three and twelve this year. When they give up three
goals or more, they need to play low event hockey
as well, at least under the style of play that
Jim Hiller wants them, you.

Speaker 12 (46:20):
Know, to play. So look, there, you have to deal
with what you've got. And so when you don't have the.

Speaker 11 (46:28):
Game breaker, you know, you have to find a way
to shut things down. What was interesting was Seattle guys,
like I took a look last year, the overwhelming majority
of their wins last year they happen to score four
goals or more, which I thought was kind of interesting. Yeah,
but it's just not a long term recipe right now

(46:49):
with the roster that they have.

Speaker 12 (46:51):
So they've got to play defense first.

Speaker 11 (46:54):
The problem with is it, you know, is it everybody's
got to be at their best every night. If they're not,
then the other team's going to find a way to
break through.

Speaker 2 (47:04):
And that's that's tough mentally on the group.

Speaker 5 (47:08):
Yeah, And that's and that starts in goal obviously as
well as well. And you know, for a period of
time a week or so ago, Seattle had three goaltenders,
one that's injured, all above the nine hundred save percentage.
And it's a real key to playing that kind of hockey.
But speaking of goaltenders, you guys got Darcy kemper Back
looked like he put up a goose egg the other.

Speaker 2 (47:26):
Night against Chicago. That's going to feel good for you guys.

Speaker 11 (47:29):
Yeah, But I look also, you know, I looked at
the Chicago game and I was talking with a group
of friends of mine.

Speaker 12 (47:36):
You know, Chicago with that rare, you know, two games
in one city, which I think would be is.

Speaker 11 (47:42):
I don't know if fans like it, but you know,
we're seeing all the injuries the players are going through.
I think it may be better for teams to do
more of it. But I really think that that Saturday
game against UH for for Chicago's standpoint, was a schedule loss.

Speaker 12 (47:57):
And I say that because they got to win on.

Speaker 11 (47:59):
Thursday against LA and they've got Anaheim on you know
today here Sunday as we record, and that's the game
that they were looking towards, and I think they looked ahead.

Speaker 12 (48:10):
And you know, but good on LA.

Speaker 11 (48:13):
But that win for LA, guys isn't going to mean
anything if they can't go into Seattle and put up
another performance like they did in that Saturday win against Chicago.
I mean, look, the future of Jim Hiller is definitely
in question in here in Los Angeles you know, so
we'll see where it goes. But you know, LA, I

(48:36):
don't see LA making a coaching change before Seattle, but guys,
it wouldn't surprise me. LA's got two days off for
the first time coming up Thursday and Friday of this
week before they play Calgary on Saturday. It's something to
pay attention to that LA decides that they want to.

Speaker 12 (48:54):
Make a coaching change.

Speaker 11 (48:55):
It wouldn't surprise me if they did it after their
game against Utah and Wednesday. I'm not look, Jim Hiller's
Jim Hillers a great guy to deal with, but there
they need something here in Los Angeles and they've got
to build on that win from Saturday when they face
you guys on Monday.

Speaker 5 (49:12):
Well, those two those two days off will follow the
first of two meetings against Seattle this month. Two of
those eleven games will be against LA, So it'll be
interesting to see if something like that were to happen.
It could be based on what happens in that game
versus Seattle.

Speaker 2 (49:26):
Two.

Speaker 11 (49:27):
Yeah, so Seattle game is Wednesday, maybe it's Utah and Monday.

Speaker 2 (49:30):
Is that okay?

Speaker 5 (49:31):
Yeah, just kind of mixing Wednesday and then and then
later the last game right before Christmas and the twenty
third as well.

Speaker 12 (49:37):
All Right, so it's you there. LA's in Utah on
Monday and then okay, Seattle Wednesday. So for me, yeah,
in audition to see what happens.

Speaker 11 (49:44):
But yeah, LA, Like I said, bottom line for LA
is that they're far better when they keep games to
like two one, three two. The six nothing game was Look,
that's that's a rarity for Los Angeles, you know, to.

Speaker 12 (49:58):
Put up a six spot.

Speaker 11 (49:59):
But I get the sense here in Los Angeles that
players are a little frustrated with the type of style
of play that that Jim Hiller wants them to play.
They you know, guys want to score obviously. You know
you heard Jim Hiller the last couple of games talk
about how guys have come some players have gone.

Speaker 12 (50:17):
Rogue on the system.

Speaker 11 (50:19):
It'll be just to see how things transpire over the
next couple of days.

Speaker 1 (50:23):
Jonathan.

Speaker 3 (50:24):
We're seeing a lot of stars pass up a chance
these days to take the bag in the off season,
and instead they stay put. Adrian Campe is the latest
testimony here to this. What made the biggest difference for
him with getting his extension done.

Speaker 2 (50:39):
He wanted to be here, plain and simple. You know, he's.

Speaker 12 (50:45):
You know, just had a baby. He loves being in
Los Angeles.

Speaker 1 (50:50):
I think his wife wife went in the labor.

Speaker 3 (50:52):
Matter of fact, last time the kid the crack and
we're in Los Angeles back in April, remember that.

Speaker 11 (50:58):
So yeah, I mean, bottom line is that he wanted
he wanted to remain here. He you know, his family
lights living out here, and I mean, you wouldn't like
living out here in so cal So look me personally,
like if I'm Adrian Kempe and I want to win,
I don't know why I would resign.

Speaker 12 (51:18):
I mean, the future of this team.

Speaker 11 (51:20):
Look, the best the best California teams are going to
be in San Jose and Anaheim for the next.

Speaker 12 (51:25):
Couple of years. LA is very thin.

Speaker 11 (51:27):
But bottom line, the answer your you know, the answer
to your question is is that he wants to stay
in Los Angeles. And that was you know, quality of
life is important to him. So you know, that's why
still l.

Speaker 3 (51:38):
I came Minnesota is coming up on Monday before the
matchup against Los Angeles, and it seemed like this last
month nobody could beat the wild and they're on a
bit of a slide once again. Though it may seem
a bit subtle. So I think, to you, what's your
feel as far as last month being a statement or
versus saying, do you need to see more here from Minnesota?

Speaker 11 (52:01):
Well, I look, I think Minnesota is a team that's
built for the regular season and not the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (52:06):
I got.

Speaker 11 (52:08):
They're just not deep enough. I mean, ultimately, they're They're
two lines deep.

Speaker 12 (52:12):
And that's it.

Speaker 11 (52:12):
And that's the problem they had when they faced Vegas
last year in the playoffs. Once Vegas was able to
shut down the Big Three or at least contain them,
Minnesota just doesn't have enough there. They've got two lines
and they've had two really good goaltenders, but that's it.
And so that, like, I just think that they're built
for eighty two. They're not built to make a long run.

(52:36):
And you know, we'll see what Bill Garon is able
to do with their roster. They've got a really strong
blue line. You know, Walstatton Gustason have played really well.

Speaker 12 (52:46):
They sure they've run into this bugaboo.

Speaker 11 (52:48):
You know, they've given up eight goals or well seven
goals passed the goalie in the last two games. I
just don't think that. I just think that their their
lack of depth is the issue for the while.

Speaker 5 (53:01):
Yeah, it seems like there's really three levels of teams
in this league. Teams that well, I mean before if
you count teams that are just out of the playoff one,
the teams that get in and are trying to get in,
that would be one. Teams that are likely to get in,
like the Minnesota description you just gave, but probably won't
get deep into the playoffs, and then you get your
Cup contenders. And I think where the crack and are

(53:21):
at this season is that after going two seasons without
getting into the playoffs, getting into the playoffs would be
obviously a big step forward for them. And I think that,
you know, while I don't disagree with what you said,
they're more than a player away. I think with the
right move that gets them into the into the first
round or maybe back into the second again, is going
to be considered a success for them. So it'll be

(53:43):
interesting to see what happens between now and trade deadline
with with you know, those decisions, we speculate all the time.

Speaker 2 (53:50):
But at the end of the day, you know who knows.

Speaker 5 (53:53):
The analogy I use it's like asking somebody, are you
going to sell a car today.

Speaker 2 (53:56):
Well, I don't know. I don't know if someone's going
to come in. I don't know if they're going to
want to pay the race I'm offering. So we'll see
what happens with that.

Speaker 11 (54:03):
Yeah, look, I think Look, I think Seattle would be
better served to get themselves a very high draft pick
than to go around in the playoffs. Like I don't
think I don't think that would serve this organization.

Speaker 12 (54:16):
Well, you know the Genny.

Speaker 11 (54:20):
Look, it was a great story two years ago and
what they did with Colorado, But at the end of
the day, I just wonder did it really helped them
long term the way that you you know, you look
at this roster. So I think that they would be
you know, if they could get themselves a very high
draft pick.

Speaker 12 (54:37):
I think that's better than going around in the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (54:39):
Touching on one more Western Conference team that is on
the slate here for this week.

Speaker 1 (54:44):
The Kraken will be in Utah Friday.

Speaker 3 (54:47):
The Mammoth. They are going to be around this picture,
maybe Jonathan for a long time. But will there be
a playoff Berth this spring? Maybe hold the phone on
that one for now. But what's the deal breaker? You're
thinking to be for Utah to in this race this season.

Speaker 12 (55:02):
I think Utah needs to get bigger.

Speaker 11 (55:04):
Like they they they're highly skilled, but they've got a
lot of small players and they need to get bigger upfront.

Speaker 12 (55:13):
They need to be able to score more greasy goals
than they do.

Speaker 2 (55:16):
Uh jj.

Speaker 11 (55:17):
Turk has worked out well for them, he's now you know,
he's back up from the top power play where he
didn't start.

Speaker 12 (55:23):
At the beginning of the year. But I think that
they need to add some size up front.

Speaker 11 (55:28):
They've got themselves a goaltender and Vimelka that you know
I would trust to win a big game.

Speaker 12 (55:34):
Their blue line has been good.

Speaker 11 (55:36):
Mikhail Sergachev has worked his way into being their number one.

Speaker 12 (55:40):
I'm not sure if he is a true number one.

Speaker 11 (55:42):
But I just think the biggest thing for them is
they need to add a little more. They need to
add more size up front.

Speaker 3 (55:47):
You're a busy man, putting your minor to a lot
of Western Conference manner has certainly appreciated. Jonathan, Thank you
very much for your time.

Speaker 12 (55:54):
Thank you. I appreciate you guys having me all right.

Speaker 1 (55:57):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (55:57):
Jonathan Davis joining us once again, and we're about to
wrap this thing up as far as the week ahead
and our three stars. So it's getting busy now, cracking
in the middle of eleven games in twenty days and
then bam right into the holiday break. So as far
as this week, they're still back at home. Of course
tonight against Minnesota, who has been struggling. Then you got
the Kings who are on a heater right now. But

(56:20):
as we've heard, of course, there still could be some
changes of foot. Who knows, we'll see, but you can
at least expect editing from the opposite of nine to
eight from what we saw back in twenty twenty two
to twenty three. You have Utah who's slipping down the
stairs a little bit, and then there's Buffalo, who is
right back into the Eastern Conference basement. This game against

(56:42):
Minnesota should be fun the Freddie Goodreau faces this former
team game on top of that, But considering all the
crack and had with these obstacles here, you've got eight
points on the table. Do you set the bar here
at five to call this a successful week?

Speaker 5 (56:58):
I think that's really I mean, obviously, you know you've
given up a couple of games here in the start
of December that you were hoping to get something out
of but unfortunately you walk away with nothing, so that
the priority as absolutely points. So five in those six
I don't think that's unreasonable. They're going to be difficult
games or you know, I expect probably both of them

(57:20):
to be fairly low event if the Kraken are able
to play their style.

Speaker 2 (57:23):
We know La likes to think.

Speaker 1 (57:24):
Oh, Wednesday will be you bet that, Yeah, you bet that.

Speaker 2 (57:27):
So.

Speaker 5 (57:29):
You know it's it's going to be who plays that
system better, and uh, you know, I'm looking forward to it.
But I think you're right, Mike, five points would be
considered a win.

Speaker 6 (57:38):
Yeah, I think I'm gonna go five. I'm I mean,
if I could, I'd say five and.

Speaker 4 (57:44):
A half, just because the difference you're falling, You're you're
you're falling. Right now, You've got three points in between
you Edmonton and.

Speaker 6 (57:55):
Utah of for the first and second lolid card spots.

Speaker 4 (57:58):
You've now been jumped by San Jose and the division
standings there twenty nine. You've got Minnesota who's ahead of you, La,
Who's ahead of you by five points. Minnesota's ahead of
you by seven points, Utah's.

Speaker 6 (58:13):
Ahead of you by three points.

Speaker 4 (58:14):
So I mean, even if you win all of those games,
you're still not guaranteed to be back in a wild
card spot. So I mean, I'm gonna go so far
as to say, I mean, I'll say five and a
half like.

Speaker 6 (58:30):
You got Yeah, you have to get five points.

Speaker 1 (58:33):
Does a half point come off of effort?

Speaker 4 (58:35):
Yes, exactly, like if you lose, you can't lose three nothing,
right I.

Speaker 5 (58:41):
Stand.

Speaker 1 (58:42):
I love that you need.

Speaker 6 (58:43):
Two wins and a and a shootout loss.

Speaker 4 (58:47):
And they have to show that you're you're going in
the right direction. You know, you have to leave no
doubt that the last now five games, four and one
were just a blip in the season and you're getting
back to winning games and getting back to cracket hockey,
which which has been established in the first twenty plus

(59:07):
games of the season.

Speaker 5 (59:08):
And the ace in their pocket and again I would
underplay this if I was part of the coaching staff,
But yeah, you need five and a half points, you know,
in this in this stretch. But the ace in their
pocket is other than the Vegas Golden Knights. This cracking
team has between two and four games in hand on
everybody else in the conference. Yes, So if you don't
waste those two to four games. If you get points

(59:29):
through those two to four games, all of a sudden, you're,
you know, once you're matching up to those other teams
that have twenty eight to twenty nine games played cracking
are at twenty six.

Speaker 2 (59:39):
All of a sudden, you're back at the top of
that of that conference.

Speaker 4 (59:42):
And then two like I brought this up the other
day as well, the game's coming up. I mean, Minnesota's
ahead of you, the Kings are out of you, Utah's
ahead of you.

Speaker 6 (59:52):
Colorado, well, you know they're ahead of you.

Speaker 2 (59:55):
Is a good game on that one?

Speaker 6 (59:56):
I don't I.

Speaker 3 (59:57):
Believe I have used the phrase ten thou wagon once
or twice to describe them.

Speaker 4 (01:00:02):
You've got Anaheim, You've got San Jose, Anaheim LA. You've
got Vancouver who only there three points back of you
twice in a three game spend. You've got Minnesota again
early January. Then you go out east, and then you
come back for a game against Utah, Anaheim, Vegas, Anaheim, LA.
So your next ten or so games in your division,

(01:00:26):
only two of them are against teams that are out
of it. So I mean every game coming up between
now and the All Star break against the Western Conference.
I mean you need to win those games or get
points in those games between now and the Olympic break.

Speaker 3 (01:00:45):
Let's get to our three stars here for the week
before we duck out of here and get right back
to busy stuff. This week with four games on tap,
I'll begin with my third start, Berkeley Catton. And there
are moments I watch him in this is your best
player on the ice. Feed him more ice time, get
him out, get him out, get him out, get him out.

(01:01:06):
He was three of six in face offs against Detroit.
He's starting to move in the right direction in that area.
He had also three block shots in that game. He's
also committing here to the bit defensively, and he has
been asked to play everywhere in this lineup, left wings, center,
right wing. I'm shocked not in net here at this point.
That first goal is coming. I'm not concerned about that.

(01:01:29):
He's working for offense eventually, lot of averagescy in this league,
you work like him, the goals will come. I'd be
a lot more concerned if he would go through games
like a passenger, but he's not. And Berkeley Catton, no
matter where you play, where you play him, he's making
a difference here. My second star is Ty Cartier. Had

(01:01:51):
an assist against the Red Wings. He carried the puck
with confidence. He had four hits as well in that game,
and he had to play sheltered minute. But to me,
he was very, very effective when he was out there,
and I thought one of the more upper tier players
committing to the way that Lane Lambert wants to play
with the meat and potatoes type of brand. My first

(01:02:13):
star is Brandon Montour. Ten shot attempts on Saturday ten.
He had a monster shift with a great defensive play
back in the first period. Very next shift came right
back snipe one on John Gibson. That was a game
changer at that point. He is shooting the puck, he
is working both ends, he is leading. That's the kind

(01:02:36):
of secret ingredient to eventually get this thing turned around.
Brandon Montour is my first star of the week.

Speaker 4 (01:02:42):
Yeah, I'm with you on on on Montour. My third
start of the week is Brandon Montour. I think for
the reasons that you just outlined, you know, it was
it was hard. I was going between two guys. I
like Montour again in a week that defense and I

(01:03:03):
say this, you know, with the utmost respect in a
week where it's seeing that defense was optional in terms
of the scorer on the board. I thought Montor really
was steady. He was trying to drive offense and generate offense.
And you know, I go back to the little conversation
he had with the referee in Edmonton.

Speaker 6 (01:03:21):
He got the double minor and the referee.

Speaker 4 (01:03:23):
Was like, I gotta call that one A, so I'll
go Monsur and also to a quick shot out. We
had a partner, a season ticket holder trip on Thursday
to Edmonton, and there was an eight year old on
our flight and we had we do these trips all
the time, and we had never had a kid on
I'm not going to give his name, but we've never

(01:03:44):
had a youth on our plane. Montor comes up, talks
to the kid for good five or ten minutes, and
you could tell that he was just very, very nervous.
But I was talking to his dad and he said,
you know the guys you're getting on the plane, and
he goes, hey, Dad, that's Manys, Hey Dad, that's Grubauer,
Hey Dad, that's so and so.

Speaker 2 (01:04:03):
So.

Speaker 4 (01:04:03):
For Monty to come up and talk to him, I
thought that was great. My number two star is going
to be Adam Larson. Two points against the Wings, goal
and assist, and again I think defensively he he did
what he could against the Oilers.

Speaker 6 (01:04:18):
But I like his jam this week.

Speaker 4 (01:04:21):
I thought he had some good hits, he had some
good plays, a couple of shot blocks. Again, I've always
said that Adam Larson is so reliable, so dependable. If
you don't notice him on the ice, then he's doing
a great job. And I think today or this week
you noticed him on the score sheet. He got rewarded
with some much deserved offense and some points on the
score sheet. And then my number one star, Vince done

(01:04:43):
your three hundredth NHL point, your three hundredth game with
the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. The point came on Saturday
against Detroit. And then you know the response to the
everly hit. I don't want to sound too harsh. Someone
had to do it. I was a little disappoin winted
with the lack of response this week when when your

(01:05:04):
guys are getting hit.

Speaker 2 (01:05:05):
And I.

Speaker 6 (01:05:07):
Like Vince Dunn and what.

Speaker 4 (01:05:08):
He did for the captain, so hopefully that can filter
in and if someone else wants to take a liberty
tomorrow or Wednesday or anywhere moving forward down the line,
I'm hoping some of that done ther takerness will wear
off on the rest of the roster.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
Love it well. My third stars is Shane Wright.

Speaker 5 (01:05:27):
Sixty nine percent in the faceoff dot over the last
two games. You know, he's a left handed center and
Channer Stevenson's a right handed center. Channer Stevenson is considered
probably the number one guy goes into all the key
face off situations. If Shane Wright can become that number
two face off guy, now you've got a left hand
in or right handed center that can win in most situations.

(01:05:48):
So sixty nine percent in the dot for him over
the last two games. He had an assist in the
Edmonton game. So he's my my third star. Second star
I gave to Maddy Beniers to assists in the last
two game games. He sits six talking about his two
hundred foot game. He sits sixth on the shot block
count for the KRACK And guess what the five guys
above him, they're all defensemen. So he is the first

(01:06:11):
forward on the shot block list in terms of most
shot blocks in the team at twenty three. When you're
thinking about how he's developing his two hundred foot games.
So he's my second star and first stars. As ever
previously mentioned there, Adam Rson a goal, one assist in
that four to three loss. He was plus two plus
two guys in that Edmonton yeah ninety four.

Speaker 6 (01:06:33):
I left that part out. He was one of the
very few pluses in that game.

Speaker 5 (01:06:37):
He had three hits in that game. And he's had
six block shots over the last two games. So his physicality.
You know, he leads the team with shot blocks. He's
the top of that list with fifty seven. He's a guy,
and I agree with you, Everett. You don't notice him
that much. You did notice him in that Detroit game
because he had a goal and assist, but you don't
notice him as much when he's blocking shots and he's

(01:06:59):
playing well defensively because he just feels like that's his
job and he just goes out and does it every night.
There's no fans celebration for that. But that's why I
love about his game.

Speaker 3 (01:07:08):
All right, guys, appreciate you. That's all the time we
have folks here for today. Once again, the crack in
four games this week will lay this all out for
you right now. Beginning this evening against the Minnesota Wild,
then Wednesday the Los Angeles Kings, both games opening up
at seven o'clock. Friday the Kraken on the road at
Delta Center to take on the Utah Mammoth, and then

(01:07:30):
back home Sunday against the Buffalo Sabers. Friday's game at
six pm. Sunday's home game five pm Pacific, All games
opening half hour on air with your pregame show served
up by Frost Brewed cors Light Shoose Chill take note.
Every game this week Monday, Wednesday, Friday's road game, and

(01:07:51):
Sunday we're gonna be at Tom's Watch Bar for postgame,
and Friday will be an all broadcast affairs. So certainly
hope you can join us right across the street from
Climate Pledge Arena. More tickets and promo details by the
way at NHL dot com. Slash crack it and we'll.

Speaker 1 (01:08:07):
Do it for here.

Speaker 3 (01:08:07):
Big thank you again to Jonathan Davis for joining us
and forever it fits you and Al Kadiski.

Speaker 1 (01:08:12):
I'm Mike Benton. See you You're

Speaker 5 (01:08:14):
Home for the Cracking Sports Radio ninety three point three
k j R FM