November 20, 2025 • 60 mins
Five straight games with points and a lineup in constant motion—this is how Chicago turns chaos into momentum. I welcome in Andrew Rinaldi (On Tap Sports Net Chicago) as we pull back the curtain on the Wolves’ next-man-up reality: why a surging second line is tilting ice, how the top unit’s skill translates to timely pressure, and what smart coaching choices are doing to hold it all together. The big theme running through it all is identity: a heavy, fast style that mirrors Carolina’s and gives every call-up or injury a ready-made system to plug into.
We dig into Felix Unger Sorum’s transformation back at wing—more space, more poise, and a shot he’s firing with conviction. Evan Vierling’s rise from under the radar to trusted special-teams piece shows how opportunity meets preparation. Justin Robidas continues to play bigger than his size, driving a mature 200-foot game next to Ryan Suzuki’s vision and Bradly Nadeau’s elite release. When opponents key on one line, the other makes them pay; that balance is why Chicago looks deeper now than on opening night.
On defense, the Wolves are growing up fast. Gavin Bayreuther’s steady veteran minutes and Dominik Badinka's calm at 19 anchor a reshaped blue line, while Alexei Heimosalmi and Bryce Montgomery add puck movement and bite around the crease. Goaltending stability changes everything: with Cayden Primeau backstopping and Amir Miftakhov in support, the team plays freer, special teams push higher, and leads feel safer. That’s the foundation you want heading into a chippy stretch against Manitoba, Rockford, and Milwaukee—a run that will test physicality, depth, and discipline.
We close with who to watch when the games turn mean, where matchups can be won, and how Chicago’s structure keeps turning new faces into real contributors. If this kind of inside look helps you follow the Wolves with sharper eyes, tap follow, share with a fellow fan, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.
Highlights:
• Five-game point streak built on structure and pace
• Second line with Pavlichev, Unger Sorum, Vierling driving results
• Top line chemistry with Suzuki, Robidas, Nadeau sharpening
• Unger Sorum’s confidence surge back at wing
• Vierling’s breakout and special teams trust
• Defense reinvented with Bayreuther’s leadership and Badinka's poise
• Montgomery’s physical edge at the net front
• Goaltending stability with Primeau and Miftakhov
• Injury updates on Jaaska and Givanni Smith
• Upcoming tests vs Manitoba, Rockford, Milwaukee
• Players to watch for chippy, playoff-style series
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
Well, Chicago Wolves are on a roll, going unbeaten in
regulation in their last five,gaining eight of a possible ten
points in that span.
Wolves are led by the usualsuspects, veterans including
Justin Robadoff, Felix UngerSorm, and Dominic Vensori, but
they're also getting strongcontributions from Evan
(00:53):
Beerling, Dominic Badenka, andGavin Beiruther.
So, lots of players uh steppingup for this team as they
continue to play well.
And joining me to talk about therecent run and what we can look
forward in the coming month withthe Wolves, of course, our
insider Andrew Rinaldi.
Hey Andrew, great to have you onboard.
SPEAKER_01 (01:15):
Always great to be here, Tom.
Thanks for having me again.
SPEAKER_00 (01:18):
Well, for sure.
And you know, the Wolves areplaying great hockey.
You know, it's it's been a kindof an up and down season for
them, too, in terms of players,because of course the Canes have
been reaching out regularly andtrying to pull up some of the
players that uh, of course, wereintended to be key players uh
for the Wolves this year.
And yet here's the Wolvessitting just four points back,
(01:41):
uh division leading GrandRapids.
What have we been seeing withthe Wolves?
What's going on?
SPEAKER_01 (01:47):
Yeah, it's the the common theme with this league.
I know I've said it many timeson this pod, and regular
listeners are gonna hear itagain and again and again.
No one in this league is gonnacare when you're when your guys
get called up because everyonegoes through it in the American
League.
But um, you know, the the Wolveshave just they've they've stuck
(02:09):
to their to their identity andthey've continued to just it's
kind of that old next man upcliche, but when literally your
next man up is getting called upto the hurricanes every five
minutes.
You just gotta you just gottaroll with the punches.
And you know, the wolves have uhthey they've adhered to their
structure no matter who who's inthe lineup at any given time.
(02:32):
And um, you know, they'rethey're finding ways to to grind
out these wins.
And it's it's it's been aprocess for sure because I think
there was uh there's a couplehiccups earlier on in the
season, but they're starting tokind of really come into their
own.
And you know, even with the theshifting looks in the lineup,
(02:53):
there's there's those those coreguys that are really kind of
leading the way.
And I mean, you know, well,we're we'll get into it, but as
the the rest of the rest of thelineup just kind of follows
after the example that they set.
The coaches are putting theseguys into a position to succeed,
and yeah, despite missing a lotof big contributors, they're
(03:13):
they're third in a verycompetitive central division.
And uh, you know, it's a j it'sI feel like they're on a
positive trajectory to keep thismomentum moving on in the rest
of the season.
SPEAKER_00 (03:24):
Yeah, and you know, they they look to be playing a
very similar game to the to theHurricanes.
You know, they uh they play ahard game, a heavy game.
Uh Cam Abbott's got them uh youknow just just really coming
together as a team.
And you know, you've had sometop players out.
Um, you know, clearly, I meanyou lost you lost uh Joel Joel
(03:44):
Nestrom for the entire uh justabout the last uh you know month
or month and a half.
Um Dominic Fensori has been inand out.
Of course, he was called up tothe Keynes.
Um Charles Alexis Lego uh wasn'texpected to be there for long.
Now he's out with a seriousinjury for for an extended
period.
That's not great for the Wolves.
(04:05):
And then uh some of the forwardsas well.
Um, you know, we look at uh atsome injuries, Yuha Yaska has
has not seen the light of daywith the Wolves as yet.
So yeah.
Uh and you look at the lineup onuh on the 16th, uh, this recent
game against Cleveland, and it'skind of interesting because you
know you've got a I think a linethat's really starting to gel
(04:29):
and really starting to get itgoing.
And of course, that's the secondline with Nikita Pavlichev, and
of course Felix Unger Sorm,who's been doing a great job,
and Evan Vierling, and we'lltalk a little bit about him as
well.
What have you been seeing withthat line?
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
It's the the straw that stirs the drink for this
team.
It's and it's you reallywouldn't expect that, right?
Because it's but usually thatSuzuki, Nidau, and lately Justin
Robodot combination that'sthat's you know, always kind of
been the uh the driver of theplay.
And while I mean they've lookedgood for sure, it's um having
(05:06):
that that dynamic on the secondline, I think that kind of takes
those those second defensivematchups.
Uh it has really opened up a lotof space for these guys.
You know, I again I know we'regonna get into Anger Sorum later
on, but I can't stop talkinggood things about this kid.
And you know, Nikita Pavlitchevand Evan Vierling are two guys
(05:27):
who, you know, when you hadTyson Jost, who's expected to be
here, get claimed on waivers,you had Bradley Nadeau called
up.
And, you know, there's all theseopportunities for guys to come
in and make contributions.
You know, I I'll admit I didn'treally know a whole lot about
Evan Vierling coming into thisseason.
And most everyone in in Rosemontknows who Evan Vierling is now.
(05:52):
And um it's uh those are thekind of stories I love about
this league where where theseguys, you know, they're coming
in out of maybe out of the coaston an AHL contract and and and
show in and and play well andreally make a name for
themselves.
And they've uh you know, they'vebeen responsible in their own
(06:13):
zone.
They've the the lengths thatsome of these shifts where they
spend in the offensive zone justwears teams out after after a
time.
So you you love to see kind ofthis, the the positive results
from even even when they're notyou know putting the puck in a
net, just the the positive, youknow, plus shifts continuously,
(06:34):
you know, over and over.
It's eventually good things willhappen, and they're happening
with regularity, and it'shelping them to get onto this
five-game point streak thatthey've been on lately.
SPEAKER_00 (06:46):
Well, and let's talk about Felix Undersorm.
I mean, he's uh I think he had agreat camp with the Kanes this
year.
Uh, you know, we talked about itbefore.
Last year was not a great yearfor him, just 20 points.
Uh, you know, he just neverreally got on track.
He was playing center for awhile.
This year he's back on thatright side.
He's got uh six goals and sevenassists in 14 games.
(07:08):
He's got five points this lastfive games.
What are you seeing withUngersor?
SPEAKER_01 (07:13):
Confidence.
It's all I it's it's confidence.
And I think a lot of it is, youknow, last year you saw the
flashes, but right, he'sadjusting to a new league, he's
adjusting to a new position.
And I think it was just a lottask for a 19-year-old in this
league to, you know, let's let'sput him in at center and and see
(07:35):
what happens.
And you know, it's just he justnever really looked like he he
had the uh had just the the theconfidence in his own game to
take that next step.
Like you could see the flashesthere, you could see like he's
making a good play, he knowswhere to be, but he either he's
a step too slow or he'sindecisive and and then the
(07:58):
puck's going the other way.
So now on the wing, he's got alittle more space, he's got that
extra year of experience.
He knows uh he's just he's morecomfortable there, and and uh
and he looks like a completelydifferent player, honestly.
And you know, of course, he's ayear older, you're gonna kind of
expect that growth of a guywho's so young, but when he's
got the those intangibles thatthe smarts for the game,
(08:22):
understanding like when to kindof pull up and slow the game
down, wait for the the pass toopen up.
I mean, it's just it's it's alot of fun to see it happen.
I the the Sunday game againstCleveland that just happened
this past weekend, he had uhjust this this fantastic, I
mean, this entry into the zone,the patience to kind of get the
(08:45):
cycle going, does it go all theway back around in the offensive
zone to come up back door?
The defender didn't even realizethat he was there.
But Dinka hits him with a with apass there and and just just one
touch.
So by the time the defensemanturns around and even defend
him, it's already on Veerlingstick and it's in the back of
the net.
And that's what I'm saying.
(09:05):
He thinks the game steps aheadof these other guys, and it's
you know, uh the seeing now it'sseeing him with playing with
that confidence is is allowinghis game to just to just
continue to skyrocket.
And it's it's it's been a treatto to watch because I was kind
of not that I was I wasn'texpecting him to grow, but just
(09:30):
to to do it so quickly after uha rough uh uh kind of a rough
introduction to the league lastyear.
It's um it's been a lot of fun,I'll say that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:43):
Well, he's definitely brought himself back
into the uh the attention of uhof the canes uh brass for sure.
And you know, he was soimpressive a couple of years
ago, you recall in trainingcamp, and and there was so much
discussion about should he staywith the canes and what would
happen to him.
And uh, of course he went backhome, but cane back uh uh this
(10:06):
side of the ocean, of course,last year for his first year.
You know, we sometimes forgethow young he is.
And uh, you know, and the otherthing is he's still growing, and
this is interesting because onething I've noticed certainly in
the canes camp, and and againwith what I've seen so far with
the Wolves, um, he looksstronger to me.
Uh and and I think it's givinghim the confidence out there.
(10:26):
He's making plays, and ofcourse, a shot.
He's firing it, he's firing itwith conviction this year, and I
think that's a big difference aswell.
And he's got a number of powerplay goals already, so that's
exciting.
So great stuff for uh FelixUnger Storm, and and as you say,
Andrew, we'll be watching himclosely because he's a lot of
fun this year, and I think he'sa guy that's uh getting himself
back in the trajectory of beinga possible cane at some sometime
(10:50):
not uh too far out.
Uh so that's exciting.
Now, somebody that wasn't on theradar and certainly wasn't even
in anybody's attention, signedby the Wolves in the offseason,
uh, did go to the prospectshowcase, uh spent some time, of
course, in the canes camp beforehe came uh to the wolves camp,
and that's Evan Veerling.
And we talked a little bit aboutVerling last time.
(11:12):
He's a guy that uh he he youknow he's a little older, he's
23, he's played uh, you know, inthe ECHL, some uh a little bit
of action in the AHL, but he wasa guy that was drafted in the
fifth round by the Rangers in2020.
And one thing I liked about him,he had a big year with Barry
Colts in the Ontario League.
Now, Barrie is my hometown, sothis is exciting, and uh so
(11:32):
that's a lot of fun.
Uh 95 points in 60 games.
And so he was a guy that when uhthe Rangers drafted him, you
know, he was he his trajectorywas going up, and that was
exciting.
Um, last year 22 points and 21games in the ECHL, but this year
he's on a tear right now.
He's got five goals his lasteight games.
What is going on with EvanBirling?
SPEAKER_01 (11:54):
Sometimes it's a mixture between you know the
right ingredients and the rightopportunity, and you just in
this league, you have to havethat mindset of bringing it
every night because you neverknow what where you're gonna get
slided up in the lineup.
Some guy gets called up, anotherguy gets injured.
(12:14):
Suddenly, here you are as afourth liner, and you're up
playing on the power play, andyou have you know Nikia
Pavlichev uh as your center anda stud winger in Unger Sorum,
and you don't have any time tobreathe.
You're just you're show us whatyou got.
And he's absolutely risen to theoccasion uh of plugging up in
(12:36):
that second line and not lookingout of place at all in doing so.
And you know, it's notnecessarily like you see, like,
wow, he's he's blowing you awaywith his his speed or or his
shot again.
He's just he's such a smartplayer.
He's um, you know, they theythey utilize him on the penalty
kill and on the power play, andand that just goes to show, you
(13:00):
know, what what this coachingstaff thinks of him and how much
they trust him to put him in inin all sorts of situations.
And again, you when you're kindof wondering what the lineup was
looking like in the sea in thebeginning of the season, and
then you get just the naturalplayer movement, who's gonna
step up?
Well, this is the this this isthe guy.
(13:21):
He answered that question prettyquickly.
And um, again, you know, I've Isaid it before, I say it again.
I love the stories of these guyswho who who don't quit, who put
their nose to the to thegrindstone, it might take a
franchise here or there or two,but then they can they can
really show out and and showwhat they're capable of doing.
(13:42):
And I've loved the work ethiche's brought every night, and he
he went very quickly from likewho's this guy to he's he's got
uh a fan following already withthe Wolves fans.
They they they love him, and youknow, I it's it's gonna be tough
when you know as this team getsgets healthier and you get more
(14:03):
guys in there to to move himdown while if he keeps playing
like this.
I mean, you know, just puttingthe goals up, putting you know,
in tents on the four check.
I just I'm I'm a big fan of hisgame, and I like to see, you
know, as the year goes on, whatmore can he bring to the table?
Because right, you're gonna haveguys like you know, Yasuka
(14:25):
coming back from injury who aregonna be challenging for those
top six spots.
Are you gonna let this guy takeyour minutes or are you gonna
show him like this is this is mythis is my job now?
So it's it's that thatcompetitive side of this league
that you know I I love to seelike what you know what are you
willing to do to keep it going?
(14:47):
And I I'm excited to see whathe's got to bring.
SPEAKER_00 (14:50):
Well, you know, he may he may slide down with uh
Skylar Brindemore and JosiahSlavin, which would be an
outstanding third line, uhsimilar to what the canes do.
He's he's versatile.
And one thing he's been he'sbeen doing the job on, as you
say, in the specialty teams, hehas a short-handed goal, and uh,
I think he's had some success onthe power play as well.
(15:10):
So he's a guy that's uh he'skind of come out of nowhere, but
boy, it's gonna be crowded onceall these players return uh to
the wolves.
And and uh it's gonna beinteresting, as you say, to see
you know how that's gonna playout.
But he's definitely making acase to be one of those players
uh getting uh lots of ice timeas the season goes on.
Really exciting stuff with uhwith Evan Vierling.
(15:32):
Um now, look, and NikitaPavlichev, I just want to say
this about him.
I like him.
I think he's uh I think he's aguy that continues to grow with
Chicago.
Uh you know, there were timeslast year where he got on a tear
and he was scoring a lot ofgoals in a short period of time.
But anyway, he's I think he's agood solid center for that crew.
Um does a lot of the heavylifting and uh and really
(15:54):
compliments those two guys.
So great lines.
Um if we look at uh the line youtalked about as well, Andrew,
and that's of course the topline, uh, with uh Ryan Suzuki
centering for Bradley Nadeau,and of course Justin Robodaugh,
I want to talk about JustinRobodaugh for a minute.
This guy, every time I see him,I'm impressed by Justin
Robodaugh.
You know, he's a smaller player,very stocky, but he's always
(16:18):
doing something.
Even with the canes, when he getup in the exhibition games and
so on, and and last year in hiscall-up, he was, he was, you
could see him.
He was noticeable.
And this year, he's been playingthe right side, which is kind of
exciting.
And he seems to have adaptedquite nicely to that.
He's got uh he's got in his lastfive games, he's got five
points, he's got 12 points in 14games.
(16:40):
He started a little bit slow,but he's really finding his way
now.
And he's a guy that again, uh hedoes it all.
He'll kill penalties, work thepower play, whatever you want
from uh Justin Robodai, you getit.
What are you seeing with Justinthis year so far?
SPEAKER_01 (16:54):
I've said it again and again with this guy.
It's it's just consistency andsuch a mature game from such a
young player that has impressedme really since he he showed up
on the scene last year.
And um, you know, you know whatyou're gonna get from him every
single night.
(17:14):
There's I've I can't reallyrecall a whole lot of games
where I'm like, well, you know,Roby didn't really seem like he
was he was on top of it.
Like even when he's not puttingpoints in, he finds ways to to
contribute, you know,defensively, finds ways to, you
know, get the transition gamegoing offensively.
It's just he it might not alwaysshow up on the score sheet, even
(17:36):
though he does pretty regularly,but he you always feel his
presence in the game one way oranother.
And you know, yeah, he might notbe the the biggest guy out
there, but he doesn't playsmall, you know.
And uh it there's such adifference between being small
and playing small.
And um, you know, you can kindof get away with with being
(17:57):
small in this league if you'reskilled enough.
You can't play small very often,especially at the next level.
And I think that's what worksout really well for for Robodot
is that he has that mature200-foot game.
He's uh again, I I love what hecan bring defensively on top of
what he can bring offensively.
(18:18):
And you know, he doesn't carethat he's not six foot five.
He's gonna play his game and andit's shown to work for him.
And it's you know, it's I itthere's a reason he's got he's
you know, he's always been apart of that leadership group.
You just you know what you'regetting night in and night out.
(18:38):
And when the coach when thecoaches can rely on that, it's
that that speaks volumes for forwhere you're gonna go in this
game, whether it's here, whetherit's at the next level, it's you
know, it's uh he's got so muchmore runway ahead of him because
you know of that that mentalitythat he brings every night.
SPEAKER_00 (18:57):
Well, and I think the move to right wing is a
smart one.
Uh I think that'll give him abetter opportunity to move
forward with the canes.
You know, we've already got uhyou know, we got a mighty might
already with uh LoganStankhoven, and he's proving
that uh you don't have to be thebiggest guy on the roster to
make things happen, and he'scertainly been off to a great
start with the canes as well.
(19:17):
So I think Robodaugh, I youknow, I think he's in the mix.
Um I've talked about him for along time with the same view
that uh he just is a guy that uhhe's strong on the puck, he's he
just he's good in the face-offdot, he can help out there
because he's you know, again, hecan he can do that good work as
well.
But it's exciting to see him onthis line with a couple of real
(19:39):
uh dynamite players in RyanSuzuki and of course Bradley
Nadeau.
That line to me is is reallyscary.
And uh they're gonna get theirmojo going because now that
Nadeau's back and kind ofgetting settled in again, um
Suzuki's been there all year,from what I can tell.
Boy, what this is gonna be agreat line.
SPEAKER_01 (20:00):
It was a great line last year, too.
So when I I've already enjoyedseeing, you know, what I from
what I've seen from Nadeau goingup to Carolina and then coming
back here, even if it was justfor a handful of games, you can
already see what you know thosewhat what he takes from from
(20:23):
that next level, whether it'syou know from Rod or Captain
Jordan Stahl or whoever you canyou can already feel that that
like this is uh uh NHL player,you know, making just those next
level plays at at speed, youknow.
I think that's really thedifference, the biggest
difference between the NHL andthe AHL is just these guys have
(20:47):
a ton of talent for sure, butthe plays happen so much faster
in the next level.
When you see a guy who'singrained in that that speed,
even for just you know a coupleof games, and then comes back
here, it's like bang, bang,everything they're just so much
further ahead of everyone else.
They might as well have cementin their skates.
So then now you you know you puta uh a playmaker like Ryan
(21:12):
Suzuki with them, uh absolutejunkyard dog like Justin Robodal
with them, and it's it it it'sit was already a super dangerous
line, but you just throw thatlittle bit in into the mix, and
it's gonna be it's gonna be somuch more.
And and Nadeau has been doingobviously everyone knows about
his shot and everything, buthe's you know been so much
(21:35):
better responsible defensivelythis year.
I've loved what I've seen fromhim on the four-check, and it's
when you can add thosedimensions to your game on top
of having an absolutely lethalshot, it's it's you become go
from a just a pure sniper tojust an all-around great player.
It's it adds a dimension to yourteam, it's it adds a dimension
(21:58):
to that line.
Um, I'd love to see Ryan Suzukishoot the puck a couple more
times, but I don't it's it'shard to not pass it off to
Nadeau as often as is as youcan.
So um, and you know, we spent alot of time on that on that
second line.
When you have to force so muchattention to that top line, it
(22:20):
opens up so many opportunitiesfor those guys, and that's an
adage that exists in all levelsof hockey.
So, you know, you kind of feltthat maybe they might have been
a little one-dimensional lastyear where they relied too much
on this line.
Then once they started thatsecond line starts getting a
little more attention, it opensup just it it everyone feasts
(22:43):
when everyone's playing well.
It's just it's it's one of thegreat things about this game.
So again, you know, love whatI'm seeing, and I think that
there's even more for them togive us.
SPEAKER_00 (22:55):
Yeah, and I mean the the hope for a lot of us is that
Bradley will get a chance on inthe top six where he can really
start to show what he can do.
Unfortunately, he was uh he wason that fourth line, which was a
bit of a challenge.
And I thought, again, he handledhimself extremely well, doing
some heavy lifting defensively,you know, and playing hard on
the puck and so on.
And he's he's growing that partof his game, and I'm sure that's
(23:18):
that's the focus for everyone isto get him to the point where
you know he can play in anysituation.
And as you say, he he's an eliteshooter, and he improved that,
you know, of course, scoring agoal with the canes.
So yeah, Bradley, um, keepwatching him, and he's a guy
that'll continue to you knowround out his game.
And you know, there'll probablybe injuries at some point.
(23:39):
We'll see him back up uh on thebig club, and uh and we'll be
very excited for that.
And I know a lot of folks uhcertainly uh around the time
that he was coming back werehoping he would hang around for
a while because they really likethe way he plays.
So good for you to see him backin Chicago, and uh those of us
who like to see him with games,we'll have to hang on for a
while.
In any case, uh one other playerI was going to mention on the
(24:01):
forward side, um, SkylarBrindemore.
We talk about him a lot.
He's a guy that uh lunchpillguy, uh like his dad, just out
there, you know, making thingshappen.
He's been scoring the odd goalas well, and uh and just really
brings, you know, a certaindimension to this team that I
think is critical.
Uh he along with uh his limemate Josiah Slavin, and I said
(24:24):
before, they're very much likeStahl and and uh Jordan Martin.
It's amazing, right?
It's uh it's like a combinationthat uh that really fits.
So what are we seeing withSkylar?
Is he uh is he continuing to uhget the job done with Chicago?
SPEAKER_01 (24:39):
Yeah, he's I've I've said it before on this pod, and
I'll say it again.
He's basically a carbon copy ofhis dad's game.
You know, he's uh when he's kindof always take, I noticed, out
there to start overtimes to takethat opening face-off draw.
And then once I'm pretty surehe's won all of them.
(25:00):
Now you can check my math onthat, but once he wins it, it's
then it's he goes, he goes to hehe knows his role and he goes to
the bench and they make a changeimmediately.
And I I I love the the selflessattitude of like, you know, to
to go in there, win it for myteam, and then you know, sub
out.
I there's just better optionsoffensively.
It's nothing against Skylar, buthe's he he's he's a guy who who
(25:24):
plays his role so well for thatsquad, both him and Slavin both.
And you know, it's it's it's soeasy to just kind of take a look
at the at the score sheets andjust be like, okay, well,
obviously, you know, if he feelexorum, he's at the top of the
list, he must be the bestplayer.
And uh that's down that's notnecessarily true all of the
(25:44):
time, you know, and you can'tjudge a player's value just
based on on what the numberslook like based on on the score
sheet.
And he offers so many of thosethose little things and fighting
and digging in those puckbattles and and fighting out
front for rebounds and losechange and and sacrificing
himself on the penalty kill, youknow.
(26:06):
It's I yeah, I kind of maybewish that the penalty kill
numbers were better, but that'snot necessarily just like a
Skylar thing.
It's an entire everyone everyonepulls everyone pulls together on
on that unit.
You know, when they all win,they're all together.
When they're all when they getscored on, they're all together.
So it's um, but he he providesso much for that team that these
(26:28):
these coaches just they theylove this kid, they love what he
can bring.
And again, I'll be the first oneto admit again, freely on this
podcast, that like I was like,oh, okay, it's Rod's son, I get
it.
But you know, here we are yeartwo, and you know, it's it's
it's more than just uh you knowa friend of the family.
(26:50):
He's um he's he's really he'sreally helped pull this uh this
this PK unit up and and helppull this team up entirely, and
and he knows his role and playsit as well as you can ask of
him.
SPEAKER_00 (27:05):
Well, and you know, the Wolves are structured very
much like the Hurricanes.
You know, it's a kind of bycommittee.
Um you've got folks who havedifferent types of roles, and
uh, and I think Skylar certainlyuh he's he's a guy that fills a
very strong role.
And as the season goes on andyou head towards you know the
playoffs and so on, he's thekind of player that can really
(27:27):
be a different uh a differencemaker for you know for the
Wolves.
I I really look forward to seehow that plays out this year
because I think he's a guy thatcan bring a lot more, and he's
he's continuing to uh to be animpressive player, I think, uh,
whenever I see him for sure.
Um rounding on the forward side,I just want to ask you if you
(27:48):
knew anything about these guys.
Yuha Yaska, you mentionedbefore, and of course Giovanni
Smith has not been around for awhile.
What's going on with the injuryside?
SPEAKER_01 (27:57):
Yeah, it's uh Yasuka hasn't, I I know you know Keynes
fans are pretty uh familiar withhim being injured over the uh um
in the preseason.
Right.
From uh from what I can I canreveal, he's still kind of
battling that.
Getting closer to to returning,I was kind of hoping by now he
(28:18):
would have uh he would have madeit into the lineup, but you
know, sometimes these guys needuh need a little extra time, and
I think you know, with as wellas they've been playing, maybe
we can kind of like ease himinto it.
We don't need uh to plug himinto that top six immediately.
Um and and Giovanni Smith was inthere for a handful of games.
I know a couple weeks ago, Ithink he got he got dinged up,
(28:40):
and uh and I don't think it'sit's too severe again.
I can't there's only so much I'mI'm allowed to say.
I need to I need to keep mysources at the heart.
But um there uh you know I don'texpect either of these guys to
be like you know long-term outor or anything like that.
(29:01):
Um it's just you know, on it'suh it's uh it's a fast-paced
game where guys get hit with allsorts of manners of pucks and
bodies and sticks, and they'rejust gonna need some time to get
back on the mend.
SPEAKER_00 (29:14):
Yeah, and and you know, as as uh some of these
players come back, of course,they're gonna be uh they're
gonna be significant ads for theChicago team.
I mean, Yaska, we know what hecan do.
And Giovanni Smith, uh boy, hehad a tremendous training camp
with the Kanes.
So both of these guys can play astrong role and uh should
strengthen and improve theoverall uh Wolves team when they
(29:36):
come back.
So that's exciting.
You know, the defensive corps,we've talked a lot about the D
Corps, but boy, it's been uhit's been kind of interesting as
well.
What's been going on with the DCorps?
SPEAKER_01 (29:48):
It's been a blunder, I can tell you that.
It's uh which I guess comes asno surprise with uh you know
with Slavin and Chatfield goingdown up top, uh, and then Lego
with the unfortunate injury thathe had.
So, you know, here's a couple ofguys, I mean, on top of Lego,
you have Nistrom and andFensori, who's been going back
(30:12):
and forth like a yo-yo.
And uh three guys that you'reyou're expected to lean on all
of a sudden aren't uh they'renot there.
And again, no one in thisleague's gonna feel bad for you.
So who steps up?
Um I I gotta I Gotta say, like Iknow that I knew that the kid
(30:33):
was talented, but having a19-year-old and Dominic Bedinka
doing what he's been doing hasuh has been just the the
happiest of surprises for forme.
Um and I'm sure for for uh forCoach Spiro and Astis, who who
coaches that defensive unit.
Um so you know Bedinka has hasbeen awesome.
(30:55):
Gavin Beiruther has honestlybeen one of the uh I don't
necessarily want to saysurprising because I've I've
seen him play a couple ofseasons over in Cleveland and I
I you know you know he's uh he'sa solid player that you can rely
on.
But I don't think they wereexpecting to rely on him this
much.
(31:16):
And but again, it's just it's itin this league, you have to be
you have to be ready for thoseopportunities, whether you're
you know, you're gonna be onthat on the third pairing or the
the first pairing, it couldchange in an instant.
So he um, you know, he he's backafter I think uh season or two
over in Europe.
(31:37):
Um and uh you know, just toprovide that steady veteran
presence that I think you knowonce they had Ty Smith and uh
and uh Joachim Ryan leave overthe offseason kind of helped,
you know, fill that in.
And uh he's honestly been one ofthe more like like again, uh we
weren't expecting you to be ahero, but we're glad that you're
(31:59):
here kind of things.
Like similar similar toVeerling, but not like in a came
out of nowhere kind of thing.
More as like a well, you got abigger role and you're running
away with it, so we appreciateyou.
SPEAKER_00 (32:13):
Well, yeah, I mean it's interesting.
Uh, you know, looking at GavinBaer, of course, he did he did
uh play with uh with Columbusfor a couple of seasons.
We saw him uh a fair bit there,and and you know, it's kind of
interesting to see how thingsplayed out.
He ended up with Ozan inSwitzerland last year.
Um so another one of thesesituations where you know you
kind of go where you can play.
(32:35):
Uh, but uh, you know, again,brought over as a veteran, could
play the odd game with theKeynes, but more importantly, I
think to mentor these young guysuh in Chicago.
And you mentioned Ty Smith andJoachim Ryan.
Smith actually ended up inRussia.
He's with Omsk, uh Avant GardeOMSC right now, which is kind of
interesting.
And uh and Joachim Ryan is stilla UFA, he has not signed a deal
(32:58):
anywhere.
So uh interesting how thesethings play out.
Uh, but here we are withBeeruther, and he's I think he's
doing a real nice job, and he'sbeen supplying some offense as
well.
Um popped in some goals, and anduh and I think you know he's
been really critical with uhwith Dominic Bedenka.
And you know, Bedenka I thoughtlooked really good in uh in the
(33:23):
exhibition games with the canesand so on.
He saw some ice up there, theywere playing him a fair bit.
And one thing I noticed aboutDom was he was not uh phased by
anything.
Okay, like he just he just he'dgo and he'd do anything and he
was calm, he was always kind ofin control, saw the ice well,
and really kind of suggestedboy, he he's got to be older
(33:47):
than 19 years old.
I mean, you know, what the heck,right?
Um so yeah, and and so I've beenexcited to hear what you're
saying about Bodinka becauseagain, uh relatively high draft
pick, a second rounder for theCanes, a guy that uh they really
wanted um when they when theydrafted him, and he had been
playing with Malmo uh actuallyin the men's league there.
(34:09):
So, you know, he was alreadyplaying against men, and and uh
so I think that's one of thethings that has helped him in
making the transition uh at thisstage, and the canes wanted to
get him with Spiro's and Astusand get him over here where uh
where this Chicago team could doit.
So Bedenka um again, he's gonnajust continue to get better.
(34:31):
And as you say, through all ofthis, this defensive pair has
been really critical, right?
SPEAKER_01 (34:37):
Yeah, oh absolutely.
And and again, in spots whereyou weren't expecting to have
them playing such a big role ona team that you know has has
sure, it's it's kind of had itsgrowing pains earlier in the
year, but it's it's continuingits its upward trajectory, it's
been playing great hockey, andthese guys are holding down the
(34:59):
fort in in their own end.
And it's it's when you've had tohave contributors, you're not
really expecting to to step inthe roles like that.
It's it you know, it elevatesyour your whole unit.
And then you have other guys.
Another guy I wanted to talkabout was uh was Bryce
Montgomery.
Yes, another guy I wasn'texpecting to see a whole lot of
(35:22):
this year, and we've seen a lotof them, and so have the other
team in front of the Wolves net,and it's been a nightmare for
him because of it.
And I I I love that that elementof his game, just that
physicality.
I mean, that was kind of likehow I played when I was back in
the day, you know, big, realthick defender.
(35:42):
So when I can see other guysdoing it the same, like I just I
I get I get up for it.
Um you know, he's been he's beenin there physically, he's been
clearing the front of the nets,he's been dropping the mitts
where where it's been called forit.
And uh, you know, again, you Iwasn't sure how much of
Montgomery we were gonna seethis year.
(36:03):
You get the call, you gotta riseup and you gotta answer it.
And he's you know, he's pickedup the phone and then some.
So I've I've loved what I'vebeen able to see out of him.
Uh on top of uh Badinka growcontinuing to grow into his
role, Beiru, they're showing theway, Himo Salmi holding it down.
It's um, you know, it's it's notjust gonna be one guy to to
(36:27):
replace the three really thathave been called up, including
Fensorian that, although he'sback down, which is yeah,
thankfully he's back and thentomorrow he's gonna get called
back up and then he's gonna comeback down again.
Um, but he's uh again, it's alla collective group effort, as
I've said before, to you know toget things going.
(36:48):
And everyone's everyone steppedup.
You know, it's it's it's onething to say, you know, this
guy's got the talent, this,that, or the other, but
everyone's rising to theoccasion and and answering the
call.
And that to me, that that thatcomes from coaching, to put
these guys in positions tosucceed, even if the water level
might be above their heads whilethese guys are swimming with the
(37:09):
current anyway.
So it's that's how you get ateam, no matter what the the
call-ups are, the injuries,this, that, and the other.
It's just how you get a team towin.
SPEAKER_00 (37:19):
Well, Bryce Montgomery, we've seen him a
couple of years uh at the uhProspect Showcase.
I always I was kind of amazed hewas in the ECHL.
I thought he should be in theAmerican Hockey League.
And and he's a guy that uh, youknow, whenever I've seen him,
has accorded himself well.
Uh he skates well, he's a bigman, of course, and as you say,
he can lay it on pretty thick.
(37:40):
Um and again, he's uh he'ssomeone that uh you know he's
getting a real chance here.
So that's exciting.
Alexei Himasalmi, of course, hewas in last year.
He's a guy that uh, again, wasvery highly rated by the Canes.
And it's kind of been uh kind ofbeen up and down, but he's
certainly uh stepping up rightnow and doing a great job.
As we wrap up the D, I'd beremiss if I don't mention
(38:03):
Dominic Consori because I alwaysmention Dom just because he's
one of my favorite players.
Dom uh, of course, uh got off toan incredible start uh and then
started this yo-yo with thecanes and uh sits right now uh
with 11 points in 11 games.
He's uh actually in fifth placein the AHL for defenseman.
So he's he's hanging in therenicely, but he's a guy that
(38:26):
again, um, boy, he can do itall.
SPEAKER_01 (38:29):
Yeah, and again, kind of in that same mold of of
Justin Robodaugh, where he mightbe small, but he doesn't play
small.
And you know, some bigger guyshave tried to bully him, and he
just he just bulldogs right backat him.
And I I love that mentality fromhim.
Uh I mean, such a smooth skater,both with and without the puck.
(38:52):
And that adds such a dimensionto you know, transition the puck
out from defense into offense,and you can get that puck up to
guys like Ungersorum or orSuzuki and have them distribute.
Like it just it adds so much tothe team.
So it's it's nice when it'shere.
I kind of hope Carolina gets alittle healthy so he can stay
here a little longer.
(39:13):
But um, you know, he when again,he's another guy who can, if he
gets the call up to the to thehurricanes, he rises to the
occasion and he can he plays hisgame.
And I think that thisorganization does a good job of
coaching them up to where it'sjust it's such a seamless
transition to go up to thehurricanes.
Because all I kept reading aboutis like, wow, Lego, wow,
(39:35):
Nishstrom, wow, Nadeau.
Like you hear these guys come upand they don't really look like
your typical rookies.
And and I love to see thatbecause you know I can I see
these guys here, and yeah, Iwant them to play in Chicago and
I want them to help this teamout for sure, but you're gonna
root for these guys when they goup to Carolina and they get
their shots.
So, you know, I I it's the samething for Dom.
(39:57):
And the last thing I'll say, youknow, I had a uh 50th
anniversary post about theEdmund Fitzgerald, and I didn't
realize that Dom was a bigEdmund Fitzgerald guy, and he he
liked the post, and that was themost recognition I got from him
ever on that.
SPEAKER_00 (40:12):
I think that's great.
SPEAKER_01 (40:13):
Oh, it was fantastic, you know.
So he's really embodying thatGreat Lakes spirit being here in
Chicago, and I I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (40:21):
Well, just as we wrap up the D, I I think I'd be
remiss if I don't mention theincredible contribution uh with
the hurricanes by Joel Nistrom.
And we had talked about him lastmonth.
Uh very excited about you allcoming over and and some of the
things that he was showing andcertainly showed in uh in
training camp with the Canes andthe Prospect Showcase and so on.
(40:43):
I think uh he is definitelystating very strongly that this
guy's ready for the NationalHockey League.
And his last game in particular,where he played over 20 minutes
and it just was outstanding tous.
He's just he's I don't know ifyou're gonna get him back.
SPEAKER_01 (41:00):
That's what I said.
I was like, well, those sevengames were fun.
And here we go.
But again, you know, you you youroot for those guys to take
those opportunities and to toabsolutely run with it.
So yeah, I I I love seeing that.
I didn't even think that he wasgonna play this good as good as
as he has.
(41:20):
And um, I not that he wasnecessarily bad down here in
Chicago, but just it it it justhe just took his uh you know,
took that again, took that calland and and and ran with it.
And I I love to see it.
I love to see the recognitionfrom the fans and the coaching
staff.
And yeah, it's it's just one ofthose things where I might not
(41:42):
see him again, but I'm notgonna, you know, I'm not gonna
lament on it.
We still have uh a lot of goodyoung talented defenders down
here, and and I I hope I don'tsee him again.
It would be wonderful for him ifI don't.
Maybe once, you know, Slavin andChatfield are healthy.
We might we might be seeing alittle more of them.
And then again, it was gonnahave that same effect it had on
(42:04):
the dough, where now you havethis guy who's used to playing
at that at that speed, all of asudden he looks like a
completely different player atthis level.
And you're gonna wonder, like,oh, okay, well, what's he doing
here?
But I will gladly accept himwhen that day comes.
SPEAKER_00 (42:19):
Well, yeah, and and again, uh, and and sure, it's
very possible he returns to theto the wolves, and and that
would be great for him.
Of course, he's still findinghis way in North America and
learning the system and so on.
But boy, wouldn't he be a greataddition to uh to add back to
the wolves and uh certainlyshore up the blues.
So very exciting there.
Um moving on to the goaltending.
(42:40):
Last month we were talking aboutsome concerns.
Uh Nikita Kwap was uh manningone of the goaltending spots,
and uh Amir Miptakov had justcome back from the Keynes camp
and uh and some work there wherehe really wasn't playing
particularly well.
And so uh things were a littlebit uh a little bit concerning.
Now, what are we seeing uh thesedays with the goaltending side?
SPEAKER_01 (43:03):
I feel like it took about a month, but I think we're
we're finally stable here.
Um with uh Caden Primo comingback makes uh absolute world of
a difference now that you knowonce Toronto sent him uh put him
on waivers, Carolina being theonly team that claimed him was
(43:23):
allowed to to snag him and sendhim immediately to Chicago
without opening him back up.
So now that you know you know,Primo, he's he had a tough
situation in in Toronto there.
They're not really the team thatthey have been in years past, so
it uh but at this level he'sabout as good of a goalie as you
(43:43):
can as you can.
I would say pretty parallel tokind of what we got with uh with
Spencer Martin there.
So now you know you can takesome of that weight off of of
Miftakov, who, you know, did uhuh admirably, I'll say.
You know, sure he kind of hadsome of his like what are you
(44:04):
doing moments, then he had someof his wow, that was amazing
moments.
So what what it offers is isstability.
You know, you can you can leanon on your veteran and primo,
you can you have another guywho's who's talented and and has
success across the seas and andMiftikov, and then you have your
your two younger guys and andHoseev and Kwap down in uh in
(44:27):
Greensboro.
Now we saw uh one game of ofRuslan Hoseev here, and I
thought he looked really good.
I thought he had well.
I don't know if if he's just notgetting a ton of support down
there in Greensboro, because I Iguess from what I've seen,
again, I just looking at thenumbers, I know it doesn't speak
(44:49):
the whole story, but looked likehe kind of had a rough start to
the season there.
I kind of was worried about him,but then you saw him in in
Chicago, and you're like, holyTana, this guy is uh you feel
like he's he's taken a stepafter after last season, which
you know, which is what you wantto see, is just kind of steady
growth from these younggoaltenders.
Um and and basically what sowhat I'm saying in the long run
(45:12):
is that I think you have more ofuh uh a structure here for all
four guys, where you know youget that that pivotal ice time
through those young goaltendersto keep working on their game
without the the the the theintensity of of the the speed
and the shots of the AHL.
(45:34):
You get just an absolute uh uhanchor in that and and primo,
you got your your backup andmiftikov, and you again we've
already seen the results, pointsin five straight games.
So as we continue forward, thatyou know, uh oh, uh like what's
(45:54):
going on in and net now can evenbecome a strength as the year
goes on.
And um, you know, it's it justagain it it it adds another
layer to a team that'scontinuing to play well, gather
points, move up in thestandings.
And I I I'm relieved as that Iwas a little worried there for a
(46:16):
second if Primo wasn't gonna becoming back like what the plan
was gonna be, but happy to seeit.
SPEAKER_00 (46:22):
Yeah, and I think the Keynes probably felt
relatively comfortable that theyget a chance to uh to reclaim
Caden Primo.
And of course they signed him inthe offseason, they did that
deal uh with Montreal to gethim.
So he's a guy that they wanted.
They definitely I think he wasearmarked for Chicago right from
the start.
And I think he's a guy that uh,again, as you say, his American
(46:46):
Hockey League performance hasbeen amazing.
And at different times, he'sdone the same for the Montreal
Canadians.
He went through some stretcheswhere he was outstanding.
I think the Leaf situation, asyou say, uh you can see overall
their numbers this year.
I you know, they um of course uhAnthony Stolars was lights out
last year.
He's not so much this year.
And I think that's part of whatuh the Leafs are going through
(47:09):
as a team.
They're just not nearly as good.
And they're missing some keyplayers that have moved on.
Umtikoff, um, good to see he'sturning to go.
Of course, he's a good buddy ofuh Andrey Svetnikov.
So uh he's got a real strongconnection with the Hurricanes.
Miftikov, as you mentioned, ofcourse, he had played in North
America for a while.
He went back over uh to playwith Akbars and was tremendous
(47:32):
in the uh KHL, and that's one ofthe reasons the Keynes really
wanted to sign him.
Um and you know, again, findinghis way, new team, new
situation, um, a little bit of atough camp.
So, you know, I think he'll findhis mojo, and I think, as you
say, these two guys are gonna beoutstanding.
And boy, to have a guy like uhRuslan Kazi right behind in uh
(47:53):
Greensboro, he's gonna get lotsof playing time.
Uh and I know Nikita Coop justwent down, so he he's finally
down in Greensboro as well.
I think he went down the 17th,so that's kind of fun.
Uh, we'll watch these two guysand see how they're gonna do.
So um lots going on with theteam in general, playing well,
(48:13):
uh started off, you know, it'sbeen kind of a mixed season, but
starting to get some of theseplayers back.
And I think uh similar to thehurricanes, I think it's thumbs
up.
As we take a look at the nextmonth, um, what do you what are
you looking at uh in terms of uhof the Wolves?
What do you think they're gonnabe able to do and and where do
you see any of the toughmatchups?
SPEAKER_01 (48:33):
Yeah, they have the uh they have a five-game road
trip um coming up to finish offthe the month of November,
starting off in in in sunnyManitoba coming up.
And uh, you know, the Moose arethey're they're a better team
than they were.
They have been the last coupleof years, which was really bad.
(48:54):
Now they're kind of like middleof the pack.
But they're always they're allthey're they're always kind of
uh uh I don't want to say kindof like rivals, because everyone
feels like a rival when you playthem 12 times a year.
But you know, Spencer Martin,Pyotr Kochekov, Dustin Tokarsky,
all these goalies always seem toget in in mix-ups with the
(49:16):
Manitoba Moose.
So I'm looking for uh forMontgomery or Yanny Turkot to be
to be big factors in uh in thisweekend series coming up.
Well, technically it starts onThursday, but it feels like a
long weekend.
But then they also have uh youknow Rockford and uh and
Manitoba again.
(49:37):
So a lot of moose is gonna becoming up over these next few
games.
I think one, two, three, four,five matchups over the next six
games are are moose.
So it's gonna it's gonna havethat bit of playoff feel.
You're gonna really hate seeingManitoba by the time it's all
set.
SPEAKER_00 (49:51):
Oh man, that's insane.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (49:56):
And um so this, like I said, this is has been a squad
that they're you know, they'reused to seeing eight, ten times
a season.
Right.
And uh, and then you also haveRockford in there, and Rockford
kind of had their number alittle bit early in the season.
Um, I believe Nick Lardis hasbeen hurt, he was leading the
(50:18):
league and scoring for a littlebit.
And Oliver Moore, who was one ofthose guys where I saw him, I'm
like, what's this guy doing inthis league?
Chicago had the same idea, he'sup with the Blackhawks now.
Um, so you're gonna have adifferent team, but it's gonna
be it's it's still ever asdangerous.
They have a couple of good younggoaltenders.
Uh unfortunately, the name ofthe one guy from I believe
(50:39):
Belarus, who really impressedme.
I can't remember his name offthe top of my head.
I will go ahead and look thatup.
But then you have Drew Camessothere who you know highly
talented and he's he's beenthere for a little while.
Um and and just alwaysdangerous.
Brett Seney has feel like he'sbeen there for a decade.
He's um he's he's been wonderfulfor that team for as long as I
(51:02):
can remember, and been a realbig leader, producing the
points.
Again, he's another one of thoseguys who's not he's not the
biggest, but he he's got a snarlto his game.
It's kind of Marshawn like, youknow, where he's always just
kind of in your face and andputting points up, and you just
sometimes you just want to wringhis neck, but at the end of the
day, you have to respect youhave to respect him and what
(51:24):
what he could bring.
So um, you know, those Rockfordgames are always uh they're
always they're always whiteknucklers, you know, in one form
or another.
SPEAKER_00 (51:33):
So that's what about Milwaukee?
There's several games withMilwaukee coming up as well.
What are you seeing with uh withthat hockey club?
SPEAKER_01 (51:40):
Milwaukee is it I've seen them with just absolute top
line talent, and I've seen themwith a bunch of nobodies.
And they're dangerous no matterwho is in that lineup.
I think Carl Taylor, who's thebeen again the head coach of
Milwaukee for what seems likethe better part of the last 10
years now, is uh he's he's oneof the best in the business as
(52:04):
at this level, and I think inthis game, really overall.
And I've you know, I've alwaysloved what he's been able to
pull out.
Again, whether it's it's uh it'sYaroslav Askerov and Joachim
Kemel, these top flight picks,or whether it's you know, um
just uh Ty Feliber who comes upout of the ECHL and all of a
(52:25):
sudden he's an absolute menaceagainst you, you know.
It's it doesn't necessarily seemto matter who like the draft
pedigree or how well regardedthese guys are, if they're top
picks or if they're journeymen,he finds a way to pull out the
best of you out of them.
And again, they're second in thethe division.
(52:46):
I've in all my time covering theAHL, I've never seen Milwaukee
have a bad season.
And it's like it's notnecessarily infuriating, but
it's like, okay, you know, yousee Iowa on the schedule, you're
not quite as worried, and yousee Milwaukee and you're like,
oh, Milwaukee again.
Um but it it it just it's atestament to what that coaching
(53:08):
staff is able to do with with nomatter what they're they're
given to by Nashville or anyone,they they find a way to pull the
best out of these players.
It it really it's it's it's kindof the standard that you want at
this league, no matter who's inthe lineup, that you know you're
gonna be getting a good game outof them.
So um that's it's it's it's agood bar setter.
(53:29):
Um, you know, Chicago had oneearlier uh a couple weeks ago
where you know played well, lostit in overtime on their ice.
Um, I think that was a schoolday game.
That's why I didn't I don't havea great moment.
Um but uh yeah, like I said,it's it's it's one of those
benchmark games, you know, likewhere are we at as a team?
(53:50):
Like we know if we can if we cango in there, get a couple points
against them, play really well,we're on the right track.
Because historically, this isthe team.
Like you're not gonna see whereyou're at as a team by playing
the Iowa Wild.
And I don't mean to disparageanyone in that organization, but
they've been in the basement formost of my time, whereas
(54:11):
Milwaukee's been up here.
So that's kind of where wherethe high water mark is.
And you know, once you get outof this, out of this road trip
and out of this war withManitoba, they're waiting there
on the other side.
So it'll be a good mark to seekind of where this team's at as
as we kind of get into Decemberand and uh and get into the real
(54:32):
meat of the season.
Like it still kind of feels likeeveryone's figuring it out a
little bit here, but you know,the points are gonna are gonna
are matter just more and more aswe go on.
So I'm excited and excited andlooking forward to kind of
seeing where we're what we'regonna see out of this team
because they're they're showingthat they're no slouches either
(54:54):
in this division.
So um it's gonna be justcontinued battles and seeing
kind of who uh you know it'sit's not a merit, it's not a
sprint, it's a marathon, and seewho uh who's gonna end up with
it at uh as we go on.
SPEAKER_00 (55:10):
Well, just uh just to wrap up then, Andrew, any
players that we should be uhkind of keeping an eye on over
this next uh this month of a lotof Manitoba and Milwaukee, who
should we be uh putting the eyeon?
SPEAKER_01 (55:23):
Well, I kind of highlighted Yannie Turkot and
Bryce Montgomery already, andI'll kind of continue to do that
because as you see these guys uhagain and again, as the the
chirps start going back andforth, you're just gonna just
gonna hate hate them more andmore and more.
So I think uh you know your teammight be down a goal or two, and
(55:45):
you need that that spark coming.
That's gonna be those are gonnabe the guys who are gonna answer
the bell.
And uh if it's gonna get chippy,they're gonna be the ones that
are gonna be right in the middleof it.
And um it's the you know,they're the usual suspects for
sure.
They're the the the the guy, thebiggest guys out there, and they
know how to take care of theirteammates, and they've they've
already shown it time and timeagain this season, we're only a
(56:08):
month in.
So it's uh I'll I'll highlightthose guys for sure.
And while Nikita Pavlichev's notknown for that, he's six foot
seven.
He's the best.
There was uh a funny sequence inthe Cleveland game where um I
forget, I'm forgetting the nameof the monster.
It's not the biggest guy, he'sabout five foot nine.
Kind of Pavlychev gets uh makeshim contact with the goaltender
(56:32):
and he gets a swipe from thisguy, and Nikita just goes no,
that's that's a bad idea.
Again, he's not necessarilyknown for picking up the penalty
minutes, but at his, you know,at his stature, uh when the
rough stuff comes going, he'snot necessarily gonna say no
either.
So I I expect it to be uh to bea grind over these next few
(56:54):
games here with the moose.
And um, you know, Pavlichev cancan contribute physically, he
can contribute with his stick.
I think he's gonna be a big XFactor for him into this uh into
this mini playoff series kind ofwith with the Moose.
SPEAKER_00 (57:09):
Well it'd be great if uh the second line with uh
Pavlichev uh leading those guys,of course, with Evan Veerling
and uh uh Felix Ungerstorm cancontinue their fine play.
And you have to expect that thebig line with uh Ryan Suzuki,
Justin Robodaugh, and of courseBradley Nadeau, they're gonna be
key uh as well in this roadtrip.
(57:29):
So it's gonna be fun to seethis.
We'll be watching closely to seehow it all plays out.
Andrew, as always, it's beenjust great fun talking.
The Chicago Wolves.
Uh, where can folks find you?
SPEAKER_01 (57:40):
Yeah, so I continue my written work on with uh on
tap sports network.
We're uh Chicago-based, justevery Chicago team out there
outlet, and um I continue mystuff there.
You can find me on I'm gonnacontinue to say Twitter until
the end of time.
Um that would be uh at Andrewunderscore Ronaldi underscore.
(58:04):
And um again, I continue to giveupdates on the team, live tweet
during the games.
I love chatting with fans aboutanything you might have
questions about, anything youwant to talk about.
Um yeah, I if you couldn't tell,I love talking about the game of
hockey.
So it's uh it's great to shareit with with everyone out there.
And um yeah, it's it's why Icontinue to do this over uh I
(58:28):
mean this would be my it's beenfive years now, and I've loved
every bit of it.
So um if if anyone reaches outto me, it'll help me continue to
keep on loving it because it'sit's it's it's been a wonderful
experience getting to know allof the fans and to be able to
share this this uh what thisteam has been able to do and and
(58:50):
all the players that have comethrough and all the wonderful
people that work with the team.
It's been a real treat, and Ifeel very blessed to be in the
position that I am to do it.
SPEAKER_00 (59:00):
Well, listen, uh it's great fun talking hockey
with you as well.
So it's uh you know, we all kindof enjoy that.
And you know, your knowledge ofwhat's going on with the Wolves.
Uh I know uh Wolves fans andHurricanes fans are delighted to
hear this.
And uh as always, uh thanks somuch for spending time with us,
Andrew.
It's been great, great, great uhfun as usual.
(59:21):
For those of you who've beenwatching or listening, uh Andrew
and I, of course, are delightedyou spent time with us.
If you like this episode, pleasepress the like button.
If you have any questions orcomments, or just want to say hi
to Andrew or myself or othermembers of StormTracker, please
leave those in the commentsection down below.
And of course, if you want to bealerted of future episodes of
(59:43):
Storm Tracker, please press thesubscribe and the bell buttons,
and we'll alert you just as soonas they are available.
Once again, Andrew and I thankyou very much for spending time
with us, and we look forward togetting together with you real
soon right here on StormTracker.
Well, Chicago Wolves are on a roll, going unbeaten in
regulation in their last five,gaining eight of a possible ten
points in that span.
Wolves are led by the usualsuspects, veterans including
Justin Robadoff, Felix UngerSorm, and Dominic Vensori, but
they're also getting strongcontributions from Evan
(00:53):
Beerling, Dominic Badenka, andGavin Beiruther.
So, lots of players uh steppingup for this team as they
continue to play well.
And joining me to talk about therecent run and what we can look
forward in the coming month withthe Wolves, of course, our
insider Andrew Rinaldi.
Hey Andrew, great to have you onboard.
SPEAKER_01 (01:15):
Always great to be here, Tom.
Thanks for having me again.
SPEAKER_00 (01:18):
Well, for sure.
And you know, the Wolves areplaying great hockey.
You know, it's it's been a kindof an up and down season for
them, too, in terms of players,because of course the Canes have
been reaching out regularly andtrying to pull up some of the
players that uh, of course, wereintended to be key players uh
for the Wolves this year.
And yet here's the Wolvessitting just four points back,
(01:41):
uh division leading GrandRapids.
What have we been seeing withthe Wolves?
What's going on?
SPEAKER_01 (01:47):
Yeah, it's the the common theme with this league.
I know I've said it many timeson this pod, and regular
listeners are gonna hear itagain and again and again.
No one in this league is gonnacare when you're when your guys
get called up because everyonegoes through it in the American
League.
But um, you know, the the Wolveshave just they've they've stuck
(02:09):
to their to their identity andthey've continued to just it's
kind of that old next man upcliche, but when literally your
next man up is getting called upto the hurricanes every five
minutes.
You just gotta you just gottaroll with the punches.
And you know, the wolves have uhthey they've adhered to their
structure no matter who who's inthe lineup at any given time.
(02:32):
And um, you know, they'rethey're finding ways to to grind
out these wins.
And it's it's it's been aprocess for sure because I think
there was uh there's a couplehiccups earlier on in the
season, but they're starting tokind of really come into their
own.
And you know, even with the theshifting looks in the lineup,
(02:53):
there's there's those those coreguys that are really kind of
leading the way.
And I mean, you know, well,we're we'll get into it, but as
the the rest of the rest of thelineup just kind of follows
after the example that they set.
The coaches are putting theseguys into a position to succeed,
and yeah, despite missing a lotof big contributors, they're
(03:13):
they're third in a verycompetitive central division.
And uh, you know, it's a j it'sI feel like they're on a
positive trajectory to keep thismomentum moving on in the rest
of the season.
SPEAKER_00 (03:24):
Yeah, and you know, they they look to be playing a
very similar game to the to theHurricanes.
You know, they uh they play ahard game, a heavy game.
Uh Cam Abbott's got them uh youknow just just really coming
together as a team.
And you know, you've had sometop players out.
Um, you know, clearly, I meanyou lost you lost uh Joel Joel
(03:44):
Nestrom for the entire uh justabout the last uh you know month
or month and a half.
Um Dominic Fensori has been inand out.
Of course, he was called up tothe Keynes.
Um Charles Alexis Lego uh wasn'texpected to be there for long.
Now he's out with a seriousinjury for for an extended
period.
That's not great for the Wolves.
(04:05):
And then uh some of the forwardsas well.
Um, you know, we look at uh atsome injuries, Yuha Yaska has
has not seen the light of daywith the Wolves as yet.
So yeah.
Uh and you look at the lineup onuh on the 16th, uh, this recent
game against Cleveland, and it'skind of interesting because you
know you've got a I think a linethat's really starting to gel
(04:29):
and really starting to get itgoing.
And of course, that's the secondline with Nikita Pavlichev, and
of course Felix Unger Sorm,who's been doing a great job,
and Evan Vierling, and we'lltalk a little bit about him as
well.
What have you been seeing withthat line?
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
It's the the straw that stirs the drink for this
team.
It's and it's you reallywouldn't expect that, right?
Because it's but usually thatSuzuki, Nidau, and lately Justin
Robodot combination that'sthat's you know, always kind of
been the uh the driver of theplay.
And while I mean they've lookedgood for sure, it's um having
(05:06):
that that dynamic on the secondline, I think that kind of takes
those those second defensivematchups.
Uh it has really opened up a lotof space for these guys.
You know, I again I know we'regonna get into Anger Sorum later
on, but I can't stop talkinggood things about this kid.
And you know, Nikita Pavlitchevand Evan Vierling are two guys
(05:27):
who, you know, when you hadTyson Jost, who's expected to be
here, get claimed on waivers,you had Bradley Nadeau called
up.
And, you know, there's all theseopportunities for guys to come
in and make contributions.
You know, I I'll admit I didn'treally know a whole lot about
Evan Vierling coming into thisseason.
And most everyone in in Rosemontknows who Evan Vierling is now.
(05:52):
And um it's uh those are thekind of stories I love about
this league where where theseguys, you know, they're coming
in out of maybe out of the coaston an AHL contract and and and
show in and and play well andreally make a name for
themselves.
And they've uh you know, they'vebeen responsible in their own
(06:13):
zone.
They've the the lengths thatsome of these shifts where they
spend in the offensive zone justwears teams out after after a
time.
So you you love to see kind ofthis, the the positive results
from even even when they're notyou know putting the puck in a
net, just the the positive, youknow, plus shifts continuously,
(06:34):
you know, over and over.
It's eventually good things willhappen, and they're happening
with regularity, and it'shelping them to get onto this
five-game point streak thatthey've been on lately.
SPEAKER_00 (06:46):
Well, and let's talk about Felix Undersorm.
I mean, he's uh I think he had agreat camp with the Kanes this
year.
Uh, you know, we talked about itbefore.
Last year was not a great yearfor him, just 20 points.
Uh, you know, he just neverreally got on track.
He was playing center for awhile.
This year he's back on thatright side.
He's got uh six goals and sevenassists in 14 games.
(07:08):
He's got five points this lastfive games.
What are you seeing withUngersor?
SPEAKER_01 (07:13):
Confidence.
It's all I it's it's confidence.
And I think a lot of it is, youknow, last year you saw the
flashes, but right, he'sadjusting to a new league, he's
adjusting to a new position.
And I think it was just a lottask for a 19-year-old in this
league to, you know, let's let'sput him in at center and and see
(07:35):
what happens.
And you know, it's just he justnever really looked like he he
had the uh had just the the theconfidence in his own game to
take that next step.
Like you could see the flashesthere, you could see like he's
making a good play, he knowswhere to be, but he either he's
a step too slow or he'sindecisive and and then the
(07:58):
puck's going the other way.
So now on the wing, he's got alittle more space, he's got that
extra year of experience.
He knows uh he's just he's morecomfortable there, and and uh
and he looks like a completelydifferent player, honestly.
And you know, of course, he's ayear older, you're gonna kind of
expect that growth of a guywho's so young, but when he's
got the those intangibles thatthe smarts for the game,
(08:22):
understanding like when to kindof pull up and slow the game
down, wait for the the pass toopen up.
I mean, it's just it's it's alot of fun to see it happen.
I the the Sunday game againstCleveland that just happened
this past weekend, he had uhjust this this fantastic, I
mean, this entry into the zone,the patience to kind of get the
(08:45):
cycle going, does it go all theway back around in the offensive
zone to come up back door?
The defender didn't even realizethat he was there.
But Dinka hits him with a with apass there and and just just one
touch.
So by the time the defensemanturns around and even defend
him, it's already on Veerlingstick and it's in the back of
the net.
And that's what I'm saying.
(09:05):
He thinks the game steps aheadof these other guys, and it's
you know, uh the seeing now it'sseeing him with playing with
that confidence is is allowinghis game to just to just
continue to skyrocket.
And it's it's it's been a treatto to watch because I was kind
of not that I was I wasn'texpecting him to grow, but just
(09:30):
to to do it so quickly after uha rough uh uh kind of a rough
introduction to the league lastyear.
It's um it's been a lot of fun,I'll say that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:43):
Well, he's definitely brought himself back
into the uh the attention of uhof the canes uh brass for sure.
And you know, he was soimpressive a couple of years
ago, you recall in trainingcamp, and and there was so much
discussion about should he staywith the canes and what would
happen to him.
And uh, of course he went backhome, but cane back uh uh this
(10:06):
side of the ocean, of course,last year for his first year.
You know, we sometimes forgethow young he is.
And uh, you know, and the otherthing is he's still growing, and
this is interesting because onething I've noticed certainly in
the canes camp, and and againwith what I've seen so far with
the Wolves, um, he looksstronger to me.
Uh and and I think it's givinghim the confidence out there.
(10:26):
He's making plays, and ofcourse, a shot.
He's firing it, he's firing itwith conviction this year, and I
think that's a big difference aswell.
And he's got a number of powerplay goals already, so that's
exciting.
So great stuff for uh FelixUnger Storm, and and as you say,
Andrew, we'll be watching himclosely because he's a lot of
fun this year, and I think he'sa guy that's uh getting himself
back in the trajectory of beinga possible cane at some sometime
(10:50):
not uh too far out.
Uh so that's exciting.
Now, somebody that wasn't on theradar and certainly wasn't even
in anybody's attention, signedby the Wolves in the offseason,
uh, did go to the prospectshowcase, uh spent some time, of
course, in the canes camp beforehe came uh to the wolves camp,
and that's Evan Veerling.
And we talked a little bit aboutVerling last time.
(11:12):
He's a guy that uh he he youknow he's a little older, he's
23, he's played uh, you know, inthe ECHL, some uh a little bit
of action in the AHL, but he wasa guy that was drafted in the
fifth round by the Rangers in2020.
And one thing I liked about him,he had a big year with Barry
Colts in the Ontario League.
Now, Barrie is my hometown, sothis is exciting, and uh so
(11:32):
that's a lot of fun.
Uh 95 points in 60 games.
And so he was a guy that when uhthe Rangers drafted him, you
know, he was he his trajectorywas going up, and that was
exciting.
Um, last year 22 points and 21games in the ECHL, but this year
he's on a tear right now.
He's got five goals his lasteight games.
What is going on with EvanBirling?
SPEAKER_01 (11:54):
Sometimes it's a mixture between you know the
right ingredients and the rightopportunity, and you just in
this league, you have to havethat mindset of bringing it
every night because you neverknow what where you're gonna get
slided up in the lineup.
Some guy gets called up, anotherguy gets injured.
(12:14):
Suddenly, here you are as afourth liner, and you're up
playing on the power play, andyou have you know Nikia
Pavlichev uh as your center anda stud winger in Unger Sorum,
and you don't have any time tobreathe.
You're just you're show us whatyou got.
And he's absolutely risen to theoccasion uh of plugging up in
(12:36):
that second line and not lookingout of place at all in doing so.
And you know, it's notnecessarily like you see, like,
wow, he's he's blowing you awaywith his his speed or or his
shot again.
He's just he's such a smartplayer.
He's um, you know, they theythey utilize him on the penalty
kill and on the power play, andand that just goes to show, you
(13:00):
know, what what this coachingstaff thinks of him and how much
they trust him to put him in inin all sorts of situations.
And again, you when you're kindof wondering what the lineup was
looking like in the sea in thebeginning of the season, and
then you get just the naturalplayer movement, who's gonna
step up?
Well, this is the this this isthe guy.
(13:21):
He answered that question prettyquickly.
And um, again, you know, I've Isaid it before, I say it again.
I love the stories of these guyswho who who don't quit, who put
their nose to the to thegrindstone, it might take a
franchise here or there or two,but then they can they can
really show out and and showwhat they're capable of doing.
(13:42):
And I've loved the work ethiche's brought every night, and he
he went very quickly from likewho's this guy to he's he's got
uh a fan following already withthe Wolves fans.
They they they love him, and youknow, I it's it's gonna be tough
when you know as this team getsgets healthier and you get more
(14:03):
guys in there to to move himdown while if he keeps playing
like this.
I mean, you know, just puttingthe goals up, putting you know,
in tents on the four check.
I just I'm I'm a big fan of hisgame, and I like to see, you
know, as the year goes on, whatmore can he bring to the table?
Because right, you're gonna haveguys like you know, Yasuka
(14:25):
coming back from injury who aregonna be challenging for those
top six spots.
Are you gonna let this guy takeyour minutes or are you gonna
show him like this is this is mythis is my job now?
So it's it's that thatcompetitive side of this league
that you know I I love to seelike what you know what are you
willing to do to keep it going?
(14:47):
And I I'm excited to see whathe's got to bring.
SPEAKER_00 (14:50):
Well, you know, he may he may slide down with uh
Skylar Brindemore and JosiahSlavin, which would be an
outstanding third line, uhsimilar to what the canes do.
He's he's versatile.
And one thing he's been he'sbeen doing the job on, as you
say, in the specialty teams, hehas a short-handed goal, and uh,
I think he's had some success onthe power play as well.
(15:10):
So he's a guy that's uh he'skind of come out of nowhere, but
boy, it's gonna be crowded onceall these players return uh to
the wolves.
And and uh it's gonna beinteresting, as you say, to see
you know how that's gonna playout.
But he's definitely making acase to be one of those players
uh getting uh lots of ice timeas the season goes on.
Really exciting stuff with uhwith Evan Vierling.
(15:32):
Um now, look, and NikitaPavlichev, I just want to say
this about him.
I like him.
I think he's uh I think he's aguy that continues to grow with
Chicago.
Uh you know, there were timeslast year where he got on a tear
and he was scoring a lot ofgoals in a short period of time.
But anyway, he's I think he's agood solid center for that crew.
Um does a lot of the heavylifting and uh and really
(15:54):
compliments those two guys.
So great lines.
Um if we look at uh the line youtalked about as well, Andrew,
and that's of course the topline, uh, with uh Ryan Suzuki
centering for Bradley Nadeau,and of course Justin Robodaugh,
I want to talk about JustinRobodaugh for a minute.
This guy, every time I see him,I'm impressed by Justin
Robodaugh.
You know, he's a smaller player,very stocky, but he's always
(16:18):
doing something.
Even with the canes, when he getup in the exhibition games and
so on, and and last year in hiscall-up, he was, he was, you
could see him.
He was noticeable.
And this year, he's been playingthe right side, which is kind of
exciting.
And he seems to have adaptedquite nicely to that.
He's got uh he's got in his lastfive games, he's got five
points, he's got 12 points in 14games.
(16:40):
He started a little bit slow,but he's really finding his way
now.
And he's a guy that again, uh hedoes it all.
He'll kill penalties, work thepower play, whatever you want
from uh Justin Robodai, you getit.
What are you seeing with Justinthis year so far?
SPEAKER_01 (16:54):
I've said it again and again with this guy.
It's it's just consistency andsuch a mature game from such a
young player that has impressedme really since he he showed up
on the scene last year.
And um, you know, you know whatyou're gonna get from him every
single night.
(17:14):
There's I've I can't reallyrecall a whole lot of games
where I'm like, well, you know,Roby didn't really seem like he
was he was on top of it.
Like even when he's not puttingpoints in, he finds ways to to
contribute, you know,defensively, finds ways to, you
know, get the transition gamegoing offensively.
It's just he it might not alwaysshow up on the score sheet, even
(17:36):
though he does pretty regularly,but he you always feel his
presence in the game one way oranother.
And you know, yeah, he might notbe the the biggest guy out
there, but he doesn't playsmall, you know.
And uh it there's such adifference between being small
and playing small.
And um, you know, you can kindof get away with with being
(17:57):
small in this league if you'reskilled enough.
You can't play small very often,especially at the next level.
And I think that's what worksout really well for for Robodot
is that he has that mature200-foot game.
He's uh again, I I love what hecan bring defensively on top of
what he can bring offensively.
(18:18):
And you know, he doesn't carethat he's not six foot five.
He's gonna play his game and andit's shown to work for him.
And it's you know, it's I itthere's a reason he's got he's
you know, he's always been apart of that leadership group.
You just you know what you'regetting night in and night out.
(18:38):
And when the coach when thecoaches can rely on that, it's
that that speaks volumes for forwhere you're gonna go in this
game, whether it's here, whetherit's at the next level, it's you
know, it's uh he's got so muchmore runway ahead of him because
you know of that that mentalitythat he brings every night.
SPEAKER_00 (18:57):
Well, and I think the move to right wing is a
smart one.
Uh I think that'll give him abetter opportunity to move
forward with the canes.
You know, we've already got uhyou know, we got a mighty might
already with uh LoganStankhoven, and he's proving
that uh you don't have to be thebiggest guy on the roster to
make things happen, and he'scertainly been off to a great
start with the canes as well.
(19:17):
So I think Robodaugh, I youknow, I think he's in the mix.
Um I've talked about him for along time with the same view
that uh he just is a guy that uhhe's strong on the puck, he's he
just he's good in the face-offdot, he can help out there
because he's you know, again, hecan he can do that good work as
well.
But it's exciting to see him onthis line with a couple of real
(19:39):
uh dynamite players in RyanSuzuki and of course Bradley
Nadeau.
That line to me is is reallyscary.
And uh they're gonna get theirmojo going because now that
Nadeau's back and kind ofgetting settled in again, um
Suzuki's been there all year,from what I can tell.
Boy, what this is gonna be agreat line.
SPEAKER_01 (20:00):
It was a great line last year, too.
So when I I've already enjoyedseeing, you know, what I from
what I've seen from Nadeau goingup to Carolina and then coming
back here, even if it was justfor a handful of games, you can
already see what you know thosewhat what he takes from from
(20:23):
that next level, whether it'syou know from Rod or Captain
Jordan Stahl or whoever you canyou can already feel that that
like this is uh uh NHL player,you know, making just those next
level plays at at speed, youknow.
I think that's really thedifference, the biggest
difference between the NHL andthe AHL is just these guys have
(20:47):
a ton of talent for sure, butthe plays happen so much faster
in the next level.
When you see a guy who'singrained in that that speed,
even for just you know a coupleof games, and then comes back
here, it's like bang, bang,everything they're just so much
further ahead of everyone else.
They might as well have cementin their skates.
So then now you you know you puta uh a playmaker like Ryan
(21:12):
Suzuki with them, uh absolutejunkyard dog like Justin Robodal
with them, and it's it it it'sit was already a super dangerous
line, but you just throw thatlittle bit in into the mix, and
it's gonna be it's gonna be somuch more.
And and Nadeau has been doingobviously everyone knows about
his shot and everything, buthe's you know been so much
(21:35):
better responsible defensivelythis year.
I've loved what I've seen fromhim on the four-check, and it's
when you can add thosedimensions to your game on top
of having an absolutely lethalshot, it's it's you become go
from a just a pure sniper tojust an all-around great player.
It's it adds a dimension to yourteam, it's it adds a dimension
(21:58):
to that line.
Um, I'd love to see Ryan Suzukishoot the puck a couple more
times, but I don't it's it'shard to not pass it off to
Nadeau as often as is as youcan.
So um, and you know, we spent alot of time on that on that
second line.
When you have to force so muchattention to that top line, it
(22:20):
opens up so many opportunitiesfor those guys, and that's an
adage that exists in all levelsof hockey.
So, you know, you kind of feltthat maybe they might have been
a little one-dimensional lastyear where they relied too much
on this line.
Then once they started thatsecond line starts getting a
little more attention, it opensup just it it everyone feasts
(22:43):
when everyone's playing well.
It's just it's it's one of thegreat things about this game.
So again, you know, love whatI'm seeing, and I think that
there's even more for them togive us.
SPEAKER_00 (22:55):
Yeah, and I mean the the hope for a lot of us is that
Bradley will get a chance on inthe top six where he can really
start to show what he can do.
Unfortunately, he was uh he wason that fourth line, which was a
bit of a challenge.
And I thought, again, he handledhimself extremely well, doing
some heavy lifting defensively,you know, and playing hard on
the puck and so on.
And he's he's growing that partof his game, and I'm sure that's
(23:18):
that's the focus for everyone isto get him to the point where
you know he can play in anysituation.
And as you say, he he's an eliteshooter, and he improved that,
you know, of course, scoring agoal with the canes.
So yeah, Bradley, um, keepwatching him, and he's a guy
that'll continue to you knowround out his game.
And you know, there'll probablybe injuries at some point.
(23:39):
We'll see him back up uh on thebig club, and uh and we'll be
very excited for that.
And I know a lot of folks uhcertainly uh around the time
that he was coming back werehoping he would hang around for
a while because they really likethe way he plays.
So good for you to see him backin Chicago, and uh those of us
who like to see him with games,we'll have to hang on for a
while.
In any case, uh one other playerI was going to mention on the
(24:01):
forward side, um, SkylarBrindemore.
We talk about him a lot.
He's a guy that uh lunchpillguy, uh like his dad, just out
there, you know, making thingshappen.
He's been scoring the odd goalas well, and uh and just really
brings, you know, a certaindimension to this team that I
think is critical.
Uh he along with uh his limemate Josiah Slavin, and I said
(24:24):
before, they're very much likeStahl and and uh Jordan Martin.
It's amazing, right?
It's uh it's like a combinationthat uh that really fits.
So what are we seeing withSkylar?
Is he uh is he continuing to uhget the job done with Chicago?
SPEAKER_01 (24:39):
Yeah, he's I've I've said it before on this pod, and
I'll say it again.
He's basically a carbon copy ofhis dad's game.
You know, he's uh when he's kindof always take, I noticed, out
there to start overtimes to takethat opening face-off draw.
And then once I'm pretty surehe's won all of them.
(25:00):
Now you can check my math onthat, but once he wins it, it's
then it's he goes, he goes to hehe knows his role and he goes to
the bench and they make a changeimmediately.
And I I I love the the selflessattitude of like, you know, to
to go in there, win it for myteam, and then you know, sub
out.
I there's just better optionsoffensively.
It's nothing against Skylar, buthe's he he's he's a guy who who
(25:24):
plays his role so well for thatsquad, both him and Slavin both.
And you know, it's it's it's soeasy to just kind of take a look
at the at the score sheets andjust be like, okay, well,
obviously, you know, if he feelexorum, he's at the top of the
list, he must be the bestplayer.
And uh that's down that's notnecessarily true all of the
(25:44):
time, you know, and you can'tjudge a player's value just
based on on what the numberslook like based on on the score
sheet.
And he offers so many of thosethose little things and fighting
and digging in those puckbattles and and fighting out
front for rebounds and losechange and and sacrificing
himself on the penalty kill, youknow.
(26:06):
It's I yeah, I kind of maybewish that the penalty kill
numbers were better, but that'snot necessarily just like a
Skylar thing.
It's an entire everyone everyonepulls everyone pulls together on
on that unit.
You know, when they all win,they're all together.
When they're all when they getscored on, they're all together.
So it's um, but he he providesso much for that team that these
(26:28):
these coaches just they theylove this kid, they love what he
can bring.
And again, I'll be the first oneto admit again, freely on this
podcast, that like I was like,oh, okay, it's Rod's son, I get
it.
But you know, here we are yeartwo, and you know, it's it's
it's more than just uh you knowa friend of the family.
(26:50):
He's um he's he's really he'sreally helped pull this uh this
this PK unit up and and helppull this team up entirely, and
and he knows his role and playsit as well as you can ask of
him.
SPEAKER_00 (27:05):
Well, and you know, the Wolves are structured very
much like the Hurricanes.
You know, it's a kind of bycommittee.
Um you've got folks who havedifferent types of roles, and
uh, and I think Skylar certainlyuh he's he's a guy that fills a
very strong role.
And as the season goes on andyou head towards you know the
playoffs and so on, he's thekind of player that can really
(27:27):
be a different uh a differencemaker for you know for the
Wolves.
I I really look forward to seehow that plays out this year
because I think he's a guy thatcan bring a lot more, and he's
he's continuing to uh to be animpressive player, I think, uh,
whenever I see him for sure.
Um rounding on the forward side,I just want to ask you if you
(27:48):
knew anything about these guys.
Yuha Yaska, you mentionedbefore, and of course Giovanni
Smith has not been around for awhile.
What's going on with the injuryside?
SPEAKER_01 (27:57):
Yeah, it's uh Yasuka hasn't, I I know you know Keynes
fans are pretty uh familiar withhim being injured over the uh um
in the preseason.
Right.
From uh from what I can I canreveal, he's still kind of
battling that.
Getting closer to to returning,I was kind of hoping by now he
(28:18):
would have uh he would have madeit into the lineup, but you
know, sometimes these guys needuh need a little extra time, and
I think you know, with as wellas they've been playing, maybe
we can kind of like ease himinto it.
We don't need uh to plug himinto that top six immediately.
Um and and Giovanni Smith was inthere for a handful of games.
I know a couple weeks ago, Ithink he got he got dinged up,
(28:40):
and uh and I don't think it'sit's too severe again.
I can't there's only so much I'mI'm allowed to say.
I need to I need to keep mysources at the heart.
But um there uh you know I don'texpect either of these guys to
be like you know long-term outor or anything like that.
(29:01):
Um it's just you know, on it'suh it's uh it's a fast-paced
game where guys get hit with allsorts of manners of pucks and
bodies and sticks, and they'rejust gonna need some time to get
back on the mend.
SPEAKER_00 (29:14):
Yeah, and and you know, as as uh some of these
players come back, of course,they're gonna be uh they're
gonna be significant ads for theChicago team.
I mean, Yaska, we know what hecan do.
And Giovanni Smith, uh boy, hehad a tremendous training camp
with the Kanes.
So both of these guys can play astrong role and uh should
strengthen and improve theoverall uh Wolves team when they
(29:36):
come back.
So that's exciting.
You know, the defensive corps,we've talked a lot about the D
Corps, but boy, it's been uhit's been kind of interesting as
well.
What's been going on with the DCorps?
SPEAKER_01 (29:48):
It's been a blunder, I can tell you that.
It's uh which I guess comes asno surprise with uh you know
with Slavin and Chatfield goingdown up top, uh, and then Lego
with the unfortunate injury thathe had.
So, you know, here's a couple ofguys, I mean, on top of Lego,
you have Nistrom and andFensori, who's been going back
(30:12):
and forth like a yo-yo.
And uh three guys that you'reyou're expected to lean on all
of a sudden aren't uh they'renot there.
And again, no one in thisleague's gonna feel bad for you.
So who steps up?
Um I I gotta I Gotta say, like Iknow that I knew that the kid
(30:33):
was talented, but having a19-year-old and Dominic Bedinka
doing what he's been doing hasuh has been just the the
happiest of surprises for forme.
Um and I'm sure for for uh forCoach Spiro and Astis, who who
coaches that defensive unit.
Um so you know Bedinka has hasbeen awesome.
(30:55):
Gavin Beiruther has honestlybeen one of the uh I don't
necessarily want to saysurprising because I've I've
seen him play a couple ofseasons over in Cleveland and I
I you know you know he's uh he'sa solid player that you can rely
on.
But I don't think they wereexpecting to rely on him this
much.
(31:16):
And but again, it's just it's itin this league, you have to be
you have to be ready for thoseopportunities, whether you're
you know, you're gonna be onthat on the third pairing or the
the first pairing, it couldchange in an instant.
So he um, you know, he he's backafter I think uh season or two
over in Europe.
(31:37):
Um and uh you know, just toprovide that steady veteran
presence that I think you knowonce they had Ty Smith and uh
and uh Joachim Ryan leave overthe offseason kind of helped,
you know, fill that in.
And uh he's honestly been one ofthe more like like again, uh we
weren't expecting you to be ahero, but we're glad that you're
(31:59):
here kind of things.
Like similar similar toVeerling, but not like in a came
out of nowhere kind of thing.
More as like a well, you got abigger role and you're running
away with it, so we appreciateyou.
SPEAKER_00 (32:13):
Well, yeah, I mean it's interesting.
Uh, you know, looking at GavinBaer, of course, he did he did
uh play with uh with Columbusfor a couple of seasons.
We saw him uh a fair bit there,and and you know, it's kind of
interesting to see how thingsplayed out.
He ended up with Ozan inSwitzerland last year.
Um so another one of thesesituations where you know you
kind of go where you can play.
(32:35):
Uh, but uh, you know, again,brought over as a veteran, could
play the odd game with theKeynes, but more importantly, I
think to mentor these young guysuh in Chicago.
And you mentioned Ty Smith andJoachim Ryan.
Smith actually ended up inRussia.
He's with Omsk, uh Avant GardeOMSC right now, which is kind of
interesting.
And uh and Joachim Ryan is stilla UFA, he has not signed a deal
(32:58):
anywhere.
So uh interesting how thesethings play out.
Uh, but here we are withBeeruther, and he's I think he's
doing a real nice job, and he'sbeen supplying some offense as
well.
Um popped in some goals, and anduh and I think you know he's
been really critical with uhwith Dominic Bedenka.
And you know, Bedenka I thoughtlooked really good in uh in the
(33:23):
exhibition games with the canesand so on.
He saw some ice up there, theywere playing him a fair bit.
And one thing I noticed aboutDom was he was not uh phased by
anything.
Okay, like he just he just he'dgo and he'd do anything and he
was calm, he was always kind ofin control, saw the ice well,
and really kind of suggestedboy, he he's got to be older
(33:47):
than 19 years old.
I mean, you know, what the heck,right?
Um so yeah, and and so I've beenexcited to hear what you're
saying about Bodinka becauseagain, uh relatively high draft
pick, a second rounder for theCanes, a guy that uh they really
wanted um when they when theydrafted him, and he had been
playing with Malmo uh actuallyin the men's league there.
(34:09):
So, you know, he was alreadyplaying against men, and and uh
so I think that's one of thethings that has helped him in
making the transition uh at thisstage, and the canes wanted to
get him with Spiro's and Astusand get him over here where uh
where this Chicago team could doit.
So Bedenka um again, he's gonnajust continue to get better.
(34:31):
And as you say, through all ofthis, this defensive pair has
been really critical, right?
SPEAKER_01 (34:37):
Yeah, oh absolutely.
And and again, in spots whereyou weren't expecting to have
them playing such a big role ona team that you know has has
sure, it's it's kind of had itsgrowing pains earlier in the
year, but it's it's continuingits its upward trajectory, it's
been playing great hockey, andthese guys are holding down the
(34:59):
fort in in their own end.
And it's it's when you've had tohave contributors, you're not
really expecting to to step inthe roles like that.
It's it you know, it elevatesyour your whole unit.
And then you have other guys.
Another guy I wanted to talkabout was uh was Bryce
Montgomery.
Yes, another guy I wasn'texpecting to see a whole lot of
(35:22):
this year, and we've seen a lotof them, and so have the other
team in front of the Wolves net,and it's been a nightmare for
him because of it.
And I I I love that that elementof his game, just that
physicality.
I mean, that was kind of likehow I played when I was back in
the day, you know, big, realthick defender.
(35:42):
So when I can see other guysdoing it the same, like I just I
I get I get up for it.
Um you know, he's been he's beenin there physically, he's been
clearing the front of the nets,he's been dropping the mitts
where where it's been called forit.
And uh, you know, again, you Iwasn't sure how much of
Montgomery we were gonna seethis year.
(36:03):
You get the call, you gotta riseup and you gotta answer it.
And he's you know, he's pickedup the phone and then some.
So I've I've loved what I'vebeen able to see out of him.
Uh on top of uh Badinka growcontinuing to grow into his
role, Beiru, they're showing theway, Himo Salmi holding it down.
It's um, you know, it's it's notjust gonna be one guy to to
(36:27):
replace the three really thathave been called up, including
Fensorian that, although he'sback down, which is yeah,
thankfully he's back and thentomorrow he's gonna get called
back up and then he's gonna comeback down again.
Um, but he's uh again, it's alla collective group effort, as
I've said before, to you know toget things going.
(36:48):
And everyone's everyone steppedup.
You know, it's it's it's onething to say, you know, this
guy's got the talent, this,that, or the other, but
everyone's rising to theoccasion and and answering the
call.
And that to me, that that thatcomes from coaching, to put
these guys in positions tosucceed, even if the water level
might be above their heads whilethese guys are swimming with the
(37:09):
current anyway.
So it's that's how you get ateam, no matter what the the
call-ups are, the injuries,this, that, and the other.
It's just how you get a team towin.
SPEAKER_00 (37:19):
Well, Bryce Montgomery, we've seen him a
couple of years uh at the uhProspect Showcase.
I always I was kind of amazed hewas in the ECHL.
I thought he should be in theAmerican Hockey League.
And and he's a guy that uh, youknow, whenever I've seen him,
has accorded himself well.
Uh he skates well, he's a bigman, of course, and as you say,
he can lay it on pretty thick.
(37:40):
Um and again, he's uh he'ssomeone that uh you know he's
getting a real chance here.
So that's exciting.
Alexei Himasalmi, of course, hewas in last year.
He's a guy that uh, again, wasvery highly rated by the Canes.
And it's kind of been uh kind ofbeen up and down, but he's
certainly uh stepping up rightnow and doing a great job.
As we wrap up the D, I'd beremiss if I don't mention
(38:03):
Dominic Consori because I alwaysmention Dom just because he's
one of my favorite players.
Dom uh, of course, uh got off toan incredible start uh and then
started this yo-yo with thecanes and uh sits right now uh
with 11 points in 11 games.
He's uh actually in fifth placein the AHL for defenseman.
So he's he's hanging in therenicely, but he's a guy that
(38:26):
again, um, boy, he can do itall.
SPEAKER_01 (38:29):
Yeah, and again, kind of in that same mold of of
Justin Robodaugh, where he mightbe small, but he doesn't play
small.
And you know, some bigger guyshave tried to bully him, and he
just he just bulldogs right backat him.
And I I love that mentality fromhim.
Uh I mean, such a smooth skater,both with and without the puck.
(38:52):
And that adds such a dimensionto you know, transition the puck
out from defense into offense,and you can get that puck up to
guys like Ungersorum or orSuzuki and have them distribute.
Like it just it adds so much tothe team.
So it's it's nice when it'shere.
I kind of hope Carolina gets alittle healthy so he can stay
here a little longer.
(39:13):
But um, you know, he when again,he's another guy who can, if he
gets the call up to the to thehurricanes, he rises to the
occasion and he can he plays hisgame.
And I think that thisorganization does a good job of
coaching them up to where it'sjust it's such a seamless
transition to go up to thehurricanes.
Because all I kept reading aboutis like, wow, Lego, wow,
(39:35):
Nishstrom, wow, Nadeau.
Like you hear these guys come upand they don't really look like
your typical rookies.
And and I love to see thatbecause you know I can I see
these guys here, and yeah, Iwant them to play in Chicago and
I want them to help this teamout for sure, but you're gonna
root for these guys when they goup to Carolina and they get
their shots.
So, you know, I I it's the samething for Dom.
(39:57):
And the last thing I'll say, youknow, I had a uh 50th
anniversary post about theEdmund Fitzgerald, and I didn't
realize that Dom was a bigEdmund Fitzgerald guy, and he he
liked the post, and that was themost recognition I got from him
ever on that.
SPEAKER_00 (40:12):
I think that's great.
SPEAKER_01 (40:13):
Oh, it was fantastic, you know.
So he's really embodying thatGreat Lakes spirit being here in
Chicago, and I I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (40:21):
Well, just as we wrap up the D, I I think I'd be
remiss if I don't mention theincredible contribution uh with
the hurricanes by Joel Nistrom.
And we had talked about him lastmonth.
Uh very excited about you allcoming over and and some of the
things that he was showing andcertainly showed in uh in
training camp with the Canes andthe Prospect Showcase and so on.
(40:43):
I think uh he is definitelystating very strongly that this
guy's ready for the NationalHockey League.
And his last game in particular,where he played over 20 minutes
and it just was outstanding tous.
He's just he's I don't know ifyou're gonna get him back.
SPEAKER_01 (41:00):
That's what I said.
I was like, well, those sevengames were fun.
And here we go.
But again, you know, you you youroot for those guys to take
those opportunities and to toabsolutely run with it.
So yeah, I I I love seeing that.
I didn't even think that he wasgonna play this good as good as
as he has.
(41:20):
And um, I not that he wasnecessarily bad down here in
Chicago, but just it it it justhe just took his uh you know,
took that again, took that calland and and and ran with it.
And I I love to see it.
I love to see the recognitionfrom the fans and the coaching
staff.
And yeah, it's it's just one ofthose things where I might not
(41:42):
see him again, but I'm notgonna, you know, I'm not gonna
lament on it.
We still have uh a lot of goodyoung talented defenders down
here, and and I I hope I don'tsee him again.
It would be wonderful for him ifI don't.
Maybe once, you know, Slavin andChatfield are healthy.
We might we might be seeing alittle more of them.
And then again, it was gonnahave that same effect it had on
(42:04):
the dough, where now you havethis guy who's used to playing
at that at that speed, all of asudden he looks like a
completely different player atthis level.
And you're gonna wonder, like,oh, okay, well, what's he doing
here?
But I will gladly accept himwhen that day comes.
SPEAKER_00 (42:19):
Well, yeah, and and again, uh, and and sure, it's
very possible he returns to theto the wolves, and and that
would be great for him.
Of course, he's still findinghis way in North America and
learning the system and so on.
But boy, wouldn't he be a greataddition to uh to add back to
the wolves and uh certainlyshore up the blues.
So very exciting there.
Um moving on to the goaltending.
(42:40):
Last month we were talking aboutsome concerns.
Uh Nikita Kwap was uh manningone of the goaltending spots,
and uh Amir Miptakov had justcome back from the Keynes camp
and uh and some work there wherehe really wasn't playing
particularly well.
And so uh things were a littlebit uh a little bit concerning.
Now, what are we seeing uh thesedays with the goaltending side?
SPEAKER_01 (43:03):
I feel like it took about a month, but I think we're
we're finally stable here.
Um with uh Caden Primo comingback makes uh absolute world of
a difference now that you knowonce Toronto sent him uh put him
on waivers, Carolina being theonly team that claimed him was
(43:23):
allowed to to snag him and sendhim immediately to Chicago
without opening him back up.
So now that you know you know,Primo, he's he had a tough
situation in in Toronto there.
They're not really the team thatthey have been in years past, so
it uh but at this level he'sabout as good of a goalie as you
(43:43):
can as you can.
I would say pretty parallel tokind of what we got with uh with
Spencer Martin there.
So now you know you can takesome of that weight off of of
Miftakov, who, you know, did uhuh admirably, I'll say.
You know, sure he kind of hadsome of his like what are you
(44:04):
doing moments, then he had someof his wow, that was amazing
moments.
So what what it offers is isstability.
You know, you can you can leanon on your veteran and primo,
you can you have another guywho's who's talented and and has
success across the seas and andMiftikov, and then you have your
your two younger guys and andHoseev and Kwap down in uh in
(44:27):
Greensboro.
Now we saw uh one game of ofRuslan Hoseev here, and I
thought he looked really good.
I thought he had well.
I don't know if if he's just notgetting a ton of support down
there in Greensboro, because I Iguess from what I've seen,
again, I just looking at thenumbers, I know it doesn't speak
(44:49):
the whole story, but looked likehe kind of had a rough start to
the season there.
I kind of was worried about him,but then you saw him in in
Chicago, and you're like, holyTana, this guy is uh you feel
like he's he's taken a stepafter after last season, which
you know, which is what you wantto see, is just kind of steady
growth from these younggoaltenders.
Um and and basically what sowhat I'm saying in the long run
(45:12):
is that I think you have more ofuh uh a structure here for all
four guys, where you know youget that that pivotal ice time
through those young goaltendersto keep working on their game
without the the the the theintensity of of the the speed
and the shots of the AHL.
(45:34):
You get just an absolute uh uhanchor in that and and primo,
you got your your backup andmiftikov, and you again we've
already seen the results, pointsin five straight games.
So as we continue forward, thatyou know, uh oh, uh like what's
(45:54):
going on in and net now can evenbecome a strength as the year
goes on.
And um, you know, it's it justagain it it it adds another
layer to a team that'scontinuing to play well, gather
points, move up in thestandings.
And I I I'm relieved as that Iwas a little worried there for a
(46:16):
second if Primo wasn't gonna becoming back like what the plan
was gonna be, but happy to seeit.
SPEAKER_00 (46:22):
Yeah, and I think the Keynes probably felt
relatively comfortable that theyget a chance to uh to reclaim
Caden Primo.
And of course they signed him inthe offseason, they did that
deal uh with Montreal to gethim.
So he's a guy that they wanted.
They definitely I think he wasearmarked for Chicago right from
the start.
And I think he's a guy that uh,again, as you say, his American
(46:46):
Hockey League performance hasbeen amazing.
And at different times, he'sdone the same for the Montreal
Canadians.
He went through some stretcheswhere he was outstanding.
I think the Leaf situation, asyou say, uh you can see overall
their numbers this year.
I you know, they um of course uhAnthony Stolars was lights out
last year.
He's not so much this year.
And I think that's part of whatuh the Leafs are going through
(47:09):
as a team.
They're just not nearly as good.
And they're missing some keyplayers that have moved on.
Umtikoff, um, good to see he'sturning to go.
Of course, he's a good buddy ofuh Andrey Svetnikov.
So uh he's got a real strongconnection with the Hurricanes.
Miftikov, as you mentioned, ofcourse, he had played in North
America for a while.
He went back over uh to playwith Akbars and was tremendous
(47:32):
in the uh KHL, and that's one ofthe reasons the Keynes really
wanted to sign him.
Um and you know, again, findinghis way, new team, new
situation, um, a little bit of atough camp.
So, you know, I think he'll findhis mojo, and I think, as you
say, these two guys are gonna beoutstanding.
And boy, to have a guy like uhRuslan Kazi right behind in uh
(47:53):
Greensboro, he's gonna get lotsof playing time.
Uh and I know Nikita Coop justwent down, so he he's finally
down in Greensboro as well.
I think he went down the 17th,so that's kind of fun.
Uh, we'll watch these two guysand see how they're gonna do.
So um lots going on with theteam in general, playing well,
(48:13):
uh started off, you know, it'sbeen kind of a mixed season, but
starting to get some of theseplayers back.
And I think uh similar to thehurricanes, I think it's thumbs
up.
As we take a look at the nextmonth, um, what do you what are
you looking at uh in terms of uhof the Wolves?
What do you think they're gonnabe able to do and and where do
you see any of the toughmatchups?
SPEAKER_01 (48:33):
Yeah, they have the uh they have a five-game road
trip um coming up to finish offthe the month of November,
starting off in in in sunnyManitoba coming up.
And uh, you know, the Moose arethey're they're a better team
than they were.
They have been the last coupleof years, which was really bad.
(48:54):
Now they're kind of like middleof the pack.
But they're always they're allthey're they're always kind of
uh uh I don't want to say kindof like rivals, because everyone
feels like a rival when you playthem 12 times a year.
But you know, Spencer Martin,Pyotr Kochekov, Dustin Tokarsky,
all these goalies always seem toget in in mix-ups with the
(49:16):
Manitoba Moose.
So I'm looking for uh forMontgomery or Yanny Turkot to be
to be big factors in uh in thisweekend series coming up.
Well, technically it starts onThursday, but it feels like a
long weekend.
But then they also have uh youknow Rockford and uh and
Manitoba again.
(49:37):
So a lot of moose is gonna becoming up over these next few
games.
I think one, two, three, four,five matchups over the next six
games are are moose.
So it's gonna it's gonna havethat bit of playoff feel.
You're gonna really hate seeingManitoba by the time it's all
set.
SPEAKER_00 (49:51):
Oh man, that's insane.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (49:56):
And um so this, like I said, this is has been a squad
that they're you know, they'reused to seeing eight, ten times
a season.
Right.
And uh, and then you also haveRockford in there, and Rockford
kind of had their number alittle bit early in the season.
Um, I believe Nick Lardis hasbeen hurt, he was leading the
(50:18):
league and scoring for a littlebit.
And Oliver Moore, who was one ofthose guys where I saw him, I'm
like, what's this guy doing inthis league?
Chicago had the same idea, he'sup with the Blackhawks now.
Um, so you're gonna have adifferent team, but it's gonna
be it's it's still ever asdangerous.
They have a couple of good younggoaltenders.
Uh unfortunately, the name ofthe one guy from I believe
(50:39):
Belarus, who really impressedme.
I can't remember his name offthe top of my head.
I will go ahead and look thatup.
But then you have Drew Camessothere who you know highly
talented and he's he's beenthere for a little while.
Um and and just alwaysdangerous.
Brett Seney has feel like he'sbeen there for a decade.
He's um he's he's been wonderfulfor that team for as long as I
(51:02):
can remember, and been a realbig leader, producing the
points.
Again, he's another one of thoseguys who's not he's not the
biggest, but he he's got a snarlto his game.
It's kind of Marshawn like, youknow, where he's always just
kind of in your face and andputting points up, and you just
sometimes you just want to wringhis neck, but at the end of the
day, you have to respect youhave to respect him and what
(51:24):
what he could bring.
So um, you know, those Rockfordgames are always uh they're
always they're always whiteknucklers, you know, in one form
or another.
SPEAKER_00 (51:33):
So that's what about Milwaukee?
There's several games withMilwaukee coming up as well.
What are you seeing with uh withthat hockey club?
SPEAKER_01 (51:40):
Milwaukee is it I've seen them with just absolute top
line talent, and I've seen themwith a bunch of nobodies.
And they're dangerous no matterwho is in that lineup.
I think Carl Taylor, who's thebeen again the head coach of
Milwaukee for what seems likethe better part of the last 10
years now, is uh he's he's oneof the best in the business as
(52:04):
at this level, and I think inthis game, really overall.
And I've you know, I've alwaysloved what he's been able to
pull out.
Again, whether it's it's uh it'sYaroslav Askerov and Joachim
Kemel, these top flight picks,or whether it's you know, um
just uh Ty Feliber who comes upout of the ECHL and all of a
(52:25):
sudden he's an absolute menaceagainst you, you know.
It's it doesn't necessarily seemto matter who like the draft
pedigree or how well regardedthese guys are, if they're top
picks or if they're journeymen,he finds a way to pull out the
best of you out of them.
And again, they're second in thethe division.
(52:46):
I've in all my time covering theAHL, I've never seen Milwaukee
have a bad season.
And it's like it's notnecessarily infuriating, but
it's like, okay, you know, yousee Iowa on the schedule, you're
not quite as worried, and yousee Milwaukee and you're like,
oh, Milwaukee again.
Um but it it it just it's atestament to what that coaching
(53:08):
staff is able to do with with nomatter what they're they're
given to by Nashville or anyone,they they find a way to pull the
best out of these players.
It it really it's it's it's kindof the standard that you want at
this league, no matter who's inthe lineup, that you know you're
gonna be getting a good game outof them.
So um that's it's it's it's agood bar setter.
(53:29):
Um, you know, Chicago had oneearlier uh a couple weeks ago
where you know played well, lostit in overtime on their ice.
Um, I think that was a schoolday game.
That's why I didn't I don't havea great moment.
Um but uh yeah, like I said,it's it's it's one of those
benchmark games, you know, likewhere are we at as a team?
(53:50):
Like we know if we can if we cango in there, get a couple points
against them, play really well,we're on the right track.
Because historically, this isthe team.
Like you're not gonna see whereyou're at as a team by playing
the Iowa Wild.
And I don't mean to disparageanyone in that organization, but
they've been in the basement formost of my time, whereas
(54:11):
Milwaukee's been up here.
So that's kind of where wherethe high water mark is.
And you know, once you get outof this, out of this road trip
and out of this war withManitoba, they're waiting there
on the other side.
So it'll be a good mark to seekind of where this team's at as
as we kind of get into Decemberand and uh and get into the real
(54:32):
meat of the season.
Like it still kind of feels likeeveryone's figuring it out a
little bit here, but you know,the points are gonna are gonna
are matter just more and more aswe go on.
So I'm excited and excited andlooking forward to kind of
seeing where we're what we'regonna see out of this team
because they're they're showingthat they're no slouches either
(54:54):
in this division.
So um it's gonna be justcontinued battles and seeing
kind of who uh you know it'sit's not a merit, it's not a
sprint, it's a marathon, and seewho uh who's gonna end up with
it at uh as we go on.
SPEAKER_00 (55:10):
Well, just uh just to wrap up then, Andrew, any
players that we should be uhkind of keeping an eye on over
this next uh this month of a lotof Manitoba and Milwaukee, who
should we be uh putting the eyeon?
SPEAKER_01 (55:23):
Well, I kind of highlighted Yannie Turkot and
Bryce Montgomery already, andI'll kind of continue to do that
because as you see these guys uhagain and again, as the the
chirps start going back andforth, you're just gonna just
gonna hate hate them more andmore and more.
So I think uh you know your teammight be down a goal or two, and
(55:45):
you need that that spark coming.
That's gonna be those are gonnabe the guys who are gonna answer
the bell.
And uh if it's gonna get chippy,they're gonna be the ones that
are gonna be right in the middleof it.
And um it's the you know,they're the usual suspects for
sure.
They're the the the the guy, thebiggest guys out there, and they
know how to take care of theirteammates, and they've they've
already shown it time and timeagain this season, we're only a
(56:08):
month in.
So it's uh I'll I'll highlightthose guys for sure.
And while Nikita Pavlichev's notknown for that, he's six foot
seven.
He's the best.
There was uh a funny sequence inthe Cleveland game where um I
forget, I'm forgetting the nameof the monster.
It's not the biggest guy, he'sabout five foot nine.
Kind of Pavlychev gets uh makeshim contact with the goaltender
(56:32):
and he gets a swipe from thisguy, and Nikita just goes no,
that's that's a bad idea.
Again, he's not necessarilyknown for picking up the penalty
minutes, but at his, you know,at his stature, uh when the
rough stuff comes going, he'snot necessarily gonna say no
either.
So I I expect it to be uh to bea grind over these next few
(56:54):
games here with the moose.
And um, you know, Pavlichev cancan contribute physically, he
can contribute with his stick.
I think he's gonna be a big XFactor for him into this uh into
this mini playoff series kind ofwith with the Moose.
SPEAKER_00 (57:09):
Well it'd be great if uh the second line with uh
Pavlichev uh leading those guys,of course, with Evan Veerling
and uh uh Felix Ungerstorm cancontinue their fine play.
And you have to expect that thebig line with uh Ryan Suzuki,
Justin Robodaugh, and of courseBradley Nadeau, they're gonna be
key uh as well in this roadtrip.
(57:29):
So it's gonna be fun to seethis.
We'll be watching closely to seehow it all plays out.
Andrew, as always, it's beenjust great fun talking.
The Chicago Wolves.
Uh, where can folks find you?
SPEAKER_01 (57:40):
Yeah, so I continue my written work on with uh on
tap sports network.
We're uh Chicago-based, justevery Chicago team out there
outlet, and um I continue mystuff there.
You can find me on I'm gonnacontinue to say Twitter until
the end of time.
Um that would be uh at Andrewunderscore Ronaldi underscore.
(58:04):
And um again, I continue to giveupdates on the team, live tweet
during the games.
I love chatting with fans aboutanything you might have
questions about, anything youwant to talk about.
Um yeah, I if you couldn't tell,I love talking about the game of
hockey.
So it's uh it's great to shareit with with everyone out there.
And um yeah, it's it's why Icontinue to do this over uh I
(58:28):
mean this would be my it's beenfive years now, and I've loved
every bit of it.
So um if if anyone reaches outto me, it'll help me continue to
keep on loving it because it'sit's it's it's been a wonderful
experience getting to know allof the fans and to be able to
share this this uh what thisteam has been able to do and and
(58:50):
all the players that have comethrough and all the wonderful
people that work with the team.
It's been a real treat, and Ifeel very blessed to be in the
position that I am to do it.
SPEAKER_00 (59:00):
Well, listen, uh it's great fun talking hockey
with you as well.
So it's uh you know, we all kindof enjoy that.
And you know, your knowledge ofwhat's going on with the Wolves.
Uh I know uh Wolves fans andHurricanes fans are delighted to
hear this.
And uh as always, uh thanks somuch for spending time with us,
Andrew.
It's been great, great, great uhfun as usual.
(59:21):
For those of you who've beenwatching or listening, uh Andrew
and I, of course, are delightedyou spent time with us.
If you like this episode, pleasepress the like button.
If you have any questions orcomments, or just want to say hi
to Andrew or myself or othermembers of StormTracker, please
leave those in the commentsection down below.
And of course, if you want to bealerted of future episodes of
(59:43):
Storm Tracker, please press thesubscribe and the bell buttons,
and we'll alert you just as soonas they are available.
Once again, Andrew and I thankyou very much for spending time
with us, and we look forward togetting together with you real
soon right here on StormTracker.
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