July 30, 2025 • 43 mins
Live Chat w/ James July 30 - News Headlines and Deep Dive into the Canadian NHL Teams Approaching Season
We will look at the good, the bad and the ugly of each Canadian team (except for the Canucks, as we covered them yesterday).
Add your predictions and thoughts on your team for the upcoming season.
#News #headlines #breakingnews #budgets #britishcolumbia #Ottawa #Canada #Worldnews #localnews #Surrey #Vancouver #Karymovers #NHL #NHLSeason #NHLTeams #CalgaryFlames #EdmontonOilers #WinnipegJets #OttawaSenators #TorontoMapleLeafs #MontrealCanadians #Hockeyseason #StanleyCup #HockeyNews #HNIC #Trade #Tariffs #Housingissues #Interestrates #BankofCanada #MarkCarney
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Good evening and good morning. Depending on where you're
watching us from, it's almost midnight here on the West Coast
in Vancouver, BC I'm James Quesnel coming to you from the
Tropics TV Studios to bring you today's headlines as well.
We are going to delve in and take a look at the NHL.
Yes, we have a packed hour aheadstarting again as I said, with
(00:26):
the headlines shaping our city, our country and our world.
And later we will dive into the state of Canada's NHL teams as
we gear up for the new season ahead.
Now, the central theme today is the immense pressure on the
Canadian economy, a pressure cooker environment being felt by
everyone from the grocery storesright through to the Premier's
(00:48):
office in the BBC and ParliamentHill in Ottawa.
And the primary driver, well, that's an escalating and deeply
uncertain trade relationship with the United States, which is
creating a long shadow over everything from our provincial
budgets to your mortgage rates. Well, let's get to that.
(01:09):
But first, a quick thank you to our sponsor for making today's
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(01:30):
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Thanks again for their sponsorship of today's episode.
Now let's take a look at the local Ledger.
HSBC is at a crossroads here in British Columbia.
The provincial government is in full defence mode against what
(01:51):
it calls unjustified US tariffs imposed by the Trump
administration on key Canadian industries.
Those include industries such assteel, aluminum and our vital
soft wood lumber sector. This isn't just political
posturing. The government has enacted the
Economic Stabilization Act whichis a tariff response and a piece
(02:13):
of legislation that restricts provincial governments from you
procurement from US suppliers. This has also led to the
cancellation of all non essential government travel to
the United States. This is a province batten down
the hatches for what looks like a prolonged economic storm.
(02:34):
The financial impact is stark. The the provinces budget to 2025
forecasts A staggering $10.9 billion deficit for this 2526
fiscal year, a figure made all more precarious by the trade
uncertainty. The government's own analysts
have warned that these tariffs could cost 10s of thousands of
(02:55):
BC jobs by 2028 and shave billions off of our economic
activity. This pressure is also being felt
directly by local businesses. A recent report on downtown
Vancouver's retail sector highlights the new tariffs are
expected to squeeze margins by increasing wholesale costs.
(03:16):
It will also complicate supply chains.
This comes on top of already immense pressures, including at
least costs that have increased by 70% to plus property tax
burdens that have surged by 133%.
Now this creates A vicious cycleof fiscal pressure for the
province. The tariffs are eroding the
(03:36):
government's revenue base, forcing it to run these massive
deficits. Yet at the same time, public
pressure demands more spending on top of the two issues for
British Columbians, 2 big ones of course, being housing
affordability and healthcare. To meet these demands, the
government has committed to major capital spending,
including $15.5 billion for healthcare projects and an
(04:01):
increase to the rental assistance supplement.
Take cover the gap between falling revenues and these
necessary high spending levels. The provincial debt is projected
to soar by nearly 69 billion over the next three years.
This effectively offloads today's problems on to future
generations, A structural weakness where an external
(04:21):
political issue is directly compromising the province's
ability to solve its most pressing internal social
challenges. Now, on the housing front, the
Metro Vancouver market is in a state of adjustment, a market of
contradictions. The consensus is that a
combination of trade uncertainties, slower population
(04:41):
growth and interest rates that remain high relative to the last
decade is cooling the market. We're seeing more inventory on
the market than we have in yearsof giving buyers a slight edge
they haven't had in a very long time.
However, there is a silver lining on the horizon for
developers and potential buyers.The Bank of Canada is expected
(05:03):
to continue easing its monetary policy, with forecasts
predicting interest rates could decline by up to 200 basis
points by the end of 2025. The shift could bring sideline
buyers back to the market and make long term development
projects that didn't pencil out over the last couple of years
financially feasible once again.Now, despite this cooling trend,
(05:25):
affordability remains the defining issue.
A household earning A median income and Metro Vancouver can
only afford a mortgage of around300,000.
That's a huge problem when the benchmark price for a
condominium is over that at a $680,000.
This enormous gap fuels the intense demand for rental and
(05:46):
affordable housing, especially along the transit corridors.
This is creating a tale of two markets in Vancouver.
On one hand, the broad market for existing single family homes
and standard condos is stabilizing, creating a buyers
market feel. On the other hand, the future
market, driven by development and public policy, is poised for
(06:08):
a resurgence. The combination of expected
interest rate cuts, massive government investment in
transit, and the provincial up zoning policies creates a
powerful incentive for developers to build new
multifamily and transit orientedhousing.
The difficult truth is that thisnew supply will take years to
come online, doing very little to solve the immediate
(06:29):
affordability crisis for the average family today.
Now a major story fueling that future development is the
massive investment in public transit.
Trans Links 2025 Investment plan, approved back in April,
will fund the largest increase in bus service since 2018.
(06:49):
This is a direct response to theexplosive population growth
South of the Fraser River. Ridership in Surrey and Langley
is surging and some of the regions most overcrowded bus
routes are located in Surrey. The city is currently developing
a new transportation plan to cope with the population that is
expected to hit 1,000,000 peoplein the next 20 years.
(07:12):
The crown jewel of this expansion is the 16 kilometers
Surrey Langley Skytrain project.It will extend the Expo Line
primarily along Fraser Highway all the way to Langley city
centre, adding eight new starts.The project is funded in part by
the province's massive $15.9 billion capital investment and
(07:32):
transportation and is expected to be in service by late 2029.
Now, looking at the national polls, we're shifting to the
national stage. Canada is just a few months
passed a pivotal federal election.
The vote On April 28th, I saw Mark Carney lead the Liberals to
1/3 consecutive minority government, winning only 169
(07:56):
seats. But that was just three short of
a majority. This was a stunning reversal of
fortune. For much of the preceding year,
polls had been projecting A landslide victory for pure
Polio's Conservatives. The game changer, it turns out,
was the escalating trade disputewith the United States.
Now pulling from you Gov conducted after the election is
(08:18):
crystal clear on this point. For 36% of Liberal voters, US
Canada relations was the single most important issue, dwarfing
the economy and healthcare. In stark contrast, at the top
issue for Conservative voters was the budget and taxes.
In essence, the 2025 federal election became a referendum on
(08:40):
which leader was best equipped to stand up to Donald Trump.
Now, the result is that reshapedthe political landscape.
Both Conservative Leader Pierre Paul Liev and NDP Leader Jagmeet
Singh lost their own seats in the election.
The NDP also lost its recognizedparty status in the House of
Commons. Now this is of course, a
(09:01):
significant blow to its influence and its funding.
Pierre-paul yet is currently seeking to return to Parliament
via a by election in the safe Alberta riding of Battle River
Crowfoot, which is scheduled forAugust the 18th.
We will of course, be reporting on that and keep you updated as
that date draw close draws closer.
(09:22):
Now, this outcome is the Prime Minister Carney's government
with the mandate, but it's an incredibly narrow and fragile 1.
He was elected not on broad domestic platform, but on the
specific premise that he could manage the relationship with the
United States. This gives him political capital
on that one file, but very little on others.
(09:43):
The difficult reality is that henow must govern a country where
the primary economic challenges,slowing growth and a potential
recession are direct consequences of the very issue
that got him elected. He has to solve problems created
by the one thing voters trusted him to handle, all while leading
a minority government should that relies on the support of
(10:05):
other parties to pass legislation.
Now on the Canadian Economic Forecast, the consensus among
our major financial institutionsand economic bodies is that the
economy is slowly slowing and itis going to be significant in
the near term as it speeds up. It's it's slowing, if that makes
(10:27):
sense. Now Export Development Canada
forecast just a .8% growth in 2025.
Vanguard protects predicts 1.25%in TD Economics sees growth
running below the trend for the next two years.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or C CMHC, now
(10:47):
expects a modest recession this year.
The drivers are clear in those trade tensions slowing
population growth and weakening consumer and business
confidence. The national unemployment rate
has already risen to 7% and is expected to decline even
further. In response, the Bank of Canada
is expected to continue cutting its policy rate.
(11:10):
TD Securities expects the rate to fall to 2.25% by the middle
of this year, and Vanguard sees it ending 2025 at the same
level. This monetary easing is intended
to stimulate a flagging economy.Now there is a bright spot in
the national data, and it's on the climate front.
The 2025 National Inventory Report shows that Canada's
(11:35):
greenhouse gas emissions have dropped to their lowest level in
27 years, excluding the pandemicyears.
This has happened even as the economy has grown, suggesting
that policies to decarbonize keysectors like electrical
generation, oil and gas are having measurable and a positive
impact now. Navigating this economic
(11:56):
uncertainty is a challenge for everyone, from national
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(12:17):
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Now let's shift focus here. Looking at the wider world, the
global situation is adding to these headwinds.
The World Economic Forums 2025 Global Risks report paints A
grim picture. The top risks facing the world
(12:38):
are identified as state based armed conflict and what they
call Geo economical or sorry geoeconomic confrontation.
That means sanctions, tariffs and investment screening.
This is the world we are now living in, folks.
Analysts from firms like Lizard and Eurasia Group point to a G0
(12:58):
world where global cooperation has broken down.
A more protectionist United States under the rule of Don is
upending global trade flows, andthe great power competition
between the US and China is a primary driver of this
instability. Technology has become a new
geopolitical battleground. We're seeing the emergence of
(13:21):
technological blocks around the US and China, particularly in
strategic areas like artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
This threatens to fragment everything from our IT
infrastructure through to international scientific
cooperation. For decades, Canadians have
heard our politicians talk aboutthe rules based international
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order. The data for 2025 shows that
this is no longer a functioning reality.
The world's largest economy is actively using tariffs as a
primary policy tool. The number of active military
conflicts around the globe is atits highest it's been since the
Second World War, and international bodies are
struggling to keep pace with newthreats like AI and climate
(14:06):
change. The impact on Canada's direct
and is direct and severe. Our economic and national
security is no longer buffered by a stable global system.
We are more exposed and vulnerable to global shocks than
at any point in recent memory. And on the climate reality, the
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scientific consensus for 2025 isalarming.
The world's Meteorological Organization, or WMO, reports
there is now a 70% chance that the entire five year period from
2025 to 2029 will average more than the 1.5°C above pre
industrial levels. While temporarily breaching at
(14:49):
1.5 in a single year doesn't mean that the Paris Agreement
goal is officially lost. Scientists call it a dire
warning sign. 2024 was the warmest year on record, and
there's an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years
will be even hotter. For 2025 specifically, analysis
from Carbon Brief shows that it's on track to be the second
(15:12):
or third warmest year on record,with record low Arctic sea ice
for much of the early summer andrecord warmth observed across
large, large parts of both Europe and Asia.
Now the global pressures to on ice pressures we when we come
back, we're going to shift gearsfrom the news desk to the hockey
(15:33):
rink and we're going to look at the NHL season being just around
the corner and we're gonna breakdown the good, the bad and
the ugly for every Canadian teamexcept for the Canucks.
And the reason for that is because we covered the Canucks
for a full segment last night. So if you didn't catch it, by
all means check out in the archives of yesterday is that
(15:54):
live chat with James and you'll get a very in depth report on
what we see coming for the connects.
We of course didn't in-depth report on the Connect set a
greater level than the other teams because we are after all
based in that natural Vancouver,BC and at that is my team.
So of course I had to show a bitof favoritism there.
(16:15):
But in any event, you can't get enough of that elsewhere.
The complete 40 minute deep diveis right after this.
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(16:38):
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Now let's go and into the look that became the Canadian NHL
(16:59):
season preview. As promised, we're putting the
news aside and turning our full attention to Canada's game.
The puck is set to drop on the 20252026 NHL season in just a
few months, and it's a fascinating time for the biggest
Canadian contingent. Some teams are steering down a
closing Stanley Cup window, others are just prying it open,
(17:22):
and a few are stuck somewhere inbetween.
We're going to break down all six teams.
No connects today, but again, you can check out yesterday's
report is we did a very, very intriguing report on the Canucks
yesterday. Now we're going to use a simple
framework, as I said, the good, the bad and the ugly in this
(17:43):
in-depth analysis. It's again brought to you by
Kerry Movers, so check them out on line for a free quote.
Just set the stage. Let's take a quick overview of
where these teams stand. Now we will look at the
2024-2025 results, key off season storyline, projected
(18:04):
202526 cap space and the big question for each team.
Let's start with Edmonton. Yes, they lost in the first
round. Mcdavid's looming extension is
of course a big question coming up into the new season and let's
take a look where they are and they projected cap space and
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that is a bout 226,000. Can they afford to keep a
competitive team around? Their superstars will have to
watch and see. That is the big question now in
Calgary. Of course, they missed the
playoffs in the 2425 season. The rise of goalie Dustin Wolf,
(18:47):
Wolf sorry, is a offseason storyline and the projected cap
space is about 15.2 million. Now the big question is can
hardworking goaltending overcomea lack of elite scoring?
That is what we see in Calgary now.
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In terms of Winnipeg, can they lost the first round and whether
or not there is going to be lifeafter Nikolaj Ellers will have
to watch and see. Their cap space is sitting
around 10.5 million and the big question, what is the team's
identity? Now?
Let's take a look at the centre of the universe.
(19:29):
Yes, Toronto, they lost in the second round.
Life after Mitch Marner is of course something that's been top
of mind for Connects or sorry for Toronto Maple Leaf fans and
actually the league when they'velooked at that team.
Their cat space is sitting around $25.7 million and the big
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question is how do they replace the superstar and get tougher at
the same time? Now let's take a look at the
capital. Yes, Ottawa.
The first round they lost in the2024-2025 season.
The talk of the town throughout the summer, of course, has been
the expensive core that must nowdeliver.
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They're sitting in a cap space of about 4.3 million and the big
question for Ottawa is can they make the leap from a playoff
team to a true contender? We will see.
Now let's go to our only. French Canadian team and that is
of course, in the beautiful cityOf Montreal, one of my favorite
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cities to visit. So yeah, if you're planning a
trip, by all means, check out Montreal.
It's a beautiful place. But any event that they lost in
the first round in the 2425 season, the big question in the
offseason, of course, has been the elite prospects.
And they are meeting a nightmarecap now they are sitting with a
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salary cap at about -6.3 million.
But they have the long term injury reserve.
So that's a big question as well.
Where things are going to sit and when does the future finally
arrive and can they afford it? In that are the, that's the big
question for Montreal. Now let's go into more depth
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here. Let's take a look at the Alberta
front. Yes, the Edmonton Oilers and the
ticking clock. They are a defined team by that
said ticking clock and the good for the Edmonton Oilers is
obvious and spectacular. They have Connor McDavid and
Leon Dry Seidel, two of the bestplayers on the planet, right in
(21:38):
the middle of their prime. They've also shown an ability to
find incredible value in depth pieces.
Look no further than Vasily Bud Colson, acquired from, yes, our
Vancouver Canucks here, and thatwas for a fourth round pick.
It's a blue collar, hard workingwinger who played all 82 games
(21:58):
last season for a bargain bin cap hit of just $1 million.
On the future front, management has made some savvy moves to
bolster a thin prospect pipeline, acquiring promising
young forwards like Isaiah Coward and former 9th overall
pick Matt Assad Way. Now let's take a look at the bad
(22:19):
when it comes to Edmonton. And that is the familiar painful
story of playoff disappointment.There 2024-2025 season ended in
another first round exit result that has become all too common
in the McDavid era. Now the value contracting pod
Colson also highlights a key weakness.
(22:39):
Despite his work ethic and playing the majority of the
season alongside dry saddle, he provided minimal offence,
scoring just eight goals. This points to a persistent lack
of scoring depth beyond the two superstars.
The team strategy to fix this appears to be doubling down on
what they already do best. Reports suggest they are still
(23:00):
in the market for another top six forward rather than
addressing the long standing fanconcerns about their defence and
goaltending. Now let's take a look at the
ugly for Edmonton. The ugly part is the salary cap
situation, which is nothing short of dire.
The Oilers are projected to enter the 2025 and 2026 season
(23:23):
with just $225,834 in cap space.This financial vice is
tightening just as Connor McDavid enters his final year of
his contract. His next deal is expected to be
a record-breaking extension and the 16 to 17,000,000 per year
range. With Leon Leon Dry Seidel's
(23:44):
already on the books for 14,000,000 a year.
The Oilers will have will soon have over 30 million, nearly 1/3
of the entire salary cap tied upin just two players.
This financial straitjacket makes improving the rest of the
roster nearly impossible and puts immense pressure on
management to win now before thecap crunch inevitably forces a
(24:06):
dismantling of the supporting cast.
Of course, it is hoped that we will see that return to the
superstar status or to reach capabilities by all players on
the Oilers for the upcoming season.
Now the Oilers management is making a calculated but
extremely risky bet. By focusing on adding even more
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offence to a team that's alreadyposting to a generational
talents, they are betting they can simply outscore their
defensive deficiencies. This strategy has failed them
repeatedly in the playoffs. With the cap wall looming.
This feels like a last dance scenario where they are pushing
all their chips in on their established identity, for better
(24:49):
or for worse, because they simply lack the financial
flexibility to do anything else.Now let's go inept with the
Flames. Yes, the Calgary Flames all
heart and not enough finish. That is what they're saying.
And staying in Alberta, of course.
So we will take a look at the good first of the Calgary
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Flames. Now.
This team was the definition of an overachiever last season,
projected by many to be a bottomfeeder.
They fought for a playoff spot right up until the very end,
finishing with an impressive 96 points.
Their identity is built on a foundation of relentless hard
work under head coach Ryan Huskaand a cohesive team team first
(25:33):
mentality that is genuinely fun to watch.
The undisputed at the start of the show is, of course, 24 year
old goaltender Dustin Wolf. He had a phenomenal rookie
season, finishing second in Calder Trophy voting and is the
foundation of the team's success.
Management has also shown confidence in their young core
signing, winger Matt Coronado toA7 year 45 and a half million
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dollar extension after a solid 24 goal season.
Now let's take a look at the bag.
Yes, the bad is a single glaringweakness.
Their offence that was, to put it bluntly, pitiful.
The Flames ranked 27th in the entire league in goals, 4A flaw
(26:18):
that ultimately cost them that playoff spot.
The mid season acquisitions of forwards Joel Farabee and Morgan
Frost from Philadelphia did little to move that needle
offensively, with both struggling to find their footing
after the trade. Without the star goalie they
would have been in the leagues basement where some had
predicted them to be. Now let's take a look at the
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ugly. Yes, the ugly truth for the
Flames is that they finished in the worst possible position in
the standings and they referred to that as no man's land.
They were just good enough to miss out on a high end top ten
draft pick, but not good enough to actually make the playoffs.
This makes it incredibly difficult to add the elite, game
(27:03):
breaking talent they so desperately need.
They have a healthy amount of cap space projected at around
15.2 million, but this year's unrestricted free agent market
is considered weak and they lackthe superstar draw to attract
top talent. Their success is precariously
balanced on the shoulders of their young goalie, which is a
(27:25):
huge burden for a player entering just his second full
season in the league. The 2024-2025 season was a feel
good story, but the question is whether it was sustainable.
Their success was driven by an intangible work ethic and a
single potentially volatile element in a rookie goalie on a
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hot streak. The underlying data shows a team
with a fatal flaw in its bottom tier offence without a
significant and frankly unlikelyinfusion of scoring talent.
They are asking their goalie to be nearly perfect every single
night just to stay competitive. This is a recipe for regression,
not progression. Now let's take a look at the
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Eastern power corridor. Yes, we'll start with the
Toronto Maple Leafs and the postMurner era.
Yes, that will begin now moving east.
Of course, as I said, we're lining in Toronto.
The good for Toronto without Mitch Marner.
Of course, the least biggest strength is now in net, the
goaltending tandem of Anthony Stollers and Joseph Wool.
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It was outstanding last season, giving Toronto the 4th best team
save percentage in the entire NHL, their highest ranking in
that category since 1995. They still possess elite top
ends talent in Austin Matthews and William Nylander.
They also saw the emergence of atrue power forward in Matthew
Nyes, who had a breakout season with 29 goals in 58 points.
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The big positive however is the massive amount of salary cap
space they now have to work withfollowing the departure of
Mitchell Marner. And they right now, as they sit,
have a projected 25.7 million incap room.
And that is a war chest they haven't had in years.
Now let's flip over to the bag for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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And that is a familiar story of playoff failure.
They're coming off another disappointing postseason, losing
in the Eastern Conference secondround, and the departure of
Marner leaves a massive hole to fill.
It's not just his 102 points that are gone, but his elite
defensive play and his contributions to the penalty
(29:40):
kill that will be sorely missed.Now let's move on to the Toronto
Maple Leafs and the ugly part. Yes, the ugly part is how they
plan to fill that hole. General manager Brad Travelling
is trying to retool the team on the fly, explicitly stating that
(30:00):
he's hunting for dogs to build more competitive, grittier team
that can succeed in the playoffs.
The problem is he's attempting to transfer transformation in a
notoriously weak unrestricted free agent market.
The top targets being linked to the Leafs were aged veterans
like 37 year old Brad Marshawn and 40 year old Corey Perry.
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This is an incredibly risky strategy.
They're spending their newfound cap space not on a superstar
replacement, but on character and grid, hoping that the sum of
the new parts can be greater than the massive hole left by
Marner. Now.
This represents A fundamental and perhaps panic shift in team
building philosophy and it's happening while their best
(30:43):
player, Austin Matthews, has just three years remaining on
his contract. The pressure to get this right
is immense. The Marner situation has forced
a full blown identity crisis in Toronto.
For years their philosophy was to load up on elite skill that
failed in the playoffs. Now they are pivoting hard
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towards grit and competitiveness.
This isn't just a roster shuffle, it is a complete
repudiation of their previous era.
The risk is that they are attempting this difficult
transition on an aging core and no guarantee that the available
free agents can provide the desired impact, potentially
wasting another year of Austin Matthews Prime production years.
(31:28):
Now let's take a look at the Ottawa Senators and the price of
graduation. Yes, just down the highway, the
Ottawa Senators are facing a different kind of pressure.
And that's, as I said, the priceof graduation.
Now, the good news for the Ottawa Senators is plentiful.
They made the playoffs last season, a huge and long-awaited
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step forward for the franchise, and they gave the rival Maple
Leafs a tough six game series inthe first round.
Very young core is locked in long term with Tim Stutzel and
captain Brady Kutchek and newly acquired centre Dylan Cozens all
signed a multi year deals. They also appear to have found a
(32:12):
legitimate NHL goaltender in Levi Marlene and I apologize for
the pronunciation of some of thenames.
Now the 22 year old was fantastic in a 12 games didn't
last season, posting a .925 savepercentage and earning A1 way
contract to be the team's backupthis year.
(32:34):
Their future remains bright withthe strong prospect pipeline led
by big defensemen Carter, Yakima, Chuck and they're 2024
first round pick Nor he he was there 2024 first round pick
sorry. Now let's take a look at the bad
up for them. Now the bad news is the bill
that has come due, the cost of signing that young court a
(32:56):
lucrative long-term contracts isnow hitting the books.
The team has very little financial flexibility with just
4.3 million end projected cap space heading into the season.
This makes it very difficult to add the veteran depth and
complementary pieces that a young playoff team needs to take
the next step towards contention.
(33:18):
As for the actual ugly section, yes, the ugly reality for Ottawa
is that they are now all in on their current group.
There's no more financial wiggleroom.
They are betting everything on the belief that the internal
growth from their young, expensive core will be enough to
elevate them from a simple playoff team to a legitimate
(33:38):
Stanley Cup contender. This is a massive gamble.
If the core plateaus or if injuries strike key players,
they have no cap space to bring in significant reinforcements.
They have successfully moved thehopeful rebuild phase to the
high pressure, high expectation phase, and the weight of those
(33:59):
expensive contracts will be feltwith every single loss.
The Senators have successfully navigated to rebuild, but they
now face the hardest part of thejourney, going from a good team
to a great one. The very contracts that secured
their talented young core are now the primary obstacle to
building a deep championship caliber roster.
(34:20):
They've paid for potential and now that potential must be
realized or they risk becoming as stuck as a perennial first
round exit team with an immovable and expensive payroll.
Not just again for our sponsor folks.
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That's www.krymovers.com. Now let's take a look at the
rebuilders and the retailers. Yes, the Montreal Canadians.
(35:07):
The paradox of pain and promise Yes, let's take a look at the
team of living. A paradox of present day pain
and incredible future. Promise.
Let's start with the good 4 Montreal.
Yes, the good is all about the future and that future is
incredibly bright. The Canadians and prospect pool
(35:28):
is in arguably the best in the entire NHL, headlined by Russian
superstar prospect Ivan Demidov Or Demidov sorry, who already
gave fans a glimpse of his talent late last season.
They have a wave of talent coming, including dynamic
defenseman Lane Hudson, Big Blueliner and David Reinacher, and
(35:51):
top goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler.
They also made the playoffs in 2024-2025, a surprise appearance
that gave their young players valuable experience.
And in a blockbuster moved this offseason, they signed Sorry.
They signaled their belief that their window is opening now by
(36:12):
trading two first round picks toacquire top pairing defenseman
Noah Dobson from the Islanders. Now let's look at the bad.
Yes, that bad is the present dayroster which remains deeply
flawed. The Canadians backed into the
playoffs last season with a negative goal differential and
(36:33):
were quickly and easily dispatched by the Washington
Capitals in the first round. Key management decisions like
the choice to replace the tradedSean Monahan internally with
Kirby Dog or it could be Dodge. I apologize again for the
pronunciation, but that backfired badly leaving a
massive hole at the second line centre position that was never
(36:54):
adequately filled. Now let's move to the ugly.
Yes, the ugly part is their salary cap situation which is a
complete and utter disaster. The Canadians are projected to
be 6.3 million over the cap before this evening had the
season even starts. This is largely due to Kerry
prices at $10.5 million cap hit which will be placed on not Long
(37:19):
Term Injury Reserve in the finalyear of Patrick Lanes $8.7
million contract. Using the Long Term Injury
Reserve provides some relief, but it comes with penalties such
as being forced to carry over 1.1 or sorry 1.75 million in
performance bonus overages from last season, which further
reduces their spending power. Now this situation makes it
(37:43):
impossible for them to sign any significant free agents to fill
their obvious roster holes. This is a master class in
strategic pain. Now management is consciously
accepting a horrendous inflexible cap situation for one
more year to act as a bridge to the future.
This big dead money contracts ofPrice and Lane will expire after
(38:07):
this season just as their elite young prospects like Lane Hudson
will need massive new contracts.They are enduring one final year
of cap hell to perfectly time atthe arrival of their next
generation cost control talent with newfound financial freedom
in the summer of 2026. Now the acquisition of Noah
(38:28):
Dodson is the tell. It's a move you make when you
know that significant financial relief and a wave of elite
talent are just over the horizon.
Now let's jump over to the Winnipeg Jets, who are still
searching for an identity. Yes, they are the good for The
Jets. The good, of course, is The Jets
(38:50):
is a solid has a solid veteran core that remains in place,
including centre Mike Sorry, Mark Scheifele, star winger Kyle
Connor and perennial Vezina candidate goaltender Connor Hilo
Buck. Now they also have something
most other Canadian teams don't and that's financial
flexibility. The Jets right now have over
(39:12):
10.5 million in projected cap space, real luxury in today's
NHL. They've used some of that
flexibility to lock up key secondary pieces like forward
Gabriel Vilardi, and all reportsindicate they are close to
resigning Kyle Kyle Connor for along term extension.
Avoiding another star walking away.
(39:33):
Now the bad news is that a star has already walked away.
They lost core offensive player Nikolaj Ahlers in free agency to
the Carolina Hurricanes for nothing, a significant blow to
their forward group. They're 2024-2025 season ended
in heartbreaking fashion with a first round older time loss in
(39:56):
Game 6 to the Dallas Stars, and while their prospect pool is
considered solid, it lacks high-end game breaking talent of
a team such as the Montreal Canadiens.
They're top prospect is generally considered to be
defensive defence amendment. Ilias Samuelson A good player
(40:17):
but not a franchise altering onein my opinion.
Now the ugly question is for TheJets is what is this team now?
The departure of Eilers wasn't just a loss of goals, it was a
blow to the team's identity. They are no longer the high
flying, dynamic offensive team of years past.
There are offensive moves signing veterans at like Nyquist
(40:40):
and Pearson suggested. Team that is trying to plug
holes and stay competitive, but not one that is making a major
push to contend. They are at a serious risk of
being stuck in the NHL's dreadedmiddle ground.
Not good enough for to be a truecontender, but not bad enough to
get high draft pick to find their next superstar.
(41:01):
This is a team in transition, but it's entirely unclear where
they are transitioning to now. The Jets are at a fundamental
crossroads with their newfound cap space.
They have a choice. Do they use it to retool around
the remaining core and try to stay in the playoff hunt or
begin a more patient rebuild? Their current moves suggest they
(41:24):
are choosing the former, which is the riskier path.
By trying to remain competitive,they may be delaying the
inevitable and missing an opportunity to rebuild the next
great team around and new young core, a path that teams like
Ottawa and Montreal have alreadycommitted to.
So let's take a look at the final analysis here.
(41:44):
Yes. So after all of that, who is
best positioned for success? It's really a tale of different
timelines. The Edmonton Oilers have the
best chance to win the Stanley Cup this year out of the
Canadian teams, but their windowis slamming shut due to immense
pressure. Cap, sorry, immense cap
pressure. The Ottawa Senators in the
Toronto Maple Leafs are established playoff teams, but
(42:06):
they face enormous pressure to improve that they their
expensive young cores can becomea true contenders.
The Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, the teams in search of my
identity, trying to defy the powerful gravity of the NHL's
middle ground. And then there's Montreal, a
team with a disastrous present day roster, but perhaps the
(42:26):
brightest long term future of all the Canadian teams.
It's going to be a fascinating season for all of them and
especially for us fans as we watch as the season draws
closer. And that's our show for today.
Folks. Say huge thank you to our
sponsor again, Carrie Movers Limited for local moves in Metro
Vancouver in the Fraser Valley or long distance residential and
(42:48):
commercial relocations in that Western Canada.
To get your online quote, visit them at kerrymovers.com.
That's KARY movers at dot com. Their support makes this deep
dive possible. I'm James Kushal thank you for
joining me on Propex TV's live chat with James and we look
(43:08):
forward to seeing you again tomorrow night.
Don't forget that you can interact with the program that
we do enjoy your comments and weencourage you to at leave
comments in the comment section so that this way we can address
them on the next episode. We are moving to a 2A transition
(43:30):
as well, where we're going to add WhatsApp to the live show so
you can make your calls via cellphone or of course via WhatsApp
so you'll be able to interact live with the program more than
just in the chat message box. Once again, you've been watching
live chat with James. I'm James Kusno coming to you
from Metro Vancouver, BC and thePropex TV Studios.
(43:52):
Take care everyone, stay safe.
Good evening and good morning. Depending on where you're
watching us from, it's almost midnight here on the West Coast
in Vancouver, BC I'm James Quesnel coming to you from the
Tropics TV Studios to bring you today's headlines as well.
We are going to delve in and take a look at the NHL.
Yes, we have a packed hour aheadstarting again as I said, with
(00:26):
the headlines shaping our city, our country and our world.
And later we will dive into the state of Canada's NHL teams as
we gear up for the new season ahead.
Now, the central theme today is the immense pressure on the
Canadian economy, a pressure cooker environment being felt by
everyone from the grocery storesright through to the Premier's
(00:48):
office in the BBC and ParliamentHill in Ottawa.
And the primary driver, well, that's an escalating and deeply
uncertain trade relationship with the United States, which is
creating a long shadow over everything from our provincial
budgets to your mortgage rates. Well, let's get to that.
(01:09):
But first, a quick thank you to our sponsor for making today's
show possible. If you're planning a move,
whether it's across town or across the province, check out
Carrie Movers Limited. They handle everything from
local moves in the Metro Vancouver in the Fraser Valley
to long distance relocations forhomes and offices throughout
Western Canada. You can get an online quote at
(01:30):
www.carryovers.com. That's www.karymovers.com.
Thanks again for their sponsorship of today's episode.
Now let's take a look at the local Ledger.
HSBC is at a crossroads here in British Columbia.
The provincial government is in full defence mode against what
(01:51):
it calls unjustified US tariffs imposed by the Trump
administration on key Canadian industries.
Those include industries such assteel, aluminum and our vital
soft wood lumber sector. This isn't just political
posturing. The government has enacted the
Economic Stabilization Act whichis a tariff response and a piece
(02:13):
of legislation that restricts provincial governments from you
procurement from US suppliers. This has also led to the
cancellation of all non essential government travel to
the United States. This is a province batten down
the hatches for what looks like a prolonged economic storm.
(02:34):
The financial impact is stark. The the provinces budget to 2025
forecasts A staggering $10.9 billion deficit for this 2526
fiscal year, a figure made all more precarious by the trade
uncertainty. The government's own analysts
have warned that these tariffs could cost 10s of thousands of
(02:55):
BC jobs by 2028 and shave billions off of our economic
activity. This pressure is also being felt
directly by local businesses. A recent report on downtown
Vancouver's retail sector highlights the new tariffs are
expected to squeeze margins by increasing wholesale costs.
(03:16):
It will also complicate supply chains.
This comes on top of already immense pressures, including at
least costs that have increased by 70% to plus property tax
burdens that have surged by 133%.
Now this creates A vicious cycleof fiscal pressure for the
province. The tariffs are eroding the
(03:36):
government's revenue base, forcing it to run these massive
deficits. Yet at the same time, public
pressure demands more spending on top of the two issues for
British Columbians, 2 big ones of course, being housing
affordability and healthcare. To meet these demands, the
government has committed to major capital spending,
including $15.5 billion for healthcare projects and an
(04:01):
increase to the rental assistance supplement.
Take cover the gap between falling revenues and these
necessary high spending levels. The provincial debt is projected
to soar by nearly 69 billion over the next three years.
This effectively offloads today's problems on to future
generations, A structural weakness where an external
(04:21):
political issue is directly compromising the province's
ability to solve its most pressing internal social
challenges. Now, on the housing front, the
Metro Vancouver market is in a state of adjustment, a market of
contradictions. The consensus is that a
combination of trade uncertainties, slower population
(04:41):
growth and interest rates that remain high relative to the last
decade is cooling the market. We're seeing more inventory on
the market than we have in yearsof giving buyers a slight edge
they haven't had in a very long time.
However, there is a silver lining on the horizon for
developers and potential buyers.The Bank of Canada is expected
(05:03):
to continue easing its monetary policy, with forecasts
predicting interest rates could decline by up to 200 basis
points by the end of 2025. The shift could bring sideline
buyers back to the market and make long term development
projects that didn't pencil out over the last couple of years
financially feasible once again.Now, despite this cooling trend,
(05:25):
affordability remains the defining issue.
A household earning A median income and Metro Vancouver can
only afford a mortgage of around300,000.
That's a huge problem when the benchmark price for a
condominium is over that at a $680,000.
This enormous gap fuels the intense demand for rental and
(05:46):
affordable housing, especially along the transit corridors.
This is creating a tale of two markets in Vancouver.
On one hand, the broad market for existing single family homes
and standard condos is stabilizing, creating a buyers
market feel. On the other hand, the future
market, driven by development and public policy, is poised for
(06:08):
a resurgence. The combination of expected
interest rate cuts, massive government investment in
transit, and the provincial up zoning policies creates a
powerful incentive for developers to build new
multifamily and transit orientedhousing.
The difficult truth is that thisnew supply will take years to
come online, doing very little to solve the immediate
(06:29):
affordability crisis for the average family today.
Now a major story fueling that future development is the
massive investment in public transit.
Trans Links 2025 Investment plan, approved back in April,
will fund the largest increase in bus service since 2018.
(06:49):
This is a direct response to theexplosive population growth
South of the Fraser River. Ridership in Surrey and Langley
is surging and some of the regions most overcrowded bus
routes are located in Surrey. The city is currently developing
a new transportation plan to cope with the population that is
expected to hit 1,000,000 peoplein the next 20 years.
(07:12):
The crown jewel of this expansion is the 16 kilometers
Surrey Langley Skytrain project.It will extend the Expo Line
primarily along Fraser Highway all the way to Langley city
centre, adding eight new starts.The project is funded in part by
the province's massive $15.9 billion capital investment and
(07:32):
transportation and is expected to be in service by late 2029.
Now, looking at the national polls, we're shifting to the
national stage. Canada is just a few months
passed a pivotal federal election.
The vote On April 28th, I saw Mark Carney lead the Liberals to
1/3 consecutive minority government, winning only 169
(07:56):
seats. But that was just three short of
a majority. This was a stunning reversal of
fortune. For much of the preceding year,
polls had been projecting A landslide victory for pure
Polio's Conservatives. The game changer, it turns out,
was the escalating trade disputewith the United States.
Now pulling from you Gov conducted after the election is
(08:18):
crystal clear on this point. For 36% of Liberal voters, US
Canada relations was the single most important issue, dwarfing
the economy and healthcare. In stark contrast, at the top
issue for Conservative voters was the budget and taxes.
In essence, the 2025 federal election became a referendum on
(08:40):
which leader was best equipped to stand up to Donald Trump.
Now, the result is that reshapedthe political landscape.
Both Conservative Leader Pierre Paul Liev and NDP Leader Jagmeet
Singh lost their own seats in the election.
The NDP also lost its recognizedparty status in the House of
Commons. Now this is of course, a
(09:01):
significant blow to its influence and its funding.
Pierre-paul yet is currently seeking to return to Parliament
via a by election in the safe Alberta riding of Battle River
Crowfoot, which is scheduled forAugust the 18th.
We will of course, be reporting on that and keep you updated as
that date draw close draws closer.
(09:22):
Now, this outcome is the Prime Minister Carney's government
with the mandate, but it's an incredibly narrow and fragile 1.
He was elected not on broad domestic platform, but on the
specific premise that he could manage the relationship with the
United States. This gives him political capital
on that one file, but very little on others.
(09:43):
The difficult reality is that henow must govern a country where
the primary economic challenges,slowing growth and a potential
recession are direct consequences of the very issue
that got him elected. He has to solve problems created
by the one thing voters trusted him to handle, all while leading
a minority government should that relies on the support of
(10:05):
other parties to pass legislation.
Now on the Canadian Economic Forecast, the consensus among
our major financial institutionsand economic bodies is that the
economy is slowly slowing and itis going to be significant in
the near term as it speeds up. It's it's slowing, if that makes
(10:27):
sense. Now Export Development Canada
forecast just a .8% growth in 2025.
Vanguard protects predicts 1.25%in TD Economics sees growth
running below the trend for the next two years.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or C CMHC, now
(10:47):
expects a modest recession this year.
The drivers are clear in those trade tensions slowing
population growth and weakening consumer and business
confidence. The national unemployment rate
has already risen to 7% and is expected to decline even
further. In response, the Bank of Canada
is expected to continue cutting its policy rate.
(11:10):
TD Securities expects the rate to fall to 2.25% by the middle
of this year, and Vanguard sees it ending 2025 at the same
level. This monetary easing is intended
to stimulate a flagging economy.Now there is a bright spot in
the national data, and it's on the climate front.
The 2025 National Inventory Report shows that Canada's
(11:35):
greenhouse gas emissions have dropped to their lowest level in
27 years, excluding the pandemicyears.
This has happened even as the economy has grown, suggesting
that policies to decarbonize keysectors like electrical
generation, oil and gas are having measurable and a positive
impact now. Navigating this economic
(11:56):
uncertainty is a challenge for everyone, from national
businesses to local families. And when life changing life
changes mean you need to make your address change as well.
Having a reliable partner makes all the difference.
Our friends at Kerry Movers Limited, our experts in
residential and commercial relocations.
Bigger, small. Find them online for a quote at
(12:17):
www.carryovers.com. That's KARY movers.com.
Now let's shift focus here. Looking at the wider world, the
global situation is adding to these headwinds.
The World Economic Forums 2025 Global Risks report paints A
grim picture. The top risks facing the world
(12:38):
are identified as state based armed conflict and what they
call Geo economical or sorry geoeconomic confrontation.
That means sanctions, tariffs and investment screening.
This is the world we are now living in, folks.
Analysts from firms like Lizard and Eurasia Group point to a G0
(12:58):
world where global cooperation has broken down.
A more protectionist United States under the rule of Don is
upending global trade flows, andthe great power competition
between the US and China is a primary driver of this
instability. Technology has become a new
geopolitical battleground. We're seeing the emergence of
(13:21):
technological blocks around the US and China, particularly in
strategic areas like artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
This threatens to fragment everything from our IT
infrastructure through to international scientific
cooperation. For decades, Canadians have
heard our politicians talk aboutthe rules based international
(13:43):
order. The data for 2025 shows that
this is no longer a functioning reality.
The world's largest economy is actively using tariffs as a
primary policy tool. The number of active military
conflicts around the globe is atits highest it's been since the
Second World War, and international bodies are
struggling to keep pace with newthreats like AI and climate
(14:06):
change. The impact on Canada's direct
and is direct and severe. Our economic and national
security is no longer buffered by a stable global system.
We are more exposed and vulnerable to global shocks than
at any point in recent memory. And on the climate reality, the
(14:26):
scientific consensus for 2025 isalarming.
The world's Meteorological Organization, or WMO, reports
there is now a 70% chance that the entire five year period from
2025 to 2029 will average more than the 1.5°C above pre
industrial levels. While temporarily breaching at
(14:49):
1.5 in a single year doesn't mean that the Paris Agreement
goal is officially lost. Scientists call it a dire
warning sign. 2024 was the warmest year on record, and
there's an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years
will be even hotter. For 2025 specifically, analysis
from Carbon Brief shows that it's on track to be the second
(15:12):
or third warmest year on record,with record low Arctic sea ice
for much of the early summer andrecord warmth observed across
large, large parts of both Europe and Asia.
Now the global pressures to on ice pressures we when we come
back, we're going to shift gearsfrom the news desk to the hockey
(15:33):
rink and we're going to look at the NHL season being just around
the corner and we're gonna breakdown the good, the bad and
the ugly for every Canadian teamexcept for the Canucks.
And the reason for that is because we covered the Canucks
for a full segment last night. So if you didn't catch it, by
all means check out in the archives of yesterday is that
(15:54):
live chat with James and you'll get a very in depth report on
what we see coming for the connects.
We of course didn't in-depth report on the Connect set a
greater level than the other teams because we are after all
based in that natural Vancouver,BC and at that is my team.
So of course I had to show a bitof favoritism there.
(16:15):
But in any event, you can't get enough of that elsewhere.
The complete 40 minute deep diveis right after this.
Once again folks, just a reminder that this episode is
brought to you by Metro Vancouver's favorite family
owned and operated moving company with over decades of
experience looking after residential, office, commercial,
(16:38):
retail and piano moving needs. Carry movers can be found online
at www.carryovers.com. That's www.karymovers.com.
Check them out for all of your moving needs.
Now let's go and into the look that became the Canadian NHL
(16:59):
season preview. As promised, we're putting the
news aside and turning our full attention to Canada's game.
The puck is set to drop on the 20252026 NHL season in just a
few months, and it's a fascinating time for the biggest
Canadian contingent. Some teams are steering down a
closing Stanley Cup window, others are just prying it open,
(17:22):
and a few are stuck somewhere inbetween.
We're going to break down all six teams.
No connects today, but again, you can check out yesterday's
report is we did a very, very intriguing report on the Canucks
yesterday. Now we're going to use a simple
framework, as I said, the good, the bad and the ugly in this
(17:43):
in-depth analysis. It's again brought to you by
Kerry Movers, so check them out on line for a free quote.
Just set the stage. Let's take a quick overview of
where these teams stand. Now we will look at the
2024-2025 results, key off season storyline, projected
(18:04):
202526 cap space and the big question for each team.
Let's start with Edmonton. Yes, they lost in the first
round. Mcdavid's looming extension is
of course a big question coming up into the new season and let's
take a look where they are and they projected cap space and
(18:26):
that is a bout 226,000. Can they afford to keep a
competitive team around? Their superstars will have to
watch and see. That is the big question now in
Calgary. Of course, they missed the
playoffs in the 2425 season. The rise of goalie Dustin Wolf,
(18:47):
Wolf sorry, is a offseason storyline and the projected cap
space is about 15.2 million. Now the big question is can
hardworking goaltending overcomea lack of elite scoring?
That is what we see in Calgary now.
(19:07):
In terms of Winnipeg, can they lost the first round and whether
or not there is going to be lifeafter Nikolaj Ellers will have
to watch and see. Their cap space is sitting
around 10.5 million and the big question, what is the team's
identity? Now?
Let's take a look at the centre of the universe.
(19:29):
Yes, Toronto, they lost in the second round.
Life after Mitch Marner is of course something that's been top
of mind for Connects or sorry for Toronto Maple Leaf fans and
actually the league when they'velooked at that team.
Their cat space is sitting around $25.7 million and the big
(19:50):
question is how do they replace the superstar and get tougher at
the same time? Now let's take a look at the
capital. Yes, Ottawa.
The first round they lost in the2024-2025 season.
The talk of the town throughout the summer, of course, has been
the expensive core that must nowdeliver.
(20:12):
They're sitting in a cap space of about 4.3 million and the big
question for Ottawa is can they make the leap from a playoff
team to a true contender? We will see.
Now let's go to our only. French Canadian team and that is
of course, in the beautiful cityOf Montreal, one of my favorite
(20:34):
cities to visit. So yeah, if you're planning a
trip, by all means, check out Montreal.
It's a beautiful place. But any event that they lost in
the first round in the 2425 season, the big question in the
offseason, of course, has been the elite prospects.
And they are meeting a nightmarecap now they are sitting with a
(20:55):
salary cap at about -6.3 million.
But they have the long term injury reserve.
So that's a big question as well.
Where things are going to sit and when does the future finally
arrive and can they afford it? In that are the, that's the big
question for Montreal. Now let's go into more depth
(21:17):
here. Let's take a look at the Alberta
front. Yes, the Edmonton Oilers and the
ticking clock. They are a defined team by that
said ticking clock and the good for the Edmonton Oilers is
obvious and spectacular. They have Connor McDavid and
Leon Dry Seidel, two of the bestplayers on the planet, right in
(21:38):
the middle of their prime. They've also shown an ability to
find incredible value in depth pieces.
Look no further than Vasily Bud Colson, acquired from, yes, our
Vancouver Canucks here, and thatwas for a fourth round pick.
It's a blue collar, hard workingwinger who played all 82 games
(21:58):
last season for a bargain bin cap hit of just $1 million.
On the future front, management has made some savvy moves to
bolster a thin prospect pipeline, acquiring promising
young forwards like Isaiah Coward and former 9th overall
pick Matt Assad Way. Now let's take a look at the bad
(22:19):
when it comes to Edmonton. And that is the familiar painful
story of playoff disappointment.There 2024-2025 season ended in
another first round exit result that has become all too common
in the McDavid era. Now the value contracting pod
Colson also highlights a key weakness.
(22:39):
Despite his work ethic and playing the majority of the
season alongside dry saddle, he provided minimal offence,
scoring just eight goals. This points to a persistent lack
of scoring depth beyond the two superstars.
The team strategy to fix this appears to be doubling down on
what they already do best. Reports suggest they are still
(23:00):
in the market for another top six forward rather than
addressing the long standing fanconcerns about their defence and
goaltending. Now let's take a look at the
ugly for Edmonton. The ugly part is the salary cap
situation, which is nothing short of dire.
The Oilers are projected to enter the 2025 and 2026 season
(23:23):
with just $225,834 in cap space.This financial vice is
tightening just as Connor McDavid enters his final year of
his contract. His next deal is expected to be
a record-breaking extension and the 16 to 17,000,000 per year
range. With Leon Leon Dry Seidel's
(23:44):
already on the books for 14,000,000 a year.
The Oilers will have will soon have over 30 million, nearly 1/3
of the entire salary cap tied upin just two players.
This financial straitjacket makes improving the rest of the
roster nearly impossible and puts immense pressure on
management to win now before thecap crunch inevitably forces a
(24:06):
dismantling of the supporting cast.
Of course, it is hoped that we will see that return to the
superstar status or to reach capabilities by all players on
the Oilers for the upcoming season.
Now the Oilers management is making a calculated but
extremely risky bet. By focusing on adding even more
(24:28):
offence to a team that's alreadyposting to a generational
talents, they are betting they can simply outscore their
defensive deficiencies. This strategy has failed them
repeatedly in the playoffs. With the cap wall looming.
This feels like a last dance scenario where they are pushing
all their chips in on their established identity, for better
(24:49):
or for worse, because they simply lack the financial
flexibility to do anything else.Now let's go inept with the
Flames. Yes, the Calgary Flames all
heart and not enough finish. That is what they're saying.
And staying in Alberta, of course.
So we will take a look at the good first of the Calgary
(25:11):
Flames. Now.
This team was the definition of an overachiever last season,
projected by many to be a bottomfeeder.
They fought for a playoff spot right up until the very end,
finishing with an impressive 96 points.
Their identity is built on a foundation of relentless hard
work under head coach Ryan Huskaand a cohesive team team first
(25:33):
mentality that is genuinely fun to watch.
The undisputed at the start of the show is, of course, 24 year
old goaltender Dustin Wolf. He had a phenomenal rookie
season, finishing second in Calder Trophy voting and is the
foundation of the team's success.
Management has also shown confidence in their young core
signing, winger Matt Coronado toA7 year 45 and a half million
(25:58):
dollar extension after a solid 24 goal season.
Now let's take a look at the bag.
Yes, the bad is a single glaringweakness.
Their offence that was, to put it bluntly, pitiful.
The Flames ranked 27th in the entire league in goals, 4A flaw
(26:18):
that ultimately cost them that playoff spot.
The mid season acquisitions of forwards Joel Farabee and Morgan
Frost from Philadelphia did little to move that needle
offensively, with both struggling to find their footing
after the trade. Without the star goalie they
would have been in the leagues basement where some had
predicted them to be. Now let's take a look at the
(26:42):
ugly. Yes, the ugly truth for the
Flames is that they finished in the worst possible position in
the standings and they referred to that as no man's land.
They were just good enough to miss out on a high end top ten
draft pick, but not good enough to actually make the playoffs.
This makes it incredibly difficult to add the elite, game
(27:03):
breaking talent they so desperately need.
They have a healthy amount of cap space projected at around
15.2 million, but this year's unrestricted free agent market
is considered weak and they lackthe superstar draw to attract
top talent. Their success is precariously
balanced on the shoulders of their young goalie, which is a
(27:25):
huge burden for a player entering just his second full
season in the league. The 2024-2025 season was a feel
good story, but the question is whether it was sustainable.
Their success was driven by an intangible work ethic and a
single potentially volatile element in a rookie goalie on a
(27:45):
hot streak. The underlying data shows a team
with a fatal flaw in its bottom tier offence without a
significant and frankly unlikelyinfusion of scoring talent.
They are asking their goalie to be nearly perfect every single
night just to stay competitive. This is a recipe for regression,
not progression. Now let's take a look at the
(28:08):
Eastern power corridor. Yes, we'll start with the
Toronto Maple Leafs and the postMurner era.
Yes, that will begin now moving east.
Of course, as I said, we're lining in Toronto.
The good for Toronto without Mitch Marner.
Of course, the least biggest strength is now in net, the
goaltending tandem of Anthony Stollers and Joseph Wool.
(28:33):
It was outstanding last season, giving Toronto the 4th best team
save percentage in the entire NHL, their highest ranking in
that category since 1995. They still possess elite top
ends talent in Austin Matthews and William Nylander.
They also saw the emergence of atrue power forward in Matthew
Nyes, who had a breakout season with 29 goals in 58 points.
(28:58):
The big positive however is the massive amount of salary cap
space they now have to work withfollowing the departure of
Mitchell Marner. And they right now, as they sit,
have a projected 25.7 million incap room.
And that is a war chest they haven't had in years.
Now let's flip over to the bag for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(29:19):
And that is a familiar story of playoff failure.
They're coming off another disappointing postseason, losing
in the Eastern Conference secondround, and the departure of
Marner leaves a massive hole to fill.
It's not just his 102 points that are gone, but his elite
defensive play and his contributions to the penalty
(29:40):
kill that will be sorely missed.Now let's move on to the Toronto
Maple Leafs and the ugly part. Yes, the ugly part is how they
plan to fill that hole. General manager Brad Travelling
is trying to retool the team on the fly, explicitly stating that
(30:00):
he's hunting for dogs to build more competitive, grittier team
that can succeed in the playoffs.
The problem is he's attempting to transfer transformation in a
notoriously weak unrestricted free agent market.
The top targets being linked to the Leafs were aged veterans
like 37 year old Brad Marshawn and 40 year old Corey Perry.
(30:22):
This is an incredibly risky strategy.
They're spending their newfound cap space not on a superstar
replacement, but on character and grid, hoping that the sum of
the new parts can be greater than the massive hole left by
Marner. Now.
This represents A fundamental and perhaps panic shift in team
building philosophy and it's happening while their best
(30:43):
player, Austin Matthews, has just three years remaining on
his contract. The pressure to get this right
is immense. The Marner situation has forced
a full blown identity crisis in Toronto.
For years their philosophy was to load up on elite skill that
failed in the playoffs. Now they are pivoting hard
(31:03):
towards grit and competitiveness.
This isn't just a roster shuffle, it is a complete
repudiation of their previous era.
The risk is that they are attempting this difficult
transition on an aging core and no guarantee that the available
free agents can provide the desired impact, potentially
wasting another year of Austin Matthews Prime production years.
(31:28):
Now let's take a look at the Ottawa Senators and the price of
graduation. Yes, just down the highway, the
Ottawa Senators are facing a different kind of pressure.
And that's, as I said, the priceof graduation.
Now, the good news for the Ottawa Senators is plentiful.
They made the playoffs last season, a huge and long-awaited
(31:49):
step forward for the franchise, and they gave the rival Maple
Leafs a tough six game series inthe first round.
Very young core is locked in long term with Tim Stutzel and
captain Brady Kutchek and newly acquired centre Dylan Cozens all
signed a multi year deals. They also appear to have found a
(32:12):
legitimate NHL goaltender in Levi Marlene and I apologize for
the pronunciation of some of thenames.
Now the 22 year old was fantastic in a 12 games didn't
last season, posting a .925 savepercentage and earning A1 way
contract to be the team's backupthis year.
(32:34):
Their future remains bright withthe strong prospect pipeline led
by big defensemen Carter, Yakima, Chuck and they're 2024
first round pick Nor he he was there 2024 first round pick
sorry. Now let's take a look at the bad
up for them. Now the bad news is the bill
that has come due, the cost of signing that young court a
(32:56):
lucrative long-term contracts isnow hitting the books.
The team has very little financial flexibility with just
4.3 million end projected cap space heading into the season.
This makes it very difficult to add the veteran depth and
complementary pieces that a young playoff team needs to take
the next step towards contention.
(33:18):
As for the actual ugly section, yes, the ugly reality for Ottawa
is that they are now all in on their current group.
There's no more financial wiggleroom.
They are betting everything on the belief that the internal
growth from their young, expensive core will be enough to
elevate them from a simple playoff team to a legitimate
(33:38):
Stanley Cup contender. This is a massive gamble.
If the core plateaus or if injuries strike key players,
they have no cap space to bring in significant reinforcements.
They have successfully moved thehopeful rebuild phase to the
high pressure, high expectation phase, and the weight of those
(33:59):
expensive contracts will be feltwith every single loss.
The Senators have successfully navigated to rebuild, but they
now face the hardest part of thejourney, going from a good team
to a great one. The very contracts that secured
their talented young core are now the primary obstacle to
building a deep championship caliber roster.
(34:20):
They've paid for potential and now that potential must be
realized or they risk becoming as stuck as a perennial first
round exit team with an immovable and expensive payroll.
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That's www.krymovers.com. Now let's take a look at the
rebuilders and the retailers. Yes, the Montreal Canadians.
(35:07):
The paradox of pain and promise Yes, let's take a look at the
team of living. A paradox of present day pain
and incredible future. Promise.
Let's start with the good 4 Montreal.
Yes, the good is all about the future and that future is
incredibly bright. The Canadians and prospect pool
(35:28):
is in arguably the best in the entire NHL, headlined by Russian
superstar prospect Ivan Demidov Or Demidov sorry, who already
gave fans a glimpse of his talent late last season.
They have a wave of talent coming, including dynamic
defenseman Lane Hudson, Big Blueliner and David Reinacher, and
(35:51):
top goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler.
They also made the playoffs in 2024-2025, a surprise appearance
that gave their young players valuable experience.
And in a blockbuster moved this offseason, they signed Sorry.
They signaled their belief that their window is opening now by
(36:12):
trading two first round picks toacquire top pairing defenseman
Noah Dobson from the Islanders. Now let's look at the bad.
Yes, that bad is the present dayroster which remains deeply
flawed. The Canadians backed into the
playoffs last season with a negative goal differential and
(36:33):
were quickly and easily dispatched by the Washington
Capitals in the first round. Key management decisions like
the choice to replace the tradedSean Monahan internally with
Kirby Dog or it could be Dodge. I apologize again for the
pronunciation, but that backfired badly leaving a
massive hole at the second line centre position that was never
(36:54):
adequately filled. Now let's move to the ugly.
Yes, the ugly part is their salary cap situation which is a
complete and utter disaster. The Canadians are projected to
be 6.3 million over the cap before this evening had the
season even starts. This is largely due to Kerry
prices at $10.5 million cap hit which will be placed on not Long
(37:19):
Term Injury Reserve in the finalyear of Patrick Lanes $8.7
million contract. Using the Long Term Injury
Reserve provides some relief, but it comes with penalties such
as being forced to carry over 1.1 or sorry 1.75 million in
performance bonus overages from last season, which further
reduces their spending power. Now this situation makes it
(37:43):
impossible for them to sign any significant free agents to fill
their obvious roster holes. This is a master class in
strategic pain. Now management is consciously
accepting a horrendous inflexible cap situation for one
more year to act as a bridge to the future.
This big dead money contracts ofPrice and Lane will expire after
(38:07):
this season just as their elite young prospects like Lane Hudson
will need massive new contracts.They are enduring one final year
of cap hell to perfectly time atthe arrival of their next
generation cost control talent with newfound financial freedom
in the summer of 2026. Now the acquisition of Noah
(38:28):
Dodson is the tell. It's a move you make when you
know that significant financial relief and a wave of elite
talent are just over the horizon.
Now let's jump over to the Winnipeg Jets, who are still
searching for an identity. Yes, they are the good for The
Jets. The good, of course, is The Jets
(38:50):
is a solid has a solid veteran core that remains in place,
including centre Mike Sorry, Mark Scheifele, star winger Kyle
Connor and perennial Vezina candidate goaltender Connor Hilo
Buck. Now they also have something
most other Canadian teams don't and that's financial
flexibility. The Jets right now have over
(39:12):
10.5 million in projected cap space, real luxury in today's
NHL. They've used some of that
flexibility to lock up key secondary pieces like forward
Gabriel Vilardi, and all reportsindicate they are close to
resigning Kyle Kyle Connor for along term extension.
Avoiding another star walking away.
(39:33):
Now the bad news is that a star has already walked away.
They lost core offensive player Nikolaj Ahlers in free agency to
the Carolina Hurricanes for nothing, a significant blow to
their forward group. They're 2024-2025 season ended
in heartbreaking fashion with a first round older time loss in
(39:56):
Game 6 to the Dallas Stars, and while their prospect pool is
considered solid, it lacks high-end game breaking talent of
a team such as the Montreal Canadiens.
They're top prospect is generally considered to be
defensive defence amendment. Ilias Samuelson A good player
(40:17):
but not a franchise altering onein my opinion.
Now the ugly question is for TheJets is what is this team now?
The departure of Eilers wasn't just a loss of goals, it was a
blow to the team's identity. They are no longer the high
flying, dynamic offensive team of years past.
There are offensive moves signing veterans at like Nyquist
(40:40):
and Pearson suggested. Team that is trying to plug
holes and stay competitive, but not one that is making a major
push to contend. They are at a serious risk of
being stuck in the NHL's dreadedmiddle ground.
Not good enough for to be a truecontender, but not bad enough to
get high draft pick to find their next superstar.
(41:01):
This is a team in transition, but it's entirely unclear where
they are transitioning to now. The Jets are at a fundamental
crossroads with their newfound cap space.
They have a choice. Do they use it to retool around
the remaining core and try to stay in the playoff hunt or
begin a more patient rebuild? Their current moves suggest they
(41:24):
are choosing the former, which is the riskier path.
By trying to remain competitive,they may be delaying the
inevitable and missing an opportunity to rebuild the next
great team around and new young core, a path that teams like
Ottawa and Montreal have alreadycommitted to.
So let's take a look at the final analysis here.
(41:44):
Yes. So after all of that, who is
best positioned for success? It's really a tale of different
timelines. The Edmonton Oilers have the
best chance to win the Stanley Cup this year out of the
Canadian teams, but their windowis slamming shut due to immense
pressure. Cap, sorry, immense cap
pressure. The Ottawa Senators in the
Toronto Maple Leafs are established playoff teams, but
(42:06):
they face enormous pressure to improve that they their
expensive young cores can becomea true contenders.
The Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets, the teams in search of my
identity, trying to defy the powerful gravity of the NHL's
middle ground. And then there's Montreal, a
team with a disastrous present day roster, but perhaps the
(42:26):
brightest long term future of all the Canadian teams.
It's going to be a fascinating season for all of them and
especially for us fans as we watch as the season draws
closer. And that's our show for today.
Folks. Say huge thank you to our
sponsor again, Carrie Movers Limited for local moves in Metro
Vancouver in the Fraser Valley or long distance residential and
(42:48):
commercial relocations in that Western Canada.
To get your online quote, visit them at kerrymovers.com.
That's KARY movers at dot com. Their support makes this deep
dive possible. I'm James Kushal thank you for
joining me on Propex TV's live chat with James and we look
(43:08):
forward to seeing you again tomorrow night.
Don't forget that you can interact with the program that
we do enjoy your comments and weencourage you to at leave
comments in the comment section so that this way we can address
them on the next episode. We are moving to a 2A transition
(43:30):
as well, where we're going to add WhatsApp to the live show so
you can make your calls via cellphone or of course via WhatsApp
so you'll be able to interact live with the program more than
just in the chat message box. Once again, you've been watching
live chat with James. I'm James Kusno coming to you
from Metro Vancouver, BC and thePropex TV Studios.
(43:52):
Take care everyone, stay safe.
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