December 30, 2025 • 46 mins
The show begins with some Vikings "what ifs." Then PA and Nordo are joined by Packers play-by-play voice Wayne Larrivee to talk about the Vikings upcoming game vs the Packers. To finish the first hour of the show Pat Micheletti calls in to talk about the Wild and the World Juniors.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Human Things.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Good morning and welcome to Twin Cities Orthophedix Performance Center.
That is your Eagan home for the Minnesota Vikings. This
is nine to noon. Nordo produces on site. I'm Paul Allen.
Devin Ward is guiding the Great Chip Love Covenant from
FM one hundred point three k FA and hey sports Leader,
(01:40):
also your home for Minnesota Vikings football. This is Swan
Song Radio from Egan Today for nine to noon. At
least for now, this will be our final Tuesday at
the Minnesota Vikings facility with x'es and o's with the
Kevin O'Connell coming up at eleven o'clock and Kevin will
be followed as the head coaching covenant goes by John Hines,
(02:03):
coach of the Minnesota Wild. He'll be calling us from
California after a convincing five to two victory last night
over the Las Vegas Golden Knights and also courtesy of
timber Tech and TimberTech dot Com. What's on Deck nine
to noon includes Packers play by play voice Wayne Laravie,
next segment Mick Tackett, Pat mcletty, a couple of segments
(02:24):
from now on set Wild describe Ben Gesling joins us
on air on site on demand, and he'll be on
fire at about ten o'clock and we begin with some
what if scenarios for you, just just some things on
which to chew as the National Football League postseason approaches,
sadly a postseason that will not include our Minnesota Vikings.
(02:48):
But what if Texans guard at Ingram provides the key
block to protect C. J. Stroud, who then hits Christian
Kurr for a game winning touchdown in the Super Bowl?
Ed Ingram our former guy, Eddie Ingram, Yeah, he ran
him right out of town here, didn't they? Now? Through
(03:12):
four years, teams using ed Ingram as a starter, all right,
are thirty six and nineteen. Ed Ingram's part of teams
that are thirty six and nineteen. Wow, when he starts
at guard and he only has one penalty this year?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
What if the surging Texans emerge and advance and descend
to Super Bowl six zero and our former guy ed
Ingram has a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
To do with it? In good morning, good morning, Well.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
The natives will be restless, The natives will be very
very irritated.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Ran him right out of town, didn't They ran him
out of town? Didn't need him.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I have a scenario for you that will also feature
somebody on the formerly part of the Minnesota mo company.
But to that end, you can't speak to good for
an am not just winning games with Davis Mills, but
then once CJ. Stroud comes back, defense has been the
bomb all year, right, best in the NFL maybe statistically,
(04:16):
and Demiko Ryans has that thing churning. They may be
actually earlier in the season having a similar conversation that
we've had about Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, where man,
this defense is unbelievable. Wow, Will Anderson and Danil Hunter
are an unbelievable tandem of pass rushing tandems in the NFL.
We just need to find some freaking life out of
(04:37):
this offense, right, and got to stay healthy.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
And c J.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Stroud what is a year three? Now? Can he do it?
Does he have it?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And you can't speak to what they're doing offensively finding
their way to win games without without ed.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Ingram thirty six and nineteen as a starter.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
At one point in time, at one point in time
now now Jaggs got off to a great start, really
haven't stopped so truly that the toast of the AFC South,
But it was the Colts at one point until Daniel
Jones's injury that really kind of put them in Well.
I mean, they're starting a forty four year old so,
and as cool as the forty four year old is,
that's not preferred so. And then the descending nature of
(05:18):
the Texans really felt real, the regression of what they
were doing down there. And you know, former Gophers, you're
loving on ariante ursery and they had their awful moments,
specifically early in the season. But you have to give
edd Ingram a ton of credit for working within that system.
Is he being coached up and if he's providing the
(05:39):
winning block at Santa Clara and the Texans are made
a freaking trophy, well THEO will be mad. The man
it's it's I truly believe this. Because of the wide
open nature of the NFL this year. Yeah, Houston can
get to the Super Bowl for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
I mean CJ's making all the right throws, and the
corners Lassiter and Derek Stingley Junior when completely healthy, and
they're both a little banged up right now. Stingley's turned
into a hit by the way, Holy Cow and I
think it's Kamari Lassiter. Lassiter and Derek Stingley Junior are
playing as well as any corners tandem in the NFL.
(06:19):
So if CJ keeps making these throws and that defense
keeps playing the way it's playing, and Eddie Ingram continues
to take no penalties, only has one this year thirty
six and nineteen, when Ed Ingram starts for the Vikings
or the Texans, Yes, the Texans can get to the
super Bowl? What if? What if? From a Vikings fan
(06:40):
base standpoint or nine to now? What if Ben takes
Chicago to the Super Bowl his first year on the job. Now,
what will bug our covenant with that? Is it a
division foe with a young quarterback who plays all the
games and seems indestructible. Is that Chicago has become the
(07:05):
target at which to shoot into twenty twenty six? What
would bug people if Ben Johnson, in his first year
with the Chicago Bears gets all the way to the
Santa Clara Strut?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Well, the listeners, the listeners can certainly speak for themselves.
Six four sixty eight six branch On Bryan Kafan text
line of So and Clyde.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Ran, Eddie right out of town, didn't they from from?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
For me, like, I've never had any sort of personal
animus against Kayla Williams, right, but but he plays for
the for the team in the Windy City, so uh
so naturally I'm rooting for him in every stretch, by
every stretch of the imagination to have bad times against
the Purple in particular, he's been terrific and the coach
has been terrific, and the way that thing has had
(07:51):
the slow build the simmer to now offensively specifically, it's
it's a true boil right now with what they're putting
out on the field.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
The frustrating factor.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
For me would would not be to dagger Caleb or
dagger the operation as much as it would be oh
great down here for the Vikings. Second year QB sadly
oft injured and we're on the sweat with the hand
this week. Yeah, and that kid's rolling into he's rolling
into the bay. Wow, NOPA trophy and the Bears fans
(08:23):
we're getting videos from Lavelle at two am of him
smoking cigars, loving the Bears vibe at alleries.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I gotta deal with that now.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
That is now one of the NFC Juggernauts, and we
gotta face him twice a year.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
That would drive me insane.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
The best thing, in my estimation, the best thing Ben
as in Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears did into
the season was get offensive lineman Joe Toney, Yeah, Drew
Dolman and Jonah Jackson.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And it worked and the way they did it, and
Nordo and I, I mean when they did it, you know,
first thing, first thing that I said was like, well,
this is a genius because you're making trades for offensive
linemen before free agency hits yep, so then you ain't
got to deal with the Joneses. Joe Tooney, Drew Dolman,
Jonah Jackson. They traded for Toony and and Jackson right
(09:16):
before free agency. Then the first day of free agency,
swooped in on what was widely considered the top center available,
Drew Dolman three years, forty two million dollars. Toony's a
Hall of Famer. Joe Tooney is going to the Hall
of Fame. They traded a twenty twenty six fourth for
Joe Tooney. Tooney has one hundred and sixty two starts
(09:39):
through ten seasons. He's only missed two games, and he's
a beef eating offensive lineman. Joe Tooney's a two time
All Pro, probably going to be three after this year started,
and won four Super Bowls for New England and Kansas City. Yeah,
I mean that's next level maneuvering right there. Well, and
the cool thing is too is next line.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I think the Chiefs had him playing tackle and so
kind of the stock was down on Tuney.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It's like he's getting old, you know, he's trying to
He had some great days with Kansas City, but truly
his best days maybe with the Pats and their ability
to find him on the cheap. Again, the the proactive maneuvering,
I think Jonah Jackson might. I don't want to call
it found money because he's had some I think previously
with the Rams.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Oh you nailed it.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
But but I think that is of those three the
one that has probably maybe overperformed what one might expect
into the season. Again, part of what's happening with the Bears,
it's coaching, Uh, the evolution of talent, specifically on offense
and and Manungai right, you're getting sort of value there
of course, but the everything every string that they pulled
(10:48):
has been money. I mean, it's it's just been. It's
unbelievable year for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
What if Sam Darnold meets Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl?
That's okay? What what if what if Sam Darnold meets
Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Daniel Jones in a boot or with a sideline pass,
maybe Daniel Jones can do the coin toss? Would that
just be too much to take? Vikings fan six four
six eighty six. Yeah, that's would that be too much
to take?
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (11:16):
What if Trevor Lawrence gets hurt and Nick Mullins enters
and elevates Jacksonville who was Super bowlver or even just
wins a playoff game? What if? What if?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
What if he doesn't throw it to the other team
while driving to tie the game in late January on
the road. Yeah, so you know, because I was I
was thinking like offensive line scenarios. So you you mentioned
at Ingram, that's that's a big one. And you end
up with Will Fryes, who I think is ascended through
the season.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
So happy to have Will. This will be seventeen starts
for Will fries this weekend on a Minnesota moving company
with like twenty five different offensive line combinations. Yeah, it's
a beat beating spot. It's in the trenches. It's incredibly physical.
Will Fries first year in Minnesota. Yeah, Covenant collaps worthy.
You made all seventeen my brother.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So but then think about out East Garrett Bradbury. Now
there are some on social media who are making him
sound like he's New World Jason.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Kelcey out there.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
But there's part of the the availability conversation, specifically with
all five six that means a ton and could have
meant something to the Purple in twenty twenty five underrated
one what if scenario? Will Campbell, highly touted left tackle,
got hurt. Now reports are he's actually gonna He's missed
I think a month. Yeah, he's going to return to
(12:40):
practice soon.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Which makes Drake May's performances that much more grandiose or
are they?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Because I mean former Vikings sixth round pick Viderian Lowe
has started the previous four games.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
It has played quite well, Are you kidding? Nimbles stead
for Darian Lowe starts for the for the New England Patriots.
So what if? What if? Who knew? What if Will
Campbell can't make the stop back. What if you can't
get back? We had him in the Covenant and.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
The top of eventual top seeded potentially the New England
Patriots hoist another Lombardi, so then it's like, ah, e've
a empire is back.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Although Rabel's likable and Drake.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
May, I mean, how can you not like May with
two of their offensive linemen being Garrett Bradberry, a sixth
round pick that we never gave a shot to where
we're always everybody is, but we forever are looking for
the correct offensive line combination.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Now, but but you obviously hit the the a topic, Pa,
Sam Darnold with an opportunity now to day, Roger, it's
in the bay and they they if they take the
Niners down and get the one seat. I mean, just
like without even thinking Super Bowl implications, Yeah, think about
the idea. Now we all have for myriad reasons in
(13:58):
our lives. I'm not lecturing anybody here, but we know
we're all a little bit of a hypocrite in certain situations.
If we remember a year ago with everything on the
line and what happened at Ford Field, and then the
next week against the Rams when it was kind of
figured out like, naw, I don't think Sam's going to return.
About all of us were kind of like, okay, well,
(14:18):
that must mean JJ's ready. Right at one point we
were all ready to say best of luck in future
endeavors to Sam Darnold. Now he's back. Now he's won
like twenty six games two years. What is it twenty
six or twenty seven games in the last two seasons,
and he's there in primetime with the ability to take
the one seed in the NFC yet again, And just
(14:39):
what if, forget the Super Bowl? What if he shows
up in primetime? What if he throws four touchdown on
Sally's defense. What if they secure the one seed on
the road at Shanny What if they best say it
Shanahan in primetime with it all on the line after
the Vikings went there in a divisional round game a
few years ago and couldn't even hold on to punts.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
What if Aaron Rodgers fades to fire from the thirty
yard line in Super Bowl sixty, shakes a tackle, fires
to the end zone to win the Super Bowl and
it's caught by Adam Feeling. Would Minnesota be able to
handle it? And then the Land of ten thousand heartbreaks,
(15:22):
wouldn't they wouldn't you want to be happy in that spot? Yes,
I mean he wasn't producing great.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
In fairness to number nineteen, who I appreciate all of
his contributions got you.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
He wasn't doing much with us.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I did get a text though, Lewis Scene and Nick
Muse won a Super Bowl with the Eagles last year.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
It happens.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
It happens every year. Practice squad though that's a little different.
We're not talking about it. And hey, love Nick Muse.
Best of luck to Lewis Scene. That does not count.
Now this one, think about this, the Nashawan Wright trick.
Nashawan Wright emerged from ob security.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
That's right, Corners.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Now he got nicked up and now he's potentially starting
on a Super Bowl winning oka. Enough of the what
if now starting to bug men. You're pumping up the
island to favi at Barreau, which we appreciate. Which we appreciate, Fabian, Hey,
what if nine to noon goes to break right now
and calls Wayne Laravie elite vox for the green Bay Packers.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
The season finale for the Vikings is this weekend. Green
Bay will play the next weekend in a wild Card Round.
In the Wildcard Round and the Dagger one of the
boxes of all boxes ever. The vox will join nine
to noon around the Corner courtesy of timber Tech and
timber tech dot Com. Devin Ward produces back at the Flagship.
He's Nordo, I'm Paul Allen. Welcome to the Minnesota Vikings
(16:37):
Practice Facility, Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center KO at eleven
o'clock on KFAM, McCarty.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Looks fires left sat the.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Dinner Septa.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Williams william his second game in a row with an
interception and that will do it. Evan Williams delivers his
second consecutive.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Dagger find a noon from the Minnesota Vikings Practice Facility,
twins Citi's Orthopedic Performance Center. Our final Tuesday jaunt to Egan.
Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the team, joins at eleven o'clock,
joining us now one of our very favorites, Wayne Laravie,
our beloved dagger and a play by play voice of
(17:50):
the green Bay Packers. Now Wayne final game of the
season coming up Sunday at noon for the Minnesota Vikings.
Green Bay will play in the wild Card Round and
and hopefully beyond for your sake. But when it comes
to this weekend, starting to casually prepare the game calling
depth chart, putting numbers and names to like the Green
(18:12):
Bay Packers offensive line and other positions for this Sunday,
it ain't easy. Man. The Packers lineup, Wayne for sure,
will have a kind of a preseason feel to it,
right and good morning.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Good morning, and happy New Year, Pa. You know, it's
hard to tell. I think they'll end up resting most
of the key people and trying to get healthy for
that playoff game or wherever it is, and it's probably
going to be back in Chicago. But you know, the
other factor is this, this is a young team and
(18:48):
they've lost three in a row. You don't want to
go into the playoffs with four straight losses. I don't
care if you're a young or old. I mean, that's
just not the way to go into the playoffs. And
it's been tough. The last three weeks have been tough
because of the fact that the injuries seemingly have caught
up with them, especially the Parsons injury, and that's changed
(19:09):
a lot on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Wayne, I'm going to venture a guests here that you
personally either wanted or want more from defensive end edge
Rashan Gary. And the reason I bring that up is
we had this ordeal trying to get out to play
the Giants where we were on buses and or planes
(19:34):
for like ten and a half hours, so we were super,
super super delayed. But when we finally landed in Newark
and we're on the bus to the team hotel, I
was listening to you and Larry call the late stages
of that Chicago game, and Rashaan Gary made a huge
play late in that game, and paraphrasing you, sounded like, finally,
(19:58):
where has that been? Is all of that accurate?
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Well, I mean that's you're paraphrasing. Obviously I didn't say
exactly that, but yeah, you know, hey, listen, Paul, he's
a fine defensive end. He's solid against the run. He's
been flushing the quarterback. But you know, when you're the
twelfth or thirteen pick in the draft and you get
(20:24):
a second contract, more is expected in terms of sacks
and registering sacks and having an impact on the game
that way. Early in the season, he got off to
a great start, but as you pointed, out. I don't
think he's had a sack in nine straight games, and
you know, this is where you need him to impact
the game. There's no doubt about that. And and you wonder, Okay,
(20:46):
so you haven't seen it in so long? Is it
in there? I mean, are we going to see it?
I think we will, but we have it for nine weeks.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
And obviously with Michael Parsons down, the things relevated with
Gary and and and Kingsley and so on, Right, I mean,
you just need to get more rush from certain spots.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Sure, absolutely, the pass rush has fallen off. It was
falling off even when Michael was healthy the two weeks
before he got injured. But you know, there was always
that potential on any given moment Michah Parsons would explode
into the backfield to make a sack and that would,
you know, kind of create some momentum for the defense,
(21:29):
and we haven't seen that. The two things that have
come to the fore in this three game losing streak
has been the lack of run defense, and that goes
back to the injury DeVante Wyatt suffered and that was
on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit. Since then, it's been really
hard to stop the run, especially the run right up
(21:50):
the middle. Secondly, without the strong pass rush, the quarterback
tandem has struggled at times to cover downfield and that
that's been eye opening as well. You put Micah Parsons
on top of all that, and then you've got, you know,
all of a sudden, as you mentioned the defense, everybody
(22:10):
on that defense gets a little bit better at what
they do. But they haven't had him there since he
went down to Denver, and they're not going to until
next year.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Hey, hey, Dagger, what's your take on the work Ben
Johnson has done with these division champion Bears.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Well, first off, the Bears had a lot more talent
than their record indicated last year. Okay, they were a
much more talented team than they're five and whatever it
was record or was. I think that when Ben went
in there, he's basically stabilized the quarterback situation and given
the quarterback some options when the pass rush is on.
(22:51):
I think he's also understood that this is not going
to be a pocket passer. That Caleb Williams doesn't do
his best work in the pocket. He does his best
workout side the pocket when protection breaks down to that
type of thing, and he's given the quarterback options to
do that, and I just think he's handled that quarterback
really well. And to be honest with you, like you guys,
(23:12):
you guys have the best. The Vikings have maybe the
best overall roster talent in the division, and that's even
Detroit when they're healthy. But the problem has been that
one position, that quarterback position. You had a rookie there
in JJ McCarthy who has shown signs, as you know
better than I, shown signs of being really good. But
(23:32):
he can't stay healthy and that's been a major issue.
And that quarterback position. You can be good in a
lot of different areas, but if you're not good at quarterback,
you're probably not going to be very good.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
And the team the Vikings just saw on Christmas Day,
the Lions, Holy cow, that thing is unraveling like a
cheap suit Wayne. Without those coaches, I mean, it's you know,
with Johnson and Glenn and the ancillary coaches who went
different places with the Lions. Is any of this surprising
you at all?
Speaker 4 (24:03):
No, not really. I thought Paul and I had this
theory that certain teams you have a season and it's
your year. It's your season This is the combination of
probably three four years of roster building and that type
of thing and coaching and everything else. The Lions year
was last year, and you can say, well, they had
(24:24):
all these injuries. The Lions year was last year. Injuries
don't change that. And when you missed that window of opportunity,
now I've seen it with the Packers. When you missed
that window of opportunity, the next year can be Hell,
it was two years ago for San Francisco when they
missed their window of opportunity. Boston the Super Bowl. The
next year they had contract squabbles, they had injuries, and
(24:45):
all you know, they had a terrible season, didn't even
make the playoffs. Same thing for the Lions this year.
If it's your year, you better get to the super
Bowl and win it, or you're looking at a long
road back and it's not a single season correction.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Wayne Laravie, play by play voice for the Green Bay
Packers nine to Noon. If Wayne, if quarterback Malik Willis
leaves via free agency to start games with another team,
do you think he has reascended to QB one status.
Maybe not in Green Bay, but somewhere else.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
You know what, Paul it's his performance has been outstanding,
and that's really going back to last year when he
first got here. I think he has a lot of
the qualities of a QB one. I don't know how
coould he be in that role. I just don't know.
You know, we've seen a good portion of his play, obviously,
(25:43):
because Jordan's been in and out of the lineup at times,
and he's been exceptional in that fill in role. But
like he got into the Chicago game, they weren't ready
for Malik Willis because they were they were ready for
Jordan Love and when Malik comes in midway through the
second quarter whenever it was, they weren't prepared for the
(26:03):
dimension that he can bring to the offense with his legs,
with the Reid option, to that kind of thing. Now,
if teams are able to prepare for all of that,
and given a week, i'd be interesting to see if
he starts this week, how the Minnesota defense, which is
playing at an extremely high level right now, one of
the top four defenses in the league, If they're planning
(26:25):
on Thelik Willis to play this week, I'd be curious
to see how Malik Willis does against the defense that's
geared and planned for him.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Is Green Bay capable off this losing streaking with these
injuries weighing only coal? Is Green Bay capable of galvanizing
over the next week and change and potentially not only winning,
but winning a couple of playoff games.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
The question is do they have the people to be
able to get that done? And that's the big question.
You know, they're missing at least five of their top
ten player, including a quite essential talent in Micah Parsons,
but you know also DeVante Wyatt, also Tucker Kraft, who
is ascending to become the best tight end of the
game overall tight end, and you know, without those guys,
(27:13):
it's tough. As Zach Time, their best offensive lineman hasn't
played in two weeks. So you look at these injuries
and you say to yourself, Okay, what do they have
can they Can they stop the run well enough? Can
they cover well enough without a major pass rush? And
that's that's really questionable. You know, I think they will
galvanize and they will do what they can. They'll do
(27:35):
the best they can. The question becomes do they have
the people left to step into those roles and make
a difference and that's the question that we'll find out
of the next several weeks.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden with zero tds and zero
one hundred yard games outside of injury, has something gone
amiss there?
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Wayne?
Speaker 4 (27:55):
You know, it's he's a rookie in a receiving corps
that is fairly well established, and when Christian Watson came back,
that kind of took the role that they had for
Matthew Golden. So you know, has he had his ups
and downs? Yes, some of it has been injury related, yes,
no question about that. But I think he's also gone
(28:18):
through growing pains that are typical rookie wide receiver goes
to now mega talent like Justin Jefferson, from what I
can remember, doesn't go to any of those rookie issues
in his first year a number of years ago, But
most guys do go through some period like that. They're
starting to get Matthew Moore involved a little bit in
the offense, and I think they need to. But I
(28:41):
don't think this has been a lost year, but it
hasn't been as big a year as many of us
we're hoping for. And that's the combination of.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Reasons behind that last one here for Beloved Dagger. With
Michael Parsons out, who's Green Bay's best defensive player and why?
I would venture to guess Evan william guessing that from
afar he seems to be playing really well.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Oh, he's playing terrific football. He's the most instinctive player
on that defense. There's no doubt about that. You know.
Ederan Cooper hasn't had quite the year we expected, but
then again he hasn't been deployed the same way he
was the year before from the linebacking spot. He may
get a little more action up front as we go
(29:25):
forward here, but I would say Evan Williams has been
consistently one of their best players, if not the best.
Micah Parsons was the best player they had, but without him,
Evan Williams is very important. He's a key. He's been
out a couple of games, he was he returned last week.
It was good to see him back. But he's so
valuable in that secondary.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Lastly, for your sake, hopefully this isn't for a month
and change, but what's the first ski trip on the
schedule once green Bay season comes to a conclusion, Beloved Dagger.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
I've got some friends and we're scheduled to go out
to Park City, and it depends on when the season ends,
but we'll probably be heading out the week after it ends.
Wherever it ends. I hope it ends in Santa Clara,
but you know, based on the way things have gone
of late, that would be an incredible run. If they
were to turn away from the losing streak and put
(30:25):
things together and all of a sudden end up in
the super Bowl, that would be incredible than their team
in two thousand and ten.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Wayne, whether it's Montana, Park City, Provo Veil, or Aspen
or maybe Keystone. Are you all diamond? Are you all
black diamond trails all the time?
Speaker 4 (30:46):
No, I'm a ice ski I'm a cruiser type guy.
I ski mostly. I'll ski black diamonds, but they generally
have to be groomed. And you know, there's one run
Deer Valley, stein Erickson's Run. It's called Stein's Way, and
it's a great run. It's a great roller coaster run.
(31:07):
It's a black but it's it's just super.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Just like you, Happy New Year to you and your family.
Tell Larry I say hi, and I'll come up to
see you this Sunday before the noon kickoff.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Okay, Wayne, sounds great, Pa, take care looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
See you, buddy, Beloved Dagger Wayne Laravie, play by play
voice for the Green Bay Packers. To the Wild Around
the Corner. The Minnesota Wild are embarking on a fourteen
day road trip. John Hines, the coach, joins in a
couple of hours, but Pat mcletty, Elite hockey Mind, and
Mick Taka will join to talk about not only last night,
(31:45):
but those first two victories Winnipeg, Las Vegas Golden Knights,
the Celebrini Covenant tomorrow at three o'clock, but in particular
the Joe Hanson Boldie Eck line. I mean, it's valley
hood hole cow. It's just tearing it up every single game.
Let's mix in the Wild Around the Corner on kf
a M. Minnesota Wild started that fourteen day road trip
(32:32):
with the World Juniors in the state, and they beat
Winnipeg over the weekend. H that was a thriller. Last night,
not so much. They were up five to oh on
the Las Vegas Golden Knights before the midway point of
the game, and the game was a t mobile in
Las Vegas. Joining us now elite hockey mind Pat mcalletty
(32:52):
at Pat Mick two six two sixth via x and
here he is Mick Talckett, Paul Allen. How have you been,
my brother? I am I'm doing well.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
It's it's good to hear your voice.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
How are you? Likewise? Things are well?
Speaker 3 (33:06):
And thanks for all the nice texts around Christmas and
during Vikings games and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
And you know, with uh, with your hockey team. This
this if there's a line, I mean it, things change,
lines change, vibes change, really, you know, week by week.
But Joehanssen, Eck and Baldy, if there is, if there's
a line that's out playing that line significantly, I'd have
(33:32):
to hear about it. Those guys were on fire last night.
Speaker 6 (33:36):
Well and they've been on fire all year, you know,
the times that they've been together, you know, sands injury
and such. But but but David Graaton and Joehanssen is
is a you know, just a completely took the season
by you know, he heard all every you know everything
(33:56):
last year what was going on and him not playing well,
and you know, and he came back on a minimum contract,
which really helped the wild in terms of getting other
guys and things of that nature. And you know, I
just think he said, you know what I'm gonna show you,
and I'm gonna play hard every night. And you know,
the way he skates skifts opens up so much more
(34:17):
room for Eck and Boldie and and I mean he's
you know, he's been very, very consistent, and that's what
you want out of him throughout the whole year.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
The the the penalty kill last night, it was a
road game, per usual, elite high end number one in
the NHL on the road and last at home. That
I'm going to bring that up with the coach, heines
a little later. It's such an anomaly the PK's number
one on the road and last at home. What any
any read on that?
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Well, I'll let him answer that one because he could
probably do it better than I. But no, there's really,
you know, nothing really changes, you know, per se. I
guess it all depends than the matchup and who you're
playing and is that power player going against really good
uh and you know, we just haven't figured them out.
But but for the most part, again, you look for
(35:12):
that consistency throughout your specialty team, throughout the whole year,
and you know, ultimately when it when it comes to
playoff time, it's got to be good at home. It's
got to be good on the road. Same goes for
the power play, same goes for the goaltending, and and
so you know that that's the best way that I can,
you know, make any sense of it, because quite frankly, Paul,
(35:35):
it doesn't make sense when you're when you're number one
on the road and not so good at home. There's
really no explanation.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Hey, Patrick, it's Nordo here, of course. The h Yeah,
I want to go good morning. I wanted to go
back to the Joe Hansen talker just for a moment,
that line that the level of production, not just last night,
but when they are all together.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
You mentioned it.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
It's been on fire for most of the season with
Joe Hans in particular. Is he potentially having the best
season of his career thus far? I know he missed
those games, but he's a guy that has kind of
popped to me, and I brought it up when I
chatted with coach Hines. I'm just curious, is it Johansson
his success of function of his line mates? I mean,
not a bad tandem to work with every night, or
(36:19):
some maybe some measurable things you're seeing differently with mister
Johansson himself.
Speaker 6 (36:25):
Well, the knock got him. His whole career has been
consistency and him being I'm you know, I'm using my
own words here, but the way I see it is
him being satisfied. Okay, I had a couple of good games.
Now I don't need to. And so I think it's him,
(36:49):
you know, getting in his head. It's more of a
mental thing. I really, I really truly believe that in
him saying, you know what, I have that ability to
be really good every night? And am I gonna? Am
I gonna take myself there? Am I going to push
myself to be that guy? And I think, you know,
whether it be the off season conversations he had with us,
(37:12):
with the coaching staff and the general manager, or or
just him hearing enough of the fans and and everybody
else saying, you know, what where you been? What are
you doing? And and because listen, he's always been an
elite passer. If you watch him just walk, you know,
aside from his skating and and you know, is working,
(37:34):
he's always been an elite passer and and obviously an
elite skater. It's him uh pushing himself to beat the
guy in the corner, to get engaged physically, and we
and that's something we didn't see last year and and
and so I really just think it's him saying, yeah, boy,
this is kind of fun when I can, uh, you know,
(37:56):
when I can push myself and see how good I
can be. And you know, he's been terrific.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
All right, Now watch out for a super dumb question here,
Pat Mick two six six Matt Boldy.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
I saw this via X last night.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
I think he's tied atop the standings in terms of
American skaters and their.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
Point production so far this season.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
So, you know, first couple of postseason appearances for him,
twenty two and twenty three, I think he just had
one goal in those respective playoffs. And if you remember,
even though it's it's tough to remember these sorts of series,
in that Vegas l in the end, he had five
goals across those games. Can you start talking about Matt
Boldi as it is now not all time but maybe
(38:40):
one of the best American born hockey players in the NHL.
Speaker 6 (38:44):
Well, I think he's trending that way. I think he
has a ways to go. I mean, you're talking Mike MacDonald,
you're talking Phil Howsley, You're talking no, no.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
No, no, no, no, not all the time. I mean, I'm
not looking territory.
Speaker 6 (38:57):
But but but is he trending that way? One hundred percent?
I mean, the kid's got twenty five goals right now,
and and you know what, And to me, it was
all about with Matt maturing and understanding and learning to
play in the playoffs, just like well, let's go back
to Caprisot when when you know his first playoff I
(39:19):
think he had one goal in the series. I don't
know who it was against, Probably Vegas because they seem
to play Vegas or Dallas every year, but or maybe
was the Blues. I can't recall. But but nonetheless, it's
all about learning how to play in those situations. And
I think Matt has matured, you know, beyond his years.
(39:41):
For look at how young he is. I don't know,
is he twenty five years old yet?
Speaker 2 (39:45):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (39:46):
Maybe I don't know his age. He's still pretty young
and still going into it in his confidence level. And
I think it all started where, you know, last year
with the in the foreign nations. You know that was
you know, heading the deer lights, right, you're playing against
the best, and I think right there he said, you
(40:06):
know what, I have that ability to be like one
of these guys. So the year he's having is just
you know you you know, he's on his way to fifty.
And guess what, he's a goal scorer to threes off
as a goal scorer, that's what their job is is
to produce points. And both of them, I think combined,
(40:28):
are right near fifty goals. And so, I mean that's
just astonishing and a big reason why this team is
where they're at.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Taking things were just so calm and poised last night.
I mean it began twenty six seconds into it when now, granted,
you know, Vegas took some fat als defensively, specifically leaving
the high slot open for that nice, calm Brodine pass
for the first goal. Yeah, but for the second goal,
(40:58):
Middleton's falling, all right. He catches the puck with his
gate going down to his knee. I'm thinking he's trying
to get it out of the d zone, but it
clearly was a design pass to Johansson, who then went
to ericson K and they created a two on one
and bold he scored his twenty fifth and I'm like,
holy cal was that poised? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (41:19):
How about the effort by Middleton though, you know, I
mean that and that and that's what you're looking for,
right and and I mean that was that was like
you're playing in the playoffs type effort out of Middleton.
And then you know, yes, BOLDI made the finish. But
how about that passed by ericson Eck. That was you know,
he just waited found the spot in between the legs
(41:42):
of the defenseman. I think it was McNab. I'm not
you know, I think yeah, I think it was McNab
that he put it through and right on the tape
of Boldie and you know, Carter Hart had no chance
and you knew, h Boldie is going to go top shelf.
What you're supposed to do when you're in tight on
a goalie, you go upstairs because they're going down or
(42:04):
moving across and they just can't get it. And uh,
but but the past by Eric Sinek was was elite.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
A lot of World juniors talk on Beyond the Pond
this this past weekend. Scott Sandlin was on Bob Moscow
and several others. What what excites you about the World Juniors.
Speaker 6 (42:25):
Well, what excites me is that and more this year
and in the past four or five years, is that
we're seeing you know, before it was and it still
might be, you know, the top four Sweden, Canada, Finland
in the US. But you know, you look at the checks,
Uh you know, they've improved. Uh the Slovakia gave the
(42:49):
US a heck of a game last night. So you're
seeing more teams with more depth, which makes the tournament better.
And and and these young kids, I mean they you
know if I don't know if you saw the winning
goal by Chechia against Finland last night in overtime, Uh,
you know, three on three, the guy went through his legs,
(43:09):
goes top shelf. I mean, we're seeing skill level that
is just getting better and better and better every year.
And it is a really tough tournament to win. But
but you know, you're seeing your next wave of NHL
stars at this age and it's uh, it's just it's
very very much fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Who are who are some of the best Americans. Well,
you know you've.
Speaker 6 (43:38):
Got the Hagens kid who plays at Boston College. You
have Brodie Ziemer obviously from Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
UH.
Speaker 6 (43:44):
Will Zeller's who initially wasn't even selected to to be
part of this team, was added late. He's he's leading
Team USA with four goals in three games and and
you know, not getting a ton of ites. But but
all the kid does is is score goals. And you
(44:05):
know he's going to be a really good one.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (44:07):
He's properly the Boston Bruins via a trade with Columbus
at the deadline last year. And so he's a kid's
who's going to be you know, a star, you know,
as as his as he you know, grows, but you know,
you know, just an elite goal scorer. And you know,
back on the on the back end, they got you know,
(44:28):
a couple of kids. One kid from Wisconsin, Osbourne is
going to be good. Logan Hensley is going to be good.
Another kid out of Wisconsin. So I mean they're listen,
They're all talented kids and they just have to you know,
continue to grow.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (44:43):
Lastly, and the first first time I've had the privilege
of chatting with you on the radio, I'm about about
the wild with Quinn Hughes.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
Since the big Quinn hughes deal.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
Obviously the three defenseman defense pairs have been fortified. But nevertheless,
what what what are some facets, some nuanced to his
game that your trained eye genuinely appreciates.
Speaker 6 (45:09):
Well, what I what I like about him is that
he's calm, he's patient, he knows what he wants to
do with the puck. A second and a half, two seconds,
you just watch him walk the blue line and and
he picks up something immediately. And once you see, once
he sees that opening, it's off his stick. And you'll
(45:30):
see a lot of guys walk the blue line, take
the shot and guess what, it gets blocked. Rarely different,
Rarely does his shot get blocked. He gets it through
and you know, his vision it just you know, and
and ultimately his skating ability, no one, no one uses
his edges like him, and you know, he just brings
(45:52):
that mindset every time he's out on the ice.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
Great chatting with you, having new year to you and
your beautiful covenant, and to look forward to more of
these and more frequently in twenty twenty six. Thank you
Patrick Yep, Thanks to you guys. Thank you by bye,
mctalk and Pat mcalletty at pat MC two six two
six via the tweet machine into the middle portion of
the radio show. We are about one hour from Viking's
(46:19):
head coach Kevin O'Connell joining us for the final x's
and o's of two zero two five. He'll be followed
by Minnesota Wild coach John Hines calling us from California
about ninety minutes from now. Meanwhile, around the corner Ben Gessling.
Courtesy of Standard Heating and Air, you're listening to nine
to Noon on kfa N
Human Things.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Good morning and welcome to Twin Cities Orthophedix Performance Center.
That is your Eagan home for the Minnesota Vikings. This
is nine to noon. Nordo produces on site. I'm Paul Allen.
Devin Ward is guiding the Great Chip Love Covenant from
FM one hundred point three k FA and hey sports Leader,
(01:40):
also your home for Minnesota Vikings football. This is Swan
Song Radio from Egan Today for nine to noon. At
least for now, this will be our final Tuesday at
the Minnesota Vikings facility with x'es and o's with the
Kevin O'Connell coming up at eleven o'clock and Kevin will
be followed as the head coaching covenant goes by John Hines,
(02:03):
coach of the Minnesota Wild. He'll be calling us from
California after a convincing five to two victory last night
over the Las Vegas Golden Knights and also courtesy of
timber Tech and TimberTech dot Com. What's on Deck nine
to noon includes Packers play by play voice Wayne Laravie,
next segment Mick Tackett, Pat mcletty, a couple of segments
(02:24):
from now on set Wild describe Ben Gesling joins us
on air on site on demand, and he'll be on
fire at about ten o'clock and we begin with some
what if scenarios for you, just just some things on
which to chew as the National Football League postseason approaches,
sadly a postseason that will not include our Minnesota Vikings.
(02:48):
But what if Texans guard at Ingram provides the key
block to protect C. J. Stroud, who then hits Christian
Kurr for a game winning touchdown in the Super Bowl?
Ed Ingram our former guy, Eddie Ingram, Yeah, he ran
him right out of town here, didn't they? Now? Through
(03:12):
four years, teams using ed Ingram as a starter, all right,
are thirty six and nineteen. Ed Ingram's part of teams
that are thirty six and nineteen. Wow, when he starts
at guard and he only has one penalty this year?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
What if the surging Texans emerge and advance and descend
to Super Bowl six zero and our former guy ed
Ingram has a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
To do with it? In good morning, good morning, Well.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
The natives will be restless, The natives will be very
very irritated.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Ran him right out of town, didn't They ran him
out of town? Didn't need him.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I have a scenario for you that will also feature
somebody on the formerly part of the Minnesota mo company.
But to that end, you can't speak to good for
an am not just winning games with Davis Mills, but
then once CJ. Stroud comes back, defense has been the
bomb all year, right, best in the NFL maybe statistically,
(04:16):
and Demiko Ryans has that thing churning. They may be
actually earlier in the season having a similar conversation that
we've had about Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, where man,
this defense is unbelievable. Wow, Will Anderson and Danil Hunter
are an unbelievable tandem of pass rushing tandems in the NFL.
We just need to find some freaking life out of
(04:37):
this offense, right, and got to stay healthy.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
And c J.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Stroud what is a year three? Now? Can he do it?
Does he have it?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
And you can't speak to what they're doing offensively finding
their way to win games without without ed.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Ingram thirty six and nineteen as a starter.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
At one point in time, at one point in time
now now Jaggs got off to a great start, really
haven't stopped so truly that the toast of the AFC South,
But it was the Colts at one point until Daniel
Jones's injury that really kind of put them in Well.
I mean, they're starting a forty four year old so,
and as cool as the forty four year old is,
that's not preferred so. And then the descending nature of
(05:18):
the Texans really felt real, the regression of what they
were doing down there. And you know, former Gophers, you're
loving on ariante ursery and they had their awful moments,
specifically early in the season. But you have to give
edd Ingram a ton of credit for working within that system.
Is he being coached up and if he's providing the
(05:39):
winning block at Santa Clara and the Texans are made
a freaking trophy, well THEO will be mad. The man
it's it's I truly believe this. Because of the wide
open nature of the NFL this year. Yeah, Houston can
get to the Super Bowl for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
I mean CJ's making all the right throws, and the
corners Lassiter and Derek Stingley Junior when completely healthy, and
they're both a little banged up right now. Stingley's turned
into a hit by the way, Holy Cow and I
think it's Kamari Lassiter. Lassiter and Derek Stingley Junior are
playing as well as any corners tandem in the NFL.
(06:19):
So if CJ keeps making these throws and that defense
keeps playing the way it's playing, and Eddie Ingram continues
to take no penalties, only has one this year thirty
six and nineteen, when Ed Ingram starts for the Vikings
or the Texans, Yes, the Texans can get to the
super Bowl? What if? What if? From a Vikings fan
(06:40):
base standpoint or nine to now? What if Ben takes
Chicago to the Super Bowl his first year on the job. Now,
what will bug our covenant with that? Is it a
division foe with a young quarterback who plays all the
games and seems indestructible. Is that Chicago has become the
(07:05):
target at which to shoot into twenty twenty six? What
would bug people if Ben Johnson, in his first year
with the Chicago Bears gets all the way to the
Santa Clara Strut?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Well, the listeners, the listeners can certainly speak for themselves.
Six four sixty eight six branch On Bryan Kafan text
line of So and Clyde.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Ran, Eddie right out of town, didn't they from from?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
For me, like, I've never had any sort of personal
animus against Kayla Williams, right, but but he plays for
the for the team in the Windy City, so uh
so naturally I'm rooting for him in every stretch, by
every stretch of the imagination to have bad times against
the Purple in particular, he's been terrific and the coach
has been terrific, and the way that thing has had
(07:51):
the slow build the simmer to now offensively specifically, it's
it's a true boil right now with what they're putting
out on the field.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
The frustrating factor.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
For me would would not be to dagger Caleb or
dagger the operation as much as it would be oh
great down here for the Vikings. Second year QB sadly
oft injured and we're on the sweat with the hand
this week. Yeah, and that kid's rolling into he's rolling
into the bay. Wow, NOPA trophy and the Bears fans
(08:23):
we're getting videos from Lavelle at two am of him
smoking cigars, loving the Bears vibe at alleries.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I gotta deal with that now.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
That is now one of the NFC Juggernauts, and we
gotta face him twice a year.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
That would drive me insane.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
The best thing, in my estimation, the best thing Ben
as in Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears did into
the season was get offensive lineman Joe Toney, Yeah, Drew
Dolman and Jonah Jackson.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And it worked and the way they did it, and
Nordo and I, I mean when they did it, you know,
first thing, first thing that I said was like, well,
this is a genius because you're making trades for offensive
linemen before free agency hits yep, so then you ain't
got to deal with the Joneses. Joe Tooney, Drew Dolman,
Jonah Jackson. They traded for Toony and and Jackson right
(09:16):
before free agency. Then the first day of free agency,
swooped in on what was widely considered the top center available,
Drew Dolman three years, forty two million dollars. Toony's a
Hall of Famer. Joe Tooney is going to the Hall
of Fame. They traded a twenty twenty six fourth for
Joe Tooney. Tooney has one hundred and sixty two starts
(09:39):
through ten seasons. He's only missed two games, and he's
a beef eating offensive lineman. Joe Tooney's a two time
All Pro, probably going to be three after this year started,
and won four Super Bowls for New England and Kansas City. Yeah,
I mean that's next level maneuvering right there. Well, and
the cool thing is too is next line.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I think the Chiefs had him playing tackle and so
kind of the stock was down on Tuney.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
A little bit.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It's like he's getting old, you know, he's trying to
He had some great days with Kansas City, but truly
his best days maybe with the Pats and their ability
to find him on the cheap. Again, the the proactive maneuvering,
I think Jonah Jackson might. I don't want to call
it found money because he's had some I think previously
with the Rams.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Oh you nailed it.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
But but I think that is of those three the
one that has probably maybe overperformed what one might expect
into the season. Again, part of what's happening with the Bears,
it's coaching, Uh, the evolution of talent, specifically on offense
and and Manungai right, you're getting sort of value there
of course, but the everything every string that they pulled
(10:48):
has been money. I mean, it's it's just been. It's
unbelievable year for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
What if Sam Darnold meets Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl?
That's okay? What what if what if Sam Darnold meets
Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl?
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Daniel Jones in a boot or with a sideline pass,
maybe Daniel Jones can do the coin toss? Would that
just be too much to take? Vikings fan six four
six eighty six. Yeah, that's would that be too much
to take?
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (11:16):
What if Trevor Lawrence gets hurt and Nick Mullins enters
and elevates Jacksonville who was Super bowlver or even just
wins a playoff game? What if? What if?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
What if he doesn't throw it to the other team
while driving to tie the game in late January on
the road. Yeah, so you know, because I was I
was thinking like offensive line scenarios. So you you mentioned
at Ingram, that's that's a big one. And you end
up with Will Fryes, who I think is ascended through
the season.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
So happy to have Will. This will be seventeen starts
for Will fries this weekend on a Minnesota moving company
with like twenty five different offensive line combinations. Yeah, it's
a beat beating spot. It's in the trenches. It's incredibly physical.
Will Fries first year in Minnesota. Yeah, Covenant collaps worthy.
You made all seventeen my brother.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So but then think about out East Garrett Bradbury. Now
there are some on social media who are making him
sound like he's New World Jason.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Kelcey out there.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
But there's part of the the availability conversation, specifically with
all five six that means a ton and could have
meant something to the Purple in twenty twenty five underrated
one what if scenario? Will Campbell, highly touted left tackle,
got hurt. Now reports are he's actually gonna He's missed
I think a month. Yeah, he's going to return to
(12:40):
practice soon.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Which makes Drake May's performances that much more grandiose or
are they?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Because I mean former Vikings sixth round pick Viderian Lowe
has started the previous four games.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
It has played quite well, Are you kidding? Nimbles stead
for Darian Lowe starts for the for the New England Patriots.
So what if? What if? Who knew? What if Will
Campbell can't make the stop back. What if you can't
get back? We had him in the Covenant and.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
The top of eventual top seeded potentially the New England
Patriots hoist another Lombardi, so then it's like, ah, e've
a empire is back.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Although Rabel's likable and Drake.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
May, I mean, how can you not like May with
two of their offensive linemen being Garrett Bradberry, a sixth
round pick that we never gave a shot to where
we're always everybody is, but we forever are looking for
the correct offensive line combination.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Now, but but you obviously hit the the a topic, Pa,
Sam Darnold with an opportunity now to day, Roger, it's
in the bay and they they if they take the
Niners down and get the one seat. I mean, just
like without even thinking Super Bowl implications, Yeah, think about
the idea. Now we all have for myriad reasons in
(13:58):
our lives. I'm not lecturing anybody here, but we know
we're all a little bit of a hypocrite in certain situations.
If we remember a year ago with everything on the
line and what happened at Ford Field, and then the
next week against the Rams when it was kind of
figured out like, naw, I don't think Sam's going to return.
About all of us were kind of like, okay, well,
(14:18):
that must mean JJ's ready. Right at one point we
were all ready to say best of luck in future
endeavors to Sam Darnold. Now he's back. Now he's won
like twenty six games two years. What is it twenty
six or twenty seven games in the last two seasons,
and he's there in primetime with the ability to take
the one seed in the NFC yet again, And just
(14:39):
what if, forget the Super Bowl? What if he shows
up in primetime? What if he throws four touchdown on
Sally's defense. What if they secure the one seed on
the road at Shanny What if they best say it
Shanahan in primetime with it all on the line after
the Vikings went there in a divisional round game a
few years ago and couldn't even hold on to punts.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
What if Aaron Rodgers fades to fire from the thirty
yard line in Super Bowl sixty, shakes a tackle, fires
to the end zone to win the Super Bowl and
it's caught by Adam Feeling. Would Minnesota be able to
handle it? And then the Land of ten thousand heartbreaks,
(15:22):
wouldn't they wouldn't you want to be happy in that spot? Yes,
I mean he wasn't producing great.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
In fairness to number nineteen, who I appreciate all of
his contributions got you.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
He wasn't doing much with us.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
I did get a text though, Lewis Scene and Nick
Muse won a Super Bowl with the Eagles last year.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
It happens.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
It happens every year. Practice squad though that's a little different.
We're not talking about it. And hey, love Nick Muse.
Best of luck to Lewis Scene. That does not count.
Now this one, think about this, the Nashawan Wright trick.
Nashawan Wright emerged from ob security.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
That's right, Corners.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Now he got nicked up and now he's potentially starting
on a Super Bowl winning oka. Enough of the what
if now starting to bug men. You're pumping up the
island to favi at Barreau, which we appreciate. Which we appreciate, Fabian, Hey,
what if nine to noon goes to break right now
and calls Wayne Laravie elite vox for the green Bay Packers.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
The season finale for the Vikings is this weekend. Green
Bay will play the next weekend in a wild Card Round.
In the Wildcard Round and the Dagger one of the
boxes of all boxes ever. The vox will join nine
to noon around the Corner courtesy of timber Tech and
timber tech dot Com. Devin Ward produces back at the Flagship.
He's Nordo, I'm Paul Allen. Welcome to the Minnesota Vikings
(16:37):
Practice Facility, Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center KO at eleven
o'clock on KFAM, McCarty.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Looks fires left sat the.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Dinner Septa.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Williams william his second game in a row with an
interception and that will do it. Evan Williams delivers his
second consecutive.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Dagger find a noon from the Minnesota Vikings Practice Facility,
twins Citi's Orthopedic Performance Center. Our final Tuesday jaunt to Egan.
Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the team, joins at eleven o'clock,
joining us now one of our very favorites, Wayne Laravie,
our beloved dagger and a play by play voice of
(17:50):
the green Bay Packers. Now Wayne final game of the
season coming up Sunday at noon for the Minnesota Vikings.
Green Bay will play in the wild Card Round and
and hopefully beyond for your sake. But when it comes
to this weekend, starting to casually prepare the game calling
depth chart, putting numbers and names to like the Green
(18:12):
Bay Packers offensive line and other positions for this Sunday,
it ain't easy. Man. The Packers lineup, Wayne for sure,
will have a kind of a preseason feel to it,
right and good morning.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Good morning, and happy New Year, Pa. You know, it's
hard to tell. I think they'll end up resting most
of the key people and trying to get healthy for
that playoff game or wherever it is, and it's probably
going to be back in Chicago. But you know, the
other factor is this, this is a young team and
(18:48):
they've lost three in a row. You don't want to
go into the playoffs with four straight losses. I don't
care if you're a young or old. I mean, that's
just not the way to go into the playoffs. And
it's been tough. The last three weeks have been tough
because of the fact that the injuries seemingly have caught
up with them, especially the Parsons injury, and that's changed
(19:09):
a lot on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Wayne, I'm going to venture a guests here that you
personally either wanted or want more from defensive end edge
Rashan Gary. And the reason I bring that up is
we had this ordeal trying to get out to play
the Giants where we were on buses and or planes
(19:34):
for like ten and a half hours, so we were super,
super super delayed. But when we finally landed in Newark
and we're on the bus to the team hotel, I
was listening to you and Larry call the late stages
of that Chicago game, and Rashaan Gary made a huge
play late in that game, and paraphrasing you, sounded like, finally,
(19:58):
where has that been? Is all of that accurate?
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Well, I mean that's you're paraphrasing. Obviously I didn't say
exactly that, but yeah, you know, hey, listen, Paul, he's
a fine defensive end. He's solid against the run. He's
been flushing the quarterback. But you know, when you're the
twelfth or thirteen pick in the draft and you get
(20:24):
a second contract, more is expected in terms of sacks
and registering sacks and having an impact on the game
that way. Early in the season, he got off to
a great start, but as you pointed, out. I don't
think he's had a sack in nine straight games, and
you know, this is where you need him to impact
the game. There's no doubt about that. And and you wonder, Okay,
(20:46):
so you haven't seen it in so long? Is it
in there? I mean, are we going to see it?
I think we will, but we have it for nine weeks.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
And obviously with Michael Parsons down, the things relevated with
Gary and and and Kingsley and so on, Right, I mean,
you just need to get more rush from certain spots.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Sure, absolutely, the pass rush has fallen off. It was
falling off even when Michael was healthy the two weeks
before he got injured. But you know, there was always
that potential on any given moment Michah Parsons would explode
into the backfield to make a sack and that would,
you know, kind of create some momentum for the defense,
(21:29):
and we haven't seen that. The two things that have
come to the fore in this three game losing streak
has been the lack of run defense, and that goes
back to the injury DeVante Wyatt suffered and that was
on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit. Since then, it's been really
hard to stop the run, especially the run right up
(21:50):
the middle. Secondly, without the strong pass rush, the quarterback
tandem has struggled at times to cover downfield and that
that's been eye opening as well. You put Micah Parsons
on top of all that, and then you've got, you know,
all of a sudden, as you mentioned the defense, everybody
(22:10):
on that defense gets a little bit better at what
they do. But they haven't had him there since he
went down to Denver, and they're not going to until
next year.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Hey, hey, Dagger, what's your take on the work Ben
Johnson has done with these division champion Bears.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Well, first off, the Bears had a lot more talent
than their record indicated last year. Okay, they were a
much more talented team than they're five and whatever it
was record or was. I think that when Ben went
in there, he's basically stabilized the quarterback situation and given
the quarterback some options when the pass rush is on.
(22:51):
I think he's also understood that this is not going
to be a pocket passer. That Caleb Williams doesn't do
his best work in the pocket. He does his best
workout side the pocket when protection breaks down to that
type of thing, and he's given the quarterback options to
do that, and I just think he's handled that quarterback
really well. And to be honest with you, like you guys,
(23:12):
you guys have the best. The Vikings have maybe the
best overall roster talent in the division, and that's even
Detroit when they're healthy. But the problem has been that
one position, that quarterback position. You had a rookie there
in JJ McCarthy who has shown signs, as you know
better than I, shown signs of being really good. But
(23:32):
he can't stay healthy and that's been a major issue.
And that quarterback position. You can be good in a
lot of different areas, but if you're not good at quarterback,
you're probably not going to be very good.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
And the team the Vikings just saw on Christmas Day,
the Lions, Holy cow, that thing is unraveling like a
cheap suit Wayne. Without those coaches, I mean, it's you know,
with Johnson and Glenn and the ancillary coaches who went
different places with the Lions. Is any of this surprising
you at all?
Speaker 4 (24:03):
No, not really. I thought Paul and I had this
theory that certain teams you have a season and it's
your year. It's your season This is the combination of
probably three four years of roster building and that type
of thing and coaching and everything else. The Lions year
was last year, and you can say, well, they had
(24:24):
all these injuries. The Lions year was last year. Injuries
don't change that. And when you missed that window of opportunity,
now I've seen it with the Packers. When you missed
that window of opportunity, the next year can be Hell,
it was two years ago for San Francisco when they
missed their window of opportunity. Boston the Super Bowl. The
next year they had contract squabbles, they had injuries, and
(24:45):
all you know, they had a terrible season, didn't even
make the playoffs. Same thing for the Lions this year.
If it's your year, you better get to the super
Bowl and win it, or you're looking at a long
road back and it's not a single season correction.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Wayne Laravie, play by play voice for the Green Bay
Packers nine to Noon. If Wayne, if quarterback Malik Willis
leaves via free agency to start games with another team,
do you think he has reascended to QB one status.
Maybe not in Green Bay, but somewhere else.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
You know what, Paul it's his performance has been outstanding,
and that's really going back to last year when he
first got here. I think he has a lot of
the qualities of a QB one. I don't know how
coould he be in that role. I just don't know.
You know, we've seen a good portion of his play, obviously,
(25:43):
because Jordan's been in and out of the lineup at times,
and he's been exceptional in that fill in role. But
like he got into the Chicago game, they weren't ready
for Malik Willis because they were they were ready for
Jordan Love and when Malik comes in midway through the
second quarter whenever it was, they weren't prepared for the
(26:03):
dimension that he can bring to the offense with his legs,
with the Reid option, to that kind of thing. Now,
if teams are able to prepare for all of that,
and given a week, i'd be interesting to see if
he starts this week, how the Minnesota defense, which is
playing at an extremely high level right now, one of
the top four defenses in the league, If they're planning
(26:25):
on Thelik Willis to play this week, I'd be curious
to see how Malik Willis does against the defense that's
geared and planned for him.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Is Green Bay capable off this losing streaking with these
injuries weighing only coal? Is Green Bay capable of galvanizing
over the next week and change and potentially not only winning,
but winning a couple of playoff games.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
The question is do they have the people to be
able to get that done? And that's the big question.
You know, they're missing at least five of their top
ten player, including a quite essential talent in Micah Parsons,
but you know also DeVante Wyatt, also Tucker Kraft, who
is ascending to become the best tight end of the
game overall tight end, and you know, without those guys,
(27:13):
it's tough. As Zach Time, their best offensive lineman hasn't
played in two weeks. So you look at these injuries
and you say to yourself, Okay, what do they have
can they Can they stop the run well enough? Can
they cover well enough without a major pass rush? And
that's that's really questionable. You know, I think they will
galvanize and they will do what they can. They'll do
(27:35):
the best they can. The question becomes do they have
the people left to step into those roles and make
a difference and that's the question that we'll find out
of the next several weeks.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden with zero tds and zero
one hundred yard games outside of injury, has something gone
amiss there?
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Wayne?
Speaker 4 (27:55):
You know, it's he's a rookie in a receiving corps
that is fairly well established, and when Christian Watson came back,
that kind of took the role that they had for
Matthew Golden. So you know, has he had his ups
and downs? Yes, some of it has been injury related, yes,
no question about that. But I think he's also gone
(28:18):
through growing pains that are typical rookie wide receiver goes
to now mega talent like Justin Jefferson, from what I
can remember, doesn't go to any of those rookie issues
in his first year a number of years ago, But
most guys do go through some period like that. They're
starting to get Matthew Moore involved a little bit in
the offense, and I think they need to. But I
(28:41):
don't think this has been a lost year, but it
hasn't been as big a year as many of us
we're hoping for. And that's the combination of.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Reasons behind that last one here for Beloved Dagger. With
Michael Parsons out, who's Green Bay's best defensive player and why?
I would venture to guess Evan william guessing that from
afar he seems to be playing really well.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Oh, he's playing terrific football. He's the most instinctive player
on that defense. There's no doubt about that. You know.
Ederan Cooper hasn't had quite the year we expected, but
then again he hasn't been deployed the same way he
was the year before from the linebacking spot. He may
get a little more action up front as we go
(29:25):
forward here, but I would say Evan Williams has been
consistently one of their best players, if not the best.
Micah Parsons was the best player they had, but without him,
Evan Williams is very important. He's a key. He's been
out a couple of games, he was he returned last week.
It was good to see him back. But he's so
valuable in that secondary.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Lastly, for your sake, hopefully this isn't for a month
and change, but what's the first ski trip on the
schedule once green Bay season comes to a conclusion, Beloved Dagger.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
I've got some friends and we're scheduled to go out
to Park City, and it depends on when the season ends,
but we'll probably be heading out the week after it ends.
Wherever it ends. I hope it ends in Santa Clara,
but you know, based on the way things have gone
of late, that would be an incredible run. If they
were to turn away from the losing streak and put
(30:25):
things together and all of a sudden end up in
the super Bowl, that would be incredible than their team
in two thousand and ten.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Wayne, whether it's Montana, Park City, Provo Veil, or Aspen
or maybe Keystone. Are you all diamond? Are you all
black diamond trails all the time?
Speaker 4 (30:46):
No, I'm a ice ski I'm a cruiser type guy.
I ski mostly. I'll ski black diamonds, but they generally
have to be groomed. And you know, there's one run
Deer Valley, stein Erickson's Run. It's called Stein's Way, and
it's a great run. It's a great roller coaster run.
(31:07):
It's a black but it's it's just super.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Just like you, Happy New Year to you and your family.
Tell Larry I say hi, and I'll come up to
see you this Sunday before the noon kickoff.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Okay, Wayne, sounds great, Pa, take care looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
See you, buddy, Beloved Dagger Wayne Laravie, play by play
voice for the Green Bay Packers. To the Wild Around
the Corner. The Minnesota Wild are embarking on a fourteen
day road trip. John Hines, the coach, joins in a
couple of hours, but Pat mcletty, Elite hockey Mind, and
Mick Taka will join to talk about not only last night,
(31:45):
but those first two victories Winnipeg, Las Vegas Golden Knights,
the Celebrini Covenant tomorrow at three o'clock, but in particular
the Joe Hanson Boldie Eck line. I mean, it's valley
hood hole cow. It's just tearing it up every single game.
Let's mix in the Wild Around the Corner on kf
a M. Minnesota Wild started that fourteen day road trip
(32:32):
with the World Juniors in the state, and they beat
Winnipeg over the weekend. H that was a thriller. Last night,
not so much. They were up five to oh on
the Las Vegas Golden Knights before the midway point of
the game, and the game was a t mobile in
Las Vegas. Joining us now elite hockey mind Pat mcalletty
(32:52):
at Pat Mick two six two sixth via x and
here he is Mick Talckett, Paul Allen. How have you been,
my brother? I am I'm doing well.
Speaker 6 (33:02):
It's it's good to hear your voice.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
How are you? Likewise? Things are well?
Speaker 3 (33:06):
And thanks for all the nice texts around Christmas and
during Vikings games and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
And you know, with uh, with your hockey team. This
this if there's a line, I mean it, things change,
lines change, vibes change, really, you know, week by week.
But Joehanssen, Eck and Baldy, if there is, if there's
a line that's out playing that line significantly, I'd have
(33:32):
to hear about it. Those guys were on fire last night.
Speaker 6 (33:36):
Well and they've been on fire all year, you know,
the times that they've been together, you know, sands injury
and such. But but but David Graaton and Joehanssen is
is a you know, just a completely took the season
by you know, he heard all every you know everything
(33:56):
last year what was going on and him not playing well,
and you know, and he came back on a minimum contract,
which really helped the wild in terms of getting other
guys and things of that nature. And you know, I
just think he said, you know what I'm gonna show you,
and I'm gonna play hard every night. And you know,
the way he skates skifts opens up so much more
(34:17):
room for Eck and Boldie and and I mean he's
you know, he's been very, very consistent, and that's what
you want out of him throughout the whole year.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
The the the penalty kill last night, it was a
road game, per usual, elite high end number one in
the NHL on the road and last at home. That
I'm going to bring that up with the coach, heines
a little later. It's such an anomaly the PK's number
one on the road and last at home. What any
any read on that?
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Well, I'll let him answer that one because he could
probably do it better than I. But no, there's really,
you know, nothing really changes, you know, per se. I
guess it all depends than the matchup and who you're
playing and is that power player going against really good
uh and you know, we just haven't figured them out.
But but for the most part, again, you look for
(35:12):
that consistency throughout your specialty team, throughout the whole year,
and you know, ultimately when it when it comes to
playoff time, it's got to be good at home. It's
got to be good on the road. Same goes for
the power play, same goes for the goaltending, and and
so you know that that's the best way that I can,
you know, make any sense of it, because quite frankly, Paul,
(35:35):
it doesn't make sense when you're when you're number one
on the road and not so good at home. There's
really no explanation.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Hey, Patrick, it's Nordo here, of course. The h Yeah,
I want to go good morning. I wanted to go
back to the Joe Hansen talker just for a moment,
that line that the level of production, not just last night,
but when they are all together.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
You mentioned it.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
It's been on fire for most of the season with
Joe Hans in particular. Is he potentially having the best
season of his career thus far? I know he missed
those games, but he's a guy that has kind of
popped to me, and I brought it up when I
chatted with coach Hines. I'm just curious, is it Johansson
his success of function of his line mates? I mean,
not a bad tandem to work with every night, or
(36:19):
some maybe some measurable things you're seeing differently with mister
Johansson himself.
Speaker 6 (36:25):
Well, the knock got him. His whole career has been
consistency and him being I'm you know, I'm using my
own words here, but the way I see it is
him being satisfied. Okay, I had a couple of good games.
Now I don't need to. And so I think it's him,
(36:49):
you know, getting in his head. It's more of a
mental thing. I really, I really truly believe that in
him saying, you know what, I have that ability to
be really good every night? And am I gonna? Am
I gonna take myself there? Am I going to push
myself to be that guy? And I think, you know,
whether it be the off season conversations he had with us,
(37:12):
with the coaching staff and the general manager, or or
just him hearing enough of the fans and and everybody
else saying, you know, what where you been? What are
you doing? And and because listen, he's always been an
elite passer. If you watch him just walk, you know,
aside from his skating and and you know, is working,
(37:34):
he's always been an elite passer and and obviously an
elite skater. It's him uh pushing himself to beat the
guy in the corner, to get engaged physically, and we
and that's something we didn't see last year and and
and so I really just think it's him saying, yeah, boy,
this is kind of fun when I can, uh, you know,
(37:56):
when I can push myself and see how good I
can be. And you know, he's been terrific.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
All right, Now watch out for a super dumb question here,
Pat Mick two six six Matt Boldy.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
I saw this via X last night.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
I think he's tied atop the standings in terms of
American skaters and their.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
Point production so far this season.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
So, you know, first couple of postseason appearances for him,
twenty two and twenty three, I think he just had
one goal in those respective playoffs. And if you remember,
even though it's it's tough to remember these sorts of series,
in that Vegas l in the end, he had five
goals across those games. Can you start talking about Matt
Boldi as it is now not all time but maybe
(38:40):
one of the best American born hockey players in the NHL.
Speaker 6 (38:44):
Well, I think he's trending that way. I think he
has a ways to go. I mean, you're talking Mike MacDonald,
you're talking Phil Howsley, You're talking no, no.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
No, no, no, no, not all the time. I mean, I'm
not looking territory.
Speaker 6 (38:57):
But but but is he trending that way? One hundred percent?
I mean, the kid's got twenty five goals right now,
and and you know what, And to me, it was
all about with Matt maturing and understanding and learning to
play in the playoffs, just like well, let's go back
to Caprisot when when you know his first playoff I
(39:19):
think he had one goal in the series. I don't
know who it was against, Probably Vegas because they seem
to play Vegas or Dallas every year, but or maybe
was the Blues. I can't recall. But but nonetheless, it's
all about learning how to play in those situations. And
I think Matt has matured, you know, beyond his years.
(39:41):
For look at how young he is. I don't know,
is he twenty five years old yet?
Speaker 2 (39:45):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (39:46):
Maybe I don't know his age. He's still pretty young
and still going into it in his confidence level. And
I think it all started where, you know, last year
with the in the foreign nations. You know that was
you know, heading the deer lights, right, you're playing against
the best, and I think right there he said, you
(40:06):
know what, I have that ability to be like one
of these guys. So the year he's having is just
you know you you know, he's on his way to fifty.
And guess what, he's a goal scorer to threes off
as a goal scorer, that's what their job is is
to produce points. And both of them, I think combined,
(40:28):
are right near fifty goals. And so, I mean that's
just astonishing and a big reason why this team is
where they're at.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Taking things were just so calm and poised last night.
I mean it began twenty six seconds into it when now, granted,
you know, Vegas took some fat als defensively, specifically leaving
the high slot open for that nice, calm Brodine pass
for the first goal. Yeah, but for the second goal,
(40:58):
Middleton's falling, all right. He catches the puck with his
gate going down to his knee. I'm thinking he's trying
to get it out of the d zone, but it
clearly was a design pass to Johansson, who then went
to ericson K and they created a two on one
and bold he scored his twenty fifth and I'm like,
holy cal was that poised? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (41:19):
How about the effort by Middleton though, you know, I
mean that and that and that's what you're looking for,
right and and I mean that was that was like
you're playing in the playoffs type effort out of Middleton.
And then you know, yes, BOLDI made the finish. But
how about that passed by ericson Eck. That was you know,
he just waited found the spot in between the legs
(41:42):
of the defenseman. I think it was McNab. I'm not
you know, I think yeah, I think it was McNab
that he put it through and right on the tape
of Boldie and you know, Carter Hart had no chance
and you knew, h Boldie is going to go top shelf.
What you're supposed to do when you're in tight on
a goalie, you go upstairs because they're going down or
(42:04):
moving across and they just can't get it. And uh,
but but the past by Eric Sinek was was elite.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
A lot of World juniors talk on Beyond the Pond
this this past weekend. Scott Sandlin was on Bob Moscow
and several others. What what excites you about the World Juniors.
Speaker 6 (42:25):
Well, what excites me is that and more this year
and in the past four or five years, is that
we're seeing you know, before it was and it still
might be, you know, the top four Sweden, Canada, Finland
in the US. But you know, you look at the checks,
Uh you know, they've improved. Uh the Slovakia gave the
(42:49):
US a heck of a game last night. So you're
seeing more teams with more depth, which makes the tournament better.
And and and these young kids, I mean they you
know if I don't know if you saw the winning
goal by Chechia against Finland last night in overtime, Uh,
you know, three on three, the guy went through his legs,
(43:09):
goes top shelf. I mean, we're seeing skill level that
is just getting better and better and better every year.
And it is a really tough tournament to win. But
but you know, you're seeing your next wave of NHL
stars at this age and it's uh, it's just it's
very very much fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Who are who are some of the best Americans. Well,
you know you've.
Speaker 6 (43:38):
Got the Hagens kid who plays at Boston College. You
have Brodie Ziemer obviously from Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
UH.
Speaker 6 (43:44):
Will Zeller's who initially wasn't even selected to to be
part of this team, was added late. He's he's leading
Team USA with four goals in three games and and
you know, not getting a ton of ites. But but
all the kid does is is score goals. And you
(44:05):
know he's going to be a really good one.
Speaker 5 (44:06):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (44:07):
He's properly the Boston Bruins via a trade with Columbus
at the deadline last year. And so he's a kid's
who's going to be you know, a star, you know,
as as his as he you know, grows, but you know,
you know, just an elite goal scorer. And you know,
back on the on the back end, they got you know,
(44:28):
a couple of kids. One kid from Wisconsin, Osbourne is
going to be good. Logan Hensley is going to be good.
Another kid out of Wisconsin. So I mean they're listen,
They're all talented kids and they just have to you know,
continue to grow.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (44:43):
Lastly, and the first first time I've had the privilege
of chatting with you on the radio, I'm about about
the wild with Quinn Hughes.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
Since the big Quinn hughes deal.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
Obviously the three defenseman defense pairs have been fortified. But nevertheless,
what what what are some facets, some nuanced to his
game that your trained eye genuinely appreciates.
Speaker 6 (45:09):
Well, what I what I like about him is that
he's calm, he's patient, he knows what he wants to
do with the puck. A second and a half, two seconds,
you just watch him walk the blue line and and
he picks up something immediately. And once you see, once
he sees that opening, it's off his stick. And you'll
(45:30):
see a lot of guys walk the blue line, take
the shot and guess what, it gets blocked. Rarely different,
Rarely does his shot get blocked. He gets it through
and you know, his vision it just you know, and
and ultimately his skating ability, no one, no one uses
his edges like him, and you know, he just brings
(45:52):
that mindset every time he's out on the ice.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
Great chatting with you, having new year to you and
your beautiful covenant, and to look forward to more of
these and more frequently in twenty twenty six. Thank you
Patrick Yep, Thanks to you guys. Thank you by bye,
mctalk and Pat mcalletty at pat MC two six two
six via the tweet machine into the middle portion of
the radio show. We are about one hour from Viking's
(46:19):
head coach Kevin O'Connell joining us for the final x's
and o's of two zero two five. He'll be followed
by Minnesota Wild coach John Hines calling us from California
about ninety minutes from now. Meanwhile, around the corner Ben Gessling.
Courtesy of Standard Heating and Air, you're listening to nine
to Noon on kfa N
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