Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mister, Carl Alsner, Carl.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Elliott, what is going on? Your hold music is dynamite?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Oh well, thank you, thank you. That was picked out
specifically for you. Hey, but Carl, let me ask you this.
Did you watch any hockey yesterday?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I didn't watch any hockey yesterday. I know I haven't
been good. I gotta I gotta start paying attention to
what's going on till me it.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Oh my no, it was just I know that we
had the Global Series, but it was it was so
good to have like regular, meaningful listen. I don't know
as a player if you liked or disliked the preseason,
but just to drop the puck on the season, it
was so good yesterday it was so good. And I
thought the triple header lined up pretty nice. Although is
(00:46):
there some kind of crazy history between Seattle and Saint
Louis that I don't know about as to why they
were the first game to go?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
You know what, I I don't always understand how that works.
You know that I tend to try and find players
that are that are from a certain area when they
go and go and play in the Global Series and
things like that, or maybe I don't know, maybe they
got some algorithm they're seeing on social media where they
have a lot of followers in an area. I'm not
(01:16):
always one hundred percent sure, but I do like when
when we try and find ways to jump up some
more audience and some more fans of the game. So right,
whatever they're doing, keep on doing it right.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
And then you know, the primetime game last night was
excuse me, the Florida Panthers against the Boston Bruins. Obviously
those two slugged it out last year. That was a
good game. You even got some scraps in that. And
then the late game was Utah making their franchise debut
at home, and so of course they're gonna throw somebody
big at them, so they threw Connor Bodard in the
Blackhawks at them.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
But it was great.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
It was just so good to have hockey back on
TV yesterday, Carl.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
It was I love this time of year. I love
this time of year.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'm a say, as soon as that was all the
exhibitions started, you know, I get back on, get back
on all my sports apps, and I'm paying attention to
you know, not only who's looking good in preseason, but
who's dropping the mits and you know, Uh, the games
in preseason are really hard to judge, right, It's still
(02:18):
kind of it's still kind of neat to see which
teams are going out there and and putting up some wins, right,
I mean, it is a full reset after But I
remember the one year we had in Montreal. We went
I think it was it was one, six and one
in the preseason, and sure enough we started terribly, Right,
we can get a little bit a little bit of
a gauge on what's going on, but yeah, it's you know,
(02:41):
it's just nice to be able to go and see
some guys skating around the ice again.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Okay, So then let me ask you this, Carl. The
Caps went three and three in the preseason. They made
a lot of moves during the offseason, which which by
the way, and I know McClelland was still the GM
at that point. I love the moves that the that
the Caps made. It will dig into those in a
little bit, But if they come off the preseason at
three and three, I feel like my expectation is higher
(03:08):
than a five hundred season for the Caps this year.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, I think you're right. I mean it is for
me at least, and I believe it is for the
players in the dressing room as well. Like there's been
a lot of talent acquisition here three and three preseason,
you know that there's a lot to be said for
having you know whatever it is. It's like five or
six new mainstay players coming in, trying to gel with everybody,
(03:36):
learn the system, you know, just just a lot of
a lot of question marks. So it takes some time.
But but yeah, I don't know. I think everybody's expectations
in DC now are are much higher than they were
let's say fifteen twenty years ago. It's it's it's definitely
above five hundred and it's to be a playoff contender
(03:57):
every single year now. And they've they've definitely put in
the off season work in the boardroom. So now it's
time for the on the on ice work to show.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
For Hey, Carl, let me ask you this.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
As a as a defenseman, the two big defensemen we
brought in one Jacob Chickrin, who again went before Chickrin
even went to Ottawa.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
When when we knew that he was leaving Arizona, I.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Was like, oh my god, please go get Jacob Chickrin,
Please go get Jacob Chickrin. He ends up here a
couple of years later, and then Matt Roy comes in
from l A.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do you like those two guys, I really do.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I think that. I think they are both very good.
I'm at alf they're considered underrated pickups. I think they're
they're very, very excellent defenseman. But just just talk, I
was talking. I actually played, uh, played golf with Chicken
this uh this just before exhibition started, and just picked
his brain a little bit. And he's been on my
(04:52):
radar for for years. Looking back at his as what
he's what he's been able to do as a defenseman.
Eighteen goals one year. I think in fifty six games,
any player, any defenseman that can do that is got
some insane potential. And with with Carly getting up in age,
(05:12):
you know, old in the in the hockey world, I
guess you could say sure, But having to play as
many minutes as he's had to play, I think having
a guy like Chickering come into the lineup is going
to just really be able to help John's game out
and in turn help the rest of the team out.
But then same thing with having Roy, you know, a
guy who's played in a in a big market US
(05:36):
had some pressure on him, knows knows how to handle
handle some bigger moments. He look, this is good. The
team hasn't had a ton of had a ton of
these kind of players on the back end for a while.
And uh, I think this is really going to solidify
a group that is in the process of making a
(05:56):
transition from you know, older veteran guys to having a
bunch of younger guys on the team. So you're gonna
need players.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Like these two. And you know what, the one of
the other guys that that came in, Carl, that I
was so excited about, and I and I hope I'm right.
Pierre Luke du Bois for a couple of reasons. And listen,
I know he he's had a he's had a rough
go a couple of years. A lot of people have
written him off. I somebody like Pierre Luke Dubois does
(06:23):
not forget how to play hockey. He does not forget
how to put a puck in the net. He is
a big, massive kid and he's still a kid. And
you know, if if you if you believe everything about
Spencer Carbury about how he likes to find the player
and put them in the right position to succeed.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Oh my god, that stinks beautifully for Pierre Luke du Bois,
it really does.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Look I want this to work out so bad. It's
it's like the most coveted type of player in hockey, right,
A big two way centerman that can that can do
a little bit of everything right, like a like a
version on a copuitar. Like These are the players that
not only every team is looking for, but they should
stay on a team for their entire career because no
(07:07):
one ever wants to get rid of them. So obviously
there's been some some history here with what's gone on
in three teams and whatever it is four years, five years,
you know you're curious as to why that is. But
the team still does have some really good veteran presence,
hopefully guys that can, you know, get the best out
(07:30):
of him. And going from a market, same thing, right, Winnipeg,
it's not an easy place to play, LA you got
some spotlight on you, even though it's a non traditional
hockey market. I think you get a really nice balance
being here in Washington, one that a lot of players
don't quite understand how great of a place it is
to play until they arrive here, so hoping you have
(07:53):
a happy player in a good situation and you're gonna
get good results because that could be could be seasoned
changing for the Caps.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
And then also Carl the that fourth line, and we
talked to Dylan Strom about it, and Strom was talking
about what a credit it is to Nick Dowd. But
how quickly that Nick Dowd, Brandon do Hame and Taylor
Radish line has really come together and gelled. They looked
great every time they were on the ice.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, so I'll say that I think the fourth line
is so underrated. It's uh, that line can usually gel
a little quicker because a lot of times they're just
going out there and they're trying to crash and bang
and create energy. Not so much of a you know,
a ticktack to find each other understand where you're gonna
be on the ice. Maybe like a first and second
(08:44):
line would have to do. The third and fourth lines
a lot of times can just go out there and
and they create energy and they create a bond through
frustrating other teams, right and uh and oftentimes a lot easier,
but the fourth line can really change a team as well.
Like I always go back to think of the Islanders.
(09:04):
They for so many years they've had a great fourth
line with Matt Martin, Clutterbuck and Suzika. And we played
them the one year in the playoffs, the first round,
and they were the fourth line, but they were their
best line. They started every single game. They were the
one they relied on so heavily. And if you can
get contributions from that line as well, I mean, that's
a bonus. That's like having you're That's like having a
(09:26):
bench player on your fantasy football team that all of
a sudden goes in because of a bye week and
puts up twenty points. A a's a weak winner, it
can be a season can be a season winner if
you can have contributions from guys that are towards the
bottom of your lineup, so you know, just fully rounding
out this this Capitol's roster right now, I mean, I
think it's an underrated roster and should do some good things.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Which is the better I don't even want to call
it a feel good story, because both these guys earned it.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Which is the better story.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Dylan McIlrath making the opening night roster or Jacob ron
are earning a contract of making the opening night roster.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Oh, man, that is a very very hard question. Look,
I think, ah, shoot, it's hard to say. I'm extremely
extremely happy that Brana has been able to get through
what he's what he's been going through to be back
on the opening night roster. Like it's a it's a
player with a ton of skill, good pedigree, everyone knows
(10:27):
what he can do, and to go through stuff outside
of the rink is is extremely extremely hard.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Here.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I've played with some guys who have had similar, similar issues.
So the fact that he's been able to right the
ship and get back in there, and you know that
he's going to want to prove people, prove people wrong,
and prove himself right. So I'm very very happy about
that for him. But you know, also as a as
a defenseman and a guy who plays a gritty game,
(10:56):
to be able to to make an opening night roster
with that play is also super exciting for me. So
I don't know. I I probably would lean Rana, but
from a fellow defenseman, you got to cheer for.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
That guy too, sure, hey real quick?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Uh? Then I got to get into a couple of
other things when I think, when you think back of
Rhana's time with the Caps, what one moment stands out
more than any other?
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Oh man, I would I would say it's gonna be
gotta be the Cup run. Just just how he was playing.
You know, it's one of those I guess you could
call him a role player, an offensive role player that
that is contributing. And you know, I'll say that's when
when you're looking at an opponent's lineup, their roster on
(11:45):
the board before the game starts, obviously you look at
the top line and those are the ones that that
you're kind of worried about, maybe the top top de pairing.
But then as you go down and all of a sudden,
you see a guy who is young and maybe not
expected to be as dangerous, and then you see see
Verana go out there and be dangerous. He makes that
(12:09):
second pairing, the second pair of defense pairing, the third pair,
you know, shake a little bit, and that's what you're
looking for. So I think that the fact that he
was able to be as strong as he was in
that playoff brun and that to me, stand though.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
What stands out to me was him flossing on stage
during the parade.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yeah, the little personality, right, we hockey players don't have
a ton of personality, so it's.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
All right.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
So before we get to Saturday and we dropped the
puck a couple of things, things.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Really start kind of cranking up. Tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Tomorrow is the Cats fifty Fast. I know you'll be
a part of that as part of the you know
what I mean, I feel like everything's going on. It
was a great idea by the Cats. I mean, yes,
you have a third Eye Blind concert, which is great,
but all the current team will be there. The amount
of the amount of veterans and alumni that are coming
in for it, that's really gonna be a special night.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
It's honestly, it's wild. I when I saw the number
that we were gonna have about seventy alumni coming in,
I couldn't believe it. I don't know what they what
they did, how they were able to maybe it's third
I've blind. I'm not sure how they were able to
get as many people you know, on board for this,
But I this is, this is what we've been wanting
(13:28):
to do with the Cats. You know, we're starting to
get a really good history here. You know, a team
wins the Stanley Cup, that's just that's not only great
for the organization, but great for the fan base. So
I think you're starting to see players that are reflecting
on the fond memories that they've had here and then
to want to bring them out to all get together
(13:48):
put an alumni game on, which is super exciting. You
get to see which players have kept in shape and
which ones happened, so I'm excited about that, and then
you get the buy in from the current team. This
is something that's so important, I think because I've talked
to a few guys about it. And once you're out
of the game, and you're out of the game right
and it's hard to get back into it. The current
(14:11):
players think that sometimes you can just walk into the
room and do what you want, but it's not necessarily
the case. So to be able to blend the current
team with the alumni, I think is important to not
only hopefully convince the players to want to stay here
when they're done, and if not stay here, at least
be more involved. So good on the Caps. It's gonna
(14:34):
be a huge, huge celebration. I've already been texting with
a bunch of the guys. It's fired up to see
them and to check them when we're on the ice playing.
So yeah, overall, this is gonna be a great weekend.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Hey, who's coming in? You're that you're super friendly with?
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Still, like when when I look at the list, like,
I like Corey Brower, he was awesome, Like, but I
like seeing like Tom Pode's name on the list, Brooks
or Bick's name on the list, Zednik's name on the list,
Maddy Pennon his name on the list. And then obviously
you can go back and and you know, grab a
bunch of the I don't want to say the older guys,
but that kind of the generation before them, Like there's
(15:09):
it's fifty years, there's several generations of players.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Who is there anybody that you stay really tight with?
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Uh? Yeah, So the number the number one is Eric
Fair for me, I mean, me and Pharisey talked. Probably
it's not every day every other day where me, yeah,
me and him and beings are involved in in a
little let's call it a side a side hustle, so
we we are always always talking to each other. We
were texting last night at midnight going over the roster
(15:38):
of the game. So I'm excited to see him I'm
excited to see the big Daddy, Jeff Schultz, just to
see what he's up to, because I haven't haven't chatted
with him a ton, definitely not enough lately. But yeah,
sif thing brow the guys I played with Tom Pody,
he saved me and Michael Neiber from getting choke slammed
by uh By jose at our at our rookie party.
(16:01):
So I'm excited to go and relive a few moments
with BM and and then get on the ice with
with Bonzai. I mean, I've done a lot with with
Bondre over the last few years with the alumni, but
we've never been on the ice together, so I'm excited
about that as well. So yeah, it's just fun. Let
the having having that crew come back. And you know,
(16:24):
when you talk to those older guys, you don't usually
get much opportunity to get get any words in, just
because they have so many great stories and they want
to share them. So I'm I'm happy to give them
a platform and and listen and then hopefully uh you know,
share some experiences and grape a little bit about a
bit about the new NHL. And I think just I
(16:46):
think just having the guys together is going to be
very fun.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
And by the way, like I like the I like that.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Like like Bondra, obviously we see him around the rink,
he looks like he can still play. I know you
still play, but like when you're texting with Eric Fair
and in Jay Beagle and you're going through the roster
or you're reaching out to guys and you're like, hey,
just had a curiosity?
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Are you real fat?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Now? Yeah, that's pretty much it. I literally said to Pharise,
I'm like, hey, do you think do you think Brow
and Shulty have been playing? Like, like, what do you
think we're gonna have to do to beat these guys?
And he says, have you still been skating? I'm like, yeah,
I skate every week. He's like, okay, well, I work.
He works for a junior team. Like he's one of
(17:26):
the assistant coaches on a junior team. He's like, I'm
on the ice all the time and I get drills going,
but I never really handle a puck and I never
bag skate. So I think you're gonna be just fine.
So I'm I'm already trying to game plan it, right,
I'm doing my video trying to see if I can
find clips of them on huddle while they're working with
their their junior team. So yeah, I'm I'm I don't
(17:47):
want to I want to win at all costs. That's
just my personality.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
By the way, I should point out, so Caps Caps
fifty Fest is is tomorrow night at Capitol One Arena.
The alumni game will take place on Friday afternoon at
MedStar Capitol's ice Plex in Arlington. So and it's by
the way, it's free. You can go in and you
can watch the game there. I believe one thirty if
I'm not mistaken, Carl is when everything gets underway at
(18:12):
Capitol's ice Plex on on Friday.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Hey, two other things real quickly? What kind of Caps
related a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Biggest story of the year, Ov's chasing Gretzky. That's still
number one.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yeah, I would say still number one. I mean, you
s don't get that many opportunities to see, uh see
almost history. You know, I'm hoping that great, But I
think he's gonna break it. I think he's gonna continue
playing as long as he has to do to break it.
So yeah, he's you know, he's one vintage OV season
away from breaking the record, So you got to be
(18:51):
pretty fired up about that, and the first first quarter
of the season will will tell quite a bit. So yeah, Scott,
I would assume it's got to be the biggest storyline
in my opinion too.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
It's got to be.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
And then like the other thing and agree or disagree,
like the game keeps getting younger and younger and younger.
But I love whether it's whether it's our guys, like eventually,
like somebody like Ryan Leonard will be here, but we
still have a ton of kids that are on the
team that are contributing and playing well in adding. But
when you look around the league and whether it's like
(19:22):
Connor Bedard or maclin Celabrini or Will Smith or the
kid that the Flyers got Mitch Kob, Like, the youth
of this game is so strong right now.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
It is absolutely crazy. Every time I watch any of
the players playing now, any of these young guys, I
just I honestly I think, like there's no chance I
could have played in this in this league, you know
if I was coming in right now, the level of
skill that they have, how fast they are, how athletic
they are, like just the build A majority of these
kids now is different, right, Like you're a five ten
(19:58):
to six one hundred eighty five pound you know, absolute
flash now with crazy hands. It's it's just completely different.
Whereas you know, when I was coming in, it's you
want to be six to two or bigger and two
hundred and ten plus pounds. So just just the way
that the players are built now is a lot different.
The game is obviously different too, you know, there's it's
(20:19):
a little bit more high flying and maybe a little
bit less rough stuff than when I entered. But I
think the product is really good and I think people
are excited about that. And just from a personal point
of view, yeah, the badard celebrating thing is exciting to
me because those are both both two kids that came
from my neck of the woods. So to see, uh
(20:41):
see those players getting into the mix now is exciting.
I got a little shout out to skills coach John Calvano.
He he coached both those guys. You know, two first
overall picks there, Ryan Nugent Hopkins first overall pick Matthew Barzel.
It's crazy that the skill that's coming out of that area.
So overall, yeah, the game has changed, but I think
(21:02):
it's changed for the better.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
By the way, that's a hell of a resume for
that guy.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Bedard, Celebrini, Barzal and Allsner.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Wow, that ain't bad.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
That ain't bad. Yeah, he taught me different than he
taught those guys.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Hey, and then Carl, last thing, last thing, and then
I know, I got to let you jump. This is
a couple of weeks down the road, but obviously you
and Mandy have your Alsner Foundation. I was reading about
it online, your Halloween party mistique, A knight of eerie elegance. Dude,
that looks like that's going to be a very nice event.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Yeah, it is. I appreciate you bringing it up. So
I'll give you a little quick backstory. So when I
was playing, mine and Mandy's job was to plan the parties,
the team parties. You know what I really was Halloween, Yeah,
it was. That was what we love to do. We
loved hosting or setting something up. You know, when I
when I went to Montreal, that was my job there
(21:57):
as well. So it's just kind of what we've always
done and with our foundation now and we did the
swing in the summer softball game. We wanted to do
something different than you know, the golf tournament that although
extremely successful. Typically you know, they happen a lot, right,
So we did the softball game that was a hit,
And normally we throw a Halloween party here for for
(22:18):
just a bunch of our friends and we have it
at the house, and so Mandy thought of maybe instead
of doing a gala, like, let's maybe do our own
little cocktail party Halloween party. So we started putting that together.
Capital One they were super helpful with swinging the summer
and they're doing the same thing for us now. So
it's gonna be at Capital one haul. They got this
(22:40):
little spooky section called the Vault, so we're gonna deck
that thing out. It's gonna be it's gonna be phenomenal.
Two hundred to two hundred and twenty five people is
what we can what we can hold for about halfway
there right now. Everything going to benefit youth sports and
Enrichmond in the area. So it's gonna be fun. We
(23:00):
got we got some some former players that are gonna
be there again. We've got a lot of pretty pretty
important local BC folks that are gonna come out as well.
So everyone's been panicking, like what do we wear to
this this night? Of eeriness that's happening. I'm like, honestly,
whatever you want. I mean, if you if if you
want to put some time and effort in and uh
(23:21):
and get a really great costume, then please do that. Otherwise,
you know, throw on a throw on a suit, in
a masquerade mask. We really don't care. We just want
people to be there, so we're we're excited about it.
October twenty sixth. It's gonna be a blast. So yeah,
I'm hoping, hoping we can fill this.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Place out right.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
October twenty sixth, Capital one Haul at the Vault Alsnerfoundation
dot org for more information and to get your tickets.
And by the way, how about learning Karl Alsner is
the party planner for the team.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, let me know anyone out there needs a party planned,
I can uh, Mandy will Mandy will Manby will do it.
She better than I am.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Dude, Cat's fifty Fest tomorrow night, the alumni game on Friday.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
The season gets underway on Saturday. Mystique.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
October twenty six Carl lowis good to talk to. You'll
see around the rink this weekend.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Thanks, Helly, can wait to see you
Mister, Carl Alsner, Carl.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Elliott, what is going on? Your hold music is dynamite?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Oh well, thank you, thank you. That was picked out
specifically for you. Hey, but Carl, let me ask you this.
Did you watch any hockey yesterday?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I didn't watch any hockey yesterday. I know I haven't
been good. I gotta I gotta start paying attention to
what's going on till me it.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Oh my no, it was just I know that we
had the Global Series, but it was it was so
good to have like regular, meaningful listen. I don't know
as a player if you liked or disliked the preseason,
but just to drop the puck on the season, it
was so good yesterday it was so good. And I
thought the triple header lined up pretty nice. Although is
(00:46):
there some kind of crazy history between Seattle and Saint
Louis that I don't know about as to why they
were the first game to go?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
You know what, I I don't always understand how that works.
You know that I tend to try and find players
that are that are from a certain area when they
go and go and play in the Global Series and
things like that, or maybe I don't know, maybe they
got some algorithm they're seeing on social media where they
have a lot of followers in an area. I'm not
(01:16):
always one hundred percent sure, but I do like when
when we try and find ways to jump up some
more audience and some more fans of the game. So right,
whatever they're doing, keep on doing it right.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
And then you know, the primetime game last night was
excuse me, the Florida Panthers against the Boston Bruins. Obviously
those two slugged it out last year. That was a
good game. You even got some scraps in that. And
then the late game was Utah making their franchise debut
at home, and so of course they're gonna throw somebody
big at them, so they threw Connor Bodard in the
Blackhawks at them.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
But it was great.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
It was just so good to have hockey back on
TV yesterday, Carl.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
It was I love this time of year. I love
this time of year.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'm a say, as soon as that was all the
exhibitions started, you know, I get back on, get back
on all my sports apps, and I'm paying attention to
you know, not only who's looking good in preseason, but
who's dropping the mits and you know, Uh, the games
in preseason are really hard to judge, right, It's still
(02:18):
kind of it's still kind of neat to see which
teams are going out there and and putting up some wins, right,
I mean, it is a full reset after But I
remember the one year we had in Montreal. We went
I think it was it was one, six and one
in the preseason, and sure enough we started terribly, Right,
we can get a little bit a little bit of
a gauge on what's going on, but yeah, it's you know,
(02:41):
it's just nice to be able to go and see
some guys skating around the ice again.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Okay, So then let me ask you this, Carl. The
Caps went three and three in the preseason. They made
a lot of moves during the offseason, which which by
the way, and I know McClelland was still the GM
at that point. I love the moves that the that
the Caps made. It will dig into those in a
little bit, But if they come off the preseason at
three and three, I feel like my expectation is higher
(03:08):
than a five hundred season for the Caps this year.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, I think you're right. I mean it is for
me at least, and I believe it is for the
players in the dressing room as well. Like there's been
a lot of talent acquisition here three and three preseason,
you know that there's a lot to be said for
having you know whatever it is. It's like five or
six new mainstay players coming in, trying to gel with everybody,
(03:36):
learn the system, you know, just just a lot of
a lot of question marks. So it takes some time.
But but yeah, I don't know. I think everybody's expectations
in DC now are are much higher than they were
let's say fifteen twenty years ago. It's it's it's definitely
above five hundred and it's to be a playoff contender
(03:57):
every single year now. And they've they've definitely put in
the off season work in the boardroom. So now it's
time for the on the on ice work to show.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
For Hey, Carl, let me ask you this.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
As a as a defenseman, the two big defensemen we
brought in one Jacob Chickrin, who again went before Chickrin
even went to Ottawa.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
When when we knew that he was leaving Arizona, I.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Was like, oh my god, please go get Jacob Chickrin,
Please go get Jacob Chickrin. He ends up here a
couple of years later, and then Matt Roy comes in
from l A.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do you like those two guys, I really do.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I think that. I think they are both very good.
I'm at alf they're considered underrated pickups. I think they're
they're very, very excellent defenseman. But just just talk, I
was talking. I actually played, uh, played golf with Chicken
this uh this just before exhibition started, and just picked
his brain a little bit. And he's been on my
(04:52):
radar for for years. Looking back at his as what
he's what he's been able to do as a defenseman.
Eighteen goals one year. I think in fifty six games,
any player, any defenseman that can do that is got
some insane potential. And with with Carly getting up in age,
(05:12):
you know, old in the in the hockey world, I
guess you could say sure, But having to play as
many minutes as he's had to play, I think having
a guy like Chickering come into the lineup is going
to just really be able to help John's game out
and in turn help the rest of the team out.
But then same thing with having Roy, you know, a
guy who's played in a in a big market US
(05:36):
had some pressure on him, knows knows how to handle
handle some bigger moments. He look, this is good. The
team hasn't had a ton of had a ton of
these kind of players on the back end for a while.
And uh, I think this is really going to solidify
a group that is in the process of making a
(05:56):
transition from you know, older veteran guys to having a
bunch of younger guys on the team. So you're gonna
need players.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Like these two. And you know what, the one of
the other guys that that came in, Carl, that I
was so excited about, and I and I hope I'm right.
Pierre Luke du Bois for a couple of reasons. And listen,
I know he he's had a he's had a rough
go a couple of years. A lot of people have
written him off. I somebody like Pierre Luke Dubois does
(06:23):
not forget how to play hockey. He does not forget
how to put a puck in the net. He is
a big, massive kid and he's still a kid. And
you know, if if you if you believe everything about
Spencer Carbury about how he likes to find the player
and put them in the right position to succeed.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Oh my god, that stinks beautifully for Pierre Luke du Bois,
it really does.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Look I want this to work out so bad. It's
it's like the most coveted type of player in hockey, right,
A big two way centerman that can that can do
a little bit of everything right, like a like a
version on a copuitar. Like These are the players that
not only every team is looking for, but they should
stay on a team for their entire career because no
(07:07):
one ever wants to get rid of them. So obviously
there's been some some history here with what's gone on
in three teams and whatever it is four years, five years,
you know you're curious as to why that is. But
the team still does have some really good veteran presence,
hopefully guys that can, you know, get the best out
(07:30):
of him. And going from a market, same thing, right, Winnipeg,
it's not an easy place to play, LA you got
some spotlight on you, even though it's a non traditional
hockey market. I think you get a really nice balance
being here in Washington, one that a lot of players
don't quite understand how great of a place it is
to play until they arrive here, so hoping you have
(07:53):
a happy player in a good situation and you're gonna
get good results because that could be could be seasoned
changing for the Caps.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
And then also Carl the that fourth line, and we
talked to Dylan Strom about it, and Strom was talking
about what a credit it is to Nick Dowd. But
how quickly that Nick Dowd, Brandon do Hame and Taylor
Radish line has really come together and gelled. They looked
great every time they were on the ice.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, so I'll say that I think the fourth line
is so underrated. It's uh, that line can usually gel
a little quicker because a lot of times they're just
going out there and they're trying to crash and bang
and create energy. Not so much of a you know,
a ticktack to find each other understand where you're gonna
be on the ice. Maybe like a first and second
(08:44):
line would have to do. The third and fourth lines
a lot of times can just go out there and
and they create energy and they create a bond through
frustrating other teams, right and uh and oftentimes a lot easier,
but the fourth line can really change a team as well.
Like I always go back to think of the Islanders.
(09:04):
They for so many years they've had a great fourth
line with Matt Martin, Clutterbuck and Suzika. And we played
them the one year in the playoffs, the first round,
and they were the fourth line, but they were their
best line. They started every single game. They were the
one they relied on so heavily. And if you can
get contributions from that line as well, I mean, that's
a bonus. That's like having you're That's like having a
(09:26):
bench player on your fantasy football team that all of
a sudden goes in because of a bye week and
puts up twenty points. A a's a weak winner, it
can be a season can be a season winner if
you can have contributions from guys that are towards the
bottom of your lineup, so you know, just fully rounding
out this this Capitol's roster right now, I mean, I
think it's an underrated roster and should do some good things.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Which is the better I don't even want to call
it a feel good story, because both these guys earned it.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Which is the better story.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Dylan McIlrath making the opening night roster or Jacob ron
are earning a contract of making the opening night roster.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Oh, man, that is a very very hard question. Look,
I think, ah, shoot, it's hard to say. I'm extremely
extremely happy that Brana has been able to get through
what he's what he's been going through to be back
on the opening night roster. Like it's a it's a
player with a ton of skill, good pedigree, everyone knows
(10:27):
what he can do, and to go through stuff outside
of the rink is is extremely extremely hard.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Here.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I've played with some guys who have had similar, similar issues.
So the fact that he's been able to right the
ship and get back in there, and you know that
he's going to want to prove people, prove people wrong,
and prove himself right. So I'm very very happy about
that for him. But you know, also as a as
a defenseman and a guy who plays a gritty game,
(10:56):
to be able to to make an opening night roster
with that play is also super exciting for me. So
I don't know. I I probably would lean Rana, but
from a fellow defenseman, you got to cheer for.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
That guy too, sure, hey real quick?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Uh? Then I got to get into a couple of
other things when I think, when you think back of
Rhana's time with the Caps, what one moment stands out
more than any other?
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Oh man, I would I would say it's gonna be
gotta be the Cup run. Just just how he was playing.
You know, it's one of those I guess you could
call him a role player, an offensive role player that
that is contributing. And you know, I'll say that's when
when you're looking at an opponent's lineup, their roster on
(11:45):
the board before the game starts, obviously you look at
the top line and those are the ones that that
you're kind of worried about, maybe the top top de pairing.
But then as you go down and all of a sudden,
you see a guy who is young and maybe not
expected to be as dangerous, and then you see see
Verana go out there and be dangerous. He makes that
(12:09):
second pairing, the second pair of defense pairing, the third pair,
you know, shake a little bit, and that's what you're
looking for. So I think that the fact that he
was able to be as strong as he was in
that playoff brun and that to me, stand though.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
What stands out to me was him flossing on stage
during the parade.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Yeah, the little personality, right, we hockey players don't have
a ton of personality, so it's.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
All right.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
So before we get to Saturday and we dropped the
puck a couple of things, things.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Really start kind of cranking up. Tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Tomorrow is the Cats fifty Fast. I know you'll be
a part of that as part of the you know
what I mean, I feel like everything's going on. It
was a great idea by the Cats. I mean, yes,
you have a third Eye Blind concert, which is great,
but all the current team will be there. The amount
of the amount of veterans and alumni that are coming
in for it, that's really gonna be a special night.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
It's honestly, it's wild. I when I saw the number
that we were gonna have about seventy alumni coming in,
I couldn't believe it. I don't know what they what
they did, how they were able to maybe it's third
I've blind. I'm not sure how they were able to
get as many people you know, on board for this,
But I this is, this is what we've been wanting
(13:28):
to do with the Cats. You know, we're starting to
get a really good history here. You know, a team
wins the Stanley Cup, that's just that's not only great
for the organization, but great for the fan base. So
I think you're starting to see players that are reflecting
on the fond memories that they've had here and then
to want to bring them out to all get together
(13:48):
put an alumni game on, which is super exciting. You
get to see which players have kept in shape and
which ones happened, so I'm excited about that, and then
you get the buy in from the current team. This
is something that's so important, I think because I've talked
to a few guys about it. And once you're out
of the game, and you're out of the game right
and it's hard to get back into it. The current
(14:11):
players think that sometimes you can just walk into the
room and do what you want, but it's not necessarily
the case. So to be able to blend the current
team with the alumni, I think is important to not
only hopefully convince the players to want to stay here
when they're done, and if not stay here, at least
be more involved. So good on the Caps. It's gonna
(14:34):
be a huge, huge celebration. I've already been texting with
a bunch of the guys. It's fired up to see
them and to check them when we're on the ice playing.
So yeah, overall, this is gonna be a great weekend.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Hey, who's coming in? You're that you're super friendly with?
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Still, like when when I look at the list, like,
I like Corey Brower, he was awesome, Like, but I
like seeing like Tom Pode's name on the list, Brooks
or Bick's name on the list, Zednik's name on the list,
Maddy Pennon his name on the list. And then obviously
you can go back and and you know, grab a
bunch of the I don't want to say the older guys,
but that kind of the generation before them, Like there's
(15:09):
it's fifty years, there's several generations of players.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Who is there anybody that you stay really tight with?
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Uh? Yeah, So the number the number one is Eric
Fair for me, I mean, me and Pharisey talked. Probably
it's not every day every other day where me, yeah,
me and him and beings are involved in in a
little let's call it a side a side hustle, so
we we are always always talking to each other. We
were texting last night at midnight going over the roster
(15:38):
of the game. So I'm excited to see him I'm
excited to see the big Daddy, Jeff Schultz, just to
see what he's up to, because I haven't haven't chatted
with him a ton, definitely not enough lately. But yeah,
sif thing brow the guys I played with Tom Pody,
he saved me and Michael Neiber from getting choke slammed
by uh By jose at our at our rookie party.
(16:01):
So I'm excited to go and relive a few moments
with BM and and then get on the ice with
with Bonzai. I mean, I've done a lot with with
Bondre over the last few years with the alumni, but
we've never been on the ice together, so I'm excited
about that as well. So yeah, it's just fun. Let
the having having that crew come back. And you know,
(16:24):
when you talk to those older guys, you don't usually
get much opportunity to get get any words in, just
because they have so many great stories and they want
to share them. So I'm I'm happy to give them
a platform and and listen and then hopefully uh you know,
share some experiences and grape a little bit about a
bit about the new NHL. And I think just I
(16:46):
think just having the guys together is going to be
very fun.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
And by the way, like I like the I like that.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Like like Bondra, obviously we see him around the rink,
he looks like he can still play. I know you
still play, but like when you're texting with Eric Fair
and in Jay Beagle and you're going through the roster
or you're reaching out to guys and you're like, hey,
just had a curiosity?
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Are you real fat?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Now? Yeah, that's pretty much it. I literally said to Pharise,
I'm like, hey, do you think do you think Brow
and Shulty have been playing? Like, like, what do you
think we're gonna have to do to beat these guys?
And he says, have you still been skating? I'm like, yeah,
I skate every week. He's like, okay, well, I work.
He works for a junior team. Like he's one of
(17:26):
the assistant coaches on a junior team. He's like, I'm
on the ice all the time and I get drills going,
but I never really handle a puck and I never
bag skate. So I think you're gonna be just fine.
So I'm I'm already trying to game plan it, right,
I'm doing my video trying to see if I can
find clips of them on huddle while they're working with
their their junior team. So yeah, I'm I'm I don't
(17:47):
want to I want to win at all costs. That's
just my personality.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
By the way, I should point out, so Caps Caps
fifty Fest is is tomorrow night at Capitol One Arena.
The alumni game will take place on Friday afternoon at
MedStar Capitol's ice Plex in Arlington. So and it's by
the way, it's free. You can go in and you
can watch the game there. I believe one thirty if
I'm not mistaken, Carl is when everything gets underway at
(18:12):
Capitol's ice Plex on on Friday.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Hey, two other things real quickly? What kind of Caps
related a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Biggest story of the year, Ov's chasing Gretzky. That's still
number one.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yeah, I would say still number one. I mean, you
s don't get that many opportunities to see, uh see
almost history. You know, I'm hoping that great, But I
think he's gonna break it. I think he's gonna continue
playing as long as he has to do to break it.
So yeah, he's you know, he's one vintage OV season
away from breaking the record, So you got to be
(18:51):
pretty fired up about that, and the first first quarter
of the season will will tell quite a bit. So yeah, Scott,
I would assume it's got to be the biggest storyline
in my opinion too.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
It's got to be.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
And then like the other thing and agree or disagree,
like the game keeps getting younger and younger and younger.
But I love whether it's whether it's our guys, like eventually,
like somebody like Ryan Leonard will be here, but we
still have a ton of kids that are on the
team that are contributing and playing well in adding. But
when you look around the league and whether it's like
(19:22):
Connor Bedard or maclin Celabrini or Will Smith or the
kid that the Flyers got Mitch Kob, Like, the youth
of this game is so strong right now.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
It is absolutely crazy. Every time I watch any of
the players playing now, any of these young guys, I
just I honestly I think, like there's no chance I
could have played in this in this league, you know
if I was coming in right now, the level of
skill that they have, how fast they are, how athletic
they are, like just the build A majority of these
kids now is different, right, Like you're a five ten
(19:58):
to six one hundred eighty five pound you know, absolute
flash now with crazy hands. It's it's just completely different.
Whereas you know, when I was coming in, it's you
want to be six to two or bigger and two
hundred and ten plus pounds. So just just the way
that the players are built now is a lot different.
The game is obviously different too, you know, there's it's
(20:19):
a little bit more high flying and maybe a little
bit less rough stuff than when I entered. But I
think the product is really good and I think people
are excited about that. And just from a personal point
of view, yeah, the badard celebrating thing is exciting to
me because those are both both two kids that came
from my neck of the woods. So to see, uh
(20:41):
see those players getting into the mix now is exciting.
I got a little shout out to skills coach John Calvano.
He he coached both those guys. You know, two first
overall picks there, Ryan Nugent Hopkins first overall pick Matthew Barzel.
It's crazy that the skill that's coming out of that area.
So overall, yeah, the game has changed, but I think
(21:02):
it's changed for the better.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
By the way, that's a hell of a resume for
that guy.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Bedard, Celebrini, Barzal and Allsner.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Wow, that ain't bad.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
That ain't bad. Yeah, he taught me different than he
taught those guys.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Hey, and then Carl, last thing, last thing, and then
I know, I got to let you jump. This is
a couple of weeks down the road, but obviously you
and Mandy have your Alsner Foundation. I was reading about
it online, your Halloween party mistique, A knight of eerie elegance. Dude,
that looks like that's going to be a very nice event.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Yeah, it is. I appreciate you bringing it up. So
I'll give you a little quick backstory. So when I
was playing, mine and Mandy's job was to plan the parties,
the team parties. You know what I really was Halloween, Yeah,
it was. That was what we love to do. We
loved hosting or setting something up. You know, when I
when I went to Montreal, that was my job there
(21:57):
as well. So it's just kind of what we've always
done and with our foundation now and we did the
swing in the summer softball game. We wanted to do
something different than you know, the golf tournament that although
extremely successful. Typically you know, they happen a lot, right,
So we did the softball game that was a hit,
And normally we throw a Halloween party here for for
(22:18):
just a bunch of our friends and we have it
at the house, and so Mandy thought of maybe instead
of doing a gala, like, let's maybe do our own
little cocktail party Halloween party. So we started putting that together.
Capital One they were super helpful with swinging the summer
and they're doing the same thing for us now. So
it's gonna be at Capital one haul. They got this
(22:40):
little spooky section called the Vault, so we're gonna deck
that thing out. It's gonna be it's gonna be phenomenal.
Two hundred to two hundred and twenty five people is
what we can what we can hold for about halfway
there right now. Everything going to benefit youth sports and
Enrichmond in the area. So it's gonna be fun. We
(23:00):
got we got some some former players that are gonna
be there again. We've got a lot of pretty pretty
important local BC folks that are gonna come out as well.
So everyone's been panicking, like what do we wear to
this this night? Of eeriness that's happening. I'm like, honestly,
whatever you want. I mean, if you if if you
want to put some time and effort in and uh
(23:21):
and get a really great costume, then please do that. Otherwise,
you know, throw on a throw on a suit, in
a masquerade mask. We really don't care. We just want
people to be there, so we're we're excited about it.
October twenty sixth. It's gonna be a blast. So yeah,
I'm hoping, hoping we can fill this.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Place out right.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
October twenty sixth, Capital one Haul at the Vault Alsnerfoundation
dot org for more information and to get your tickets.
And by the way, how about learning Karl Alsner is
the party planner for the team.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, let me know anyone out there needs a party planned,
I can uh, Mandy will Mandy will Manby will do it.
She better than I am.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Dude, Cat's fifty Fest tomorrow night, the alumni game on Friday.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
The season gets underway on Saturday. Mystique.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
October twenty six Carl lowis good to talk to. You'll
see around the rink this weekend.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Thanks, Helly, can wait to see you
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