July 2, 2025 • 49 mins
What are your thoughts so far with the start of free agency? Has Tom Fitzgerald done enough?
By Sam Woo and Nick Villano
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By Sam Woo and Nick Villano
http://JoinOurCrew.com
https://pucksandpitchforks.com
https://www.LetsGoDevils.com
RATE, REVIEW, AND SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-go-devils-podcast/id1371371669 #NJDevils #NHL #LetsGoDevils #LGD #Devils #NewJersey #NCAA #AHL
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/let-s-go-devils-podcast--2862943/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Happy Devils Wednesday. This is a State of the Fan
address presented by puckson pitchforks dot com. I'm your host
Sam wou here with the editor in Chief Extraordinaire Nick Lano,
stream alive on Facebook, fride, YouTube Live, x live and
switch on the Let's Go Devil's Network talking Devil's Hockey
(00:51):
as free agency. Has it been a frenzy? Has it
been a flop for your new jersey, the Devil's. Is
Tom Fitzgerald done? What's going on here? I want to
hear from you on all the social media channels. Nick,
(01:12):
You've said some interesting things to me off air, but
I don't think Tom Fitzgerald is done done. I think
there's more to come. It hasn't been that sexy. But well,
I don't know where to start other than that nice
Jake Allen contract five years. Let's start with that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, I listen when when I heard that Jake Allen
was returning, When the Kevin Weeks tweet came out, Uh,
my first reaction was terrible, idea, why are you spending
your capspace on this? This is not a smart move.
But again, like that, you know we react. I love this.
I aways I always get in trouble because I'll react
on Twitter and then people hours later will react to
(02:00):
my reaction, and it's fine, that's just kind of how
social media works. But I've I clearly changed my mind once.
To sell the number, I thought the number is gonna
be like four, like to keep them away from free agency.
I thought it was gonna be like four, four and
a half five somewhere in that range for like a
two year deal. They get them in a five year
deal at less than two million dollars, Like it's such
(02:22):
a phenomenal deal. Like the same. Look around the league,
there's so many backup goalies making four and five million dollars.
You know, the Vancouver just signed Thatcher Demko for a
billion dollars. But I think it's I think lancing into
their backup and he's making over four million dollars. You know.
It's you look at so many teams using this method, right,
(02:47):
A lot of teams are you know the Panthers did
this with a couple of guys, did this, Marshawan. They
do this a couple of guys where you pay them
through like some insane number, and it gets you in
trouble because eventually, like the Goose is gonna come to cook.
But that's not the case for the Devils. There's two
reasons why, uh this this contract is not a poison bill.
(03:07):
We'll start with the age. So Allen's I think thirty four, right,
So since he didn't sign this contract when he was
thirty five, if he retires, the cap is wiped out.
The Devils do not owe on the cap if if
Alan retires early, so the one point eight million is
(03:30):
completely wiped out. If he's bought out, the Devils front
loaded this contract. I think he's making like three or
three and a half in the first season and then
like three point four the second season. So if they
buy him out after I think it's season three. So
if they buy out the last two years of the contract,
it cost them like six hundred thousand dollars a year
(03:53):
for four years, Like it's not even that's not even
the cost of a player. So you know, the Devils
have put themselves in a really interesting position. And Sam
like the goaltending is why they made the playoffs last year,
Like straight up, it was the play in December to
(04:14):
bank all those points and then it was the goaltending
just keeping them afloat in twenty twenty five, like Alan
and mark Strom were very effective. You know, mark Strom
was a little rough after the injury, but he was
extremely effective in the playoffs. Jake Allen was extremely effective
when mark Strom was out with his injury, really keeping
(04:37):
this Devil's team afloat. He at one point had one
of the best goal saved above averages in the league.
He's still finished with like one of the I think
he's up there with like the per sixty numbers because
he didn't play as much as the starting goalies, but
he's up there. I think he's right under like Helabuck,
he's like one of the top five goalies in goal
(04:58):
saved of a average per sixty minutes. He was fantastic
last year. I couldn't be happier with the number, couldn't
be happier with the return. My only thought is, like,
you know, and Tom Fitzgerald addressed this a little today,
but you know, you gotta be sad if you're Nico Dawes, right,
like that kind of stinks for him. But again, I
(05:19):
don't think. I think that the Devil's aren't a very
valuable lesson two years ago when they went into the
season with v Tech Vanchik and a Kirschmid as the tandem,
and vait Dik was coming off just a terrible playoff.
He was all up in his head and you had
(05:41):
no depth. So what what the devil should do? It's
what Sam? How many times have I been on this
podcast and say, carry three goalies. Carry three goalies? You
have been in a position where you've blown the goalie position.
Carry three goalies. I don't see why you don't this
(06:03):
time because in the AHL, you know, you lost Isaac
Poultaire to Winnipeg. He signed a Winnipeg today. I'm very
happy for him. This guy like earned his second HL
contract that seemed the most impossible a couple of years ago.
But you're gonna have Malick coming over from I think
it was in the Swiss League last year. But he's
already signed. He's ready to go. You're gonna have you know,
(06:25):
Jeremy Brodor is a fine AHL backup. You got Tyler
Brennan who might be ready to back up in the HL,
but probably would do better with starting the EHL. And
then there you go. You could let Malick be your starter.
Malick was really good last year in this Again, I
think it was a Swiss league. I think he's ready
(06:48):
to take the starting job in the AHL, and then
you give Dawes the third goalie job. I say it's
the Devils always have one of the most back to
backs in the league. It's just happens every year, so
I just assume it's going to happen again. Dodgs can
be your backup for both of those games. So if
you ever have to pull Allen or you have to
pull Markstrom, you don't have to worry about risking injury
(07:11):
for the other guy because they're playing them back to
back nights. It's just it's a smart move. But again,
I don't want to jump ahead. I want to give
Tom Fitzgerald all the credit in the world because this
contract was amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I you know what, At first, I thought I was
a little absurd, didn't understand it. That was my initial reaction.
But as the more you study it and you know
again all the nuances of the collective bargaining agreement and all, look,
I wanted Jake Allen back. How was that going to happen?
It had to be at the right price. It is
at the right price, because.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You know the last and I thought it was impossible
even in a five year deal. I thought he'd get
two and a half.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So obviously he's a goaltender that wants to be here,
and that's important. You remember Moose Hedberg backing up Marty Brodor.
I mean it was a one A, one B scenario.
Markstrom's the guy here. Alan definitely proved himself last season
(08:12):
filling in when mark Strom got hurt all of a sudden,
and with Nico Dawes in the AHL or being that
third goaltender, he actually performed. His numbers were pretty good
up at the NHL level, So you know, again it's
status quo with the goaltending, and the goaltending was consistent
(08:34):
last season and on top of everything else was not
a problem like it had been for a decade, practically
a decade on and off. So having stability continuity there,
I'm cool with it. Even though they're one year older,
they showed no signs of slowing down. I think if anything,
mark Strom, look since I mean when when Broder when
(09:00):
he turned forty, he was still on the top of
his game, but then eventually kind of leveled off and
then then went down for the most part.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Was he thirty nine in twenty twelve.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Thirty nine hit for his fortieth birthday was against the
Flyers Game four in May six at twenty twelve. So
so that's when he turned forty. And I think Tim Tooms.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
He was still pretty good that next year before the injury.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, and Tim Thomas as well, late Bloomer he played in,
you know, in his late thirties, and that's when he
started to peak. And you know again they yeah, was
thirty seven. Yeah, but you know you're gonna need veteran goaltenders. Uh.
(09:54):
And I just want to bounce a little around here, Nick.
What the Florida Panthers have done. I mean, they're all
in with the guys that have proven themselves of knowing
how to win a Stanley Cup. I mean they went
all in. Zito went all in, got creative with the
Marshaan deal, which you know again it's like, oh, you know,
(10:19):
is a circumvention you know in the works here. I
don't know, but only because you know, we remember the
Kobe deal which is now off the books, and Chris
Pronger which the Flyers got nothing.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
There was so many Chay Weber deal was was circumvention
and he you know, he ended up retiring early like
everybody thought. There was a couple of deals that were
like ten, twelve, fifteen years, but only the Devils got
punished though.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
But I think we can finally say this, it's a
copycat league. But the Florida Panthers right now are the
team to beat in the next five years. I just grea,
you disagree, And why.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Is that so? Because I covered the Lightning and it's
almost the exact formula. So the Lightning had it's almost
the exact formula, so that they hadn't almost missed the
playoffs in that first year. But so the Panthers started
this off by winning the President's Trophy, made major changes
(11:25):
of the roster when they failed and I think it
was the first round, and then started their Cup runs.
They have now done three Cup runs in a row.
So this is three years in a row where a
majority of that corps has played one hundred games a year.
You already started seeing this year the injuries just layering,
(11:46):
and they overcame them. But a lot of the injuries
that Ka Chuck suffered are there's a high chance of
not a high chance, but there's a chance of reoccurring.
The the I think, uh Marshall had a hip injury.
(12:06):
Like those reoccur. I think it was a hip injury.
You know, Eckblad has dealt with injuries. I just think
like eventually, the toll that this many games takes is
too much and it just eventually it's just you run
(12:31):
out of steam. And you saw it with the Lightning.
It's not like you know, back when the when the
Islanders were doing this right, it was just a different league.
There's there was a different level of parody with with talent,
(12:53):
and the Panthers play in that Atlantic Division. So you're
gonna see Tampa again. They're gonna be good. They needed.
They got taken to Game seven by Toronto, and I
think Toronto's a little worse this year. We'll see what
happens there. I don't know what's going on with Boston.
(13:14):
Boston's having a weird offseason, but they have a good
structure in place in Boston that you know they could
come back. I really like Ottawa. I think Ottawa's on
the come up. I think that they could be good
next year. Detroit and Buffalo I'm not that concerned about,
but you know, they're in a hard division with the Atlantic,
(13:36):
and I just again, I just think they're gonna run
a team. I like that they brought everybody back, they
have a Stanley Cup roster. But again, I've just seen
this before. I saw it very close, right. I covered
that Lightning team. You remember that, Like I was producing
those Stanley Cup specials when they were going and you know,
we were talking to players, and I was talking to
(13:57):
our sports guys a lot who were at the arena
every single all day. And you saw that next season
where there's a lot of times where they're just you know,
they're going through the motions, which is typical of that team,
the Panthers this year as well. But you get to
the playoffs and it just gets a little bit harder
each year when you play one hundred games the year
(14:18):
before to get up to rev they engine to to
you know, and it's not because you're not motivated, it's
because you're just your your body has just been beaten.
And I think Tampa is still feeling it, right they
lost to four to five games this year.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
I don't know, but you just blew up my spot, Nick,
because I'm gonna tell you why you're wrong. Okay, actually
I'm not. Actually you make a pretty good point. I
was just kind of killing around.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
But you I wouldn't. I wouldn't if they won again
last year, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
I can't think of another team right now. You've got
could Chuck, Ryan, Hard Bennett amongst others really entering their prime.
You're talking about the next five years, uh Babrowsky. I
don't think he's gonna make it, you know, in five
years from now, but he could. You never know. But
(15:16):
you're talking. I get what you're saying, But right now,
you can't name another team right now that is as
powerful as the Florida Panthers are.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
No, not at all. No, I can't. You're right, and
the and you know the.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
East and Tampa it's and Tampa cheated with the LTR
and plus they won a Stanley Cup.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
What's that Panthers did that this year?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I know, But still the Tampa Bay Lightning in twenty twenty.
I don't even count twenty twenty as a Stanley Cup.
Even the NBA the twenty twenty you know finals, whatever, that.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Was a strange year. I would have I would have
counted the Devils one, I get it.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I would put an asterisk mark next to it for
dynasty I think for dynasty purposes, there's an asterisk there,
but it's a copycat league at the same time. Now,
let's pull back and talk about the New Jersey Devils,
(16:26):
the current team right now. Last season they did they
did beat the Panthers in the regular season, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
The best.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
It's just how does Tom Fitzgerald, what does he in
terms of like the grit, the tenacity there's the Devils
are just not at the Panthers level. They're getting better.
(17:02):
I'll say I liked how team tim O Meyer played
during the playoffs. I liked what he did in the
World Championships. But it's not like the Florida Panthers. They
find ways to win. They have that it factor.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I'm gonna sound crazy when I say this, Oh good.
I think that that was are one player away from
being as good as the Panthers. Like I think it's
a really good player. I think realistically they're too There
are two players away, but I don't think they're gonna
be able to get the second one. I think unless
(17:45):
they make trades with the current roster as it stands,
I think if you trade away Palot and turn him
into a top two winger like a like a first
line winger. So we're talking about Jason Robertson, we're talking
about Jordan Kyru, we're talking about I think there's a
(18:08):
non zero chance that Mark Stone becomes available if you
turn him into a guy like that, I think the
Devils can beat the Panthers in the playoffs. They've added
the pieces that were missing. They were missing speed. Connor
Brown is very fast and he plays decent defense. If
(18:33):
gannyddenof to Donoff, I think it's Dodanov. If Anny Dodanov
is very fast, speaks Russian. So you compare him with
our SENDI Gritzik, which was one of your concerns, and
grit Sick. I would call him fast, but he's agile,
can skid around guys. You have guys like how often
(18:56):
did the Panthers score in the breakout in the playoffs?
It was a ton, right, Like you know, I'm not
just for the number, but like you said, like Marshan
would break out the other way to Kachuk and even
Barkoff was was going on the break off breakout a lot.
Ryan Hart did it a ton, Bennett did it a ton.
(19:16):
You've built this team and the Devils to do that
to play that way. You have gritty guys in Cotter
and Nason Bratt played gritty last year at over eighty hits.
You you know it. Also, it also depends on who
comes back on defense. So Tom Fitzjaal came out today.
(19:39):
So the only guy that's gonna miss part of the
season is Covid Sevitch, which is unfortunate. I was surprised though.
I thought there was a chance that Dylan's gonna was
gonna miss time.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
That's what I thought, and apparently it's not.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Again, it's more of a believe it when I see
it kind of thing. But I have to believe what
Fitzgerald says, and he says Dylan's gonna be back. I
thought there was an outside chance that Luke Hughes missed time.
He had shoulder surgery. He missed time to start last
season with a shoulder injury. I thought they would slow
play it. But it sounds like he's gonna be ready
for training camp. And yeah, I think past she's fine.
(20:24):
I think Hamilton's fine. I think Secutar played at World
so he's obviously fine. He also, to you know, Covid
Savage missing the first part of the season. It definitely
makes it a little bit easier on Tom Fitzgerald if
they make no other defensive moves. Because Nemetz has the
spot right, He's gonna get to start the season and
you kinda get to, you know, when Covid Savage is
(20:46):
ready to go, And I think I think it's gonna
be a while. Same. I think it's like January, Like
people aren't talking about this. And this is just a prediction.
I don't have like a medical update or anything like that,
but just based on what I think it happened to him,
I think he's gone till January at the earliest. And
if everything's clicking, you can hold him out till March,
(21:07):
you know what I mean, Like bring him back in March,
and you'd.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Be your trade line depth without making it a trade.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Right, Yeah, you add a really good guy. And and
here's the thing, Sam, Like, do you not feel better
about the Cob Savage contract after seeing some of the
contracts that went out this season this offseason?
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah? Again, I think the Devils are in a good
place right now. I mean, they they have depth on defense.
Casey and Nemans are one year experience, you know, and
I think Nemuch now you know, I've been very critical
on the kid, but he did show some tenacity in
(21:48):
the playoffs, and he did score that big goal in
game game three, Game four, I forgot which one three?
Speaker 2 (21:58):
And yeah made a two one and then we all
had hope. Yeah got dashed in game four.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Yes, Scotty and I were sitting in the rich people's section,
so I don't really remember because I was.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
You were a cookie?
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, No, No, that was game four. Was that I
was a cookie?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
That's Oh, that's that's what I was talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
But yeah, so you know again, it's you really think
if you're going against the Florida Panthers, you know they
got the grit, they've got the experience. You think that
(22:36):
extra speed is enough to get around these guys. Yes,
if your roll Yeah, because if you roll.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Four lines, I would agree, you can't like Hughes can't
get injured, Nicohesher can't get it. You can't lose one
of your guys. But I think if if you go
into the playoffs healthy, and I've said the same, I've
said this that twenty two twenty three team could have
beaten anybody, but they went through just like the type
(23:07):
of series that a young team has trouble just bouncing
back from where you beat your rivals in Game seven
and then two days later you have to play a
team on five days rest. I just think it was
a and there's like it's, you know, this format that
the league has put together sets itself up for that,
(23:30):
like that's gonna happen. Sometimes there's nothing that anybody can do.
It's just the situation. I hate. But that's why the
devils the form. It's terrible. I go through Go one
through eight, and I'm saying that it was like, I,
you know, root for a team in the terrible Metropolitan Division.
I think this division is awful, terrible, and it didn't
(23:51):
get that much better. And and here's what's interesting, Sam
So that the Carolina Hurricanes have tried on a lot
of players and I don't want to say they're striking out,
but you know they they they got Kendre Miller, paid
him all of the money in the world. Yeah, and
(24:14):
now they're going for Nicola. I'm gonna regret this probably,
but none of that scares me. I don't. I don't
think that makes them that much better. I think Ellers
is a good player. I'd be excited at the Devil
signed him. But again, like when I'm looking at it
(24:38):
and I said, the Devils are like that one big
player away. I don't know if Eller's is that guy.
Like I'm not like, oh, we got Ellers now, now
we can compete with the Panthers. I don't know if
that's true.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Remember when I think, remember when the Devil's got the fully,
I remember I remember talking to you about that. Yeah,
this is after that wonderful season that the Devil said,
the record breaking season. And You're like, if this is true,
because at the time it was like just speculation and
rumors like they're getting to fully. You're like, this changes
(25:12):
everything We're but it didn't. But not saying till fully
wasn't wasn't good. But unfortunately to fully let us in
goals that year. Yeah, so our goalies went to hell.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And I was stupid that off season and I even
wrote an article it said, we have the goalies were fine,
and I read a lot of things. I write fifty
articles about the guys, like I'm gonna write some things
that don't come true, but that them not having the
goalie was the difference between making the playoffs and being
I think they were ten points out or something.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
I stuck my guns. I stuck to my guns with
v Tech Vanachik a little. I held on to him
too long.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Who signed him? Somebody signed him? He got a he
got a contract. Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
I know he's a champion, he's not.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
In Florida anymore. But somebody signed him. I can't remember.
Somebody signed kakan In. Yeah, him one point five million dollars.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I can't remember him either, but I saw I got
one point five million dollars, and I was floored. A
lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Devils have had success after leaving New Jersey.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
They have, But I think Tom Fitzgerald is a great
talent NHL talent evaluator. There's an issue with his development.
The prospects do not develop, and Utica is always a
tire fire always, which is problematic. And he trusts his
(26:52):
previous decisions too much. You know, the Lindi Rough decision,
the the goalie decision. Uh, last year, he trusted that
he fixed it with with Tatar, right, Oh, that's that's
the move. And every year this team has gone in
with a distinct flaw that has not been addressed and
(27:16):
it bites them. Last year there was two. Last year
it was top six scoring. They were missing a winger
and center depth. It was very clear that going into
the season with Eric Hall as your number three center
and Curtis are As your number four center and nothing
(27:38):
behind them, your backup plant was Dawson Merson. Dalson Mercy
doesn't want to play center, and he plays like he
doesn't want to play center. You didn't. You had no
center depth. So when Haula and Lazarre both got hurt,
that's how you get Justin Dowling playing forty games. Justin Delling,
who signed with the Rangers, by the way, yeah laughed a.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Little instead of Logan Cooley. You know, he could have
been playing the center. But we got Nemts.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Cooley and right But if either of us got our way,
Sam again, you always tellt that I thought they were
gonna draft Nemos and I can tout the player at
least because they have a lot of guys who are
our number crunchers, who really like them. I want to
right you wanted Cooley. I think we both could say
(28:28):
we were right, right, like we were correct in our assessment.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
This.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
How much better does this team with either of those
players right or Cooley right now? Is it not worlds better?
I think themos could be something. I don't want to
trade them for nothing, but this team is exponentially better
with Shane Rayder, Logan Cooley. And again, you know you're
you're looking at a team. I found it interesting somebody
(29:02):
pointed out that the Rangers had I think nine first
round picks from twenty sixteen to twenty nineteen over those
four or five drafts, and they traded all of them,
and most of them were bad, but you know they
got something good for like Conre Miller, but.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Well, Friandier is still not there.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
He was twenty twenty. Oh okay, so the year after,
but they traded Coco, they traded LEAs Anderson, they traded
uh Ryan Linger, and I think was on that list.
But you know, they had nine guys and they all
no longer played for the Rangers. You're looking at the
Devils with like the twenty twenty and twenty twenty one drafts,
(29:46):
and if they traded d Austin Mersa this last season, they
had five picks in the first round and Luke Hughes
is the only one still here. And it's because his
last name is Hughes. He's really good too. But you know,
the one guy who's still here from those two drafts,
Uh is the brother of your star player, and that's
not a great look. And that's if they trade Mercer.
(30:08):
I don't want them to trade Mercer. I think it's
a terrible idea if they trade Mercer. I think there's
no way you get equal value for Mercer right now.
But I have a gut feeling that they're gonna trade Mercer.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Well, if you're gonna trade Mercer or Nima, it's it's
gotta be something good coming back. And we're talking already
a perennial All Star.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
I don't think it's gonna be unless you get something
like like he goes in, like the Brian Russ Steel.
I think I'm just trying to think of, like, what's
(30:57):
Vancouver gonna do. They're going all in. They're going all in.
They're putting all their chips on the table for this season,
and then if it doesn't work, they're gonna trade Quinn Hughes.
But I would put the chances that they trade I
think the chance they trade Quen Hues this offseason is zero.
(31:17):
There's no chance I think it's off the table. The
chance they trade him by the next deadline is like
twenty percent, maybe fifteen. And then then you look at
like a if they don't make the playoffs next year,
it's like a ninety percent chance that he's traded next offseason.
If they make the playoffs and flame out, it's kind
of like a sixty percent chance if they're going to run.
(31:41):
That's when you're kind of in trouble. For you. The
devil was right, because now now you're looking at it
and they might have missed a chance, right, not mister chance,
I'm overstating it, but it might have missed a chance
to get him two years early. You know, if you
(32:03):
if you pounce on them and just called them and said,
Mercer and Emmitt's in a first round pick, and you
gave them the offer that like made it happen, and
then you get you know, you got Quinn Hughes for
two more years out of a very reasonable country. I
think he's making like seven and a half million, right,
you know I I I think what happened is I
(32:27):
I would put money on it that Fitzgerald called. So
what's the situation? Like, we're just waiting it out right now,
and either Fitzgerald gave them like an offer of like
you got to take Dylan back, or you gotta take Hamilton,
or you know, you got to solve one of my
(32:49):
problems in this deal, and he didn't give them the
grandfather offer off the off the jump. So and what
happened was Vancouver talked themselves into things. Elias Patterson started
to feel better about things, and now Vancouver, you know,
they put they brought back Brockbaster, which was I was floored.
I would have liked that contract, honestly, Like, I think
(33:11):
Brockbaster would have fit really well with the Devils. Oh,
I just didn't want to pay him nine, But playing
him seven, I think that's a I think it's a
decent contract. They signed a couple of other guys. They
gave Dotri Demko the big contract. You know, they spent
a lot of money. Uh. They traded for Evander Kane,
which is bizarre. They're going for it. I think it's
(33:35):
a bad idea. I think it's a mistake. I think
it's gonna hurt the value of Quinn Hughes. I think
they're gonna you know, but again, they got like pretty
insane value for j T. Miller. So Marcus Patterson is
a really good player.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
I think the Devils right now have all the leverage
right now because they don't need to make a deal
for Quinn. They really don't and they can work.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
But it would be nice.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, I mean they could.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Wait, but I think it's off the table.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
But I think the most important thing before you even
talk about Quinn Hughes is Luke Hughes. I think it's
time to sign him to a MAX deal right now,
eight years. While you still have that eight years, get
it done now and get it done on over with.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Two things worked in the Devil's favor. This new CBA
where this is the last off season of eight year contracts.
Right next year it turns into seven. So you have
that work in your favor. Where like this the last time,
you know, you could kind of put your chips on
the table and say we're signing the max. Next year
(34:50):
that max changes, we have to do the eight years. Also,
you have other big guys sending it your deals. You know,
Dobson signed for eight years, Kendra Miller signed for eight years.
There was one other guy who signed for eight years,
(35:12):
the Provooffs signed for eight.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
Seven, Gavkovs signed for seven.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
I know there's another guy, but it's just not coming
to me. But you have got Like everybody was like, oh,
ever's go sign for for four for five with a
cap going out, And I know that's what Bouchard did.
But Bouchard's in a different stratosphere than Hughes. Bouchard is,
you know, considered one of the best defenseman in the league,
especially on the offensive side, led his team to a
(35:47):
Stanley Cup final. Like Hughes doesn't have that leverage. I
think you just give them eight years, sixty eight million dollars.
That would be eight million dollars per year. I think
everybody walks away happy with that, you know, I think
(36:11):
you keep the band together. That would pretty much lock
in Quinn Hughes unless Vancouver went to the final. I
think that locked in Quinn Hughes because that's the only
place that Quinn and Jack could play together for six
years after Quinn gets the free agency. So I think
(36:39):
you're a I think that's the deal. I think so,
I think it worked in your favor. I was interested
in what Tom Fitzgerald said today where he said the
whole like I can't really make another move until the
Quin Hughes contract is done. I can't say those exact words,
but that was me reading between the lines, like he
can't make the theoretical Jason Robertson trade or Jordan Cairo
(37:04):
or the big, big, big money winger, because you don't
know if is Luke gonna make six million? Is he
gonna make ten million? Like worth in between. What I
don't love is when I hear that I think that
a bridge deal is even being discussed. I don't even
think it should even be in a discussion. Don't even
(37:25):
mention it. Eight years, that is your option. Tell me
what the number is.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
I agree, I agree, Pay him now or you're gonna
pay the price.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Later and listen, like pairing yourself with your brothers is
a marketing extravaganza. They're gonna make money hand over fist
right outside of New York. They were just at Fanatics Fest.
They go every single year, and I don't know if
(37:58):
they will go if they play in Buffalo, or if
they're play in Vancouver, or they're play in Seattle. We're
playing Detroit. Yeah, I don't think they'll they'll have the
same I'm gonna sound crazy because this is the Devil's
we're talking about. I don't think they have the same
(38:18):
thing star power in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
I just don't you mean a hockey town.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
I think they'll have star power in Detroit. But I
don't know if Jack and Luke Hues are on the
cover of the NHL video game if they play in Detroit,
they don't. I'm people are gonna come after me for
saying this, but I think New Jersey is a more
(38:49):
desirable market than Detroit right now because of its proximity
New York, of its proximity of Philadelphia. It's on the
East coast, It's it's right in the middle of it all.
I think people look at New Jersey differently now than
they do in the nineties in the early two thousands,
and you're seeing that with Alan. You know, I wanted
(39:10):
to mention this before you mentioned it, and we can.
We can end it on this. Alan saying that is important.
It is important that Alan came out and said I
wanted my family to grow to like live here. I've
loved New Jersey because if you don't, I don't know
if you remember the same. He wouldn't wave as no
trade close to come here. He didn't want to come
to New Jersey, and then Tom Fitzgerald was diligent, said
(39:33):
just come give it a shot. If you don't like
it'll trade you. I think you said that. I think
I remember that that kind of being the conversation. And
now he's been He's gonna be here for seven years
total likely and you know, Alan is gonna sit here
and he's gonna be he'll be a good backup for
Malik or mikel Igorov or who knows, Trenton Bennett. Maybe
(39:58):
you're still here when when that Behaemis is playing goalie
for the Devils. You know, So I think that matters.
The same thing. Connor Brown said the same thing. So
I looked at the situation and it was best for
my family, my child, my wife, and my dogs to
go to New Jersey. I don't know, Like, what else
(40:24):
do you say to that, Like, guys are coming to
New Jersey because they want to be in New Jersey.
They don't care about the taxes, they don't care about properties,
don't care about the cost. They just want to be
in New Jersey. They like it here. It's a nice
place to raise a family if you go to the
right place.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
And still be under the radar and keep your privacy right.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
You're not, you know, in New York City if you
don't want to be. And I was like, I truly
think that New Jersey people don't. There's a certain level
of celebrity, like Blatcher. I don't think we care like
we we like when we were growing up, Like the
Sopranos lived here and that was the biggest show in television.
(41:08):
I was like, Okay, there's there's Gandalfini getting a sandwich
from the deli. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
And like some people think pictures what you lived in
Tom's River?
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Yeah, I grew up in Tom's River.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
You lived in my town.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
You thought I lived in your town.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
No, you lived in my Townuse Dennis is my Dallas
at the time.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Oh really, that's funny.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Yeah. And then well you could have had multiple houses. Yeah,
I mean Whitney Houston.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
You know, lived near us Springsteen. It was an Ashberry Park.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
Yeah, I mean they But again, like that, I don't
think we care.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
If I saw Jack Hughest in a while, I just
feel like, eh, you know what I mean, Like it's
just it's it's Celebrities have never been my thing. A
lot of My friends are the same way. Like we'll
be like, oh, hey, is that John Travolta. Yeah, that's cool,
and then we go back like we just don't care
about you. We don't care what you're dealing with your life.
(42:08):
We don't. I also think we don't want to bother you.
Speaker 1 (42:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
I wouldn't want to be bothered when I'm eating dinner
or I'm having a drink or getting a coffee, you
know what I mean. Like most New Jersey would just
be like, hey, great play the other night, or like
for an act and be like, oh I loved you
and Gotti Nobody's ever said that the Travolta in his life.
But you know, I loved you in Face Off, Bud,
and then that's it. You know, maybe it's a picture,
but that's it. It's not it's not that serious. But anyway, Yeah,
(42:34):
I think I think Jersey is it? The one thing
I will say Sam before we go. Dave Pagnoda Panota
of Fourth Period has directly tied New Jersey to Ellers.
So I've been told from the beginning that the devils
(42:56):
were gonna check in. I don't think Elers is gonna
come here, but I just wanted to mention that he's
been tied. I do think Pilot's gonna get traded. I
think Plot is getting traded. I think once Elers signs,
you're gonna see some teams call it on Plot. There's
a lot of teams with a lot of cap space
(43:16):
still and needs. You know, I'm looking at Columbus, I'm
looking at Anaheim, I'm looking at i gotta look at
the cap space situations. I've always looked at Detroit, but
I think they've made too many moves. Winnipeg would be
a team I think would make a lot of sense
(43:38):
for a plot. You know. So I think Pilot's moving,
I I said earlier, I think my guts his mercer's moving.
I think it's a bad idea. And then I I
don't think they're moving Dougie. I think there was a
time where it was a possibility because if you don't know, Dougie,
(44:03):
Hamilton's trade protection significantly decreased. He went from having a
full no trade, no move clause to now he has
the no move clause. But he could he can be
traded to all but ten teams. He only has a
ten team trade list, so and he he got paid.
(44:24):
I think about ten point five million dollars yesterday, So
he only has a one million dollar salary this year.
So there's a couple of reasons why Doggie could have
been traded. I don't think it's happening, though, just my
gut feeling. If it happens, I won't be floored. Just
with the COVID Savitch injury, I don't think it's happening.
Speaker 1 (44:48):
All right, Well, you made your great point. You made
your great point. You got any plugs before we go?
Speaker 2 (44:57):
Sam? Over the past four days, Pucks and pet Tricks
dot com has published twenty five articles. Wow, so I
couldn't plug one specific article. We've still got articles coming
out like we've we've we've we've referenced the Quinn situation,
(45:18):
We've referenced every significant free agent. You know, Cody. We
didn't even talk about Cody Glass signed today. That's the
other weakness, by the way I was talking about, I
think Cody Glasses right now, you're three C. I think
you need hit to move him to four C. And yeah,
but that's that's another place that I would like an upgrade.
I just don't know if they can do it. And
(45:39):
that's another thing I'll talk about I'll talk about the
center situation because I think it's still not where you
want it. I'm gonna write about There's a million things
we gonna write about, but there's a lot. It's a
lot of reaction everything under the sun. Every draft pick
except for there's one draft I didn't write about it.
I just ran out of time. But I have singular
articles on each draft pick I have. You know, I'm thinking,
(46:04):
I gotta look, I gotta fancut an article I gotta write.
But I think I'm gonna write the top remaining free agents.
I just want to see if Eller signs tonight, I'm
gonna write it. If he doesn't sign tonight, I think
I'll go to wait, we'll see. Well, maybe I'll write
it with Ellers, because if the Devils are tied to Ellers,
(46:25):
that's something you know you want to talk about. I
just I've been afraid to write the Ellers article because
afraid I'm gonna write it. In the middle of me
writing it, he's gonna sign, because I think he's gonna
sign any minute, but that could turn in any hour
at any day.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Hey, if he signs, if he's in New Jersey, Devils
at two am in the morning. Will you come on.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
No, I'll call in because I'll probably be up with
the baby.
Speaker 1 (46:53):
Okay, all right, I thought I asked, huh, all right,
I'm going on vacation in a couple of days. I'm
going to be cutting the cord. You're not gonna hear
from me for seven or eight days. Just letting everybody know.
(47:19):
I need a little meat time, you need to think
things over. I'll be in the cruise somewhere. Oh yeah,
it's not a cruise, not a poop cruise, just on
a cruise.
Speaker 2 (47:32):
But that's like the Poppy I don't know if that's
the popular Netflix show.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Oh I have no idea what you're talking.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
Okay, sorry, I don't really likes he doesn't get the reference.
Speaker 1 (47:41):
But I don't have a life outside of this podcast.
So uh, Nintendo, we uh we did talk about the
Dead and Off signing. How brilliant was So you're gonna
have to re listen to this podcast. He's asking, we just.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Touched on it. It's a great, great signing. It's another
amazing contract by Fitzgerald where he's it's a million dollars
in the cap right now, and it might be another
two million dollars in that cap next year. But you
deal with that. That's like teams are willing to do.
Like I think the Devils have like thirty million cap
space next year.
Speaker 1 (48:18):
Money puck. That's what it was, moneypuck.
Speaker 2 (48:21):
Yeah. But yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
Anyway, but if news breaks tomorrow, we'll be there, but
I'll be gone for a week, week and a half, relaxing,
not thinking about things, but I enjoy. Yeah, but you
can go to pucksopitchforks dot com if news breaks. I
can guarantee you that.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
Alrighty well, thank you to all those tuning in. I
see Ace was tuned in. It's Steve Engold, Ted Jay
Snows select the Boy Devils Heaven seventy seven. Obviously, Nui,
a lot of people tuning in on this fine off season.
(49:16):
All right, gonna get out of here until next time.
Let's go doubles
Happy Devils Wednesday. This is a State of the Fan
address presented by puckson pitchforks dot com. I'm your host
Sam wou here with the editor in Chief Extraordinaire Nick Lano,
stream alive on Facebook, fride, YouTube Live, x live and
switch on the Let's Go Devil's Network talking Devil's Hockey
(00:51):
as free agency. Has it been a frenzy? Has it
been a flop for your new jersey, the Devil's. Is
Tom Fitzgerald done? What's going on here? I want to
hear from you on all the social media channels. Nick,
(01:12):
You've said some interesting things to me off air, but
I don't think Tom Fitzgerald is done done. I think
there's more to come. It hasn't been that sexy. But well,
I don't know where to start other than that nice
Jake Allen contract five years. Let's start with that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, I listen when when I heard that Jake Allen
was returning, When the Kevin Weeks tweet came out, Uh,
my first reaction was terrible, idea, why are you spending
your capspace on this? This is not a smart move.
But again, like that, you know we react. I love this.
I aways I always get in trouble because I'll react
on Twitter and then people hours later will react to
(02:00):
my reaction, and it's fine, that's just kind of how
social media works. But I've I clearly changed my mind once.
To sell the number, I thought the number is gonna
be like four, like to keep them away from free agency.
I thought it was gonna be like four, four and
a half five somewhere in that range for like a
two year deal. They get them in a five year
deal at less than two million dollars, Like it's such
(02:22):
a phenomenal deal. Like the same. Look around the league,
there's so many backup goalies making four and five million dollars.
You know, the Vancouver just signed Thatcher Demko for a
billion dollars. But I think it's I think lancing into
their backup and he's making over four million dollars. You know.
It's you look at so many teams using this method, right,
(02:47):
A lot of teams are you know the Panthers did
this with a couple of guys, did this, Marshawan. They
do this a couple of guys where you pay them
through like some insane number, and it gets you in
trouble because eventually, like the Goose is gonna come to cook.
But that's not the case for the Devils. There's two
reasons why, uh this this contract is not a poison bill.
(03:07):
We'll start with the age. So Allen's I think thirty four, right,
So since he didn't sign this contract when he was
thirty five, if he retires, the cap is wiped out.
The Devils do not owe on the cap if if
Alan retires early, so the one point eight million is
(03:30):
completely wiped out. If he's bought out, the Devils front
loaded this contract. I think he's making like three or
three and a half in the first season and then
like three point four the second season. So if they
buy him out after I think it's season three. So
if they buy out the last two years of the contract,
it cost them like six hundred thousand dollars a year
(03:53):
for four years, Like it's not even that's not even
the cost of a player. So you know, the Devils
have put themselves in a really interesting position. And Sam
like the goaltending is why they made the playoffs last year,
Like straight up, it was the play in December to
(04:14):
bank all those points and then it was the goaltending
just keeping them afloat in twenty twenty five, like Alan
and mark Strom were very effective. You know, mark Strom
was a little rough after the injury, but he was
extremely effective in the playoffs. Jake Allen was extremely effective
when mark Strom was out with his injury, really keeping
(04:37):
this Devil's team afloat. He at one point had one
of the best goal saved above averages in the league.
He's still finished with like one of the I think
he's up there with like the per sixty numbers because
he didn't play as much as the starting goalies, but
he's up there. I think he's right under like Helabuck,
he's like one of the top five goalies in goal
(04:58):
saved of a average per sixty minutes. He was fantastic
last year. I couldn't be happier with the number, couldn't
be happier with the return. My only thought is, like,
you know, and Tom Fitzgerald addressed this a little today,
but you know, you gotta be sad if you're Nico Dawes, right,
like that kind of stinks for him. But again, I
(05:19):
don't think. I think that the Devil's aren't a very
valuable lesson two years ago when they went into the
season with v Tech Vanchik and a Kirschmid as the tandem,
and vait Dik was coming off just a terrible playoff.
He was all up in his head and you had
(05:41):
no depth. So what what the devil should do? It's
what Sam? How many times have I been on this
podcast and say, carry three goalies. Carry three goalies? You
have been in a position where you've blown the goalie position.
Carry three goalies. I don't see why you don't this
(06:03):
time because in the AHL, you know, you lost Isaac
Poultaire to Winnipeg. He signed a Winnipeg today. I'm very
happy for him. This guy like earned his second HL
contract that seemed the most impossible a couple of years ago.
But you're gonna have Malick coming over from I think
it was in the Swiss League last year. But he's
already signed. He's ready to go. You're gonna have you know,
(06:25):
Jeremy Brodor is a fine AHL backup. You got Tyler
Brennan who might be ready to back up in the HL,
but probably would do better with starting the EHL. And
then there you go. You could let Malick be your starter.
Malick was really good last year in this Again, I
think it was a Swiss league. I think he's ready
(06:48):
to take the starting job in the AHL, and then
you give Dawes the third goalie job. I say it's
the Devils always have one of the most back to
backs in the league. It's just happens every year, so
I just assume it's going to happen again. Dodgs can
be your backup for both of those games. So if
you ever have to pull Allen or you have to
pull Markstrom, you don't have to worry about risking injury
(07:11):
for the other guy because they're playing them back to
back nights. It's just it's a smart move. But again,
I don't want to jump ahead. I want to give
Tom Fitzgerald all the credit in the world because this
contract was amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I you know what, At first, I thought I was
a little absurd, didn't understand it. That was my initial reaction.
But as the more you study it and you know
again all the nuances of the collective bargaining agreement and all, look,
I wanted Jake Allen back. How was that going to happen?
It had to be at the right price. It is
at the right price, because.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You know the last and I thought it was impossible
even in a five year deal. I thought he'd get
two and a half.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So obviously he's a goaltender that wants to be here,
and that's important. You remember Moose Hedberg backing up Marty Brodor.
I mean it was a one A, one B scenario.
Markstrom's the guy here. Alan definitely proved himself last season
(08:12):
filling in when mark Strom got hurt all of a sudden,
and with Nico Dawes in the AHL or being that
third goaltender, he actually performed. His numbers were pretty good
up at the NHL level, So you know, again it's
status quo with the goaltending, and the goaltending was consistent
(08:34):
last season and on top of everything else was not
a problem like it had been for a decade, practically
a decade on and off. So having stability continuity there,
I'm cool with it. Even though they're one year older,
they showed no signs of slowing down. I think if anything,
mark Strom, look since I mean when when Broder when
(09:00):
he turned forty, he was still on the top of
his game, but then eventually kind of leveled off and
then then went down for the most part.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Was he thirty nine in twenty twelve.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Thirty nine hit for his fortieth birthday was against the
Flyers Game four in May six at twenty twelve. So
so that's when he turned forty. And I think Tim Tooms.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
He was still pretty good that next year before the injury.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah, and Tim Thomas as well, late Bloomer he played in,
you know, in his late thirties, and that's when he
started to peak. And you know again they yeah, was
thirty seven. Yeah, but you know you're gonna need veteran goaltenders. Uh.
(09:54):
And I just want to bounce a little around here, Nick.
What the Florida Panthers have done. I mean, they're all
in with the guys that have proven themselves of knowing
how to win a Stanley Cup. I mean they went
all in. Zito went all in, got creative with the
Marshaan deal, which you know again it's like, oh, you know,
(10:19):
is a circumvention you know in the works here. I
don't know, but only because you know, we remember the
Kobe deal which is now off the books, and Chris
Pronger which the Flyers got nothing.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
There was so many Chay Weber deal was was circumvention
and he you know, he ended up retiring early like
everybody thought. There was a couple of deals that were
like ten, twelve, fifteen years, but only the Devils got
punished though.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
But I think we can finally say this, it's a
copycat league. But the Florida Panthers right now are the
team to beat in the next five years. I just grea,
you disagree, And why.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Is that so? Because I covered the Lightning and it's
almost the exact formula. So the Lightning had it's almost
the exact formula, so that they hadn't almost missed the
playoffs in that first year. But so the Panthers started
this off by winning the President's Trophy, made major changes
(11:25):
of the roster when they failed and I think it
was the first round, and then started their Cup runs.
They have now done three Cup runs in a row.
So this is three years in a row where a
majority of that corps has played one hundred games a year.
You already started seeing this year the injuries just layering,
(11:46):
and they overcame them. But a lot of the injuries
that Ka Chuck suffered are there's a high chance of
not a high chance, but there's a chance of reoccurring.
The the I think, uh Marshall had a hip injury.
(12:06):
Like those reoccur. I think it was a hip injury.
You know, Eckblad has dealt with injuries. I just think
like eventually, the toll that this many games takes is
too much and it just eventually it's just you run
(12:31):
out of steam. And you saw it with the Lightning.
It's not like you know, back when the when the
Islanders were doing this right, it was just a different league.
There's there was a different level of parody with with talent,
(12:53):
and the Panthers play in that Atlantic Division. So you're
gonna see Tampa again. They're gonna be good. They needed.
They got taken to Game seven by Toronto, and I
think Toronto's a little worse this year. We'll see what
happens there. I don't know what's going on with Boston.
(13:14):
Boston's having a weird offseason, but they have a good
structure in place in Boston that you know they could
come back. I really like Ottawa. I think Ottawa's on
the come up. I think that they could be good
next year. Detroit and Buffalo I'm not that concerned about,
but you know, they're in a hard division with the Atlantic,
(13:36):
and I just again, I just think they're gonna run
a team. I like that they brought everybody back, they
have a Stanley Cup roster. But again, I've just seen
this before. I saw it very close, right. I covered
that Lightning team. You remember that, Like I was producing
those Stanley Cup specials when they were going and you know,
we were talking to players, and I was talking to
(13:57):
our sports guys a lot who were at the arena
every single all day. And you saw that next season
where there's a lot of times where they're just you know,
they're going through the motions, which is typical of that team,
the Panthers this year as well. But you get to
the playoffs and it just gets a little bit harder
each year when you play one hundred games the year
(14:18):
before to get up to rev they engine to to
you know, and it's not because you're not motivated, it's
because you're just your your body has just been beaten.
And I think Tampa is still feeling it, right they
lost to four to five games this year.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
I don't know, but you just blew up my spot, Nick,
because I'm gonna tell you why you're wrong. Okay, actually
I'm not. Actually you make a pretty good point. I
was just kind of killing around.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
But you I wouldn't. I wouldn't if they won again
last year, I wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
I can't think of another team right now. You've got
could Chuck, Ryan, Hard Bennett amongst others really entering their prime.
You're talking about the next five years, uh Babrowsky. I
don't think he's gonna make it, you know, in five
years from now, but he could. You never know. But
(15:16):
you're talking. I get what you're saying, But right now,
you can't name another team right now that is as
powerful as the Florida Panthers are.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
No, not at all. No, I can't. You're right, and
the and you know the.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
East and Tampa it's and Tampa cheated with the LTR
and plus they won a Stanley Cup.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
What's that Panthers did that this year?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I know, But still the Tampa Bay Lightning in twenty twenty.
I don't even count twenty twenty as a Stanley Cup.
Even the NBA the twenty twenty you know finals, whatever, that.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Was a strange year. I would have I would have
counted the Devils one, I get it.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I would put an asterisk mark next to it for
dynasty I think for dynasty purposes, there's an asterisk there,
but it's a copycat league at the same time. Now,
let's pull back and talk about the New Jersey Devils,
(16:26):
the current team right now. Last season they did they
did beat the Panthers in the regular season, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
The best.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
It's just how does Tom Fitzgerald, what does he in
terms of like the grit, the tenacity there's the Devils
are just not at the Panthers level. They're getting better.
(17:02):
I'll say I liked how team tim O Meyer played
during the playoffs. I liked what he did in the
World Championships. But it's not like the Florida Panthers. They
find ways to win. They have that it factor.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I'm gonna sound crazy when I say this, Oh good.
I think that that was are one player away from
being as good as the Panthers. Like I think it's
a really good player. I think realistically they're too There
are two players away, but I don't think they're gonna
be able to get the second one. I think unless
(17:45):
they make trades with the current roster as it stands,
I think if you trade away Palot and turn him
into a top two winger like a like a first
line winger. So we're talking about Jason Robertson, we're talking
about Jordan Kyru, we're talking about I think there's a
(18:08):
non zero chance that Mark Stone becomes available if you
turn him into a guy like that, I think the
Devils can beat the Panthers in the playoffs. They've added
the pieces that were missing. They were missing speed. Connor
Brown is very fast and he plays decent defense. If
(18:33):
gannyddenof to Donoff, I think it's Dodanov. If Anny Dodanov
is very fast, speaks Russian. So you compare him with
our SENDI Gritzik, which was one of your concerns, and
grit Sick. I would call him fast, but he's agile,
can skid around guys. You have guys like how often
(18:56):
did the Panthers score in the breakout in the playoffs?
It was a ton, right, Like you know, I'm not
just for the number, but like you said, like Marshan
would break out the other way to Kachuk and even
Barkoff was was going on the break off breakout a lot.
Ryan Hart did it a ton, Bennett did it a ton.
(19:16):
You've built this team and the Devils to do that
to play that way. You have gritty guys in Cotter
and Nason Bratt played gritty last year at over eighty hits.
You you know it. Also, it also depends on who
comes back on defense. So Tom Fitzjaal came out today.
(19:39):
So the only guy that's gonna miss part of the
season is Covid Sevitch, which is unfortunate. I was surprised though.
I thought there was a chance that Dylan's gonna was
gonna miss time.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
That's what I thought, and apparently it's not.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Again, it's more of a believe it when I see
it kind of thing. But I have to believe what
Fitzgerald says, and he says Dylan's gonna be back. I
thought there was an outside chance that Luke Hughes missed time.
He had shoulder surgery. He missed time to start last
season with a shoulder injury. I thought they would slow
play it. But it sounds like he's gonna be ready
for training camp. And yeah, I think past she's fine.
(20:24):
I think Hamilton's fine. I think Secutar played at World
so he's obviously fine. He also, to you know, Covid
Savage missing the first part of the season. It definitely
makes it a little bit easier on Tom Fitzgerald if
they make no other defensive moves. Because Nemetz has the
spot right, He's gonna get to start the season and
you kinda get to, you know, when Covid Savage is
(20:46):
ready to go, And I think I think it's gonna
be a while. Same. I think it's like January, Like
people aren't talking about this. And this is just a prediction.
I don't have like a medical update or anything like that,
but just based on what I think it happened to him,
I think he's gone till January at the earliest. And
if everything's clicking, you can hold him out till March,
(21:07):
you know what I mean, Like bring him back in March,
and you'd.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Be your trade line depth without making it a trade.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Right, Yeah, you add a really good guy. And and
here's the thing, Sam, Like, do you not feel better
about the Cob Savage contract after seeing some of the
contracts that went out this season this offseason?
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah? Again, I think the Devils are in a good
place right now. I mean, they they have depth on defense.
Casey and Nemans are one year experience, you know, and
I think Nemuch now you know, I've been very critical
on the kid, but he did show some tenacity in
(21:48):
the playoffs, and he did score that big goal in
game game three, Game four, I forgot which one three?
Speaker 2 (21:58):
And yeah made a two one and then we all
had hope. Yeah got dashed in game four.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Yes, Scotty and I were sitting in the rich people's section,
so I don't really remember because I was.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
You were a cookie?
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, No, No, that was game four. Was that I
was a cookie?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
That's Oh, that's that's what I was talking about.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
But yeah, so you know again, it's you really think
if you're going against the Florida Panthers, you know they
got the grit, they've got the experience. You think that
(22:36):
extra speed is enough to get around these guys. Yes,
if your roll Yeah, because if you roll.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Four lines, I would agree, you can't like Hughes can't
get injured, Nicohesher can't get it. You can't lose one
of your guys. But I think if if you go
into the playoffs healthy, and I've said the same, I've
said this that twenty two twenty three team could have
beaten anybody, but they went through just like the type
(23:07):
of series that a young team has trouble just bouncing
back from where you beat your rivals in Game seven
and then two days later you have to play a
team on five days rest. I just think it was
a and there's like it's, you know, this format that
the league has put together sets itself up for that,
(23:30):
like that's gonna happen. Sometimes there's nothing that anybody can do.
It's just the situation. I hate. But that's why the
devils the form. It's terrible. I go through Go one
through eight, and I'm saying that it was like, I,
you know, root for a team in the terrible Metropolitan Division.
I think this division is awful, terrible, and it didn't
(23:51):
get that much better. And and here's what's interesting, Sam
So that the Carolina Hurricanes have tried on a lot
of players and I don't want to say they're striking out,
but you know they they they got Kendre Miller, paid
him all of the money in the world. Yeah, and
(24:14):
now they're going for Nicola. I'm gonna regret this probably,
but none of that scares me. I don't. I don't
think that makes them that much better. I think Ellers
is a good player. I'd be excited at the Devil
signed him. But again, like when I'm looking at it
(24:38):
and I said, the Devils are like that one big
player away. I don't know if Eller's is that guy.
Like I'm not like, oh, we got Ellers now, now
we can compete with the Panthers. I don't know if
that's true.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Remember when I think, remember when the Devil's got the fully,
I remember I remember talking to you about that. Yeah,
this is after that wonderful season that the Devil said,
the record breaking season. And You're like, if this is true,
because at the time it was like just speculation and
rumors like they're getting to fully. You're like, this changes
(25:12):
everything We're but it didn't. But not saying till fully
wasn't wasn't good. But unfortunately to fully let us in
goals that year. Yeah, so our goalies went to hell.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And I was stupid that off season and I even
wrote an article it said, we have the goalies were fine,
and I read a lot of things. I write fifty
articles about the guys, like I'm gonna write some things
that don't come true, but that them not having the
goalie was the difference between making the playoffs and being
I think they were ten points out or something.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
I stuck my guns. I stuck to my guns with
v Tech Vanachik a little. I held on to him
too long.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Who signed him? Somebody signed him? He got a he
got a contract. Oh, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
I know he's a champion, he's not.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
In Florida anymore. But somebody signed him. I can't remember.
Somebody signed kakan In. Yeah, him one point five million dollars.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I can't remember him either, but I saw I got
one point five million dollars, and I was floored. A
lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Devils have had success after leaving New Jersey.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
They have, But I think Tom Fitzgerald is a great
talent NHL talent evaluator. There's an issue with his development.
The prospects do not develop, and Utica is always a
tire fire always, which is problematic. And he trusts his
(26:52):
previous decisions too much. You know, the Lindi Rough decision,
the the goalie decision. Uh, last year, he trusted that
he fixed it with with Tatar, right, Oh, that's that's
the move. And every year this team has gone in
with a distinct flaw that has not been addressed and
(27:16):
it bites them. Last year there was two. Last year
it was top six scoring. They were missing a winger
and center depth. It was very clear that going into
the season with Eric Hall as your number three center
and Curtis are As your number four center and nothing
(27:38):
behind them, your backup plant was Dawson Merson. Dalson Mercy
doesn't want to play center, and he plays like he
doesn't want to play center. You didn't. You had no
center depth. So when Haula and Lazarre both got hurt,
that's how you get Justin Dowling playing forty games. Justin Delling,
who signed with the Rangers, by the way, yeah laughed a.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Little instead of Logan Cooley. You know, he could have
been playing the center. But we got Nemts.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Cooley and right But if either of us got our way,
Sam again, you always tellt that I thought they were
gonna draft Nemos and I can tout the player at
least because they have a lot of guys who are
our number crunchers, who really like them. I want to
right you wanted Cooley. I think we both could say
(28:28):
we were right, right, like we were correct in our assessment.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
This.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
How much better does this team with either of those
players right or Cooley right now? Is it not worlds better?
I think themos could be something. I don't want to
trade them for nothing, but this team is exponentially better
with Shane Rayder, Logan Cooley. And again, you know you're
you're looking at a team. I found it interesting somebody
(29:02):
pointed out that the Rangers had I think nine first
round picks from twenty sixteen to twenty nineteen over those
four or five drafts, and they traded all of them,
and most of them were bad, but you know they
got something good for like Conre Miller, but.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Well, Friandier is still not there.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
He was twenty twenty. Oh okay, so the year after,
but they traded Coco, they traded LEAs Anderson, they traded
uh Ryan Linger, and I think was on that list.
But you know, they had nine guys and they all
no longer played for the Rangers. You're looking at the
Devils with like the twenty twenty and twenty twenty one drafts,
(29:46):
and if they traded d Austin Mersa this last season, they
had five picks in the first round and Luke Hughes
is the only one still here. And it's because his
last name is Hughes. He's really good too. But you know,
the one guy who's still here from those two drafts,
Uh is the brother of your star player, and that's
not a great look. And that's if they trade Mercer.
(30:08):
I don't want them to trade Mercer. I think it's
a terrible idea if they trade Mercer. I think there's
no way you get equal value for Mercer right now.
But I have a gut feeling that they're gonna trade Mercer.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Well, if you're gonna trade Mercer or Nima, it's it's
gotta be something good coming back. And we're talking already
a perennial All Star.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
I don't think it's gonna be unless you get something
like like he goes in, like the Brian Russ Steel.
I think I'm just trying to think of, like, what's
(30:57):
Vancouver gonna do. They're going all in. They're going all in.
They're putting all their chips on the table for this season,
and then if it doesn't work, they're gonna trade Quinn Hughes.
But I would put the chances that they trade I
think the chance they trade Quen Hues this offseason is zero.
(31:17):
There's no chance I think it's off the table. The
chance they trade him by the next deadline is like
twenty percent, maybe fifteen. And then then you look at
like a if they don't make the playoffs next year,
it's like a ninety percent chance that he's traded next offseason.
If they make the playoffs and flame out, it's kind
of like a sixty percent chance if they're going to run.
(31:41):
That's when you're kind of in trouble. For you. The
devil was right, because now now you're looking at it
and they might have missed a chance, right, not mister chance,
I'm overstating it, but it might have missed a chance
to get him two years early. You know, if you
(32:03):
if you pounce on them and just called them and said,
Mercer and Emmitt's in a first round pick, and you
gave them the offer that like made it happen, and
then you get you know, you got Quinn Hughes for
two more years out of a very reasonable country. I
think he's making like seven and a half million, right,
you know I I I think what happened is I
(32:27):
I would put money on it that Fitzgerald called. So
what's the situation? Like, we're just waiting it out right now,
and either Fitzgerald gave them like an offer of like
you got to take Dylan back, or you gotta take Hamilton,
or you know, you got to solve one of my
(32:49):
problems in this deal, and he didn't give them the
grandfather offer off the off the jump. So and what
happened was Vancouver talked themselves into things. Elias Patterson started
to feel better about things, and now Vancouver, you know,
they put they brought back Brockbaster, which was I was floored.
I would have liked that contract, honestly, Like, I think
(33:11):
Brockbaster would have fit really well with the Devils. Oh,
I just didn't want to pay him nine, But playing
him seven, I think that's a I think it's a
decent contract. They signed a couple of other guys. They
gave Dotri Demko the big contract. You know, they spent
a lot of money. Uh. They traded for Evander Kane,
which is bizarre. They're going for it. I think it's
(33:35):
a bad idea. I think it's a mistake. I think
it's gonna hurt the value of Quinn Hughes. I think
they're gonna you know, but again, they got like pretty
insane value for j T. Miller. So Marcus Patterson is
a really good player.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
I think the Devils right now have all the leverage
right now because they don't need to make a deal
for Quinn. They really don't and they can work.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
But it would be nice.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, I mean they could.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Wait, but I think it's off the table.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
But I think the most important thing before you even
talk about Quinn Hughes is Luke Hughes. I think it's
time to sign him to a MAX deal right now,
eight years. While you still have that eight years, get
it done now and get it done on over with.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Two things worked in the Devil's favor. This new CBA
where this is the last off season of eight year contracts.
Right next year it turns into seven. So you have
that work in your favor. Where like this the last time,
you know, you could kind of put your chips on
the table and say we're signing the max. Next year
(34:50):
that max changes, we have to do the eight years. Also,
you have other big guys sending it your deals. You know,
Dobson signed for eight years, Kendra Miller signed for eight years.
There was one other guy who signed for eight years,
(35:12):
the Provooffs signed for eight.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
Seven, Gavkovs signed for seven.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
I know there's another guy, but it's just not coming
to me. But you have got Like everybody was like, oh,
ever's go sign for for four for five with a
cap going out, And I know that's what Bouchard did.
But Bouchard's in a different stratosphere than Hughes. Bouchard is,
you know, considered one of the best defenseman in the league,
especially on the offensive side, led his team to a
(35:47):
Stanley Cup final. Like Hughes doesn't have that leverage. I
think you just give them eight years, sixty eight million dollars.
That would be eight million dollars per year. I think
everybody walks away happy with that, you know, I think
(36:11):
you keep the band together. That would pretty much lock
in Quinn Hughes unless Vancouver went to the final. I
think that locked in Quinn Hughes because that's the only
place that Quinn and Jack could play together for six
years after Quinn gets the free agency. So I think
(36:39):
you're a I think that's the deal. I think so,
I think it worked in your favor. I was interested
in what Tom Fitzgerald said today where he said the
whole like I can't really make another move until the
Quin Hughes contract is done. I can't say those exact words,
but that was me reading between the lines, like he
can't make the theoretical Jason Robertson trade or Jordan Cairo
(37:04):
or the big, big, big money winger, because you don't
know if is Luke gonna make six million? Is he
gonna make ten million? Like worth in between. What I
don't love is when I hear that I think that
a bridge deal is even being discussed. I don't even
think it should even be in a discussion. Don't even
(37:25):
mention it. Eight years, that is your option. Tell me
what the number is.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
I agree, I agree, Pay him now or you're gonna
pay the price.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Later and listen, like pairing yourself with your brothers is
a marketing extravaganza. They're gonna make money hand over fist
right outside of New York. They were just at Fanatics Fest.
They go every single year, and I don't know if
(37:58):
they will go if they play in Buffalo, or if
they're play in Vancouver, or they're play in Seattle. We're
playing Detroit. Yeah, I don't think they'll they'll have the
same I'm gonna sound crazy because this is the Devil's
we're talking about. I don't think they have the same
(38:18):
thing star power in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
I just don't you mean a hockey town.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
I think they'll have star power in Detroit. But I
don't know if Jack and Luke Hues are on the
cover of the NHL video game if they play in Detroit,
they don't. I'm people are gonna come after me for
saying this, but I think New Jersey is a more
(38:49):
desirable market than Detroit right now because of its proximity
New York, of its proximity of Philadelphia. It's on the
East coast, It's it's right in the middle of it all.
I think people look at New Jersey differently now than
they do in the nineties in the early two thousands,
and you're seeing that with Alan. You know, I wanted
(39:10):
to mention this before you mentioned it, and we can.
We can end it on this. Alan saying that is important.
It is important that Alan came out and said I
wanted my family to grow to like live here. I've
loved New Jersey because if you don't, I don't know
if you remember the same. He wouldn't wave as no
trade close to come here. He didn't want to come
to New Jersey, and then Tom Fitzgerald was diligent, said
(39:33):
just come give it a shot. If you don't like
it'll trade you. I think you said that. I think
I remember that that kind of being the conversation. And
now he's been He's gonna be here for seven years
total likely and you know, Alan is gonna sit here
and he's gonna be he'll be a good backup for
Malik or mikel Igorov or who knows, Trenton Bennett. Maybe
(39:58):
you're still here when when that Behaemis is playing goalie
for the Devils. You know, So I think that matters.
The same thing. Connor Brown said the same thing. So
I looked at the situation and it was best for
my family, my child, my wife, and my dogs to
go to New Jersey. I don't know, Like, what else
(40:24):
do you say to that, Like, guys are coming to
New Jersey because they want to be in New Jersey.
They don't care about the taxes, they don't care about properties,
don't care about the cost. They just want to be
in New Jersey. They like it here. It's a nice
place to raise a family if you go to the
right place.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
And still be under the radar and keep your privacy right.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
You're not, you know, in New York City if you
don't want to be. And I was like, I truly
think that New Jersey people don't. There's a certain level
of celebrity, like Blatcher. I don't think we care like
we we like when we were growing up, Like the
Sopranos lived here and that was the biggest show in television.
(41:08):
I was like, Okay, there's there's Gandalfini getting a sandwich
from the deli. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:13):
And like some people think pictures what you lived in
Tom's River?
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Yeah, I grew up in Tom's River.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
You lived in my town.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
You thought I lived in your town.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
No, you lived in my Townuse Dennis is my Dallas
at the time.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Oh really, that's funny.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Yeah. And then well you could have had multiple houses. Yeah,
I mean Whitney Houston.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
You know, lived near us Springsteen. It was an Ashberry Park.
Speaker 1 (41:44):
Yeah, I mean they But again, like that, I don't
think we care.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
If I saw Jack Hughest in a while, I just
feel like, eh, you know what I mean, Like it's
just it's it's Celebrities have never been my thing. A
lot of My friends are the same way. Like we'll
be like, oh, hey, is that John Travolta. Yeah, that's cool,
and then we go back like we just don't care
about you. We don't care what you're dealing with your life.
(42:08):
We don't. I also think we don't want to bother you.
Speaker 1 (42:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
I wouldn't want to be bothered when I'm eating dinner
or I'm having a drink or getting a coffee, you
know what I mean. Like most New Jersey would just
be like, hey, great play the other night, or like
for an act and be like, oh I loved you
and Gotti Nobody's ever said that the Travolta in his life.
But you know, I loved you in Face Off, Bud,
and then that's it. You know, maybe it's a picture,
but that's it. It's not it's not that serious. But anyway, Yeah,
(42:34):
I think I think Jersey is it? The one thing
I will say Sam before we go. Dave Pagnoda Panota
of Fourth Period has directly tied New Jersey to Ellers.
So I've been told from the beginning that the devils
(42:56):
were gonna check in. I don't think Elers is gonna
come here, but I just wanted to mention that he's
been tied. I do think Pilot's gonna get traded. I
think Plot is getting traded. I think once Elers signs,
you're gonna see some teams call it on Plot. There's
a lot of teams with a lot of cap space
(43:16):
still and needs. You know, I'm looking at Columbus, I'm
looking at Anaheim, I'm looking at i gotta look at
the cap space situations. I've always looked at Detroit, but
I think they've made too many moves. Winnipeg would be
a team I think would make a lot of sense
(43:38):
for a plot. You know. So I think Pilot's moving,
I I said earlier, I think my guts his mercer's moving.
I think it's a bad idea. And then I I
don't think they're moving Dougie. I think there was a
time where it was a possibility because if you don't know, Dougie,
(44:03):
Hamilton's trade protection significantly decreased. He went from having a
full no trade, no move clause to now he has
the no move clause. But he could he can be
traded to all but ten teams. He only has a
ten team trade list, so and he he got paid.
(44:24):
I think about ten point five million dollars yesterday, So
he only has a one million dollar salary this year.
So there's a couple of reasons why Doggie could have
been traded. I don't think it's happening, though, just my
gut feeling. If it happens, I won't be floored. Just
with the COVID Savitch injury, I don't think it's happening.
Speaker 1 (44:48):
All right, Well, you made your great point. You made
your great point. You got any plugs before we go?
Speaker 2 (44:57):
Sam? Over the past four days, Pucks and pet Tricks
dot com has published twenty five articles. Wow, so I
couldn't plug one specific article. We've still got articles coming
out like we've we've we've we've referenced the Quinn situation,
(45:18):
We've referenced every significant free agent. You know, Cody. We
didn't even talk about Cody Glass signed today. That's the
other weakness, by the way I was talking about, I
think Cody Glasses right now, you're three C. I think
you need hit to move him to four C. And yeah,
but that's that's another place that I would like an upgrade.
I just don't know if they can do it. And
(45:39):
that's another thing I'll talk about I'll talk about the
center situation because I think it's still not where you
want it. I'm gonna write about There's a million things
we gonna write about, but there's a lot. It's a
lot of reaction everything under the sun. Every draft pick
except for there's one draft I didn't write about it.
I just ran out of time. But I have singular
articles on each draft pick I have. You know, I'm thinking,
(46:04):
I gotta look, I gotta fancut an article I gotta write.
But I think I'm gonna write the top remaining free agents.
I just want to see if Eller signs tonight, I'm
gonna write it. If he doesn't sign tonight, I think
I'll go to wait, we'll see. Well, maybe I'll write
it with Ellers, because if the Devils are tied to Ellers,
(46:25):
that's something you know you want to talk about. I
just I've been afraid to write the Ellers article because
afraid I'm gonna write it. In the middle of me
writing it, he's gonna sign, because I think he's gonna
sign any minute, but that could turn in any hour
at any day.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Hey, if he signs, if he's in New Jersey, Devils
at two am in the morning. Will you come on.
Speaker 2 (46:49):
No, I'll call in because I'll probably be up with
the baby.
Speaker 1 (46:53):
Okay, all right, I thought I asked, huh, all right,
I'm going on vacation in a couple of days. I'm
going to be cutting the cord. You're not gonna hear
from me for seven or eight days. Just letting everybody know.
(47:19):
I need a little meat time, you need to think
things over. I'll be in the cruise somewhere. Oh yeah,
it's not a cruise, not a poop cruise, just on
a cruise.
Speaker 2 (47:32):
But that's like the Poppy I don't know if that's
the popular Netflix show.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Oh I have no idea what you're talking.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
Okay, sorry, I don't really likes he doesn't get the reference.
Speaker 1 (47:41):
But I don't have a life outside of this podcast.
So uh, Nintendo, we uh we did talk about the
Dead and Off signing. How brilliant was So you're gonna
have to re listen to this podcast. He's asking, we just.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Touched on it. It's a great, great signing. It's another
amazing contract by Fitzgerald where he's it's a million dollars
in the cap right now, and it might be another
two million dollars in that cap next year. But you
deal with that. That's like teams are willing to do.
Like I think the Devils have like thirty million cap
space next year.
Speaker 1 (48:18):
Money puck. That's what it was, moneypuck.
Speaker 2 (48:21):
Yeah. But yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
Anyway, but if news breaks tomorrow, we'll be there, but
I'll be gone for a week, week and a half, relaxing,
not thinking about things, but I enjoy. Yeah, but you
can go to pucksopitchforks dot com if news breaks. I
can guarantee you that.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
Alrighty well, thank you to all those tuning in. I
see Ace was tuned in. It's Steve Engold, Ted Jay
Snows select the Boy Devils Heaven seventy seven. Obviously, Nui,
a lot of people tuning in on this fine off season.
(49:16):
All right, gonna get out of here until next time.
Let's go doubles
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