March 1, 2025 • 47 mins
SteelFlyers All Sports Network presents
Brought to you by steelflyers.com
The Hockey Writers Ink Eps. 188 "The Hockey Writers Ink welcomes Jim Jackson!!!"
Relax the keyboard is off, the press box is closed, and the mic is just getting warmed up as the Guardian of the Blue paint turned writer is about to enlighten us!
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses and the ink is not dry.
Welcome to the Hockey Writers Ink, join Lance Green and Ron "SteelFlyers" as we bring you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers!
This week's talking points:
1. INTRO & THANKS
2. Thoughts on 4 Nation
3. Jim's school
4. Alex's Lemonade
5. Flyers moving forward
Sign up for Jim's school:
https://www.jimjacksonbroadcasting.com/
Alex's Lemonade Stand:
https://www.alexslemonade.org/
BIG THANKS to our friends Lower Case Blues for the awesome tunes:
Web: lowercaseblues.net
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/lowercaseblues/
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Get all your Hockey Writers Ink information at
https://steelflyers.com/links/hockeywritersink/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs5gTIpBqPsoG-B_cPMLey0J68hxSouAN
https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-hockey-writers-ink
Also catch us at Sports Spyder - https://sportspyder.com/
Follow the show on X @HckyWritersInk
Your Host Lance Green on X @LanceGreen39
Co-Host SteelFlyers on X @SteelFlyers52
Please hit the "Like" and "Subscribe"
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-hockey-writers-ink--4748032/support.
Brought to you by steelflyers.com
The Hockey Writers Ink Eps. 188 "The Hockey Writers Ink welcomes Jim Jackson!!!"
Relax the keyboard is off, the press box is closed, and the mic is just getting warmed up as the Guardian of the Blue paint turned writer is about to enlighten us!
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses and the ink is not dry.
Welcome to the Hockey Writers Ink, join Lance Green and Ron "SteelFlyers" as we bring you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers!
This week's talking points:
1. INTRO & THANKS
2. Thoughts on 4 Nation
3. Jim's school
4. Alex's Lemonade
5. Flyers moving forward
Sign up for Jim's school:
https://www.jimjacksonbroadcasting.com/
Alex's Lemonade Stand:
https://www.alexslemonade.org/
BIG THANKS to our friends Lower Case Blues for the awesome tunes:
Web: lowercaseblues.net
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/lowercaseblues/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lower_case_blues?utm_medium=copy_link
Get all your Hockey Writers Ink information at
https://steelflyers.com/links/hockeywritersink/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs5gTIpBqPsoG-B_cPMLey0J68hxSouAN
https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-hockey-writers-ink
Also catch us at Sports Spyder - https://sportspyder.com/
Follow the show on X @HckyWritersInk
Your Host Lance Green on X @LanceGreen39
Co-Host SteelFlyers on X @SteelFlyers52
Please hit the "Like" and "Subscribe"
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-hockey-writers-ink--4748032/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to the Hockey Writers, Inc.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses
and the ink is not dry.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Relax, the keyboard is off and the press boxes closed
with the mic is just getting warmed up. Join your host,
Lance Green, the guardian of the blue paint turned writer,
and your co host Ron Steel Flyers as we bring
you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers. Ladies and gentlemen,
(00:42):
welcome to the next episode of a Hockey Writers, Inc.
With your host Ron Steeal Flyers. How you doing, everybody,
and let me tell you something, folks. We got a
very very special guest sitting in here with us today, folks.
That's right from NBC Sports Philadelphia, the voice of the
Philadelphia Flyers.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Mister Jim. How you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Jim doing great? Still? How are you?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Man, I'll tell you what I'm doing great. I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
I've got a lot of stuff to get into here
with a great front of the show, Jim, and man,
we really appreciate you hopping on here, sir.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
My pleasure always great to talk to flyers hockey with you.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Awesome, awesome man.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
We are going to get into some flyers hockey though,
that's for sure. By the way, if you like what
we do, please hit the like and subscribe. Man, we
really appreciate that. Also, we really appreciate lowercaseblues dot Net.
Hop on over to lowercaseblues dot Net. Thank them, guys
for the awesome intro music. Go check out that website.
They got some tour dates, they got some swag, and
(01:41):
some great videos. Go check out lowercase blues dot Net.
Thank you very much for jaking the boys and getting
us that great music.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
All right, Jim, here we go.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Now we're on a break. It's not quite the All
Star break. Well, I guess maybe you could call it
an all star break.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Maybe it's a place of it.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Okay, all right, so uh let's let's talk about that fro.
Since we are kind.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Of on the four nation break, let's call it that, right,
four nation break, that's what it is.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Okay. So what do you think about the game so far?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I mean overall the games that have been aired and
played so far? What are your thoughts on on on
the games played so far?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Oh, it's been great. I mean they it's best on best.
It's also teams thrown together. So you have some lack
of cohesion. But you see the skill, you see the desire.
There were those who were fearing that this would be
a glorified All Star game.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
They were wrong.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
No, no fears there, and uh and you got USA
Canada for the whole thing. So I think it's it's
it's been a well done Tournament's it's strange scheduling a
little bit. They won one and two games, skip two games,
then skip two days more for the championship game. But
the bottom line is everyone's looking forward to that championship game.
(03:03):
The first matchup between Canada and US was great. The
ratings show that people really care about this, so it's
been good.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Well, when it's the only hockey that you get to
watch for the next you know, ten days or whatever,
then yeah, I guess it's probably gonna be pretty highly rated.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Yeah, but the Stanley Cup finals are the only hockey
that's available, and this has been better than any Stanley
Cup Final game I think since twenty fourteen I read. So,
I mean it's it comes back to the patriotism, I
think a little bit. Yeah, a good country, US Canada
both in the finals now, so in Canada will watch,
Canadians will watch, no matter what, it's their sport. But
(03:44):
in the US, if the US had lost, let's say,
their first game, it probably would have dropped off some.
But they didn't lose, and they won, and then they
won again, and so you know, they lost to Sweden
in a game that they didn't really mean much and
they had several players out.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
So I think it's.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Been well received and obviously a great appetizer for the Olympics,
which will be more teams at different times of the day,
hopefully with not probably the same electricity in terms of
the crowd you saw in Canada and in Boston. But
but you know, Olympics of the Olympics. There's something special
(04:20):
about the Olympics just by themselves, right, And then they've
already made plans for the World Cup of Hockey after
that two years something like we now have an established
schedule of best on best and that's the way it
should be.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I agree, and I we hear it.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
The hockey writers think are all on board with the
the World Cup of Hockey. We think that's a great
idea if they open it up a little bit too,
not just the you know, the All Stars, do you
know what I mean? Like I understand well What I
(04:55):
mean by that is like you need to sprinkle in
a couple more or maybe I mean, I guess I'm
trying to say I'd like to see some of the
younger guys get in as well too, more of the
national Olympic type team instead of like this four nation
type thing.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, we're not gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, the only way you're getting in the NHL. Well,
I mean there are going to be some teams. I mean,
I'm sure if there's a team from Germany, I mean,
you're gonna have Leon Dry Settle, but you're also going
to have to fill that team out with players who
are not in the NHL. So you will have some
non NHL players in the Olympics. But you know, when
you're talking about USA and Canada, Finland, maybe one or
(05:37):
two Sweden, those are gonna be mostly NHL players because it.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Is okay, okay, no, no.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
I was just curious though, So what you thought of
how that would go down, or you know, whatever the case.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I mean, really, Ryan, it goes one way or the
other with this.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
You either get best on best and sacrifice that amateur
which seems to be a thing of the past now. Anyhow,
I mean, the NCAA is amateur anymore. So, I mean
the amateur the aura of it, the nineteen eighty team
and all that is kind of gone. So if you're
(06:13):
really holding out for that, you're just not going to
get the best on best, you know. I think this
Moore Nations is showing, you know, how people do react
to best on best, and it's been a good reaction.
So I think that's where we're headed.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Okay, okay, no, no.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I was just curious as to how the lay of
the land was kind of falling down, how it was
going to kind of play out, you know what I mean,
I don't really care. I just like watching the hockey.
I mean, as far as I'm concerned. I saw people
say that that was the best twenty minutes of hockey
that they've seen in a really long time. With that
(06:49):
United States Canada game, it was great.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I mean, the three fights got everybody's attention.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I personally think they were kind of staged which fights,
you know whatever. I'm all for fighting. You can just
listen to one of my calls to know that. But
I don't necessarily think the stage fights do that much
in this case.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I think it was interesting because it.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Was kind of all these years of not playing Best
on Best pent up for these two countries especially, and
they let it all hang out.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Now some people are attagging political.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Intonations on it because of what's going on and all that.
I think that's probably overthinking it a bit. I think
it was just some players, some guys, especially those Kachuk
boys who you know. They they had missed much of
their careers playing in Best on Best and finally getting
a chance to do it.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
And they had a lot of energy and they had
to use that energy up somehow, so they dropped the gloves.
But beyond the fighting, it was a good game. It
was aid game.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I mean, I'm watching these games, I'm not seeing what
I saw. The best hockey I think I've ever seen
in my life was the the Canada Cup with Lemieu
Gretzky on the same line. It's gonna be hard to
ever top that because the game then was really wide open.
This was prior to the trap.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Coming in and all that.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
The eighties high scoring hockey and some of the best
players in the history of the game on the same team.
That's to me the benchmark. I don't think this quite
got to that stage. But I do think it was
quality hockey, great names out there, great players, and the
intensity I think is what people really saw the most.
(08:34):
And so it was pretty darn good. And obviously the
ratings speak for themselves. People watched, and if people watch,
you're gonna get more of it.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
That that is a that's a definite.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's to try true TV philosophy there, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
If you get the ratings, yeah, you're gonna see more
of that. So for sure, for sure. All right, well,
I'll tell you what I really like.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
The four names, really have enjoyed what they've put out
there and really feel that if that's how it's headed,
I got no problems with that at all. I don't
mind seeing best on best. I think that gives you
that opportunity. I mean, I know you're going to lose
that what you talked about, that amateur kind of feel
(09:23):
where you might get some of the you know, younger
college players or you know, the national team, whatever you
want to call it. But look, that's what the Olympics
are for for the most part. Now that the NHL
is going to be involved in the Olympics, like you said,
some of the other countries are going to have some
(09:43):
of those other players that are you know, there's not
a lot of German players, there's not a lot of
you know, Japanese players, or Italian players or you know,
other countries that are going to feel the team.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So okay.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Another question really is going to be Russia, and you know,
it doesn't look like they're going to be part of it.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Maybe they're part of it.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Under a new name, right, but that would be nice
from a hockey standpoint.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I don't want to get into the politics of it.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Right from a hockey standpoint, it would be great siovch
can get into one more Olympics and some of the
great young Russian players, maybe even a Mitchikov to participate
in that. So that's the question that's out there. Doesn't
seem like they're leaning toward having them, but a lot
can change in a full year, so we'll see exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
And that's kind of what I think might potentially be
part of what's going on here. I mean, look, there's
so much stuff going on, but I agree, I think
it would be nice to at least find a way
to get some of those other players involved in this
tournament somehow, someway, So.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
I just wanted to get your take on what you
thought about the whole four nation tournament, and I'll tell
you what I think. We both agree that it's all
pretty good, right, Yeah, pretty good.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Looking forward to that championship game.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
You got it for sure. So something near and dear
to your heart there, mister Jim Jackson. Is the broadcasting.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
School that you do.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
And I know you've been really busy here with especially
with the break going on here and everything like that.
And tell us a little bit about what's going on
with your school and kind of what you're doing with it.
I know you had a bunch of group sessions over
the summer and.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Things of that nature.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So and I know you have some great success stories.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yeah, it's been great. You know.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
I started during the COVID outbreak in twenty twenty, got
some extra time when.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
The Phillies parted aways with me.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
So I just started thinking I'd get a couple here,
couple there.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
But I'm over one hundred now, well over one hundred, and.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
It's just been great. It's very rewarding. It's three one
on one sessions. The one on one part of it
is one on one zoom sessions includes talking about broadcast fundamentals,
finding your niche in the business, preparation, all kinds of
different things. And then and I tailor make each session
to that person. It's not just for play by play,
(12:17):
it's for sideline reporters, anchors, talk show hosts, podcasters, you
name it, anything to do with broadcasting in sports, I'm
certainly willing to work with a person, and so I
tailor make it to what what their their dream or
what their their focus is and their position, and then
afterwards I'm available as a mentor for as long as
(12:38):
they want. That's been the real rewarding part of it.
Staying in touch with a lot of these kids, helping
them if they, you know, are making job pitches and
so forth, always willing to help them in that regard.
And seen a lot of kids and guys and gals
move up.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Which has been great.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
We've got about seven EHL play by play guys right
now and four HL guys and one's gone up to
the NHL.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
And I've got to know the guys in CBS Sports
and it's it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
And then in the summer, when I have more time,
I'll usually open it up to group zooms being called camps,
but it's still via zoom and right.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
It's a little less expensive, but it's obviously not one
on one anymore. It's one two. I usually limited around.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Twenty and you know, we I go over much the
same stuff, but it's all one day and then they
give them I give them reduced rates on one on
ones after that. Anybody who does my program also, if
I feel it will help them and if it's feasible
given where they live and.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
So forth, can shadow me for a Flyers game.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
And so there's there's all kinds of little side things too,
but the gist of it is the three sessions one
on one, and we go over a lot of great stuff,
and it's conversational. It's not me just sitting here talking.
It's it's it's back and forth, and it's.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Been just great.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
I sent out an email just before the holidays to
everybody that I had talked to or had as a student,
unless it was somebody I just talked to, but I
sent the email out and say, hey, let me know
what you're doing, because there are some that have kind
of disappeared on me. And it was great to hear
from everybody and see what everybody's doing so it's.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Been very warring.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
I plan on continuing to do it, maybe even into retirement,
and we'll see where it goes. But at this point
it's been a lot of fun. Joe Jackson Broadcasting dot
com that's where you would go to look for the information.
He beat me to it, so yeah, and there's very
very basic description of the program there. If you have
(14:48):
more questions, there's an email address on the website. You
can certainly send.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Me an email. I'd be glad to answer any questions.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And by the way, the link to the school will
be in the description here of the show, so feel
free to hop on over to that link there and
get signed up, because I got to tell you coming
from somebody who did sign up for Jim's one on
one courses and was thrilled and honored to be able
(15:15):
to learn next to one of the greats out there.
As far as I'm concerned, he's exactly right. He is
the person that you see as the person that he is,
and he tells it to you straight and gives you
the answers that you need in order to be successful.
And I have followed a lot of your advice Jim
(15:36):
and it's been very fruitful, So thank you very much
for what you're doing with the school Man, I really
appreciate that as a former fellow student.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, one of my early students, but yeah, I certainly
appreciate that. It's great to see what you've done with
your podcast and all the different things you have going on.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
So, yeah, it's been fun exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
And we get to I mean, I've admired your broadcasting
style from since the very first time I ever started
following the Flyers Hockey and you were the voice along
with the uh uh dorny.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Th An Offer and Steve Coates.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
And and I always remember you guys had such great
chemistry and such great bantern and it was always just
fun to listen to you guys do the games.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
And even now.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
When you're with your partner now Bouche Bousch, has been great.
I really enjoyed listening to you guys going back and
forth with each other. It's great listening to you guys
call the games. So I really appreciate your your work
and that as well too. And I know there's something
else too that's very near and dear to your heart too, Jim,
and I and I would like to talk about this
as well, because I think this is a very important
(16:53):
uh near and dear to your heart, and that's Alex's lemonade,
Stan and and what you have been able to accomp
with them as part of their advisory board and things
of that nature, and what you've been able to do
with the you know, the groups of people that you've
had to the games, and how the Flyers have just
(17:13):
embraced that.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I mean, this was.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
A a great story about a young girl that didn't
just save money for her own chemo treatment, she saved
money for everybody else's. And how much money now has
the foundation raised?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Well, last Jay it was over three hundred million.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
I think it's closing in on three hundred and fifty million,
So it's it's just been tremendous. Liz Scott, Alex's mom,
and Jay, their dad, they just took this and ran
with it.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I met, I met.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Alex actually invited the family to a Flyers game when
she was undergoing some of her treatments. And then you know,
I what, my started doing baseball and I was busy
three or sixty five days a year, and fourteen years
go by, and unfortunately, of course Alex passed, but it
was I checked back in with the foundation and it's
(18:12):
like wow. At that point, it was like two hundred million,
and it's like this has taken off. And I was
looking for something to get involved with late in my career.
I want to give back, I want to be involved
that way, and this was the perfect way. And then
they were kind enough after about a year to invite
me to join the Advisory Council.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So very honored.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
To beyond that, we created what we call our Flyers
Press Pass that you alluded to.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
We have a once a month.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
It's gonna be a little more than once a month
there down the stretch because we had a family unfortunately
who had the patient had to go back into the hospital,
so we missed one this year, so we're making that
back up. But basically, once a month, we have a
family that has been affected by pediatric cancer in some
way the past or present, and we basically invite them
(19:04):
to the game. And the Flyers have been so good
with this. They basically make it a great night for
the family. They get the kids to ride the zamboni
before the game. Right gritty, they're giving great seats to
the game. They come up and visit us in the booth.
They can listen to the broadcast and listen to the
producer and everything as we call the game. They get
to check out Arenavision thirty six so on South broad
(19:25):
there that runs the scoreboard and a tour of the
building and it's just great.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
And that was really where it started.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
I wanted to in some way help that way, and
so we started with that, and then they invite invited
me to be on the advisory council. And they have
so many events that they have the chefs that day
where they have all this great food they bring in
down in the Navy yard.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
It's unbelievable. They have a lemon ball.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
There's a documentary coming out on The Whole Story back.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Premiere.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I'm unfortunately going to be on the road for that.
I wanted to see it. The premiere's coming up, so
you can look for that. I'm sure it will be
available on social media. The Whole Story, Alex's Story, and
I know I've seen a lot of coverage of it.
Stories on it not a full documentary, and almost everyone
(20:16):
brings tears, so I'm expecting to have have to have
the tissue ready for watching that. But it is sad,
obviously because Alex is gone, but it's also so inspiring
because of you talk about a legacy.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
We all want to have a decent legacy. Here's a girl.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Who, at four years old, was already smart enough to
realize that there were a lot of other people going
through what she was going through, and so she wanted
to start a lemonade stand to raise money for them.
And she said, I want to raise at least a
million dollars before I passed away once she was giving
her a bad diagnosis, and she made it, and they've
(20:56):
gone three hundred thousandfolds since.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
So uh, it's just, uh, it's just a great effort
hoping that.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
With all the changes that have been happening here over
the last month or two, research has been a little
bit tougher now to get funded and so forth, the
hoping that we can continue to make strides toward getting
rid of childhood cancer, all cancer for that matter. But
also the money goes towards supporting these families too, So
it's kind of twofold in terms.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Of where that money goes, and it's always in the
right direction. So just just a great effort. Very proud
to be part of.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
It, and and and it's it's it's a it's a great,
great organization. The link for Alex's lemonade stand will be
also in the description as well too, so please hop
on over to that link as well too, and and
uh and check that out and and feel free to
donate or whatever you know your heart feels that you
need to do. By all means, really you would appreciate
(21:56):
that every dollar, you know, every dollar helps exactly, you know.
But all right, so now let's let's talk about some Flyers.
What do you think finally sounds good? Okay, So now
the Flyers are on a break. We've had a couple
of injuries, We've had some time to rest, We've had
(22:17):
some you know, other things happen. We've had the trades
that Danny Brier did. We finally got to see one
of the trade players play in a game before the break.
I'm I'm expecting the other player to be available this
coming Saturday.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I would hope, but I mean, with what's going on
with the up, I don't know, but yeah, I would.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I would hope that that Peltier is going to be ready.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Okay, So I know we've had some additions and we've
also had some subtractions. But the one thing that I
think I want to really just kind of zero in
on on a couple of things. Actually, the first thing
is is this a goalie solution? I mean, do we
finally have two goalies now with sam Arrison and Pudotov.
(23:06):
I mean, it looks like that's going to be the
two horses are gonna ride at least.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Until the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Now.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
When they sent Alexi down.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
Yeah, they called him back up. He went down to
play some games and then came back up.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I don't know where that's going to go.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
We'll find that in terms of when they resume play
will be coming soon.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Sam Arrison's the number one always was.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
It's just a matter can he stay healthy, and he
certainly was leading up to the Four Nations break, played
very well for Sweden and beating Team USA, so I
think that'll boost his confidence. I've always felt he's a
number one as long as he can show he can
hold up getting a lot of starts over a long
(23:51):
period of time. We haven't quite seen that yet this year.
He has had three separate injuries, so we'll see down
the stretcher. Sure they're going to lean on him, but
is done enough I think to say show that he
can be a backup. He has gone a long time
between victories, but his play ever since the first three games,
which were really subpar, since then he's been relatively good.
(24:16):
And and you know, really with Kolosoft, we don't know.
This is a twenty three year old goalie. That's a
baby for a goalie. So he's got plenty of athletic ability,
He's got potential for sure.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I think with both Fordotov and Kolosoff, we're really jumping at.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Not what's the word I'm looking for, jumping to characterize
what they are real quickly, yes, because they've got a
lot going on coming over from Russia, especially Kolosov, and
neither of them, you know, Votav can speak the language,
which certainly helps, but it's still neither of them have
experience in this league and it's a totally different game.
(24:59):
For there's so much more traffic, the rink size, all
these things, so they're going through huge adjustments. So I
think we need to sit back a little bit before
we say, oh, he's not an NHL goalie.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
He's never gonna be an NHL goalie. I mean, you
just don't know yet.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
I know he's not young, he's in his late twenties,
but he's still inexperienced in this league. So got to
give him a little time to adjust and call us
off for sure, because he's obviously a young on top
of being inexperienced in these leagues. So I really think
what's best for him is AHL play right now. I'm
(25:38):
not sure he agrees with that, but I think more
games the better for him at this stage of his career.
So for him to sit up here is a third
goalie to me doesn't really make a lot of sense.
But you know, if he won't agree to be sent down,
I don't know if that's the case or not, then
the hands kind of forced a little bit.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
So we'll see where that goes.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Okay, we.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Both felt that that was a good idea, that to
have him down there to play some of those games,
because that's kind of where we think too, because of
his age. Fidotov has shown that he's been able to
play in a professional league allah you know, not the NHL,
but has been successful playing in a professional league all
(26:24):
of the you know, KGL and has also been able
to do well and play well there, but it's like
you said, the ice is smaller and the speed of
the game is faster, especially for goalies have much less
time for reaction, you know what I mean, And in
order to get used to that, that's gonna take some time.
So the old goalie Lance and I are both on
(26:47):
that same page, Jim, where we both feel that the
goaltender situation needs to let itself play out, and you
need to let these guys take the opportunity to just
play and and get and learn because there's still, like
you said, they got a lot going on. They're learning
the language, they're learning new ice, they're learning the speed.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Blah blah blah blah.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I mean, it's it's a whole different bogging, all right.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
It is it is.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
And well, you know that's basically where they're at. Arson's
going to get most of the games. I means, Fadotov
will get some games. Are you going to get call
us off enough games on top of that? Not from
my liking, but you know that's I'm not I don't
make those decisions. I think that you know, at this point,
minor leagues would be great for him, But if the
(27:33):
player doesn't agree or is his agent or family or
whatever they don't agree, then you know you have to
basically figure out some kind of solution. The solution to
this point has been to keep him as a third goalie,
and for a while he was the second goalie, but
you know, at that point that wasn't a problem. He
was still going to play some but seems as though
(27:54):
he slipped back into the third position now, So I
think I think that situation.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Has to be a dress. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Yeah, yeah, okay, I agree. Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
The next situation that I would like to look at
is the power play. Now, this is something that we
have talked about on many different shows that we've done together.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
And.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
We've gotten an injection of meach Cough into the lineup,
but other than that, it's it's still just doesn't seem
like it's I mean, I am I looking at the
wrong thing here, Jim.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
The numbers pretty much tell the story. I mean, they've
been at the bottom of the league, the.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Bottom three straight years and this year they're not quite there.
So you could say there is slight improvement, but they okay, yeah,
they're pretty close, and it really isn't It was a
pretty good start that I think has kept them from
being right at the bottom.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Hey, I'm disappointed.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
I thought Jamie Drysdale, mat Ja Mitchkoff would inject some
life into the power Play. Certainly Meetchkoff has shown he
has power play skills. They have other players too, This
whole theory that they don't have enough high end players.
I mean, Owen Tip It is a high end player.
Travis Connect, He's a high end player. They have others.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
It's just it just hasn't come together, you know.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Is it the system they're using, Is it how they're
putting the players out there.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
I'm not an expert enough to know, but you know
the old saying about insanity. I mean, this would be
the fourth straight year right near the bottom, so something
would have to change. The personnel has changed, I mean
when this streak started, Klode Jeru is running the power Play.
I mean, you know, he was one of the top
power Play players in his generation, in his era.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
So I don't know how much of it's personnel.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
I don't know what it is, but it just hasn't
come together for them. Last year they said part of
the problem was they're just moving too many players around.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
They didn't set on certain guys.
Speaker 4 (30:03):
So this year they went in and early in the
year they stuck with a certain group for quite a
while and it started well but then tailed, and then
eventually they started making changes again you have to and
it just has not come together. It's a it's a
point of frustration for everybody. So I don't have any answers.
If I did, i'd be getting paid more than i'd
be on the ice. I think, Yeah, I just don't know.
(30:28):
I don't know what what is wrong. I mean, sometimes
it's it's entries. Other times it's the net front isn't right.
Other times they're just not shooting enough. Other times they're
shooting too much into blocks. It's never the same thing.
It doesn't seem like but it just hasn't been good
since very early in the season.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Okay, so that's when we're adding to Danny Brier's laundry
list of things that he needs to take care of
in the offseason.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
And well, but I don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
I mean, they added a phenomenally talented player in meatch Gooff.
Drysdale's supposed to be a guy who runs power plays.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
From the point, they.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Already had some players tks certainly capable as a power
play performer and others.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
I mean, is it a player that needs to be
at it? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
I mean they've had a lot of different players still
over the last four years on the power play.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
And it hasn't worked with any of them. So I
don't know. I mean, I I just don't know at
this point.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
It's a it's a mystery, just has not come together.
It's impossible to be a playoff team with a power
play that's at the bottom unless you're a team that's
not allowing any goals, like has great goaltending right, one
of the top defense. Yeah, so I mean you got
(31:54):
to get more contributions from your power play for sure.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Okay, So I we have been.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
This has been a point of contention for like you said,
I mean, we're on four years in a row now,
you know, with this and something's got to give you.
We've had players from Daru to Katuri h and now
mitchkov to t k to Owen tip It to Tyson Forrester.
I mean, it seems to me like you need to
(32:26):
change the system and the philosophy rather than the players.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's changed too. The first
year of the four was not this coaching staff. It
was a totally different coaching staff. So there is no
constant through the course of these four years. There's no
constant coach, there's no constant assistant coach has been running
the power play, there's no constant players. I mean, TK
(32:52):
has been there the whole time, but I don't think
it's looking at him as the problem.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
So uh, it's just, uh, it's it's.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Been mystifying and frustrating, but you know, you hope that
something's going to turn it around at some point.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
Okay, because like you said, you're not going to be
able to be any type of contention if you don't
have at least a mid pack or better power We said.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
That at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
One of my reasons for saying this team could compete
for a playoff spot was I expected the power.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Play to be improved.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I didn't expect it to be at the top of
the league, but maybe in the middle of the pack
or as high as like twentieth. Even that much of
an improvement would be a lot more goals for the cause.
And also, as John Torrella points out, a lot it's
not even that they aren't scoring, it's that the momentum
of the game changes in the other direction quite a
(33:47):
few times with the power play. They'll be playing pretty
well five on five, get a power play and then
can't get set up, can't get in the offensive zone.
They lose their mojo there, and the other team actually
gets a boost the momentum.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
So that's when a power plays hurt more than helping.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
And that's probably where the Flyers are at for the
most part right now.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
But you know, they only keep plugging away at it,
that's for sure. Meetchkop. It'd be interesting.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
Maybe I've heard others former players who know a lot
more about this than I do, talk about having it
run through him along the hashmark or even maybe from
behind the net, although those kind of power plays are
pretty difficult to run. But right you know, if it's
not working the way it is, maybe you try something
like that.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
But again, that's way above my pay grade.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
I don't really know what needs to be done, but
clearly the numbers would indicate something.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Okay, all right, so here we are.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Now we're at what game number fifty two played? There's
thirty games approximately left on the schedule. What do you
think moving forward with the with the Flyers, we've got
the trade deadline coming up here real soon. We've already
seen Andy Brier makes some moves already with clearing you know,
(35:04):
seven point one million off of the off of the cap,
with moving Frost and and uh and others. You know,
do you think there's gonna be some more moves or
I mean, what do you think here with with moving
forward with the Flyers moving forward?
Speaker 4 (35:22):
Well, I think there's gonna be moves if they find
the right match. I don't think they're going to trade
rasmusmist the line in or Scott Watton without getting a
very favorable return. Now, the question would be, what is
that favorable return going to be draft picks, more draft
capital they have a ton of it, or are they
looking to maybe acquire a young player or a prospect
(35:46):
that's already been drafted.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
We'll see. Uh, it's hard to.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
Imagine them adding much more to next year's draft. They
have what seven players in the top two rounds.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
It's it's a.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Yeah, a lot of players. So I mean, you know
there's there's a cap to that. I suppose maybe they're
trading some of those to get a young player who knows,
but I you know, Danny Breer is is not the
kind of guy who's just sitting idly by. He's he's
checking all these things out and we'll see.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
Where it goes.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
There are some intriguing names out there that are younger players,
Dylan Cousins, Trevor Ziegers and others that maybe would still
fit into the rebuild here. So we'll see where that goes,
but it would be conjecture at this point. As for
on ice, they they've got you know, they're gonna get
on and tip it back. That's gonna help. They're gonna
(36:36):
get Peltier in, uh see what cuz Meco can do,
and and then go forward. It looks like Sam Rison
is gonna be you know, ready to roll, which is good.
And if they get decent goaltending, this team can be
pretty good.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Now what does that do.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
It lowers their draft spot probably and lowers it in
a bad way for those of you who wanted to
pick you know, one, two, three or whatever. Five or
six game winning streak get you right back into playoff
contention in the East.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Because that's the way it is. But you know, it's
it's really right now. They have so many teams to
jump over.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
It looks pretty dire as far as the playoff spot,
but all year long it's looked dire than you had
three or four or five wins in are on and
it looks good and then it's right that kind of year. Yeah, Well,
the East is so tight, so it's spread out a
little bit here of late, but it's still pretty tight,
and I think that the playoff spot will be tough.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
But they come out of this break and win three
or four in a row, they're right back in it.
So it's just that's the way it is in the East, Okay.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I mean I've been kind of just zeroing in on
like ninety points being kind of the benchmark of trying
to make it into the playoffs for the East, and
any semblance of close to that is what I think
the players are going to have to do to try
to break into the you know, the second season.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
You know would take that.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
I think it might take more than that, given the
way Detroit's played lately.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Ottawa went on a run.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
All these teams, even MONTREALO, they sagged back, but they
went on a run. The Islanders went on a run.
So I mean Tampa was in the mix for a while.
I think they're above that. I think they're in, but
the Boston's gonna have to scramble Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
You know. The thing that's changed the dynamic here is
Washington is in.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Yeah, sure, right, yeah, and they were supposed to go
on the teams the Fires could maybe hop over to
get in. That's not happening. And you mentioned the Rangers,
who were expected to be up near where Washington is
and they're down, so they've kind of flip flopped. I
think the Rangers are one of those teams that could
go on a seven or eight game winning streak in
a flash and be right back in a good way.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
I think the Devils might be in that.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
They maybe theranded by a lot.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
Of people contender status without earning it, in my opinion.
I mean, two years ago they were contenders. I get you,
but you know, their goaltending was better this year Mark
Strom and they were still starting to struggle, and then
he got hurt and now.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
It's yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
But yeah, I mean, I think the Devils are are
a playoff team this year. But I can't say that
one for sure anymore, but I think they are. You know,
Carolina seems pretty well set. But then after that there's
a lot of teams battling for those those two wildcards.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
So you see, see where it goes.
Speaker 4 (39:36):
But you know, I never want to completely give up
on that until it looks completely out of it.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
It's getting close.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
But yeah, again, if you get a four or five
game winning streak right out of the break, you're right
back here.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
So we'll see, And that would be that would be
actually kind of nice because they've been on a kind
of a bad bender leading up to the break, you
know what I mean, where they where they strung a
bunch of losses together, you know, to kind of get
to where they are now, you know what I mean.
And so it would be nice to see them come
out of the break and put string couple of wins together,
(40:10):
just you know, just for just for why not just
to put some wins together, you know, make the team.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
If you're building a culture, you don't want to build
a culture around it consistently losing.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Right atmosphere, it's tough to do that.
Speaker 4 (40:25):
You need to experience meaningful games, and the Flyers are
gonna have to win some games right out of the
break to make these games late in the season meaningful exactly,
and if they don't, I think you're looking more at
trading out and accumulating more assets, because again, the long
term look is the rebuild, and it's always Danny, Jonesy,
(40:48):
Dan Hilverty.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
They've all talked about it.
Speaker 4 (40:49):
It's it's about being consistently excellent down the road, not
about sneaking into the playoffs now and you know, being
out next year and all that. So given that mindset
and where they are now, you would think that the
moves that would be made would be for the long
term future. But they've also always said, both Danny and
Jonesy that the players tell us what to do by
(41:11):
how they play.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
So if they do go on a winning streak, that
would be the.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Players saying, hey, we got a chance, and I think
they'd react accordingly.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
Last year they had a chance. They were in the
playoffs for a long over one hundred days straight, one.
Speaker 4 (41:27):
Hundred and forty two days, I believe in. So I
mean they even with that traded Sean Walker. So again
they're still keeping their eye on the long term no
matter what. But they also brought in Eric Johnson and
tried to at least supplement the teams to help.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Them down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (41:44):
They got hit with a rash of injuries on defense
and Sam kind.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Of tired out, so it didn't didn't work out for them.
Speaker 4 (41:51):
But the bottom line is they if this team was
in it with some kind of winning streak, and I
mean in it solidly, not five, it's back with six
teams to jump over. I'm talking in it by being
a point back or in a playoff position, and the
trade deadline hit, then maybe they would that would change.
The trade deadline is gonna hit before they have a
(42:12):
chance to get that close.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
I think not that many.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Games when you look at the schedule into the trade deadline,
so it's it's quite likely that this team will be
looking like they're on the outside looking in at the
trade deadline, and that has to at least impact the
way they.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
Think a little bit.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Okay, okay, all right, I mean I just I wanted
to get your take on some of those key points there,
you know, and I mean, you know this is the
guy that is the voice.
Speaker 3 (42:40):
What are they like? Five?
Speaker 4 (42:41):
I haven't counted the amount of games there are before
the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
It's five or six.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I think something like that.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
I think the trade deadline is like way at the
beginning of March, right, it's like March third or something.
Speaker 4 (42:55):
I think it's a little bit later than that, but
not much. Okay, I should I should have of the
date right on the tip of my tongue. But the
bottom line.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
Is it's it's not very long from now.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
There's only a couple of games left in February.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
So that's what I mean. It's not very long from now,
you know what I mean. So, okay, Jim, I think
we're gonna do something that we have never done.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
That's scary.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
We're gonna have a show less than an hour.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
Wow, look at that. Well, I do have a movie
to go see, so that's a good thing, you know.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
Me.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
I watch all the Oscar movies before the Oscars.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
Okay, so what what what are you gonna go see tonight?
Speaker 3 (43:38):
Well, we haven't.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
I haven't seen nickel Boy yet, so that that's one.
And I also have to see The Brutalist yet. So
there's a couple left, but I've seen most of them.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
Now, Okay, all right, I'm not quite up to I'm
not up quite up to speed on all the movies
just yet.
Speaker 4 (43:56):
Strange ones, I'm sure there are, but all right, check
out the substance. Tell me what you think about that movie? Okay,
all right, to me more, to me more, yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
Okay, okay, all right. Like I said, I'm not up
on all the latest movies.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
You know, let's get your reaction to that movie. Actually
on which one the substance?
Speaker 2 (44:18):
The substance?
Speaker 3 (44:19):
All right, check it out, check it out.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
I'll check it out and i'll let you know. Will
that work.
Speaker 5 (44:25):
Yeah, I'd love to your reaction to that movie. It's
it's interesting, okay, and this is the one with any
more in it? Right, yes, all right, okay, I'll check
it out and let you know.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
All right, I look forward to that review.
Speaker 2 (44:40):
I'm scared now, just to let you know. By the way,
oh man.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
Well, Jim, I'll tell you what, it's been another huge
honor and privilege and pleasure to sit here and just
jaw with you and talk cocky and talk things that
are near and dear to your like you're broadcasting school.
And of course Alex's Lemonade stand. All those lengths will
be in the description down here below, and be sure
to check both of those out. So, Jim, thank you
(45:11):
very much man for hopping on here with me. And
really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (45:14):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
You got it.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
We remember the substance, the substance.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
All right, I got it written down.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
I'm gonna write I got it written down.
Speaker 1 (45:26):
Because because Jim taught me, you always be over one
hundred percent prepared, because you never know what you're gonna
need when you get into a situation.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
You might only use ten percent of.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
It, that's right, right, but I don't know which.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
But you better have at least one hundred and ten
percent of material because you never know in that five
overtime game is gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
And part of your ten percent that you are going
to use is going to see the substance.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
Okay, all right, all right, I got you, I got you,
I heard it, I get the message.
Speaker 2 (46:00):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (46:03):
Oh man, Thank you too, mister Jim Jackson for hopping
on to the Hockey Writers Inc. Really appreciate you joining
the show. If you like what we do, please hit
the like and subscribe. Also, be sure to check out
lowercaseblues dot net. That's lowercaseblues dot net. Then guys were
gracious enough to give us the wonderful opening intro music.
Speaker 2 (46:23):
Go check them out.
Speaker 1 (46:23):
They got tour dates, they got swagged, they got videos
out there. Check them guys out, really awesome stuff. Also,
be looking forward to a special announcement coming up for
the NHL Draft where the Steel Flyers All Sports Network
just might be so be sure to be looking for
that information coming out here real soon. Be looking for
all the links there for Jim Jackson's school and also
(46:45):
for Alex's lemonade stand. Thank you all for joining us
on this special edition of The Hockey Writers, Inc. As
we welcome Jim Jackson, the voice of the Philadelphia Flyers.
I'm your host, Ron Steel Flyers, and we will catch
you all next episode of The Hockey Writers, Inc.
Welcome to the Hockey Writers, Inc.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The show where the writer is fresh off the presses
and the ink is not dry.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Relax, the keyboard is off and the press boxes closed
with the mic is just getting warmed up. Join your host,
Lance Green, the guardian of the blue paint turned writer,
and your co host Ron Steel Flyers as we bring
you all the latest on the Philadelphia Flyers. Ladies and gentlemen,
(00:42):
welcome to the next episode of a Hockey Writers, Inc.
With your host Ron Steeal Flyers. How you doing, everybody,
and let me tell you something, folks. We got a
very very special guest sitting in here with us today, folks.
That's right from NBC Sports Philadelphia, the voice of the
Philadelphia Flyers.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Mister Jim. How you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Jim doing great? Still? How are you?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Man, I'll tell you what I'm doing great. I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
I've got a lot of stuff to get into here
with a great front of the show, Jim, and man,
we really appreciate you hopping on here, sir.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
My pleasure always great to talk to flyers hockey with you.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Awesome, awesome man.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
We are going to get into some flyers hockey though,
that's for sure. By the way, if you like what
we do, please hit the like and subscribe. Man, we
really appreciate that. Also, we really appreciate lowercaseblues dot Net.
Hop on over to lowercaseblues dot Net. Thank them, guys
for the awesome intro music. Go check out that website.
They got some tour dates, they got some swag, and
(01:41):
some great videos. Go check out lowercase blues dot Net.
Thank you very much for jaking the boys and getting
us that great music.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
All right, Jim, here we go.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Now we're on a break. It's not quite the All
Star break. Well, I guess maybe you could call it
an all star break.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Maybe it's a place of it.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Okay, all right, so uh let's let's talk about that fro.
Since we are kind.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Of on the four nation break, let's call it that, right,
four nation break, that's what it is.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Okay. So what do you think about the game so far?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I mean overall the games that have been aired and
played so far? What are your thoughts on on on
the games played so far?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Oh, it's been great. I mean they it's best on best.
It's also teams thrown together. So you have some lack
of cohesion. But you see the skill, you see the desire.
There were those who were fearing that this would be
a glorified All Star game.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
They were wrong.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
No, no fears there, and uh and you got USA
Canada for the whole thing. So I think it's it's
it's been a well done Tournament's it's strange scheduling a
little bit. They won one and two games, skip two games,
then skip two days more for the championship game. But
the bottom line is everyone's looking forward to that championship game.
(03:03):
The first matchup between Canada and US was great. The
ratings show that people really care about this, so it's
been good.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Well, when it's the only hockey that you get to
watch for the next you know, ten days or whatever,
then yeah, I guess it's probably gonna be pretty highly rated.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Yeah, but the Stanley Cup finals are the only hockey
that's available, and this has been better than any Stanley
Cup Final game I think since twenty fourteen I read. So,
I mean it's it comes back to the patriotism, I
think a little bit. Yeah, a good country, US Canada
both in the finals now, so in Canada will watch,
Canadians will watch, no matter what, it's their sport. But
(03:44):
in the US, if the US had lost, let's say,
their first game, it probably would have dropped off some.
But they didn't lose, and they won, and then they
won again, and so you know, they lost to Sweden
in a game that they didn't really mean much and
they had several players out.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
So I think it's.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Been well received and obviously a great appetizer for the Olympics,
which will be more teams at different times of the day,
hopefully with not probably the same electricity in terms of
the crowd you saw in Canada and in Boston. But
but you know, Olympics of the Olympics. There's something special
(04:20):
about the Olympics just by themselves, right, And then they've
already made plans for the World Cup of Hockey after
that two years something like we now have an established
schedule of best on best and that's the way it
should be.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I agree, and I we hear it.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
The hockey writers think are all on board with the
the World Cup of Hockey. We think that's a great
idea if they open it up a little bit too,
not just the you know, the All Stars, do you
know what I mean? Like I understand well What I
(04:55):
mean by that is like you need to sprinkle in
a couple more or maybe I mean, I guess I'm
trying to say I'd like to see some of the
younger guys get in as well too, more of the
national Olympic type team instead of like this four nation
type thing.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, we're not gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, the only way you're getting in the NHL. Well,
I mean there are going to be some teams. I mean,
I'm sure if there's a team from Germany, I mean,
you're gonna have Leon Dry Settle, but you're also going
to have to fill that team out with players who
are not in the NHL. So you will have some
non NHL players in the Olympics. But you know, when
you're talking about USA and Canada, Finland, maybe one or
(05:37):
two Sweden, those are gonna be mostly NHL players because it.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Is okay, okay, no, no.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
I was just curious though, So what you thought of
how that would go down, or you know, whatever the case.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I mean, really, Ryan, it goes one way or the
other with this.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
You either get best on best and sacrifice that amateur
which seems to be a thing of the past now. Anyhow,
I mean, the NCAA is amateur anymore. So, I mean
the amateur the aura of it, the nineteen eighty team
and all that is kind of gone. So if you're
(06:13):
really holding out for that, you're just not going to
get the best on best, you know. I think this
Moore Nations is showing, you know, how people do react
to best on best, and it's been a good reaction.
So I think that's where we're headed.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Okay, okay, no, no.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I was just curious as to how the lay of
the land was kind of falling down, how it was
going to kind of play out, you know what I mean,
I don't really care. I just like watching the hockey.
I mean, as far as I'm concerned. I saw people
say that that was the best twenty minutes of hockey
that they've seen in a really long time. With that
(06:49):
United States Canada game, it was great.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I mean, the three fights got everybody's attention.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I personally think they were kind of staged which fights,
you know whatever. I'm all for fighting. You can just
listen to one of my calls to know that. But
I don't necessarily think the stage fights do that much
in this case.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I think it was interesting because it.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Was kind of all these years of not playing Best
on Best pent up for these two countries especially, and
they let it all hang out.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Now some people are attagging political.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Intonations on it because of what's going on and all that.
I think that's probably overthinking it a bit. I think
it was just some players, some guys, especially those Kachuk
boys who you know. They they had missed much of
their careers playing in Best on Best and finally getting
a chance to do it.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
And they had a lot of energy and they had
to use that energy up somehow, so they dropped the gloves.
But beyond the fighting, it was a good game. It
was aid game.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I mean, I'm watching these games, I'm not seeing what
I saw. The best hockey I think I've ever seen
in my life was the the Canada Cup with Lemieu
Gretzky on the same line. It's gonna be hard to
ever top that because the game then was really wide open.
This was prior to the trap.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Coming in and all that.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
The eighties high scoring hockey and some of the best
players in the history of the game on the same team.
That's to me the benchmark. I don't think this quite
got to that stage. But I do think it was
quality hockey, great names out there, great players, and the
intensity I think is what people really saw the most.
(08:34):
And so it was pretty darn good. And obviously the
ratings speak for themselves. People watched, and if people watch,
you're gonna get more of it.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
That that is a that's a definite.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's to try true TV philosophy there, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
If you get the ratings, yeah, you're gonna see more
of that. So for sure, for sure. All right, well,
I'll tell you what I really like.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
The four names, really have enjoyed what they've put out
there and really feel that if that's how it's headed,
I got no problems with that at all. I don't
mind seeing best on best. I think that gives you
that opportunity. I mean, I know you're going to lose
that what you talked about, that amateur kind of feel
(09:23):
where you might get some of the you know, younger
college players or you know, the national team, whatever you
want to call it. But look, that's what the Olympics
are for for the most part. Now that the NHL
is going to be involved in the Olympics, like you said,
some of the other countries are going to have some
(09:43):
of those other players that are you know, there's not
a lot of German players, there's not a lot of
you know, Japanese players, or Italian players or you know,
other countries that are going to feel the team.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So okay.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Another question really is going to be Russia, and you know,
it doesn't look like they're going to be part of it.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Maybe they're part of it.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Under a new name, right, but that would be nice
from a hockey standpoint.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I don't want to get into the politics of it.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Right from a hockey standpoint, it would be great siovch
can get into one more Olympics and some of the
great young Russian players, maybe even a Mitchikov to participate
in that. So that's the question that's out there. Doesn't
seem like they're leaning toward having them, but a lot
can change in a full year, so we'll see exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
And that's kind of what I think might potentially be
part of what's going on here. I mean, look, there's
so much stuff going on, but I agree, I think
it would be nice to at least find a way
to get some of those other players involved in this
tournament somehow, someway, So.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
I just wanted to get your take on what you
thought about the whole four nation tournament, and I'll tell
you what I think. We both agree that it's all
pretty good, right, Yeah, pretty good.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Looking forward to that championship game.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
You got it for sure. So something near and dear
to your heart there, mister Jim Jackson. Is the broadcasting.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
School that you do.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
And I know you've been really busy here with especially
with the break going on here and everything like that.
And tell us a little bit about what's going on
with your school and kind of what you're doing with it.
I know you had a bunch of group sessions over
the summer and.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Things of that nature.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So and I know you have some great success stories.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yeah, it's been great. You know.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
I started during the COVID outbreak in twenty twenty, got
some extra time when.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
The Phillies parted aways with me.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
So I just started thinking I'd get a couple here,
couple there.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
But I'm over one hundred now, well over one hundred, and.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
It's just been great. It's very rewarding. It's three one
on one sessions. The one on one part of it
is one on one zoom sessions includes talking about broadcast fundamentals,
finding your niche in the business, preparation, all kinds of
different things. And then and I tailor make each session
to that person. It's not just for play by play,
(12:17):
it's for sideline reporters, anchors, talk show hosts, podcasters, you
name it, anything to do with broadcasting in sports, I'm
certainly willing to work with a person, and so I
tailor make it to what what their their dream or
what their their focus is and their position, and then
afterwards I'm available as a mentor for as long as
(12:38):
they want. That's been the real rewarding part of it.
Staying in touch with a lot of these kids, helping
them if they, you know, are making job pitches and
so forth, always willing to help them in that regard.
And seen a lot of kids and guys and gals
move up.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Which has been great.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
We've got about seven EHL play by play guys right
now and four HL guys and one's gone up to
the NHL.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
And I've got to know the guys in CBS Sports
and it's it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
And then in the summer, when I have more time,
I'll usually open it up to group zooms being called camps,
but it's still via zoom and right.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
It's a little less expensive, but it's obviously not one
on one anymore. It's one two. I usually limited around.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Twenty and you know, we I go over much the
same stuff, but it's all one day and then they
give them I give them reduced rates on one on
ones after that. Anybody who does my program also, if
I feel it will help them and if it's feasible
given where they live and.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
So forth, can shadow me for a Flyers game.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
And so there's there's all kinds of little side things too,
but the gist of it is the three sessions one
on one, and we go over a lot of great stuff,
and it's conversational. It's not me just sitting here talking.
It's it's it's back and forth, and it's.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Been just great.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
I sent out an email just before the holidays to
everybody that I had talked to or had as a student,
unless it was somebody I just talked to, but I
sent the email out and say, hey, let me know
what you're doing, because there are some that have kind
of disappeared on me. And it was great to hear
from everybody and see what everybody's doing so it's.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Been very warring.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
I plan on continuing to do it, maybe even into retirement,
and we'll see where it goes. But at this point
it's been a lot of fun. Joe Jackson Broadcasting dot
com that's where you would go to look for the information.
He beat me to it, so yeah, and there's very
very basic description of the program there. If you have
(14:48):
more questions, there's an email address on the website. You
can certainly send.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Me an email. I'd be glad to answer any questions.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
And by the way, the link to the school will
be in the description here of the show, so feel
free to hop on over to that link there and
get signed up, because I got to tell you coming
from somebody who did sign up for Jim's one on
one courses and was thrilled and honored to be able
(15:15):
to learn next to one of the greats out there.
As far as I'm concerned, he's exactly right. He is
the person that you see as the person that he is,
and he tells it to you straight and gives you
the answers that you need in order to be successful.
And I have followed a lot of your advice Jim
(15:36):
and it's been very fruitful, So thank you very much
for what you're doing with the school Man, I really
appreciate that as a former fellow student.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, one of my early students, but yeah, I certainly
appreciate that. It's great to see what you've done with
your podcast and all the different things you have going on.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
So, yeah, it's been fun exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
And we get to I mean, I've admired your broadcasting
style from since the very first time I ever started
following the Flyers Hockey and you were the voice along
with the uh uh dorny.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Th An Offer and Steve Coates.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
And and I always remember you guys had such great
chemistry and such great bantern and it was always just
fun to listen to you guys do the games.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
And even now.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
When you're with your partner now Bouche Bousch, has been great.
I really enjoyed listening to you guys going back and
forth with each other. It's great listening to you guys
call the games. So I really appreciate your your work
and that as well too. And I know there's something
else too that's very near and dear to your heart too, Jim,
and I and I would like to talk about this
as well, because I think this is a very important
(16:53):
uh near and dear to your heart, and that's Alex's lemonade,
Stan and and what you have been able to accomp
with them as part of their advisory board and things
of that nature, and what you've been able to do
with the you know, the groups of people that you've
had to the games, and how the Flyers have just
(17:13):
embraced that.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I mean, this was.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
A a great story about a young girl that didn't
just save money for her own chemo treatment, she saved
money for everybody else's. And how much money now has
the foundation raised?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Well, last Jay it was over three hundred million.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
I think it's closing in on three hundred and fifty million,
So it's it's just been tremendous. Liz Scott, Alex's mom,
and Jay, their dad, they just took this and ran
with it.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
I met, I met.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Alex actually invited the family to a Flyers game when
she was undergoing some of her treatments. And then you know,
I what, my started doing baseball and I was busy
three or sixty five days a year, and fourteen years
go by, and unfortunately, of course Alex passed, but it
was I checked back in with the foundation and it's
(18:12):
like wow. At that point, it was like two hundred million,
and it's like this has taken off. And I was
looking for something to get involved with late in my career.
I want to give back, I want to be involved
that way, and this was the perfect way. And then
they were kind enough after about a year to invite
me to join the Advisory Council.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So very honored.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
To beyond that, we created what we call our Flyers
Press Pass that you alluded to.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
We have a once a month.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
It's gonna be a little more than once a month
there down the stretch because we had a family unfortunately
who had the patient had to go back into the hospital,
so we missed one this year, so we're making that
back up. But basically, once a month, we have a
family that has been affected by pediatric cancer in some
way the past or present, and we basically invite them
(19:04):
to the game. And the Flyers have been so good
with this. They basically make it a great night for
the family. They get the kids to ride the zamboni
before the game. Right gritty, they're giving great seats to
the game. They come up and visit us in the booth.
They can listen to the broadcast and listen to the
producer and everything as we call the game. They get
to check out Arenavision thirty six so on South broad
(19:25):
there that runs the scoreboard and a tour of the
building and it's just great.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
And that was really where it started.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
I wanted to in some way help that way, and
so we started with that, and then they invite invited
me to be on the advisory council. And they have
so many events that they have the chefs that day
where they have all this great food they bring in
down in the Navy yard.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
It's unbelievable. They have a lemon ball.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
There's a documentary coming out on The Whole Story back.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Premiere.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I'm unfortunately going to be on the road for that.
I wanted to see it. The premiere's coming up, so
you can look for that. I'm sure it will be
available on social media. The Whole Story, Alex's Story, and
I know I've seen a lot of coverage of it.
Stories on it not a full documentary, and almost everyone
(20:16):
brings tears, so I'm expecting to have have to have
the tissue ready for watching that. But it is sad,
obviously because Alex is gone, but it's also so inspiring
because of you talk about a legacy.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
We all want to have a decent legacy. Here's a girl.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
Who, at four years old, was already smart enough to
realize that there were a lot of other people going
through what she was going through, and so she wanted
to start a lemonade stand to raise money for them.
And she said, I want to raise at least a
million dollars before I passed away once she was giving
her a bad diagnosis, and she made it, and they've
(20:56):
gone three hundred thousandfolds since.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
So uh, it's just, uh, it's just a great effort
hoping that.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
With all the changes that have been happening here over
the last month or two, research has been a little
bit tougher now to get funded and so forth, the
hoping that we can continue to make strides toward getting
rid of childhood cancer, all cancer for that matter. But
also the money goes towards supporting these families too, So
it's kind of twofold in terms.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Of where that money goes, and it's always in the
right direction. So just just a great effort. Very proud
to be part of.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
It, and and and it's it's it's a it's a great,
great organization. The link for Alex's lemonade stand will be
also in the description as well too, so please hop
on over to that link as well too, and and
uh and check that out and and feel free to
donate or whatever you know your heart feels that you
need to do. By all means, really you would appreciate
(21:56):
that every dollar, you know, every dollar helps exactly, you know.
But all right, so now let's let's talk about some Flyers.
What do you think finally sounds good? Okay, So now
the Flyers are on a break. We've had a couple
of injuries, We've had some time to rest, We've had
(22:17):
some you know, other things happen. We've had the trades
that Danny Brier did. We finally got to see one
of the trade players play in a game before the break.
I'm I'm expecting the other player to be available this
coming Saturday.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I would hope, but I mean, with what's going on
with the up, I don't know, but yeah, I would.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I would hope that that Peltier is going to be ready.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Okay, So I know we've had some additions and we've
also had some subtractions. But the one thing that I
think I want to really just kind of zero in
on on a couple of things. Actually, the first thing
is is this a goalie solution? I mean, do we
finally have two goalies now with sam Arrison and Pudotov.
(23:06):
I mean, it looks like that's going to be the
two horses are gonna ride at least.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Until the end of the season.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Now.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
When they sent Alexi down.
Speaker 4 (23:15):
Yeah, they called him back up. He went down to
play some games and then came back up.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I don't know where that's going to go.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
We'll find that in terms of when they resume play
will be coming soon.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Sam Arrison's the number one always was.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
It's just a matter can he stay healthy, and he
certainly was leading up to the Four Nations break, played
very well for Sweden and beating Team USA, so I
think that'll boost his confidence. I've always felt he's a
number one as long as he can show he can
hold up getting a lot of starts over a long
(23:51):
period of time. We haven't quite seen that yet this year.
He has had three separate injuries, so we'll see down
the stretcher. Sure they're going to lean on him, but
is done enough I think to say show that he
can be a backup. He has gone a long time
between victories, but his play ever since the first three games,
which were really subpar, since then he's been relatively good.
(24:16):
And and you know, really with Kolosoft, we don't know.
This is a twenty three year old goalie. That's a
baby for a goalie. So he's got plenty of athletic ability,
He's got potential for sure.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I think with both Fordotov and Kolosoff, we're really jumping at.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Not what's the word I'm looking for, jumping to characterize
what they are real quickly, yes, because they've got a
lot going on coming over from Russia, especially Kolosov, and
neither of them, you know, Votav can speak the language,
which certainly helps, but it's still neither of them have
experience in this league and it's a totally different game.
(24:59):
For there's so much more traffic, the rink size, all
these things, so they're going through huge adjustments. So I
think we need to sit back a little bit before
we say, oh, he's not an NHL goalie.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
He's never gonna be an NHL goalie. I mean, you
just don't know yet.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
I know he's not young, he's in his late twenties,
but he's still inexperienced in this league. So got to
give him a little time to adjust and call us
off for sure, because he's obviously a young on top
of being inexperienced in these leagues. So I really think
what's best for him is AHL play right now. I'm
(25:38):
not sure he agrees with that, but I think more
games the better for him at this stage of his career.
So for him to sit up here is a third
goalie to me doesn't really make a lot of sense.
But you know, if he won't agree to be sent down,
I don't know if that's the case or not, then
the hands kind of forced a little bit.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
So we'll see where that goes.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Okay, we.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Both felt that that was a good idea, that to
have him down there to play some of those games,
because that's kind of where we think too, because of
his age. Fidotov has shown that he's been able to
play in a professional league allah you know, not the NHL,
but has been successful playing in a professional league all
(26:24):
of the you know, KGL and has also been able
to do well and play well there, but it's like
you said, the ice is smaller and the speed of
the game is faster, especially for goalies have much less
time for reaction, you know what I mean, And in
order to get used to that, that's gonna take some time.
So the old goalie Lance and I are both on
(26:47):
that same page, Jim, where we both feel that the
goaltender situation needs to let itself play out, and you
need to let these guys take the opportunity to just
play and and get and learn because there's still, like
you said, they got a lot going on. They're learning
the language, they're learning new ice, they're learning the speed.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Blah blah blah blah.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I mean, it's it's a whole different bogging, all right.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
It is it is.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
And well, you know that's basically where they're at. Arson's
going to get most of the games. I means, Fadotov
will get some games. Are you going to get call
us off enough games on top of that? Not from
my liking, but you know that's I'm not I don't
make those decisions. I think that you know, at this point,
minor leagues would be great for him, But if the
(27:33):
player doesn't agree or is his agent or family or
whatever they don't agree, then you know you have to
basically figure out some kind of solution. The solution to
this point has been to keep him as a third goalie,
and for a while he was the second goalie, but
you know, at that point that wasn't a problem. He
was still going to play some but seems as though
(27:54):
he slipped back into the third position now, So I
think I think that situation.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Has to be a dress. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Yeah, yeah, okay, I agree. Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
The next situation that I would like to look at
is the power play. Now, this is something that we
have talked about on many different shows that we've done together.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
And.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
We've gotten an injection of meach Cough into the lineup,
but other than that, it's it's still just doesn't seem
like it's I mean, I am I looking at the
wrong thing here, Jim.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
The numbers pretty much tell the story. I mean, they've
been at the bottom of the league, the.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Bottom three straight years and this year they're not quite there.
So you could say there is slight improvement, but they okay, yeah,
they're pretty close, and it really isn't It was a
pretty good start that I think has kept them from
being right at the bottom.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Hey, I'm disappointed.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
I thought Jamie Drysdale, mat Ja Mitchkoff would inject some
life into the power Play. Certainly Meetchkoff has shown he
has power play skills. They have other players too, This
whole theory that they don't have enough high end players.
I mean, Owen Tip It is a high end player.
Travis Connect, He's a high end player. They have others.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
It's just it just hasn't come together, you know.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Is it the system they're using, Is it how they're
putting the players out there.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
I'm not an expert enough to know, but you know
the old saying about insanity. I mean, this would be
the fourth straight year right near the bottom, so something
would have to change. The personnel has changed, I mean
when this streak started, Klode Jeru is running the power Play.
I mean, you know, he was one of the top
power Play players in his generation, in his era.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
So I don't know how much of it's personnel.
Speaker 4 (29:52):
I don't know what it is, but it just hasn't
come together for them. Last year they said part of
the problem was they're just moving too many players around.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
They didn't set on certain guys.
Speaker 4 (30:03):
So this year they went in and early in the
year they stuck with a certain group for quite a
while and it started well but then tailed, and then
eventually they started making changes again you have to and
it just has not come together. It's a it's a
point of frustration for everybody. So I don't have any answers.
If I did, i'd be getting paid more than i'd
be on the ice. I think, Yeah, I just don't know.
(30:28):
I don't know what what is wrong. I mean, sometimes
it's it's entries. Other times it's the net front isn't right.
Other times they're just not shooting enough. Other times they're
shooting too much into blocks. It's never the same thing.
It doesn't seem like but it just hasn't been good
since very early in the season.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
Okay, so that's when we're adding to Danny Brier's laundry
list of things that he needs to take care of
in the offseason.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
And well, but I don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
I mean, they added a phenomenally talented player in meatch Gooff.
Drysdale's supposed to be a guy who runs power plays.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
From the point, they.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Already had some players tks certainly capable as a power
play performer and others.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
I mean, is it a player that needs to be
at it? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
I mean they've had a lot of different players still
over the last four years on the power play.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
And it hasn't worked with any of them. So I
don't know. I mean, I I just don't know at
this point.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
It's a it's a mystery, just has not come together.
It's impossible to be a playoff team with a power
play that's at the bottom unless you're a team that's
not allowing any goals, like has great goaltending right, one
of the top defense. Yeah, so I mean you got
(31:54):
to get more contributions from your power play for sure.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Okay, So I we have been.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
This has been a point of contention for like you said,
I mean, we're on four years in a row now,
you know, with this and something's got to give you.
We've had players from Daru to Katuri h and now
mitchkov to t k to Owen tip It to Tyson Forrester.
I mean, it seems to me like you need to
(32:26):
change the system and the philosophy rather than the players.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's changed too. The first
year of the four was not this coaching staff. It
was a totally different coaching staff. So there is no
constant through the course of these four years. There's no
constant coach, there's no constant assistant coach has been running
the power play, there's no constant players. I mean, TK
(32:52):
has been there the whole time, but I don't think
it's looking at him as the problem.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
So uh, it's just, uh, it's it's.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Been mystifying and frustrating, but you know, you hope that
something's going to turn it around at some point.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
Okay, because like you said, you're not going to be
able to be any type of contention if you don't
have at least a mid pack or better power We said.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
That at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
One of my reasons for saying this team could compete
for a playoff spot was I expected the power.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Play to be improved.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I didn't expect it to be at the top of
the league, but maybe in the middle of the pack
or as high as like twentieth. Even that much of
an improvement would be a lot more goals for the cause.
And also, as John Torrella points out, a lot it's
not even that they aren't scoring, it's that the momentum
of the game changes in the other direction quite a
(33:47):
few times with the power play. They'll be playing pretty
well five on five, get a power play and then
can't get set up, can't get in the offensive zone.
They lose their mojo there, and the other team actually
gets a boost the momentum.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
So that's when a power plays hurt more than helping.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
And that's probably where the Flyers are at for the
most part right now.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
But you know, they only keep plugging away at it,
that's for sure. Meetchkop. It'd be interesting.
Speaker 4 (34:10):
Maybe I've heard others former players who know a lot
more about this than I do, talk about having it
run through him along the hashmark or even maybe from
behind the net, although those kind of power plays are
pretty difficult to run. But right you know, if it's
not working the way it is, maybe you try something
like that.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
But again, that's way above my pay grade.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
I don't really know what needs to be done, but
clearly the numbers would indicate something.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Okay, all right, so here we are.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Now we're at what game number fifty two played? There's
thirty games approximately left on the schedule. What do you
think moving forward with the with the Flyers, we've got
the trade deadline coming up here real soon. We've already
seen Andy Brier makes some moves already with clearing you know,
(35:04):
seven point one million off of the off of the cap,
with moving Frost and and uh and others. You know,
do you think there's gonna be some more moves or
I mean, what do you think here with with moving
forward with the Flyers moving forward?
Speaker 4 (35:22):
Well, I think there's gonna be moves if they find
the right match. I don't think they're going to trade
rasmusmist the line in or Scott Watton without getting a
very favorable return. Now, the question would be, what is
that favorable return going to be draft picks, more draft
capital they have a ton of it, or are they
looking to maybe acquire a young player or a prospect
(35:46):
that's already been drafted.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
We'll see. Uh, it's hard to.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
Imagine them adding much more to next year's draft. They
have what seven players in the top two rounds.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
It's it's a.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
Yeah, a lot of players. So I mean, you know
there's there's a cap to that. I suppose maybe they're
trading some of those to get a young player who knows,
but I you know, Danny Breer is is not the
kind of guy who's just sitting idly by. He's he's
checking all these things out and we'll see.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
Where it goes.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
There are some intriguing names out there that are younger players,
Dylan Cousins, Trevor Ziegers and others that maybe would still
fit into the rebuild here. So we'll see where that goes,
but it would be conjecture at this point. As for
on ice, they they've got you know, they're gonna get
on and tip it back. That's gonna help. They're gonna
(36:36):
get Peltier in, uh see what cuz Meco can do,
and and then go forward. It looks like Sam Rison
is gonna be you know, ready to roll, which is good.
And if they get decent goaltending, this team can be
pretty good.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Now what does that do.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
It lowers their draft spot probably and lowers it in
a bad way for those of you who wanted to
pick you know, one, two, three or whatever. Five or
six game winning streak get you right back into playoff
contention in the East.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
Because that's the way it is. But you know, it's
it's really right now. They have so many teams to
jump over.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
It looks pretty dire as far as the playoff spot,
but all year long it's looked dire than you had
three or four or five wins in are on and
it looks good and then it's right that kind of year. Yeah, Well,
the East is so tight, so it's spread out a
little bit here of late, but it's still pretty tight,
and I think that the playoff spot will be tough.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
But they come out of this break and win three
or four in a row, they're right back in it.
So it's just that's the way it is in the East, Okay.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I mean I've been kind of just zeroing in on
like ninety points being kind of the benchmark of trying
to make it into the playoffs for the East, and
any semblance of close to that is what I think
the players are going to have to do to try
to break into the you know, the second season.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
You know would take that.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
I think it might take more than that, given the
way Detroit's played lately.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Ottawa went on a run.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
All these teams, even MONTREALO, they sagged back, but they
went on a run. The Islanders went on a run.
So I mean Tampa was in the mix for a while.
I think they're above that. I think they're in, but
the Boston's gonna have to scramble Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
You know. The thing that's changed the dynamic here is
Washington is in.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Yeah, sure, right, yeah, and they were supposed to go
on the teams the Fires could maybe hop over to
get in. That's not happening. And you mentioned the Rangers,
who were expected to be up near where Washington is
and they're down, so they've kind of flip flopped. I
think the Rangers are one of those teams that could
go on a seven or eight game winning streak in
a flash and be right back in a good way.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
I think the Devils might be in that.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
They maybe theranded by a lot.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
Of people contender status without earning it, in my opinion.
I mean, two years ago they were contenders. I get you,
but you know, their goaltending was better this year Mark
Strom and they were still starting to struggle, and then
he got hurt and now.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
It's yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
But yeah, I mean, I think the Devils are are
a playoff team this year. But I can't say that
one for sure anymore, but I think they are. You know,
Carolina seems pretty well set. But then after that there's
a lot of teams battling for those those two wildcards.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
So you see, see where it goes.
Speaker 4 (39:36):
But you know, I never want to completely give up
on that until it looks completely out of it.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
It's getting close.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
But yeah, again, if you get a four or five
game winning streak right out of the break, you're right
back here.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
So we'll see, And that would be that would be
actually kind of nice because they've been on a kind
of a bad bender leading up to the break, you
know what I mean, where they where they strung a
bunch of losses together, you know, to kind of get
to where they are now, you know what I mean.
And so it would be nice to see them come
out of the break and put string couple of wins together,
(40:10):
just you know, just for just for why not just
to put some wins together, you know, make the team.
Speaker 4 (40:17):
If you're building a culture, you don't want to build
a culture around it consistently losing.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Right atmosphere, it's tough to do that.
Speaker 4 (40:25):
You need to experience meaningful games, and the Flyers are
gonna have to win some games right out of the
break to make these games late in the season meaningful exactly,
and if they don't, I think you're looking more at
trading out and accumulating more assets, because again, the long
term look is the rebuild, and it's always Danny, Jonesy,
(40:48):
Dan Hilverty.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
They've all talked about it.
Speaker 4 (40:49):
It's it's about being consistently excellent down the road, not
about sneaking into the playoffs now and you know, being
out next year and all that. So given that mindset
and where they are now, you would think that the
moves that would be made would be for the long
term future. But they've also always said, both Danny and
Jonesy that the players tell us what to do by
(41:11):
how they play.
Speaker 3 (41:12):
So if they do go on a winning streak, that
would be the.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Players saying, hey, we got a chance, and I think
they'd react accordingly.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
Last year they had a chance. They were in the
playoffs for a long over one hundred days straight, one.
Speaker 4 (41:27):
Hundred and forty two days, I believe in. So I
mean they even with that traded Sean Walker. So again
they're still keeping their eye on the long term no
matter what. But they also brought in Eric Johnson and
tried to at least supplement the teams to help.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Them down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (41:44):
They got hit with a rash of injuries on defense
and Sam kind.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Of tired out, so it didn't didn't work out for them.
Speaker 4 (41:51):
But the bottom line is they if this team was
in it with some kind of winning streak, and I
mean in it solidly, not five, it's back with six
teams to jump over. I'm talking in it by being
a point back or in a playoff position, and the
trade deadline hit, then maybe they would that would change.
The trade deadline is gonna hit before they have a
(42:12):
chance to get that close.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
I think not that many.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Games when you look at the schedule into the trade deadline,
so it's it's quite likely that this team will be
looking like they're on the outside looking in at the
trade deadline, and that has to at least impact the
way they.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
Think a little bit.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Okay, okay, all right, I mean I just I wanted
to get your take on some of those key points there,
you know, and I mean, you know this is the
guy that is the voice.
Speaker 3 (42:40):
What are they like? Five?
Speaker 4 (42:41):
I haven't counted the amount of games there are before
the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
It's five or six.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I think something like that.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
I think the trade deadline is like way at the
beginning of March, right, it's like March third or something.
Speaker 4 (42:55):
I think it's a little bit later than that, but
not much. Okay, I should I should have of the
date right on the tip of my tongue. But the
bottom line.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
Is it's it's not very long from now.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
There's only a couple of games left in February.
Speaker 1 (43:08):
So that's what I mean. It's not very long from now,
you know what I mean. So, okay, Jim, I think
we're gonna do something that we have never done.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
That's scary.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
We're gonna have a show less than an hour.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
Wow, look at that. Well, I do have a movie
to go see, so that's a good thing, you know.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
Me.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
I watch all the Oscar movies before the Oscars.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
Okay, so what what what are you gonna go see tonight?
Speaker 3 (43:38):
Well, we haven't.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
I haven't seen nickel Boy yet, so that that's one.
And I also have to see The Brutalist yet. So
there's a couple left, but I've seen most of them.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
Now, Okay, all right, I'm not quite up to I'm
not up quite up to speed on all the movies
just yet.
Speaker 4 (43:56):
Strange ones, I'm sure there are, but all right, check
out the substance. Tell me what you think about that movie? Okay,
all right, to me more, to me more, yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
Okay, okay, all right. Like I said, I'm not up
on all the latest movies.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
You know, let's get your reaction to that movie. Actually
on which one the substance?
Speaker 2 (44:18):
The substance?
Speaker 3 (44:19):
All right, check it out, check it out.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
I'll check it out and i'll let you know. Will
that work.
Speaker 5 (44:25):
Yeah, I'd love to your reaction to that movie. It's
it's interesting, okay, and this is the one with any
more in it? Right, yes, all right, okay, I'll check
it out and let you know.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
All right, I look forward to that review.
Speaker 2 (44:40):
I'm scared now, just to let you know. By the way,
oh man.
Speaker 1 (44:49):
Well, Jim, I'll tell you what, it's been another huge
honor and privilege and pleasure to sit here and just
jaw with you and talk cocky and talk things that
are near and dear to your like you're broadcasting school.
And of course Alex's Lemonade stand. All those lengths will
be in the description down here below, and be sure
to check both of those out. So, Jim, thank you
(45:11):
very much man for hopping on here with me. And
really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (45:14):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
You got it.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
We remember the substance, the substance.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
All right, I got it written down.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
I'm gonna write I got it written down.
Speaker 1 (45:26):
Because because Jim taught me, you always be over one
hundred percent prepared, because you never know what you're gonna
need when you get into a situation.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
You might only use ten percent of.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
It, that's right, right, but I don't know which.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
But you better have at least one hundred and ten
percent of material because you never know in that five
overtime game is gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
And part of your ten percent that you are going
to use is going to see the substance.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
Okay, all right, all right, I got you, I got you,
I heard it, I get the message.
Speaker 2 (46:00):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (46:03):
Oh man, Thank you too, mister Jim Jackson for hopping
on to the Hockey Writers Inc. Really appreciate you joining
the show. If you like what we do, please hit
the like and subscribe. Also, be sure to check out
lowercaseblues dot net. That's lowercaseblues dot net. Then guys were
gracious enough to give us the wonderful opening intro music.
Speaker 2 (46:23):
Go check them out.
Speaker 1 (46:23):
They got tour dates, they got swagged, they got videos
out there. Check them guys out, really awesome stuff. Also,
be looking forward to a special announcement coming up for
the NHL Draft where the Steel Flyers All Sports Network
just might be so be sure to be looking for
that information coming out here real soon. Be looking for
all the links there for Jim Jackson's school and also
(46:45):
for Alex's lemonade stand. Thank you all for joining us
on this special edition of The Hockey Writers, Inc. As
we welcome Jim Jackson, the voice of the Philadelphia Flyers.
I'm your host, Ron Steel Flyers, and we will catch
you all next episode of The Hockey Writers, Inc.
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