Stepdad Foligno ~ Episode 328 #Blackhawks #NHL #hockey
The WCB podcast, your source for all things Chicago Blackhawks and everything hockey with your host Jarm and Tanner. Let’s do it. Jarm and Tanner. All right, it’s another edition of the WCB podcast. It’s Jarm. It’s Tanner. What’s up, Todd? Uh, we’re good. Everything’s good. Everything’s good. Yep. Nothing going on. just it’s you know boring. It’s the middle of July and hockey news is few and far between. Uh we do have some news, some minor signings for the Hawks, update on Soder Bloom situation. Uh Figno playing stepdad for the weekend. Yeah. Uh schedule release. I got some games that I want Tanner to grade on uh relevancy to if you should be watching them or not. And then I think we’re also gonna do a little Mount Rushmore picking the top four like roll guys from the Stanley Cup era. Yeah, that’s a few potential on this show. Yeah, it’s possible. And roll guys doesn’t include Sharp. That doesn’t include Hosa. We’re not talking about guys that had big What about Patrick Kane? He had a pretty big role. Yeah. Roll guy. Okay. Patrick Kane. Yeah. His role was to score. So, uh, and then Sanders got a little bit of a little bit of or NHL news. Not not too much. Just some arbitration talk and all that and maybe some signings. I don’t know. There’s not much NHL. There’s there’s not much to talk about across the entire league. There’s like little breadcrumbs. So, here’s a little bit of news for you. Yeah. What’s up, guys? Before we get into this episode, I just want to take a quick second to ask you guys a huge favor. If you’re listening to the show on either Apple Podcast or Spotify, or even on your favorite P platform, make sure you are subscribed or following the show. And if you’re watching this on YouTube and you haven’t already done so, make sure you hit that subscribe button, like this video, leave us some comments, share it with your friends, and if just so you don’t miss any future episodes, make sure you hit the little bell button so you get notified when we post new content. We appreciate it. And now, let’s get back to the episode. We mentioned on the the World Junior Showcase coming up, and it was supposed to be Three Hawks represented there. Uh Sasha, uh AJ Spely, Spely. Yeah. And Antoine Fondell were supposed to be participating. Fondelle actually is no longer participating in that. So, there’s only going to be trade them two Hawks. Uh, Ekkan’s not doing it either. So, San Jose can’t say that they’re having a better rebuild with their better prospect. So, Oh, William. Yeah. Or is it Victor Ecklund? Was it Victor? Maybe it was Victor. So, that’s what New York. No, where’s he? New York. No. Yeah. Islanders. Yeah. So, I was right New York. Just wrong team. Okay, dude. That’s gonna get confusing now because Ekkan still is young for not really. I mean, younger, but yeah, junior level, but whatever. Uh, so let’s get a quick hit here. Uh, Soder Bloom, uh, arbitration hearing dates have been listed and as of right now, Sodor Bloom will be going to arbitration court on the 28th of July. still can get a contract done before then. Uh I don’t know why they would. I think they just at this point are going to go there and fix up whatever it’s offered. Yeah. I don’t know what he’s going to be like what two million at the most. Maybe if they I wouldn’t even say that. I’d probably No, I just think that’s like the high end like if what he’s probably asking for. Yeah. I’m sure they come to terms probably closer to honestly like the number that pops in my head of me is like 1.25. I would say 1.5. Just do 1.5 and just call it a day. Yeah. It’s not like it’s going to be it’s not going to brick or break the team. Oh, I think we’ll be okay. There’s still what 20 million? Yeah. So, and it’s only going to be one year deal hopefully. What are the Hawks doing just sitting on 20 million? Why don’t they go spend a bunch of money on a bunch of guys? Uh, have you ever heard of I don’t want to get started. You ever heard of Artami Paneran or Krill Capri off? That’s where 20 million’s going. Conor McDavid. Yeah. NHL 26. The Blackhawks are just found a way to turn off caps salary cap and go out and sign everybody. That’s right. So, uh, yeah, that’ll be interesting. Uh, they did make a couple signings. Tanner, do you want to bring those up? Cha, dude. So, um, one of the guys that’s a Hawks RFA, Lily Krebier, he got a deal. Um, kind of about right. I figured he would have been like at at least a million even, but two years, 900K. Um, good seventh defenseman. very surprising, you know, with how well he’s played and how quickly he’s or like I guess not how quickly, but the impact he’s made as like a seventh rounder, six, seventh rounder, seventh rounder in 2020, I think it’s quickly is a is a right way to say that for a seventh rounder drafted 2020 and he’s already got decent NHL games played, like that’s he’s got 56 games played. That’s impressive for someone who pick that like you know in defenseman you know if it was a forward is a different story but yeah so that’s I think that’s really good and then the Hawks went out and got picked up a guy everybody thought they were going to pick up which is kind of cool. Um Stannislav Baresoi that’s how I would say it and that’s why I’m not even attempting to say it. Um but yeah, he he’s coming over from Russia where he was playing in the VHL for most of the season this past year. Um he only had a single game in the KHL where I don’t know what happened, but he got lit up a bit. Um he was on the the Scott St. Petersburg VHL team. Um, but his his stats in the VHL this past season, which is a like the AHL version of the KHL. Um, [ __ ] solid. He’s like a 928 and like a 2.5 goals average. Um, and he’s only 22, undrafted goalie. He it really seems like his stats like once he gets settled into like a like whatever league he’s playing in, he’s got like a 920 or higher save percentage, which is kind of sick. I mean, let’s just I’ll say like 915. But some some pretty impressive like uh stats though because like in the NHL he had 45 games played, 247 goals against average, and 922 state percentage. this next year. 30 games played, 246 and a 920. Like that’s cool. Back-to-back years. He spends half and half of the season like in MHL and VHL the next year, 17 games in the MHL, 246, 913 save percentage, and then 19 games in the VHL, 288, and a 914 save percentage. So, like pretty pretty solid. And then this year he must have gotten moved, but when he started the season with whatever team he was on, I don’t even want to try and [ __ ] figure out what’s how to pronounce that. 14 games he had a 251 and a 926 save percentage. And then on SCA St. Petersburg’s VHL team, he had a 249 uh goals against average and a 931 save percentage in 13 games. It’s pretty solid. So he’s I think gonna fit in very nicely in Rockford. It probably take him a little bit to get settled in to, you know, it’s a different it’s different ice. Like it’s much smaller, but at least he’s not coming in expecting to be like the starter, right? But it’s nice to have, you know, like a little probably a little bit better competition back there for KSO to really make sure he doesn’t get too comfortable. So that now brings up about what four solid goalies in our system that you can all make a case for potentially being the guy or you know working their way up to being the guy because even you got Spencer Knight, Kso, Gajun, you know, now you got this kid and it’s like if they all develop Sodom can still Sodom I I haven’t given up on Soderbomb. I just feel I just his growth from last season like two years ago to this past season was in was great. Yeah. I just I just think Sodor Bloom isn’t viewed highly enough. Yeah. Where he’s going to be taken seriously as a potential number one guy in Chicago. Yeah. I I don’t I don’t know if he will be considered a number one guy anywhere, but he will I think I honestly do believe he’ll end up being a very solid backup. Oh, yeah. I think he on a good team, I think he give you a very good 20 games, 20 25 games and which is funny because he’s give he gave us 36 last year and 32 the year before. Well, I’m just saying like it’s like you you kind of like how we talked about with Dave taking a lesser role in Winnipeg. It’s like you give him a lesser role a little bit, you know, and it’s like how many span of games did he play where it was like you’re like, “Ah, okay, maybe take that game, like give him a rest on that game instead of playing him, you know, and it’s like you take away some of those games and it’s just a confidence builder, you know, better rest for him and all that.” And it’s just he’s nothing wrong with being a backup guy. There’s nothing wrong with you need that in the NHL. And it’s unfortunate that we’ll end up losing him and then it’s unfortunate that we’re going to end up having to make some real big decisions on at least three guys at who can be number one. I mean very I don’t know complimentary of Gian right now. I don’t know if he’s truly down the line going to have that that role or not but the hype is there for him. A lot of people see him as a guy that could be number one. Um, a lot of people see him when he comes makes the jump, he might even jump right over Kameso. I’ve seen a few people say that. So, Oh, really? That’s That’s interesting. It’s a great problem to have. I mean, it’s like our defense. We have so many good defensive prospects now. We have so many good goalie prospects and it’s been a while since we could say that. Yeah, it’s pretty nice. Um, yeah. I mean, really just it we’ll be lucky if one of them really does take off. I mean, Spencer Knight really looks like the the guy. Um, he hasn’t had any hasn’t had Hall of Fame numbers yet since being in Chicago. Yeah, that’s true. In those 15 games that he’s played, he hasn’t had Hall of Fame numbers. I forget that like, you know, all of our guys are are absolutely trash because they haven’t put up Hall of Fame numbers yet. God, that’s the worst part about this downtime of the season, too, is just every [ __ ] who can sign up for a Reddit account can just go out and put stupid [ __ ] out there. Us included stupid every time we talk on the podcast. Yeah, exactly. We’re not immune to it. And then we’ll uh we’ll definitely do that here with uh Daddy Felgno. Uh there was just hilarious photos that came out this I don’t know if it’s this past weekend but they’re like making the rounds. I’m sure it’s got this past weekend. But he uh took a bunch of the young guys up to his place in Sudbury and it was a little uh stepfather weekend away with the kids and the the pictures are so damn funny. like all of them around with ice cream and then sitting around the the fire together playing board games and on the ice and Fino’s the only one with a black helmet on. Uh who you you’re better with picking like player like players out who who was all there? I know Nazar was. So yeah, so Oliver Moore, Frank Nazer, Wy Kaiser, Landon Slagger, Ethan Delmro, Colton Doc, and Nolan Allen. So conveniently, no Bedsy. No, Bzi. I mean, he on the outside looking in, should we trade him? Doesn’t like his teammates, so he refuses to spend. Also, no Kinsky either. No Levoff. No Lechinoff. No. Uh, no classic. Yeah. No. There’s a lot of guys on this team that just don’t want to be here and make clear. So, when you see them miserable on the ice this upcoming season, no Ryan Green. go back to these pictures and you can see who’s happy and who’s having a good time and who was miserable and not there. I don’t know. So, time to cut Bedard. Don’t even trade him. Just cut him. Unconditional buyout waiverss. Yeah, dude. That’s like he’s got he’s not he he’s all about himself. He doesn’t want to be a part of the team. Also, in in this photo, I’m just kind of like damn, dude. Imagine like Delmastro, Wyatt Kaiser, and Nolan Allen are all fighting for one spot. And I mean, this season it could be two, but I really do think that like Korchinsky is going to end up with a a for sure spot on the team eventually. So like there it’s really just like that third pairing left side unless one of them just plays on the right. Then it’s three guys fighting over two spots. But god damn, enjoy your ice cream while together while you can because you’re not all gonna be able to be on the same team in the future. Oh man. Oh, and then uh Marcus Felno also with the with a funny picture some of them on the on the boat and he’s like uh gonna have to really deep clean that that boat when they’re done. Love it. It’s just so funny to me that like Nick Felino is probably he’s like, “Yeah, we’re gonna do a little family trip up to the lake house.” And he tells Marcus like, “Oh, I might bring someone along.” And then he brings [ __ ] six Blackhawks. Just the kids. And he’s just probably like, “Dude, what the fuck?” Oh, wait. He’s probably like, “Oh, yeah. Is it all right if I bring my kids?” Yeah, right. Yeah. Oh, dude. I love them. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. The kids can come. And then he just shows up with six Blackhawks. Dude, that that right there is just why I’m like, if you want to just give him one year, $1 million contracts until he decides he’s done playing, [ __ ] do it, man. He’s the [ __ ] best. Like, I know a lot of people were like, “Oh, you want you want like leadership culture on this team? You should just kept Taz and Kane and all that.” But it’s like they keep bringing something different and it was a much needed change of scenery. And again, that’s not a shot of Taz or Kane. No, it was just it stuff had to change in here. And I will forever turn towards what Alex Blastic said when he first entered the room and was just like afraid to make mistakes. Yeah. Like the weight that Kane and Taves carried in that locker room, it was just like you felt like you couldn’t say anything. And it’s not like it’s not like they did anything. It’s just because of how immense their success was that it just is a little overwhelming for young players. You say Chicago Blackhawks and the first response is going to be Patrick Kane John the Taves. Yeah. Like I mean that is just they literally saved Chicago hockey and brought it back and and set the bar so high and as they should. I mean, they’re two of the greatest to do it for this organization and absolutely and it’s nothing it’s not a shot against them at all. It’s just especially with Velastic, too. I think it also like what happens with him is that he grew up a Blackhawks fan. He’s from Chicago. So, it’s like he watched that those teams when he was younger kind of thing. And it’s like going in there, man. I was when I got to meet TA doing the the CPHL a few years ago. I was [ __ ] like, you know, what is it? Starruck a little bit when I kind of met him and I was like, “Oh shit.” Like, and he was cool to [ __ ] with me. But but so maybe he just doesn’t like Blastic or something if that’s what Blastic feels. But anyway, but no, it’s just it’s just Yeah, it’s they needed that culture change and they needed a fresh take on what it means to be a Blackhawk. And I think Felgno is doing doing the best part of it and and showing off ice why he’s so respected. Yeah, I agree. He’s [ __ ] the man and that’s why he’s also the captain. Yeah. So, uh few other little quick notes. Uh Gavin McKenna is gonna be a Blackhawk because his favorite team was the Chicago Blackhawks. That was straight from his mouth. His favorite team growing up was the Chicago Blackhawks. Yes. Patrick Kane and was his favorite player. Yep. Um, what else? There’s a couple other little things. Bed Bedsy was named NHL’s top player under the age of 23. Yeah. Spencer Knight was named the number two goalie top top or the second best goalie for goalies under the age of 25 by NHL which is is I feel like a little recency bias because they did have Dustin Wolf number one. I think it’s just a little recency bias there. Who do you think would be number one? Spencer Knight. Uh, no. I I I think I agree with Dustin Wolf. All right. I just It’s because he’s he’s had his rookie season where he played very well. I would still kind of like to see, you know, more than one season. Like he played a few games the year before, but like not enough to really eliminate his rock his rookie season. It’s just 25 right now. And tonight, the fact that Spenc’s number two, I thought I thought was awesome because I mean, realistically, he hasn’t performed that well, you know, since he I mean I mean when he left to be in the the player assistance program and then like before that he wasn’t playing great. It’s like he It’s been a little bit since he’s actually played very consistent hockey. So that that’s my reason why I think. But if they’re going based on potential, uh yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know. I still think I still I still agree with I would say they I think that they do because number three they had Ascarov and Ascarov really hasn’t done anything in the NHL because the Sharks are so [ __ ] good. Yeah. No, it’s it was definitely based off potential because I think they had like Cam Fowler. Not Is it Cam Fowler? It sounds so weird. What the goalie? Yeah, it’s not Cam Fowler. What is it? [ __ ] Jacob Fowler. Is that it? It’s Jacob Fowler. Yeah, they had him on the list. I don’t think he’s even played a game. No, he hasn’t even played a game in Montreal yet. Um, so NHL has looked at the craft of players either recently joined the league or on the cusp to find the true difference makers in the next few seasons. So it’s it’s a little bit of everything. Okay. So it’s like how they played and their potential coming up. Got it. Got it. I mean he Dustin Wolf I mean it’s defin I mean obviously it’s a recency bias but based on potential to go forward I think Dustin Wolf is the clear-cut number one right now. Oh I didn’t really So he’s got 71 games played. So who’s that? Wolf. Yeah. Yeah. And Spencer Knight has like 80 something. Dustin Wolf finished second in Calder. Yeah I know. And over Cbrine. Just got to point that out. I’m It’s gonna get so [ __ ] annoying because I’m gonna do it every single time that I could take a jab at the Shards. I’m going to do it. Yeah. Um but yeah, Silver was also number two on the list of players under under the age of 23, but no big deal. Yeah, he wasn’t number one. Yeah, that’s right. Sounds like somebody’s rebuilds are going a little bit better. Um Asgar, I can see. Yeah, the I have no issue with the top three. Right. No, I know. It’s just It’s Deon Levi being top 10 surprises me. I I just think it’s interesting. Just the I like I don’t know. It’s the It’s the amount of games that Spencer Knight’s played for me that that does it. even missing a whole season with being in the player assistance program, he still is a has the most games played for all those goalies. So, I think he’s I think that’s I think that I just think that’s what knocked him down probably. It’s just because the questions of is he going to get back to that form when he bursted onto the scene. I probably the the the red flag against him right now. Maybe, whatever. We’ll see. this upcoming season, we’ll have Hall of Fame level stats. Yeah. Um, just because I’m looking at this list now, I know it’s not hot stock, but I’m really interested to see how uh Jasper Walstead does in Minnesota now that Flurry’s gone and he’s gonna get that backup role. Yeah, like that was interesting one, dude. He’s already got a shut out against the Hawks. So, he’s great. He’s probably the best goalie alive. He’s good. So, uh, last thing I don’t think we had any little more small talk things. Hawk, uh, Hawk released their, um, dev camp video, every shift dev camp video. Yeah, it was cool. It’s just it’s just cool to see it. And it’s a lot of uh there’s a lot of focus on like Fondell. I think he’s just gonna be Yeah, he’s just awesome. He’s just a [ __ ] man. And then it was, you know, you get the little bit of the draft stuff where it’s kind of funny because like Davidson had just made the pick for um Nestill and he’s like, “Should we move up again? Should we try to move up?” He’s like, “Well, it’s Winnipeg then Washington.” I reached out to Carolina, but they haven’t gotten back to me. And then it’s like and then it cuts and gets to the next part and he and you see his phone light up and he looks at he goes, “All right, we’re doing it. Let’s go.” Boom. They they got it. He’s like, it was just like so hype. I’m like, “Yeah, dude. [ __ ] yeah, dude. I I love KD getting so excited. Like, it’s so much fun.” But like, how annoying would that be? Like, since it’s a decentralized draft, like you can’t just go talk to them. Like, you have to wait for them to respond. Yeah. Like, they voted to keep it that way for next season, too. Did they really? Yep. What? Yeah. I thought they were gonna switch right back. I thought that they were already planning on switching back. Yeah. No, apparently they got enough votes to keep it that way. It was so shitty. There’s no There is no good way to do the draft unless you just do it fantasywise like style like you get 30 seconds, make your pick. Yeah. And go. But um I just like I don’t know. Don’t spend [ __ ] three and a half, four minutes between each pick because you have to make some sort of like huge draft profile about people like I the second day is so so long, but it’s six [ __ ] rounds. Yeah. And it’s just like, dude, just hit hit on people as like [ __ ] is flying. just be like, “Oh, it’s more I feel like it would be so much more exciting if they’re in the middle of talking to somebody and then they’re like, “Oh [ __ ] this pick’s about to happen. Like, let’s see.” And it’s like, “Oh, [ __ ] I had no idea that that guy was going to get picked.” Like, back to you. Like, well, let’s Yeah. Like, aren’t you excited to be on this guy? Oh, hold on one second. [ __ ] That’s awesome. Like, but yeah, it’s just like, and they’re like, “Oh, we’ll make a quicker pick and all that.” And then it’s like, you still have Jon friend of the show. Love him. always go to bathroom, but then he goes and he comes up and he gives like a five minute like speech before making the making the Hawks pick for Fondelle. Like it’s just that kind of stuff. It’s like something it’s either they got to just straight up go give the pick to Batman and cut out this whole [ __ ] like celebrity picks and this and that, you know, and all that kind of stuff. Like, well, there’s they’re like trying to make it interesting, but then it’s like you’re all you’re doing is making it so long. There’s no four and a four and a half hours was the [ __ ] draft. Like geez. Yeah. You know what makes it interesting? Find out who your [ __ ] team’s taking. That makes it interesting. Get to the That’s what we That’s what we all want to know. We all want to know who’s drafting where. You don’t have to wait the full three minutes or whatever it is to make the stain. They wait the full minute. the full. They wait the full time because they’re doing like the draft profile of whoever was just taken. And it’s like we don’t we don’t need to know this. Like the people that care so much already know these [ __ ] kids. Like by the time the kids walking off the stage after getting picked, the next pick should be being announced. Boom. Boom. Boom. Unless there’s, you know, a trade or something in the works. Use the time. I don’t know. It’s Jesus. Fix your [ __ ] Batman. Yeah. All right. Um, schedule release. So, Wednesday, last Wednesday, they announced the full schedule. It is the last 82 game schedule for at least four years. Uh, so it’ll be interesting. I wonder how they’re going to add those two games. Are there just probably just be conference or division games, but I mean, it’s down the line. So, I made a list of seven games for the Hawks and then I think Tanner’s got a couple that you want to talk about for like NHL in general or you I don’t know if you Oh, sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I can pull that back up. Um so, we’ll get let’s do a a grade scale. You want to do what? A ACF. Three just three possible options. Just do ABC. It’s fine. ABC. Okay. Cuz I mean all the games to me are like you should watch them. But like even if it’s just a you should watch that’s going to be like a C. Like h if you can’t if you can’t check it out like all right well that’s all right. It’s only a C. Six of the seven games are home games too by the way. So um but also this is also if you have the ability to watch the Hawks because you know they just [ __ ] everybody with their with their CHSN deal. But no, no, no, no. The fans [ __ ] themselves because all UI had to do was get an antenna and you get the Hawks for No. The reason I say they [ __ ] the fans was because they told the fans that you get the antenna and that is going to be an option for years. Like that’s not that’s what they wanted. But I guarantee like the way a part of the contract with Comcast probably had to make them [ __ ] get rid of it. It still sucks that I’m not. It’s like you either you either can keep the antenna in low [ __ ] views and ratings because people are too lazy to get an antenna or you make the deal where everybody wants you to be. They want to pay more to watch you which is [ __ ] stupid and you have to lose it. I’m cur I’m really going to be curious to see if the numbers jump up that high, especially because it is in the higher pay grade or like the level. Yeah, it sucks. Like that’s that’s why I’m very curious to see if the numbers actually change that much. Dude, just [ __ ] I mean, they will, but I don’t think it’s going to be like what people think they’re going to change. I think it’ll because it was like only what 700,000 or something like that past season. I don’t know. Just make a deal with WGN. Put it on WGN every game or at least like not the nationally televised ones. And then you can have it on Comcast and you can have it on [ __ ] antenna regular cable. Just go Victory Plus and make it free on the app. Yeah, dude. Not 1999 for the [ __ ] app. Like, why do we need to be with like, why does this channel need to have Bulls and White Socks just [ __ ] get it on regular cable? I don’t I think I think they I think they’re kicking themselves for lynching on with the uh with the white socks and Ryan Store because I think this is all his doing. I really do. Oh, yeah, dude. He’s a [ __ ] idiot. But all right, games. First one had the home opener versus Montreal October 11th. What would you rate that game as must be? A B. Yeah, why not? Cuz home opener is always [ __ ] cool. I’m giving it an A. Just the new fresh. Yeah, you know what? That’s true. You should give it an A. I should give it an A. An A. All right. Um, October 30 30th, it’s the only road game on this list is against the Winnipeg Jets. Is the very first time the Blackhawks will be playing against Jonathan Taves. Yeah, that’s an A. I would I want to see that. I want to see him play. Uh, December 13th, home vers comes home 2.0. B, like that’s like you should watch it, but if you have something important to do, like do that thing that’s important. A is like drop everything [ __ ] does not matter. Watch that game. I’m getting a C because I I just can’t take it and bend over by Caner again. Dude, I can wink. January 9th, home versentially Ovkin’s last game in Chicago. See, see I [ __ ] don’t care. Like I saw that would be a cool one to go to, especially being the last one because I went to his first game in Chicago. It would be cool to his last one. Yeah. Like the one time I sat on the glass at a Hawks game and just the monster that he is. Holy [ __ ] Like Yeah. Um All right. January 19th. home. [ __ ] A+ A+ 100%. It’s It’s J19. Jonathan 19. Yeah, I’m glad they did it that way. I wonder I wonder if they they purposely did that or just really happened to fall like that. Yeah, I don’t know. But I think that that’s great. Uh, the next one, January 25th, home versus Florida, Steph Jones returns. See, there is no video package. The video package is the announcement of the trade to require him. And then the second part of that video is the trade to get rid of him. I I’m giving a B just because I want to see the reaction if like if they’re gonna boo him or if it’s gonna be one of those like to see if there’s actually a video package. There shouldn’t be. All right. And the last one on my list is it’s the first of two times we’re playing in Chicago. Uh but it’s February 2nd home versus Shark. Celebrini versus Bzi. Rebuild versus Rebuild. I feel like those games are okay. I don’t know. Like a B. I agree. A B A B A B. So, I’m surprised you didn’t throw like the season opener against Florida on the list. Well, we talked about that last week. Oh, and that one doesn’t that you’re going to grade it? That’s like a C to me. That doesn’t I mean that doesn’t matter to me because the only reason it’s like the Seth Jones part of that is the only reason is Seth Jones playing the Hawks and I would much rather see him in Chicago and see how the the fans react to it more than anything, you know. Well, I guess I guess that game is going to be good or not good, but like it’ll be Jeff Blash’s first game as a as the coach of the Blackhawks. That’s fair. Yeah. So, that’d be that’d be nice to see. I mean then also honorable mention’s first game as a Blackhawk and then it’s all the same guys. Yeah. Honorable mention Q coming back to Chicago. I mean after everything that he went through. Yeah. Getting back in the league. I think that would be that would be one of those I see. I think it’s a B because it’d be cool to see but it’s not like it’s a holy [ __ ] It’s not a Kane or Tavage type moment. No, it’s that that video package of him just behind them. But I mean, he already I’m pretty sure he already came back with Florida. Yeah, he came back when we played in Florida. I think I was at I was at that game, too. That was a cool one. That was a really cool reaction. But I’ll um I’ll just list what the NHL has as like what they think the must-sea games are. And then first got is Martner versus Toronto. No, I’m going to go in date order, but you tell me if it’s an A, B, or C. So, we just talked about Hawks versus Florida. That’s the first one. Um, Islanders versus the Penguins on October 9th. This is a possible um Matthew Schaefer debut. See, I think I like Schaefer, but it’s like he’s not he’s not Oh, mustwatch TV for me. I think I would like to see it. I’d like to see how he does. Um, if it’s on Okay, I’ll say this. If it’s on where I can watch it like on Hulu or something or I’m sure actually I’m not sure, but it’s not like Bedsy level where it’s immediately national TV. That’s why I think it would be it would be it would be regional. Then I can probably get on Hulu. Yeah, if it’s available, yeah, I’ll watch it, but I’m not going to go out of my way to find like a link or something to watch that game. Yeah. Um, October 9th, two days later, Rangers at Pittsburgh. It’s Mike Sullivan’s return to Pittsburgh. See, like I can’t believe that the NHL thinks that that’s a mustwatch [ __ ] game. So dumb. Yeah. Um, uh, two days later, it’s October 13th, it’s the Red Wings versus the Maple Leafs and the Blues versus the Conucks. You want to know why this is special? Why? It’s the second season of Prime Monday Night Hockey. [ __ ] off. Yeah, that’s an F. Is it Isn’t it only available in Canada, too? Uh, kicks off a double hater header on Canadian Thanksgiving. Um, it’s Canadian Prime. It’s not even You can’t even get it on USA, United States Prime. It’s not on like Amazon Prime, whatever. Oh, it’s Prime, but it’s it’s only Canadian. So you we get blacked out if we try to go to it. Oh well, whatever. That’s stupid. Anyway, uh October 21st. It’s a lot of October games. Uh Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins. Brad Marshan’s return to Boston. Yeah, that’s probably an A. Dude, it would be hilarious if they just did not give him a video package. Like such a Boston thing to do and the fans just turn on him. Like everybody is just anti-Marian. Like Javaris 2.0. know like worse. Yeah. And the funny thing I can see and be like, “You guys [ __ ] traded me.” Like I didn’t leave on my own. Yeah, I know, right? Um that’s November 8th is Boston Bruins at the Toronto. October 23rd is Frozen Frenzy. Oh, is it all 32? Yeah. Yeah, it’s always a Tuesday. Yeah, I get it because they’re not going they don’t want to go against like college football and stuff and and the start of football season, but why do you have to do it at the beginning of the season? Why can’t you do it like towards the end of the year? There’s nothing going on. Yeah. And you got to make up a lot of games because of the the the Olympic break. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don’t know NHL. Anyway, it’s the Hall of Fame game between the Bruins and the Leafs. It’s the week before the induction of or Hall of Fame uh inductions. It’s apparently a mustwatch game. No, that’s a that’s a that’s a D. That’s an F. Um November 14th and 16th, Penguins versus Predators in uh the Global Series in Sweden. Oh, okay. I was going to say like what the Cody Glass Bowl or something like Oh, nice. Good call. Um, no, it’s pretty cool. Those games are cool. It’s but it’s again, it’s like almost your team. It’s your team, whatever. It’s not really It’s probably a C. Yeah. I think it’s pretty sweet, though, because it’s Carlson and Raquel for the Pens and then it’s Forsber and two guys that don’t really matter for It’s really cool for these guys, but the two of them, most of them don’t matter. Just I mean, these two guys might not even play. Adam Wilsby and Andreas England. Like there’s a chance like they might not even be on the team at that point. Black Ops Legend England. England. Yeah. England. Andreas England. See you later, bud. Um November 22nd, Stanley Cup final rematch. F I’m sick of that that matchup. Just Yeah, I’m tired of it. I’m so like new teams, please. Where’s the parody in the NHL? Yeah, right. Dallas has made it the last three years to the conference final. It’s been [ __ ] Florida the last three years in the finals. Edmonton the last two years in the final. Carolina’s been to the conference final two out of the last three years. Give me the parody. Where’s the parody at? Yeah. Um this is I don’t know this what November 28th. The Rangers are at Boston and it just says Thanksgiving showdown. They always Yeah, they always play each other I think on that Friday after Thanksgiving. Okay. That’s just like the tradition thing. Uh January 2nd. They don’t have December 31st on there. No. What’s December 31st? Taze versus Kane for the first time. Oh, no [ __ ] Yeah, that’s why I was asking. Do you want to go spend New Year’s Eve in Detroit? Oh, dude. That should be on here for sure. That’s how you know that there’s just bias. Just bias against the Blackhawks. Yeah. They’re not even on the Hawks. Oh god. They’re not even on the Hawks and they still want to push us on us. Dude, I would love to see that game. That’d be sick. That would be fun. That’s That’s one I’m definitely Is that the first time they’re playing against each other? Believe so. Yeah, that’s sick. I don’t know if it’s the first time. I gotta double check that. I I was looking I don’t know if I was just looking at Detroit to see because since it’s only a six hour drive. Yeah. Um, but that was what December 31st. Let’s go. You keep I I’ll do some research if you want to keep going through. I was just saying no, January 2nd is the Winter Classic. So, Rangers at Florida. [ __ ] F. Just an F. I always like watching the Winter Classic, but it’ll be interesting to see how the ice is. Yeah, considering it’s in Miami. Um, see those jerseys. What’s up? It will be cool to see the Florida jerseys. Like hopefully it’s like the vintage and they bring back the leaping to I just I wish that the NHL when they make jerseys would every once in a while incorporate like other teams in that city cuz to get like a Miami Marlins colored Panthers jersey would be sick. I think the Miami Vice style [ __ ] too. Yeah. No, that’s what it is. It’s like like the one I’m thinking of is like the black with like the pink and Oh, like the the Marlins like City Connect jersey. Yeah, something like that. Yeah. Like that would be sick. Yes, that is the first time King and T will be playing each other. Nice. Um and also if the Rangers are absolutely dog [ __ ] again this year, it’d be h like they’ll just get spanked. And I you know what? If the Rangers get just slapped around by Florida, maybe everybody will just completely forget that that happened the year before to the Blackhawks. Um let’s see. We uh we already talked about this. Jets at Hawks. Tay’s return to Chicago. Um four days later, January 23rd, Knights at Toronto, Marner’s return. That’s That’s an A. I do Do they cheer or do they boo? Boo. Absolutely. I think so, too. 100%. It’s Tavar. It’s a Tavara situation, I think. And but it’s worse because it’s a home hometown kid. Yeah. I and they with the whole like they [ __ ] thought that they could just treat him like [ __ ] and he would never go anywhere. It’s like that Eric Andre meme where he shoots Hannibal Burrus. Yeah. He’s like he’s like Mitch Martyr is overrated blah blah blah. They shoot Hannibal Burrus. Why would Mitch Martyr leave us? Yeah. How could they do this to him? Yeah. Like Yeah. It’s And you know what? It sucks because it’s like I want Mar to go on and win a cup this upcoming season, but I don’t want Vegas to win a cup. So, Oh, no. Absolutely not. Maybe they’ll trade him. Um, the last game on this list is February 1st, which is the Bruins at Tampa Bay for the Stadium Series, which is interesting. I thought that Are they only doing one stadium series? I believe so. Because of the Olympics. Oh, okay. Um, but yeah, to have both outdoor games in Florida. We’ll see how that works. and like it’ll be a nice preview um in the winter classic on like how the ice will be. It’s like, okay, well, hey, it’ll be February, so it’ll be, you know, a little bit colder and they’ll be able to because that how that’s how that works in Florida, right? Yeah. Yeah. Maybe it’ll be [ __ ] 39 degrees outside, whatever. I think that’ll be that would be interesting. I mean, I’m more interested in seeing what the jerseys will be for those. I’m gonna I’m gonna die on this hill right now. And I’m going to say this. Winter Classic should stay in traditional hockey markets and stadium series should be able to go to non-traditional markets. Yeah. Classic is built up as like vintage hockey and and old school and and all that. So it’s like you should stick just the original six. Stick with the original six. Stick with like Canadian teams. Stick with like No, but I’m saying like Minnesota. I meant like I meant like add like at original six only. Like that’s it. Oh, no. No. I know. I’m That’s what I was kidding. But I mean like Minnesota like original 16 Minnesota Canadian teams and then stadium series be Dallas, Florida, Carolina, you know, California. Yeah. The only one that’s kind of on the bubble there was Seattle because they’re a new market, but they’re also uh technically a hockey market just outside of not just outside, but right by Vancouver. I mean, they had a team in Seattle like a long time ago. So So, but that’s just I just think like the Winter Classic is built up as like classic hockey. So, it’s hard to have these new teams come in and make like try to make them look like throwback jerseys and all that kind of stuff. for the stadium series is like they try to go more futuristic with their jerseys and that I just think that makes sense. Yeah. I have no issues with it being in nontraditional markets. I just think the Winter Classic is better when it is in traditional markets. Yeah. I also think there should only be one outdoor game. I’m sick of these million outdoor games. Okay. Well, you can’t have it both ways. Well, I know. But if I have to pick one, it would be Winter Classic is traditional. Stadium Series is non-traditional. Okay. And if it was only one, you’d be okay with every team or you still just Any team would be fine. It’s just one. It’s just I think it’s just the the overplay. It’s just that it’s oversaturated. Like the years where they had like four Stadium Series games where they had like all the New York area teams playing each other like multiple times. Like that was just I get why they did it, but it’s just like it’s like come on. That’s just too much. Yeah. It loses the specialness, right? Yeah. I agree. So, um, all right, let’s wrap this up with our Mount Rushmore NHL role players or not NHL, Blackhawk role players, Stanley Cup era. We’re taking four. We’re just going to do a a show one. We’re not going to because I think we’re going to have pretty much some of the same ones. Role guys, we’re talking like bottom six pairs, like the forwards, guys that float could float up to the top of the lineup when need be. Are we just talking forwards? If you can make a case. I I I was thinking forwards, but if you if you got a good case. Well, I’m just I’m I’m curious like is Nicholas Ymerson considered a role guy? All right. So, we might have to do I don’t think he’s a roll guy because he was top four, right? Like he was always on those top two pairings. or at least that second pairing. I Yeah, I don’t think roll guys I think we could do like a defenseman Mount Rushmore eventually, but I think when I think of roll guys, I think of forwards, fourth line, checking line, like the shut down, the guys that can go, you know, you need them for a spark, you put them up on the top line with Daves to get something going. Um, ch. Yeah. So, let’s just take forwards. Okay. All right. Who? Who you first one comes to mind? Just spit it out. Oh, uh, bowling. Boland. Boland. Yep. And then I’ll follow that up. I’ll follow that up with the the other part of the 17 seconds with Pickle. Yeah. Oh, Cheddar. Cheddar. And then I have like three more in mind. Uh, Shaw. Two. Shaw. Yeah, that’s guy. Uh, do you consider Versteig? Vers. So, I’m like, it’s Versteig, friend of the program. No, not a big deal. Um, and Krueger. Krueger. Those are two that the So, my five was Bolan, Big Ble, Shaw, Vstig, and Krueger in that order. Yeah. But I I I think Vers see because it’s like Vers played a big part in what was that 2013. Mhm. I mean he even said on the show like or no 2015. Yeah. Was the 2015 was the one that meant more to him. Or was it? I literally just 2010 he had 44 points in the regular season. 2015 he had 34 points in the regular season. I can’t clip this now because I’ll point that out and he’ll happen to see it and he’ll just be like, “Yeah, you’re not paying attention to anything I said.” [ __ ] idiot. Where was it? Cuz he literally Yeah, cuz I literally just posted him talking about it. Yeah. Oh, yeah. It was the 2010. Yeah, I’m sure it would be 2010. The first Yeah. No, cuz it was saying cuz he was saying one meant more to him. He had more involvement with it. But yeah, I I would say probably Versig over Krueger. Yeah, unless you got an argument for Krueger. Krueger falls in that Charmerson territory for me. Like he’s so underrated for what he did what he brought to the team and he just does not get the respect. At least I think he might be more underrated than John Merson because at least John Merson gets acknowledgement being how good he is where Krueger I feel like doesn’t get talked about. Yeah. I think the way that um also like John Merson getting traded was like oh what the [ __ ] And like [ __ ] Bowman signs Krueger to a a contract that’s like pretty big for a fourthline center and everybody’s like oh god what the [ __ ] are you doing? And then like we had to trade him like the way that they that both of those moves happened and of course he got brought back to Chicago. Yeah. Um but like you can just tell by the reaction the fans had of like how both of those kind of moves went down um that Yelmerson was definitely seen a little bit in a brighter sense but also Ymerson was three cups versus two. But yeah, I mean he’s still Krueger is still a huge massive massive part of that too. He I would love to get him on the show and talk to him about like his role. Like he is so his role in the Hawks and the Cup teams and then also playing with Fondell like that. I knew the second I said that you were like Rondell. There’s a Fondell talk talking. So all right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. first league. Honorable mention Krueger. Yes. I’m trying to think about anybody else that was honorable mention and I feel bad if we like miss so many because it’s going to be like um all of the role guys from like 2010. Yeah. So like Lad, uh Brower, Bufflin, uh Copesky, um Michael Frolik is Michael Frolik’s a big a good one. That’s a big honorable mention right there. Uh what is it? Victor Stalberg. Stalberg. Colin Frasier. Ben Eager. Um, Burrish. [ __ ] forgot about Burrish. The Hawk. Oh my god. Like this is going to be an episode during this offseason. It’s just talking about how good these Cup teams were because in and we got to rank the teams. I think I I texted in our group chat one time, but we could spend an hour talking about that just talking about how good these teams were. Jamal Mayers was also a really good role player, too. Would let me ask you question. He’s not He’s not Would you consider Buffalo a role guy? I feel like he had a big was a big part of that that team though. Yeah, but like considering the fact that he was a defenseman that was moved up to forward like ch like completely changed his role to be to be like that guy. And I don’t think he wasn’t really playing top line until playoffs playoffs because I don’t remember him being on like top two lines when when they were playing in the regular season. Actually, I just look at his [ __ ] time on ice right now. Well, now I got home to try to get [ __ ] Shawzy on the show. So, we have all four Mount Rushmore roll guys as pass gas because dude, we just love the We just love the Muckers, man. You know, guys just love to like mix it up. So Bufflin pretty much averaged the same time on ice as like Troy Brower and just just a a touch more than like Versige in the 200920 season but less than Dave Bolan Sharp Hosa Kane Taves. Okay. He’s kind of like that sixth guy but he also is listed as a defenseman. So and and the thing against Bufflin, so people are be like, “Oh, he’s played more than Versig.” Well, Buffin was only on one cup team. So that that’s the mark against him, which sucks because he that team could have easily been held together. That’s another that’s another white whale of a guest because just to talk to that guy, I know what you’re smirking at and that’s not at all what No. What? What? No, I’m smiling because it’s funny because he’s a [ __ ] bass fisherman now. But he’s a professional bass fisher. Just hearing hearing his stories and just hearing the stories about like I think it was Restig on Chicklets was talking about it like during like rookie training camp or something like he just turned off his phone and went in fishing up in Minnesota and just could not be reached at all. Like I just I [ __ ] love that. better like the picture where he’s just so out of shape at that wedding and then like two weeks before training camp and he shows up at training camp in like the best shape that he he’s been in like like all year like it’s just it’s insane what that guy can do like he’s he’s definitely a conversation worth worth having. I started looking at like average time on ice for like playoffs like from the 2010, 2013, and 2015 teams and Duncan Keith is just insane. 31 minutes average time on ice in 2015. Hall of Famer. Yeah. Yeah. So dumb. Hawks are so cool. Hawks are going to be back soon. Can’t wait. And we’re gonna be talking about the role players for the next [ __ ] four Stanley Cups. Yeah. A few years. So, get used to it. Although, everybody that’s probably listening to this are Hawks fans. So, yeah. Get used to it, guys. Positive. Get used to it. Get ready. If you’re not a Hawks fan and you made it almost an hour into the podcast, get used to it, you sons of [ __ ] One, what the [ __ ] are you doing? Two, thanks for listening. Three, get used to it. I was listening to like totally off top. We can wrap up here, but it was just like they were talking on the podcast about some guy like they also do like golf videos and a guy is just [ __ ] chirping the [ __ ] and calling him stupid and all this stuff and they’re like [ __ ] this dude. Hey, but thank you for listening to me a fan. We appreciate it. But [ __ ] you, man. [ __ ] awesome. Love it. So, all right. Episode 328. What do you want to call it? I’m putting you back on the spot. No pretalking, no nothing. It’s um you recap what we talked about. Well, no, because it’s I said that we didn’t really talk about a lot. We we did kind of Yeah. Uh it’s like slow time, but you know, we did Mount Rushmore. You should just put like Mr. Mount Rushmore. Uh roll guys like is the last like 10 minutes of the show. Yeah. Right. Oh, that’s how you that’s how you build the intrigue. Where is this Mount Rushmore? No. Uh I mean, yeah, you could do like Well, just do like grade scale or game scale Mount Rushmore and more. Just we’ll just [ __ ] Yeah, just do one do one of those. Do one of those titles for this one. Who cares? Stop trying to be so creative with this [ __ ] and just unless we can be creative. I think that’s better. Sometimes I can be creative, but sometimes I don’t want to be. Just remember episode 329. I’m probably put you on the spot. Nick, we should talk just call it like Nick Felino the stepdad. Stepdad Felg. Yeah. Yeah, that’s good. Yeah, absolutely. Dude, I would love to go to Nick Felino’s [ __ ] lake house and hang out. He can’t be my stepdad, though. He’s like a year older than me. That’s so I know. It’s so funny. We talk about that and it’s like we’re literally within like three years of him. Mhm. Like that. God. [ __ ] Feels great. Immortality right there. [ __ ] All right. Well, make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast platform, Big Two, Apple Podcast, and Spotify. If you’re watching on YouTube and you haven’t already, subscribe to the channel, like this video, leave a comment, share it with everybody, um, and follow on social media at WCBodcast, and we will be back next week uh, for another Let’s Drag Out the Offseason talk. So, yeah, dude. Hopefully, potentially have a cool episode. Potentially, we’ll have an interesting episode. Maybe. We’ll see. Still got to confirm it all, but yeah. But yeah, until then, stay cool. I don’t know. All right, love you boys. Bye. Thanks for listening to the WCV podcast. Be sure to subscribe wherever you heard this podcast. To connect with Jerham and Tanner, check out the boys at WCBodcast on all social media. We’ll see you next time.
In a time of summer when news is light the guys still manage to put together a decent episode were they discuss Soderbloms spot with the team, minor signings, Foligno our captain, Blackhawk game grades, and Mount Rushmore of Stanley Cup Era Role Players.
(0:00) Intro
(3:27) Arvid Soderblom gets his arbitration hearing scheduled and the guys discuss what the ruling could be and if there is a chance they get a deal done before hand and avoid that nastiness.
(5:06) The guys discuss Louis Crevier and goaltender Stanislav Berezhnoy to two year deals. The latter leads to a discussion of the Hawks goaltending depth and that there could be some hard calls to be made down the line which is always a good thing.
(12:12) Nick Foligno played host to some of the younger Hawks in Sudbury and while the photos make him seem like a proud father, the guys talk about how important Foligno is to this team and developing the new culture in the Blackhawks locker room.
(18:07) Connor Bedard and Spencer Knight get named pretty high on a few NHL list. Tanner and Jarom argue if Spencer Knight was ripped off or if he was placed exactly where he belongs among goalies under 25 years old.
(23:22) The Hawks released the latest episode of Every Shift and because it revolved around the draft and development camp it only makes sense the guys take the time to complain about the draft process.
(27:21) The NHL Schedule is here so Jarom picked out a few Hawks games that seemed important and then the guys graded them on how must watch TV those games are. Tanner reads the list of NHL.com must see games and lets say there was a lot of disagreements from the guys on those.
(46:55) The guys wrap up the show picking their Mount Rushmore for Stanley Cup Era Role players
Hosts:
Jarom @ZachJarom
Tanner @Broliethegoalie
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