📅 Published on: 2024-12-26 20:00:23
⏱ Duration: 01:11:07 (4267 seconds)
👀 Views: 1418 | 👍 Likes: 64
📝 Video Description:
In the final episode of 2024, Dan and Shawn are joined by Mike Zeisberger (19:20), NHL.com (http://NHL.com) ’s Toronto-based staff writer, to discuss the Maple Leafs and break down how the team has found success under first-year head coach Craig Berube. Zeisberger also gives his thoughts on Ottawa’s recent surge and the continued freefall by the New York Rangers. At the start of the show, Dan and Shawn preview the upcoming Winter Classic and the IIHF World Junior Championships that begin this week in Ottawa. Later on, the guys give their immediate reaction to the breaking news out of Detroit, as the Red Wings announce the firing of Derek Lalonde and the hiring of Todd McLellan as head coach. Dan and Shawn end the calendar year by giving their New Year’s resolutions for the podcast in 2025.
🎙 Channel: NHL
🌍 Channel Country: United States
📂 Tags:
NHL,Hockey,ice hockey,ice hockey highlights,nhl highlights,hockey game,hockey games 2024,ice hockey highlights 2024,nhl hockey games 2024,nhl highlights today 2024,national hockey league
🕵️♂️ Transcript:
on this week’s episode of the NHL at the rink podcast we got Mike zeisberger talking Leafs senators and Rangers Sean and I talk Winter Classic and World Juniors we got some breaking news and some New Year’s resolutions all of that and more coming up on the NHL at the rink podcast NHL at the rink is presented by skip the official food delivery app of the NHL welcome to another episode of the NHL at the rink podcast it’s brought to you by skip skip to the good part and get groceries meals and Essentials delivered right to your door on skip Sean it is Thursday happy holidays Merry Christmas I hope everything was good your holiday I heard you had some filet a little asparagus on the grill everything good yeah it was great it was a little cold to be grilling but that’s always fun I could have gone to skip and skip the dishes but I didn’t I put in the effort myself next time I’ll skip to the good stuff the good part to the good stuff and the good part the good part um how was your holiday it was great as usual um you know what I mean Hanukkah Falls right on Christmas this time so uh that that’s not usual but as usual on Christmas Day family went up we saw a movie went to see Sonic 3 younger one Zach my 10-year-old wanted to see it so we all went typically we order some Chinese food as well we didn’t do that but it was a it was a nice holiday a family day and now it’s Thursday and we’re still got one more day until the NHL schedule starts the world juniors start today and Sean I did some homework so we’re gon to touch on some World Junior stuff and we got Mike zurger our colleague based in Toronto talking Leafs and a little bit on Rangers that’s coming up as well but of course Sean we have to start with the Winter Classic the Winter Classic you and I both leave on Sunday to go to Chicago I haven’t been to Chicago in a while so I’m very much looking forward to that and it’s New Year’s Eve I think it’s 4:00 local time in Chicago at Wrigley Field Blues Blackhawks Bedard on Center Stage I’ve been watching the road to the Winter Classic that’s been real good stuff on Max the game is on Max TNT True TV sportset TVA I’m pumped we talked about it last week but this is my favorite event of the year in the regular season and to go back to Wrigley Field and this time to have Conor Bard Sean I think this is going to be a really good show despite the fact that neither one of these teams is in a playoff spot I think that almost makes it better right in in that they’re at least one of them is fighting to be in a playoff spot I don’t know if it’s Chicago’s time yet um but they’ve shown a lot under their new coach but St Lewis thinks they’re a playoff team and they need to start putting together wins and they need to be desperate and I think desperate hockey you know um certainly translates better I I think the show we were both at the game at Wrigley back in the day we were both younger um I think the show’s going to be better I think the NHL has learned so much like if you remember back to that game you covered the first one in Buffalo um and then we went to that game and we still didn’t know what we were doing and that’s not a slam on anybody it was only the second time we had built ice Outdoors um I believe it was the debut of the ice truck um and that that’s omnipresent now but there was still so much to learn and now it’s all been learned and now we’re not building like it’s like Legos right when you start with Legos you build like these really simple things and you’re like wow look what I built and then all of a sudden like it all Clicks in your head and you’re like the super engineer and you’re building like whole cities and everything else like that’s what the winter Classic’s been like we went from just this basic outdoor rink like we had in Buffalo to these extravagant things and I think you saw it at Fenway right with with the difference in the two games there so I’m really looking forward to Chicago like you I haven’t been there in forever I wish our trip was a little bit longer there’s a lot of things on my list I would like to do um but on top of that list is the hockey game and it looks like the weather gods are going to take care of us I just just just snuck a little Peak rainy all week some precipitation on the day of the game but the temperatures going to be right around 32 so hopefully it’s snow it’s on the right side of 32 and we get a little bit of snow and it’s magic well that’s I looked I did I looked yesterday uh to just to see what it is and and you’re 100% right it looks like it’s going to be perfect weather the entire time we’re there The Practice Day obviously on December 30th so that’s that’s Monday and the game on Tuesday the 31st I love the fact that it’s a New Year’s Eve game I actually hope this now becomes more of a tradition to have the Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve I think it’s a great way we talked about it with Darren Pang when he was on you know I think it’s just a great way to go into your New Year’s you celebrate with hockey and then you go into your new year so that’ll be a lot of fun I am really looking forward to seeing the future on the big stage a a and that’s Connor Bedard I did a a Q&A with Paul Binet from TNT TNT has the game and and Biz was talking about this too my hope is that and I don’t care who wins the game that doesn’t matter to me but I want to see Bedard play well I want to see Bedard score and wouldn’t it be great and Biz talked about this in the Q&A that’s up on nhl.com now how great would it be for the Blackhawks for Bedard for the NHL that Bedard goes out and scores two or three goals and he gets interviewed on TNT after the game and it’s a moment right I mean that’s a moment and really when you think about it this is supposed to be a generational player or a generational career right that’s one of those moments that could happen for him in the Winter Classic like cydney Crosby scoring the shootout winner in Buffalo and the blizzard right that’s a moment that will forever be talked about when Sydney Cross B’s career is talked about Bard has that opportunity now that’s what I’m looking forward to I want to see that moment if it happens if it doesn’t happen the the the atmosphere the game everything’s still going to be great but if that moment happens for Connor Bedard that’s going to make this winter Classics stand out more than other winter Classics I don’t know I I mean I think there’s moments everywhere right like Ryan Donado is gonna play in this game knock on wood he’s had four chances to play in the Winter Classic none of it’s no offense but but we’re talking about Conor Bard versus Ryan Donado I mean it’s a great moment for Ryan Donado but this is a moment for the National Hockey League if badar because he’s the guy he’s what everybody’s talking about but there’s going to be moments that are going to be talked about regardless something’s going to happen in that game something always happens whether it’s the paval datuk wind AED goal whe whether it’s a monster hit in freezing conditions whether it’s a crazy last second goal like the first game in Fenway scored by I believe Marco Sturm yep no Conor no Conor bad there no there’s moments there’s moments there there’s moments in outdoor games and that’s what outdoor games are about look I hope Conor badad scores five goals but it’s not necessary necessary no but I I think it’s a I think that makes it special we talk about Buffalo we talk about the blizzard the snow globe the first all of those things and then to cap it off it was Sydney Crosby on the shootout winner right it wasn’t Colby Armstrong no offense to Colby Armstrong right it it was Sydney Cross it would have been just as cool it would have been just as cool but it became a it became bigger moment because of who it was so anyway look I agree with you there’s great I mean Alex vasic is a Chicago guy he he got he’s getting a chance to play at Wrigley Field Andrew senson senson the coach was at the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field with his wife in the stands as a fan now he’s coaching in the game Jim Montgomery and Claude Julian are going to be on the bench for the blues they were they’ve both coached in games at Fenway Park at winter Classics at Fenway Park now they get to do it at Wrigley Field like that’s really cool there’s going to be a lot of different moments but it is a part of part of this is a Bedard show so let’s see I want to see how the kid plays so Dan you just pretty much Cliff noted Tracy’s whole coverage for the last two weeks so if you’re not going to do it I’m going to do it Tracy Myers is in Chicago she’s covering the Winter Classic for us she is absolutely kicking butt and taking names and I’m going to give her credit right here instead of you stealing all her material I didn’t steal anything I just didn’t name her yeah I left it open for you yeah okay a setup and you took the pass and you stuffed it right in into net so please please follow Tracy Meyers who’s coming up with all these great stories she did a unbelievable oral history of the first Winter Classic at Wrigley Field which was absolutely unbelievable like I said complete chaos nobody knew what was going on what was going to happen there was issues with the ice the night before the game the The Ice crew you know with Dan Craig who’s now retired you know pulled off a miracle for that game to be played there’s so many little pieces in that oral history some that I didn’t even know about until I read about it um this week like I said please go follow Tracy Mario she’s on site she’s there today um logos and lines go in today the field starts to take shape and look like a like look like a hockey rink um she’s all over it until we get there and then Dan of course will step all over her and do his thing wow wow wow I can’t wait till we get to the New Year’s resolution part of this podcast hope you’re nicer to me next year man wow all right listen so we have the Winter Classic Tracy’s doing a phenomenal job but right after the Winter Classic Sean USA and Canada in the world juniors NHL network has it in the US TSN has it in Canada it starts today Thursday December 26th Boxing Day and Mike moral and Adam kimelman are kicking but in that coverage NHL draft class podcast go to that hey I’m going to do this you I’m going to do this one all right and of course before we started this because Sean likes to give me all kinds of grief about how I know nothing about Junior Hockey and I know nothing about these guys I brushed up I brushed up because I read all of their coverage and Sean is the US going to repeat for the first time in World Junior history is it going to be backtack gold medals for the United States what do you think I do I I think they have a ton of talent I think they have Trey Augustine who’s the most experienced goalie um part of that Detroit Red Wings goalie pipeline that goes like six deep now like I I think if Detroit’s going to make a move that’s where it’s going to be with one of their prospects um in goal or one of their current guys now but because of tryo Austine and the experience that he’s had in the world championships to me and and some of the other guys they have on that team there’s a lot of experience on that team um I I just I think they’re the most talented team and and they have certainly they have that belief in what they can do um on that stage and and I think that’s really important and I think if it does happen and it’s only happened a couple of times it will be awesome to see yeah the Star Spangled Banner sang s in Canada in Canada yeah now I listen I I they they have a ton of talent six first round picks on the team now Canada’s got 10 first round picks on its team but Canadians finished fifth last year they returned Five Guys from that team but you look at the US roster it’s like Boston College I mean there I think there’s five players on this us roster from Boston College led by John Leonard and Gabe perau I mean who may very well be the two best forwards on the team right um so it it is a it is a loaded roster it’s the you’re seeing we we’ve talked about this over and over and over again right the the growth of USA Hockey this and the other the US national team development program but this constant push for this constant expectation of gold which has come up what what would you say how how long has it been for an expectation of gold Sean for the last eight eight to 10 years eight to 10 years yeah but there’s a major push for it now every year I mean John Van bees Brook uh the GM of the US team did an interview with Mike moral and and that’s it I mean the the fast aggressive tenacious team the coach returns David Carl right it’s it’s an expectation now for the us to win gold and now to do it back to back and you and I are are Americans so we can have a rooting interest in this I I you know we we should be able to have a rooting interest in this I don’t necessarily care who wins the stand the up I root for great story lines and good travel but um you know and at times you know no double overtime although that could be really exciting as well um but this us na this us roster looks is is experienced it’s loaded they’re coming off a gold medal there’s belief there’s expectation and they’re in Canada and how fun would that be and you know what’s funny about it I was thinking about it the other day like it’s four nations themed in the fact that Canada’s really talented like you just mentioned it 10 first round picks I’m not sure about their goal tending no exactly and and what’s the problem with Canada and the four nations they’re the most talented team they easily have the thinnest goal tending in the tournament if you were to rank the four teams just by goalies they’re fourth distant fourth um it’s a problem it’s it’s obviously a bigger discussion maybe probably one we should have at some point but I remember talking recently with Marty brur about this and Canada’s goal tending this is before the four nations roster was named and I did a story on it too you have Bennington Stanley Cup winner you have Aiden Hill Stanley Cup winner right but you don’t have have a the best right it used to be that Canada had not only the best they had the second best they had the third best they had the fourth best right goalie in in in the National Hockey League to choose from and now maybe you’re talking middle tier you know with no no offense to these guys but you’re maybe talking middle tier why what is happening and I it’s it’s a bigger conversation to have I know but now you’re seeing it at the world juniors now too and and probably the last few years like what is happening in Canada with developing goenda happen that is what what used to happen that is not happening now can’t argue with their development of skaters their forwards defens I mean I mean it’s loaded right every year but why not goal tending do do guys not want to play the position are you not getting the best athletes to play the position it’s a bigger conversation to have I know but it is a conversation I think Sean and you brought it up four nations is an example World Juniors is an example Olympics in 2026 is going to be an example yeah and we should have our our good friend Kevin Woodley on he’ll have all the answers he does our own Mass column um other countries have faced this issue Finland faced it they had a symposium about it all of a sudden great finish goalies one after another um you know the Russians had this problem not anymore now think think about it if they were if they’re in an International Tournament they might have the three best goalies yeah so you know I do I think some of it’s cyclical and I think some of it is investment right and maybe at a gra Grassroots level there needs to be a re-emphasis of of goal tending um but I I think overall the world juniors is going to be great you know it always is it’s great theater like that’s what we talk about when when you talk about these tournaments or anything like why would you watch if you’re not interested right it’s not your club team the the reason why I watch is because the theater is is unrivaled like it’s the same reason I can sit down and I can watch a soccer game between two teams that I don’t know but if I know there’s passion there right like if Fen aach is playing Galatasaray in the Turkish League I’m going to sit down and watch it because what they hate each other that’s right you heard what I said and it’s the same thing at World Juniors like these kids have grown up hating each other and wanting to beat each other from the time they were little so it’s all drama and there’s always going to be a dark horse that’s going to come through and upset the apple cart I think you you’re the Dark Horse with those names that just came through to uh knocked me right off my game with those names you know what that makes me Dan inuk you know what that is no Turkish for the best all right sure I won’t say it you believe it you know who’s the best you know who’s inuk perfect setup by the way there Sean Mike zurger our Co our our colleague based in Toronto and he joined us we talked to him about the Maple Leafs of course and he has some opinions on the New York Rangers as well so let’s get and the Ottawa Senators and the Ottawa Senators as well Leafs s Rangers Mike zurger brought to you by skip skip to the good part get groceries meals and Essentials delivered right to your door on skip here’s Ze Z happy holidays Merry Christmas how is everything how you feeling Looking Good Feeling Good well I just wanted to say uh Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to uh to both of you um big both big helps in my recovery as you know last Christmas uh I was on in ICU with some heart and kidney issues and uh I got to say it was uh if you could have a something be a thousand times better than it was yesterday was so I never thought I’d say this but it is wonderful to see your ra both of your RAV in faces right now this is the best looking panel we’ve ever had on on the podcast here oh man well where do we go from here Dan I don’t know let’s go to the Leafs because that’s what that’s where we got to go we got you on you got to talk Toronto right I mean hey Z this team’s pretty good and it’s not that it’s just pretty good Shawn said it a few weeks back I don’t like to give Shawn a lot of credit but he did say it a few weeks back the Leafs are playing a playoff Style hockey which we really have not seen so what’s different what are you seeing well what’s different is just the philosophy and the whole I I don’t know rais and Detra of this team is north and south hockey um you know um every now and then uh coach Craig baru and that is the big biggest difference of all um he will give them the ability to to freelance a little bit but for the most part it’s up and down it’s no longer all about Puck possession it’s when in doubt get it out of your own end no screwing around there put Pucks in deep my God I’m a walking cliche but that’s that’s that’s the way they’re playing right now they’re hard on the four check but I think the biggest thing guys is that the players are buying what what Craig baru is selling and we saw this look it it was it was a recipe that helped the St Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019 um now you could argue that I mean is this Leaf’s team more talented with than that St Louis team in terms of raw talent I don’t know if they’re as good on the back end I think they have higher end forwards that they in their first and second line but they have put away the I for the Wii and they they’re playing a big-time Team game now the only the only there’s there’s a couple of things here that that you know you have to proceed with caution number one they’re goenda season we’ve already seen wall at the beginning of the season was hurt now stol Arts is hurt um and as as great as the Matt Murray story is I’m not sure how much how much meat there is on that bone um so you got to wonder if these guys are going to be you know durable enough to to give them the goal tending because when they’re healthy they’ve been great and the other thing is you know Austin Matthews hasn’t been right since you guys remember that he had that injury that kept him out of the first round last year um he’s out again now he was out uh for I think uh seven or eight games uh last month now they’ve done well they have a better than 500 record without him in the lineup but I think to your guys point in the playoffs I mean you’re you’re going to need a healthy Austin Matthews so it’s not it’s not all peaches and cream you know lollipops everything great Christmas cheer in Toronto but there are a lot of things to like and Des Sean’s Point especially when it comes to April May and June hockey so z i I’m hoping you can explain something to me you just went through the whole barui thing the north south get it out there’s a team in New Jersey that’s playing that style of hockey even better I think they’re eight games in a row now with less than 20 shots your coach used to coach the Toronto map police yep why now I wish I had the answer for you Sean I mean other than you know the only the only thing I can think of is that how how well does the message come through and in terms of in terms of in Toronto I think while some of the players may have thought that oh a coaching CA change may may be coming I don’t think any of them disliked uh Sheldon Keith but um I still think there was a tendency for them and let’s not forget that that was Sheldon ke’s first NHL coaching job and I think I’ve always maintained in a place like Toronto it is very difficult to be a firsttime coach or general manager because everything is scrutinized but I think the players still had you know what yeah he’s he’s preaching this but you know we know we’re good we’re going to improvise I think of all the playoff losses and look there’s been some bad ones in in Co losing the Montreal blowing a 3-1 lead um you know the year that they lost that uh um intro series to Columbus uh I I think that was you guys can correct me if I’m wrong three out of five or was it two out of three either one three out of five three out of five Lo losing to Columbus was just that that was unacceptable but I think last year when they looked at their team going up against the Boston Bruins that version of the Bruins no kety no berson you looked at it on paper and we know what paper is worth but it was like I think they were that was that was a year where they really thought you know what we should beat these guys and they did and I think that was very sobering there’s only so many times you know I always bring up and and a lot of the viewers and listeners won’t remember this but those that are old enough to do Charlie Brown where he’s trying to kick a field goal and every time Lucy pulls the ball away and he lands on his rump and then the next time she says oh okay don’t worry I won’t take the ball away and she does and it just keeps over and over again and that’s what the Leafs have been like like okay this is going to be the year that we’re going to overcome you know we know we disappoint in the playoffs last year and then they do the same thing I really think that brube is just such a different voice a different style and he walks into the room with that Stanley Cup ring I think some of these guys are at the point now that you know what um they look you know they’re core four the KNE Landers the mar marners the Matthews they’re in their mid-20s okay they’re nowhere near the clock running out but it’s no longer oh wait till they get in their Prime they are in their Prime so they got to figure it out and I just think that that that has been one of the reasons because they look back and said look maybe what everybody has been saying all these years is true the way we’re doing it isn’t working whereas you know you guys are closer to the situation in New Jersey but I’ve always thought that Sheldon was a good coach he’s starting from scratch with that young which is a young team and let’s face it in my estimation he never had a defense in Toronto like he has in New Jersey and I think that’s a big difference and that’s the why to me that’s the why you know to Sean’s question why now because of Riley who’s been terrific y Jake McCabe and then the additions of tanv and and a reinvented Oliver Ekman Larson from from his time in Florida those four guys are I think are the big are are among the biggest reasons why the Maple Leafs are playing this north south game because that’s how they play that’s the game that they play now Morgan Riley’s a can freelance a little bit but you watch him he’s you know he’s he is a north south defenseman with offensive ability yeah and when you and you said it Z Keef never had a defense like this so they’re also and and what they’re doing is they’re insulating the goal tenders too they’re doing a good job of insulating the go tenders as well and that helps stolar that helps wall uh and I and I think that to me is I mean you look at this team right now they’re scoring above three three goals per game which is what you need and what you expect but they’re allowing less and you do that in the National Hockey League you’re going to be a good time you’re going be a good and consistent team and I mean to me’s eyes you see it more than we do those top four that top four is the best top four I’ve seen in Toronto in quite a while yeah and and the other thing too Dan is a a guy like McCabe who’s kind of been the unheralded I don’t want to say hero but one of the one of the guys that has really stepped up but you could see even last year he was doing things that weren’t comfortable it was all about you know the the stressing of moving the puck and being creative that’s not who he is okay that’s not and then you bring in a guy like Chris TANF that’s not who Chris tanif is and under again under brube and you brought this up like they’re the the the high scoring areas where they’ve taken chances away from the opposition um the analytics show such a huge difference because they’re not worried about again Puck possession or stuff they’re worried about get getting the puck out of their own end cleanly and now you look at a jake McCade from last year as opposed to this year and it’s it it it it’s almost like there’s two different players and again it goes to the buyin of uh of Craig brube and the fact that and I agree with you um I don’t know what happened to Oliver e and Larson in Vancouver but I mean thankfully for Toronto and I’m sure Florida says this last year thankfully he left that version on the Left Coast of BC I want to switch gears a little Z and go across Ontario to the Ottawa Senators what’s the real Ottawa Senators the team that went into Christmas break with seven of eight or the team that scuffled for the first month and a half of the Season you know what Sean I mean again I don’t want to be fooled or sucked in in thinking oh this is this is a different Ottawa Senators team but from what I’ve seen from them it is and it uh Travis Green obviously there there were some Growing Pains this is a skilled team but it doesn’t need didn’t really learn how to play defense but they came into Toronto in November when the Leafs I I I’m trying to think the Leafs I think won five of six at that time and the only loss was a shut out on home ICE against the visiting Ottawa Senators they shut out Toronto they were so good in every aspect um defensively they didn’t give up anything you know you know on the on the rush they have such skilled players and you’re going like I I remember seeing Michael anlow the owner of the Senators after that game and saying you know what if your team plays like that you can beat anybody in this league Again part of it is Buy in and look a big part of it isar I mean we saw he struggled early on but he’s been you know I would argue he’s been as hot a goalie as anybody in this league and when you look at the Senators last year I believe they were they either had the worst or second worst save percentage in the entire National Hockey League and that that that that is a big a big deal as we know I mean you don’t have to delve deep into analytics to figure that out but I I I I I’m buying the Ottawa Senators I like what they’re what they’re doing and look guys we’ve said on the show before there how long in the Atlantic division has been has there been this mushy middle between the Buffalo Sabers Ottawa Senators Detroit Red Wings and those three teams and we always talk about when are they going to be able to crack you know the two Florida teams Toronto and Boston every year it’s those are the four teams that go through um you know uh the dumpster fire in Buffalo I just shake my head every year I feel bad for the fans there I I don’t understand Detroit I think they should be far better for the talent that they have but to me the Senators are starting to show signs of pulling out of that mushy middle and kind of contending with some of those for some of those top four Atlantic division teams so yeah Sean I I am buying the Ottawa Senators and especially if lonus Almar continues to play the way he has Sean gave me grief last week for using the word mushy middle like three or four different is that why he was grinning like a CH is why he’s grinning right now I was going like oh he must really like the point that I’m making look at the smile on his face I should have known better we need our producer Phil to have some sort of noise every time somebody says mushy middle well I’ll tell the pr right one of the I’ll tell you what I’m believing the Ottawa Senators too but part of the reason I’m believing the Ottawa Senators is I don’t believe in any other teams behind them right I mean that that that’s a big reason they’ve defended well they’ve kept the puck out you touched it on anark the way they’re playing all of that stuff do you look at some of the teams behind them okay Pittsburgh’s there and they played a little bit better but they allow so much and they I don’t think they can be trusted Philly Columbus I’m not sure they’re not quite there yet and then you get to well I mean you got to even go yeah no then you get to the New York Rangers and Z we’re closer to it here B geographically where we are I’m curious from your perspective not being as geographically close to the New York Rangers what the the more of the national Viewpoint is what are you hearing what are you know what’s the conversation if there is any on what has happened to the New York Rangers who just got shut out five to nothing with 12 shots on goal and scratched Chris crer uh what what is the what’s your take on this okay a couple things first I we had a um an a text chain where we were talking about this stuff and I yeah looked at the coach and you guys correctly you know because you are closer going like well this is a lot on the players that that they’re just so more abund and there’s no there’s no Zeal there’s no push there’s no energy um first of all and let’s get this out of the way I I closely follow the Rangers because picked them to go to the final last year and I picked them to go to the final this year and I’ve been wrong a lot but this is like two strikes and you’re out okay like I mean what what’s going on with these guys but let me ask you both of you guys really quickly and then we can expand on this but I could remember a couple years ago um before Peter Laviolette was hired um where the Rangers went into a game seven and I was covering Tampa Toronto and that Rangers devil series was the one that I wanted to watch more than any other one and because they were on the same night as Toronto Tampa I didn’t really get to see any of it until game seven and that was one of the biggest Duds that I’ve ever seen in game seven the Rangers look like they didn’t even come to play and they’ve changed coaches um um you know Laviolette has a strong voice and and stuff like that but then when I watched them the last couple games Dan and you you guys like I said you guys have seen the more I see that same Mor abund product that I saw that I saw at that time it’s head scratching to me with that goalie when you have a guy like that it’s head scratching to me how talented this team is and yet continues to do that and it’s head scratching to me you know and this is just a little piece of it but here’s an example when lafrenier when the Rangers came into Toronto early in the season LEF frenier and I go back to the series against the Panthers he looked like a man among boys he looked like he was going to take the giant step um in fact I would have told you at the end of October and I believe I wrote something about it that you know I know Team Canada officials were looking at him he was Al almost almost a sure thing after you get past the big names and that but you know from 8 to 13 in the forwards he was somebody they had there and his development seems to have hit a wall um I have no idea of what we see from coo um maybe he’s reached the ceiling maybe we were all wrong about it but what I haven’t seen what I didn’t see in New York is development from those guys and we can talk about Laviolette I know I brought up the fact that uh you know and I still believe it and I know he’s got McDavid and dry Sidle out there but the fact that Chris noblock was in their stable he was he was coaching their farm team and they opted to go for a retread um like laviolet I’m not sure how much that factors into it but I what I do see is under Chris Drury who is becomes seems to be becoming more EG EG yeah yeah I’ll get this word out soon enigmatic by the day and the coaching staff that you know other than your beloved Matt Ry I don’t see these young guys developing the way that we thought they would I mean let’s face it we’re not that far removed from the Rangers having the first overall pick and the second overall pick in the NHL draft and and so I I think you know from the outside looking in it looks like something that’s you can’t just pinpoint one thing but I think you have to look at the the coach and the GM and the players all is one I I I don’t think this is this is just one of those three aspects that you can say if we we fix this the other two will will fall into place yeah I I just like it’s what we talked about with Toronto right like they move on from Sheldon Keefe and they they play a different way it it’s almost like the players understood that it wasn’t the coach that they needed to do something different and I feel like that’s where the Rangers are right like they need to understand that what they did what they do isn’t good enough and you can talk about the young players all you want but their core guys haven’t delivered I mean Dan can probably speak to this better than than any of us but they’re leading lights have been dim yep how’s that for a Broadway like that like that listen he listen he scratched Chris krider and people you know questioned it it became big news it’s warranted it’s it’s warranted he has not been a good five on five player and worse yet he’s not getting to the front of the net on the power play and for five or six games leading up to it the power play hadn’t scored so if Chris kryder’s not getting to the front of the net and he’s not delivering anything for you at five on five why is he playing right I mean so it’s a scratch it was a warranted scratch if he were to scratch M aanad it would be warranted he has not played well right and and you can’t scratch everybody you can’t bench everybody you can’t let me let me really quickly interject so what happened to the guy you know I mean against against the Carolina Hurricanes that almost changed that series for them why do you suddenly not go in front of the net I mean yeah I don’t know it’s a great question I’ll tell you what it’s a confidence thing the team has lost all confidence so that does play a role in it there there is a like I don’t think it’s a lack of try with the New York Rangers I think it’s a a misdirection effort right I mean so Chris kryder sees maybe Chris kryer or bet better better example of mik zaban maybe mik zaban Jad sees this is isn’t quite working so he’s getting out of his element to try to do something and it’s killing them or defensively Adam Fox is getting out of his element and now you get burnt by it right so I think there’s a lot of that I think there’s just the need for these guys to get over what has happened to them this season to move on from it Jacob trouba is gone you don’t like how it happened don’t care anymore Barkley goodro is gone you don’t like how it happened so what right I mean you got to get over it you got to be professional about the whole thing it’s just the other thing about it is and it and it showed up in the series against Florida last year and at times it showed up in the series against Carolina they’re speed they’re not a quick team they’re not a fast team they are prone to getting stuck in their own end it was evident early this season and I understand why they tried to run it back back because they went to the conference final last year right I I I get it it showed up earlier this season and the goal tending was so good that it masked it they won a game four to nothing in Detroit Jonathan Quick was in net I mean he was Superman in that game and they win four to nothing so it looks great on paper but man it wasn’t right and now it’s got It’s broken so much that the goal tending can’t even cover it up anymore even though the goal tending is still pretty good it can’t cover it up anymore they’re not a fast team they need to retool this if you will and they’re starting to do that I I think people don’t like it but they’re starting to do it but they’ve gotten they’re not old but they’ve gotten old and slow you know what I mean yeah and and you know it’s interesting because in lai’s first game regular season game coaching the rangers they played in Buffalo last season and I went to that game the Rangers had had 21 block shots in the third period yeah and you’re going like they’re buying in here we go we’ve T we started this segment about buying in in in Toronto and now I watch them and and to your point Dan I mean you know to what I said earlier when in doubt get it out and you watch them they’re trying to make these F fancy plays they’re still trying to find those scam passes from their own Zone and it seems to me they just when it doesn’t work they just get grinded down and you know uh I I’ll say it again I mean I’m impressed with the Raw Talent on this team but I’m just not sure that that’s the way they can play especially on the back end especially when you lose a guy like trouba because as much as I love a guy like Adam Fox he could play on my team any day but how effective is he going to be when the other team is cycling and grinding on you right yep size as always you’ve educated Us in ways that I couldn’t even imagine or wanted to know and I hope you have a great New Year I hope it’s the best year yet and uh looking forward to seeing you I would think it’s going to be at uh four nations which is coming up faster than any of us can even comprehend so have a great New Year and uh we’ll catch up soon listen uh thank you for for having me guys and uh have a great time in uh Chicago at the Winter Classic um my recommendation when I covered the first one uh in my previous life for uh post media I went up across I went across the road and hung out with the guys on the rooftops and you know what H they’re a lot of fun for some reason I don’t remember about the last hour that I was up there maybe you guys can find out what what happened to me okay it was the cold froze your brain absolutely we go with that yep Z you’re the best thanks so much thank you guys great stuff there from Z so happy we can get them on again that interview brought to you by skip skip to the good part and get groceries meals and Essentials delivered right to your door on skip all right Sean Let’s uh let’s little po Perri here uh in our La in the second half of our last podcast of 2024 I got a question in my mailbag this week mailbags up on nhl.com what team is in the playoffs right now so in a playoff position obviously right now that will not be at the end of the season pick one team my team that I chose was the Vancouver Canucks they’re in the first wild card right now they have a 603 points percentage 41 points in 34 games but little bit of turmoil JT Miller and laas Pon they allow a lot of goals 3.12 goals against as a fourth most in the Western Conference they got a lot of tough games left I’m not loving the Vancouver Canucks and I’ll explain a little bit more why but I want to give you the floor Sean do you have a team that’s in the playoffs right now or in a playoff position right now that won’t be by the end of the year um you know what I’m going to go out on a limb and I don’t think the kings are going to be there I think Vancouver is going to make it I think what they’re going through now is going to make them stronger um and prepare them for the playoffs I think they’re going to figure it out and they’re going to make a push I’m not really worried about many teams below them um you know pushing up there’s a lot of teams that are close right Calgary Utah within three points yeah I like Utah I like Utah I like Utah too I just don’t know that they have enough Firepower um and I I don’t know why but I just look at that King’s team and and I don’t know how they’re doing it um and maybe I’m wrong but I I think that’s where I would go if I had to do that um I think maybe the more interesting question is who’s not in the playoffs that’s going to be in the playoffs well that’s a I I think to be honest with you I look at the East right now and we touched on this with Z I think Ottawa in because I don’t believe in any of the teams behind them be honest with you and now I don’t know 100% how much do I believe in Ottawa that there’s still a lot to be proven there and I could eat these words you know be because there’s so much to be proven there with Ottawa but I’m going to stick with that I’m going to stick with Ottawa in the playoffs and the other seven in the East right now obviously Florida Toronto Boston New Jersey Washington Carolina and Tampa that I mentioned it I think Utah I think Utah jumps up I I like the way they’re playing I love the way they’re coached they have a lot of home games still to play and they have not been very good at home but there there’s they’re still developing a home ICE advantage in that building um young players looking to take the next step I think their goal tending is pretty solid Vela has been quite good I think they’re going to have to keep him he’s a UFA I think they should keep him I I like Utah to take that next jump sort of the way Ottawa has taken that jump you remember I mean when they were Arizona they were a building team they were getting better each year so they’ve moved to Utah and you expect them to get better again and and I think that they will and I can see them too being this bubble team I can see Bill Armstrong their general manager doing a reversal of what he’s done in the past become a buyer because they got a load of cap space and you become a buyer at the deadline you fill some defensive holes you you you have that that you you need like Jersy being out is a hole right so you got to fill that I look at the Utah Hockey Club and I think they can be a playoff team I you look the reason I said Vancouver and I’m also got I got to tell you I’m not 100% sold on the Kings either okay they defend really well uh how long does that goal tending hold up that that that’s got to be a question but they do defend really well but I looked at Vancouver they still got to play Vegas three times Winnipeg three times and Dallas three times that’s nine games against three of the top teams they got Edmonton Minnesota Colorado uh they got Toronto Washington I I wrote about this so I have all these off you know off the top of my head cuz I wrote about this but also coming out of the four nations they have two Road Trips of five and more games that’s a lot and five of their last six games Sean two against Vegas one against Dallas one against Colorado and one against Minnesota the schedule is really hard for the Vancouver Canucks they don’t keep the puck out of the net well well enough so I think that they are the team more than the Kings because of the def the defending I think they’re the team that’s a little bit more vulnerable and Utah is the team that I see jumping up in the west by the way and looking at the standings as we kind of do this reset to go into the new year the Dallas Stars are the second wild card in the west that’s unbelievable I know I know they’re way better than that I think they have a big second half I think that they will but it’s interesting you know it’s an interesting topic uh and I liked your other question but let’s flip it to a different let’s go to the top here we’re at the holiday break we come off of it tomorrow being Friday Sean who’s the best team in the National Hockey League right right this minute this season who’s the best team in the National Hockey League this season right now it’s the Vegas golden knights agree well and it’s not I say that they have the best points percentage right so sounds pretty obvious to say that but it has nothing to do with it has nothing to do that they are built yep to succeed in the playoffs they have the most balanced game you agree with that yeah I I I agree with that they have the fewest holes I I just think when you look at them and you look at a team that’s going to succeed in the playoffs they have all of those ingredients so you know I think there’s contenders to that Throne you know I’ve always been big all year on the Florida Panthers I don’t think they’re very different from the team that won the Cup last year you look at what New Jersey’s doing right now the defense they’re playing like it’s been eight games in a row that they’ve given up less than 20 shots the 95 Devils didn’t do that the 2000 Devils didn’t do that like they’re playing defense at a level that’s never been seen I don’t believe that’s ever been done before um and everybody knows that defense wins championships and and they can score um so I think some people are sleeping on them I think the New York Rangers and we talked about this slept on them a little bit the day before the holiday break um well so that’s a different conversation altogether but listen I I agree with you with Vegas number one I think Vegas is the best team in the league I think they they cover every base they don’t get beat in any area but you talked about the devils and and what do we talk about with Florida uh with Vegas recently you you we’ve seen it with these Stanley Cup winning teams big defense right well look at the Devils douge Hamilton Brendan Dylan uh you know kovich pesi seen thaler Hughes these are all they’re all big boys right I mean Hughes is still growing into his body a little bit but he’s got big he’s 6’2 63 right you know so the devil’s and I’m glad you brought that up they they’re not getting I don’t think that they will get enough credit for how they defend and I think part of the reason for that John is the first quarter of the season they were giving up some stuff they were giving up four or five a game at times and they’ve seemed to self-correct that with how they defend their goal tending is solid but the size on the back end it was a huge factor in Florida to win the Stanley Cup last year a huge factor in Vegas and a big reason why Vegas is still you and I agree with this the best team in the National Hockey League right now and I think is going to be a huge factor in the New Jersey Devil’s success this season too has been already so let me ask you the last thing standings related where are the Washington Capitals when this is all said and done well I listen I like the capitals the retool that they’ve done they did in the uh you know in the off season which I also to plug it again touched on in my mailbag I I think they’re top three I in the division part of the reason I think they’re top three in the division is who’s better who’s jumping up who’s coming up at them and taking them out they have played really really consistently good hockey and they’ve survived without their best goal scorer and Alex oetkin who’s coming back they have size they’re maybe not the fastest team but they move the puck quickly they’re their defense is good enough the goal tending has been spectacular uh it’s got to hold up but it’s with Logan Thompson and Charlie lingren you’d think it it will one of those guys can take it and run I would imagine I think they’re a top three team in the Metro where they are in the playoffs that’s going to be interesting so if they play Carolina in the first round or they play New Jersey in the first round got to see I mean we’re still talking 48 47 48 games away from that you know but I think Washington has positioned itself to be a top three team in the Metropolitan Division I don’t think I’m going out on a Lim saying that because of how they’ve played but also because how Pittsburgh Columbus Philadelphia the Islanders and the Rangers have played yeah I I don’t think you’re going on at a limit all and saying they’re top three in the division I I I’m concerned about what they’ll do towards the end of the season and when we get to the playoffs and when when everyone’s game changes a little bit and whether they have another gear or not I think that remains to be seen and I also think the thing that remains to be seen is when Alex comes back Alex oetkin and if he’s at at his Peak quickly and he’s able to put Wayne Gretzky’s goal record in his sights what that’s like yeah right never seen it how that impacts them right because the last record he chased it became all about him right the whole team catered to him to get that done and and I think as you go into a playoff run the last thing you want is that kind of distraction right where in every building you go into this is the storyline Wayne graty showing up there’s there’s a codery of media following him everywhere he goes like I it’s something that would be an added thing going into the playoffs that I don’t know would be a positive agree 100% but I think being in a playoff race changes that right being in a team positioning yourself to be the best you could possibly be uh going into the playoffs will change the approach from what maybe we’ve seen in the past from when he was pushing for 800 or something like that like then it was all about him but this has got to be all about the team and you’re right we haven’t seen it we don’t know right but I think that does change it and it’s a veteran team um that that is pushing for something bigger as a team they’re going to want to set him up they’re gonna want but why wouldn’t you want to set him up when he’s on the ice with you right and I think it comes back like you know if you have the ability to pass the puck to the best goal scorer on the planet in history well you’re going to try to pass him the puck whether he’s going after a record or not if he’s in position he’s got to be in position all of that stuff so I don’t know that it changes that much the the attention changes but at this point I would think Alex oetkin is used to the attention he knows it he knows it’s coming he knows how to handle it he’s a veteran he’s in his late 30s so I don’t think it impacts them that much but we don’t know because we haven’t seen it yeah it’ll be interesting I hope it happens I I think it’ll be a great way to end the year you know he was so hot before he got injured and he’s close to coming back I I think it’ll be before the new year um we’ll see there’s a couple of games before that I think that’s what they’re targeting but if not it’ll be in the new year and it’ll be great to watch going down the second half I hope he makes a run at it I hope so too all right so that can lead us into the last three topics that I oh yeah you got to say something say it so Dan we just gave all of our opinions on what the playoff race is going to look like and how some teams aren’t going to make it and other teams are and then the best laid plans get scuttled by breaking news and that’s what we have here today breaking news not only do we need Phil to have a sound for the mushy middle we need like the 101 wins news chime for break to announce yes to announce announce it say it that the Detroit Red Wings have just hired Todd mlen as their coach Derek lon’s out Todd mullen’s in with Trent Yanni and for those of us who followed Dan Rosen closely which is everyone we all know that Trent y was in the coach’s room this year Dan was writing that every time Dan writes a coach’s room that coach gets hired in the NHL so trench just the latest one congratulations to him um congratulations to Dan his schedule his his achievements continue to pile up and uh does this make Detroit different clearly it’s a bold move by Steve Eiserman first off first off I did tell Trent Yanni at the start guys I do coaches room with get a job I didn’t expect it to happen this fast but good for him he obviously coached with Todd mcclelen in La there is a relationship there so this makes a lot of sense Todd mcclelen to me makes a lot of sense a coaching change in Detroit makes a lot of sense I think Derek laland can be a good coach in the National Hockey League I don’t know that he was handed the best fit for a team also first job you never know all these things I think he’ll probably get another one when that happens I don’t know but I would imagine he gets another one but for right now the Detroit Red Wings need a new Direction they need a change Todd McCullen’s a veteran coach Derek luland was not Derek Lon is a veteran in coaching world but it was his first NHL head coaching job Todd mclen has had a few of them right he’s also grew up a little bit in the Red Wings organization he won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 coaching under Mike Babcock and they need a new change does it change Sean does it change the standings too much I mean I don’t think so I think it it could make it could the Red Wings could get the new coach bump they haven’t played well I don’t know about their goal tending I don’t know about their depth their speed they’re right now eight points back from the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card but you’ve got every other team except the Buffalo Sabers to in between them that’s not in a playoff spot it’s a it’s a long jump for them to climb that high into the playoff spot but I think it it it makes them more noticeable if you will I I I think Todd mlen is is a very good coach I he’s been a good coach pretty much wherever he’s gone right uh and it’s an interesting move but it’s not surprising and it’s not the it’s not a surprising name either because there is a history he’s associated with uh in the past the Detroit Red Wings you know what it reminds me of the Craig barui Sheldon Keefe conversation we just had yeah possibly right Sheldon it was his first job Z suggested that maybe his message wasn’t getting across to a a talented team that had beliefs about who they should be and then kig bruy comes in and all of a sudden they’re signed up and and they’re on board look Todd mclen I think is in that group where he has a little bit of gravatas yeah and maybe the message sinks in now so maybe there is that new coach bump and then there’s a continuing bump after that because the messenger is viewed differently maybe but but the the the Red Wings haven’t they’re not a they’re not a young team Sean right I mean they’re not at all a young team and they’ve also brought in different pieces along the way like yes Raymond and cider are younger talented you know star type players you know du Brink’s underperforming this year I I would tell you that Patrick Kane is you know comfor cop Tera senko is underperforming in this year but but we’re talking about guys that are probably on the other side of it at this point right I mean not that they’re bad players by any stretch but they’re not in the front nine of their careers the brink it’s the closest still to the front nine but not in the front nine of their careers can Todd mlen bring more out of them at this point in their career don’t you think they should be able to bring more out of themselves well I think that Steve Eiserman brought those players in because he thought that the Detroit Red Wings were ready to win and they were ready to be a playoff team and they needed those veterans they couldn’t go out anymore with the rebuild and just get beat up they needed veteran players to get him over the hump they haven’t done that do they do that under Todd mlen maybe maybe here’s a bigger question Sean does this put Steve Eiserman on the clock yeah I think this was his last card right this was this was the one card he had left to play they haven’t gotten lucky in the draft lottery right they they had those couple of years where they didn’t get lucky in the draft lottery when they thought they would so they weren’t able to to get the generational if you will right player but they’ve I mean listen Raymond and cider have developed very nicely the other guys you know not not so much at this at this point but there’s still some coming there’s still some to play you know guy like Marco Casper you know Jonathan bergren you know Edinson uh plus we touched on you know they goenda Trey Augustine they have a they have a you know a stable of goenda took over to to put this team back into that Contender status on a consistent basis he went from Jeff blashill to Derek leand now Derek laland to Todd mlen to me this puts Steve isman on the clock although this is the issue when you hire a generational star for your team to be your general manager how do you fire Steve Eiserman by his record I know but if you’re the Detroit redm I mean it but you get my point right I mean it yeah the Detroit Red Wings firing Steve isman his numbers hangs in the rafters he’s a Stanley Cup champion multiple times he’s the captain the leader the you know the greatest of all time in this you know well in the NHL but certainly in in Detroit and now he’s on the clock it’s it’s an it’s it’s the next conversation to have the conversation right now is can the Detroit Red Wing this season and bump up and take a spot uh slowly bump up and take that spot that Ottawa has right now I don’t see it but the new coach bump is the new coach bump and it is a real thing yeah I mean we’ll see I I do they have enough I think that’s the big question and they haven’t shown it yet so it’ll be quite a bump if they’re able to get over the top yeah all right last thing this breaking news set us took away a few things we had to touch on this the last thing let’s make it quick here Sean New Year’s resolution for the podcast just for the podcast what is your New Year’s I hope it’s a good one I hope it’s be nice to me what’s your New Year’s resolution I have multiples one is to be nicer to you because that’s that’s the spirit of the holidays Dan you you sometimes it’s too easy and and I need to rest all right no I am I’m telling you two is we need to get more wacky soccer names into the podcast you did that for sure three we need more listener participation o I like that we have loyal listeners all over the place I hear from them by email or when I run into them in person um you hear from more because you’re the more famous of the two and I have resolution is gone already no I’m being serious everywhere we go it’s condescending is what you’re being it’s Dan Rosen oh Mr Rosen oh Mr Rosen I see you on the network I listen to you on at the rink how about the time last year when we’re in Seattle and the guy’s like oh dude I listen every week to at the rake and I was standing right next to you yeah and the guy didn’t even acknowledge remember that yeah didn’t at all yeah so you’re the more famous of of us so you hear from more of the readers of the listeners but I I think we could have like a little listener participation thing going on and I think that would be great for the podcast I I think you’re right I think we should look into doing that uh for next week’s podcast which will be the first in 2025 I have one I like yours the last one you know uh so that I’m not the first one I don’t believe that one it’s not I think you I think you like me being me it’s it’s good for the podcast I take it well I have one New Year’s resolution for this podcast I will not in 2025 make fun of your Christmas salad it won’t happen I won’t make fun of it I won’t even bring it up Phil can record this come Thanksgiving I’ll totally forget about my New Year’s resolution and I will make fun of it but he can but we can drop this into a podcast down the road I will not make fun of your Christmas salad promise resolution book it I don’t care you just shows your your unworldliness okay it’s not 2025 yet by the way so I can still make fun of it uh anyway this was fun the last one we’ll do in 2024 we had breaking news even so this was a good one with Z coming on and uh listen we’ll be at the Winter Classic next week we’ll come we’ll be back from the Winter Classic we’ll be looking ahead to the four nations and playoff races and trade deadline and everything Sean so I’m looking forward to it yeah Happy New Year to the listeners be safe have fun enjoy your New Year’s watch the Winter Classic and the world juniors and we’ll catch up with you on the other side absolutely and remember the podcast is brought to you by skip skip to the good part and get groceries meals and essential delivered right to your door on skip enjoy the hockey
🚀 Related Hashtags: #Mike #Zeisberger #joins #Winter #Classic #World #Juniors #Breaking #News #Coaching #Change #Detroit
Disclaimer: This video is embedded directly from YouTube. All rights to the video and content belong to the original creator, NHL. For more details, please visit the original source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h72qoDo83c.
