Sisyphus Fall

Transcript

Speaker: They should stop being bad. Hashtag Horse Girls for Thomas Chabot. The podcast is the root of all evil. It is a lesbian flag with Josh Norris' face on it. The heck, we're geniuses. We're catching strays in this hockey yowie.

Speaker: Hi everyone, and welcome to episode Sergei Gonchar of Elite Sens Brain. As always, I am Beata, and I'm joined by the artist formerly known as Twitter user at EricssonsBurner. How are you doing?

Speaker: I'm doing so good. How are you doing? i'm great we have gone on a little bit of a hiatus we've been touching grass over the summer And I have one question for you as ah we approach the start of the Ottawa Senators season.

Speaker: Have you chosen a hill? but The hill we choose. i You texted me about that? And I thought you were like lying. Like I was like, cause you were like, have you seen it? And I Googled it and I was like.

Speaker: What? This is AI. This is not real. I don't get it, but I'm into it. it's like It's like Odyssey summer leads into Sisyphus fall, you know, like it works.

Speaker: Yeah, I like that. I know. I really like the... Yeah, the imagery of like the Ottawa Senators rolling a boulder up a giant hill. There have been, there's I don't know, Sense fans have been riffing on it. It's been really cool. The hell we choose is the thing that I think a lot of people are going to be talking about.

Speaker: It's just... It's really bad, but it makes for excellent content. So I'm happy with it. It's so bad. But like no offense to whoever picked it. But like, I can't see it, how it's positive at all. Because the only thing it sounds like is the hill we choose to die on. And like, yeah that's not a good thing. Like that's not.

Speaker: That's what you say when something's bad normally or like hard to defend. so i don't get it it's just like i i truly don't understand the It takes an elite sense brain to come up with it actually. So I'm back on it. I'm back on loving it. I know, like soon after they announced that I was in Ottawa and I walked past Parliament Hill and I was like, that's the hill I choose.

Speaker: I love that hill. Oh my god, that's good. I choose. Yeah, fuck. Because I think it's supposed to be about Parliament Hill and also the Gatineau Hills. Oh my god, you know what's so crazy? I did not put two and two together and I am born and raised in Ottawa. Wow. and that's Okay, I'm choosing to blame the slogan even more. Because literally all I thought of was Hill I choose to die on and then Sisyphus. And that's all I could think of. Like, I couldn't think of anything else. I was like, why did they do that?

Speaker: The hill we choose. The issue is that it's actually in... As we all know, Kanata. So like. You can't choose. choose that Also... Famously, where are they moving?

Speaker: the britain flat Not so much a hill. No. But I still love it! thing is the The sillier it gets, the more I like it. yeah I kept trying to come up with a good joke about the fact that, and I'm sorry, I'm i'm doxing myself here. Please, nobody use this information against me. um

Speaker: i I have been running a lot over the summer and usually my running route is up Mont -Royal, which is obviously a very iconic hill in Montreal. And I keep going like, this is the hill I choose. Oh, but it's in Montreal. So it doesn't work. I can't choose a hill that's in Montreal, even if I run up it like every other day.

Speaker: Wait, that's literally so good. Damn, wait. Okay, everyone, when you go on your... gat no like fall like walk that will be the hill yeah yeah when you're hiking oh my god That's so funny because even that's not...

Speaker: Like it's, it's Ottawa, but it's, it's Gatineau. You know what I mean? Like that's not, it's not so much the Ottawa senators, but I appreciate it still. I like it. It's very funny that's so that's such a bad slogan though like I love it as we are like talking about but that's like the worst thing I've ever like objectively speaking I can't, I don't know how they came up with it.

Speaker: The Sens are really lucky that they have such a funny fan base that can turn anything into a good bit. Yeah, it's true because, like... Guys. What are we doing?

Speaker: it's It's also like, I don't even know, what were their other ones? Was there a last year one? I think it was just hard over hype. Oh, yeah. Heart all in.

Speaker: That's the other one. Heart Over Hype. I remember that because it's basically like, yeah, we're not so good. well Like, it's a lot of, like, we know know we know. I think that's one of the better ones they've done because it's, like, it it kind of sends the message of, like, all these other teams have so much hype around them, but, like, we know that we're good, right? Yeah. I don't know. That's kind of how I interpret it. That's true. I think I took it, too, on face value of, like, there's no hype, but. We like love each other. And I was like, well.

Speaker: is that the message we want to send but you know what it's nice and i like the slogan like as we talk about It's terrible and I hate it, but that makes me like it more.

Speaker: you know Yeah, it has drawn a few um comparisons to Sends in Session a few years ago, where like, for those who don't know, that was a slogan that they never used. It was scrapped, but they sent it out ah to season ticket holders to be like, what do you think of all these slogans? And one of them was Sends in Session. And people made fun of it online and were like, this is so funny.

Speaker: But then... It was so bad that, like, we turned it into a really good bit. And then this ends. started using Sends in Session kind of ironically. Except this time the Sen's really introduced... their season slogan as The hill we choose. It is the holy truth. That's actually it's beautiful.

Speaker: It's like poetic. It sounds like the name of a poem. Mmm. And then, yeah. You know what? I like it again. I go back and forth on it. But...

Speaker: The hill we choose is the hill I choose. Mm -hmm. Yeah. You know ah who else has chosen a hill to die on? several i'm this is a great segue actually you really gave me a great segue i'm really proud of myself Peace.

Speaker: Several players around the NHL have chosen to die on the hill of... demanding a trade. Which... It's so funny. like I Because, okay.

Speaker: Some of them we obviously have talked about at length. Brady Kachuk. he Yeah, that whole thing. But then, yeah, Connor Hellevuck and also the funniest one is Dylan Larkin. because Yeah.

Speaker: And it's so funny because remember... In our Brady Kachuk trade episode, we were saying it's so sad that This happened, this trade happened before we had a chance to make fun of Dylan Larkin on our podcast because the Dylan Larkin trade request had broken like a little bit before that.

Speaker: And then we were like, oh man, now we're in the same boat as the Red Wings. Except now it's gone on for so long that we can, in fact, make fun of the Red Wings for this. Because why are they going into training camp? And they still haven't traded him!

Speaker: It's so funny. And like... I... I think we've we talked about it before, but like... All the parts that were funny before remain funny. The part that this is his literal hometown. team like he was a fan of them growing up i I was thinking, I was like, because it makes no sense. Because the Connor Hellebuck thing, I'm like, okay, if we're just demanding trades out of Canada, of course that makes sense.

Speaker: Is it just Detroit's proximity to Windsor we think? Like maybe then he was just like I'm fed up the freaking there's a bridge that goes to Windsor and I just can't stand it anymore.

Speaker: I don't know. It's So good. And the drama of them stripping him of the captaincy. And then I don't know if you saw this part, but he is quote unquote. injured so he can't participate in training camp or you know play the first game of the season oh how convenient That's so...

Speaker: This is like so embarrassing. And... Like... What, like, who was, like, obviously, like, Stevie Iseman, but is he still there? No, they fired him. Okay, they fired him.

Speaker: Like. pretty soon after the brady kachuk trade like a while ago yes if i think we actually i and they only just announced an interim gm so they had a whole off season where they didn't do anything because they had no gm they have like one of their best young players doesn't have a contract and they like can't sign him.

Speaker: Oh my gosh. I didn't even know all this. This is really awesome. Like what's up with them? Why are they? It's because of you. It's because you hurt them. And that's so beautiful. Like I broke them. I don't know. Okay. I don't know if you saw. you You clearly wouldn't have seen this. I should have sent it to you. But every year, JFresh does this poll where he's like, um he asks fan bases to tell him which team they hate.

Speaker: The most, right? And. Detroit fans ranked Ottawa as the team that they hate the most and they were not in our top three. Wait, I'm pulling this up now. That's so embarrassing. yeah Why? What did we - Thank you! It's just... The online ones. but it's also like it's really funny because this sends

Speaker: have also like inflicted so much psychic damage on the Red Wings on the ice. like Why are the Sens always the ones to beat them in the most like devastating way year after year? like Honestly? I'm going to put this out here. I might regret it one day.

Speaker: I want a Sens vs. Red Wings playoff series because I think the Sens would beat them. i believe you it's also hold on i pulled up the j fresh thing it's so funny because it sends and then it's just like stock image you know because then it's like okay leafs Like... yeah yeah it's like that everyone hates them so like the sons are the only actual answer they gave because then the rest was just like i don't know two three random like who cares That's so funny. Also, yeah This sends...

Speaker: They make sense. Had number one is funny, though. That's also your influence. I know. Because I feel like most people would say Leaf's number one. It's also gotten to the point where like, I've started to feel a little bit bad because Red Wings fans are actually going through so much right now and they're actually being very funny about it. And like, they seem to know what's going on with their team. They know how bad their team is. They know how bad the outlook is. So I'm kind of like, okay.

Speaker: I'm not as annoyed with them now and I almost feel bad for them. Oh my gosh. Wait, i now I just can't stop looking at these JFresh tweets. Why are we the 11th most hated NHL team?

Speaker: what that we are punching above our weight especially considering that like half of sen's twitter is just on blue sky now i like it you know why okay this is actually the reason it's because The half that went to blue sky. is the half butt. is no hate to everyone left on twitter but like the half that is like on blue sky is the good half That's true. Yeah, I think it's only the really awful ones. Well, it's mostly the really awful ones that are still on Twitter.

Speaker: That's so funny. It's just so funny. People hated us because of Brady Kachuk. Completely understand. So valid. But now he's gone and we're 11? If he was still here, we'd be like four. That's amazing.

Speaker: I also like how Vegas is number one. I agree. Yeah. real Oh, my gosh. I love. data. That's not about on ice product. but Yeah, but it's also like...

Speaker: So this situation and also the Connor Hellebuck situation where like, I don't know, he put out a statement saying like, by the way, I have in fact requested a trade and now he's sitting out training camp and he's suspended. It's like, it really makes the Sens look so good.

Speaker: Because like they're going through all this drama. There's so much uncertainty. We'll see if they end up getting a better return. But like this is so public. Everyone knows that like they kind of have to trade these players, right?

Speaker: I mean, yeah, maybe if they wait long enough, they'll get a good return and then we'll look like fools. But for now, we look like geniuses because we're like, we sorted this out in the summer. We've got our replacement. where' We're ready to go.

Speaker: Mm -hmm. We came out of it. As one of the best ones, I think out of the whole like. USA Olympic. whatever thing like we we won that in the end like I think that Like we came out of it the best. And I almost wonder. if This comes from the SENS organization being so used to drama that they know how to avoid it. That they were just like...

Speaker: You know, they heard the trade request and they were like, cool, you're you're gone. like we're just gonna get the best return we possibly can And like, mind you, Staios pulled this off.

Speaker: Even though Brady Kachuk literally had a full no movement clause and was only willing to wave for one team. Like, this is insane that he... managed to like salvage the situation in that way Yeah. Oh, my God. I also saw... was it a fake quote or a real quote where he was like,

Speaker: Oh, like... his family got in his ear or whatever. Who said that? That was Ed Lauer. who i la and was it Blood runs thicker than water. His family got in his kitchen. yeah So funny. Oh my gosh.

Speaker: I believe it i Yeah, that is what happened. So crazy. it's not fair because brady kachuk Couldn't read. and then he also couldn't think for himself and then This all happened.

Speaker: Yeah. And like, I don't love that out of all of this, Brady could chuck. got what he wanted when the other players didn't. you know like I think there is that element of it where it's like, ah don't don't cave to them. Don't let them just get what they want. But like I think the Sens had the attitude of like whatever. like He'll get what he wants, but...

Speaker: We're not going to let him ruin the team even more than he already has. you know Yeah. Oh my gosh. It's all... It's all just crazy But...

Speaker: I don't even know what's going to happen with Halibut then. That's so funny. Yeah, well, that's extra hard. Okay, did you hear that he almost got traded for Josh Norris? One for one? No, it was for, what was it? Ukupakalukanan?

Speaker: ah Josh Norris. And also a pic. and like i I'm only person in the world who would ever be like, I wonder what Josh Norris forgot her hello book.

Speaker: I believe. Well, okay, no. They were - it's a mysterious player. uh, a center that they had concerns about because of his health. So it could be anyone. Okay. Yeah. Okay, cool. Oh my God.

Speaker: It's like, you know, that thing of like. Ariana Grande was the new Givenchy ambassador or whatever, and it's just the most obvious silhouette of her. well wait

Speaker: um this Is this a serious player who's a center with an injury history? Oh gosh. I just made a clarified American center. I can't remember. It was like the most obvious thing. An American balding center. With with an iffy Instagram follow. That actually opens it up. If you say like an iffy Instagram follow. does he actually i don't think so actually okay well But i I don't check these things. With a non -iffy Instagram follow list, that would narrow it down.

Speaker: Yeah. But yeah, so apparently they had. Okay, yeah, so... apparently that trade didn't happen because Winnipeg wanted even more. And then also they were going to trade him to Florida before the Brady -Kachuk trade happened. And then they said, no, like, you know, we want more. they They overplayed their hands. And then Florida gave up. And they were, Florida was going to give up like a lot of the assets that ended up going to

Speaker: Ottawa. including, I think, the ninth overall pick, or it's like, you know, some of that trade package, right? So then... You know, yeah, that trade falls through and then they do the trade with Ottawa after all. And now apparently the trades are shit, which makes sense because it's like how many teams are in the market for a starting goaltender?

Speaker: And who was kind of shit last year, you know, like it's extra hard to trade your goaltender and he has a no trade and like it's training camp. So obviously like everyone has their roster set.

Speaker: Like, oh my god. That's so crazy. Because, like... Yeah, like... ah I'm assuming his, I don't know his contract, but i I'm assuming that no one has the cap space for that. so Yeah, it's like...

Speaker: I mean, everybody has cap space now, but yeah I think it's like people had cap space during the off season because everyone, you know, the cap jumped up by so much. but Now... Yeah, now that we're at training camp, like not necessarily. That's so crazy. Oh my gosh.

Speaker: so then and yeah he like just didn't report right so then What happens now? What happens if and you just don't report? if Can you just like... He gets suspended.

Speaker: Did someone do that? Yeah, he got the sense. Did Alexey Yashin do that? Yeah. So actually, I think people have been saying that the last player to just sit out a season while under contract was Alexey Yashin because the Sens are the center of the universe. It's literally all about the Sens. Oh my gosh.

Speaker: That's so funny. Wow. Okay. I wonder what'll happen. Man! it's That damn... Medal of Freedom. poisoned his brain. i'm just kidding i'm sure it was like that already but that's just crazy This is like one day they got to do a retrospective on like what the F went down in that locker room.

Speaker: I know. But also like... I wish Winnipeg would... acknowledge that they need to rebuild and potentially trade all their wingers to Ottawa. I think that would be really cool.

Speaker: Because, like, the thing is... I think... This is partly because the cap has jumped up by so much, but like truly everybody thinks that it's time to compete now. And a lot of people would say that the Sens are one of the teams that are delusional, but I don't think they are.

Speaker: Because I love them. But everybody else thinks it's time to compete and nobody is selling. Everybody is trying to make the playoffs and win the cup this year because they think they have a chance because they suddenly have all this cap space and so they can fit all their players.

Speaker: But like... There's never been a better time. to just do a fire sale. You could get a King's ransom. Everybody wants these forwards. Sell all your wingers to Ottawa. That's my hill. Yeah.

Speaker: Exactly. Oh my gosh. This is crazy. I have not been tapped into hockey at all. this like off season so you're telling me all of this for the first time i should have done my homework i'm sorry but It's been...

Speaker: Such a crazy offseason. Well, and speaking of the cap going up... the defense didn't make I didn't even know that happened. I actually didn't even know the cat went up. That's why when I was like, no one has cat toys. And you were like, yes, they do now. I was like.

Speaker: What? I didn't know. The cap has gone on gone up by so much that everybody is signing their players to like $20 million dollars a year. It's so crazy. Oh my gosh.

Speaker: that's why it's happening okay because i was seeing those contracts and i was so confused Well, because the cap the cap went up a whole bunch this year, and then it's also going to jump up again like next year and every year.

Speaker: Forever. For the foreseeable future, right? But this was everyone's plan and then COVID happened. That's the saddest part of COVID. Just kidding, obviously. But like, you know what I mean? It's crazy that it got so delayed. But it's funny that it screwed over the Toronto Maple Leafs more than anything else. I was literally just thinking about that. I was like, this was literally Cal Dubas' plan. And then...

Speaker: How could he have foreseen it? Yeah, so in a way, it's a very good thing that the Sens have all their young players locked up to... good contracts but also i do feel like the cap is jumping up by so much that maybe cap space will be less of an advantage than we think because everyone's going to have cap space, but we'll see. True.

Speaker: oh my gosh well it'll be interesting to see But yeah. Anyways, what I was getting to was Ascends made their one signing which was signing... Drake Batherson to eight years times.

Speaker: 10 .75 million. Which is a crazy amount of money, but somehow... I guess fine. Okay. the cab space going up has solved a lot of problems in my head because i heard that number like i i i don't remember where i heard it and i was like Huh?

Speaker: How could they afford that? and then i didn't look into it more but this makes a lot of sense i still think they probably should have um not done it but they should have spent it on something better Yeah, Patterson is a very frustrating player to watch, and I feel like they could...

Speaker: definitely improve on him. And I think he's a Tim Schitzler merchant who also drags Tim Schitzler down. um But, you know, maybe he'll prove me wrong. And also, it's like, I got the, like...

Speaker: He wants to be here. where We can't really turn down players who want to be here at this point. so like and like it's not like we have an upgrade at wing because we already need to upgrade even with him right so we can't really afford to just lose him So I guess it's fine. But, like, if in a year or two we feel like maybe there's a trade to be made and he's the missing piece in that trade, ah I would be down. mm -hmm

Speaker: Oh my gosh. This is all... crazy. Yeah, I don't know. I feel like it's sad that no one wants to give us their epic players. Who would you most want from Winnipeg? Give me your Winnipeg.

Speaker: dream hall Okay, so I don't know that much about Winnipeg except like that they have a lot of wingers, but I mean the obvious one Obviously we want Kyle Connor, right? And I know he's American, but he skipped the White House visit. oh oh my gosh wait kyle connor is number one on my trade with or like on my trade for list This is awesome.

Speaker: And any Winnipeg fan listening to this is like, that's never happening in a million years. But like... Who knows? Maybe your team is going to go into fire sale mode and he's like your best asset. yeah But I would also settle for other wiggers as well.

Speaker: Because my understanding of Winnipeg was that their whole game plan was... do kind of whatever have like good kind of wingers because obviously they had eelers for a while And like score goals kind of that way, but mostly their whole game plan was Connor Hellebuck. So if Connor Hellebuck is gone, then what is the game plan?

Speaker: Mm hmm. Sell to the Sens and rebuild. Look, I... I feel very bad for the people of Winnipeg. I have no ill will in my heart for the Winnipeg Jets.

Speaker: But unfortunately, I am rooting for things to go very badly this season so that they can be sellers at the trade deadline. And specifically, I hope that they will find it in their hearts.

Speaker: to help out another small market Canadian team. Like if we just Join forces to maximize our joint slay. as small market Canadian teams. I think we could have a really good team. We can build a super team.

Speaker: We'll just keep trading the rosters back and forth every other year. It's perfect. yeah Yeah, once once our core stops working, like, you can have them. It's cool. Yeah, I honestly think we need to do more collusion. Like...

Speaker: I don't know how. I don't know if anyone does collusion in any other levels in any other like sport. But we got to figure that out. Like all the Canadian teams minus like the Habs and Leafs. We need to figure this out together.

Speaker: Call me. We need to figure it out. Yeah, we need to unionize against the herbs and leaves. Well, and... I mean, in our last episode, we talked about how we want the Swedish Olympic team to get in their group chat.

Speaker: and form a super team in Ottawa. And we have... made one step toward that, which is acquiring another really bad Swedish goaltender. So we've gotten a little bit more Swedish. they all We count all of them. They all count. yeah like Are we bringing in the...

Speaker: best swedish players no but they're swedes and that's what matters yeah and like Skill -wise, who cares? We're looking at exactly. We're looking at.

Speaker: Swedish per 60. we're looking at meatballs per 60. I don't know. I don't know. other We're looking at Zara Larson per 60. Like we're looking at this, you know what I mean? We're looking at midnight sun. All I know is per 60.

Speaker: Yeah, well, oh my god. This happened after our last episode. We did lose one of our Swedes. Our main Swede. Daniel Alfredson. Oh my god, duh! But I was like...

Speaker: all Oh yeah. So sad. When Tim Stitzel specifically told him not! to That was so crazy. Like, cause I texted this to you yeah that apparently, so Tim Schitza did an interview where he was like, yeah, I knew that Alfie was looking for a new team. I told him anyone but the Leafs and Habs.

Speaker: Like, that's my guy right there. you That's actually so sad. What is? And I always said they should just give him a front office job. And like. Never let them leave. yeah it sounds like that was exactly the problem where the sons were like so you're really bad at coaching but we want you to stick around In some capacity. How would you like to stick around? And Alfie was like.

Speaker: But I really want to be a coach in the sense for like, you can't do that here. It's not going to work. um and then the Leafs were ready to offer him a coaching job and he like actually wants to be a coach but Ottawa was not and willing to give him a chance to be a coach I feel like he should have just taken the front office job in Ottawa and coached Paddle on the side because I don't know if hockey coaching is his calling, but maybe...

Speaker: Maybe he'll hone his skills in Toronto and then come back. Or... You know, maybe it's a Kyle Dubas situation where he's going to Toronto to destroy them from the inside and then he'll come back. I mean, our power play has been...

Speaker: great in the preseason. well that I'll be running it. Yeah. no hate but yeah well what what's matt sandin up to does he want to come here What's he doing now? Oh my god, the only thing that, like...

Speaker: truly terrifies me this possibility is like too awful to put into words but like Oh my God, Eric Carlson has one year left on his deal. And we were saying he's going to come to Ottawa. We have Alfie back.

Speaker: I can't even say it. I can't even say the possibility that is in my head. Like, it can't happen. We cannot have this happen. He he has to know he can't do that, right? I don't think he will because I'm pretty sure he goes to the Great Glebe garage sale still. Like, I still think he's Ottawa down in his heart. But he's so Alfie down too, you know? That's actually so fucked up. what My mom was really sad.

Speaker: like i'll like Like, everyone in Ottawa was different. Yeah. It's just also like... What the hell, Alfie? Like, what is this? Hop on! I... I swear I have like abandonment issues. Because of him. like What? it's so weird it's like loki just like take whatever job and then coach like youth like hockey in ottawa like it doesn't just go find your calling that way like you don't have to coach At the NHL level.

Speaker: Like... On some level, I kind of... appreciate one thing I appreciate about him is he really does not give a fuck like he does what he wants and Sometimes I love that about him. But sometimes it means that he abandons the Sens for no reason!

Speaker: no it's actually so fuck it's like um oh my god this might be too niche uh you know the looney tunes bit where like on the clock they're like fighting or whatever and then they each clock out and they're just like friends and they're like okay bye i see you see it that's like what this is to me i'm like we're like what do you you know what you mean you're going there and he's just like i clocked out it doesn't it's not that deep But it was that deep to me.

Speaker: Yeah, at least Tim Stutzler will never do that. Yeah, because Tim Stutzle knows... knows the hater energy, I guess. Like, he's the one player where I'm like, he actually cares about these rivalries. He takes them seriously. He understands.

Speaker: why these rivalries are important to us. maybe but then i'm kind of like maybe he'll retire and be like wherever i get up That's what worries me.

Speaker: I think. Next summer, he... Like... his no trade clause kicks in where he has to submit a list of teams he won't accept a trade to and obviously i don't think it's going to be relevant like he won't have to you know submit a trade list he's not getting traded but i am so curious what list he cooks up Because I'm like, wouldn't it be so funny if he was like, not Toronto, not Montreal.

Speaker: Oh my gosh. I believe. I believed him that he would do it. Like, he takes this stuff seriously. He he genuinely hates the Habs. It is so funny.

Speaker: I wonder if this is a theory I just came up with. I feel like he's pretty into like soccer and soccer is very big in Germany and I feel like soccer rivalries are like the biggest ever. Maybe that's it. Maybe that's why. yeah it's also like it's funny how i always liked to imagine that brady kachok was like

Speaker: you know, spearheading a lot of these rivalries and that he would really revive them. And he never seemed to care about the rivalries at all. And it's Tim Stutzla who has really, like, revived these rivalries. Yeah, because Brady Kachuk would just fight whoever. Like, he wasn't selected about it.

Speaker: And he almost didn't want to seem like he was. i don't know being unsportsmanlike or whatever you know saying anything To like. mean or controversial whereas chimster so will straight up like what was that clip where like he was the first star and he was doing his little interview with claire hannah after the game and he's like yeah nice to see lots of habs fans leaving early Like, he genuinely hates them. I love it. ah So awesome. um

Speaker: So Alfie, you've been replaced. Timur Stutzla is our best friend now. God, it's so great that he straight up like told Alfie not to go to Toronto. How could he betray him like that? The other thing is, now I'm worried about that Eric Carlson thing you put into the universe.

Speaker: Yeah. Like, it can happen. But also, I'm like... Leafs would... Do that because the Leafs... Yeah. defense they don't have any like really like star defenseman like it makes sense for them And Alfie is there, and Matt Sundin is calling the shots. It's just up to Eric Carlson whether he is...

Speaker: willing to betray himself on that level. So guys, this is another reason why it is So important that. that the Leafs do badly this year and that the Sens do better than the Leafs because we need We need it to be that.

Speaker: by the trade deadline, the SENS. Look. more like contenders than the Leafs do, right? yeah This is like, obviously we always want this, but I feel like it's extra important this year. We need the Leafs to have another flop year. We need the Sens to be good. We need Eric Carlson when he's, you know, at the trade deadline looking at his options because, you know, maybe we just need the Penguins to be...

Speaker: Contenders. I don't know. we need We need something to happen. to stop this from happening, right? But, like, if it happens that Eric Carlson is on the trade block at the trade deadline...

Speaker: And he's looking at his options like, what who would i I be willing to wave to? You want him looking at Toronto and going, they're not in a good spot. I love Alfie, but i'm I'm old now. I'm looking to chase a cup. Toronto is not the place to do that. Ottawa, though.

Speaker: I would like at this point I would accept him going to another team that is not Ottawa, as long as it's also not Toronto. what if he went to montreal well no obviously like come on i did i even need to say that i'm kidding i'm kidding wait that's actually true also it's funny how now like the kyle dubas secret sense fan like sleeper thing has to get activated again of like he's like i need to fucking walk in like Very convoluted. It all comes back around. Oh.

Speaker: Yeah. Kyle Dubas, everything depends on you right now. You need to get Eric Carlson a cup and you need to make sure he does not go to Toronto. You need to lock the fuck in, Kyle. Use your Brock degree as hard as you can.

Speaker: Kyle Dubas you know what Sens fans want you know what everyone wants to happen oh my god Oh my gosh, so good. Well, okay, so... the Sens win the Cup or the Penguins win the Cup this year.

Speaker: That's perfect. We don't even need the penguins to win the cup, we need them to look like contenders. going into the trade deadline enough that eric carlson eastern conference final redo Yeah, and this time the Sens win. And then during the offseason, Eric Carlson is like, I'm heading back to Ottawa because they were so good in that playoff series. Pulling a Brady Kachuk. Yeah.

Speaker: but really he like I refuse to go anywhere but the team. Because he doesn't have a brother. No, no, what I meant was when Brady Kachuk played against the Carolina Hurricanes, he was like, they're so good, I want to join them now. No, I know, because I feel like his two teams was...

Speaker: oh well werere Because they were literally the two teams in the cup final and also where his brother plays.

Speaker: So it's like, okay, perfect. And also Minnesota, except he then blocked a trade to Minnesota. So it wasn't actually a real option. Oh my God. He's like me. I think I already made this joke. He's me trying to decide where to eat, though. It's like, oh, I want to go here. And I'm like, no, that sounds fucking disgusting. It's like, well, make up your mind. You wanted to go hang out with Quinn Hughes. Also, OK, quickly going back to the Larkin thing. It's really funny that Minnesota apparently made an offer. But like Dylan Larkin hasn't been traded there because I'm like, what? Did they make an offer for Dylan Larkin? Do they not want him?

Speaker: Oh my gosh. I hope. I hope. i don't I don't know. That's so funny. I don't know. Where because what does he want? Where does he want to go? Just anywhere he doesn't have to do any work.

Speaker: And hang out with his buddies. Okay. Have fun in Vegas. I'm sure he'll get there somehow. I'm sure they'll figure it out. Yeah. Okay. Anyways. Preseason is upon us.

Speaker: Let's talk about preseason. Specifically. The question we were all asking after those prospect showcase games, did you watch the prospect prospect showcase? No. Wow.

Speaker: You're a fake fan. You weren't so charmed for Sen's hockey that you were like, I'm tuning into this prospect showcase. The one thing you need to understand about the prospect showcase. is that Jackson Covert is the greatest hockey player of all time.

Speaker: I didn't have to watch the showcase to know that. so I'm the realest fan of them all. I saw it in my mind's eye before i even before the game even happened. Yeah. So what I was getting at is the question we need to ask is, is he the greatest hockey player of all time? But I think that's like, we don't even need to ask the question. Like it's really obvious, right? Like he is. Yeah. i didn't again i didn't even have to watch the games to know this this is like Knowledge that you're you come with at birth.

Speaker: It's like... I didn't know what it meant until like recently, but I just always had that in my head. I was like six years old. Like, I don't know who this is and what it means.

Speaker: But I just have this prophecy in my head. Yeah, I think Steve Steyos just knew when the draft pick got taken away, he was like... No, we need to draft.

Speaker: 30 second overall. in 2026 because The greatest hockey player of all time. will be available at 32nd overall. And we need to find a way to get that pick. And he did. And and he got us.

Speaker: The greatest hockey player of all time, Jackson Cover, who just looked like... He belonged in a different league from everyone else who was on the ice at those prospect showcases. It was so crazy. He's so good.

Speaker: I love him. I hope he reconsiders his plan to go to college. Because I don't want him to go to college. I think you should play hockey. don't learn things you don't need it it's really bad for you like it doesn't it doesn't help you at all like Talk to Tim Stutzler. He was going to go to college and then he didn't.

Speaker: Oh my gosh. But taken out of context, I hope he reconsiders his decision to go to college is very funny. Yeah, no, who needs it? AI is replacing us all. College is unnecessary. college will be there after you have played in the NHL and Made millions of dollars.

Speaker: But like, your NHL career, like... You only have so many good years, you know? And... Doing the biological clock thing to him.

Speaker: Look. We'll see. I mean, because his plan is he's going to do junior hockey for one more year. And then next year he wants to go to college. And then the thing is, you can't play an NHL game until you are done for good with college. Because once you sign an NHL contract, like you can't play a game without a contract. And once you've signed a contract, you can't play NCAA hockey anymore.

Speaker: So, like, I get why he hasn't signed a contract yet. He wants to keep his options open. But I hope that he has a really good season with the London Knights. So good that he's like, I can go to the NHL right away. Because Jackson, we need forwards. We need them so badly.

Speaker: it's true college will be there i can i can summarize college for you just like it's It's not that it's not that important. Higher education is so overrated.

Speaker: Yeah. We are against education. It's great. Famously. Yeah, so the other preseason games were less good. They won one of their last ones against the Hobbs.

Speaker: And that was cool. But... Thankfully, preseason doesn't matter and the Sens are going to win all of their games and win the cup. It's true. Like, why would you waste all your playing good in the preseason? I famously have always said this.

Speaker: Yeah, and what's really important is that William Eklund has looked super good, so... That's all that matters. Also, did you see that Shabbat's baby was born? No, what? Oh, my God.

Speaker: but we know what her name is No, we don't. He just said in his post -game interview, because he missed a ah lot of training camp and like several games because of the birth of this child. And then in his post -game interview, he was saying that the baby was born.

Speaker: I'm so happy for him. I hope he has a great season fueled by dad's strength. Oh my gosh. And it's so crazy because he already had so many children and now he's a legit child.

Speaker: Like, he was a single mom who works two jobs from the age of, like... 20. Like. He has. he He raised so many children who are like scattered around the NHL and in many cases the AHL.

Speaker: he He mentored so many young players, and now he has a child of his own. So he is probably the most prepared for fatherhood ever.

Speaker: Yeah, even, like, Liu Jihu in his post -game was like, they... uh somebody asked him like did you give him any advice and he was like no i don't have to he's gonna be great Aw, that's so sweet. That's such good news.

Speaker: It's just, like, the vibes are so good. Even, like... When Chabot was supposed to play one of the games, like the game that was like, he had to leave right at the last minute because his wife was presumably going into labor or whatever. He was paired next to Hoyt Stanley and he was saying in his pregame interview, like, yeah, I got to help this guy. Like, you know, he's pushing for a spot on the team. So I got to help him make it look good and make a good impression. It's like, my guy, your job. like

Speaker: What you want is a good hockey team. You don't need to help these young players like further their career ambitions. all He's in many ways an academic advisor.

Speaker: Oh, he is. But like a really good one with like candy on their desk. with stuff Yeah. I love him so much and... He needs to be the captain, right? Like, he has to be.

Speaker: Yeah, that's what I think, but I don't know. Because we I guess we talked about it because it's like it depends. They might. Just say like... Tim, is that you? or whatever to signify.

Speaker: The next generation. So unfair. I still think Thomas Chabot is young. Yeah, I mean, he kind of is. Like, he's still 29. That's not old. That's literally young. 29. is very young still. I feel like the more time has passed, the more I've... decided.

Speaker: Like... It has to be Shabbat. It's also like how Like he literally has his friend. Like he has his CCC. Like he literally like.

Speaker: How can he not be promoted in Ottawa when he literally is? one of the only guys. with his French. Just kidding, there's a lot of them. But still, like he's like... Yeah. There's nothing holding him back there.

Speaker: so Very true. and like you know he has a kid now like he's not gonna leave everyone keeps being like oh he's gonna need a new contract in two years Who cares? He doesn't want to leave. And also he's going to have a career season this year. And then.

Speaker: he'll The sons will never want to part with him. It's very true. And then... Yeah. And then he'll just be the captain forever. Yeah. So I am...

Speaker: locking in this prediction that I think they're going to name him captain and I think they're going to name him captain before. Game 1 That's a good prediction. i Maybe even before this podcast goes up. Oh my gosh. We edit really slow.

Speaker: Just kidding, I do. but Well. maybe you're listening to this and you're like oh my god we already have a new captain. Also, I hope you enjoyed the new intro. We haven't made it yet. Yeah.

Speaker: Let me know how it is guys. I'm making it in the future. So yeah. I think it'll be Shabbat, but also, like... Timmy's comments on Alfie do make me think like... He has that, like...

Speaker: Alfie energy in a way that nobody else does where I'm like he is just Ottawa down and he will say whatever to the media and I I love him for that. But also it has to be Siobhan. Yeah, I truly feel.

Speaker: He deserves it. Because... In retrospect... He should have been the captain this whole time. He really should have. And also, like... I'm just repeating my tweets here, but it's so interesting how so many people talk about Brady Kachuk.

Speaker: and you know his new role on the panthers and they're always like oh he was so tired of having to be the guy all the time in ottawa and you know being the one who was looked to to be like you know the face of the franchise and carrying the team and always being asked to do everything when it's like thomas shabbat was asked to do everything thomas shabbat like Harried this team on his back for years. He had Way more responsibility than Brady Kachuk did. He took

Speaker: way more blame for the state of the team than Brady did because whenever Brady was bad or made a mistake because like Those early seasons, especially, he was not scoring at the rate people wanted him to. We were just like, oh, it's whatever. He'll grow into it. Like, he's young. You know, he'll take the next step next year, whatever. It was always, like, constant excuses for Brady. Whereas Shabbat, like... Every time he made a...

Speaker: turnover because he was playing 27 minutes a night next to Nikita Zaitsev we were like this team is going nowhere with Thomas Chabot on it so it's like he just He had so much more pressure on him. He had so much more responsibility.

Speaker: handled the whole thing with so much more grace. Also, like... Like Sanderson coming in and immediately like. You know, taking over his spot in the lineup, including on the power play like that could have been such an awkward situation for him. And as far as we know... he's just been super gracious about the whole thing and just been like yeah i'm cool with being second pairing defenseman. I love that we have good depth on this team. I'm glad that we have lots of good defensemen.

Speaker: It takes a lot of maturity and like leadership. and humility to handle everything that Thomas Chabot has handled on this team. the way he has, you know? I think, yeah, I think you put that so well. I really agree. Well, because I already tweeted it and I'm just repeating it right now. I haven't seen your tweets. I was like, damn, off the cuff, that's really good. Yeah.

Speaker: i really agree with all of that especially the point of like yeah i think that a lot of people would be like no I'm this is my spot don't like take my spot which like maybe in hockey it's like less i don't know i because i know a lot of guys are like oh the teen mentality i feel like secretly they're definitely like pissed i feel like there's not a pissed bone in thomas bob's body i well especially Especially the power play thing, because Shabbat is known as an offensive -minded defenseman, so his points are, like, actually important for, you know...

Speaker: bonuses in his contract and like i don't know what kind of bonuses he has but they there might be right or in like his next contract like he probably lost money from not being on the first power play unit that is the thing that players care about is like whether you get to you know increase your stats by like banking points on the power play and yeah like he was

Speaker: During the rebuild, he was really held up as like, this is the guy that we're building around. This is our number one defenseman of the future. and like It was really awkward and probably embarrassing for him to be like relegated to the second pairing and kicked off that first ah power play unit.

Speaker: And I think it's really admirable that, like... As far as anyone can tell, he has never complained, you know? He seems to be happy that he has a good team around him, as he should, right? It's very true. I was always on the train, but now even more so. i think He is. the next captain.

Speaker: Just the more I think about it, I know, like, I think Shabbat is not like a cool captain. It's not the like, ooh, new shiny new toy, right? Like the new guy who's the best player on the team and we're so excited for him to be the face of the team.

Speaker: But, like, the just when you think about... Everything he has had to put up with in Ottawa, right? like Man! He's just the guy. like I just think this team would run through a wall for him. he carried this team through their worst years. He is the guy that we need to have as the captain. I agree.

Speaker: And I feel like it'll just be like... You know how everyone is always surprised that Nathan McKinnon isn't the captain of the avalanche? Like, sometimes that's just the truth, right? Like... that Your best player in the face of your franchise doesn't have to be your captain. And I think...

Speaker: It could just be like that with Ottawa, where everyone's like, oh, Thomas Chabot, I don't know who that is. I assumed Tim Stutzler or Jake Sanderson was the captain. Mm -hmm. That's it, you know? Yeah, it's not like they know anything about the Sens anyway, so who cares that they won't know the Captain either? It doesn't matter.

Speaker: yeah So... Shabbat. he I need him. He's going to have the best week. he Becomes a dad. And then he also becomes a father of 23. Or 25. Whatever. um Because he is going to become the captain of the Ottawa Senators.

Speaker: This is actually going to be really awkward if like Jake Sanderson is the captain by the time this comes out. I don't want Jake Sanderson to be the captain. No American captain for right now. I'm sorry. That's the one, yeah. There's just like...

Speaker: I don't know why this has taken off so much that so many people are pushing for Sanderson's. So many people in the media seem to be pushing for it too. And it just feels like... It's like with Brady, where it's like, this is the guy that people outside of Ottawa know of. So we have to make him the captain.

Speaker: When like... You never hear about Sanderson like... I don't know, hosting rookies at his house. I think he actually did have Stephen Halliday living with him, but like, I don't know. He's not...

Speaker: i don't know you just don't hear about him like stepping up as a leader the way you do with both Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzla. i don't know I agree. I think that Yeah.

Speaker: It is just like... Because I feel like Brady at the time made more sense like even though it was like also like everyone knows him it's like I felt like he was like very much.

Speaker: Because I don't know if Jake Sanderson is as much of like a leader in the locker. I guess I'm not there, but like I feel like not as much. I feel like he's obviously very, very good. And he like leads in that sense. Yeah. I don't know if he's like a big like.

Speaker: I don't know. You know what I mean? Yeah, I think people just see that he's like... really quiet and reserved and they assume that he's like this kind of stoic leader or whatever but I don't know, there's just nothing he does that jumps out as like...

Speaker: Yeah, he's he's a leader in the dressing room. It kind of seems like... Honestly, like Shabbat stepping up and being that leader has allowed Sanderson to just kind of do his thing on the ice, right? And I would like that to continue.

Speaker: I agree. I think it's also, it's like, you know, like. That whole thing of like, oh, it's chic to be divorced by 30. It's chic to be a captain at 29. I don't know. That's like very chic to me. Not everybody has to be a general captain. Like, I don't know.

Speaker: yeah I think it's cool and also like I know this doesn't actually mean anything ever but like every time the Sens draft a new prospect or they trade for someone whenever I go to that player's Instagram Two players are already following that player, and they are Tim Stutzla and Thomas Chabot. And again, you hear about them, like, whenever players are asked, like, oh, did anyone reach out? They're always like, oh, yeah, Tim Stutzla reached out.

Speaker: Aww, that's so nice. just learn Shabbat those two they're the ones I don't know they're at screen time I don't want to know I know, I'm like, these players who are obviously the most online players I have decided are the best leaders in the room. There's just something about people that are really online where I just trust them implicitly.

Speaker: Yeah. Okay, wait. There's one more thing that I wanted to talk about before we go into our predictions, because now we're looking, we're we're going to look ahead to the upcoming season and I need to weigh in on some discourse and send out a PSA.

Speaker: Because people are doing something stupid. So the NHL has released their schedule. Brady Kachuk will make his grand return to Ottawa October 21st, and everyone is running around going...

Speaker: What do we do? What are we gonna do? And of course the immediate thought is we're gonna boo the shit out of him. But a bunch of people are trying. To organize this thing. Where they're like.

Speaker: No, actually, he would enjoy getting booed. So we have to give him the silent treatment. We have to be dead silent when they play his, like, uh... welcome back video we actually we should all turn around and not face him just all these like Galaxy Brain Ideas.

Speaker: And I just want to put it out here on this podcast. You guys are stupid. This is not going to work. Because it's also like... Most people won't be silent. So, like, you probably drowned out. But also, I think that, like...

Speaker: i think there is something to like the oh he'll enjoy being booed I think that's more of a thing though it's like When the player is so good that they enjoy being booed, I don't... Like...

Speaker: I don't know. if it's the type of thing where when they're when everyone when Play is paused and we're watching a video. If he's like, oh yeah, boo me more. Like, I don't know if that's when he would appreciate being booed. Yeah, like straight up. I think Brady is lying about liking getting booed. Like, I don't think he likes it. And I don't think he would appreciate it in Ottawa, especially because, like, he's going on podcasts now on his own podcast, obviously being like, yeah, I don't know if they're going to boo me or not. Like, I'm sure they're going to appreciate my contributions or whatever.

Speaker: And it's like, no. I think he would actually be. a little bit shocked and upset. coming to Ottawa and hearing the entire crowd booing him. And also we shouldn't just boo him. I need us to come up with funny chants to, like, we should be singing at him all game, making fun of him. We need to come up with a devastating chant for his first penalty. like We gotta come up with stuff here to make fun of him.

Speaker: And boo him. And I think, like, if it's the loudest boos he's ever heard at the Canadian Tire Centre. I think he would find that hurtful. Especially if we're not even acknowledging like, yeah, you gave us some good years and we appreciate it because he didn't give us good years.

Speaker: yeah I think that I agree with all of that like that's the thing is that like again the booing thing is mostly like i think good players enjoy being booed because it's as some of them do because it's the sense of like oh like i'm in your head like haha but it's like okay it's not so much you're in their head it's more that we actually hate you you know what i mean yeah like a little all in your head but it's not in your head in a fun way it's in it and in your head and we don't appreciate anything you've ever done type way

Speaker: Yeah, like by the way, we genuinely hate you. and also okay it's like what i said with these stupid gm's being like we need to punish this player by not trading them Even if we accept that Brady would enjoy getting booed, I don't care.

Speaker: i also want to boo him i think we need to send the message that we hate this guy and if he enjoys it like so what i will also enjoy it like we gotta we gotta get out of this idea of like we can't possibly do something that he would enjoy um But also, yeah.

Speaker: Even if... We accept that we can't boo him because like he would like it too much or whatever. Even if we accept that, which again is not true. You need...

Speaker: 100 % buy -in to this idea and most people at the that game are not online they are not going to hear your movement if you have like even Even if you manage to get like 80 % buy -in on this idea.

Speaker: When the thing is being played. You're going to have 80 % of the arena silence. And then you're going to hear the 20 % that's booing. And it's just going to sound like a normal level of booing.

Speaker: For a player that you just hate a normal amount. Which is the worst possible scenario. Like we need this to be exceptional. And if it's a normal amount of booing, that's bad. Also, there are probably, like, five people in that arena who are showing up, like, I'm going to give Brady a standing ovation to recognize what he contributed to this team. And if if we can hear those people, like...

Speaker: This is over. It's so over for us. like Even if you think the best thing we can possibly do for Brady to welcome him back is the silent treatment. You have to acknowledge that the second best thing is Jeffening booze.

Speaker: And if we have to accept that the first one is impossible, so we gotta shoot for the second one. Are you guys hearing what I'm putting out here? This is so funny. Where is this movement happening? is this on Twitter.

Speaker: Twitter and Reddit, from what I understand. Okay, well... No one's... I am going to clip this and I'm going to put it on social media. I'm going to write an article about this. Like, guys.

Speaker: ah We need, that the best thing that we could do right now is have 100 % buy -in on booing the shit out of Brady. I want, like, what I want - is for the announcers, the commentators, to be shocked and horrified. I want discourse the next day on, like, to the TSN panel being like, was this too much? Were suspense fans too mean to Brady?

Speaker: Oh my gosh, that's actually the dream. That's so funny. I appreciate the... But like... the galaxy brain -ness of it yeah yeah i think it's just like it doesn't It doesn't work. I think you would need...

Speaker: Again, you need 100%. And then even then, even if you had 100 % buy -in, everyone was just silent and looking. Like... It's not like this. like there's like a stadium sounds like they'll just play music then and then no one will know you know and also like it could be interpreted other ways too right like it's not going to be interpreted as like Oh, we just...

Speaker: Hate him so much that we're... you know giving him the silent treatment it could be like we're standing respectfully Like, I don't know. We're giving him a moment of silence. like yeah Like, no, don't don't give.

Speaker: Anyone, any room to misinterpret? how we feel about brady kachok i know that sens fans are capable of this level of vitriol i I believe in us.

Speaker: we mean Again, we need the commentators to be shocked and horrified. The only silent treatment that would work, and this will never happen, is if the Sens themselves gave him the silent treatment. Like, if they didn't, like, tap their sticks and whatnot. Then... That'd be good but I don't think that'll happen. They're too classy. Yeah.

Speaker: i hope i've I hope I've swayed some people. I'm really passionate about this. Because I really want this to be perfect. But also, like you say. i I don't think anyone is.

Speaker: Like not that many people are going to see it. So not that many people are even going to know that. But it's like, again, it's like. if half the arena is really online sense fans who are too worried that like oh we're gonna look bad if we boo brady and he's it's gonna be embarrassing for us and he's gonna you know enjoy it and use it as fuel or whatever then that's less buy -in for What I think is my perfect idea, like, my perfect idea of...

Speaker: We need to... This arena needs to be louder than any arena has ever been when booing a player. It's actually so true. I think it's that thing of like sometimes like the... the simplest idea or like not the simplest but sometimes like the most obvious idea is the best idea like you don't have to overthink it you don't have to be like minute but maybe we should xyz it's okay to boo everyone please boo because the other thing is that i'm worried if they're silent

Speaker: then they'll regret not booing later they'll be like damn i actually have a lot of vitriol in my heart for him I want to boo. Yeah. yeah Guys, do you want? do you want brady kachuk to go on his podcast and be like yeah sense fans were really respectful it's nice i guess they didn't hate me that much or do you want him to go on his podcast and be like huh yeah sense fans really hate me it's okay i use it as fuel like come on

Speaker: you want the second one it's it's at least better right it's a true think of how little you get To directly tell Brady Kachuk how you feel. Yeah.

Speaker: This is your one opportunity. Let's not waste it, guys. it but so Everyone spread the word. Hi. obsessed with sentence so even that is like very sweet to me like that's so endearing I'm happy that someone came up with that don't do it by any means But I'm endeared by you. i I like the energy of like, we can't act too much like this is just any other like player trade. where

Speaker: you know a well -liked player leaves we have to do something that's really special and different Like, I understand that impulse. I get it. But again, i think I think we just have to boo him. And we have to boo him.

Speaker: More than any other fan base has ever booed a player before. Mm hmm. I completely agree. Yeah. Okay, anyways. Finally. It's time to get into some season predictions. And this year, instead of coming up with... our own predictions and i wrote some down like that maybe we could we could uh talk about later But I... Asked our audience on Twitter and Blue Sky.

Speaker: what they would like us to predict. And so we're going to get into these questions. Do you want to read them out or should I? I can read it. Maybe we should alternate. okay Okay. The first one is from Nate at NKV121.

Speaker: Who is William Eklund and why is he so beautiful? Great question. yeah It's not too much of a - Prediction? but let's predict who William Eklund is and why he's so beautiful. I think he's a beautiful picture of heart.

Speaker: Yeah. yeah I... I don't know why he's so beautiful. He just is. And that's wonderful. It's like, why why does, like...

Speaker: Why does a warm summer breeze It feels so nice. Like, it's like, I don't know. It just does. It just is. Yeah. I love him so much. He's the best. I hope we get to learn who William Eklund is.

Speaker: this season. I'm really excited about it. And why he's so beautiful, maybe. Mm hmm. So the next question comes from Jack Baines. So first Jack Baines asks, which new player will Thomas Chabot adopt as his emotional support himbo? And then there was a follow -up where he said,

Speaker: oh okay never mind actually because alex adams uh answered this question for us With a ah post. Where he was repeating what a story that Thomas Chabot told in a pre -game media availability. That apparently he has met William Eklund before. Because last year during the bye week, Chabot went on vacation to an island with his wife. And he decided to meet up with Fabian Zetterlund.

Speaker: And Zetterlund was there with William Eklund. That's just really sweet. Aww. Yeah, so I think the implication here is that Thomas Shabbat will adopt William Eklund as his emotional support himbo, which I think is true. yeah i believe it I...

Speaker: I love... that Zetterlin and Eklund went on vacation together during the bi -week. That's really sweet. Yeah, I think that's like... I think that's so nice. I think it's beautiful It is also a thing where I'm like... Thomas Chabot, were you supposed to tell the media that? We can't let the heated rivalry crowd get wind of this.

Speaker: So funny. The new, like... come to the cottage is like come to this island with me or whatever Yeah, well, also the way Alex Adams... priests. the original post he was like yeah thomas shabbat met william eglind when like He went to an island to meet up with Fabian Sutherland and Eklund was there.

Speaker: Like, why why was he going to an island to meet up with Zetterlind? Whoa. listen since What has this been happening? I love an island.

Speaker: he was He was on vacation with his wife and they happened to be on the same island. Totally normal. That's so great. Oh my gosh. It's so lovely. I just, I love the image of like Shabbat and his wife and then Satterlund and his plus one Eklund.

Speaker: this is Okay, should I do the next one? Yeah. Okay. Joe D 'Antoni at slow hands, but without the A. um Sorry, it's like at slow HNDS.

Speaker: What does Timmy need to do this season to get on track for greatest son of all time status that isn't winning a cup? as he endeared himself to me for hating our rivals. He has endeared himself to me for hating our rivals.

Speaker: Great question. To be on track, like he can't automatically become the greatest senator of all time, I don't think. I would say... He needs a really good playoff performance.

Speaker: like he doesn't have to be like eric carlson 2017 level but i think he needs like a really important ot winner like he needs he needs a game where he scores multiple goals He needs like a playoff series where everyone's like, Tim Stutzla was the difference in that one.

Speaker: I agree. I think Yeah. I think he also like has gone through Too many. Kind of like... Obviously I love him. I feel like sometimes he goes through phases where he's like two in his head, two not getting points, you know? So I feel like he has to not do that.

Speaker: Yeah, I feel like... maybe this is too much to ask like i i think really it's the playoff stuff that like we're we're passed at the point where regular season success It's yeah going to get you greatest senator of all time status. Like I think we need to move on to focusing on playoff success, but I do also think a hundred point season.

Speaker: Is possible for him. And something that. could get him on track for greatest senator of all time and i think he can do it I believe in him. Yeah. Like, guys, forget that he has more points at this stage in his career than nick suzuki did nick suzuki did not uh wasn't even a point per game player until he was a year older than tim schutzler is now like

Speaker: You can have your first point -per -game season at age 27 and Tim Stitzel is, what, 24? Like... It's possible. Yeah. Okay, next one. User Sens A at Sens -A.

Speaker: Oh I love this question. Since this is the 100 -year anniversary of Ottawa's last cup, and all our historical playoff successes have happened in years ending in seven, who gets to hoist it first this year, and who do they pass it to next, and then who do they pass it to, and so on.

Speaker: Ooh. That's such a good question. I think obviously like. Oh, okay. Wait. I think what... I think Thomas Chabot should... twist it first but then I'm like Claude Giroux should do it but I'm like I don't know So...

Speaker: This depends on who the captain is, obviously. I know. yeah Because the captain gets it first. so I mean, obviously, I think the captain should be Shabbat, so it should be Shabbat first. I think if we take the captain stuff out of the equation...

Speaker: The... Order is... Chloé Giroux first and like it kind of hurts me to say it because I feel like Chabot should be the And even when Kojiko signed here, I was like, no, no, no, the Shabbat. gets it first is written in stone, you know? But, like, Claude Giroux has been around so long, like, and this is his last season, I feel like he has to get it first, and then Shabbat. For sure. That part.

Speaker: written in, you know, Written in stone. Most likely, Shabbat is the captain, so he lifts it and he gives it to G. So then we don't have to. you know, argue about.

Speaker: who gets it first between him and G I feel like it would be a thing where like if it was Timmy or whatever who's the captain he would try to hand it to Shabbat and Shabbat would be like no give it to G or the other way around like with Aho last year like we would get that situation maybe next Timmy mm -hmm Then Sanderson. Batherson, definitely.

Speaker: Like... early on as well. Olmark also early on. Because I feel like G and Shabbat are like that set in stone as the first guys. And then there are a whole bunch where it's like, this would be the next group. Yeah.

Speaker: Zoob, too. He's a bit older than a lot of these guys. I don't know who like next then though. I think it would kind of depend who was really important to the playoff run. Jackson Culver next. Oh yeah.

Speaker: After he you know sets a bunch of new records for you know most playoff points in your career, actually. Exactly. Have you seen, actually, that Carter Yakumchuk is currently the NHL leader for playoff points per game?

Speaker: oh my god yeah The list, if you look, it is so funny. It's... Carter Yakumchuk, two points per game. Because you played one game and you got two points. Second, Wayne Gretzky. Third, Marion Le Vieux. Fourth...

Speaker: I... Connor McDavid. This has famously always been my ranking of greatest NHL players of all time. That's why, you know why? That's why I have a bullshit stat of like minimum X. Games play is bullshit because then it ruins stuff like this.

Speaker: That's so beautiful. It's so good, yeah. Okay, so greatest of all time, Carter Yakumchuk. Might have to get it pretty early. Yeah. But of course, Jackson Cover is just going to set the record for most play career playoff points in in a single playoff run, obviously. I wonder if there's a world where he has to get it before G even. I wonder if they're just like down. There's so many points, yeah.

Speaker: like they try to give it to drew and drew's like come on oh like come on yeah you gotta give it to the 19 year old uh greatest hockey player of all time i think i think that makes sense Me at least.

Speaker: Yeah, after he gives up on his dreams of going to college right before the playoffs start and he just, you know, joins for the playoffs and that's it. Yeah. Mm hmm. That's how the season... is going to go. i So yeah, after that, it's like, it's it's a little...

Speaker: Nope. Nebulous. We don't know exactly what the order is. It depends on the players and what they think, right? But that's just our... Our idea.

Speaker: um Okay, you read the next one, right? Okay. yeah Um. Oh gosh. Okay, Joe Sacco and Vanzetti? At E .J. Maran. Where's Jackson Cover? When are we going to get Jackson Cover? Why aren't we getting Jackson Cover now? And so on.

Speaker: This is the question that everybody is asking. Jackson Cover so he was like injured maybe he was he didn't play some of the preseason games but really I think they were just like hiding him because they didn't want to let other teams know that like how good he is you know they were hiding their secret weapon they were like we already have seen everything we need to see because he's so great um so like we don't want to give away how good he is to our opponents

Speaker: And we we're going to get Jackson cover whenever Tim Stutzle manages to convince him to not go to college. Because really, it's it's the American colleges that are... Keeping him from us.

Speaker: And they're evil. We need... to campaign for less education. We need to reverse Malala this. um anyway good So.

Speaker: Next. um our friend chipped tooth at cursed hockey asks Will Eklund's take over the whole left by Josh Norris? Yes or no. And in what ways?

Speaker: Please elaborate. good Um... The whole... Left by Josh Norris? um I'm not going to make the joke that that chipped tooth wants me to make right now Yeah.

Speaker: I can't think of anything. else I think. I think he will. He will fill the hole in our hearts. That was left by Josh Norris. By being...

Speaker: A lovable... person who is great with media look sharks fans love him so much It's crazy. and i think that we will love him too and we will cherish him and he will be so fun in all the like behind the scenes videos and everything And in that way, he will be our Josh Norris replacement. And also...

Speaker: He is... He has a best friend on our team. which is also an important aspect of the Josh Norris experience. It's very true. And I mean... He's in our top six too. okay should i read the next one Yeah, so somebody replied to... all Two cursed hockeys.

Speaker: Question. Oh, yes. Okay. so Marnie, at MarnieSunsFan, replied, and when do we get that elusive top six? I think... Trade deadline.

Speaker: Because, like, the thing is... Obviously, there was a wave of trades during the offseason, but now we're at a point where nobody is trading. Because... Like. Everybody thinks this is their year. Everyone's like, we're we've got our roster. We're set. We're not trying to make any more improvements.

Speaker: And so. We need to wait for some teams to... be bad. and decide we need it's time to sell off right And so we just need to be patient.

Speaker: And I think that they're like Steve Sayos. I think he just didn't find he wasn't able to find a deal that would work for him. So he was like, it's okay. I'm gonna wait but like we know that he's still waiting for a top six forward unfortunately uh just like a few hours ago Kirill Marchenko got traded so that's one guy off the board and he went to the Leafs which is not good.

Speaker: But like, I think... more players will become available, you know, as we get to the deadline. As, like, you know, there are injuries around the league, some teams have bad seasons, some teams have disastrous seasons. Like, maybe Elias Pettersson has a really good season and it's ruining the tank for Vancouver and they're like, oh shit, we have to trade him.

Speaker: and then the sins take interest like i don't know But I think... like not maybe not exactly the trade deadline but i think like around December, January. Mm hmm. So that was all the blue sky ones. Now we are moving on to Twitter. And our first one, first question comes from Merina at Superstutzla.

Speaker: Predictions on William Eklund's and Andrei Burakovsky's performances this upcoming season with the Sens. Was Burakovsky a good addition to the team? So first of all, Midina, they were both good additions to the team because they are Swedish. And we were trying to...

Speaker: Acquire to We're trying to make the team more Swedish. So anything that helps that goal of being more Swedish is good. True. I also don't know about Virgo. I was like, I don't know. What do you think? I was just gonna ask you. I don't know the answer. Okay.

Speaker: So Burakovsky... Has not been that good. He's been a bit up and down. He's hard to figure out. I liked what I saw of him in preseason. I think... He works well with Tim Stutzler.

Speaker: I think if they put him on Stutz's wing and they're like, your job. is get the puck to Tim Stutzler. And that is it. And that's all we ask of him. I think he can do that job very well. like He has been an elite forward in the past. And.

Speaker: you know, he's maybe a little bit washed, but I think he is still capable. um And I feel like he's also kind of a stopgap solution. Like it feels like the idea is. We're going to put Burakovsky here, and then we're probably going to trade for a top six forward that's going to replace him, ideally. So, like, I think it's gonna be fine.

Speaker: I he had like a really good. first half of the season last year and We're just gonna get that version of him. And I think William Eklund is going to have a career year. I agree. Okay. The next one is also from Melina. and it's Will the Sens make the playoffs again this season?

Speaker: Controversial question. I think they will honestly Fill in the cup. Yeah. We've always been saying this. I... Look.

Speaker: A lot of people are underestimating the Sens. And I am actually so confident in the sense that I see all these people underestimating them. And I just shrug. Because I'm like, okay. You'll see when the season starts. like I don't know. It's just like...

Speaker: People... I don't know. Everyone keeps saying the Atlantic is so good because they're like, oh, look at all these Atlantic teams that were so good last year. And then also the teams that were bad are like Toronto and Florida, who are going to be right back in the mix.

Speaker: And I just don't think it's that simple. I have, however... I... When I was preparing for this episode, I went it back and listened to last year's season preview episode. And I had to do some soul searching and come to a conclusion.

Speaker: Which is that I really need to stop. predicting bad things happening to the Habs. Because it's not working. So... um I'm going to say everybody is right about the Hobbes. They are cup contenders. They are going to sustain unsustainably high PDO. The numbers are lying because famously.

Speaker: when you have really bad underlying numbers. and really good results that's usually an indication that you're going to be successful in the long run So I think the Habs are going to be... yeah um They're going to win the president's trophy and the cup. And this is guaranteed. uh just as everyone is saying and there's just no way that the sounds could possibly be better than them They're not going to win the cup. They're going to win.

Speaker: They're gonna... loose to the sense of the conference finals I can't predict this but no everyone is right about them totally and they're going to be really good just like everyone thinks all those other teams are not going to be that good though So the sons are going to win the cup.

Speaker: Agreed. i really like i have so many thoughts on the way people are predicting the atlantic But I really just don't, I'm too afraid to share my thoughts because I think I'm going to jinx things because I jinxed things last year.

Speaker: i don't like how they're like oh it's a given florida's gonna be good again Or whatever. I presume that's... Well, and again, they're like... I mean, obviously they're right about this one, and but they're like, yeah, it's a given that Montreal is going to be even better.

Speaker: when is's like i don't know If you look at the underlying numbers of Montreal and Ottawa, I don't think the idea that like one of them is going to... be even better and the other one is going to completely flop. like yeah and also nothing is a given in this world like yeah Buffalo also got slightly worse. Like, I'm not saying they're going to be out of the playoffs, but like...

Speaker: You know, they're they're not going to get as many points. Boston massively overperformed last year. Thru! Listen, I... want Boston would be bad. I know that like That, like, who cares, you know? Like, it's kind of, I have one -sided beef. I'm sick of Boston, though. Maybe it's the Stella Lefty effect. For those of you who know.

Speaker: I'm done with Boston. I want them to be back. Boston is just one of those teams where like every year you predict. That they're going to fall off. And they never fucking do. yeah They did two years ago. But then they were right back into it last year. And it's just like come on guys. It's annoying because there's two of them. Because I feel like Boston and Tampa are the two. Where I'm always like they're going to fall off soon. And then they never do. It's like why are they both in the Atlantic?

Speaker: I know, yeah, it's like i I also just can't predict a Tampa Bay... regression because i everyone keeps saying they're gonna you know, be slightly worse than they never are. And now this year, everyone's like, no, they're going to be good. So.

Speaker: I don't know, but I don't think the Atlantic is... like you just never know things always change you know a few months into the season there are always surprises I don't think it's as like bleak as people think it is I think the Sens are going to be fine and they're going to make the playoffs also so many people when they're making their predictions for ottawa people forget that brady kachuk Missed a third of the season and was...

Speaker: Basically a non -factor. I know that he was a point per game player. He did not look like he was a point per game player. Like, he was... barely present last season. We're not replacing. a full season like we're not losing a full season of healthy brady kachok we are losing 59 points And we are replacing him with a guy who...

Speaker: He scored 53 points last year. On a worse team. So like, why are you predicting that we're going to regress? Because we didn't have, we basically didn't have Brady Kachuk last year.

Speaker: Now we're replacing him, right? It's just like... and We did all that without Brady, basically. true it's the same thing as last year except this time we got something for him Yeah. yeah So...

Speaker: We're going to make the playoffs. and so will the haves obviously as i have always famously said If this works, I'm gonna have to say this every year. Whatever. That's so funny.

Speaker: No one can see your face except me. i it' it's So painful looking. Yeah. i'm not enjoying saying these words but like it is necessary like i take this seriously if i think That I am jinxing things.

Speaker: for a team I hate, like... I really need to tone things down, you know? so i'm just i'm encouraging everyone like keep on calling them cup contenders Keep on calling them locks for the playoffs because it's obviously true. um Okay.

Speaker: Next question. From Dexter at Dext22, which player is most likely to be traded this year? you know Well, you said. Are we trading Berkovsky? Is that the plan? I don't know.

Speaker: Is that the end? He's good trade bait is the thing. i I was thinking more like he moves down the lineup, you know, like we put him in the top six and then we replace him. um So I have been spending a lot of time on Armchair GM on Wikipedia.

Speaker: And I have discovered something wonderful about the Ottawa Senators, which is that we don't have any problem players that I feel like we need to get rid of. oh Yeah, and no, like, problem contracts either. I mean, i I just, I don't. I think we should get rid of Nick Cousins for on ice and off ice reasons. But like, that's it.

Speaker: So... Like it's kind of hard to Hell? Like, there isn't one player that sort of jumps out as, like... We need to train him. I think one of my Twitter mutuals has been kind of on this over the offseason, and I don't...

Speaker: love it but I understand it from a hockey perspective I think. If what it takes to get an upgrade at Forward... Is Ridley Gregg. I could see that.

Speaker: Mmm. Yeah. That makes sense to me, actually. I'm not good at predicting trades, though. I don't know anything about that. Because it's like... Greg has mostly played Wing. He's not really our fourth line center. He's...

Speaker: Like, obviously I love him dearly. But like he's not the biggest contributor on the ice. mm -hmm And maybe has, like... more value than he actually does. So if that's what it takes to get an upgrade at Forward, along with obviously a bunch of draft picks. I could see.

Speaker: That. And if it's an upgraded wing... They should do it as much as it as much as it hurts me to say that. And we'll split up the siblings. No. we know you know I know.

Speaker: It's okay. We have to. Hm? Yeah. Okay. Do you want to read the next one? Yes. on From Silver 7 at Silver 7 Cents. um Will an Ottawa Senators player score a between -the -legs goal against the Florida Panthers while Brady Kachuk is on the ice?

Speaker: Okay, first of all... I was not the person behind this question, I swear. I'm guessing this was Sean who was behind the account. I swear I would have just put the question in the predictions section if I wanted to, because I hadn't even thought of that. And now that it's in my head.

Speaker: It's got to be Tim Stutzler, right? He's already squirted between the legs, Ghoul. He knows how much Brady wants to score that goal. i And he is fueled by spite, as we have explained.

Speaker: I think he does it right in front of Brady. Oh. I agree. Because also like as we learned by the fact that Brady Kachuk never truly did it, you do need to like have skill. Like I think that, yeah.

Speaker: I did, okay, I did have the thought when I was thinking about Brady's return where I was like, The one thing he could do in his return that I would never be able to come back from is if he finally scored a between the legs goal against us.

Speaker: But like, I don't think he will. I don't think he can do it. Also, if that happens, then we go, well, it well technically he did it in the playoffs that one time, even though.

Speaker: That doesn't count. I know we said it counted. It didn't count. um like we said it counted then we said it didn't count then we're confirming it doesn't count so um yeah but if that happens then we can just go back on that and be like well this is actually the second time he's done it so who even cares Yeah, and it's also like... As we've established, he doesn't show up in big important games. Although he does do silly shit.

Speaker: In important games. Like, he shows up in that way. So, like... Maybe he would. he He'll certainly try it. You know what would help him concentrate to do it is if the whole place is silent. So another reason why you better freaking boo his ass.

Speaker: Oh my god. Okay, and the final listener question comes from Horns at Horns the Apps. Will they ever have a player of the game item again? still Are they still using the stick?

Speaker: That's funny. thought they were doing so if they're not doing that then i'm so out of the loop Maybe they don't anymore? I thought they did, though. The thing is they don't post it anymore.

Speaker: oh so they just said like some of the players in an interview were like yeah

Speaker: Well, because the story is apparently one time a massive branch fell on Tyler Cleven's head and then they just... use the branch as like the player of the game oh wait but they lost it that's what happened they were using it as player of the game and then they lost it at some point and they didn't have a player of the game item so yeah we need one guys the vibes for the vibes we need one Oh my gosh, what should it be? I don't like...

Speaker: when it's a manufactured thing yeah know exactly like that doesn't work it's got to be organic so it makes it really hard to predict Yeah. I don't know. I'll just say yes, they will. This year.

Speaker: They will come up with something. I agree. I think we answered all the questions that I had as well that I you prepared. So I think that will do it for this episode.

Speaker: We will see you again soon. Sometime in the season. ah Follow us on Twitter and Blue Sky at EliteSensBrain. And Go Sens Go! Go Sens Go! Bye!