Transcript
Leo Ernewein: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Leo and Lando show. Once again, I'm your host, Leo Ernawine, and of course, my co-host alongside me, Landon Lando-Semenok. Say hi, Landon.
Lando: Hey guys, what's going on?
Leo Ernewein: Episode 20 on the air. Hard to believe 20 episodes hit the airwave. It's been quite lot of fun for sure. But before we dive into what we're going to talk about today, Landon, as always, how are you?
Lando: I'm doing well, man. I know we talked off recording that we kind of talked a little bit of how we're doing, but to be really quick to everybody, yeah, I'm doing good. First day back from vacation. I was in Kelowna and in Soyuz and had a lot of fun out down there and got some sun and all that sort of stuff. So it was nice to be back at work, but even though it got a little frustrating to walk into a little bit of a gong show, but that's okay. It happens.
Leo Ernewein: That's fair. Right on. That's sounds interesting. And something else that sounds quite interesting, right? To say the least, the NHL draft lottery, uh, was what this past Thursday, I want to say the hockey world was rocked.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: I would also say by the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the draft lottery at the first overall pick, seeing that number 12 ball come right up through the ping pong shoot. And then Matt Sundin smiling over there.
Leo Ernewein: We'll get to him too. And his, his role obviously, and what has to do with that. But, You know, followed by San Jose winning number two, which I guess the rest of the hockey world saw. Really? They have a great roster and they're going to get number two?
Leo Ernewein: Come on. I mean, it's a great time to be a Sharks fan. So props to them. Vancouver falls to three. I don't think they've ever, like, moved up in the draft lottery.
Leo Ernewein: I think one year they drafted Sedin. They had won, so they were probably bottom in that sense and won it still, but they didn't move up. But they traded, I think, the first pick to move down to two and three to get the Sedins, right?
Leo Ernewein: I think that's what it went.
Lando: Yeah. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Anyways... Something along those lines, but that's completely off topic.
Leo Ernewein: I just wanted to know, like, what were your thoughts on the Maple Leafs winning the first overall pick? First time, no, second time in 10 years, they've missed the playoffs, and both times they've gotten to pick first overall.
Lando: Okay, so my first reaction was was actually on the golf course when this draft lottery actually happened. And was sitting in the cart. I had my golf cart. I had my phone on inside.
Lando: And my phone kept buzzing and buzzing and buzzing. like, what in the world is going on with my phone? So I picked it up and I looked. I'm like, I got all these notifications from, know, K- tsn sports that the score cbc you you name it and so i look i looked at right and i saw breaking news toronto maple leafs won the draft lottery i'm like you you gotta be you know fill in the blanks everybody kidding me
Leo Ernewein: Did you think it was like one of those fake news things that you'd see or something like that?
Lando: yeah exactly oh so any
Leo Ernewein: Like a fake news tweet or something? don't know, man. It seems, yeah. Yeah.
Lando: So anyway, so long story short, so I told my – because my parents and my brother with me, and said, you guys won't believe what happened. And like, what? The Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery. And I just remember my brother Colton saying, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery. And he gave a sarcastic wow.
Lando: So anyways, so anyways, my –
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. As the Leafs fan, I was happy, but...
Lando: Well, for sure. Absolutely. mean, nobody, any Leaf fan would be happy, but that, yeah,
Leo Ernewein: Any fan winning the lottery would be... Yeah, exactly, right?
Lando: exactly.
Leo Ernewein: But I was napping. I worked the morning of four in the morning or something like So I got home by noon.
Lando: Howdy, Jeff.
Leo Ernewein: And I just remember falling asleep at like two. I think the draft lottery was 5.30 or 6 or something like that. And I just remember waking up around that time and rolling over and checking my phone and seeing that the Maple Leafs swat at night. My first thought was, wow, that's rigged.
Lando: And then that was my second thought. Just like you, was like, this was rigged. And know what? And I know my co-host and our guest, they're Leo.
Lando: Kyle mentioned this in our two episodes ago when he brought this up. The NHL will always look after New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Always. If they're struggling, the NHL will do anything they can to try to make sure that those two teams are...
Leo Ernewein: No doubt they had a vest and they would have vested interest.
Lando: well, looked after.
Leo Ernewein: But I don't know. I laughed that I said it was rigged, but I honestly, I don't think that... I don't think it's as blatant as... Like, I don't know.
Leo Ernewein: Vancouver... If they wanted to rig it, you don't think they want to look after Vancouver almost as much as they'd want to look after a place like Toronto?
Lando: Well, you would think so, but the reason why I'm bringing this up,
Leo Ernewein: I think so.
Lando: The reason why bring this up, I agree with you. I think they would look after Vancouver too. But the only reason why I think a lot of people are so upset with this is just because, you know, they're not that teams deserve to, you know, you shouldn't reward teams for tanking.
Lando: I mean, for being that bad. That's just a bad, bad scouting, you know, bad management. could go on and on and on.
Leo Ernewein: Then you change the rules. You don't, you don't house them on a lottery pick. You change draft rules and you make it so that as soon as you're eliminated, you like the PWHL gold standard rule or whatever the rule rule.
Lando: Exactly. Yeah, exactly. That's a perfect example. But like that. So again, so like, because Toronto and New York have, you know, they've got, they make the most money, they have the most fans, you know, they're worth, the organizations are worth, you know, billions and billions of dollars.
Lando: So that's why I'm wondering, yeah,
Leo Ernewein: Just the building that New York put in alone, right? Like, yeah.
Lando: Exactly. So it just that's why I think a lot of people were including a lot of podcasters and radio hosts that they all said like they thought this was a little suspicious. It just it didn't look right. It didn't feel right. And I mean, I'm with you, Leo. I don't think that this was necessarily rigged, rigged, rigged.
Lando: But I it seemed suspiciously rigged. That's all I'm going to say.
Leo Ernewein: it's just funny because it, like I say that it does, but then at the same time, when Toronto goes ahead and wins the lottery completely flukely or like Edmonton did, I'm sure a lot of those were, you know, if, if not all of it was complete luck. And then all of a sudden these rumors start that it is rigged and, you know, all this, it's like they can't win, you know?
Lando: Yeah, I know what you mean. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. But, I don't I find it funny.
Lando: I find it funny too. But I mean, for you all the Leaf fans that listen to us, congratulations.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, so pretty much everybody's pencil in Leafs McKenna in there. Number two, Sharks probably going to go Stenberg because it's... I mean, we'll wait and see how these combines go and stuff like that too and the rest of whatever, but the summer goes and stuff like that, right? But...
Leo Ernewein: And then you start to get question marks at three. Like, does Vancouver replace Hughes and go chase Reed? Do they look at Maholtra? Because there's not really deep center position in this.
Lando: I think they.
Leo Ernewein: Like, it's Maholtra, Tynan, Lawrence, I think is right behind them.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: I don't know if that Bjork guy plays center. But what does Vancouver do? Like, they're picking third.
Lando: Well, I mean.
Leo Ernewein: Fans are totally mad. Yeah.
Lando: Did you, I'm going to ask fans to go into, our fans to go into this and look it up or go on YouTube, but I'll ask you the question. Did you see the reaction?
Lando: I think it was Farhan Lodgy.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Yeah, Farhan Lodgy shared.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: in a bar that he was broadcasting from or doing stuff with TSN. And he showed video of the bar. That was as sour of a bar that you could possibly get. It was like, holy smokes.
Leo Ernewein: They were going to flipping cars. No, I'm just
Lando: It almost looked like they were about ready to throw beer bottles at the TVs.
Leo Ernewein: kidding. They were booing the pick, though. hilarious. Yeah. As you should.
Lando: But yes, as you should.
Leo Ernewein: As you should. As one should if you're predicted supposed to go first.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: You have the highest odds to go first. And not only do you not get them, but those jokers who had a protection on them to get that pick.
Lando: Curt Brown, yeah. Brown,
Leo Ernewein: If they fell out of the top five... it would have been Boston's. And since Matthews got hurt, their season was a wash, right?
Lando: pretty much yeah.
Leo Ernewein: So obviously they were tanking. Yeah, I don't know. I'll just say, yeah. The whole process. Do you think they need to change the lottery There we go.
Lando: Well, let me answer your question with Vancouver fans. So I think Mel Holtra is going the guy that they're going to pick. So I'll be real quick on that first question answered. And now your second question that you answered, or asked me, sorry, is...
Leo Ernewein: Okay.
Lando: I think what the NHL needs to do, and now maybe they have, they haven't. I haven't seen anything for quite a long time. And maybe it's just because I'm not paying attention to it. But I think what they need to do is they really need to share with fans what is the process they actually pick from. I know it's luck and they pick balls out of this machine. But what constitutes...
Lando: the right for certain teams to get these first round picks. Like to me, Toronto, like for me, especially for an example, not Toronto, I was going say San Jose.
Lando: Like San Jose was three points away from making the playoffs. So how is it?
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, they jumped really high.
Leo Ernewein: But so did New York, like the Rangers when they got Schaefer, right?
Lando: They did. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: So it happens.
Lando: Yeah. It can happen.
Leo Ernewein: That's still a one in five chance that you're going down when you think about it.
Lando: Thank you.
Leo Ernewein: 20% chance to get the first pick means one in four or one in five, sorry, that you aren't going to get it, that you're going to move down. So it's still, it's, know. It's, it's a whole shoot of stuff.
Leo Ernewein: The NFL, I think does a nice thing where they don't even have a lottery. Right. So you don't even have to worry about that, but it still doesn't stop the tanking problem because you still get like the New York giants versus the Raiders in one game last year where they called it the tank bowl.
Leo Ernewein: It was just awful, awful football play because both teams were trying to lose.
Leo Ernewein: I don't know what the answer is. I like the PWHL stuff, but the PWHL is also a different league, right? They have like six teams or something like that.
Lando: Well, now they're going to Detroit, Vegas, and who's the other team?
Leo Ernewein: So,
Leo Ernewein: yeah.
Lando: Hamilton, I heard, today. So, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Nice. PWHL expansion. So that's good.
Lando: No cap. Yeah, no Calgary team yet, but I bet you that will be coming in the new building.
Leo Ernewein: I know I'm waiting. I'm waiting, man.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: It'll happen. I'm sure it'll happen.
Lando: Oh, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: But I think they're just waiting for that new arena to see what the logistics are for ice time-wise and see how much the hitmen are going to take, how much the wranglers are going to take, and stuff like that.
Lando: Yes.
Lando: And then you got the Roughnecks and, yeah, with the NLL and, yeah, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Roughnecks, of course. Yeah. I'm sure Surge might have a game there or two once or twice a year.
Lando: yeah yep.
Leo Ernewein: They can try to sneak one in. It's going to be a busy arena and it'll be in use every day, that's for sure.
Leo Ernewein: Exciting. We'll jump over here the last question. You think the NHL... Well, no, sorry. We'll jump over here to the next topic here because there's kind of been some drama around the locker room and the...
Leo Ernewein: Euler nation area. This has been turned into probably the biggest, kind of one of the biggest stories in Northern Canada here. McDavid dry side all in front of the mic were laying it out on the line in their press conferences.
Leo Ernewein: Leon dry side, was saying the organization needs to get better. felt like they were taking a step backwards just as an organization as a whole. And then Connor McDavid kind of echoed everything that he said,
Leo Ernewein: Leon, right? He called him Leo. I wanted to somehow fit that in there, but as I was trying to do that, I realized it might have been confusing the listener because my name is Leo. Anyways, trying to get over to the next part here, but yeah, they were cheesed in front of the media and kind of almost essentially throwing
Lando: Mm-hmm.
Leo Ernewein: the organization from the bus or in front of the bus from the top down without saying any names. They didn't say any names. They and they even said, you know, we got to get better. And it starts with me.
Leo Ernewein: And so it's it's it's like a leadership way to do But it's also like such a tough thing to see and such a tough thing to say. just feel so bad for those guys because, you know, they're frustrated if they're going to the media and doing that.
Leo Ernewein: Right? Like, you know, you know, they've had internal conversations on what needs to change and nothing has happened.
Lando: Yeah. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: And so they're, they're this close to airing that out. They're this close by saying, you know, something needs to change. We're taking a step backwards. We, we need to do better. And starts with us and you don't get a lot of people that say starts with us. I bet you a lot of other people and leaders of that kind of caliber,
Leo Ernewein: uh, don't come around. So a lot other people that are skillful and, you know, that you pay that kind of money might've, might've made things a lot worse than it could have been. So I, I just, because I don't mind Edmonton doing bad. Like I don't hate them.
Leo Ernewein: I want to see them do good just because of McDavid and dry subtle though. That's the reason I like their, I like two of their players. And I can't say I like them. I just don't hate them.
Leo Ernewein: Anyways, Landon, Do you, you know, is it the beginning of the end? Because like that window seems like it's closing. They got two years. That was literally the words from, dry subtle. We got two years.
Leo Ernewein: God knows what happens after that.
Lando: Yes, I think it is the beginning the end. And, you know, was thinking about this question over and over again within the last couple of weeks and how I would answer this on our podcast. And the window is definitely closing.
Lando: Like, based on what the team that they have, they don't have a good enough team to go forward to continue to try to make a push the Stanley Cup Finals.
Lando: I know Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: And that's what I was asking for. He's like, hey, we need help.
Lando: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But they had help. And the reason why I'm saying they had help is management, management totally botched every single move that they did. So I'm going to, I know I've talked about this in episodes past.
Lando: They traded Evander Kane away for basically nothing to Vancouver. They lost or they basically said that we can't afford Broberg and Hallways. So they basically traded them to St. Louis.
Lando: For two draft picks, I think there's a second or a fourth or something. It wasn't very high draft picks. And then so then on. So now Broberg and Holloway are two important pieces for St. Louis, who both signed long term deals with the Blues and have had career seasons with them.
Lando: So they've lost those two guys who were also part their Stanley Cup, their first Stanley Cup run. They let Connor Brown walk to New Jersey. He signed a contract with the Devils.
Lando: Ryan McLeod, who is now playing with Buffalo,
Leo Ernewein: The guy that they drafted, right? Or no, that they traded for somebody?
Lando: Something like that. I can't remember. But so McLeod's in Buffalo.
Leo Ernewein: I guess so.
Lando: That's another important piece that they were on their roster. And then I can't remember if they traded Fogle away or if they let him walk too.
Lando: But Fogle went to Los Angeles. Oh, no, they traded Fogel to Los Angeles for Arvidsson. And now Arvidsson went to Boston, which they got Trent Frederick back.
Leo Ernewein: Thank you.
Lando: And so they've made Stan Bowman has made brutal decision after brutal decision. And then on top of that, signing Evan Bouchard to a ridiculous contractor.
Lando: So their money is so tied. on so many players that they have on their roster. They couldn't keep all of them. And then, so then, what does he do?
Lando: He goes and trades. He had a number one goalie, but he trades him to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarvis, who's basically backup now. So it's like, Right?
Lando: Like, it's just, I call it stupidity is what I call it, and mismanaging. And I, to be honest with you, I think Stan Bowman should be fired. But as far as the window is closed, yeah, I know you're, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: That was my next question. Yeah. Out of the cannon, he landed out of cannon east of the moon.
Lando: Yeah.
Lando: But the reason why the window is closing is because management made horrendous decisions. Now, what do I think they need to do to fix it? Well, you answer that question because I think that's what going to ask that question.
Lando: So, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: That's where you start is Stan Coleman, right?
Lando: That's where he started, Stan Bowman, I think. Now there's rumors have it. The rumor has it today that I heard that Edmonton wanted to ask permission for an interview with Bruce Cassidy and Vegas just basically said no.
Leo Ernewein: No, yeah, no way they would say yes.
Lando: So anyway, so and I don't even think Chris Knobloch was the problem. I do be honest with you.
Leo Ernewein: No, I think he's a good coach.
Lando: They just. I think he's a great coach. I just think with the Oilers this year, it was just such a bizarre year. They started off slow, and that whole Skinner thing around Christmas time, and then they never could get any traction this year. And Hyman was out for how many weeks, and It was just such a bizarre year for Edmonton. It was just really strange. And then Dreisaitl wasn't healthy. McDavid wasn't healthy. Hyman wasn't healthy.
Lando: was just, yeah, it's just mistake. It was just everything went wrong this year is basically what happened with the Oilers. But some of that, like I said, the management has really failed this team big time, massively.
Leo Ernewein: Okay, so if you're McDavid, are you gone for sure after these two years?
Lando: Well, I guess I think the Oilers have an important year. The most important year for the Edmonton Oilers is going to be how their start happens this upcoming next season in September. If things don't go, if they don't make massive improvements this summer and they don't have whatever they do,
Lando: If they don't improve their play and they don't do little bit better, I could see Connor McDavid by the next trade deadline gone.
Lando: I can't see him sticking out for two years. I just don't. Because based on the frustration that I just saw in that press conference, I've never seen McDavid that frustrated.
Leo Ernewein: Neither have Yeah.
Lando: So...
Leo Ernewein: He looked like he wanted to cry. No. I've seen him more frustrated and that was the game seven loss. But besides that. And the wake, we got to wake up stuff in the locker.
Lando: Yeah,
Leo Ernewein: I've seen McDavid frustrated. I've never seen him so vindicated before.
Lando: that's a good word, yes.
Leo Ernewein: He was out for somebody's job. with that press conference. So we'll see how it goes.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: We'll see how it goes.
Lando: Stay tuned, everybody.
Leo Ernewein: Some big news coming out of Toronto besides the draft lottery, the Maple Leafs, a new management for them. John Chayka, former, uh, GM manager, general manager, sorry, of the, what was the Arizona Coyotes at the time.
Leo Ernewein: And senior executive advisor, Matt Sundin used to play for the Maple Leafs captain. Everybody should know Matt Sundin if you're a, I should say Maple Leafs fan. I guess it's been a long time now since he's played. So, but he was a staple in the league for a long time, drafted by the Nordiques, acquired by the Maple Leafs. I think they, can't remember how they traded for him.
Leo Ernewein: I wanted to say Doug Gilmore, but I don't think it was because he played with me.
Lando: Oh, you're talking about how they got Matt Sundin?
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Because
Leo Ernewein: Do you remember? Now I have to go.
Lando: he used to put... He used to play for the Quebec Nordiques, and yet he played on the line with Joe Sackick.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. Yeah.
Lando: And I do remember a lot of Nordique fans that I know around the area who are now Al-Anse fans said that was the dumbest move, that one of the dumbest moves that Colorado did, Colorado slash Quebec, was traded him to, it was Wendell Clark that Toronto got.
Leo Ernewein: That's who it was. I wanted to say Doug Gilmore, but I knew it was, because it wasn't Gilmore that he played with Gilmore, but I knew somebody of significant stature.
Lando: Yeah, it was Wendell Clark. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: So yeah, an unfortunate trade, but anyways, Matt Sundin, a former player, of course, in the executive chair, new moves for them. Yes. Good moves. Do you think? I mean, obviously even Sundin was happy showing him in the, uh,
Leo Ernewein: at the draft lottery there, right?
Leo Ernewein: But what do you think about the signings of the new management in charge with Maple Leafs?
Lando: Well, here's the thing that found interesting about John Chayka, considering that they hired somebody who tried to cheat his way to getting another job couple years ago.
Leo Ernewein: He did get penalized draft picks. You are right.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: That whole way he left Arizona was awful.
Lando: And... Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: awful.
Lando: Awful. And so I was a little surprised. was a little surprised how he, how he got hired. Now everybody deserves second chances, right?
Lando: Leo, I think, you know, and all our listeners.
Leo Ernewein: he was like Kyle Dubas before Kyle Dubas kind of thing. He was viewed as like a
Lando: Correct. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: wonder GM almost young.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: I think he was 30 when he did that stuff. So maybe you can chalk it up to just being naive. I've been there. I still will be there. I'm probably have it left there, you know, when it comes to making dumb moves.
Leo Ernewein: So I get it.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: But it does seem, I don't know. I, maybe I'm putting myself in his shoes here, but I think maybe, you know, he got hired by Arizona super young.
Leo Ernewein: It was on top of the world. Right. And then, you know, you're in Arizona at the time was not a great organization to work for. And he was expected to probably with that contract he was given and the age he was, it's probably expected a lot of results.
Leo Ernewein: I still didn't, I think he drafted like Barrett, Barrett, who did he draft like, third overall with that pick.
Lando: I think it was Clayton Keller.
Leo Ernewein: No, I liked Clayton Keller. Chayka, top picks by year.
Leo Ernewein: And go.
Leo Ernewein: Barrett Hayton, yeah, fifth overall.
Lando: Barrett Hayden, okay.
Leo Ernewein: And doesn't he play for the Rangers now?
Lando: No, he's still with Utah.
Leo Ernewein: No, it's Utah. He's still on the team. He actually was being a steal.
Lando: Yeah, he's still with Utah. Okay.
Leo Ernewein: It was a different guy than... Oh, was Soderstrom.
Lando: Oh yes, yes.
Leo Ernewein: Keller I liked. Chitrin I liked. I mean, I didn't really care about Pierre Lowe for Joseph because that was kind of a higher... He was later in the first round. I think it was like 23 or something like that.
Leo Ernewein: But when he picked... Barrett Hayton that high. was like, wow, that was a reach. And then Hayton turned out to be a decent player. I still think they kind of run him at five, but no, he was, he was decent.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: I'm thinking of Brett Howden. Sorry. I keep getting those guys confused.
Lando: that's why. Okay.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: Sorry. Similar names.
Lando: It's all good.
Leo Ernewein: Anyways.
Lando: But anyway, so I'll be real quick with question that you asked me. So John, was a little surprised with John Chayka as a hire. I wasn't surprised about Matt Sandin, but one of the things that really caught my eye when they introduced him, that press conference went really sour, really quick.
Lando: If anybody, anybody,
Leo Ernewein: I think I moved off the start.
Lando: He did. think he did. Yeah. So anyways, yeah, it, it, it.
Leo Ernewein: Was it Keith Pelley or was it John Chayko that got booed? It might have been Keith Pelley that got booed.
Lando: John Chayka got booed.
Leo Ernewein: Oh, was John Chayko, okay.
Lando: Yeah. Yeah. Cause I think I can't remember. I can't remember. It a poor reporter or something like that, that, Oh, it was. Yeah. So anyways, it, it, it didn't start off really good, that good. But you know, I, I, I, I don't think it matters what management group that they hired. They've got a mess in front of them, big mess in front of them.
Leo Ernewein: Well, it helps getting the first overall pick to propel that rebuild. However them, though, I'd be looking at Dish and Matthews.
Lando: Exactly. Yeah. No kidding.
Leo Ernewein: I'd be moving on from a younger core here.
Lando: For sure.
Leo Ernewein: And it starts with seeing what you can get for Matthews and seeing what you can get for Riley and
Lando: And Nylander. Morgan Riley and Nylander. Yeah. And yeah.
Leo Ernewein: And I'd be going to Nylander and I'd be saying, hey, listen, I'm sorry because I know, like, I would love to keep you around, but you just don't fit the window anymore.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: And more assets we can use, the better when it comes to draft picks and or young players, right?
Lando: Well,
Lando: Well,
Lando: exactly. And if I'm Nylander, I'd be like, I would like to get out of that circus too. Go somewhere fresh and go maybe Florida, Tampa, Carolina.
Leo Ernewein: Mm-hmm. Wouldn't he love to go to Florida or something like that? Play for the Lightning the Panthers? Yeah.
Lando: mean, even going to an up-and-coming team like Philadelphia or California. Or maybe go play, you know, go get...
Leo Ernewein: I even think he could fit a window in Vancouver better than he could fit a window in Toronto.
Lando: Oh, for sure. Or even Pittsburgh, too.
Leo Ernewein: Like, they a winger so bad.
Lando: Yeah, Vancouver...
Leo Ernewein: Would he be the third overall pick for – and I don't know if Vancouver would do that because he's still a little bit too old. If he was a bit younger, maybe.
Leo Ernewein: But I don't know, right? Like, him playing next to Petey.
Lando: Oh, yeah, the Swedish clash again.
Leo Ernewein: Swedish connection, right?
Lando: Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Swedish connection.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Yeah, absolutely.
Leo Ernewein: And for the Leafs, I'd do that for the third overall pick for a look at Chase Reed.
Lando: So.
Leo Ernewein: I mean, if you don't get them, you get Stenberg and then you get McKenna, Stenberg and you go from there.
Lando: For sure.
Leo Ernewein: mean, you go from there and then you get McKenna.
Lando: Exactly.
Lando: Yep, exactly.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. And then you get McKenna and Stenberg and then you go from there.
Lando: Exactly. So, yeah, I'm with you. I like it. But, I mean, they need to move off of them. That's for sure. Matthews could be a San Jose Shark really quick, I think, or even a Minnesota Wild, would think. One of the two.
Leo Ernewein: Oh, a Minnesota wild. Somebody I saw showing that they would trade Matthews for Boldy. And I don't think, I don't think Minnesota would do that.
Lando: Neither do I.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. As much as I like Matt Boldy, I just don't think it don't think it'd be happening. but enough about the leaf smock trades because I'm getting way off topic here. Uh,
Lando: like it. Hey, your Leafs, man, man, you are absolutely 100% allowed to talk about your Leafs all the time, just as long as I can talk about my avalanche.
Lando: That's all.
Leo Ernewein: Okay, fine. I'm going to talk about the Leafs. What are they going do with Matthews?
Lando: They're gonna trade them. Absolutely, 100% they're trading them, yes. Yes.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. Okay. Is Craig Berube in trouble? Head coach?
Lando: I do. I think John – I mean, I know John Chaka said in his press conference that he's a really, really good coach.
Lando: But I just – based what has happened in the years – this past year, I just – he's just not the coach to fit for the roster of players that they have.
Leo Ernewein: might not be Chayka's guy. Yeah.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: He might not be.
Lando: So. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: I feel like Chayka might, I don't know, try to get somebody closer to his age.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: You know, I feel like Craig Berube, probably there might be a power structure there that Chayka might be like, Hey, I'm your boss. And Berube is just like, ha sure.
Leo Ernewein: On paper, on paper, it says that,
Lando: Exactly.
Leo Ernewein: And then the door. But yeah, that's, that's my opinion. And then if you are Jacob Sundin, everybody, Keith Pelley, all the management involved, are you taking McKenna number one or what are you doing with that first overall pick?
Lando: Well, I think, I think don't, don't.
Leo Ernewein: Like, are you even taking pulse?
Lando: Well, you know what, man? Here, here, here's what I think is going to happen. And know you threw out a couple names. I, I think you pick the best player for what you need.
Lando: Don't pick the best player because he's the best player.
Leo Ernewein: No.
Lando: If you think he's a need, that's what I think.
Leo Ernewein: No.
Lando: That's what I think. Because here...
Leo Ernewein: You get the number one overall pick, you pick the best player. That's what I think, especially in the position that they're in. They've got to blow it up. If they think that, oh, we can put a patch on this and try to take Chase Reid number one, I'm going to, oh, my God, I'm going rage.
Leo Ernewein: If they let Mechanic go anywhere else but Toronto, I think not only would I rage, I think Toronto would be flipping cars, Landon.
Lando: That's true.
Leo Ernewein: It would be Mayday.
Lando: I'd love to see that too.
Leo Ernewein: Mayday, sorry, not Mayday. would be Mayhem.
Lando: I'd love to see that by the way.
Lando: Just because it's Toronto.
Leo Ernewein: Oh man, it wouldn't only be Toronto.
Lando: But
Leo Ernewein: It would be like the GTA area, the whole Toronto area.
Lando: yeah. Everybody would be flooding out on boats on Lake Ontario trying to get the heck out of there.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. The whole TGA would go nuts.
Lando: Yeah.
Lando: One of the things that I'm going to remove real quick, because I know we need to move on to talk about the Carolina, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. Good point. Good point.
Lando: But one of the things that I was listening to a lot of radio shows, and I'm going to make this point for your reliefs.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Don't let Matthews dictate how you're going, how you're going to move your organization forward.
Leo Ernewein: Pretty sure he's got a no-moving clause.
Lando: You know,
Leo Ernewein: going be kind tough.
Lando: He does. Well, yeah, he does. But you can't. Unfortunately, what happened in Vancouver with Quinn Hughes, it sunk them because they were more afraid of how Quinn Hughes is going to feel and think and we got to try to make him happy.
Lando: In Toronto, don't do that.
Leo Ernewein: No, they're trying to convince him to stay, though. That's different. When you know that Matthews wants out and you want out,
Lando: Well, but it sunk them, though.
Leo Ernewein: It's different. You're just trying to maximize his value.
Lando: Well,
Leo Ernewein: Then you're trying to see where he'll go with Quinn Hughes. You you're just trying to keep them the whole time there. I think it's different situations.
Lando: Exactly. Well, but you know what, though? I'll say this, and know I'm throwing Kyle Bacni back out on him. And I had this chat about this, and Kyle and I both kind of agreed that Vancouver tried so hard to try make him happy and keep him that it sunk them.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Mm-hmm.
Lando: And so that's my point with Toronto.
Leo Ernewein: Oh yeah.
Lando: That's my point with Toronto is, yes, yeah, cater, correct.
Leo Ernewein: Oh, that's what you're saying is don't, don't cater to Matthews. I think he's gone. I don't think they need to.
Lando: I don't think they need to either.
Leo Ernewein: I think they're moving on and you know, you get the first overall pick. You're kind of blessed to, if you're not rebuilding that you should be, unless you're San Jose.
Leo Ernewein: That's the only time where the teams that, you know, every other team in the lottery that, was in the lottery pretty much should be rebuilding. I mean, there's a few, I guess that, that are, you know, higher ups that didn't jump as much as the sharks did.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Cause yeah, yeah, as you said, they missed the, they were in the hunt till the last day or second last day.
Lando: Yep, they were.
Leo Ernewein: but yeah, we'll, uh, we'll jump over here to the Carolina hurricanes. because they've been pretty dominant on a dominant run so far this playoffs, particularly dominant-wise, sweeping the Ottawa Senators in the first round, never even trailing, and then now the Philadelphia Flyers, I was about to say 76ers.
Leo Ernewein: Recently that happened all since four rounds have been
Lando: Ha!
Leo Ernewein: That's the first time, sorry, that that's happened. A team has gone 8-0 since there's been, know, seven-game series.
Leo Ernewein: So the first team to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals at 8-0. They've done it for the second time in a row, the Eastern Conference Finals. Are they the juggernaut we think they are that we see? Or you think that they've not been tested there, Landon?
Lando: I don't think they're as big of a juggernaut as we think. I don't think they've been tested. I think they've played two teams that just barely got in.
Lando: And this is not taking anything away from the Flyers or the Senators because, you know, when you make the playoffs, there's a reason why you make the playoffs. But... Those two teams are, as far as I'm concerned, in the Eastern Conference, we're on the weaker side.
Lando: And I don't think Carolina, I don't think Carolina, both those teams tested Carolina. And I think, not that I'm saying that they walked all over them, but they kind of did, even though the scores, some of the scores were close.
Lando: But they, yeah, they, mean, they outshot them, outplayed them. But I just, I don't think they had a challenge, really. And I think,
Leo Ernewein: So the real test will be in the conference finals, either the Sabres or...
Lando: Correct. Yeah. If not the Eastern Conference final, would be for sure the Stanley Cup final. That's for sure. So I'm not sold on right now.
Leo Ernewein: Okay, so enough those.
Lando: I
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, neither am I. mean, I like their roster. And the fact that they're playing this well is what you want to see...
Leo Ernewein: as far as who they were playing against, right? They should be a walkthrough in the park for them, most likely, and it was.
Leo Ernewein: So the real question is the next series for them. And speaking of the next series, what other series has caught your eyes so far? Like, is it, you know, the Minnesota Avalanche, Anaheim, Vegas, or out east with the Sabres taking on the Canadiens?
Lando: Well, the two series, I mean, I've watched them all, and they've all been fantastic, but obviously I've been really paying attention Colorado and Colorado and Minnesota. I mean, that has been probably one of the best series I think I've seen.
Lando: mean, Minnesota was couple of shots away from tying the series up, but... For Colorado, they're just such a juggernaut. I mean, and I'm not trying to be biased or anything like that. They are a good hockey team. And they held Minnesota in game four a whole period without a shot.
Lando: And the only reason why they were in the game against Colorado was because of their goaltender wall set. So it's been, that's been one of my most watched series, obviously, because my favorite team's playing, but I've watched them all. And I think all three series have been very, very interesting. And yeah, been a lot of fun.
Lando: How about you?
Leo Ernewein: What do you think about Colorado yanking the tender after like three goals on 12 shots in the second match?
Lando: I think that was a good move. I think sometimes Scott Wedgwood sometimes gets over-aggressive. And there's lots of goalies like him that are that type of style where they play very aggressive. And he was almost too aggressive. Like some of the pucks that went if he was in better position, don't think those would have went in.
Lando: And yeah, so I was in favor of Jared Bendard doing that.
Leo Ernewein: Okay, so do you –
Leo Ernewein: just don't think that Colorado has the goaltending tandem. Like I like Wedgwood. He's okay. And Mackenzie Blackwood is okay too. But two okays still don't make great. You can't play them both at the same time.
Leo Ernewein: I just don't think that Colorado has the goaltending depth in the playoffs.
Lando: walk
Leo Ernewein: It's one thing in the regular season. In the playoffs, they don't have a Bobovsky. They don't have a Vasilevsky. They don't have that guy who can stand on his head.
Leo Ernewein: Even Jesper Weldstad or even who the stars had, Jake Ottinger.
Lando: Jake Ottinger
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, I still like Ottinger. I think he's good. I just think Colorado needs just to step up to get... you know, to avoid games like that, where you're, you're down three, nothing right away.
Leo Ernewein: then you yank the goalie, you go ahead and you score one. And then all of a sudden Mackenzie Blackwood lets in another, and now the three goal leads restored. And then you let in another one, you lose five, one or five, two.
Leo Ernewein: It was a five, one. think it was five, one.
Lando: 5-1, 5-1, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. I just don't think so. For me, I don't have Colorado winning the cup, but I know you said at the start that it was Montreal versus Avalanche in the cup. Do you still have that?
Lando: Yes, I do. And to answer your question, I do.
Leo Ernewein: You do,
Lando: And to answer your question about goaltending, I mean, Colorado won the Stanley Cup with Darcy Kemper, who was mediocre. And...
Leo Ernewein: That's fair. That's fair. Yeah, that's fair. forgot about that.
Lando: Right? So they have won a cup with mediocre goaltending. The Vegas Golden Knights.
Leo Ernewein: hot. Yeah, can't say that Blackwood can't get hotter, that Scott Wedgwood...
Lando: Well, both of them can. think they both can.
Leo Ernewein: Pesna or...
Lando: I mean, they won... forget what that trophy is for goaltenders... for best goaltender best goaltenders they both yeah the Vezina I think it was think it was I think so I think or they won some sort of award but anyways I mean the Vegas Golden Knights also had mediocre goaltending and they won the Stanley Cup too they had to go yeah they had Aiden Hill they had Logan Thompson and then they had Laurent Brassois in some games too so they had I know what you mean
Leo Ernewein: they were both qualified for the Vesna this year.
Leo Ernewein: With Aiden Hill that year. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: And I don't want to be mean by saying mediocre. I just mean not elite, not elite.
Lando: I know what you mean. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: What I mean. Yeah. For all our listeners out there.
Lando: Yeah. I know what you mean, but yeah, I know what you mean.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. But I want to throw that Tampa Bay loss in round one. There was, you know, with not seeing Victor Hedman that much, was that such a factor? Like he was, was it his hip injury?
Lando: That was a huge factor. Yeah.
Lando: Yeah. That was a huge factor. And you know, not only, not only with head men, but, You really could tell, not only just Hedman not being on the ice, but I honestly think that they still miss Stephen Stamkos to this day.
Lando: Like, I don't think Jake Gensel has really filled in that void very well since Stamkos has left. So, yeah, like I – you know mean?
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. They need a pair goal scorer again.
Lando: So, it's – yeah. And nothing against the Tampa Bay Lightning because I think they really – yeah, they –
Leo Ernewein: Down the middle. Kucherov can score, but he's still a primary playmaker. Sorry. Go ahead.
Lando: Correct. And so, like, I think the Tampa Bay Lightning did as much as they could to beat Montreal. They just got out goaltended. And not that Vasilevsky didn't play bad, too, but he let two fluky goals then.
Leo Ernewein: And Dobish stood on his head a lot, man.
Lando: But, I mean, that's, yeah. And Dovish stood on his head.
Leo Ernewein: Shout out Jakob Dobish, man. He's holding down that starting role in Montreal with that young core. Montreal's really exciting. That's the series that's probably excited me.
Lando: Yeah,
Leo Ernewein: And just the team that's excited me as Leafs fan. That rivalry, I'm hoping that Leafs will blow it up and follow them. And I just want to get that window as close to them because I'm thinking that if the Leafs start a rebuild now...
Leo Ernewein: and you know, it's two, three years out, maybe even four, five, Montreal is going on the tail end of there. And then we can really start beating up on them. Eh, they'll be old guys, but then Suzuki will be like in his thirties.
Lando: there you go.
Leo Ernewein: It'll be gravy. I don't even know if it'll be, it might even be late twenties. We might be, we might be playing them in their prime. We're bunch of young kids trying to develop and just get stomped. So don't know if it's good for Toronto for, for a long time, but it's good for Canada.
Lando: Yep, absolutely.
Leo Ernewein: And it's exciting hockey to watch. I love watching young players play too. Like just watching them develop and turn into the stars that they're going to be and stuff like that. It's really cool. So I think Montreal's got a lot of them, which is really exciting.
Lando: How about those Anaheim Ducks?
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, they're another one, man. Leo Carlson in the group.
Lando: Oh, man. Yeah, they are.
Leo Ernewein: Look good. Beckett as well.
Lando: If they don't. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Beckett Seneke. Is that how you say his last name?
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Seneke?
Lando: Beckett Seneca.
Leo Ernewein: Seneca, that's it.
Lando: Yes. So, but yeah, Anaheim, if they don't beat Vegas, which is, I mean, it's still little disappointing. Nobody wants to lose, but boy, that's going to be a scary team coming out of the Pacific Division in the future. My goodness.
Lando: Scary team. So.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, they're certainly seem like teams on the up and up for sure. And I guess we'll jump over here to another team that I think is maybe going to be on the up and up. Canmore Eagles 2-1-1 so far in the Continental Cup, which is the Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship tourney.
Leo Ernewein: They just lost to the Nivernail Nighthawks out of Manitoba, though, today. Obviously, a win for the Eagles, having made the tournament so far. But have they impressed you, Landon?
Leo Ernewein: I guess that's...
Lando: Yes, they have. Yeah, they have.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: It's been quite a run they've been on. And congratulations to the Eagles for doing as well as they are. I'm surprised that they're actually dominating as much as they are.
Lando: And you said they lost today. Is that correct? Did I hear that right?
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, 64 when I was just looking up some other stuff to ask about this. And I think they're tied with those Nighthawks out of Manitoba for the top of the division with eight points through four games.
Leo Ernewein: I think it's a 10-game round-robin play. And then they'll have like quarterfinals, semis, and then finals throughout the month of May here.
Lando: It's quite a tournament, let me tell you. Yeah, I really need tournaments. So if anybody has had a chance to watch it in the past, it's quite a tournament.
Lando: There's more teams in it.
Leo Ernewein: It's out in like Somerville, Prince Edward Island or something like that, I want say.
Lando: It is, yeah. They had to fly halfway across the country.
Leo Ernewein: What an experience for those guys, though. That would be really cool.
Lando: No kidding.
Leo Ernewein: That would be really cool. Jumping back to the NHL here because I really asked to forgotten one thing that I wanted to touch base on. Mitch Marner, playoff Mitch. What's going on with that, Landon?
Lando: Yeah, like that.
Leo Ernewein: He's leading the league in points now in the playoffs. 16 points, 10 goals. Sorry, six goals, 10 assists. I think that's what it is.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: What...
Lando: Doesn't that just piss you off as a Leafs fan that he's doing so well? Yeah. So sorry to bring that up. But anyways, ladies and gentlemen, once in a while I have to give jabs and shots to my good friend Leo and co-host Leo because he's – do.
Leo Ernewein: Being a Leafs fan, you deserve it. It's just by nature, right?
Lando: And you're also a really good buddy, so I got to nudge you a little bit.
Leo Ernewein: Exactly.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, for sure.
Leo Ernewein: It does hurt me a little bit, but I'm also really happy for him because he's playing through his true potential.
Lando: But anyways,
Lando: me too.
Leo Ernewein: He's leading the team in Vegas that's happy. He's out there living his life, and he definitely looks like he's getting the last laugh out of him versus the Maple Leafs and that organization and stuff like that.
Leo Ernewein: And I think I compare – I think why we were talking about Edmonton a little bit earlier and How I said I like them is that I view them in this similar situation to the Maple Leafs where McDavid and Drysaddle, you got these two elite players and they're barking almost being like, hey, we want changes. We need this. This isn't acceptable for a pro level hockey club. How you making this move?
Leo Ernewein: That's our starting goalie. Really? Stuff like that.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: I don't necessarily say it's all the same problems, but I view them as similar situations. where they can bark and cry all they want. Nothing's going to change because that organization is going to continue to sell tickets because we as a people will always buy them because they're staples in our lives now.
Leo Ernewein: Right?
Lando: Mm-hmm.
Leo Ernewein: They're a part of us. So you can't You can't just go, I'm not going to support that anymore. You're not just going to not, if you don't buy tickets to go to games, you're still watching. You're still viewing. You're still clicking on stuff on online and all that jazz.
Leo Ernewein: At least I know I am.
Lando: Yeah. Well, you know, and what's so neat about what Mitch Marner is doing is he's, I mean, he's playing hard.
Leo Ernewein: Hard. Yeah. Yeah.
Lando: He's working hard. And I mean, him and William Carlson have been like just been unbelievable, along with your man, Brett Howden. Like, my goodness, that's been a line that has been an exciting line.
Lando: And I think one the reasons why Mitch Marner is playing so well now, too, he's not playing center ice. He's playing in his natural position. And William Carlson is his center. And that's why I think Mitch Marner is having a phenomenal playoffs because he's actually playing in the position that he's in. So that's what I think.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, I mean, it's good for Vegas, not really good for the rest of the league. We'll say that because, you know, top scorer in the playoffs right now. Phil McDavid shoes with the Oilers knocked out.
Leo Ernewein: That's for sure.
Lando: Correct.
Leo Ernewein: One other thing I want to talk about at the NHL before we jump over to
Lando: Yep.
Lando: The WHO?
Leo Ernewein: the Blue Jays. Just one more thing. Just with some of the games that I've been seeing, it feels like a lot of aggressive play has been happening around the net, particularly with the goalies getting ran into more than usual. Do you think that's happening more this year or is it just me?
Lando: No, I'm with you. actually was just funny. was talking to my neighbor who was doing, was standing his deck and he, he actually brought this up too. And he said, Landon, have you noticed that the, just like the question you asked, he asked that question to me and I said, yeah, I've noticed that too. And they're, they're not really doing a very good job of calling penalties on it either.
Leo Ernewein: Well, like I think the player on the Canadian just got fined like $3,500.
Lando: Cause I mean, you,
Leo Ernewein: Sorry, when I read it here, I thought it was $3.5 million, but they put in the cents on his fine.
Lando: yeah
Leo Ernewein: So I almost tripped up on that. But I think his name was Beck Meliston. Meliston?
Lando: malestine malestine
Leo Ernewein: Meliston. Yeah. He's a player on the Sabres and ran Montreal's goalie, Jakob Dobish, in Game 3 3 in the second there.
Leo Ernewein: So they are, I don't know, maybe I'm cherry-picking being like, yeah, Landon, they're calling it. Here's one incident. But I don't know, man. I feel like I've just seen, and I'm chalking it up to just the intensity of the playoffs.
Leo Ernewein: And maybe it's just because I've been so used to seeing some of the Leafs games at the end of the year that I never knew what the intensity of the playoffs was all year until I saw it.
Leo Ernewein: Now, you know, the Leafs didn't seem like they played with it.
Lando: Yeah, I know what you mean. Yeah. Well, I just don't think the referees in the NHL have really nipped it in the butt, to be honest with you.
Leo Ernewein: So...
Lando: And somebody's really going to get hurt. And it could be career-ending.
Leo Ernewein: What can they do to do better? Is it just positioning? Is it like, how are they missing it?
Lando: Just call penalties. Well, I think personally what they've done is they've been very finicky. Or not finicky is not the word. They've been very wishy-washy about what is goaltender interference and what isn't.
Lando: And if they're going to call goaltender interference, they better call it.
Leo Ernewein: Hmm.
Lando: Like, I mean, how many times, Leo, in your games in past, how many goaltender interferences do you think I've called in when I refed you? Probably a good number of them, right?
Lando: Not to pick a number, but...
Leo Ernewein: I think like one a game, maybe.
Lando: Yeah, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Maybe one a game.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: I'd say like.75 a game.
Lando: Correct. Yeah, so...
Leo Ernewein: And we're not seeing that as much anymore. You're right.
Lando: No, and so if you make a statement and you call a penalty of goaltender interference, it won't happen. Now, again, know that there's a lot of players that are getting shoved into goaltenders by defensemen, and that's been happening a lot too.
Lando: But yeah, if they set a precedent of what goaltender interference is, and then they tell the players when they make calls to leave goaltenders alone, I think this would stop.
Leo Ernewein: That's fair. I don't really have an answer that because I'm not a referee, but that's why he's our expert. We'll jump over here to the Blue Jays now because, you know, 18 and 23 so far to start the year after a World Series appearance last year. Is it too early to hit the panic button, though, for you, Landon, on the Jays?
Lando: Well, I've been thinking about this question too, and I've been listening to a couple radio shows and podcasts. And one of the things that's really concerning me in all of this team is the fact that they just don't seem to have that swagger that they had last year. They're missing pitches.
Lando: They're not – like they're –
Leo Ernewein: They're hurt. A lot of their pitchers are hurt, though, still.
Lando: A lot of their pitchers are hurt. Some of their hitters are hurt. But...
Leo Ernewein: And Trey Savage is still a rookie. Let's not forget that. Just because he pitched well in the World Series and in the playoffs does not mean – it's often a thing in the MLB that I see is that when a guy breaks through from the minors to the majors as pitcher,
Lando: Correct. Yeah. He's still a rookie.
Leo Ernewein: They particularly start either really well or really bad. And if they start really well, it's because not a lot of people have seen their stuff. And then they usually have lot of them, almost every one of them have a sophomore slump.
Leo Ernewein: And so Savage is still a rookie, so it's either he could still be in that rookie window, but because some people have some tape on him from postseason appearances, he could, in my opinion, also have a sophomore slump.
Leo Ernewein: And then it tempers our expectations on him. Because right now we're viewing him as, like, you know, awesome. And he still is really awesome. But, you know, a pitcher is such a tough job, too, man.
Leo Ernewein: It's so – it's so –
Lando: It is. Oh my goodness is it ever.
Leo Ernewein: minute different details and i was watching a video the other day about how pitchers were you know the training for pitching has changed from early 2000s to what it is now it's about now it's about maximizing velocity back then it was about maximizing velocity too but the understanding of how to do it was well you lift weights and you just try to throw farther and harder And now it's like you're doing all these bends, stretching stuff and workouts with bands and, you know, all this different squats.
Leo Ernewein: Squats is a big one, you know, stuff like that. Whereas before they were just doing like chest days and stuff like that, getting big biceps to throw further.
Lando: Yeah, exactly.
Leo Ernewein: Right.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: And now the science is showing maybe that's not all for it but we're also seeing a lot more injuries in the sport because of it too because the norm to even get looked at as a pitcher coming out of high school and for college and stuff like that now you almost got to throw like mid 90s whereas before to get looked at you had to touch 90 with your fastball sometimes you didn't even have to some of those good pitchers could be
Lando: Mm hmm.
Leo Ernewein: 89, 88 with their fastball, but if they had some movement stuff, they would be fine. Nowadays, you know, you looked at with that. This, this widely reliever who just doesn't get strikeouts anymore. He only pitches to get ground ball outs. You just don't see that in the MLB anymore.
Leo Ernewein: either. So it's, it's, it's different. It's changing the game. Anyways, that's getting way off the topic again, too.
Lando: Bye.
Leo Ernewein: I don't, I'm not panicking on the Jays just yet. I think they had this record this time last year. Although I am tempering my expectations. I don't think that they're going to make the world series. I think they have a world series caliber team.
Leo Ernewein: but to make back-to-back World Series in baseball is pretty tough. I have them either making the postseason as a wildcard team or just falling short and continuing to develop that core.
Leo Ernewein: One thing I am really impressed on the Blue Jays, though, is their ability to bring players through the team and turn them into everyday starters and somewhat superstars like Addison Barger and Ernie Clements has been playing amazing.
Lando: Wow.
Leo Ernewein: I think the Jays are on the field actually right now too. They're, yeah, 5-5 right now against the Rays. Rays have almost, oh yeah, They're playing phenomenal.
Leo Ernewein: Blue Jays at 18-13, There we go, is their record. The Blue Jays though just put up five runs in the seventh inning to tie the game here.
Leo Ernewein: So game tied, 5-5 in the end of the seventh, head into the eighth. They just put up a five spot. So that's, I still think they got that clutch hitting as shown right there.
Leo Ernewein: They can bring themselves back in the game and be a competitive roster. I don't know if, and that's really all you can ask for because, you know, you put yourself in a position to win and the rest is baseball, I think.
Leo Ernewein: I don't know. Who says that? don't know.
Lando: OK.
Leo Ernewein: I was going to say as they say, but I'm pretty sure nobody said that before. So we'll go with, yeah, we'll go with that. And then Landon, after the Jays here, will talk about the Raptors, I guess, because I want to fit it in.
Leo Ernewein: They were eliminated from game seven against the Cavaliers in a tough game, too. But game six was incredible. I think RJ Barrett hit the game winning three point shot when they were down by two one.
Leo Ernewein: Am I two?
Lando: something like that yeah
Leo Ernewein: And it was such a shot. It was such like a Kawhi Leonard-esque shot. The way it hit off the top of the rim, bounced up, and had the whole gym, everybody in the arena just on the edge of their seats with anticipation, right?
Leo Ernewein: Holding their breath.
Lando: mm-hmm
Leo Ernewein: And it dropped straight in. And it explodes! It was awesome. For them to lose Game 7 by 12, was tough, but, you know, they were missing Brandon Ingram out of the starting lineup, but I feel like Ingram's importance throughout the year is kind of diminished. So I wouldn't put as much weight on that as I, I would, I like the core, uh, with Barnes and I've, I think RJ Barrett's fitted nicely. And I like Isaiah Quakely building around him too would be
Leo Ernewein: would be wise. And then the NBA draft lottery happened where I think the Wizards won the first overall pick. Anyways, I'll get back to the Raptors there. Landon, what's your reaction there to them losing game seven and hitting that game six shot?
Lando: Well, you know what, man? The Raptors had a lot better season, I think, than a lot of people thought they were going to have. And they've got, I like their roster too. I think they've got, they've built a pretty good roster. And that was a hard game seven to watch. I haven't watched much of the Raptors this year as much as I should.
Lando: but I did catch a couple of their games and, uh, they've got a good young team. So I, like I, they're, they're going to be a lot of fun to watch and they've, they've, they've built a pretty good team and they've got a good coach.
Lando: And so, he is a great coach.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, Darco's a great coach, Darco Rehakovic.
Lando: So, then real quick about the Blue Jays, uh, to finish off my, finish off the Blue Jays too.
Leo Ernewein: Oh, did I skip over them for you, Landon? Sorry.
Lando: That's all good, buddy. You got, you were on a roll. I didn't want to interrupt you.
Leo Ernewein: I was on a tangent there.
Lando: So, You were real quick with the Blue Jays. I'll go on my tangent. I'm not ready to push the panic button on them yet, but I'm kind of starting to get my hand over that panic button. And here's why. Like, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looks like he's just, he just doesn't have it this year. And I don't know why that is. He seemed to have had it with the Dominican Republic.
Lando: And, And now all sudden he's playing with the Blue Jays and it's like he's on pace for only having eight home runs this year for 14-year, $500 million player. And to have 45-ish RBIs to finish on pace, that's not good. Really not good. So, like, the Toronto Blue Jays are going to have – The Toronto Blue Jays are going to go as far as Vladimir Guerrero goes with his offense.
Lando: I understand that the Blue Jays have injuries and they've had just lots of freak accidents with a lot of their players. But it's really bizarre to watch how this year has just unfolded. It's just gone completely sideways. Now, again, like we said, it's injuries. But, yeah, it's been a very strange situation. Strange start for the Toronto Blue Jays. So, yeah, so that's where I'm at with them.
Lando: I just, I think their depth is definitely being tested with the Blue Jays too. But just like the Raptors' depth was definitely tested, they didn't have much of a bench either.
Lando: So I think both of them kind of coincide together my opinion. So that's where I might take on both the Blue Jays and the Raptors.
Leo Ernewein: Nice. Yeah, I think, you know, Toronto sports kind of always, or sorry, not kind of always, as always, kind of a mixed bag, right?
Leo Ernewein: You know, Maple Leafs winning the draft lottery, Blue Jays kind of meh, and the Raptors getting knocked out of the playoffs in seven games in the first round.
Lando: Yep. It's very true.
Leo Ernewein: So that's a wrap that we, oh, sorry.
Lando: Oh, real quick.
Leo Ernewein: Yep.
Lando: Yeah, real quick. the WHL I'll even, uh, I'll bring this up with everybody. Cause I bet you nobody knows about what's going on with the WHL. so it was announced about, I want to say it was the end of March, beginning April.
Lando: When this came out, they put a, a news conference or, uh, uh, news article out that the WHL is now going to approve teams to, for traveling wise, that for some games that they're able to use flights to go to their games.
Lando: And this is really big because for those people who don't know about the WHL, The WHL of all three leagues has the most travel out of any junior league in Canada.
Leo Ernewein: Oh yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Forgot that you mentioned that.
Lando: Right?
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Yeah, that's okay. Anyway, I'm going to name all the cities really, really quick to give everybody who's not in our area a better picture of how far the travel that lot of these teams have to, or kids and, you know, the teams have to go to. So you have the Brandon Wheat Kings, you go up to Saskatoon, Prince Albert, you go down to Regina, you have Swift, Currant and Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan. Then you have Medicine Hat, you have Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton. Then you go over to BC, you Prince George, which is one of the farthest Northern teams in the WHL. Then you go south down to Kamloops and you play Kelowna and Penticton who's in. Then if you go south of the border you go to Wenatchee.
Lando: You go back north to the border. You go Vancouver and Victoria. Then you go down south back under the border to Seattle, Everett, Tri-Cities, as well as Spokane.
Lando: And then you end off with Portland. So you think about all the travel. That's a heck of lot of travel. So I am so glad to hear that the W.H.L. teams are able to use some flight affair to travel to the games because that means – yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Oh man, that's gotta be a blessing. Cause like, that's like $4,000 or 4,000 kilometers and travel both ways, you know?
Lando: Yeah.
Lando: Yes, well, just pick, yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Like if you go from like Brandon, uh, Manitoba down to like Portland.
Lando: To Portland. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah. To play the, the, winter Hawks.
Lando: Winterhawks. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Yeah. So a blessing in disguise for a blessing, and I'm glad they're going to do it.
Leo Ernewein: So a blessing.
Lando: This isn't going to take away from, you know, the busing that they're still going to do. They're still going to be that, but
Leo Ernewein: For local, yeah, for hour-long games and stuff like that.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: But for the longer...
Lando: And it's going to make, yeah, and it's also going to make players able to train better, prepare games better, probably go to school.
Lando: It's just going to make things a lot easier for everybody.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah, these are young men that still have a lot of stuff to develop outside of hockey and as well as hockey. And nobody's doing any sitting on a bus driving somewhere doing nobody any good.
Leo Ernewein: Right. So for that long, when it's an hour or two, we all do it, you know, but for for 12 hours to make it a grind to drive.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: you know, brain into that would have been a couple days.
Lando: Yes.
Leo Ernewein: No, I'm not doing that.
Lando: Yeah.
Lando: Yeah. Well, and even, even, even, like as much as I say that, you know, you'd think about, excuse me, you think about,
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: I'm going to say about, you know, Calgary, the Calgary Hitman and the Medicine Hat Tigers, for example, even though that's a two hour difference. But when you think about how far Medicine Hat has to bus to Saskatoon, like, mean, that's a five hour bus ride right there.
Lando: Right.
Leo Ernewein: Or if Medicine Hat goes to Prince George, right?
Lando: And so. Exactly.
Leo Ernewein: They would be flying for that one, I hope.
Lando: Exactly. I hope they would. Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: Or, you know, even Edmonton to go to Portland or Edmonton go to Vancouver.
Lando: Like you're, you're looking at 10, 10 to 12 hour bus rides through wintry conditions.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: Yeah.
Lando: And we all know
Leo Ernewein: I can't believe that they were doing that this whole time. I mean, that's rough.
Lando: they have been, that's nasty.
Leo Ernewein: But I guess that's what pro sports was doing for a long time too.
Lando: So
Lando: yep.
Leo Ernewein: But then again, those were grown men and didn't have another job to do. And, you know, we're all professional athletes.
Lando: Correct.
Lando: Yeah.
Leo Ernewein: These guys aren't all going to be professional athletes, right? So we're still developing.
Lando: Not everybody, not every single one them, but yeah, exactly. And then because the WHL had to be creative, they had to try to keep inter-divisional or inter-conference schedules,
Lando: just to keep the travel down and you know there's sometimes that you know cities wouldn't even get to see like the Vancouver Giants wouldn't even get to see the Medicine Hat Tigers play now they might be able to see them at least once year so as an example
Leo Ernewein: That's true. Well, with that, the clock hits zero on today's show. Huge thanks to everybody riding with us. We're out here daily trying to untangle the sports world. Biggest messes and serve up our best takes. It's not really daily. We're learning about sports stuff daily, and then we'll continue to meet every week or week and a half kind thing and give you the latest on the sports stuff. Sometimes we're on the money, though. Sometimes we're wide right, and sometimes we'll just, you know,
Leo Ernewein: we're, we're, uh, we're just kind of shooting from the hip, but we're never faking it. I promise. Right. Landon. So the floor is yours there.
Lando: Correct.
Leo Ernewein: Landon, give them the shout out, bud.
Lando: All right. So, yes, we don't we don't fake it. We make it as easy as possible, but sometimes we just screw up. So anyways, our our our my shout out today is not just a particular person.
Lando: It's actually group of people. We just celebrated Mother's Day just a couple of days ago. And I want to shout out to all all the mothers out there and including our mothers there, Leo.
Lando: A very happy belated Mother's Day. None of us would be on this earth without our mothers. So I just want to shout out to our mothers that they are very important and special people.
Leo Ernewein: Beautiful shout out, Lager Landon. I love it. Shout out all the mothers. Happy Mother's Day. Happy belated Mother's Day, I should say. And thank you again for listening. Love that shout out there, Landon. That was excellent.
Leo Ernewein: Thanks again, guys.
Lando: I thought you would like it. Take care, everybody.
Leo Ernewein: Nice.
