Tom: Hello everyone.

And welcome into once again to the talking puck podcast.

I'm Tom Callahan joined by Mike.

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So Mike, uh, there's a lot of stuff, you know, that we talked about kind of

before we started rolling here a little bit different storylines going on.

And a lot of them seem to be in the Pacific division.

So why don't we end up just talking about the Pacific, because there's so much going

on here in, in by way of me starting out.

I said, well, you know, Anaheim and LA being in the playoffs.

Is, this is a bit of a surprise at this part of the season.

And then of course you brought up Vegas and Jack Eichel and you know, there's

so many storylines, Edmonton is, is in free fall, Bruce Boudreau in Vancouver.

And you know, the funny thing is, is the one team we don't talk much

about in the Pacific as the Seattle crackings, but, uh, or the crack.

Where, where do you want to go with this one?

You could start out anywhere you want, because there's so many stories.

Mike: I think the big story right now is cycle and the potential.

If this works out.

For him to be on the same line other now Petra has got to get healthy too, right?

Yeah.

Petra ready, ICL and stone.

Where is that potentially in the national hockey league as best

line that is that a top three in the NHL potentially best thing.

So, absolutely right.

Oh, how fun would that be?

So, but I think there's a lot of different angles to go at here.

First of all.

Um, I, I know this is a surprise to you, but I'm not a doctor,

but, uh,

Tom: but you're going to play one anyway,

Mike: I'm going to play one on podcasts, but if he's supposed to - as we're

doing this podcast, he's supposed to really start skating hard.

I mean, he's been light skating, but it's, it's, it's, it's gearing up now.

And with the hope of maybe next month in February, that he is able

to play, which is unbelievable.

What's interesting about his health situation is the thought was probably

he's going to have to come back in March, but now it looks like he might

be able to, if everything goes along, according to plan, come back in February.

And he is helped out by the fact that the NHL is not going to have

their players go to the Olympics.

And there'll be games during that three week period.

So he may get back in with that.

Possibility of playing with Pacioretty and stone at some point becoming one

of the top lines in the NHL, but again, not a doctor, but this is amazing.

What has happened in the medical field of what you look back at guys like

Bobby Orr, uh, who suffered those knee injuries, ruined his career.

And look what Eichel who made this medical decision along with his doctor

about how they wanted to do this.

To get him back to be able to play Tom.

It's amazing.

What, what is done now, medically to these players, that the fact that he is

going to be skating harder and possibly playing next month, it's incredible.

And the Buffalo, and I know we get a lot of people from Buffalo who listen, they

gotta be shaking their heads in Buffalo.

Like, did we make a serious mistake here?

Tom: I don't want to beat the dead horse, but I did want to bring that up and move

on is how bad does this look now on the Buffalo Sabres and their medical staff.

And now it lends credence to players like Robin Lehner who said they misdiagnosed

him, they screwed up his rehab.

He could have been healthier sooner could have been in better shape sooner.

I just, I don't know that the organization would ever look into that.

But it sounds like they probably should.

Um, but you're right.

It'll be a top three line in the NHL for sure.

Stone Pacioretty and because look stone and Pacioretty have been able

to put almost anyone in the middle.

And be just fine.

Chandler Stevenson has looked incredible in that slot.

He's a third line center at best, anywhere else in the NHL, but those guys are so

good and Stone makes his center's game easier because he's so good defensively.

Um, you know, he's a, he's a Selke trophy candidate year in year out for a reason.

He's got a great hockey sense.

Pacioretty really has been revitalized since coming to

Vegas, uh, coming out of Montreal.

I think that once Eichel's on there, I don't think any team is,

can survive as a one-line team.

And I don't think that's a case with Vegas, which is why they'd be so scary.

They are a depth team.

Can they fit Eichel into the cap?

Not as constructed right now, but I've been saying all year Riley

Smith's contract is probably the one that goes, it's an expiring

contract with a 5 million cap hit.

Now there's talk about Vegas also.

Maybe bringing in some long-term I R help.

So they can stash that, get that cap space back and also use that

Ryan Kessler's name has come up, uh, as a possible deal from Anaheim.

But, you know, Riley Smith may be one of the first guys to go here.

And if, if Eichel is right, targeting a mid-February return,

Mike, that we may have to shake the trade tree sooner than later.

Mike: And it certainly disrupts things in terms of that playoff race in the Pacific.

And I know we want to talk about those other teams, but look, can I

just throw out my little, uh, talking pock podcast trivia question for you?

Tom: Absolutely.

Mike: Pacioretty is one of the handful, handful of players in the NHL

who've scored against all 32 teams.

Right?

Okay.

Who who's the first goalie to have won a game against all 32.

Tom: Oh, so that means beating the crack in as well.

Um,

Mike: it happened, it just happened within the last two weeks.

Tom: Interesting.

Um, I'm going to say it's Marc, Andre Fleury,

Mike: Boom!

Man, that's why I love doing these things with you.

Good one Tom.

All right.

So let's talk about LA and Anaheim.

What's going on now?

We've been, I think you and I have been, uh, really getting behind the, the Ducks

bandwagon there and enjoying watching that resurgence what's going on with LA all

of a sudden they're winning aren't they..

Tom: They really are.

And holy cow, you know, it's funny, we talk about Todd McLellan yet.

We, it was a little nugget, but Todd McLellan hit 500 winds and we talked

a little more expansively about it out, you know, coaches and the NHL

and what's going on because Bruce Boudreau is coming on in Vancouver.

What's going on in Edmonton.

And are they going to replace the coach there, but very quietly LA has just been.

You know, minding their P's and Q's playing their brand to hockey and

quietly, they've been collecting wins and climbing the standings.

And right now, as our taping today on Tuesday, uh, they have made their

way into a tie for fourth place.

They are ahead of the Sharks and they are one point behind Calgary.

For third.

I have not thought about Los Angeles until I saw that

McClellan hit 500 wins this year.

Hadn't even really paid attention.

Mike: No.

I thought they were just a team that was just kind of dragging along.

Now people have to remember this though.

If you get into the top four, that does not guarantee you a playoff spot, right?

Remember it's top eight, right?

It's a top three are guaranteed, right, right.

Each division.

But you could have five from the central (division) you could

have five from the Pacific.

Nice.

Just finishing fourth.

Doesn't guarantee you that spot.

But to me, I love the fact that there's more than four teams

vying for those top four spots.

I just think it makes it much more exciting as a fan watching the games.

And again, only eight teams from each conference make it.

So.

You know, everybody's talked to all there's there's four teams there

probably might be even five teams at the central LA keeps going like this.

There's not a guarantee

that there's going to be four teams coming out of the central

division, that they, they may beat each other up so much that maybe the

fifth team sneaks in from the Pacific, you think that's even possible.

Tom: Well, uh, one thing I will say is that COVID makes anything possible

this year because we have teams that are not playing games in droves.

And then other teams that have not been as impacted have played let's see...

I think the most games played right now.

I see 37 for Tampa bay, 38 for Vegas Anaheim.

That's the max in the league.

But believe it or not teams like Colorado, Boston 31 Islanders have played 28.

Um, but here's

Mike: the thing though, Tom, that, that may actually in a sense, could help

Tampa bay and hurt those other teams who haven't played they may have to

jam in more games at some point, right?

I mean, you're, you're in a compacted schedule.

You might end up playing, uh, three and five nights where Tampa bay might,

it might help them down the road since they played all these games.

What do you think about that?

Or, or, or does it help the teams that haven't played?

They, because they can, they can make up some, some points and pass.

I think it hurts.

I think if, if the NHL is looking more and more like they're

going to have to jam in a lot of

games.

Tom: Well, can you ask me this question again?

After the Olympics?

'cause I think, I think the Olympic break is going to be the determining factor.

And honestly, Mike, it's not to put off your question.

It's an excellent question.

But if you make up the bulk of these games in that three week stretch,

then I don't think these teams are going to be as effected by it.

But if, as we talked about, you're trying to jam 10 games into 20 days

down the stretch total disadvantage to anybody trying to do that because

you know, they're not all gonna be home games and they're not all gonna

be convenient road trips, especially if you're in the Western conference.

So yeah, I think it's going to come down to.

Whoever's doing the scheduling for the NHL this year is really going to have to

earn their pay for the next two months.

Mike: Dealing with a lot of arenas have already booked their,

their, their spots, their dates.

Let's talk about Vancouver.

Uh, love what LA is doing loving.

Anaheim's doing, they're making this division.

Interesting.

Nice.

Calgary's been good.

Edmonton, everybody.

I think anybody with thought before the season probably Edmonton

will finish top two, right?

That they may not make the playoffs.

And unless they get something fixed where they're goaltending and some defense

and start scoring them a little bit.

I think I've covered all the bases for hockey didn't I?

Tom: If they just start coming to the rink on time and they go to practice and

eat the game day meal and take a nap.

Yeah, look right.

You're right.

You're right.

Mike: Some good coaching.

Right.

So, but let's talk about Vancouver.

They, they are, they made the coaching change.

I like Travis green liked him as a person, just saw him, uh, make his first ever, uh,

professional hockey game, uh, debut and.

I was rooting for him, but boy, Bruce Boudreau, what a job he's done, Tom.

Tom: Yes.

And the stat today that I read was undefeated in regulation in the

six weeks since he's taken over.

Uh, now mind you, it's tough for Vancouver.

They've only played three games in 25 days again because COVID and,

and what have you, but they've won eight of their last ten.

And they are at a point now where this is a team.

I pretty much written the Canucks off.

They were bad, but Boudreau's come in.

He puts in that uptempo faster style, um, which, you know, it kind of, does it make

you wonder what it would have been like to have him in Edmonton to see the results

he's getting over in the last talent?

Tippett , but that's not how Tippett coaches.

No, not his thing.

And I just wonder, and not that I'm again for Tippett being fired, but I

wonder if it's just kind of a mismatch of coach with talent in this case with

Edmonton, too, that's showing through.

Now I look still blame the goaltending and the terrible numbers there, still blame...

which is weird.

If they're trying to play a little bit more defensive heads up style, and

they're still letting in all these goals that just tells you how thin they are.

Talent-wise on the back end defense and goaltending, but, um, Man...

I just Vancouver is, is doing a job.

San Jose to me is kind of that team in no man's land.

I think Darryl, Sutter's got Calgary going the right way.

I believe in Anaheim.

Now I remember my four or five years ago watching the San Diego

Gulls in the American league.

And they didn't win all the time, but they had the same

coach, Dallas Eakins and they.

Had the talent on that team now some of that talent's gone elsewhere.

Shea, Theodore most famously ended up with Vegas, but they had a lot of talent

coming up through the ranks for Anaheim.

And now for whatever reason it's coming together, I believe in Anaheim

because I believe in their coach.

I think they have one of the best goalies in the league

that nobody ever talks about.

I I they're for real.

So look, Edmonton, Vancouver, if you guys want to get in a place

and even San Jose, if the sharks somehow find some consistency, um,

you know, maybe put Evander Kane behind them, but ah, there's a lot of.

That's a lot going on for those teams.

Everybody's got a hurdle, somebody, but I think Vancouver coming from

seventh, being as hot as they are.

I know they can't sustain it forever, but I think they have a really good

chance of getting into that four ish window, and possibly challenging

some teams in the west, Minnesota, struggling, Winnipeg, struggling.

Uh, I think Colorado is Colorado and they'll be just fine.

Nashville is a surprise to me in the central St.

Louis, uh, has put it back together.

But those three look really good.

They look like they're very good team.

So maybe that's your top three in the central.

And then, all right, let's see, we got four or five teams we could

put in a blender and the rest of the west and see what happens.

Mike: Yeah, it makes this interesting to me in the Pacific is that

you don't have one or two

teams.

That are just going to pick up all the wins off the bottom of that

division by other teams getting better.

It makes it harder for a couple of teams just to kind of run away.

And it makes it much more fun to watch as a fan to watch what's going to happen.

Whether, you know, cause every day, you know, Every game's going to mean

something points are going to be important and the way that you play

going, you know, are you going for two?

We're going for that.

tie don't want, you know, in the shootout, I just find it fascinating,

but I just think it's better not to have a couple of teams at the top.

Cause we saw that last year, I thought that hurt, uh, the central division

a little bit, the top teams last year in the central, because they

beat up so much on those lower teams.

I think they were overrated going into the playoffs.

And, uh, so I, I think that's good for the Pacific that the teams are starting

to move up and make it more competitive every night when they have division play

Tom: well, it is.

And it's also.

I mean, look, if you're Edmonton, if you don't start to see some desperation

soon where we're headed towards the middle of January here, what are

you going to do Edmonton Oilers?

And same thing, the Canucks are showing their desperation.

They started to play, and I think Vancouver made the

coaching move at the right time.

By the way, I think waiting any longer would have been a disaster,

but Mike, I think they nailed it.

And they're retooling this organization.

I give them credit because let's face it.

Not every team does the right thing at the right time.

Um, San Jose probably could use the same sort of transition.

Honestly, they really could use a new, fresh perspective and a

whole new way of looking at things.

The cupboards kind of bare in San Jose and they're just a middling

team and that's what they're going to be if they don't change.

So I love the division.

I love watching the Pacific right now.

I think it's fun.

Um, I think it's great to see when it plays.

Of course, cause half the teams are in Canada, uh, but it's fun to see Vegas.

Who struggled early.

And we said, geez, what's wrong with the golden Knights?

Well, I mean, yeah, they had some injuries and submissions, but they

also weren't playing all that well.

Uh, and now they've started to play well and they're getting better in.

It's just, it's fun to watch, but looking at, I always like goal differential as a,

as a factor of who can only put the puck in the net, but keep it out to Vegas as

expected now as number one, with their goal diff as they have made that to

plus 22, Calgary is second with plus 21.

Wow.

I don't necessarily think about a Darryl Sutter led team scoring a bunch of goals.

But yeah, and yeah, Vegas has 135 goals for Calgary 1 0 4, but still

plus 21, they've only allowed 83.

Any three goals against that's crazy

low.

Mike: It is.

But anyway, I think the story of the, uh, of the day certainly is, uh, it's

a possibility that Eichel could it starting to skate now and could come

back and we could see Pacioretty and stone and Eichel playing in Vegas

Tom: remember, we talked about it, Mike and I, I said, Jack,

Eichel said middle of February.

I said, well, I think March is more realistic.

What do I know?

I also am not a doctor

even on the podcast.

Mike: So apparently we're not going to open up a practice together.

Tom: I mean, we hung up our shingle people would come in...

If laughter's the best medicine, maybe we can help some people.

But that's about it.

So I, but can you, so the balance of power may shift even a little

more and here's the other thing.

So now those teams trying to catch up.

If anyone's got a schedule with games still kind of loaded against Vegas within

that division, maybe you've got three or four left against the golden Knights.

You're not looking forward to that as much

Mike: no, no, no, no, no, no.

And you certainly are not so, uh, fascinating.

I I'm I'm with you.

I I'm going to keep a close eye and really watch what is now an

entertaining Pacific division

Tom: Should be.

It should be a lot of fun down the stretch.

So.

All right.

Well, as always, we invite you to throw your comments at us online.

I'm at Callahan on air on Twitter.

He's at Buster, the dog 33, and certainly.

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So for Mike Haynes Tom Callahan, we will talk to you next time.