WHO WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP?! | BarDown Podcast

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]And then there were two Hurricanes Golden Knights for the chance to lift the greatest trophy in sports. The Stanley Cup final is here. Welcome back to the Bard podcast. It's Pac. It's Jesse. Man, are you fired up or what?

[00:00:15]>> Man, I'm incredibly fired up. And you know what? I'll say this. This isn't exactly from a viewership standpoint maybe or in terms of the teams. It's not the really the sexiest Stanley Cup matchup, but it is a pretty darn good matchup as far as these teams. Two very good teams playing at a very high level right now. And I feel like sometimes we go into these Stanley Cup finals and we kind of have more of an idea of who we're leaning towards.

[00:00:42]This is a tough one, man. Like I I I truly think that this series could go in either way. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[00:00:48]>> I agree with you. We're going to break it all down today. Uh we're going to answer the six biggest questions that we have for this series to kind of preview it and at the end we will give our full predictions. But I think you're right.

[00:00:58]Like when you look at the two franchises, neither of these by any means strike you as the historic franchises, the big names. But hey, Vegas, nine years in the NHL now, three Stanley Cup appearances. Carolina has this great storyline of this team that's been knocking on the door for so long now and unfortunately they've just run into these juggernauts in the East.

[00:01:21]Well, guess what? This year they are the juggernaut. Um, their run has been so incredible going up a Vegas team that coming into the playoffs a lot of people didn't take them seriously except for you who had the second and >> except for me. Yeah, >> I doubted you big time when you said that and you and everyone else, man. I >> I'll get into it later with just how improbable Vegas's run has been, but their playoff has been an interesting story as well.

[00:01:46]>> I'm gonna say I'm gonna say something though, man. I'm gonna have to interject here.

[00:01:51]I don't think that this is that improbable of a run by Vegas. I think it's a I think it's it's it's been an impressive run, but the pieces are there, man, for this team to have made the run. And I think looking back now, yes, they've gotten contributions from players that maybe you didn't necessarily think would get them as far as they've gotten, but I think that the pieces have always been there for them to go on a run, and they've always been there for Vegas since THEY ENTERED THE DAMN LEAGUE.

[00:02:20]I MEAN, when you look at how Vegas has built their team historically, too. I think they only have two draft picks that they've drafted themselves on this roster. It's been a lot of trades. It's been a lot of strategic ads in free agency. Getting lucky, like every good team does as well with some waiver signings that, you know, turn out to be a very impactful player. But I just think when you look at Vegas in this playoff, they've kind of slowly slowly slowly gotten better. I think the first series against Utah, there were definitely some blips where you thought like, man, Utah kind of looks like the better team. They kind of look like the team that could take this over the line.

[00:02:54]They didn't. Vegas in the crucial games.

[00:02:56]That's when Mitch Mner kind of burst onto the scene, if you want to use that term, to talk about Marner in the playoffs. Ducks back and forth a little bit, but in the end, Vegas handled business. all of a sudden against the ABS to sweep them. Like they've just gotten better and better and better and they really have since you know March 30th when they hired John Tortoella.

[00:03:16]>> It's just interesting and this isn't to discredit the success of both these teams because I think both these teams absolutely deserve to be in the Stanley Cup final in terms of like the way they've been playing. They've been great. But both teams have had like a relatively I don't want to discredit either of them. I I think they've had a relatively e easier >> I don't think you can say that about Vegas when >> in the end they knock off the President's Trophy winning Avalanche four games >> who had a very injured Kale Mar and a very injured Nathan Gon I'm not trying to discredit Vegas here I think Vegas has looked great but >> I think that there is something to be said that of course they swept them no question and and that was impressive but the ABS were incredibly injured in that series and it's not something that you can just ignore here, right? Like clear like what they didn't have Mard for two games >> for two games. Like that's big. M Mc Mckinnon was clearly hurt too. And sure, Vegas is peing at the right time and playing in your face bullying type of hockey. But I mean, they played a Utah team which is very good, but they're up and coming. Their first playoff appearance together, same as the Ducks, right? And then you look at Carolina, handled their business with the Senators, who's a good team, by the way.

[00:04:29]and and and I think it's very impressive the way that Carolina played against them. Handled their business in the second round against Philly. You know, I don't think anyone saw Philly winning that series. And then they played a Montreal team which was clearly running on fumes at the end and we're running out of gas. I think the two best teams in the playoffs so far are definitely in the final, but I'm just saying maybe relatively speaking, it's been a it's been an interesting path for both of these teams. And that's why I think this is such an intriguing Stanley Cup final because this feels like the real the first real extremely tough, fully healthy opponent that both of these teams are playing against.

[00:05:00]>> And I think I mean obviously you you talked about the injuries of Colorado, but Vegas, it's how they won that's been so impressive. It's not like they just squeaked it over the line despite Colorado's injuries. Beat him at four.

[00:05:09]Like no nonsense. Honestly, an embarrassing performance for Colorado to to go down in a West Conference final like that. And Carolina, not only did they do that to the Habs in the Eastern Conference final, it's been the entire playoff. They've lost one game so far, which is um you know, the first team to do that since since the 80s, uh entering Stanley Cup final.

[00:05:29]>> We'll get into our questions. We'll go back and forth.

[00:05:32]>> Uh I'll start us off. The first thing I want to talk about Vegas's stars have been so good throughout this playoffs.

[00:05:39]We've heard the Marner Khan smite charge. Mark Stone when he's been in the lineup has been very impressive. Ekeel is is Jack Eel. We know how good he is, especially with the last run he had with Vegas in the playoffs. I'm wondering if the Canes can once again shut down the opposing team's best players. First round against Ottawa, Stutsla and and Kachchuck, what do they have one point combined? Kachchuck had zero points in that series. Philly, they allowed just five goals against the entire team. and Montreal. The numbers look okay between Suzuki, Sleowovski, and Cawfield. A lot of that was game one heavy when I think the line combined for eight points.

[00:06:16]After that, >> they're also just exhausted.

[00:06:18]>> There was just completely nothing. And and Carolina's ability to just take every series we've gone in and we've said, you know what, Carolina's a great team, but do they have the best players in this series against Ottawa? Oh, maybe you'll take Stutelo, maybe you'll take By Kachchuck over the top end players on Carolina. Maybe we didn't say that about the Flyers, but again, in the Habs years, we're all saying, you know what, if Slaf, if Cfield, if Suzuki can get going, Carolina doesn't have that high-end talent. It doesn't matter because every single time this team comes up against high-end talent, they shut them down and they humiliate them.

[00:06:49]They're constantly playing in the other team's end, constantly limiting them, five on five, scoring chances, shots, all of it, dominance. Man, that's my thing.

[00:06:57]>> And I'm wondering if once again they can do that to Vegas. This is my thing about Carolina, man. They don't give up a lot at all. Like, I think I looked it up.

[00:07:07]They are averaging ju under 23 shots against per game in the playoffs so far. It's unbelievable, man. Is this going to I I don't think that's going to stop, man. And and one thing we've seen about Vegas, this is the weird thing, man, is that Vegas has found ways to win games when they've been getting outshot, right?

[00:07:25]Like they they are winning games against Colorado. There were some games where they were getting outshot and and and Hart is standing on his head and and they they they are winning this that that is why this is such an intriguing matchup because Carolina does not give up a lot, but Vegas has proven that maybe they don't need that much to capitalize. They I don't know that that it's that's why it's so intriguing to me. Um I do think that Carolina is going to limit Vegas. I think it's going to come down to how well Freddy Anderson also plays, right? If Freddy is is playing like really well like he was in the first series, I think I think Carolina's going to win the series no problem. Uh that's just my opinion. But I don't think Carolina is going to give too too much to Vegas's top players. But it's interesting because Vegas's top players are as far as star power goes, they kind of stick out more. They you they're better than Carolina's top players. So it's a great question, Pac.

[00:08:18]Yeah, I mean like Mner has been a a revelation and this is the first time he's played in the Western Conference in his career and I feel like a lot of people whether it's out of jealousy or just I get it. Leaf fans are upset, but a lot of people have pointed to the fact that, you know, he played a series against Utah, he played a series against Anaheim. It was a different level of experience in the playoffs, whereas in the East, you're constantly going up against all these teams that have just won cups or made these deep runs, your Tampas, your Floridaas, your Bostons.

[00:08:52]Now, MNER's back playing against an Eastern Conference team in the Stanley Cup final on the biggest stage, and he has just been on such a tear. It it is it's it feels like, you know, an unstoppable force versus immovable object in the sense of how Carolina has been so so good at limiting this and how Vegas has just you know been been so good at putting the puck in the net led by their best guys.

[00:09:12]>> I want to say something too. I need to say something to all the Lease fans out there. Okay, I've had a lot of Lease fans saying to me, "Oh, look at Nikolai Eers. Leaves Winnipeg in his first year and he goes to the Stanley Cup final."

[00:09:26]You know what? Good. Good for Nikolai Eers. I think all Jets fans are happy for Nikolai Eers. You know what the difference is between Eer situation and Mitch Mner situation is you could have kept Mitch Marner lease fans from the sounds of it. I mean it seems like Mner was willing to stay but you drove him out of town because you treated him poorly. Okay. And that and there are probably a lot of lease fans right now that don't want to see Mner win a Stanley Cup. And I find that it would be way funnier if Mner won a Stanley Cup with Vegas than if Eers won one with Carolina. I think all of Winnipeg would be happy for Nicolers if he won. If Vince Mner won one with Vegas, I think there'd be a lot of salty Leaf fans out there. So, let's just get that straight, guys. Okay, it's it's not the same thing, okay? Nicolers just wanted a change of scenery. He probably just wanted to leave Winnipeg, experience something else. Good for him.

[00:10:15]Like, I I I get it. All right. But but the fact that you could have kept Marner and you you you just let him go because you treated him poorly, a lot of you. So it don't make it seem like it's the same thing because it's not.

[00:10:30]>> All right. We could check the box of your weekly Toronto infused rant. You're fans.

[00:10:37]>> I keep hearing it. Oh, this is that.

[00:10:39]It's like good good for Eers. I I I I hope Eers can win a cup. That'd be awesome, man. I think every Jets fan would be happy if Nichol for him if Nikolai Eers won. There would be no hard feelings. I think there are definitely hard feelings between Mitch Mner and Lee fans. And I don't know what Marner was alluding to exactly when he said dark times in his hockey career. And I don't want to make any assumptions. He did say that he would only, >> you know, elaborate on those Vegas was kind of comment. It was it was a little weird.

[00:11:08]>> Uh and but but who knows? You know, I don't want to make too many assumptions or anything because we don't know if that's necessarily with the Leafs. It could be other stuff going on in his career. It could be other personal stuff. But I mean, you hear about all the stuff about Lee fans threatening him, doing all this stuff, this that this that. I mean, I can't imagine that things are exactly butterflies and and and and amazing between mner and lease nation, right? I think that things are very chill between Eers and Jets fans.

[00:11:37]And that's why I think these are not the same situations at all. And I think that you need to give your heads a shake, Lean, if you do think that it is. If you want to make those jokes, by all means, but you're you're not offending this guy. Just saying.

[00:11:47]>> All right. Your first question, if it wasn't Nick Eers and and Mitch Mner, >> my first question is which blue line has the edge in this series because I think truly you can make an argument for both. And I think tying into that, you can talk about goalending with that as well. So kind of more like just defense all around including the tendies. But I mean, if you look at Carolina, they have players playing at such an elite level, such a shutdown level. Kandre Miller has been incredible. This this is a guy who's probably should be, you know, right up there for Consations.

[00:12:25]He's been great. They have guys like Slavven, Chadfield's great. I really like Walker. I mean, this Gosses Bear provides a lot of offense. This this is a a blue line. This is a Stanley Cup winning blue line. But then you look at Vegas and you CAN MAKE THE EXACT SAME ARGUMENT. I MEAN, LOOK AT THE GUYS THEY HAVE BACK THERE. INCREDIBLE. Theodore Brandon McNav is incredible, man. Like, this guy's underrated. This guy can log in huge minutes. He can shut it down.

[00:12:49]He's awesome. Okay, again, so you have guys like McNab who can shut it down.

[00:12:53]You got Theodore, so good offensively.

[00:12:55]Ha. Hannah is a stud, too. Rasmus Anderson, who you'd like to see a little more offensive contributions from in the Cup final, but still still a good defenseman. I mean, these are these are two teams with great great defense. I think I'm going to give the edge over and and you talk about how the the offense plays defensively, too. I mean, there's really good defensive players on offense on both of these teams as well.

[00:13:20]Can't forget about how important Mark Stone is going to be in a series like this, right? I'm going to give the advantage on defense to Carolina just because they've shown that they have given up so little. But, I mean, if you look at everything that Vegas is doing, too, that's I don't know, man. It it is evenly matched and it is going to be really enjoyable to watch.

[00:13:39]It's a great topic. I think I mean Carolina, the sixth defenseman that they have, they're they're so deep. There's not a weakness. They can they can roll their lines.

[00:13:50]Always you always feel good about who they have on the ice. Goss bear you can maybe point to maybe some defensive >> so good offensively.

[00:13:57]>> Yeah. But he like he's running their power play and he's al pair. So it's like they have everything. They tick every box. Slavven, I feel like it's long overdue a player like this is on the biggest stage in the Stanley Cup final and finally getting the flowers that he deserves as one of the most underrated defenseman in the league just because he doesn't possess the offensive upside that, you know, your traditional Norris is candidates are always applauded for.

[00:14:24]I I feel like maybe I'd go Carolina, but I look at Vegas and their top four. Like I don't like their depth as much, but those four that top four, they log so many minutes. They can play in any situation when you're down, when you're up. They're so big.

[00:14:38]>> Um >> the third pairing too for Vegas is like I think it's a little uh it's a Colton's been playing well though, man.

[00:14:46]>> He's been good. He's been he's been getting some big points.

[00:14:49]>> Your top pairing is playing 25 minutes tonight. your second pair is playing 20 minutes if not more. Like that's the thing with Vegas. They're not really relying on their their bottom pair as much. I think as a unit I'm favoring Carolina ever so slightly, just the way they kind of all work together and the fact that there's never a concern about a matchup or who's on at the ice at a certain time because they are so deep.

[00:15:13]But it is a great debate and I think Vegas has gotten here. you know, Marner and Stone and Eel and Dora Feev and all these guys who have been putting up points have gotten a lot of the credit, but watching them against the Avalanche, their ability to just shut down some of these players on Colorado that for years we've been saying, man, Colorado's so deep. Colorado could score so many goals, I think their defense has not gotten enough credit in that. And I think Brad McNab, of course, is is definitely one of the the players that deserves the most credit. and the and the goalending, man. It's going to be like you got two goalendings playing two goalenders playing at a high level and it's going to be interesting to see who's who's going to be able to score here.

[00:15:56]Like who's two I don't know. It's there's going to be some really close games in this year. Like I think every game is going to be really close if I'm being honest with you.

[00:16:03]>> I don't really feel like one team has that much of advantage over the other.

[00:16:07]>> All right, we'll get into question number two. Uh let's talk about the head coach specifically on one side because we have one of the longest tenur head coaches in the NHL in Carolina and Rod Bindomore and one of the shortest tenure head coaches in the NHL in John Tordella. And I'm wondering if Tortoella's run with Vegas will almost change the way the head coaching position is viewed across the league. We see it all the time in sports. It's a copycat league. Teams that are successful are often mimicked by teams that are not successful. And John Torella being hired on March 29th and bringing Vegas to the run that they've been on is absolutely incredible. You've talked about it. You ranked Vegas as as your second best team in the NHL going into the playoffs. This is a very good team on paper. They have all the ingredients of a Stanley Cup run and in the end it is not that surprising that they're here. But when you look at the season that they've had, to me it is very surprising that they here. I think this is the worst season in Vegas's history as a team. It's the first time they ever that they did not win more than half their games. It's first time they finished with less than 41 wins.

[00:17:20]They are now the second team since the lockout to reach the cup despite winning less than 50% of their games. The only other team that did that was the Montreal Canadians in the co year when I think they won 43% of their games. Vegas won about 48% of the game. And you know what?

[00:17:36]>> It was a different division that year.

[00:17:38]They didn't play 82 games. Carrie Price was the best player in the NHL and that powered Montreal to a cup run. This is very different than that. This year, Vegas won less games than the Florida Panthers, who were injury riddled and were considered a massive failure in terms of defending their cup. The Devils who fired their GM. The Capitals who obviously didn't make the playoffs. The Blue Jackets fired their coach at one point. We all know about Rick Bonis's epic end of season rant on how the players don't want it enough. That team won more games than Vegas. The Red Wings, who have not made the playoffs in forever. It's a crisis there over management, coaching, all that. The Eiser plan, it's not working. Well, guess what? The Eiser plan won more games than the Vegas Golden Knights. The Islanders, >> who had the first overall pick last year, won more games than the Vegas Golden Knights. Yet John Tordella comes in March 29th. They're in the cup final.

[00:18:32]>> Okay, man. But like there's just a couple things that we need to remember here. And this is something I have. This is a drum I've been beating for years.

[00:18:40]The playoffs are a different beat.

[00:18:41]>> No, but that is exactly my point. You brought in a coach in April, which is unprecedented.

[00:18:49]Is that going to be something we see from teams going forward where a team feels like Edmonton could have done that this year. Edmonton didn't have a great season.

[00:18:56]knob blockch and and bring in John Toro for a playoff run.

[00:19:01]>> And what's the difference between what's a big difference between the Oilers and the Golden Knights?

[00:19:06]>> They run their organizations differently, man. What do we know about the Golden Knights? They're ruthless.

[00:19:10]They don't care about anything what people think about them. They will make moves that they think that they feel are going to win. If Bruce Cassidy is not getting it done and they are on their they feel as though they are on their last breath and they need to make a move that's going to help them win, they're going to do it then. And like love it or hate the Golden Knights, like they make moves that will help them win. And there are a lot of there are a lot of teams in the league that would not do something like hire John Tordell at the end of the year because they are too loyal to a fault man.

[00:19:45]Okay. Where does loyalty often loyalty sometimes gets you far in places, sometimes it doesn't. The Vegas Golden Knights knew that their season was on the line and that that if they didn't change things, you know, their season was going to end. I saw something that Biz said on on on Chicklets recently.

[00:20:02]I'm pretty sure he said that the Golden Knights dressing room was it was a report that they were it was so fractured and and so unmotivated at the end with Cassidy that they just didn't even care about what was going to happen with the season. I THOUGHT I SAW SOMEWHERE. I could be wrong, but you know, it's it's like this is a team that if they think that they need to make a move to help them win, they're going to do it. And for when it comes to something like Tordella with the coaching change, I mean, it should kind of actually start a trend here with teams that if your head coach isn't getting it done, okay, and I'm not trying to take a shot here, but like if your head coach has your team in a losing position and not making the playoffs with your season on the line after you win the President's Trophy, maybe it is time for a switch. Okay? I'm just saying like as it pertains to the Jets. Okay?

[00:20:56]If you have a general manager that's been there for 15 years and has won four playoff series in 15 years, maybe it's time for a switch. I'm just saying like not to just make these comparisons, but like the Golden Knights do not accept mediocrity. It's like the Los Angeles Rams going out and training for Miles Garrett. It it's it's it's it's very similar concepts. They see their time to win. They don't mess around and they go for it. And if something's going to compromise them potentially winning, they're going to say, "We're going to shake things up." AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE Rams did. That's what Vegas does. And that's what a lot of teams in the NHL don't do. And they suffer as a result of it.

[00:21:33]>> There it is. I don't think you can say better than that. If John Torella does win the cup, he will be the eighth coach to win a cup after being hired in the middle of the season, which I was honestly a little bit surprised by that number. I don't think any of those seven were hired as late as Totoella.

[00:21:49]like you said, could become a trend in the NHL. We'll see if teams maybe rethink their philosophies a little differently, but Vegas back in the cup for a third time in nine years. Your second question?

[00:22:01]>> Yeah, my my second question is who's going to win the Consprophy because I think that these are things that we need to address. Sorry, I kind of went on a bit of a rant there. I just feel as though like hey guys like and I'm not saying I agree with every move Vegas makes by the way obviously but but as it pertains to John Tortoella becoming the head coach the second that happened I loved it and I said it when I ranked them number two I said John not I'm trust me I'm not looking for props I'm wrong about a lot of things too but I just really liked like I really like that they hired Torella they immediately started clicking they were rolling in the playoffs I don't care if they played not great teams going to playoffs they found the prove that they were meant to find. And timing is everything. And let this be a lesson that if you have a coach that's letting you down going into the playoffs and you feel as though your team should be better than it is, make a move. Make a move. It's you got to be ruthless sometimes. But anyways, my second question is who's going to win the consp and and I think that it could, you know, I I I feel as though if Vegas wins, it's going to go to MNER.

[00:23:02]>> Yeah.

[00:23:02]>> But I'm kind of more curious about Carolina here. I mean, you have a lot of candidates who could win.

[00:23:07]>> You know, Freddy Anderson has been great, but like he hasn't been facing that many shots in the playoffs.

[00:23:14]>> So, I if that same trend kind of happens and he's good, not great in the finals, but Carolina can still find a way to win. Is Taylor Hall going to win the Con? And let me ask you another question.

[00:23:26]If Taylor Hall can win a Stanley Cup and a Con Smith trophy >> and a heart >> and he has a heart and if he can hit a thousand points and by the end of his career, I believe he's at 782 regular season points. Are we talking about Taylor Hall going to the Hall of Fame here? Because I think look look look there's been a lot of not great seasons for Taylor Hall. Kind of underwhelming for what you'd expect out of necessarily a first overall pick. But I mean, a thousand points, a K smite, a Stanley Cup, a heart trophy.

[00:23:58]I think that's that's a pretty legit resume to get into the Stanley Cup. It's probably a better resume than other players have had to get into the Stanley Cup. When you you can present his accolades and resume in a way where you're like, man, this guy should easily make the Hall of Fame. But I also think you can spin it in a way where you're like, I know the NHL players weren't going to the Olympics for a bulk of his career, but do you think Taylor Hall ever would have been on team Canada?

[00:24:24]Like, was he ever truly And I know he had that one phenomenal heart season >> that he won the heart.

[00:24:30]>> Well, he got traded in 2016, so I want to say it was about 2018 maybe when he when he won the heart. I could be wrong.

[00:24:35]>> Okay. So, look it up. So if if it was that year then he probably would have been on the team >> because he would because there were the Olympics in 2018.

[00:24:44]>> That's true. That is true. I just to me in my head when I think of Taylor Hall his NHL career maybe because his prime maybe didn't last as long and he was the first overall pick and he didn't really get it done with the team that drafted him. To me in my head he never really felt like a top 25 player in the NHL.

[00:25:02]And I know that sounds very unfair because he won a heart trophy. So that year he was definitely in that top 25. I think it's just the fact that his prime didn't last very long, but like you said, what he's been able to stack up is crazy. I think just a general conversation and I I'll definitely look up the year that he did win the heart trophy, but of Vegas or not Vegas, Carolina winning the cup, who would win the consm? And I don't mean this to sound like a slight to Carolina or like it's disrespectful, but I think that would be a great bar down quiz question, five years. And I think that speaks to the depth of Carolina and how good they are as a team and as a unit because they don't have that one guy that has taken over these playoffs and has put the team on their back, but they're so difficult to play against and they get it done together. So what I mean by that is yeah there's a good chance that five years from now we'll all remember Carolina winning the cup but we might have to stop for a minute and say who won the K smite when when when Carolina won because there's so many different heroes throughout this run but it hasn't just been like oh yeah you know Stanovven's been amazing throughout or Jarvis or AO or whoever can win it too man the smith I feel loves goal like the >> the smite has gone to goal scorers in the past I remember when Marsh is so wanted for Vegas. He had less points, I'm pretty sure, than I, but he had a lot of goals during that run. So, um, yeah, I don't know. It's it's interesting because you're right like Taylor Hall, you could kind of look at his career, even if he wins the Stanley Calvin Khan Smite, it's like, did Taylor Hall, even with all these accolades, did he have kind of an underwhelming career given >> personal expectations of him and the fact that he won a hard trophy? But at the same time, it's like you hit a,000 points potentially, you get a Con Smite, you get a Stanley Cup, you've won an MVP. I mean, that's more impressive than a lot of other players who have been to the Hall of Fame, man. And I think that that alone, >> yeah, I think that actually if he hit a,000 points, I >> I think I think Taylor Hall probably should go to the Hall of Fame if that's the case.

[00:27:06]>> Taylor Hall won the heart trophy in 2017 18. So that was the Olympic year. We're right about that. He had 93 points that year and we all know why he won the heart that year. I think it was like a 45 point gap between him and the next player on the Devils and the league has changed a lot but 93 points in 202526 would have been 12th in the NHL just below Evan Bousard who did not even get a Norris nominee. Jason Robertson at 96 Martin like we had eight players hit 100 maybe more eight players hit 100 points this year. The the league has changed a lot. Um, Taylor Hall's had a phenomenal career and like you said, >> has he hit 40 goals in a season?

[00:27:46]>> He had 39 that year. I feel like one year he hit 40. Let's let's pull up his stats over here. Uh, Taylor Hall has Yeah, he scored Oh, no. That's points. No, he never hit 40 goals.

[00:28:00]>> Yeah. So, >> 39 is a careerhigh.

[00:28:03]>> Again, I think it's more of like he he he would be even >> That's actually the only time he ever scored 30.

[00:28:09]>> Yeah. So, I mean, how many goals does he have in his career?

[00:28:13]>> 302.

[00:28:15]>> He's 787 points. Like, I think he can very well hit a thousand. Plays a couple more years. Uh, maybe not. He's >> It's going to be hard, man. He He's going to be a bubble guy, but there's no doubt that this would do a lot for his case. Um, but yeah, I mean, like Freddy could win it, too. And also, I'm seeing some people saying like, oh, Freddy versner, two former lease.

[00:28:38]I I feel like Lee Sans would be happy for Anderson if he won the Stanley Cup.

[00:28:43]I don't really feel like there's any bad blood there, but I could be wrong. I I just think it's the point of like they didn't really see this version of Freddy in the playoffs ever, but it's not like it was >> there's a way better team in front of them right now. LIKE IT'S NOT EVEN A QUESTION.

[00:28:56]>> Carolina would Yeah. No, I'm sorry.

[00:29:00]Yeah.

[00:29:01]>> All right. My final question. This was a big question heading into the HAB series, but now it's kind of taken a weird different angle.

[00:29:10]>> Sorry, I just want to say one more thing. KAR Miller could also win the conite. I could also see that happening.

[00:29:15]>> My question is rest verse rest in a in a weird way. Neither of these teams has played a game seven so far in the playoffs. Carolina still only played 13 games. Vegas though finished their Western Conference final before Carolina finished their conference final. So now, but despite Carolina only having one loss the entire playoff, they're actually at a rest disadvantage heading into game one of this series. But both teams should be relatively fresh. For context, Vegas won't have tied Montreal in games until game three. And Carolina can actually win the cup despite only playing 17 games, which would be two less than Montreal played in their entire postseason run. They didn't even get to the cup final. So, I think just the rest from both of these teams is going to be a factor. And I think Carolina, despite going into game one at a disadvantage, they're at home. They've still only lost one game in the playoffs. That will still be a thing going into the going down deep into the series. And the fact that neither team has played a game seven, I feel like as great as these playoffs have been, we have been at a huge disservice that we've still only gotten two game sevens throughout the entire playoffs. Please, please, please, Stanley Cup final, game seven. There is nothing better and I think we might just get it.

[00:30:30]>> Yeah, I agree.

[00:30:32]>> I I I do think and that and that should that kind of go into my >> Yeah. Your final final question, which is everyone's question.

[00:30:39]>> Yeah. And you you did all three of your questions already. Okay. So, my final question is who's going to win the Stanley Cup?

[00:30:45]>> And um I think you can make a serious serious argument for both teams here. I wouldn't be surprised either way. So, so no disrespect to either team. I I think if Carolina won, wouldn't be surprised.

[00:30:58]If Vegas won, wouldn't be surprised.

[00:31:00]That's why I think this is going to be such an unbelievable series. Uh, but if you had to ask me who I think is going to win the Stanley Cup, I think it's the Carolina Hurricanes. I know I had Vegas very high, but I think that Carolina is playing at such a high level right now, and it this is their time. I think Rod Brenmore has these guys playing at such a dowed level right now. And what really kind of in made me believe in Carolina the most, you know, they went through their first two, they went through their first two series. They got the a Montreal team that's been playing pretty well. Obviously, they're tired though, and they go out, you know, they were well rested and you you kind of almost expected if there was a game that they were going to lose in that series, it was going to be game one. Freddy Anderson was a little shaky. What does Carolina do in in the in the ensuing four games? I know two of those games went to overtime, but they absolutely just dominated the Habs. They just like kicked the crap out of them in at least the last two in the last two games. Even in the first two games, Dobish was like playing really really well and I just loved their response and I think that this team all over their lineup they are playing well right now and I know that the same can be said about Vegas. I think Vegas is going to give them a really really tough run and and and one thing I really do like about Vegas is their center depth. But I just think that Carolina plays such a smothering style of game.

[00:32:17]They they are gonna just be all over Vegas. They're gonna limit their opportunities and if Freddy can play well, I think Carolina's gonna win. Like I I I really do. I feel like this is their time. I think as much as I love Tortoella and as much as we talked about the impact that he's made in Vegas, the one name we haven't talked about throughout this entire episode is Rod Bindmore. And I think that's ultimately what's going to push Caroline over the edge in my mind. He talked about them losing game one. Binmore was, you know, tasked with two very tough questions after that game. One, why didn't you pull Freddy Anderson? Because he was not great and Montreal scored four goals in the first period. And Busy played more in the regular season than Freddy did.

[00:33:04]His numbers were just as good. He actually had a far better winning percentage. The team won more with him in the net by by quite a distance. And they asked him and and I felt like that easily could have become a story. Should they turn to Busy for game two? Freddy was not good in game one. I was very surprised after four goals in the first period. They kept him in the net. In his press conference after he said, "What Freddy needs is to play. They've been off for a while. He needs to play.

[00:33:28]There's no doubt in my mind he'll be back in game two and he'll respond."

[00:33:31]Freddy did that. The next thing that Brendan Moore did that was so impressive is the next day canceled practice. There was one game in between games. They didn't go on the ice. Reporters thought it was weird. You guys have not played hockey in a long time. If anything, what these players need is to be on the ice more, is to, you know, exert themselves, get back into the rhythm, the tempo, the speed of a series. And he said, "We practiced. You guys just didn't see it completely off ice. Probably looked at film, just mental regroup. They come out and like you said, destroyed the Habs."

[00:34:02]The way that they played Montreal, it was like torturous. It was It was watching a team, it felt like Montreal didn't know what they were doing. It felt like they didn't know how to play hockey. They're so fast. They're so relentless. They check you. the tenacity that they play with.

[00:34:16]Honestly, my gut says Carolina wins this in six. I just want a game seven. I'm going to say Hurricanes in seven.

[00:34:22]>> I I got Hurricanes in seven, too. Uh I think it's going to I think being at home for that game seven is Man, I'm going to say this. Hurricanes fans, respect.

[00:34:34]You guys have a loud barn. Oh my goodness, man. I rewatched the highlights of the Oilers Hurricanes game, game seven in 2006.

[00:34:47]>> Oh my goodness, man. Go watch those highlights. They are so loud. And this arena is extremely loud. You see everyone that's in the press box, they say, "Wow, this is this is an extremely loud bar. Extremely loud bar." And I think that will be a huge advantage to Carolina if this series does go deep.

[00:35:04]One thing we didn't really talk about as much, man, you talked about Vegas stopping Carolina's top players or sorry, sorry, Carolina stopping Vegas's top players.

[00:35:14]>> We got to see Carolina's top players get going here a little more.

[00:35:16]>> Do we though? Like they just win. They just depth in depth in bunches, man.

[00:35:21]Like >> they're playing a different team, man.

[00:35:22]They're playing a different team.

[00:35:23]They're going to need more contributions from guys like Aaho, right? Like like a fetch. Like I mean, these guys have like had their moments, but I feel like they there's another gear to these guys game.

[00:35:32]like they're going to have to be a little better in the Stanley Cup final.

[00:35:34]But I do think that Carolina is going to find a way here. And this, again, this isn't any disrespect to Vegas. I think Vegas is playing so well, too. And they've been awesome. But I just think Carolina is a better team. They're a better team the whole year. And I I understand the whole thing about click, you know, clicking at the right time.

[00:35:51]Vegas is peing at the right time. They have this smothering kind of game in your face bully type of hockey. But you know what? I think Carolina kind of plays the same way, but faster.

[00:36:00]>> Last question. And I guess this is cheating because now it becomes seven questions. But I love this every year. I think we can all agree the Stanley Cup hoist is the best trophy lift in sports.

[00:36:10]The fact that the captain gets it, my favorite part is that first handoff when the captain gives it to a veteran that is long overdue in terms of winning a cup oftent times has been with the franchise for so long and it it just means more to that player. I'm struggling to think who on each team, especially because Vegas won so recently and Carolina does have a lot of young players who who would be the first to get the cup.

[00:36:34]>> Like obviously Stone, would he give it to a guy like I mean like Thomas Hurdle wasn't there the last time Vegas won.

[00:36:41]He's been in the league for a long time.

[00:36:43]Marner is another one. A lot of these guys were there.

[00:36:45]>> It could it could be Mner. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised. I would not be surprised if it was Mner. It could be a guy like Raasmus Anderson, man. I mean, he's been in the league for a decently long time, but I I I could see Marner. I could see Hurdle. It could be Hurdle, too.

[00:36:59]>> Yeah, it could be. And and and like who's Jordan Stall passing this thing?

[00:37:03]Like, would it just be Aaho? He's kind of their best player.

[00:37:05]>> I think Slavven, man.

[00:37:07]>> Slavven.

[00:37:07]>> I think Slavven's been there. Slavven's been there for such a long time.

[00:37:11]>> Um Jordan Martin is another guy who's been with that team I a long time.

[00:37:15]>> Um we'll have to see. Uh Freddy, man, Freddy Anderson could be the first to get it actually for Carolina. That wouldn't surprise me at all if it was Freddy Anderson.

[00:37:26]>> I wish Brent Burns was still with the Hurricanes, but that's >> Yeah, man. Burns leaves Carolina to go to, you know, he signs I mean, I don't know if leave is the right word, but like he ends up signing with Colorado and, you know, they lose and now Carolina has a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

[00:37:43]>> Um, man, Taylor Hall might be the first guy to get it. Yeah, >> I I Yeah, sorry. I think it'd probably be Taylor Hall. He's the oldest guy.

[00:37:51]He's been there the longest. That'd be nice. But there's a lot of I mean, a lot There's going to be a lot of first times How many Stanley Cup winners are there on Carolina right now?

[00:38:00]>> Do they have a Stanley Cup winner on the roster?

[00:38:03]>> Jordan Stall.

[00:38:04]>> Jordan Stall. Yeah. The captain in Pittsburgh. Other than that, >> I don't know. William Ker, you won.

[00:38:10]>> William Kier won with Vegas. That's right. Wow. Playing his old team, too.

[00:38:13]>> Yeah. Other than that, I can't uh I can't think of any.

[00:38:15]>> It's a good question, though, man. And you know, there's some interesting storylines here. It's either a lot of different players on Carolina are going to win their first or Mitch Martin is going to get his first. And that's what we love about these Staling Cup finals is that there's always like a, you know, one way or the other, I think there's going to be a player that you feel happy for that ends up winning. So, >> yeah. Well, let us know in the comments.

[00:38:36]It should be a great series. Who do you think is going to win? How many games is going to be? And who's going to win the concert? Answer a lot of our questions.

[00:38:42]We post some some great questions, some previewing the series. Give our predictions. Just let us know if you agree. Let us know where you disagree.

[00:38:48]As always, thanks for listening and we'll see you next time.

[00:38:53]Also, big shout out to Long Range Hustle, local Toronto band. Played at the Cameron House last Friday. They are just we amazing. We did the Squid video with them and they rock.