The lottery serves as a sobering reminder that statistical probability is not destiny, leaving the Canucks to navigate the harsh gap between mathematical expectation and reality. It’s a masterclass in how even the best odds cannot insulate a franchise from the cold randomness of a ping-pong ball.
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Canuck luck strikes again. The Vancouver Conucks have still never picked first overall in the National Hockey League draft despite entering today with the best odds and things looking very good through much of the drawings. I got to say these little things here are as big a curse as any Vancouver connect injury or happening on or off the ice. I just, you know, I I don't cheer for the team per se. We are members of the media. But I can tell you this and and you know, I'll get into this from a selfish standpoint. There's a lot more debate about what the Canucks should do with the third round, the third overall pick. We'll get into that in a second.
But I did want to change the narrative around this team a little bit, Matt.
Like I I did think that Conucks fans deserve a win.
>> Oh my god.
>> You know, you deserve to tick this box off the list. You're not going to win the Stanley Cup next year. Not going to be able to tick that box. Not going to be able to cross that one off the to-do list. You could have.
you should have been able to tick the first overall pick for the first time in over a half century of existence. That one should have been ticked today and they couldn't.
So, we'll get into it here in a second, but as always, starting with the poll question and let the debate rage until June 26 because that's what we're left with after the Canucks fall to number three. They don't win either lottery today. It is the lowest potential pick they could have possibly possibly had after finishing dead last in the National Hockey League this season by a country by a country mile. Who should the Canucks select with the third overall pick in the NHL draft? You can vote for Caleb Malhotra, Manny's son, the centerman with the Brford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League. You can vote for Vgo Borkc, the fast rising Swedish forward. The Canucks already have his brother Wilson Borkc in their system. Drafted him last year, finished his freshman season at Colorado College.
So, Swedish brother act. We've seen that before.
>> Yeah. Not twins, but >> you can vote for a defenseman, and there are plenty of defenseman in this draft in the top 10. Many uh believe a defenseman will go third overall.
Whether that's Chase Reed of the Sousay Marie Greyhounds, whether that's Carson Carrolls up in Prince George, whether that's Albert Smiths, the big Latian, whether that's Katon Verhoff, ex Victoria Royal and now at the University of North Dakota, or you can vote for a trade down. Do so at the Sakarrison Price X and YouTube channels. We have on the program today Cam Robinson, the director of everything at Elite Prospects, draft and prospect expert. He will join us in a moment. Craig J.
Button, TSN director of scouting will be joining as will Jeff Patterson live from Rogers Arena where Jim Rutherford will be holding a press conference in about 10 minutes. Before we get to Cam, let's just get to our top story brought to you by Yellow Dog Brewing Neighborhood Brewing Foolish Winery. Kucks luck strikes again. Canucks slam the third pick at the NHL draft lottery after having the best odds for winning the top selection going into the proceedings and after two of the first three pingpong balls were drawn including the penultimate third ball just not after the last one.
So, a thousand different combinations, pingpong ball selected, one at a time.
The Canucks went into this with an 18.5% chance of winning the lottery and the first overall pick, but they also had the 7% that was allotted to the bottom five teams in this lottery. Effectively, the teams that could not jump up to the first overall selection. You're only allowed to jump up 10 spots. So, the teams 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, the best of the non-playoff qualifiers.
All of their odds would have reverted to the Vancouver Conucks had they won the lottery. They would have moved up their 10 spots, but Vancouver would have picked first overall. The first ball drawn was the number seven. That was a good number for the Canucks. The odds went up to 19.9% from 18.5.
The second ball drawn was a two. That was a very bad ball for the Canucks.
Their odds decreased to 16.7.
At that point, the Seattle Kraken had the single best chance at first overall at 18.2%.
>> And then one number changed everything.
Seattle was off the board almost. Then came the third pingpong ball, number 11, and the Canucks moved into pole position with a 27.3% chance. At that point, six teams had been eliminated from winning the lottery. We were down to 10 teams with the Canucks far and away the best chance. They went into the fourth draw looking for pingpong ball number one, five, or 13. Any of those balls come up, the Canucks own the first overall pick.
Instead, it's ball number 12. And that gives the Toronto Maple Leafs the first overall selection in the NHL draft. And the irony there being their last first overall Austin Matthews was musing just today that he wants to see the Maple Leafs improve their roster this summer that he wasn't yet positive on his future in the big smoke. Uh there you can see some of the reaction from our watch party down at Greta Greta YVR 50 West Cordova where David Cuadrelli Harmon Dial and Kucks Conver Con conversation was doing a live a live stream this afternoon. Everybody anxious there, right? and we're about to see the last ball and I don't necessarily want to see the reaction.
We have done it >> a number of these draft lottery shows and they seemingly all end like that they fall on disappointed.
>> How many guys?
>> Absolutely.
Uh it uh it's a story that we've seen play out too much u for this fan base and >> uh given the 24 hours that has been in Toronto in particular Matt >> um yeah it's doubly frustrating >> uh the Leafs take a rightful strike to the chin in my opinion in the last 24 hours based on you know fan conviction fan confidence and That's the franchise that gets rewarded with the first overall pick.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. So, that was the draw for the first overall pick, but there were two lotteryies tonight, including the one for the second overall pick. Once again, the Vancouver Conucks go in with an 18.5% chance of winning that lottery.
And ultimately going into that draw, Matt, like you had to think, okay, very disappointing, but >> there are two players that are projected to have a viable chance at making NHL rosters this year.
>> One is Gavin McKenna, one is Ivar Stanberg, >> right?
>> So, yeah, he didn't win over first overall, >> but there's a good chance if you win this one.
>> Yeah, >> you're adding a player to the roster this season. There there could well be um >> there could be surprises >> there could be good news with regards to who won this second overall pick. More on that in a second.
>> Anyways, the first ball comes up. It's ball 11. That increases the Canucks to a 20.4% chance of winning this lottery for second overall. That was best amongst the participating teams. The second ball comes up. It's the ball number four that increases the Canucks odds even further to 21.2% chance, best amongst the participating teams. At that point, three teams are eliminated already. The third ball up is number three.
That drops the Canucks to an 18.2% chance, eliminating five more clubs.
Going down to that final ball, the teams remaining were Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, the New York Rangers, Seattle, and San Jose. But really, Toronto can't win the second overall pick. They've already won first overall. So any of Toronto's numbers would have created a redraw. Vancouver was looking for ping-pong ball number five or eight. Either of those balls would have won them second overall.
Alas, it was pingpong ball number seven.
And so the second overall pick goes to the San Jose Sharks. The one thing I'll say about that, the San Jose Sharks absolutely want a defenseman. They're looking to build that blue line. Is it conceivable that they bypass Ivar Stenberg and take a defenseman number two, leaving Stenberg for the Canucks at number three? Is it conceivable they're willing to sell that pick for, I don't know, a right shot check defenseman in his prime?
>> Interesting. Let's bring in Cam Robinson, the director of everything at Elite Prospects, NHL draft and prospect expert. Cam joins us from his home on Vancouver Island. Cam, just first of all, your reaction to all this.
>> Just as we expected it, right? Just how we drew it up.
Wow.
>> Why wouldn't overall, right? Excellent drama. And I mean, >> the howls for rigged, right? The Sharks getting second. That adds a lot of intrigue to what's going to happen at number two, obviously. And Vancouver three, I mean, like the number three is the wild card spot. I mean, San Jose adds a bit of a wrinkle, but I mean, this is the I I tweeted it. I love this stuff. Like, it's it's fun. Growing up a Canucks fan. I know the I know how this goes. I knew third was happening. My old man called me before this happened. I was like, "Dad, don't even get excited."
Okay, they're picking third. I told my son, he's sitting next to me and he's he's he's bouncing on the couch. I was like, "Don't worry about it, buddy.
Their ping- pong ball's not coming up.
It's fine. Be prepared. Prepare yourself. Third will be fine. It'll be fine."
>> And to be fair, four other teams were really disappointed. Vancouver, Chicago, Rangers, and Calgary all dropped two spots.
>> So, it's not a great one. Two two of those teams though have recent first overalls in the Chicago Blackhawks and and the New York Rangers. And in the case of the Rangers with a a couple of jumps uh in the lottery, not too uh far gone. Uh Vancouver and Calgary do remain two of the franchises that have never picked >> have never picked first overall. One thing I will say, it's extraordinary drama. It is incredibly tense television. It was a absolute necessity to move to this live format with the updated odds that we saw last year >> as opposed to the uh the sleepy card reveals with Bill Dailyy.
>> Totally. This is way better. Way better.
>> Okay, Cam, take on what we were just talking about. Uh there's a big need on defense for the San Jose Sharks. Do you think there is any world where they take one of these defenseman over Ivar Stenberg or at least shop the pick for somebody looking to move up?
>> No idea if they'll be interested in shopping that pick. Um I mean I'm sure Mike Greer will listen to everything. Um I'm sure that scouting staff is very, you know, very well tuned in on these guys even though they weren't expecting to be picking this high. I do I do think that even if it wasn't San Jose, I think that there's a world where a number of teams would have been looking at that spot at number two and and wondering and wondering whether it's a defenseman like a team like San Jose. You know, they they have some good blue line prospects.
Sam Dickinson being the the top of that list, but they they can use more. You know, they do have a ton up front right now and in the future. Um so it makes a lot of sense for them to go. But there's there's other teams like if it was even Vancouver at two, I wouldn't be sitting here confidently saying that it's Evar Stenberg because I think that they have a need down the middle and that I think there are a number of teams that also have a need down the middle that would have looked strongly at Caleb Mahaltra.
I spent the day talking to all sorts of people. I was talking to to people in the OHL. I was talking to agents. I was talking to to coaches in the college level about all of these players at the top. And there are some people that are willing to run through a wall for Caleb Maholtra that I had one guy say to me, it might sound crazy, but I think he's going to be the best player in this draft. Might not put up the most points, but he's going to be a captain. He's going to be a leader. He's going to be someone that wins in the playoffs for you. Um, and and you know, that same person said, you like, I'm not sure we can say the same thing about Gavin McKenna, who might have more regular season success. Um, you know, so if if it is a defenseman that goes to San Jose, now it's now it's Vancouver. I think that they're sitting there and they're going to have a decision on their hands for Ivar Stenber or Caleb Mahalra because I think they really really like Caleb Mahaltra too. So, so this the way this is all played out.
Absolutely. It's it's good for business for me and and the other people that do a similar job to me because we're going to be we're going to try to be hammering the phones and and trying to pick up every little whisper we can and try to piece this together. But like it is most years. There's going to be a lot of smoke screens out there and there's got, you know, teams keeping it very close to the vest and it's it's hopefully make for thrilling drama there in Buffalo with a maybe a few people in attendance hopefully too.
>> Fleshing out the San Jose situation, guys. They have one defenseman under contract. That is a non ELC contract.
That is Demetri Orof and he has one year remaining. So, uh, as much as they want to draft the defenseman potentially, to me, Cam, they far more likely want to get a middle of the career defenseman that can be a part of this team now getting to the playoffs and winning in the playoffs, surprising people in the playoffs, like a a Ducks or or a Philadelphia Flyers kind of team. Mhm.
>> Um I I you know, does a guy like Philip Rodick all of a sudden start to get dangled by the Vancouver Conucks to tempt and and wouldn't that be something for the Conucks to get two picks? They won't be identical twins, but could they get two picks in the top three here?
>> No. I'm going to just go ahead and say that I don't think I don't think Phil Peronic is worth the second overall pick. I don't think that I think if San Jose wants to get add themselves a player of that magnitude, I think that they can do it a different way. I think that they can move out a different asset. I think that the perceived value, especially leading up to that, that pick is never going to be worth more than it is moments before it's selected and they know that and and so does the rest of the NHL. And I think that to move that pick, I think they might move that pick for for an impact defenseman, but you know, is it a guy like Evan Buchard? You know, would they do it for someone who's going to really move the needle offensively and and fill in a role that's really difficult even if he's not a perfect player? I'm not saying that Evan Buchard's going to get moved, but that type of player where Philip Peronic is a good player. He's a good player.
He's not making a ton of money at 8 million. It's not crazy, but I don't I don't think that he's he's worth enough to get a second overall pick. I don't So, so no, I don't think that that's possible, but I do think it's possible that they could move that San Jose could move back or they could move that pick for the right for the right player. I just I just don't see Vancouver having that asset.
>> All right, let's ask you our poll question, Cam. Who should the connect?
Well, actually, first let's bring up Cam's um or the Elite Prospects most recent rankings here. So, there you have McKenna, Stenberg, Chase Reed, Carson Carl's, Caleb Mhaltra as the top five. Now, just this is the consolidated elite prospects list, Cam.
If I'm not mistaken, this is not your personal ranking of the top uh 32. So, there's the elite prospects list that the bigger group works upon. Bork is down there at eight, but he seems to have some helium here. And as a guy who can potentially play center in a draft where there's not a ton of centers, I don't think it would surprise people if Borc went higher than where that list has him ranked right now. Mal Halra Borkc a defenseman trade down. What's your answer to the poll, Cam?
It's it's really tough because to be quite honest with you like sitting here right now my my list I had someone ask me like how's your top 15 looking and I was like ever in flux like it's a it's a constantly evolving organism for Vancouver who I would pick gosh you know it's Chase Reed I that's who I would probably pick at this moment in time and now I might be able to change my mind in June and and have a different name for you but if it's right now I I am probably leaning on Chase Reed just because I think he is he's number three on my board and and so if that's the case, >> best player available. Yeah.
>> Best player available. And so that's where I stand up. But like as we'll get closer, you know, you will have to you do have to consider team dynamics and what you need on the blue line. They do have Zoo. They do have Tom Vlander. They do have Elias Person. They they have assets on there. They don't have a ton up front. Right. Um you mentioned VGO Bork. I absolutely love VO Bork.
Somebody asked me just the other day who has the higher ceiling, Maholure or Bjork? I think VGO does. I think VGO has the higher ceiling. I think that if he was 5 foot 11, he would be a slam dunk at number three. I think that he would be pushing into number one territory. I think he's that good. I think he's that that brain on him. But I also, you know, Vancouver with Marco Rossy already on the lineup. There's no world that you can imagine having two top six centers that are 5 foot n it's just it's you just can't you can't do it. So it's like, you know, you'd have to do major surgery to your to your roster continuing down the line. So um he's a player that I agree that I think could go high. I just started pulling in those top 10 lists from teams for my scout poll and the first one came in and VGO was at number five and I was absolutely over the moon because I I love that. I I love that teams are giving this young kid in this smaller player a real crack at at being a top pick. Um but yeah, it's it's probably Chase.
>> So Cam, uh Chase Reed, give us the scouting report. Give us the uh player profile here.
>> Yeah, he's 6'2, 6'3, you know, offensive defensive. I think he's one of the best skaters in the class. dynamic offensively, uh, plays on the right side, obviously, and I I think one of the big things with him and with Caleb Mahaltra, I should say, is that the the trend is going in the right direction.
Like, this is a kid who didn't even make the USHL at the beginning of last season, right? He started in the null in the in the North American Hockey League like in a secondary Junior A League and then he made the move over to the Sou Greyhounds and immediately was a point of game player and now he comes in this year and he makes the world junior team for the Americans and Hudson gets injured. So, he takes over the first power play job on that team too, right?
He is he's getting all these experiences, all these reps where, you know, 16 months ago he didn't even look like he was like a draftable prospect.
So, he is just his his developmental ceiling is through the roof. I think he's added some more nuance to his defensive game. I with his size and his skating and his offensive like inclination and a burgeoning defensive game. Like, he could be a true number one. And I honestly I don't see another defenseman in this class. Maybe Carson Carl's um that has that like true number one upside, but Carl is six foot one.
doesn't have that extra couple inches to get him above average.
>> So, let me ask you this, Cam.
>> The Vancouver Conucks just traded away a very good skating, offensively inclined American defenseman, and their president of hockey operations said he wanted out long before we traded him. and he won't be the first American who forces his way out of a Canadian market much like we've already seen from Matthew Kachchuck and Quinn Hughes with potentially Brady Kachchuck, Austin Matthews, Connor Hleabuk and others >> to follow would you be at all scared? Would you be at all apprehensive about an American player at number three overall?
>> I would obviously do my due diligence on the player. I I would I would want to try to tap into all sorts of those questions at the combine to see if you could glean any information out of this player if that's something that might be a threat down the line. But I don't think we can just like whitewash every American player to think that they're they're not going to be satisfied playing and trying to win in a Canadian market at this point. You know, it's not like the peak of the Russian fear in 2011 when the KHL was just coming up and teams were like, we can't draft these guys. They're going to they're going to stay in Russia. I don't think we're at that point yet. Um or or maybe ever get to that point. There's always going to be players that are going to look for better situations and and quite frankly, there's always going to be markets that aren't going to be as desirable whether they're, you know, north of the border or south and and players are going to look for ways to get out of those and get into bigger markets. But I do think that Vancouver as a city is desirable enough that if they have a well-run organization, they're going to not only be able to hold on to the talent that they have regardless of their birth certificate and their passport, um, but they'll be able to recruit players. And we've seen that. We saw that in the early 2010s, right? They were they were able to keep their talent and bring in new ones. And it didn't matter if they're American or Swedish or Finnish or whatever it was. Players will want to play in Vancouver if the team is wellrun and they're doing successful things.
>> The good news is this is an American that chose to play in the CHL, chose to play in Canada. It's a that's a different So did the >> So did Matthew Kachchuck, but anyways, go ahead.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, >> let's reverse engineer this.
Why wouldn't you choose Manny or Caleb Mahholtra? Why what's the what's your concern around Caleb Mholtra at three?
>> I don't have a ton of concerns around Caleb Mahaltra at three. I honestly think that like if you know you haven't asked me who I think Vancouver would pick. I think they would take Caleb Mahaltra. That's who I think that they probably would pick and and I don't have I wouldn't have much of an issue with that. I do think that he is again he he's fairly young for this class. He's still 17 years old. He has 6'2. Um, he's not a right-handed center. That's, you know, whatever. But, but he's, I won't say that he's dominated the OHL as a first year player, but he's come pretty close on a very, very good team. Now, he didn't have to be the best player every night because they were stacked there.
They had Jacob O'Brien, they had American Fanicker, they had Adam Bino, they had a lot of good players on that team, but he was definitely one of them.
In the playoffs, he took that game to another level. And like I mentioned before, you know, he's a leader. He's a young player with a really good head on his shoulder. He was raised by Manny Mahaltra, right? Like he he that's that's character personified. That's coming from NHL bloodlines. I don't have a lot of issues with Kay. He's number four on my list right now. Um and again, like I have some more tape to go through. Like maybe he maybe he ends up number three on my list by the end of the year here, too. Um I do think that there are some issues with processing at this level as a young player playing a ton of minutes in a lot of different situations that there's mistakes that are going to be made and we just kind of look at those and we go, "Yeah, that's a developmental step that needs to be taken still." And that's fine. That's why going to Boston University next season is going to be so great for him.
I think that that's a perfect stepping stone. you know, he was playing in the BCHL last year. Now he jumps to the OHL.
Nearly dominates. Now he's going to go to BEu and he's going to have a great opportunity there. Tyan Lawrence is going to be there. They're going to run what I assume will basically be two first lines and let them battle it out and they'll they'll make each other better through competition and then very likely ready to come out at the end of his first year. Maybe goes back for a second year, but it's a player on a really good trajectory and I think he's got a great path ahead of him, too. Um, so I had I I don't have a lot of concerns at all about Caleb Maltra.
>> Can I bring one up, gentlemen?
If you take Caleb Melhaltra, you lose his father from your organization who's a pretty darn good coach.
>> Coaches grow entre.
>> Player over coach, right, Cam? If you're absolutely convinced on Caleb Meltra, then you say, you know what, we love Manny. We'd love Manny running our bench one day, but the timing just ain't right. Is that how you play it out?
>> That's exactly how you play it. And and let let's be frank. Does Manny even want the job, right? like could could he have a better opportunity elsewhere anyways or could he be there for a couple years and then it doesn't work and he moves on to something else where it's like you take this player that at this point of the draft you're looking for a foundational piece that is hopefully here for a decade plus. How many coaches stick around for a decade plus? Not too many, right? It's very very rare, especially in this market. Um so yes, I I do think that as as well respected as a coach that Manny is and how I I do think that he would be an excellent choice. Um if they were looking to make a swap here this season going into next year, I think he'd be a great choice.
But if it comes down to this is the player we want versus this is the coach we have, you take the player >> up at the top. It's a Swedish guy that might be in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Is there any chance there's a surprise there at number one?
>> Well, I was just going to say uh is he a no-brainer, Gavin McKenna, given that he's a playmaking winger for a shoot first centerman in Austin Matthews who has grumbled about the lack of surrounding talent. Cam.
>> Yeah, sure. I mean, it's not like they had Mitch Marner like one of the best playmaking wingers in the league for the last decade. Hey, and they ran out of town.
>> What a hole that just opened up. But no, I I do I don't I don't think it's slam dunk. I don't I don't think that regardless of who won this draft lottery. I'm not convinced at this point in time that it is a 100% lock that Gavin McKenna goes first overall. I do expect him to go first overall even with Matt Sundine. I don't think Matt Sundine is actually the shot caller there anyways. It's going to be John Chica. Um and we have really no indication of what he would lean on that but but the scouts you know >> although he has made some irregular picks. Cam Barrett Hatton at fifth overall uh was a super irregular pick >> from um from John Jacob when he was running the Arizona Coyotes.
>> Yes. And he gift wrapped Quinn Hughes to Vancouver that year as as part of that taking Barrett Hatton at number five. Um so Canucks fans, you know, as sad as they are today, they can they can maybe find a little solace in that. Um, so it's a little bit easier to get weird and wild at number five than it is at number one. Um, but but no, I I I like what Ivar Stenberg has done this season is worthy of a first overall pick. If he was playing in Canada, he was supposed to play at Boston University this year, right? Like I reported that last year like that that was going to get done and then the SHL was like, "No, no, no. For London's like, "No, no, no. We'll we'll give you whatever you want. Please stay." And he was like, "All right, I'll stay." Um, and it worked out well for him. He had a great season, but now he's playing with the the the men's national team. He just led their team in scoring over that that mini tournament that they just ran over there. Like he is a hell of a player. Like this kid is very very good. So he could be number one still.
And I don't think that that would be a bad pick. I I think that would be a fine pick at number one and then it would get really spicy because if San Jose has their laser focus in on a D man like remember when Slathowski went number two or number one and all of a sudden it was Jersey at two and they're like screw it, we're taking Neitch. We we we got our here at number three. We like him. and then Utah or Arizona where it was they're like well we like Logan Culie so things can happen there's a world where Gavin McKenna is sitting there number three for VANCOUVER I DON'T THINK >> I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY dare of all days Cam Robinson when Kucks Nation is as low as they have been >> stop flirting >> start feeding them false hope like that >> have you draft and unusual >> nothing will surprise me on draft day boys right moments is what you're saying.
>> It is the plus side. It is the plus side of not having a celebrity Bard level guy at the top, right? I mean there is the potential for some craziness at this draft and I had just resolved myself that it was going to be any combination of Stenberg McKenna one two.
>> Yeah.
>> But how big is that percentage in your mind? Any combination Stenberg and McKenna in the first and second? How that's a that's a 90% odd. That's That's a 60. Where where are you on that?
>> Oh man, what am I doing? I'm just pulling numbers out of out of nowhere on this. But I mean, it's like it's like a It's like a 58.75% chance that those are the one two and like like I like I I think we can see I think like San Jose really adds to that dynamic. Like if it if it was even if it was like Calgary, right? If Calgary jumped up and they were picking two, I'd be like I'm pretty sure they're just going to take whoever's left, right? Like I feel pretty good about this. Um, but yeah, so San Jose is a real wild card in that. And so I do like I think that there like if we're thinking it's possible that Evar is there at number three.
>> I think it's possible that Gavin's there at number three. Again, it's a lower percentage, but it's still >> within the realm of possibility where it's on like another year where it's like maybe Mlin sitting there at three.
It's like get out of here, right?
>> Okay. Those of you on YouTube, we want to let you know that super chat button is always available to you. hit it, make your donation, half proceeds to the BC Mental Health Foundation, and we promise we will get it read here on the program if you get it in in good in due time.
So, those of you in the YouTube chat, that super chat button, hit it. We want to hear from you. Uh should also mention and James Myrtle uh was keeping an eye on this from the Athletic guys. After two pingpong balls were drawn, the Toronto Maple Leafs were down to a 4.5% chance of landing first overall. Now, in fairness, that was the ball that also dropped the Canucks odds down to 16.7 and vaulted the Seattle Kraken into pole position for the first overall. It also eliminated St. Lewis and Washington. But after two ping-pong balls came up, the Leafs basically needed to run the table on the next two balls and they did just that to secure first overall. Cam, the last option on our poll question is trade down.
I present this to you, my friend. The New York Rangers at number five, two spots below the Canucks, have a second first round pick.
The Calgary Flames at number six, three spots below the Canucks, have a second first round pick in this draft. And the Seattle Kraken at number seven, four spots below the Canucks have a second first round pick in this draft. It is quite unusual to see teams moving down from top three draft selections, but is there a case to be made if the Rangers Flames or Kraken so desire that number three pick and are willing to put their additional firstrounder in play that the Canucks should look at something like >> even as far down as Seattle. That's four picks. So that's Malhotra, Bjork, Carl's Reed. It's just on the edge there, isn't it?
>> And yes, I think that they they they Let's see who they hire. Let's see who they hire because if if they hire someone who I who who who is an outside the box thinker who can look at things maybe analytically who maybe has a background in scouting and and and finding gems and really and playing the odds and those types of things then yes I think that you could look at that especially if you're looking at it and you're like here's a tier right if it goes McKenna Stenberg and then it's like okay we have a tier of players here that are four players deep and we feel good about getting any of those players Why not? Why not? If you're not if you literally value those players very very similarly and you can get yourself an extra first round pick and still get one, of course you should look at that like that that would be you would be derelict in your duties. If not, but let's again see who they hire because if it's someone who we have seen before, a retread, someone who's a traditional thinker, someone who's not going to be pushing the envelope like that, then I think that there's little to no chance that they would even consider moving.
>> Let this guide you then. let this guide you. And we're going to listen to some of the Rutherford um press conference coming up in just a little bit. But he has said in this press conference that some of the GM candidates have said that the Canucks are through the worst of the rebuild and are on the upswing.
>> Oh my god.
>> Yeah. So, >> so how does that >> some of the guys who are moving on, the five that are left, he said, >> Oh, >> he didn't say I don't think he clarified that.
>> Yeah. didn't specify that, but I if he's being drawn to those such candidates, what does that tell you about what the Canucks might do here before draft day or on draft day?
>> Tell that tells me that they're not moving back to pick up more lottery tickets to pick up more draft picks.
Hell, that that tells me that like, hey, if we're already through the the worst of it, maybe we just move this third overall pick and get a now player. Hey, that's the type of thinking that I'm hearing. Although, we've already seen J.R. say that they they're basically holding roster spots for Lure Macki and whoever they take at third for next fall, which I also thought was pretty bold because it's like whoever you take at third should not be in the NHL next year. I I think the the most NHL ready guy outside of those top two is probably Albert Smith, who I I am hopeful that they're not strongly considering at number three because while he might be most NHL ready, I also think he probably has the lowest ceiling of those top defensive prospects. Um, no. That that tells me that tells me everything I need to know about where they if if they're genuinely thinking that the worst is over, that the pain is already done, then Kucks fans can probably already get rid of that last shred of hope. It's like, well, we didn't get the lottery luck this year, saving it for next year for Landon Dupont because, you know, we can we can maybe hold on to that. How about 28? Well, Madx Schultz, anybody?
No, probably not.
>> Oh my gosh. The good news, Cam Robinson, is that Jim Rutherford just took you off the hook because the worst thing I had heard in the last 15 minutes after the Canucks lost first overall was the false hope of McKenna being there at three.
Yes.
>> Now I'm being told the worst of the rebuild is past them and I'm just >> king of tier.
>> Shaking my head.
>> King of tier three.
>> Real quick before we uh one, two, Stanberg McKenna is first tier. Second tier we've gone through it that maybe those four names we've talked about.
Who's the king of tier three? Is it Vilnov? Is it Smiths? Who's Who's the king of tier three?
>> I I think it's VGO. I think VGO is in tier three for most teams. I don't think he's put like Yeah, I think I think it's I think honestly I think it's Carson Carl's. I think it's it's Maholtra and it's Carl's and it's Reed.
>> Standalone tier three.
>> Nohoff in that. No Verhoff.
>> I don't think so. No, I don't think so.
I don't And I don't think teams think that that way either. I think in that next year now we're talking about Verhoff. We're talking about Vgo Bork.
We're talking about Albert Smith's. Um >> yeah, I I think that's probably what we're looking at for those guys, those next that next group of players there.
Maybe like some team would really like Multi Gustofson or Ethan Belchetts, but I do I think that's that next group again beyond those guys. Even you might even have Smiths in that next group, too. But I do think it's kind of VGO and and Fairhof and those guys.
>> Uh you always make us smarter on draft and prospects. We appreciate you staying up here and doing a later hit with us in the afternoon. He's got all sorts of little ones running around somewhere in that house. Cam, get back to your children. Thank you for your time, sir.
Each and every Tuesday, usually Tuesdays, Cam Robinson joins us, the director of everything at Elite Prospects. Thanks, buddy. Appreciate this.
>> Cheers, boys. Have a good show.
>> Uh, okay. Well, there's some things there from Cam that I quite like.
Is it possible San Jose is shopping this pick because the bigger need is defense for them not forward?
Is there the possibility that Stenberg falls to number three because San Jose takes a defenseman?
>> Imagine >> at number two overall. I gotta say, the more I read, the more I hear, the more I watch uh highlights of Chase Reed, the more and more I like the young man. I mean, as Cam points out, a 6'2 63 mobile offensively inclined right shot defenseman. I know it's not first overall Canucks fans, but in any other draft, if you were to be told that that profile of player is falling to you, that would be incredible excitement amongst amongst the fans. I mean, that profile of player is the scarcest commodity on the NHL market, right? big, mobile, offensively gifted right shot defenseman, top pair defenseman. I mean, you could go decades between finding a player like that, and we know the Canucks have gone decades between finding a, >> you know, defenseman.
>> If Mike Greer does want a defenseman, >> Mhm. He's not doing his job unless he sometime between now and the moment he's called on stage is going to give the Conucks a call and say, "Listen, you want the second overall?"
And Yep.
>> and and tries to get something out of that even though he might end up drafting that defenseman anyhow.
>> Yep.
>> But it's worth it for him to move down one. Uh the other thing I like there from Cam that he doesn't have any concerns for Caleb Mhaltra at number three overall if it does go with the first two wingers as expected that he would be running to the podium to draft Caleb Melhaltra at number three overall.
Uh the other thing we should say and uh Mike I believe we've got the visual here uh from Big Head Hockey. It is exceedingly rare to see two wingers go with picks number one and two, >> right, >> in the NHL draft. It has not happened in 19 years since Patrick Kane and James Van Remsteike went in 2007. I would quibble with 1990. Ned was as much a center as he was a winger. At least at the very least >> at that time anyway.
>> Yeah. a very at at least a hybrid at that point. Then you got to go back to 85, Wendell Clark and Craig Simpson >> going one and two and then two other times in NHL draft history. So I mean four maybe five times it has happened before. So I I I do wonder is there a really strong possibility here or a stronger possibility than people might think right now of Caleb Malttra or one of those defenseman going with one of the first two picks. Now I have a awful lot of trouble seeing the Leafs passing on Gavin McKenna. They face some of the same pressures that the Canucks do in terms of a Canadian market. Yeah. In terms of public relations, particularly after the catastrophe that was their reveal of John Sha and Matt Sundine as their new hockey >> uh brain trust yesterday. Uh, not to mention just the fit, you know, McKenna being a setup playmaking creative winger and Austin Matthews being a former 60 goal scorer, shoot first center who's put the organization on notice. He needs to see better talent around >> and a big strong guy that he can like we know that McKenna is more of a perimeter player. Well, that's fine if you're dealing to a guy who's a big strong goal scorer that can go to the tougher areas and and you know, Matthews isn't afraid of that. So, you know, the the chemistry there is is written in the stars almost.
>> Quick reaction from Kucks fans here.
Mike, I believe you've got uh just a couple of super chats.
>> A couple of super chats here that we want to bring up and see how fans are doing after another blow here of Kuck Luck.
Guys, I need a hug. That's it. Sasha.
Yeah, Sasha. Hugs are free.
>> That's the sad one. Kucks fan with the angry one. Oh, there's another one here.
So, we got three now.
>> Okay.
>> Can we just delete this franchise start over from scratch?
Uh, they wouldn't be much further behind where they are now if you deleted them and started. In fact, if you get the Vegas stocking draft, you'd be ahead.
>> And then the third one there, Mike, does this lottery result have any impact on the GM pick? Great question. Hard to know. Um, maybe Jim Rutherford was asked about that during his press conference.
Well, the answer we gave is is, you know, flirting with that answer a little bit. There's actually a fourth one here, too. Let me know when you got that one, Mike, loaded up. Um, but yeah, I mean, we'll we'll see what ultimately Jim Rutherford had to say about all this.
It it is pretty astonishing.
The Conucks have been involved in seven draft lotteryies in one way, shape, or form. They have never moved up in the draft lottery bet.
>> Yeah.
>> Like >> no never >> like never >> never.
>> Seven opportunities.
>> Well, and I mean when we talk about Kuck Luck, of course, the first turn of that was the 1970 expansion process with the Buffalo Sabres.
They not only lost a coin toss, which allowed the Buffalo Sabres to decide whether they wanted high or low numbers on uh waiver priority, expansion draft, and NHL entry draft. When they spun the entry draft wheel, the then NHL president Clarence Campbell at first announced Vancouver as the winner. The right to select first overall and Jill Bear Perau. And then upon closer inspection, it was a high number, not a low number.
Campbell had to correct himself and say, "No, it's actually Buffalo that gets the first overall pick." They selected Perau, turned into a Hall of Fame center. The Canucks wound up with Dale Talon second overall. Very nice player, but no Jill Bear Perau. Uh we got J.
>> Just one second on this topic. Big Head Hockey has done the done the math here on the Conucks combined chances to move up over the years.
>> The math turns out it's a 98.57% chance that they would have won at least one time across all the lotteryies.
Astonishing. Uh, okay. Uh, let's bring in Jeff Patterson. He's down at Rogers Arena where he not only took in the >> Oh, very ghostly, foolish looking Jeff Patterson from a storage. Uh, where he not only took in the proceedings. There were a lot of fans down there at Rogers Arena, but also listen to Jim Ratherford. Jeff, how are you?
>> Uh, good. I feel like I'm doing this from like uh a campfire or something.
They turn down the house. They've turned down the house lights behind me. So, it wasn't that long ago that this place was vibrant. There were people in the bowl, but they have left and they have turned the lights out. We know how that works.
>> Yeah. So, uh I will >> kind of how these things go, Jeff. We've all been party to them in the past.
>> Working by the light of our cell phone and hopefully there's plenty of battery left in the cell phone just to throw a little bit of light here. Uh but the conucks in the dark if you will uh when it came to lottery luck as you talked about there and uh I was at Greta uh for the lottery itself and uh disappointed people there as you can imagine and made my way over here to General to what was General Motors place uh Rogers Arena and uh yeah we just finished up 10 minutes with Jim Rutherford and of course the big news today is that he is stepping away from the day-to-day uh operations as the president of hockey operations after the draft. So, he's got uh basically 6 weeks left on the job full-time, and at that point, uh he's going to be around. He said he'll be here to answer questions and to shepherd the next staff. He talked about the excitement of the staff that they're putting together. Uh said that they have interviewed north of 15. He didn't have an exact number. He said he didn't have his book in front of him, but uh uh over 15 and they've got it down to five now.
And he said next week uh they hope to have their person or people in place.
So, while this was all about the draft lottery, uh Jim sort of saved the big news till the very end of his media availability when he was asked about his future again and said, "Yeah, uh he's continued to think about it since that uh media availability the day after the final game of the season on April the 17th." And here we are now into May and uh he's got some clarity and uh yeah, the end of the Jim Rutherford era is nearly upon us here. Six more weeks or so.
>> It's a pretty easy punch line to say he saw those ping-pong balls and went, "I'm out." But this was what we had been hearing behind the scenes for some time that this was going to come out this way. Did he shed any light on the possibility of a second body being hired here or is he still just talking about the one hire?
>> No, they he said that uh they're still working through that and he said ownership's heavily involved in this process as uh we have come to learn and and understandable they are the owners.
Uh and he said that uh they're still uh wrestling with the overall structure, which surprises me a little to be this deep into the process and to hear that they're still wrestling a little bit uh with who and how many ultimately. But it does sound uh he said assembling uh he's excited about the staff that they're assembling. So um I'm assuming that uh it's not just one person that they are looking at bringing in multiple people.
For which roles, we don't know exactly.
Uh he said he continues to talk to Patrick Eline that no full decision has been made by Patrick Alvine about staying on, but uh just the way that he answered the question certainly made it sound like he uh didn't anticipate that Patrick Alvine would be part of this moving forward in what would be a demotion and that's understandable too uh given he was the general manager here not that long ago. So, um, yeah, I mean, there were far more questions about, uh, the front office search than there were about the draft lottery, as you can understand, but he expressed his disappointment, too, that, uh, uh, things didn't fall the Vancouver Conucks way here, uh, with the ping-pong balls.
And, yeah, I mean, I think like everybody, it just makes it that much worse that Toronto ends up getting, uh, that first overall selection.
>> Yeah, let's just fill in some of the gaps there. Jim Rutherford was owed $5 million for this coming season. and he wasn't going to just walk away from that. Uh I had had a couple of people mention to me they thought it would probably be some sort of negotiated settlement between Rutherford and the Canucks if he wanted to leave early, i.e. right after the draft. So I would suspect that he's not going to collect all of that. He gets a share. He goes into retirement, one would think, at age 77, although he's a hockey lifer.
>> He said senior adviser or an advisory role. So he didn't I think he's still going to be around the hockey club just not in a dayto-day like steering every operation within the hockey club. Uh he's going to take a step back here. So I I you know he's not done done like I don't think this is official retirement the day that the draft is done but certainly stepping into uh a secondary role.
>> Practice facility general contractor.
Did is that what we're talking about here? He wants I get the feeling he wants to finish his promise on that, you know.
>> Well, I agree with you, but extraordinarily we just got through a Jim Rutherford availability and the two words practice facility didn't come up.
So, uh maybe we're all slacking on the job a little bit, but uh he was probably prepared for another question on it, but yeah, it it was not asked of him here this afternoon.
>> Jeff, can can I ask you your interpretation of the day events with ex Senator's general manager Pierre Dorion?
Do you believe the Canucks actually put that out there as a trial balloon to see how the fans would react and when they react with protest and outrage? They moved off Pierre Dorino. That's the narrative out there with the Canucks and the days events. Do you buy that knowing now that uh there's a photo of Peter Sharelli making the rounds that uh maybe it really was? Just wait. If you don't like Pierre Dorion, wait till you see what we've got coming tomorrow. Um it it feels that way. Like it does. As much as you'd like to think that outside opinion wouldn't sway them when they get this far into the process. Uh look, they are at it feels like an all-time low.
Although we know that in the late 80s the building was half full at the Coliseum. So in terms of popularity, it's hard to accurately gauge where they are. But the brand has taken a beating here for a while now. Uh and so yeah, they've got to get this decision right on so many levels, but there has to be an acceptability uh from the paying customers that they've got to be willing to buy in. And you know, a week ago there was some excitement because it felt like they had done their due diligence and that they were following the proper channels and casting a wide net. And when I sat in with you on Friday, Matt, I even said like I was pleasantly surprised with how I felt the process had gone to that point. And and then you you think really like I I guess and it sounds now like it's not going to be Pierre Dorian, but there was a point in time here earlier in the day where it was uh heating up and I was thinking to myself, how in the world can the Toronto Police and the Vancouver Conucks run these parallel searches, two of the best hockey markets in the league, two passionate fan bases, two organizations claiming that they're going to get this thing right and come up with John Chica on one day Pier Dory on the next how is that >> and so it feels like we're not going to have to wrestle entirely with that both parts of that question but Toronto's done its part here and we'll see where it goes but yeah I mean it does feel to me that there was an element of that at the very least that you know word gets out early in the morning you got all day to sort of dip your toe in the water and see how that uh uh lands with the fan base and clearly it didn't land well and so Now it feels like uh they have turned the page there and and we'll see. Now you know in saying all that I would say if they believe that Pierre Dorian is an incredible talent evaluator and they want him to be a part of their front office like I don't have necessarily an issue with that. I I I have to be careful here because from day one since Pierre since Patrick Alvine was like oh what did I say to you guys? I believed in an experienced hand at the wheel.
>> And so Pierdorian is that. I also believe generally that people certainly in hockey, but in most walks of life are better the second time around at a job.
I'd like to think that Pierdorian learned a lot in his successes, but also in his failures in Ottawa, and I think he would be better for it. Uh but teams haven't been clamoring to get their hands on Perodorian as a general manager, certainly. So, um, again, if Podorian winds up in the organization somewhere in an evaluation role, I think I could understand that and accept it, but, uh, I don't think he's the right guy for the job right here, right now in the big chair.
>> What did you make of the quote about wanting to win now or or the rebuild being um near the the bottom and and on the upswing? What did was that a throwaway comment, do you think, or was that something to drill down on?
Yeah, I'm trying to remember where in his availability Jim got to that because I asked him the question of, you know, of this process. How much of it is learning from outside sources about your franchise and where it is and, you know, sort of being dealt a a dose of medicine that maybe you didn't want to take, but that's all part of where they are right now when you're dead last. Uh, you have to be willing to take your lumps. and he said that yeah, they've heard some stark truths about, you know, the soup that they're in. And then he talked about how different people had different ideas about how to get out of it and different paths and different timelines. And so, um, you know, I didn't get a sense that the guy that had the fastest timeline to get out of the wilderness was going to win this competition. We've been down that road with this group in the past and so I do want to think that there's a learning there uh for the people that are doing the hiring. But yeah, I mean when he talked about 16, 17, I think he got as high as 18 possible uh people that they've interviewed, he said it was fascinating. Uh he talked about this being a different process than he's ever been involved in uh in terms of the number of people they've talked to and just the different voices and the things that they have uh heard and and learned about their hockey club. And so uh yeah, I mean I think that uh some people came in and told them truths whether they wanted to hear it or not. they're dead last and they need to find the right person that can get them on the proper path here. And it's not about uh the fastest rebuild. It's about the best possible rebuild.
>> Uh Jeff, we'll let you marinate on the who they should take at number three, which is our poll question. But I do want to ask you this.
If you believe in Caleb Malttra, is it cut and dry? take the player and commit to losing Manny to a different organization.
>> Yeah, I I think and I've sort of wrestled this in my head and I don't know if you guys have done this the poll question of, you know, if it could only be one, would it be the player or the coach? I I think with where they are, um, a promising center that could be here for 10 to 15 years is more important to this group right here, right now. And that's with all the respect in the world to Manny Mal Holtra uh, as a coach. But I just think that the Canucks can still find another head coach uh that can be the right guy for them uh through this phase, but they need so much help up front and Caleb looks like he is one of the best pieces available in this draft.
Now, in saying that, I'm not on board the reach for Caleb Mahaltra at three and I know that he's come off this incredible playoff run and they're finished now. Um, and he's got a ton of helium and all that. I I still think though, uh, I'm a best player available.
And I just think it's hard to overlook a defense heavy draft. Uh, and people can say, well, they've got Boo and they've got Wanderer and they've got DPD and they've even got Mancini and Sawyer. I get all of that, but maybe Katon Verhoff and it's quite possible that Katon Verhoff is going to be a better player than Tom Valander. And I'm not saying that you are looking to shop Tomlander right now, but this is evolution. This is part of a rebuild that you don't know who's going to develop at what speed.
That's right. And ultimately some of those players might become uh available or expendable and maybe you addressed your needs up front with, you know, this depth that you have uh assembled on the back end. And so it is fascinating that a team like San Jose at second, uh we know that they need defensive help. you know, would they be willing to reach or are they just going to say, "Hey, you know, there are two guys here. We can't look past the fact that these guys have been one two." Uh, and again, like, you know, they can trade from a position of strength and theirs is up front obviously. So, uh, that is fascinating.
The one thing I'll say in all of this, guys, is that if the Canucks had finished, if they'd won the draft lottery, either one of the lotteryies, I think it would have been a pretty simple choice for them at the draft. But in finishing where the lottery balls told us they were going to, I do think this now speeds the process a little bit to find the general manager. Again, it's May 5th. The draft isn't for six full weeks, but a week from now, you know, I would want my new general manager to have six weeks in the leadup, not only to the draft, but you've got some pending UFAs to deal with. I asked Jim Rutherford about Evander Kane because we know how clunky that was that he wasn't available on the media the exit meetings and we were told he had done his exit meetings uh basically had checked out on the hockey club and wasn't around and I just said like you know you have any interest in resigning of Vander Kane or have you indicated to him and his camp that you know he's going to be a free agent? He kind of punted on the question and said that'll be up to the next general manager, but then went on quite a ramble about uh you know turning the page in the locker room and all the young kids and basically can't be it. It didn't he didn't come right out future.
>> There's no Evander Kane future. It's nonsense. He's 34 years old and he was >> I was hoping I was hoping to hear him say that >> but he didn't today. Um, lastly, uh, we have a, uh, super chat here that Mike tells me is very, uh, JPAT's lighting looking just like the Kucks. Oh my.
>> Ominous. Ominous.
>> Okay, Jeff, let there be light. Go find light. All right. And thank you for this. And we'll have you on the program.
>> Yeah. When I finish with my marshmallows here, I've got the campfire.
>> Who's got the guitar? Who's playing ghost? couple ghost stories and maybe a song or two and uh then we'll call it a night.
>> Yes, that is J Patty is scary. Uh thank you Jeff. We will talk to you later in the week. That's our Conucks reporter and the host of Rank White Vancouver, Jeff Patterson from a suddenly dim >> Rogers Arena. It was so festive and full of joy and life and color not long ago.
But yet again, the Canucks fall in the draft lottery. Yet again, the Canucks don't pick first overall. Have never done so. And uh didn't even win the lottery for number two. So, in a moment, Craig J. Button, TSN's director of scouting, is going to join us. We will unpack this pick and the way the draft order is now going to fall. The Toronto Maple Leafs picking first overall, the San Jose Sharks picking second overall, the Vancouver Conucks picking third overall, and as a matter of fact, in um uh once we're done with Craig, we're going to go over the days events on the GM search. Uh just before we bring Craig in, is Craig No, Craig's not yet ready. Um, let's just go over and we talked about how exceedingly rare it is for um, let me just pick up quickly on on on the importance of this next GM now like and and how that intersects with today's events in that I agree with JPAT that um, the timing of this becomes a little bit more imperative and then the message of whoever you're hiring, you know, if you've got it down to four or five guys right Now, you know, there is no plugandplay um player most likely. Now, guys, surprise you. There are always surprises in training camp, the Ben Kindles of the world.
>> You never know.
>> But the game plan now that you've been presented by that GM, it's a little more in play here now because, >> you know, decisions like best player available versus a center. um what are his theories on that um come into play on whether or not you risk taking making a trade for yet another first round pick by trading away a veteran player.
>> Uh what's your appetite for that? Um what I'm saying is the world is way more open now than if you had just got first or second.
>> Uh let's uh as we await Craig J. Button and uh you have a word from our friends at Yellow Dog. We talked about how exceedingly rare it is for two wingers to go first and over and second overall in the NHL draft. That had it has only happened five even four times in the history of the draft. It it is less rare for a winger to go first overall, but it is still rare for a winger to go first overall. Ulavvski the last one 2022 to the Habs. Alexe Lafrenier 2020 to the Rangers. Nail Yakapov to Edmonton in 2012. Taylor Hall Edmonton in 2010, Patrick Kane to Chicago in 20 in 2007, Ovuchetkin to the Capitals in '04, Rick Nash to the Blue Jackets in O2, and Kovalechuk to Atlanta in 2001. Those are the only wingers to go first overall at the NHL entry draft this century. And so much talk about Caleb Meltra. Uh Mike, let's bring up the graphic here. His Brford Bulldogs were eliminated yesterday in game seven of the OHL semifinals by the Barry Colts. That brings a close to Caleb Melhaltra's season. Uh he was on a star-studded team there. You look at all the drafted players who played on Brford including some draft eligibles for this uh upcoming lottery. Caleb Mhaltra finish finishes 29 goals, 55 assists, 84 points in 67 games played in the regular season. And in the playoffs, he just goes off. 13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points in 15 games played, but his season is done now. Others will have an opportunity to His O career is done.
>> His OHL career is done as well. We've got Craig J. Button coming up. First, a word from our friends at Yellow Dog.
>> All of this hockey shenanigans is overshadowing Senco Deio.
Happy Senko Deio, everybody. Yellow Dog Spirits releasing its brand new Ombé and Lucha Agave Mix Pack. Ombre and Lucha Mix Pack is your new go-to. It's an eight pack bringing every party a little zest. The ombre lime margarita, the juicy ombre tropical margarita, crisp lucha lime ranch water, and the bright refreshing lucha grapefruit ranch water. It's a It's a party in a pack. Go get it now. Happy Cinco de Mayo. Let's bring him in. He's TSN's director of scouting. He's one of the guys that has made the NHL entry draft a much bigger deal to hockey fans across the continent, if not around the world.
name on the Stanley Cup from the Dallas Stars. I saw his Twitter timeline this week. Mr. Craig J. Button of TSN joins us from uh well from the studios there.
You guys just finished up. Is that right?
>> Yeah. You know, Toronto, I think they're planning a parade tomorrow, just FYI.
They haven't been a they haven't been able to use it for the Stanley Cup uh championship celebration since ' 67.
That would be 1967.
So, they might have a parade tomorrow.
Max is going to be in the lead car, you know.
>> Well, it's been it's been all of a few hours since they last led the newscast as well.
>> Yeah. Steve Simmons with Rotten Tomatoes somewhere on the parade route.
>> What do you say about this 24 hours for that franchise? Because they were the laughingstock and now they're the apple of everyone's eye.
>> Yeah. Well, and and most importantly, Blake, they're the apple of of the fans eyes. like the fans are delirious now, but but you know with the naming of John Sha and everything that that happened on Monday and and all the uh I I guess consternation and and everything that went on with it. Yeah. Like now now you have a delirious fan base. It's like, "Oh my lord, we won. We got the first overall pick. How lucky are we?" And now there's this excitement that's uh palatable in Toronto. And and I guess that's the good thing. You always want to you don't want off ice to carry uh the the news of the day or the news of the night or the news of any time uh over what really matters which is on the ice and I think for the Toronto Maples probably for Keith P he he couldn't have scripted something better you know Matt Sundine you know there they win the lottery and and and now does anybody even remember Monday and the talk for the next day six weeks is all going to be about the draft.
Yeah, Craig. Uh, and I promise everyone we're going to bring it back to the Conucks here in a second, but uh, Gavin McKenna is a setup creative playmaking winger. They got a shoot first centerman and Austin Matthews who was just today grousing about surrounding talent. Is McKenna an absolute no-brainer for the Leafs at first overall?
>> I think it is, Matt. and and and you just touched on all the elements that Gavin McKenna brings and it's all the elements that g that uh Austin Matthews lost when Mitch Mner left and we saw the impact it had on Austin Matthews and when when you're as creative and as imaginative and as skilled as uh Gavin McKenna is as a playmaker and he's going to be a lot better suited to the rigors of the NHL when he's 21 22 when he's physically mature but when you have somebody that can carry the burden like Austin Matthews and now he can get the puck in spots where he can be back to the being the prolific goal scorer that he is. And how many times do we see w centers drafted in the NHL they start on the wing because it's a little bit easier. Well, if you're going to start on the wing and Gav McKenna is a winger and you get to start with Austin Matthews, okay, like what would be better than that? Starting on the left wing with Conor McDavid, starting on the left wing with Nathan McKinnon. There's not Mlin. There's not very many places that are better for a for a player that possesses what Gavin McKenna has than playing alongside uh Austin Matthews >> and and guys like Celibbrini and Baddard while playing down the middle for the most part they they did not get the benefit of a crazy wingman and I and I mean wingman just a linemate I'll use the word linemate instead like that's propping up a young player like if if they if they go down that road and that's a nice luxury to have is propping up a young player with a veteran that can think at his wavelength.
>> Well, there's no question about it, Blake. That's exactly what it comes down to is these are young players. They're gifted. They're talented, but they need support and they need propping up at times. And you're right, Mlin didn't have that. Connor didn't have that. And and you look at now what Toronto has the opportunity to have. And Austin had it right from day one. You know, Mitch Mner was coming into the league. They had some support around him. So, this is something that's really, really significant. uh not only for the Toronto Maples, not only for Austin Matthews, but for the transition for Gavin McKenna.
>> I want to get to the Sharks in a moment, but first Craig, your thoughts and feelings as you saw the Vancouver Conucks yet again be a loser on this day, picking as low as they possibly could at number three.
>> Okay, Matt and Blake and uh Vancouver Conucks fans, he he here is the uh glass is uh not half full, the glass is full.
And back in 2017, the Colorado Avalanche had an awful year. And there was three spots up in the lottery. Not only did the Colorado Avalanche drop to two, they dropped to three, then they dropped to four. And boy, they had to step up and they had to call out Kale Mar's name.
And you know, we know how that's turned out. Like what what looks like disappointment today. Uh I think uh there's a silver lining here. And the silver lining for me is the opportunity to draft Caleb Multra. Uh we've talked about Caleb. Caleb's a hell of a player.
The Conucks are screaming for a number one center. I think Caleb is that all day long. He's complete. He's two-way.
He's competitive. He's skilled. And you know, there might be eyebrows raised if the Vancouver Conucks just say, "Well, we're taking Mahotra at one because we need a center." And as good as McKenna is, we think there's not a huge uh margin of difference between him and Mahra. Well, now you can just slide into three. Take the guy that fits exactly what you need. in my view and and and and that to me is the silver lining. And much like Kale Mar, there was some consternation back in 2017. I I I think similar things could work out uh for the uh Vancouver Conucks. And I said this to you before. I think their five defenseman that they have are are really good. And I think it's a place that you can build around. You need a center. You got some skill up front. You have other draft picks that you're going to be able to take advantage of. you know, Braden Coots, Marco Rossi. Now you might be able to have a one, two, three of Mahaltra, Rossi, Coots, and and Mahaltra number one. Coots, maybe Rossi splitting that up. Well, now all of a sudden, you got the makings of a pretty good uh spine up the middle of your of your forward group. You got some good defenseman. I I I've said this to you. I don't think this is a tear down in Vancouver. I I think that given a choice and I know Toronto won the lottery. I still feel I'd rather be the Van I' I'd pick Vancouver over Toronto every day of the week uh based on where they're at and what they have and you know some of the challenges that the Toronto Maple Leafs have.
>> First of all, Colorado should have taken Elias Patterson. Um >> high scorer in that draft to date.
>> Secondly, um okay, our pet theory ever not unique to us, but you know San Jose wants defenseman. we all think, you know, they've they've got a really nice young forward group already. You can never have too many, but you do want to address positions of need and uh they've got one non ELC defenseman on their roster for for next year. One. So, they could either trade use this as trade bait, go find a amazing veteran that you can plug and play, they could just draft the defenseman and and and save it for for future use. And that would then throw everything into flux here and maybe bump one of the two wingers down to number three. What about that theory that San Jose puts a fly in the ointment here by selecting a defenseman?
>> Listen, I I think they should select Chase Reed. I think that the right shot Reed, I think he's a hell of a player.
He gives me Zack Barensky vibes. He's a late ' 07, so and I think he's closer to playing in the NHL. I think he and now you have bookends Sam Dickinson on the left, Chase Reed on the right, and I think it sets up really nicely for them.
They don't need forwards. They got lots of forwards. They got lots of really good forwards. They got lots of skilled forwards. If they don't build out the blue line, they're not going to go anywhere. So, uh and and listen, I think Chase Reed, Carson Carl are are two terrific uh in my view project as clear-cut number one defenseman. I don't usually say that about defenseman, but I think they're number one guys. But given that they have Dickinson a number one left side, I'd go with Chase Reed on the right side.
>> So then if it's Stenberg and Mel Holtra both available at three to the Canucks, Craig, where are you going?
>> I'm going Mhaltra all day long.
>> Really? Huh?
>> I don't need a winger. I need a center back.
>> Like how are you going to get a big sir?
There's no there's no margin. Wait a sec. Hang on. There's no there there's no margin of difference for me between Mahala and Stanber. Yeah, >> he's uh shaking. He's so angry at me.
I'm getting wingspan wingspan vibes from 10 years ago.
>> Sorry. Sorry.
>> I know. I know. I know. I know. I'm having fun week with this guy. I >> Exactly. And I know not to push Craig J.
Button too far. We all remember Wingspan from a dozen years ago or so. app. Uh, I asked sir because people in your positions, director of amateur scoutings, draft scouts and all that, tell me BPA, BPA, best player available, don't draft for need in hockey. You're telling me the Conucks should draft for need?
>> No, I'm not. I'm telling you that Caleb Mahal is every bit as good as Ivar Stenberg. You know, you might have a number that says three, four, five.
Okay, we we put numbers beside guys, right? And listen, I I just told you I have Carson Carl's number two on my list, but I'd take Chase Reed because I there's no there's no difference between those two guys. Like, it's not like I go, well, Carson Carl is going to be a Nor Trophy winner, but I'm going to take Chase Reed because he's a right shot guy and he's not nearly as good. I'm not saying that. I'm saying that I get a choice now because I have Sam Dickinson in San Jose. I feel the same way about uh about the Vancouver Conucks. I think now you have that chance to get that number one center. Stenberg's not a center. He's a winger. You don't build your team up the wall.
>> The um the NHL draft is not the NFL draft or any of the of the other draft, but NFL I see it the most. I think trading down. Um like is there any sense in San Jose going we can get a really good defenseman in six or seven. Why don't we trade down? Uh the Canucks thinking the same thing. Hey, I don't so and so needs a defenseman. All we can trade down and still get out my ultra.
Do you suspect there's any shenanigans in the first seven, eight picks?
>> Well, there's always exploration, right?
There's always going to be uh opportunity. Teams are trying to move up. So, so I'll give you the Mo Cider experience. So, the Detroit Red Wings were picking six. They love Mo Cider.
They thought that Mo Cider was a really good player. And then they started to think, okay, uh well, maybe we should trade back. Maybe we can uh you know, consider trading back and see what happens. Well, what Steve Eisermanman found out was he could trade back and it would be really, really easy to do so, but he wasn't going to get Mo Cider.
>> And so Steve said, "Damn the torpedoes.
I don't care what anybody thinks. I'm taking the guy we want."
>> And to me, that like and and Mo Cider is a Norris Trophy guy. Like a Norris Trophy guy. You've heard me say this, stake in the ground. Stake in the ground. Take the guy you want. There's not huge differences here between his players. You're not passing up Conor McDavid. You're not passing up uh Austin Matthews. You're not passing up Mlin Celerini here by trading back. But you better be careful because other teams are looking at these guys and going they're really good too and we and they might be trading up to get the guy you want.
>> Well, and you're what you're saying is a double-edged sword. That makes me want to trade down, but if you're a buyer, why are you buying up? Because you know that there's not a lot separating these players and you should not give up assets. you should just pick where you're going to pick and not try to move up. So, to me, this draft looks like a draft that you'd want to sell, but why would you want to buy? Why would you want to move up if you think you're going to get your guy at five or six, right, >> Blake? Do you know why there's so few trades in the first round of the NHL draft? Because of exactly what you just outlined, >> like everybody's looking to do and they go, why am I going to move up? like you know you you can look at that and everybody talks about it and and you'll hear John Chica say oh we'll listen to offers on the first overall pick and okay good like everybody says it but it doesn't happen doesn't happen much you know if you want to look at well Rick Dudley did it he traded back from one to three took Boomster and it allowed Columbus to draft uh uh Rick Nash so yeah it could happen but the reason there's so few trades is because exactly what You outline, Blake.
>> Mhm.
>> You're a smart guy, though. It doesn't surprise me.
>> Ah, well, sometimes.
>> Not so bad, huh, Button? All these years beside me, all these years talking and doing games with you, we're finally rubbing off on him.
>> And uh I would say more you, Matt. It's It's osmosis because of you. It's >> Thank you, Craig. I knew we'd come around on the same page. Uh button, I'm going to give you a line you can use during your draft coverage, okay? Uh this uh this June.
>> Uh I don't want any credit for it. You just take it. It's your line.
>> How he's generous, too, Craig.
>> Uh talk of trading up or trade ups trade down in the top 10 of the NHL draft is like Santa Claus in the Easter Bunny.
You hear a lot about it, just nobody ever sees them.
That's good. And I will use that because you know what you know the well Matt and Blake you know with with Toronto now getting the first overall pick. What what do you think the talk is going to be on TSN for the next uh whatever many days like like you know what it's going to be? It's going to be like okay and like Gavin McKenna is going to be dissected and Stenberg and whoever else might be they're going to be dissected that they're going to they're going to be dissected more than a corpse at the mortterary.
You're going to experience a really interesting dissection of life here because you work so much in Toronto. You get to see that. Then you go home to Calgary and they cry in their beer that they like the Canucks have never drafted first overall. So the Flames fans have got to be livid today, too, because they bumped down a couple spots.
>> Well, they can be livid. I mean, again, you can't do anything about it. It's They move from four to six.
>> Yeah. I I mean I mean, it is what it is, right? And I I I I think it's great. The fans get excited and everybody wants to see their team win the lottery and and whatnot. But, you know, these kids for the most part are uh three and four years away and you know, we start to look back and you start to go, "Oh, gez, how did they get that guy at that point?
How did they get this guy at that point?" And you know, that's that's the difference between the NHL and the NFL draft. The the NFL draft is about getting players right now. The NHL draft is about the future.
>> Real real quick on Malho. they go with Maho if that all comes ticky boo. Is he a one-year at university guy, do you think? Or do you think you you'd like to steep him for two there?
>> Yeah. You know, so I I I don't lock into one or two. I say go and play and and then let's see where you're at after a year. Like let's go see where you're at because some players progress really nicely. Hey, listen. Caleb was in the BCHL last year and he he he he he progressed incredibly and Yeah. Yeah.
And well, it's a hard when you're 16, it's hard to be good against older players. Totally. But, you know, he learned, he grew, and and now you're seeing a guy I mean, he's almost 6'2.
And and and like he he's competitive and he's smart and he's skilled. And, you know, to me, the the other thing that he has in spades is that he makes other players around him better. And I I may have said this to you guys earlier, when Jake O'Brien got hurt, when he left at the World Junior and then he got hurt, Caleb said, "I can do this." And I think his confidence just built from there.
And Caleb has been outstanding.
>> Yeah. And uh let's uh let's not let's not have it go unsaid. Um everyone talks about his father, who of course NHL player, and uh Craig, we've been talking about this. As good as Manny is as a coach, if it comes down to a decision between Caleb or Manny, you you got to take the player over the coach, right?
Like you just say, "Okay, Manny, you're going to have to continue your coaching career elsewhere outside of our organizational ranks." Is that how you play?
Unless you want to have them both, but the priority has to be on the player.
>> Okay. Well, and the other thing we should say is that uh >> his mother was a pretty good athlete, too. She was a UIC soccer player, and of course, one of her brothers was a two-time NBA MVP, and her other brother played professional soccer as well. So, there's lots of athletic jeans in the Melhotra >> family. Uh, God bless you. You've been hanging out with us for the last 20 minutes. The pipes are holding up, holding that phone. Craig, can't thank you enough, my friend. Thanks. Very much appreciate it.
>> Maybe Steve Nash can be the next coach of the Vancouver Conucks with with Caleb playing center ice. What do you think?
>> He doesn't seem to be busy with the White Cats, so he's got a soccer team to sell.
>> Thanks, Greg.
>> Thanks, Greg.
>> Okay, you be well, guys. Thank you. That is TSN's director of scouting, Craig J.
Button. And I meant what I said off the top. Like I I felt like hockey was waiting for that Mel Kyper figure to turn the draft into a 12-month exercise.
Craig J. Button has done exactly that uh for TSN and hockey fans around the world. Okay. Uh Mike, you say you want to go to a super chat here. We've got a positive. I could use some positivity.
Oh, really? Positivity.
>> Talk to me. What is this super chatter saying?
there. Uh it's the only positive thing that it brings me happiness to know that >> uh we can donate to the BC Mental Health Foundation. Yes, thank you for appreciate that.
>> Half our uh donations or proceeds from the um super chats go to the BC Mental Health >> Foundation. Okay. Uh Craig J. button and we're going to get that interview uh out if you're joining us live right now and just missed it as well as JPAD and Cam Robinson from earlier. Today was also quite an eventful day on the Vancouver Conucks general manager search.
>> Um Jim Ratherford did speak about this first with Olivia McDonald on the Canucks in-house media and then at the greater press conference. Uh quote, "We interviewed a lot of people here over the last two weeks. It's been narrowed down to five guys. We've had in-person interviews with them. We continue to talk to these people. We don't have a deadline. So, that was the latest from Rutherford in the interview with Olivia.
He uh expanded on that during his uh press conference.
Uh Jpad covered that. We will get to more of that tomorrow. But this was truly an extraordinary 24 hours. So, last night, Frank Saravelli, and uh I forget on what outlet this is, but Mike, you've got the uh visual we can bring up here. Frank Cavelli, NHL insider, reports, "My understanding is the door is still open for other candidates to hop in. I still think there's other possibilities in play here that we don't have a full view on yet."
this morning. Greg Washinsky of ESPN and uh at first he was on with our friends Huff and Bruff. As I said, this is where the wind is blowing in the NHL echo chamber after making some calls. Heard Vancouver wants someone with previous GM experience and Pierre Dorino has that.
He certainly made a lot of trades to the benefit of others. This after Darren Dreger tweets on Sunday that Dorio interviewed with the Canucks. Then all of a sudden, the Pierre Dorion train starts picking up steam.
Dollywall. Doro is a strong candidate to be named GM in Vancouver, but he has not been hired. I read that I'm like, are you kidding me? Like, he has not We've got to specify that. Others on the short list have been told >> have not been told.
>> Have not been told they are out.
Okay, >> that was when the panic was beginning to settle in and Rick had to double check.
>> Uh, the social media outrage and the calls to Rogers Arena started shortly after that Dollywall tweet and I believe Thomas Durant tweeted something similar which looked like it was pointing in the direct direction of Pier Dario. Uh, we know Uncle Le has certainly been an activist Kucks fan over the years. And there he is with the phone number >> to uh express your disapproval of Pierre Dorio as general manager of the Vancouver Conucks. Here comes Gafar settling things down a little bit. Thank goodness. There's nothing imminent on the Canucks GM search. They have met with Pierre Dorio a few times as they have with other candidates, but no decision has been made yet at all. Still are going through the interview process.
Then there's Gary Mason of the Globe and Mail Wangan. The Conucks have narrowed their GM search down to five good candidates. Doro is one, but would be wrong to characterize him in any way as a front runner. Ryan Johnson is still in the mix as well. Okay, so we got Johnson, we got Doro, but it's not heading down the track certain to be DoroF again. Do I think Dorio is someone that they should hire? No. Is he someone they are considering hiring? No. I think part of an interview process is talking to as many people as you can and listen to different opinions about your club.
Doesn't mean they are the front runner at all. So's taken Dorio off the list now. So, this is where we're on the downside of the bell curve now and the denyum of the day is taking over.
I mean, Blake, if I didn't know any better, it certainly sounds like the Vancouver Conucks put out a trial balloon on Pierre Dorion today, gauging market temperature on that. And frankly, 24 hours after that gong show press conference in Toronto with John Sha and Sundine and Keith P, could you blame them for dipping toe in the public waters and seeing the temperature?
I mean, I I just don't know why they needed the nudge like like do you are you so out of touch that you needed to fly that particular balloon?
like a guy like Shane Don I think yeah I I don't know what the fan reaction would be. I I honestly don't I think there'd be a lot of people that would be starruck and like and like the Shane Don but but he doesn't have the experience like I that would be an interesting trial balloon for me to Pierre Dorian I could have told you that give me a ring like like it's that one was so eminently predictable as is the Peter Sharelli backlash that's generating some interest now. How bizarre was this day? You rarely get NHL player agents weighing in with their two cents on GM candidates.
That that's exactly what Dan Milstein did. What's wrong with Pierre Dorio? The man took a shoestring budget and still drafted like a wizard, star forwards, late defenseman, and a prospect pool that actually exists. He built talent with pocket change and zero cap space.
Imagine what he could do with proper resources.
>> I'm going to guess some of Milstein clients got fat off here. Darn. I I'm I'm going to I'm going to have to say that that's a little bit too biased to take. Yeah. Then Elliot says, "Ryan Bonis remains a candidate. Bonus worked with Dorio in the Ottawa Senators organization. In fact, I'm told they had a falling out.
They dismissed their AHL coach allegedly for leaking club info. My sources in Ottawa say that was more Dorion's paranoia than it was a Ryan Bonus decision. But Bonis had to wear it and Dorio was happy for him to wear it.
So Dorio, RJ, Bonis, and then as Cous reported prior to all this going down, Evan Gold, Jamie Langen Bruner, the Boston AGMs, Jeff Tambellini, Steve Sun in the Tampa organization, Brad Pascal in Calgary.
None of them have GM experience. He said Shane Don is out. Sati Arshaw said Brett Peterson of Florida is out. Everybody's unclear on Kevin Adams who does actually have GM experience and conducted a rebuild.
So, a crazy day on the Vancouver Conucks GM search accompanies this fateful day in the NHL draft lottery where once again the Canucks do not move up, do not win a lottery, do not pick first overall, they'll pick third, barring a trade.
>> Are you surprised that she deal with that? Okay, I'm floored. I would have thought he would been there right to the end.
I think Shane Don was always a better candidate in name recognition than an act than an actual resume. Obviously, >> I'm not floored. I am a little surprised that a uh guy who likes his marquee like Aqualini >> would make make it an early cut. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Or medium cut.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> And someone says to me, Aqualini likes the leg hump stars. So, I'm a little surprised that he would be out at this point on that accord, but not necessarily. If his name wasn't Shane Don, I wouldn't be surprised in the least play for that. Yeah.
>> Uh, want to tell you Jeff Merrick >> and the Nation Network in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League. Proud to launch the debut episode of a brand new series, Beyond the Crest. The first episode features the Kitchener Rangers who just punched their ticket to the OHL final. This is a six episode series diving deep into the community, the culture, and the people who make the teams what they are. From state-of-the-art facilities to the vital role of billet families, you'll see how a contender is truly built. This is hosted by Jeff Merrick. The series takes you through the OHL, the WHL, special QMJHL episode. This is junior hockey like you've never seen it before. Catch the first episode on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. And Jeff has been out here west. Pentictton V's Colona Rock Rockets Everett Silver tips and Landon Dupont the presumptive first overall pick in the 2027 draft and all of this running before the Memorial Cup later this month in Colona. So we'll have more on tomorrow's program on this draft pick and of course on the GM search. We are down to our bet 365 bets of the day. Blake Price, I was a loser again yesterday. So, why don't you go ahead and lead us off on where you're going?
>> One thing we didn't get to is that Gavin McKenna will no longer be going with Canada to the world world hockey championships, senior men's hockey championships. He's being kept behind.
And that did not influence my >> to work on the combine, which was interesting. They didn't say draft, they said combine. Okay, >> because everybody goes through NHL combine stats with the fine tooth com.
Anyhow, um Canada's taking on Sweden.
Sweden will be a younger team, um, a more inexperienced team, especially on NHL experience. I thought Canada would be going down that road, too. But no, they're getting a lot of veterans and and Starlink celebrating. He's going I think Canada should have their way with Sweden in the opener on May 15th. Canada minus one and a half is at a plus 130.
>> I'm going to keep it on the Stanley Cup playoffs. Buffalo is more rested.
They're at home. The Habs have had to travel. Perhaps a bit of a let down after the high stakes of a game seven for Montreal. Give me the Sabres to win game one Wednesday. And and give it to me with an empty net. So Buffalo to win by two at plus 190 in game one of that Eastern Conference playoff series. Tyler waiting for the end of the game to get paid, ready to move on to the next puck drop. That's why bet 365. An official partner of the NHL is three-goal early payout. If the team you're riding goes up three goals at any point, they'll pay your bet out early. Hockey moves fast.
And now with three goal early payout, there's one less thing you have to wait around for. Bet 365. Download the app and see what early payout's all about.
Must be 19 or older. Please play responsibly. Coming up in the show here.
Uh BC Lions, plenty of news. They got training camp getting going. The Canadian Championship tournament is stock is starting in soccer where the White Caps are the four-time defending reigning champions. Seahawks with a signing here. Blue Jays, Mariners, Vancouver Canadians. Tons to talk about.
Oh, RBC Canadian Open as well. All that's coming up next.
Woohoo!
Hey!
Sar Price from the historic Wall Center and the Nation Network studio built by Arbor Lee. Game night turns into a game weekend at Wall Center. From puck drop to last call. Everything you need right outside your door. Stay where the fans stay. Wallcenter.
Cobb. Well, the BC Lions getting busy prior to training camp in Cam Loops later this week. They signed a CFL veteran at a position in need, a quarterback, seven draft picks, including first round wide receiver Nate Deont from the University of North Dakota.
They announced theme nights for when they finally get back to BC Place in late July. They are calling it the 2026 summer series, featuring a pool party theme.
>> I want to know what that means. Yeah.
versus the Argos on July 25th. A Fam Fest versus the Tiger Cats on August 8th. The traditional Watermelon Smash versus the Riders on August 23rd. And a tailgate party.
September 12th versus Montreal.
>> I think they should let the Lions destroy the World Cup grass. I think they should let them come in, give them one go, cut it up. No one can get mad.
>> Fill your boots. Um, >> yes. And of course, the first two Lions home games are in Colona at the Apple Bowl because they're being displaced by the World Cup. Now, uh, this also means no big pregame concert, at least not at this point, >> with the Lions playing those games in Colona that had always preceded >> the home opener. And you said you want to know about pool party. Uh and all also we should mention $5 beers all game long for these theme nights.
>> Holy cats.
>> Uh yeah, pretty good deal.
>> Mhm.
>> Um they're calling it a citywide celebration as we reclaim home turf. So >> that's what it says for pool party.
>> Yeah.
>> There has to be something aquatic involved here. Absolutely.
>> You don't just call >> Absolutely. You call it a backyard party if it's just >> So, is there a pool on the plaza?
>> Interesting.
Uh, offensive lineman Joshua Coker signs examped a veteran of 43 CFL games, 40 starts, many at right tackle, but has also played left tackle. Coming off a knee injury, so got to hope he's healthy. BC lost starting left tackle Jerel Broxton, the CFL All-Star who signed with Winnipeg in free agency. So may need Coker on the left side. The quarterback, interesting guy here, Kaden Salter, he had the unenviable task of replacing Shidor Sanders at the University of Colorado. And I know Shadur didn't exactly light the NFL on fire, but he was darn good for his father, Dion, there at Colorado for three seasons.
Salter began his career at Liberty, where he had a fantastic career. Liberty was a program that punched above its weight class. He's a dual threat guy from Dallas and he is cousins with former BC Lion quarterback and 2004 CFL MOP KC Printers.
>> No.
>> So Kaden, we expect you to make chicken salad out of chicken.
>> Bleep.
>> Mini camp for rookies starts tomorrow.
Veterans report to training camp Saturday. Sunday being the first day of onfield practice at Thompson Rivers University in >> Camp Lopes. Wow, it's happening.
>> And hey, cong congratulations head coach Buck Pierce. He ran the Vancouver Marathon on Sunday with a time of 4 hours 35 minutes 40 seconds. Did you know Buck has picked up ultra marathoning?
>> Him and the Sadine should get together.
>> Buck just likes punishment. We remember the way he played the game, taking all those hits in the pocket, and now he wants to punish his legs with these ultramarathons.
>> That's the good news. There's no blind sides uh in marathoning.
>> Uh new south of the border as well, Seahawks signed veteran pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. It's a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. He was the number three overall pick in the 2015 draft. He's entering his 12th season.
Played for Dallas last year. I mean, he hasn't hit the heights that you would hope for a third overall pick, but he's been a serviceable player for an awfully long time. baseball where Jay's closer, yes closer, Louisie Varland is named the American League reliever of the month after going 16 innings, striking out 26, erra of 0.56 and just four and four saves in place of Jeff Hoffman, of course, who was deposed from that closer role.
That's uh one way to make sure that you have uh secured the role, >> right?
>> Player of the month.
>> Just don't give up runs. Uh Mason Miller was the reliever of the month for he may be the reliever of every month in the National League. The way he pitches.
Mariners overcame a 4-nil deficit to Atlanta last night. They win 54.
>> Second largest comeback victory this season.
>> JP Crawford with a two-run home run.
Here's the problem.
Crawford's defensive level has really dropped this year. And uh while we love JP, of course, the son of former BC Lion All-Star Larry Crawford, >> if he's not playing a good glove shortstop, I'm not sure the bat is quite good enough to keep him in the lineup each and every day.
>> You wonder if top prospect Colt Emerson is on the horizon here. He of course signing one of those $90 million deals before he had even played an inning of Major League Baseball.
>> By the way, I thought the Jays were going to come back last night. They get a two-run shot in the ninth and >> they never win in Tampa.
>> Okamoto is just red hot >> this century. The Blue Jays win slightly more than 33% of their games at Tropicana Field. It is just a house of horrors for them. Um, they basically win one out of every three when they go down to town.
>> I wonder if it's because there's just no atmosphere.
>> Well, you can say that now, but of course, the Jays used to play in a sterile dome with no atmosphere as well.
It should have felt like a little bit more home cooking. I heard Joe Siddle speculating on the broadcast last night.
So many of the Blue Jays have offseason homes in the Tampa St. Pete area because Denedan's just up the road where their spring training complex is. Maybe it's a distraction thing where you've, you know, you got to go home, cut the lawn, >> visit buddies, >> whatever.
>> Vancouver Canadians fall in Eugene for three. Odd scheduling with a Monday game, I think, because of May the 4th.
No game today or tomorrow. Carter Cunningham is named the Northwest League Player of the Month for April. And the Seas are back at it Thursday. And they're home a week from today versus Everett, the Mariners farm team with a special Kapalanos pennant giveaway. Every Tuesday this year, there will be a giveaway as the Seas start home stands on Tuesdays. And of course, it's 75 cent hot dog Tuesdays as they continue celebrating 75 years of Nat Bailey Stadium. So get there early Tuesday and get your tickets. 60487-25232 or Canadians baseball.com.
Soccer and the Canadian Championship Tournament begins this week. Vancouver White Caps FC get a buy into the quarterfinals as the defending champion and four-time reigning champion. Caps will play the winner of the Pacific Caval Cavalry uh match that goes Saturday from Starlight.
Calvary's been a very good team in the CPL.
>> One of the juggernauts.
>> Yeah. Vancouver FC plays Langley FC from the BC Premier League in an all lower Mainland Derby from Willoughby. There you can see the different matchups in this round. The home team is on top there.
And uh former White Cap Kai Chamra is calling it a career. MLS legend who played for I counted it up >> dozen >> 12 franchises two separate stints with the Columbus Crew appeared in 28 games in his lone season with Vancouver scored 14 goals a season >> as the Caps wrote a true baller thank you for all you gave to the Caps in the game congratulations on a fantastic career Kai he was outstanding with us in local media I used to see him his wife and his kids oh my gosh look how big the kids are now. I used to see him, his wife, and his kids at Kids Beach a fair bit on off days in the summer. Awesome.
Awesome dude.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh Sarah Leon, which >> when he was growing up, I mean, one of the most war torn, devastated countries >> and he didn't start playing organized soccer. I I don't want to misquote it, but like late I want to say like 17 or something crazy. Like he just he took to the sports.
>> Quite a natural. Scored a lot of goals.
>> Yeah.
>> Golf. No Rory, no Scotty at the RBC Canadian Open, at least not as of yet.
But Brooks, Kepta, Captain, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Colin Morau, Tommy Fleetwood among the confirmed names for the RBC Canadian Open June 10th to 14th at Toronto's Osprey Valley. Of course, this is the new course they built specifically for our national.
>> But is this the different 18 on that or is this the same one they've been using?
>> Good question. I don't know. Let's Okay, we'll check.
>> I think it's the same 18, but I stand to be corrected on that.
>> I have this in the back of my head that there was an intention to try another.
>> I believe there's 36 holes there. It's way up in Kaledan, Ontario. It is quite a ways from downtown Toronto. That's >> that was the learning from the first year last year is wow, it's a really long way.
>> And the other learning was not all the camera angles were that great. The course still looks fine if you just look at it within the course confines, but when you shoot the homes behind and construction behind the greens, like >> hopefully it presents a little bit better.
>> Scaffolds and all the other [ __ ] that got on television last week.
>> If there's one thing we can export to the rest of the world, it's our beauty shots. Can we not have like construction sites in the background of the golf courses?
>> We can do better.
>> Yeah. Like I don't want to see the gator over there, you know?
by the garden.
>> Temporary chain link fencing.
>> A Golf Canada also announcing that our Canadian Open will return to Osprey Valley next year, making it three years in a row at that property, making it 13 years in a row at GTA courses. The last time the Canadian Open was held outside of the GTA. I'm including Hamilton as part of the GTA. Even though Hamilton Country Club is an awesome venue. The last time it was held outside of that city was 2014 at Royal Montreal.
>> It was last held out here 2011 at Shaughnessy, >> 15 years ago.
>> Cory Connors, Nick Taylor, and Taylor Pend who finished tied for fifth last year are confirmed in the PGA Championship next week at Aronomic in Pennsylvania.
So Darian Yel Maraju is the first alternate. He should get in the tournament.
>> Somebody's dropping out.
>> Somebody.
>> He started as the second. Mickelson has dropped out. So he's up to first alternate. And then we were splitting fields this week on the PGA tour.
Abbottzford's Adam Hadwin. Kquitlam's AJ Uert and Siri's Adam Spencer are all in the Myrtle Beach event. Uh PGA the other the main field event is Aquail Hollow Nick Taylor playing in the truest championship.
Results of Monday's poll question. Does Kuck luck change at the NHL draft lottery? Yes or no? People said >> people said yes.
>> They said no.
>> What? Really?
>> 64%.
>> Bur flow says, "Anyone saying yes hasn't been around long enough. Troy, even if they win, the Canucks will still f things up. I've been here since the beginning."
>> Wow. Arizona omissions from yesterday.
So many of you messaged me. Carolina has won a Stanley Cup. We were going through teams that had not won a Stanley Cup, not picked first overall. Uh, accidentally, erroneously on my part, had Carolina on that list. It's Vancouver, Nashville, Minnesota, Seattle are the four teams without a cup or a first overall.
And I'm told this party on the concourse, the media have been told to go to Sports Bar, but they keep saying concourse on their messaging. So, whatever. Thanks for joining us, everybody. appreciate you spending some time connecting with the program. Please do subscribe to all our assorted channels, YouTube and wherever you get your podcast. Follow on social, Insta, Facebook, Tik Tok, YouTube, Blue Sky Live, many of those platforms, noon Pacific time weekdays, and we will be back to noon Pacific time tomorrow. And of course, please do support the community sponsors you hear us talking about. Keep it local.
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