CKSTAM

Show started off today with Matt and Blake putting out their thoughts on the Chicago Blackhawks investigation and Kyle Beach going public, who was know as John Doe.

Harman Dayal of the Athletic joined Matt and Blake. Started off by talking about what has hindered the teams offence. Says they aren’t creating enough. Special teams has been average. Growing pains with the PK as well. You can see glimpses of the potential, especially if the top guys get going. Worried about the even strength play right now. There is enough talent on the special teams. Says that they will figure it out. The team has strengthened offensive rushes but it could have come at the cost of their even strength play. Lotto line hasn’t generated enough. Talked about if it is time to look at Travis Green and if he is doing a good enough job with this forward group. Harm says anytime you have a roster that isn’t playing to its ability, you have to look at the coaching. The PP is where the coaching has its biggest impact. Five on five is so scramble. PP needs to be a difference maker with even strength not pulling its weight. Would like to see PP a bit less predictable. It has to be Top 5 in the league if this team will make the playoffs. Talked about Podkolzin.

Darren Dreger joined the fellas and was still quite shaken after watching Kyle Beach on SportsCentre. It’s a tough look for the NHL. Says that for Kyle Beach to have the courage to come out, it’s one thing to come out as John Doe, but to come out in front of a camera, takes a lot of courage. Talked about what stood out most to him. It’s a tough one with 20 plus minutes to go through. The emotion of still a young man, 10 or 11 years removed from his experiences and that he sought out help and didn’t get it. There are so many layers but what stood out is that the NHL and those involved, is being disappointed by the PA and the executive. Dregs talked about seeing Beach, with tears streaming, hoping that there is nobody else that goes through this when he was asked what his message to another player going through this situation. The part to DD that is hard to grasp is why didn’t anyone do more. Talked about where the NHL Insiders were when reporting this. He appreciates the questions and there has been a lot of soul searching in his house. Not making any excuses. Trying not to deflect but he is hired to break trades and signing. The fact that there is someone in-house like Rick, who is a bulldog, he goes after it. There is a working newsroom. Says he maybe should have done more to pump Rick. Says he feels like he has been supportive. Doesn’t feel like he needs to have a voice in every single issue but hasn’t avoided it. Apologized for not doing more. Says that the alleged offender has escaped a lot of the criticism. Lots has been heaped on other Hawks executives. 

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A busy show on Sekeres and Price today ahead of the Canucks first home game in front of fans in almost two years. 

Patrick Johnston of Post Media joined Matt and Blake. Talked about what the mood of practice this morning. Says it confirmed his thoughts on the road trip, they should have won in Detroit and lost in Seattle. They are happy with where they’re at. They also know where they need to get to. Points could come our like a dam burst for EP40. The lack of preseason games seems to have affected him. He is in the middle of building a rhythm. We saw Quinn get into it last week, now we need to see Petey follow the lead of his captain and get going. Talked about the PK. It’s a concern. Lots of items on the road trip that said there were troubles. Talked about the Blackhawks mess. There was willful blindness there.

Our Canucks reporter, Jeff Paterson in his regular slot joined Matt and Blake and started talking about the capacity and how many tickets might be available. Talked about you never seeing players and coaches on game-day making the media rounds. Jeff reacted to news breaking that Travis Hamonic has reported to the Canucks. Talked about JT Miller. Says he doesn’t think he has been dominant but the points have followed.

It was Matt’s day to sizzle in Hot Take Tuesday, you will want to hear this sizzler. 

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Pro Football Hall of Famer, Charean Williams joined the show. Started off by talking about TEN knocking off a couple of playoff teams from last year. You start with Derrick Henry and who is the only non-QB in the MVP conversation. He has an uphill climb to get there but he has been that good. Talked about the Bengals and that they look like they will be a good team for a long time. It’s been a really long time since they’ve been able to do something special and the fans have been waiting. It’s a good team on all sides of the ball. Talked about the Monday Nighter. Expecting Saints to win this. They are getting healthy at the right time. Despite  the weather… Talked about the fan who got Brady’s 600th TD ball.

John Shannon, NHL Insider joined Matt and Blake and started talking about Seattle and a few of his adventures have been in Seattle. Says the first ever intro was conservative. It was nothing special. Says that MTL is one of the best in the NHL. The teams have been able to use the arena. Was shocked there wasn’t a giant squid coming out of the ice. Take Johnny Lumberjack, or Johnny Canuck or whatever you want to call him… have him in the tentacles and have at him. Talked about if they even have a Kraken at the ready. Throws out that thought that maybe they ran out of money. Talked about more about Seattle and their playoff hopes. They can’t score goals. You’ve got an issue if your two top guys are Eberle and McCann. Talked about MTL. They are not a very good team, they have no character. They fluke their way to the Stanley Cup Final last year by playing the momentum game. This should not be a surprise. Nobody in Vancouver is complaining about Toffoli not being here this year. 

Our Canucks Reporter, Jeff Paterson joined in his regular spot to talk about seeing the Canucks today with his own two eyes. Talked about what we saw in Seattle on the weekend. Was underwhelmed with the pre-game ceremony. Talked about Elias Pettersson and his media availability today. He stood in there and took everything. Thinks it’s a sign of maturity to play the game with the media. He provided insight to his game and how he has been playing as of late. He can be prickly at times, today it was different.

John Garrett, Vancouver Canucks Colour Commentator, joined Matt and Blake. He started off by chatting about coming back to the booth after a bout with Covid. Says he feels pretty good. He is double vaxxed and doesn’t know how he came down with it. Talked about the process and how he found out, when he was in EDM. He was the only one of his close contacts that came away with a positive result. Fortunately he had all the sports packs. Plenty of Young and the Restless, lots of books. Cheech talked about the game vs Seattle. Loves the arena and everyone he has talked to has said it was spectacular. It was something that he was really looking forward to. When they made it 2-1, he was thinking oh-no. Thought they deserved better in Detroit. BUF was a disappointment. The team has that competitive edge. Says that Conor Garland is living up to the billing. He is a talented player and aggravating to play against. He will draw a lot of penalties and hopefully the Canucks can cash in on them. Talked about Demko and that there is no doubt he is the number 1. Talked about EP40. Knowing him and his personality, doesn’t think he puts more pressure on himself. He is that confident that he will come around, length and number of contract doesn’t factor in. Now that there is a long homestead, Travis will be able to put in the matchups he wants.

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Captain Gregg Bell of the Tacoma Tribune joined Matt and Blake. Before we got to the Monday Nighter, he expressed his excitement for the Kraken home opener on Saturday that he is covering. On to the Seahawks, he said that nobody envisioned this. No Wilson, no Carson. They’ve been 2-4 before and made the playoffs, but that team had RW3. The backups are there for break glass for emergency only but this is longer than that. Make no mistake, they are up against it. Talked about ways to overcome not having some of their stars. Will see more of a run game with Penny coming back. Talked about Jamal Adams and what he meant by the best in the nation. He got a video that went viral 10 years ago of a then high school player in FLA who was shot and killed as a 31 year old father of three. 

Another fantastic reunion here on Sekeres and Price as we welcome the Colour Analyst for the Seattle Kraken, Dave Tomlinson to the show. Talked about being ready for the home opener and being one of those rare occasions where he has to do more research on his team than the away team. Talked about the process of being getting hired for the job. Told a funny story of having to get googled to get through the border. Talked about the Kraken. They also had a road trip that didn’t do them any favours. Just got into their arena for the first time yesterday. Their forwards are very interchangeable, referenced Gourd and McCann. Ran through what he thought of the Canucks and their stars who are “fine” but not starring. See’s some similarities between this year’s version as he does this year. The Canucks need to look like a team, escaping with a win won’t be good enough. Seattle will be high energy and high octane. Talked about what we will see production wise for the home opener. Says they took a page from Vegas. 

The King of Crown, Rick Dhaliwal joined the show in his regular Friday spot. Says not to worry about Petey, he didn’t go from a 7 million dollar player to a 1 million dollar player overnight. Talked about the deployment of the lotto line and them being broken up. Miller probably isn’t doing cartwheels on the third line. Travis has his quirks as a coach. Rick doesn’t understand Boeser being on PP2, he should be on PP1 as a 6 million plus player. Talked about Poolman and how he had more money elsewhere but thought he would be a good fit here and could fill in that Tanev role. Dhali really likes the way the Burroughs and Rathbone have been really good. Dowling has been great while playing the waiting game for Motte. Talks about the waiver wire and that the team has been hunting high and low for players in Abbotsford. Wouldn’t be surprised if they bring in some toughness.

Jeff Paterson joined the show show in his regular spot and started off with a bit of breaking news regarding the Abby Canucks. Talked about the lotto line. Talked about Seattle and is willing to throw down some cash that there will be a fight as the Kraken have by far and away the most players to drop the gloves, already this season. Talked about OEL and his ability to get shots through. Nice to see a 23 on the Canucks not directing pucks into shin pads. He has been a nice addition for the club. Kraken have struggled to score goals early this season and the Canucks will be hoping that those struggles still continue. Talked about Scotty and that it was fun to hear him back on Vancouver airwaves. Previewed Rink Wide and what is coming up.

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Vancouver Whitecaps FC Striker, Brian White joined Matt and Blake. Started off by chatting about what it was like to be on the pitch and how big a comeback it was. Says it was important to get over the playoff bar. Talked about leaving RBNY, the club and state he calls home. Says the writing was on the wall and it was time for him to leave. The grass has been greener on the other side, for sure. Fell in love with the city as soon as he got here. Hopes to stay with the club because it is working out so well. Says that he has his sights on some club records. It’s been a lot of fun while they are winning. Guys are enjoying this time and the playoff push as well as enjoying each others company. Talked about the interaction with the fans and singing Stand By Me at the end. Fans have been great and really looking forward to the last 2 games. Talked about Nerwinski and being a great friend, before they were teammates.

Scott Rintoul, veteran Vancouver broadcaster joined Matt and Blake for the first time in nearly 4 years. And the first time he has hit the airwaves since his departure from Rogers, a month ago. Started off by a talking to the audience for some thoughts as you no longer get a chance to have a last show these days. Talked about what it was like to serve two markets, in Vancouver and Calgary. Somehow he managed to watch all the games. Talked about working with Karen Surman. It was overdue for her to get a shot. Talked about the Canucks and how they’re doing. Followed that up with thoughts on full capacity. Talked about the Whitecaps and if they are for real. Makes a great point about nobody wanting to deal with Gauld and White right now. Talked about Lions. There is a lot of work, not just on the football field, to get people back to the games. New ownership needs to learn on how to understand the common man. 

Jeff Paterson, Canucks Reporter in his regular spot. Started talking about Podkolzin and why he will be healthy scratched. JPat is ok with him sitting a game out here. Not like he has burned the lights out his first four games. This will be an eye-opener for him as he takes this game in the press box. Talked about EP40 and the club needing him now. Talked about the starting goalies. The game will be delayed because Patrick Kane is being celebrated for his 1000 games., despite it being after the fact. Talked about Adam Gaudette and him being healthy scratch. Who knows where his NHL career goes from here. 

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