CKSTAM

Patrick Johnston of the Province and Post Media joined Matt and Blake in his regular Tuesday slot. Started off by talking about the microscope on different Canadian sport entities like gymnastics and bobsled. Also Rugby. Talked about Boudreau. If you are playing well, he will praise you. Otherwise he is pretty blunt and clear on what he wants. PJ thinks that this is a group who is comfortable with what BB wants. Talked about Garland. Talked about the roller coaster ride that following the Canucks brings you. Every day he doesn’t have to write about a game that doesn’t matter is a good thing. Talked about Brad Hunt.

Jeff Paterson stopped by in his regular spot. Talked about the struggles of Conor Garland and where he stands in this team at his production rate. Being the next layer of offence has just not happened yet. It’s not just him, only 4 forwards scored on the 4 game road trip. Talked about the length of term and what they are paying him and the rest of his contract. JPat is a little worried but he is a better player than he has shown in the last few weeks. Talked about the deal with ARI and if he would have a do-over. Says he wouldn’t have done it. Talked about Aiden McDonough and when or if we could see him with the Canucks. He has all the cards after deciding to go back to school for his final year. 

Ian Mendes of the Athletic in Ottawa joined Matt and Blake after the passing of Eugene Melnyk. Talked about the rapid decline of his health and who knew about it, after it seemed so sudden. He is a very complex character and to try to paint a portrait of such a complex individual is a challenge. To capture the compassionate, caring side while not forgetting the vindictive side is also a challenge. His type of personality didn’t seem to be a good fit in the city of Ottawa. Saw some dizzying highs and some very low, lows. Ian talked about all the star players who came through OTT under Melnyk. Says Eugene could turn on a dime. There were times he was very open with him and there were times where he was completely shut out. Ian wasn’t alone in that. Melnyk alienated a lot of people in a lot of different regions of the city. Says the two things he deserves credit for are stepping up and buying the team in 03, after players didn’t cheques to cash. The first 4 years are the greatest years of the team. Wouldn’t know what grade to give him as an owner, mostly because there wouldn’t be a team if it wasn’t for him. Talked about who the functional owner and operator of the team is. Talked about what Gary said about it, this morning. He mentioned his daughters by name. Not at all concerned about Quebec City being a replacement.

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John Shannon, of the Bob McCown Podcast and NHL Insider, joined Matt and Blake for his regular Monday appearance. Started off with the state of the Oilers after a drubbing by the Flames. Talked about EDM goaltending. They had no capability to go out and get one. John has news for Oilers fans. They won’t win the cup. John believes it will take 97 points to make the playoffs. Talked about Shorty and Cheech. Broke down what he would do, and who calls the game at the national level. Talked about what will be talked about at the GM meetings. Started with the energy that is teams working their way around the cap.

Jeff Paterson joined Matt and Blake to talk Canucks issues on this game day. Jeff says there is a belief in the room that has the guys thinking that there is still a chance. Blake poo-pooed that right away. Talked about the difference between home and road games for the Canucks. JPat said EP40 clearly needed those 2 games off. Talked about EP shot vs Dallas. Talked about Will Lockwood. Didn’t think he looked out of place. First time in front of a crowd with high stakes. Fine for the first 2 periods. Didn’t see a lot of action in the 3rd as it was a tight game. Talked about Shorty. Canucks fans were lucky to have so many other games going on Saturday to allow Shorty to call Vancouver game. JPat voting Canada wins a game in our poll question. 

Victor Montagliani, FIFA Vice President and head of CONCACAF, joined Matt and Blake following Canada qualifying for the World Cup. Says it was a great day to be Canadian yesterday and today after the greatest soccer moment in the country. There have been countless hours by countless people who knew we needed to change the conversation. Needed to change how we did business. That started 10 years ago. He talked about the bridge between the recent past with alumni and current roster players. Talked about speaking to the room after the win. Shared that he had a chat with mot of them 5 years ago. He held up his passport and said it’s the most difficult passport to hold in world football. It’s a mission to change this. Theirs on the field, and his off the field. Told the guys yesterday that that mission was accomplished. Talked about Herdman moving over the Men’s team. Says it’s fair comment to question that at the time. It had never been done. They spent 5 hours at Vic’s kitchen table going over everything. His attention to detail, his focus is 2nd to none. Knew that when he walked out of his house that evening that good things were going to happen. John started winning after day 1. It’s obvious how much the players revere him. Victor talked about what Canada being at the top does for CONCACAF. This is great for business. Creates rivalries and stars. There will be a lot of Canadian kids buying Canadian jersey’s. There will be a lot of kids around CONCACAF sporting Canada gear. Talked about how people know around the world that CONCACAF players are around. The top countries should not be scared of anyone in the world. Talked about when we will see the team in Vancouver. It’s the coaches decision. Say’s there will be opportunities for friendlies and Nations League. Talked about the World Cup draw on Friday. You just never know what can come off it. Will be

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Our Friday regular, Rick Dhaliwal from Donnie and Dhali joined Matt and Blake to end the week. Wrapped up trade deadline. Says the Canucks weren’t willing to go to the number Motte was asking for. Every coach and GM that he has played for likes him. It was the business side of hockey. Talked about Allvin and if they were close to any other players. Talked about who the unsung hero is for the club. Talked about college free agents. Canucks weren’t in on Stevenson. Talked about McDonough. This is a player the Canucks want to sign. Thinks there is value in going back for a 4th year for development. Rick hasn’t heard there is any animosity between the two camps. He is at such a good clip, he was on the US Olympic Team radar. 

JPat joined for the final show of the week. Talked about the Canucks record in OT. They should have a better record. Not blaming Boudreau, JPat would put QH43 on the ice as well but he has been on for 6 of the OT goals against. Canucks don’t practice OT and they’re not alone. They should. Referenced the Dallas stars who have an extra 10 points. There is the difference. Jeff answered the poll question as too who he thinks has been the Canucks best forward, outside of JT Miller. Talked about the weekend game vs DAL. Thought Bowness was on his way out but has turned his fortune around. Talked about Will Lockwood. Excited to see him play. Good for him. Hopes he is plugged right into a game with playoff implications. 

Rob Williams, Daily Hive National Sports Editor, joined us in his regular slot on Friday to wrap up the week in social that was for the Canucks. Started off chatting about JT Miller. He has become a spokesperson for the team, either him or Horvat. Miller calling out effort is a very big indictment of the team, eluding to it twice. Didn’t cause much of an uproar in this city.

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Our Thursday regular, Scott Rintoul, joined Matt and Blake for a ranging conversations on a busy day in sports. Started off by chatting about the “ballsiest” effort by the Canucks in COL. Talked about the problem with officiating in the NHL. Answered the poll question by going off the board and saying it’s actually the difference between regular season and playoffs. Talked about the discrepancy in calls for 4th liners and star players. Talked about the week for Jaro Halak. Talked about Canada Soccer. 

JPat in his regular spot. Started off with talking about the effort in COL and wondered where it’s been all season. Talked about the remainder of the road trip. Glad that the team was able to overcome some bad calls last night. Happy that isn’t the narrative and final nail in the coffin. Talked about the effort of Jaro Halak.

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NHL Analyst and Host of Ray and Dregs, Ray Ferraro joined Matt and Blake to wrap up the trade deadline. Talked about Travis Dermott. Great skater. Ray talked about where he fits into an NHL lineup. Says he lost his place in the chain in Toronto. Will get an opportunity in VAN that he wouldn’t get in TO anymore. Likes him better on the left side. Wants people to be on their proper handed side. Talked about the move for Motte. Almost certain that nobody offered a 3rd rounder for him. Talked about how the Canucks could have handled the Halak situation better. Can only imagine what it would be like to be now thrown to the Avs. Talked about Luke Schenn and his value to the team at the cap he incurs. Talked about Brock Boeser. Says the PA would make a phone call as to what a new contract would be worth. Talked about what else Boeser brings, other than his shot and ability to score goals.
Jeff Paterson joined in his regular slot. Jeff has thoughts and prayers for Halak tonight in COL. Jeff says it isn’t fair to begrudge Halak for not waiving his NMC. The last 2 games, absolutely on him. Talked about some of the players that need to pick up their pace a little bit and generate some offence. Will require a couple of goals, at least, vs COL to make it interesting. Talked about Quinn Hughes and his point pace. Talked about where EP40 lines up. Wants to see him in the middle.
TSN Colour Commentator and former World Cup goaltender for Canada, Paul Dolan joined Matt and Blake on the eve of a potential world cup birth. Compared this generation to his generation. Said that when he played they just had hoped the 90 minutes would elapse. This team goes into a match to enjoy it and get the most of it. Talked about the form of players and how their league play won’t always carry over. Talked about the pitch in Costa Rica they will play at. Says it is the most friendly stadium they could play at. Talked about the actual pitch. It won’t be in the best state. Says at some point in every game they have utilized the quick counter to produce a goal. Talked about the temperature that could have an effect on the match.

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