Prattcast on Sports

With 2019 coming to a close, Dave Pratt and Ben Kuzma from Postmedia share their frustrations with the Canucks recent games. Does this mean an end to the Canucks playoff hopes? Later Dave & Ben reflect on the NFL Monday Night Football game and the rise of a new quarterback star. To end the show-off we hear from Troy Stecher, Adam Gaudette, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and Jacob Markstrom of the Vancouver Canucks, about their New Years Resolutions and Goals for the New Year.

Dave Pratt and Ben Kuzma from Postmedia start this episode chatting on on Canucks D-man Quinn Hughes and his chances of winning the Calder, and how it seems a head-to-head battle with Cale Makar. The guys discuss the success of the Canucks young core and how much credit should go to the Canucks scouting staff doing their homework. Dave and Ben recap the Leaf game and Dave says the Canucks outplayed the Leafs everywhere except in net and wonder if that will be an issue going forward - or just in November. The guys discuss the latest injury news with Ferland and the ramifications of him not being in the line-up for any length of time - and whether Zack MacEwan can play that role. The guys chat on how NHL commish Gary Bettman is treating the league's 'Me Too' moment.The guys turn their attention to week 15 of the NFL and Lamar Jackson and ask why the NFL is letting it be 'open season' on him?

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Dave Pratt and Ben Kuzma from Postmedia delve into all the fallout from the stories of coaching abuse in the wake of the Babcock firing and Bill Peters' saga and where the line is for today's coaches. And what the changes are that are coming from the NHL and how will they be implemented. Dave sits down with Canucks head coach Travis Green and gets his thoughts on the current wave of coaching stories and his experiences as a player and a coach and where that line is in motivating your team and players. The guys get into Alex Burrows Ring of Honour ceremony and great speech and discuss some of Alex's biggest moments, and impacts he had on the Canucks.Dave and Ben dive into the current edition of the Canucks and the impact of the injury to Edler as they get ready for home dates against Buffalo and the Leafs. The guys get into the NFL and look ahead to four big match-ups in Week 14, and the troubles the Pats have. They also talk Hawks and Russ' comments on similarities between the 2019 and 2014 Seahawks.

Dave Pratt and Ben Kuzma from Postmedia, start Episode 9 of the Prattcast on Sports by discussing the firing of Mike Babcock in Toronto and what went wrong with the highest paid coach in the NHL for the Leafs organization, and how his replacement Sheldon Keefe, who has never coached a game in the NHL will fare in the centre of the hockey universe. The guys get into what’s behind the miserable November thus far for the Canucks and what they need to do to on the ice to bump their losing slump of late. Dave and Ben get into what they saw go down in Dallas where the Stars where able to put up 6 goals on the Canucks - and how the road trip doesn’t get any easier for the goalies with Nashville and Washington on the horizon, and an eventual back to back with the Oilers to end the roadie. The guys talk the latest fallout on the Grapes firing and Ron’s statement on HNIC on Saturday, and Hayley Wickenheiser going into the HHOF. Dave and Ben turn their attention to the NFL and this week’s biggest match-ups, Lamar Jackson’s ascension to the top of the MVP race, what Gronk is up to, and the Kaep tryout and whether he will ever get to play another down in the NFL.

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Dave and Ben tackle the major sports story of the week... Don Cherry. Has he now missed his opportunity to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame? Plus, how did that beat between Dave and Ben go from last week? It's episode #8 of the Prattcast of Sports!

David Pratt and Ben Kuzma from Postmedia begin by discussing the comeback against St. Louis and head coach Travis Green's comment that it was a 'big boy game' and how happy he was with his team's push-back against the reining Stanley Cup champs. Dave and Ben explain taking 3 out of 4 against the Blues mean that the Canucks are 'real' with their early season success and how teams are aware what is happening in Vancouver. The guys get into Petey. winning NHL Player of the Week, and how he is even showing up in the 'hits' column on the stats sheet. Dave and Ben look ahead to the 2 upcoming tests against Dallas and Nashville over the next couple of weeks, and how the Canucks will handle it's goaltending. The guys chat with Canucks back-up goalie Thatcher Demko, then discuss the 'cadillac problem' the Canucks have of having 2 guys that are both legitimate number one goalies and what kind of extension the Canucks will end up with during their contract negotiations with Jacob Markstrom. And how critical the way the Canucks handle their goaltending situation now will play into their success for years to come. The guys touch on the story of a Vegas casino suing Evander Kane and wonder why he keeps having off-ice issues that distract from what should be a great NHL career. Dave and Ben look ahead to the Hawks and 49ers upcoming huge MNF game and few of the other big week 10 match-ups. 

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David Pratt and Ben Kuzma from Postmedia start by talking about the Canucks goal-a-palooza of late and what is behind their great start to the 2019-20 season. On the other side of the coin the guys talk about Loui drawing back into the line-up and how no one complained when the Canucks originally signed him as a free agent. Dave and Ben chat on how Shotgun Jake is progressing as he seems to be doing the right things to stay in the line-up. The guys discuss Micheal Ferland and wonder  whether he can regain his previous form in his last season with the Flames or last season with the Canes - or if what we are seeing thus far with the Canucks is who he is now. Dave asks what the right move is for 'Cadillac problem' goaltending tandem the Canucks have where both goalies have shown that they are capable of winning games. The guys turn their attention to Utica and talk about how the Comets have had an incredible start, including Cole Lind - and who will get the first recall from the crop of top players that are performing so well in the AHL. Dave and Ben talk about the Niners and their incredible D, especially Nick Bosa, that has made them 7-0 to start the NFL season and look forward to some of the big match-ups this Sunday. The guys touch on Tiger's win in Japan and whether he will play for the US at the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Japan.

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Dave Pratt and contributor Ben Kuzma from Postmedia start Episode 5 by recapping the successful road trip and talk about the impact that Canucks goaltending coach Ian Clark has had on Vancouver's two current net minders, especially Jacob Markstrom and debate what Markstrom will be worth for Vancouver to retain him. The guys rejoice that Quinn Hughes has finally made it on to PP1 and what that unit has become with his addition. They check in on Jake Virtanen and discuss how he has managed to end up on the first line and got his first goal of the season. Dave wonders if the Canucks - looking as good as they do starting the season - can win the Pacific Division? Dave and Ben chatted on the Washington Caps and Ovie at 34 is still a rockstar both on-the-ice, and off. They chatted on the great start to the season that Utica is having with Lind and Baertschi. The guys asked if the Raptors can win in the post season without Kawhi. Looking at the NFL Sunday Night game the guys talk about whether KC should risk playing Mahomes or not, and weigh-in on the rumours of Brady considering hanging it up at the end of this NFL season.

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Dave Pratt and Ben Kuzma started by chatting about the ceremony naming Bo captain and his captain-like qualities that have been on display especially last season. The guys talked about Markstrom not being available and how we are all going to find out if Demko is ready to step into the starter role in the NHL. The big question for the Canucks this season remains who is going to score, especially on the PP. Dave still wonders why Quinn Hughes isn't on PP1, and asks are we expecting too much from Petey in his second season?  Dave visits the Canucks locker room and chats 1 on 1 with Bo Horvat. Bo gets into what being named captain means to him and how he is still processing it. Bo also talks about how he feels the team is progressing thus far and and more. Dave and Ben also get into Micheal Ferland and why he is having a slow start despite playing with top 6 players.Dave and Ben wrap-up this week's podcast talking about how impressive the Seahawks are playing to start the NFL season 5-1 and Russ is putting up MVP numbers again.

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Dave Pratt and contributor Ben Kuzma of Postmedia are joined by the Hockey Hall of Famer, the Legendary Canucks Play-by-Play man Jim Robson for the full episode. Dave, Ben and Jim start by reviewing the Canucks bumpy 0-2 start and their need to get a 'W' in the 50th anniversary season home opener on Wednesday night. They guys dig into Petey's start and not having Quinn Hughes on PP1. Jim reminisces on key dates, events and players in the tumultuous Canucks 50-year history from the landing of the franchise, to the first ever opening night, to the '82 and '94 Cup runs, to towel-power, the ill-fated Neely trade, Messier's signing in Vancouver and taking the 'C' off of Linden, to the Sedins, Luongo and McLean, and much more.

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