[MUSIC] Back in on Knocks Central, we're in the Kintec Studio. Kintec, Canada's favorite orthotic provider, powered by thousands of five-star Google reviews. Sorefeet, what are you waiting for? Knocks Central is for Enza and Pacific Vancouver's premier Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep Superstore on 2nd Avenue between Canby and Maine, or at Enza and PacificCrysler.ca, a little bit of news from Frank's Air Valley in the last 20 minutes or so. He tweeted this, "With Patterson locked up, appears Philip Pronek is next on Knocks List, is Patrick Alveen and Huronix agent Alan Walsh, were spotted meeting during practice today in LA. Too early to handicap, but seems like today was a check-in on the process." Yeah. I know what we discussed during the emergency podcast on the weekend got a lot of play on Knocks Twitter. Yeah, and I think people are bracing and wondering if he's going to sign for $8 million a year. Yeah. And like I mentioned, I don't think the Canucks are going to be going down that road. I don't think they're going to be willing to pay $8 million per season. I just think that's too much for what he is. Yeah. And as good as he's been this year, I don't think the production truly matches his true value because he's playing so much with Queen Hughes. Yeah. And I'm not saying he doesn't deserve a lot of money. Like, I'm comfortable paying him $50 million over eight years, which is the McKinsey-Weger contract and stuff. Maybe slightly more because of how well he's played. But those are guys who've had 40, 50-point seasons that assign like Damon Severson. Obviously, his campaign's a bit higher-end. So it's going to be fascinating to see how the Canucks value him. Because he can make the argument he should get $7 million per season, maybe even more. And if that's what he wants to push for is Vancouver, we're going to be the team that budgets to give it to him. And I'm just not quite sure about that. Let's bring in our next guest. Canucks and LA Kings tomorrow night at, well, in LA. And it's Eric Stevens joining us from the Athletic. Thanks for this, Eric. How are you? Good. How are you guys doing today? We're doing really well. It's getting a crunch time of the season. It's been pretty interesting here in Canucks land. And I know the LA Kings, Canucks found out very well last week that this is a team trending in the right direction. I mean, they're essentially the reason Lindy Ruff was given his marching orders today by the New Jersey Devils. What's cooking right now for the LA Kings? Well, certainly they're back on the beam here. And especially after the coaching change, they've gotten the coaching bump that usually comes with a new thing. And obviously, they're responding well to Jim Hiller. You know, I think particularly recently and particularly the last two games-- obviously, you saw the game in Vancouver, but also Sunday against New Jersey. They're just looking a lot more like the team that was the Kings in October and November when they really were playing their type of game, which is tough checking all up and down the ice, very good defensively, very sound, very disciplined, can frustrate teams. And they're getting scoring as well. So what you're seeing lately, what you saw the other night, is a team that when they're at their best, they can be a contender. They have been a sort of a two-sided group. And obviously, they had the terrible January, which led to Todd McMullen's firing and the coaching shakeup. But at their heart, as long as they get good, competent goaltending, they run-- they have a very disciplined system. And they can frustrate teams. And as long as they get enough scoring, which on third night, they're capable of it. Maybe they don't have some of the top end talent that other teams like the Canucks and maybe others have. But it is a pretty deep lineup. And when they're able to get contributions and have sort of come up seasons like Quinn Byfield is having-- and some of the other young players that are contributing, this can be a very dangerous group. Well, the LA Kings top end players, however, are ageless, it seems, with the way Drew Dowdy and Anji Kopertar are playing. And I thought Kopertar at one stretch was struggling, looked like he was going through something. He seems a lot better recently, same with Drew Dowdy, who's been very consistent, it seems. What's been the key for both these guys still being this team-- you can easily make the case, I guess. They're the two best players in the team still. You know, but it is a great question. And it just really goes to show you how these guys are real professionals, how they obviously are able-- they obviously take care of themselves, not just during the year, but especially in the off seasons, to be playing at the level that they're playing at as they're into their mid and in this, particularly in Kopertar's case, as he's starting to approach his late 30s. To be among the best players on the team, to be the beacons that they are for the Kings and the leaders that they are, it really is remarkable. I think you touched on it. I mean, I do think Anji was maybe playing through a hand or a risk type of issue at times during the year, but he's been able to recover and do well. Dowling, to me, though, is the one where-- I don't think it's really getting talked nearly enough about how he's still playing at a very, very high level-- how he's still a clear number one D in this league. Maybe not quite noris level, but he still is, in my opinion, an all-world defender, and you know what? He's got 14 goals this year. That's not too shabby. It's been interesting the way that the season has gone, but the biggest thing about the LA Kings that's been a story from my perspective is how Pierre-Luc Dubois has fit in, or not really fit in. Cadux are going through it a little bit with Elias Lindholm since they traded for him, but Dubois has certainly underwhelmed after being the big trade piece in the summer and, of course, getting the big contract as well. You know what? And even the Kings, you know, they don't deny it. You know, it's been fascinating over the course of the year. I think even when, you know, Tom McWhalom was in the seat, it was almost-- you know, he tried, you know, really everything, you know, propping him up, you know, mildly criticizing him, you know, moving him around the lineup, and that thing seemed to really click, you know, there, you know, and they know, they know that, you know, they expected more, obviously. And he has been a disappointment. Now, with Hillary taking over, you know, he was very open about them challenging him. In fact, they made a reference to, you know, they almost put him on sort of like a daily grading system or a point system or, you know, at least after each game, they don't really have the details of it. But, you know, things such as, you know, effort and, you know, intensity, you know, those are the things that are he, you know, that he's being graded on and not just whether he's scored a goal or had a couple assists that night or whatsoever. You know, things of that nature, that he's being graded on internally, so he responded a little bit, you know, few games after Hillary took over. But overall, they obviously want more, and they're going to need more. He was brought in to help, you know, to make them deep at center and to help them, you know, not just make a playoff, but win in the playoffs. And so, you know, they're counting on him because with the way that they're, you know, scrapped the capwise and whatsoever, they're really not going to be able to make a much noise, I believe, at this deadline in terms of, you know, bringing in an upgrade or whatsoever. He's the guy that's supposed to be the upgrade and he's got to start playing like that. - Well, you just mentioned the trade deadline. And this is a team that has made a number of trades in recent years and they went pretty big at the deadline last year, adding Corpus Salo. Do you think they do anything? And if they do anything, do they address goaltending at all? - You know, because they really are kind of, you know, strapped and in fact, they're relying really a lot on long-term injured reserve to be able to stay under the cap. They've got Victor Orbitson on there, back on there now. They've got a couple of other players called Grunts from Phoenix Copley. They're relying on that to be able to stay under the cap and be able to have just even flexibility for roster moves throughout the course of the entire season. And they knew that, you know, going in. So, you know, they might be able to maybe make a small move here, here and there. You know, perhaps they can use Arthur Calleas in some type of deal and hope that a change, you know, a change of scenery will do well for him because he's sort of marooned out here in terms of being a regular scratch. You know, perhaps he can be used in some sort of deal, but I just don't think that they're going to be able to do something, you know, real big here just because of the cap limitations that they do have. And you know, and as far as goaltending is concerned, yes, you know, they've obviously been relying on Cam Talbot and, you know, and in some, to a lesser extent, David Riddick. To me, trying to, you know, get a Jacob Marpstrom or a UC Soros or John Gibson, I think it's going to be too high of a price to pay. And I think it's too expensive for them just in terms of their cap situation. And even if you go with a, you know, a lesser name or whatsoever like a couple cocking in or so, is he going to be any better than who Talbot and Riddick are to them right now? So to me, I think that they're going to run with those two just because of, you know, some of those things that I've stated. - Eric Stevens, our guest, I wanted to get your take on the Anaheim Ducks deadline plans as well. You're covering both teams. Canucks were just up against the Ducks who are undermanned and very much still in a rebuild mode. So how far does Pat Verbeek take his deadline plans? How much of a seller does he become? I know a lot of our listeners have asked quite a bit about Frank Fotrano. What do you see the Ducks doing here? - You know, one, I think one obvious piece of that, I'm Henry. He's on an expiring contract. He's going to be a USA. You know, I think both parties know that a trade, it's probably the best for both of it. And in Adam's case, you know, I think he would certainly like to go to a team that has postseason designs. You know, over his lengthy career, I think he's only played in the postseason. He's a two or three times. So I know he would like to get back into, you know, position where he's, you know, planned in playoff games again. I think he'll certainly be on the move. But Toronto obviously is the intriguing one because he has another year on his contract. You can though, Pat Verbeek is certainly taking calls and listening on him because of the fact that, you know, with 29 goals this year, he could be selling them at his highest value. You know, right now, Frank's value may never be higher. You know, then right, you know, this very moment. So I think with the Inducts, but Toronto's case, if he does get the right price, if he say gets the first round pick as part of something in return, I think it's quite likely that he could be also on the move. And, you know, as far as teams that are looking at him, I, you know, the New York Rangers are certainly one that I do believe that they've been had real interest in not only the Toronto but Henrik as well. I can see Carolina being in the mix. I can see, you know, Colorado maybe being in the mix for Henrik. Those are really the two, you know, two guys, now that they've traded Elia Labushin. Those are really, I think those are the two very tradable guys that I could see, you know, being on the move. It's, for a big, you know, goes that route. Henrik, definitely. - Before I let you go, I wanted to ask about Trevor Zegres. Obviously he's injured right now and he doesn't seem like somebody would go out the trade deadline. What do you make of all the trade buzz around him? Do you think that he is there for the taking or do you think that they'll still be reluctant to give up on his talent quite yet? - I, I think from what I understand, it's completely on listen mode. There's going to be teams that are interested. How can you not be interested in a creative 22 year old playmaker who's already got 60, you know, 260 point seasons under his belt in a losing atmosphere, nonetheless, nonetheless, who could theoretically have, still have a ton of upside. So teams are calling Anaheim about him. But I think it's, I do think it's very much one sided in terms of Pat is just listening on him. You know, as far as all the speculation, you know, that comes from that or whatsoever, I think it's just really just based on, you know, the fact that they've got two guys that could be their one and two centers, you know, going forward in Leo Carlson and Mason McTavage. And so that or, you know, kind of pushes Trevor out to the wing, which is away from his natural center position. You know, and then there's also the thing of work, of Burbeak, you know, not being the one that drafted him as well and that he's, you know, he dealt Jamie Drysdale, you know, earlier this year. So I think really that's just where a lot of that comes, you know, comes from, but he's under contract for two more years on that bridge deal. I think on less Pat is absolutely blown away by something. I think he's going to see, and I think it's worth it to see how pancreas at least, you know, fits into their young core mix going forward here. At least over the course of the next, you know, few months, if not the next year. - @IcemanComethon, Twitter. He is Eric Stevens covering SoCal Hockey for the Athletic. Thanks for this, Eric. - Hey, thank you for the time. I really appreciate that. - There is Eric Stevens joining us, Canucks and LA Kings tomorrow. And Kings looking more and more like a potential first round opponent sat. So these next three matchups could all be a preview of what the Canucks get in round one. - Yeah, and it would be a tough matchup. And I also think the LA Kings could still find their way inside the top three in the division. - They're right on the heels of the LA Kings. I mean, the Vegas Golden Knights. If they beat Vancouver tomorrow, they could be one point back and they have a game in hand. - They are ahead of Vegas on points percentage. So of those two options, the LA Kings would still be the preferred first round opponent for the Vancouver Canucks. - Probably, yes. - Yes. And now we'll see what the-- - What Vegas does, too. - Doesn't deadline and Eichl coming back when he looks like and everything. And I think those things will tell us more about Vegas, but I do think LA is right there. So I don't think we can assume LA is going to be the wildcard team quite yet. But can we say that the top eight has been figured out? - In the West? - Yeah. The two wildcard teams, have they been figured out with Nashville winning eight straight? - Yeah, Nashville's got a, what, seven point cushion now on Seattle and, well, bigger cushion on Seattle and Calgary and St. Louis, I should say. So that's tough to overcome. - Yeah. - I know there's a couple of games in Hanford for both of those teams, St. Louis and Calgary, but tough to see Nashville stumbling that much, especially with Calgary planning to sell Hanif into. I know they've been going on a nice run and it's a feel good story and all those things. I just can't see in them win enough hockey games to make up that big of a gap on the Nashville Predators. And St. Louis goes for St. Louis. If they trade Pavel Butch Nevich, I mean, that pretty much tears down their first line. And now what do you have to really make a playoff push? - So Nashville of their final 20 games, 13 of those games were against non playoff teams. - Oh, boy. - Yeah, 'cause last night on the post game show, Vic was like, you know, he's like, "Hey, the wildcard's been set." And I'm like, "Has it, though?" I'm like, "Hey, I know the other teams are there. "They have some games in Han." Like Calgary is only seven back, for instance, same with St. Louis. They have a couple of games in Han. They can make it a little bit closer and make it a race. And I'm like, "Would you be surprised "if Nashville loses, say eight or the next 12?" And he's like, "You look at the schedule." I was like, "Actually, I would." And then we looked at the schedule. I'm like, "Well, actually, yeah, "they have a lot of easy games coming up." Now, that doesn't mean you're gonna win all those. But essentially, Nashville's at a spot now that if they just win 11 of their next 20, that gets them to, what, 90, 94 points. - Yeah. - And that's more than likely going to be enough to be a wildcard team in the West this year. - They would probably be the ideal first round mashup for the Vancouver Canucks. - Winning the West matters. Winning the West would matter. - Nashville, though, now that they are on 72 points, they do have the easy schedule. Maybe they do sneak into that first wildcard, right? They're right there with LA. - And honestly, that's why this year, because there are seven teams in the West, including LA and obviously Winnipeg, Dallas, Colorado, Edmonton, Vegas, of course, Vancouver and LA. So that's seven teams that we all say have a chance to get to the Western Conference final. - Yeah. - They all have a chance to get there. - Yep. - That's seven teams. Deep field, right? If Nashville somehow pushes that team to the eighth spot, then maybe you want to finish second in the conference. So honestly, I don't think there's much you can do outside of just controlling what you can control when there's many games that you can win. I don't think there's much you can do here to try to get your preferred opponent, because it's way too hectic right now. - Probably just stay first in the Pacific. I know a lot of people have asked this question. Could Edmonton catch the Vancouver Canucks? They have four games in hand now on Vancouver and if they were to win those four games at hand, they'd just be one point back of the Canucks. And yeah, the Canucks haven't played their best hockey of late, Oilers have gotten hot. I think they've won four straight now. I still look at their schedule and say that they're going to have a cool off period. It's just so heavy. You're playing, they play a game every other day through all of March, whereas the Canucks have a much lighter schedule than that. And then in April, they have three back-to-backs and they play 10 games in 18 days. If we saw what playing 10 games in 17 days did to the Canucks, so it's going to be a tough slog for the Edmonton Oilers to be able to make up that ground on the Canucks and pass them. Now, Canucks still have to hold up their end of the bargain and still play pretty good hockey in order to stay in first place, but it's a tall task to see Edmonton being able to make up that ground. Canucks just sent out a press release in the last hour, Sat. Canucks announced continued commitments to fan experience at Rodgers Arena. And it's the third phase of the Rodgers Arena Building Improvement Plan, which emphasizes improving the fan experience throughout the arena, the latest phase of the $150 million investment into arena upgrades over the next two summers includes, replacing all lower and upper bowl seating with new custom-designed black seats that include cup holders. So black seats, but make sure to tell everybody there will be cup holders as well. - Yeah, you seem very surprised at the cup holders matter. - 'Cause I laughed about this two weeks ago, the Jay's put out a whole video on social media of some construction worker putting cup holders onto the seats at Rodgers Center there in Toronto. And now the Canucks have cup holders in their press release of all, like there's so many other cool and interesting things that they're doing around the arena and outside of the arena too, and cup holders gets into the first paragraph. - As it should. So you're a big cup holder guy. - You don't like having a cup holder when you're out the game? - I think it's sure, yeah. - It's a practical things that matter. - I guess I just haven't watched enough games in the stands lately. - I think that's your problem. 'Cause I mean, the biggest issue. - But it's so hard to put like the cup between your feet for a second if you want to put it down. - No, it's not so hard, but how often does it get knocked over somehow? - Yeah. - Right? - It's not perfect. You'd rather have a cup holder. It's stable, it's right next to you. It's so much easier. Like I'm just shocked that you're anti-cup holder. - I'm not anti-cup holder. I just didn't know it was such a feature that it had to be in the release. - It's like one of the biggest asks fans have. Why do you think the Blue Jay's put that out? 'Cause the fans, so you're doing a fan survey for the Vancouver Canucks. They come to you like, what would improve your game experience? And they have cup holders as one of the things on the checklist. - Absolutely. - And we're like, - Yes. - The cup holders reach. - 100%. - 100%. - 100% are integral to a fan experience. - Absolutely. - 'Cause then you're not like walking over people's drinks when you're walking through the aisle. You have somewhere to put it. It's a peace of mind thing. This is a great addition. - Cup holders are a big fan experience. - Honestly, because they don't have it, it would be a top three request for me if I was a fan going to the game. You don't have cup holders, you need cup holders. Better seats, I'm sure everyone wants better seats, right? - Yes. - The Jumbotron, that's what they've done. Like they have a new screen, which is fantastic. And cup holders. Cup holders matter. Elon, right? Elon's been at many games. - Yes. - Guys, I'm finishing a beer. I've got my second one, where am I gonna put it? It's a necessity. - Oh, yeah. - 100%. - Come on, 100%. Didn't even think about the second one. - Maybe I just drink fast. I don't know, I'm never thinking about the cup holder. It's just, this is beyond me. But black seats. The seats are finally getting different color. So for all those, and we're so mad about the Maroon seats at Rogers Arena, for all these years, they will be replaced. - Look at all these text messages here. Cup holder, biggest complaint from mine at this mine, the site superintendent, humble brag by Richel. Us peasants would love a cup holder. Sorry we can't be in a box like you. Cup holders, number one thing I want, not just for hockey, for concerts, we're standing up happens more. Gold scored, beers get kicked, Timble mentions spilled drinks can lead to fights so they get knocked over. I mean, honestly, you are on an island on this. There is not a single person texting and supporting you. We have like 100 texts on cup holders. - Oh, I didn't say I don't like cup holders. I just didn't, I didn't realize it was so integral to the fan experience. - I can't believe how many texts we're getting right now. - You know what drives me crazy? Speaking of cup holders, my partner, she buys like all of these like crazy water bottles. It's like her thing, you know, we've got a whole cupboard, just a whole cabinet just for water bottles. We got the Stanley cup, we got a thousand other, we got Lulu lemon bottles. There's every kind of bottle you could imagine we have it. None of them fit in the car. Like other than the Stanley mug, all of these water bottles, they don't fit in the standard cup holder of your vehicle. What's the point of the water bottle if you can't fit it in your car? - So is that why the Stanley mug is so popular? - I think so. - Is that part of it? - And it's large. - I don't know. - We need the Simpsons. The whole-- - We'll be in problem. Log to Zarena. All the cups will fit. You can't take your water bottle in. - Man, honestly, there are so many text messages coming in. - There's a lot of cup holder texts. - Yeah, I mean, constant CV from North Fan. I don't know how many times I've knocked over drinks under my seat, cup holders, it must-- I mean, we all know this outside of reach. - All right, well, we'll have to ask Don Taylor about it, coming up next on Kedok Central. - Discussing the biggest stories that matter to Vancouver Sports fans, Halford and Bruff in the morning, subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Back in on Kedok Central, we're in the Kedok Studio. I am getting absolutely roasted. You might say I'm getting Ricciode instead of Ricciode. - Ricciode, yeah. - That's good way of putting it. - Because I was surprised that the Kedok's put cup holders as part of their press release, and improvements to Roger's Arena, and clearly, the fans have spoken. They are very, very happy about this. Let's bring in our next guest. He joins us every Monday. Probably has great cup holder takes. It's Don Taylor, Donnie and Dolly, tendin' to noon on check TV. Thanks for this, as always, Donnie. Canucks are making improvements to Roger's Arena. In the first paragraph, they mentioned black seats are goin' in, and they will be equipped with cup holders. I was just surprised that cup holders were this big that they needed to be in the first paragraph of this press release. - Yeah, I gotta say that it's one of those things I didn't grow up with, older than you guys, but I don't have a cup holder now at a sporting event or anything, really. I get kind of upset. - Right? (laughing) - Right? - I think it's a 2024, is it a luxury, or is it, I think you kind of expect a cup holder? - Plus, you know, I don't know, you think of the people around you and the possibility of you spilling something on them, and I gotta say, cup holders are no greater. - Absolutely, and beer's like $45 each anyways, so it's like, you know-- - You're gonna hold her, yeah. - The least you could do is give me somewhere to put my cup, put my drink. - Yeah, I've been $45 for that thing, you know. I want a place to put it, okay? So yeah, I'm sorry, bud, I gotta go, yes of the cup holders. - I mean, I've heard over and over again how much people want the seat color changed at Roger's Arena. I haven't heard as much about cup holders, but now cup holders are overshadowing the fact that the seat color is finally getting changed at Roger's Arena, Donnie. - Yeah, but if you put in new seats and there's no cup holders, I'll tell you right now, that would be, people could care less what color it is. I might even go so far as to say, within reason, cup holder bigger than color of seats, all right? - Yeah, I just, like, this must be the biggest fan survey thing that I've totally overlooked, because even the Blue Jays, they put out a video of a guy putting the cup holder onto the seats at Roger's Center this winter. - And just see how excited fans were in the replies? It's like, finally, what you've all been waiting for, not a big free agent signing, cup holders. - Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, they wouldn't bench fine, cup holders there, I'm kidding. Okay, I'll go to the wooden bench as long as there's a couple. - Exactly, he's so weird to be able to put my drink, but maybe we're not really seeing the forest for the trees here, because the big news is the black seats, right, in terms of like, they're black seats, and we have people and their conspiracies kind of going up now and saying, wait, wait, are they aligning the black seats for the black skatchers that'd be back, and that's gonna be the home colors again? Do you buy into them doing something so bold in a year or so? - You think it would line up given its part of their history, and given it's clear that this organization clearly likes that look, I think most fans do as well, I wouldn't be surprised. Although, Roger's place in Edmonton is fairly new, aren't there seats all black? And last time I checked black is one of the oilers colors. I could be longer, but I don't think they necessarily aligns, but I wouldn't be surprised at all those. I love going back to 1970 and the original colors and all of that, the logo isn't the same, but man, those things just pop on HDTV, they look so good, it wouldn't surprise me for one second. Everybody loves them. - Yeah, it's, but weren't they not so loved in the moment through the '90s, Donnie? - You know, that's a great point. I don't remember the love for them being as great as it is now. And I think what has happened is, and again, believe it or not, I could be wrong, but those colors look so good on HDTV. And the blue and the green I like as well, no question about it, but on TV, those things put that yellow, that primary color, that yellow with the red really, really pops. So I think that's what it is. We didn't have it back then, back in the '90s. There wasn't HDTV. I think we liked the jerseys back then. I don't think we loved them, but I think we've grown to love them now given how they look on television. They just look much better than they did back in the '90s when they were just standard depth. And I think that's part of it. We've grown to love them, but you're right. I don't think people hated them back then. The number one hate, I remember. The number one reason, if people wanted to pull out something negative regarding those jerseys, is that the skate was going downhill, right? And it wasn't an easy logo to draw. That's one of my criteria's. But that skate was going downhill, which in some years said it all about products, but over time, people have really, really grown to love them. But I really think it's the way those things pop on TV. They're beautiful. - Yeah, I mean, I'm with you. I think it looks great on TV, even in person, it looks fantastic. And we'll see if it actually does come together with the black seats. But, you know, the team has now made some upgrades, right? Like the massive jumbo drum, which is gigantic. If you haven't been to the arena to see in it, it's so big that when we sit on at their gym, Robson gondola, because of the awning over us, we can't even see the whole thing. We're sitting there. So that's how big and impressive that thing is, right? They've made other upgrades, so many more food options. They get new seats in. They get, you know, cup holders in, and Rogers Arena is now one of the oldest arenas in the National Hockey League. But it seems like they're doing a pretty good job of revitalizing the place. - Well, gosh, you have to pick on a mortgage to get a ticket. I don't, I don't, you get a cup holder and a store where you can see. So sure, yeah, it is, it really is luxurious when you go, but it should be. People have, people buck up and they weren't all serious. People work really hard. And most people do, you know, some members of my family aren't like that, but most people do. And I'm joking, guys, work with me here. - Yeah, yeah. (laughs) - So yeah, there should be a big sport for it that you should see. It should be as luxurious as possible. It's, it should be beautiful. The seat should be nice. There should be cup holders. Absolutely, you know, there should be people carrying your food, you know, or helping you eat for God's sake. (laughs) - Well, if you spend, what is it? For those of specialty seats, the ones that drop in, the ones that are under the dressing rooms, I mean, I'm pretty sure somebody spoon feeds you to your food there, too. (laughs) - Yeah, you're in a high chair. - Well, you can tell if J.T. Miller's gear got washed, too, while you're sitting there. So that's quite, quite appetizing. - Hey, crazy. (laughs) It's Don Taylor, our guest here on, on Canucks Central. So the hysteria of the weekend is kind of in the rear view mirror already. It's like, all right, Alias Patterson signed eight years. Great news. What are the Canucks doing at the trade deadline? That's, that's where the focus is clearly shifted. - Yeah, and we're hearing still, you know, the name Jake Genssel, just you just wonder what assets are left for them to, to deal to the penguins. If that was the case and, you know, half dozen teams are reportedly interested in him. I, and then of course, you know, what helps fuel that fire from a Vancouver point of view is the goals in being up and playing his first, you know, returning to NHL action. You know, is he being showcased? Or is there more to it? Or are they thinking, you know, he's gonna be able to do something in the playoffs? I'm not so sure, but I think there's something about, you know, the timing and the showcase questions regarding put calls in and just the whole situation with McCabe, you know, not scoring, since what the invention of the shin pad. It's, you know, mid December. It's just, it's a really interesting situation. They obviously feel they're close. So I think they'll give it a shot with a Genssel, but maybe beyond that, realistically, not giving up so much would be just to get a little tougher up front. And, you know, if we're talking about a tweak here versus a major move, which apparently they did make with, with, with Lidholm, that hasn't worked so far as much as they'd, they'd like. And with McCabe not, not, not producing. Maybe the best they can do at this point is to, is to get some, some grit up front, maybe a greenway, somebody like that. That, that wouldn't surprise me at all. I just, I just can't see Jim Rutherford. I mean, he's just too antsy and, you know, I think he really believes in this group. I can't see him standing completely pat. But my guess would be a minor move versus a major one. Just because of the assets involved in the fact you've already given up quite a few when it, you talk about the two moves with Calgary. - And that's the big question around the Genssel because the Canucks clearly have the assets to get it done. They have future draft picks. They have high end prospects. They have young players, like, put goals in like you mentioned, but even a guy like Niels Holdlanders. If they wanted to, they could make this deal. The question just is how, how desperate do they feel they are for that type of player? And, and I think that's going to be really fascinating to find out. But I think we're all kind of confident in the fact that they are going to make at least a couple of additions. I know the defense isn't a priority, but I still wouldn't be surprised on if they add a depth to Fencement too. - Yeah, you know, and in fact, you're right. And here I am talking about getting us up top to subfront. What makes me think that you could be right? And look, I'm going to go back again. And we've already mentioned the 90s, but Pat Quinn, when I was much younger in the dressing room and reporting with the Canucks, he constantly told everybody that you cannot have enough to Fencement, you know, come to spring. And if you're a team that expects to do something in the playoffs, somebody out there is going to get injured. And you look at, you know, okay, I'm going back here. You know, 1982, whoever heard of Neil Belland and Andy Sleeper, you know, they were journeymen hockey players. Journeymen to Fencement, they ended up playing a big role in the Canucks getting to the 1982s down like a final, even though they had, at an injured captain in Kevin McCarthy, they were an injury-riddled team on the blue line, that one of their better defenseman, their captain, was injured and income a couple of minor leaguers, and they really help out. People forget in '94, too. Dan Imersin got hurt. Now you can make all the pylon jokes you want about Dan Imersin. He was an assistant captain. He got a lot of ice time. He was a menace in front of his own team's neck. He gets injured and in comes a player that they got from Calgary by the name of Brian Blint. And he really helped them get to the '94 Stanley Cup final. This has precedent. And, you know, he was somebody that was acquired not too long before they went on their run. So I think that, and again, this is, I understand it's L.V. and Rutherford. It's not the late-great PAC Quinn, but it's something that has precedent with this organization and all over the National Hockey League, that you just cannot have enough depth when it comes to defense, but when the games get tough and you're blocking shots and you're putting your body in the case of a lot of players, your face on the line, blocking shots, doing things like that, the fansmen are going to get injured. So it wouldn't surprise me for a second if, indeed, they maybe didn't pick up a tough winger or tough forward, but the acquisition is a depth defensive. So it wouldn't surprise me at all. Yeah, and now that you've got the certainty of Oleus Pedersen under contract, there's really no need to... Well, I mean, the focus should be, yes, we're a good team this year, but do we want to throw all of our eggs into this one basket when we've got at least another three-year window where we've got Oleus Pedersen and Quinn Hughes on this roster signed at less than 20 million bucks for the pair. That's, you want a window of more than one year at the end of the day, Donnie. Yeah, and they've got Demko for another two years after this and Hughes is there around the same length. So that core is intact for, I would say, a significant amount of time. And they're already, you know, this last few weeks aside, they've already done some special things. So do you really want to give up a large chunk of your future when those guys are going to be around? And if you've got no supporting tasks, you know, what does that mean going forward? So it's a really interesting time. It's, you know, these guys get paid a lot of money to make tough decisions like that. I'm not feeling sorry for them, but, you know, it's just, it would be interesting to see, you know, what, what, what they think. 'Cause if they, if they do make a major move, obviously they think they're close. So I think they think they're fairly close right now. But the other thing, guys, is like the West is such a, there are, how many, five, six teams that could win the West and we'd all go, okay, that's, I get that. You know, Vegas. Dallas gets panicked. You know, Vancouver admits it. The list is winning tag. The list is really, really, really long. Do you want to, you know, put all your eggs in one basket, that basket may be this year and jeopardize your future when Lord knows what's going to come into play when it comes to the Western Conference this year? I'm not so sure. I, and the other thing, guys, is I often wonder when, when I hear Patrick Alvee and other GM say, but that's, in this case, say Vancouver, for example, when he says we owe it to the players. And I think that, that, that could mean two things. I know I've talked about this before. Do you owe it to the players to add to the group? Or do you owe it to the players to see what this group that has accomplished so much could do in the playoffs? And again, I think the answer will be, will be a minor move versus a major one. - In terms of Elias Lindholm and Elliot Friedman today, you know, brought up on his podcast that a GM wondered if the Canucks would flip him and then he looked into it and said, no, that's not going to happen. But I think the reason that even it has come up is the fit has not yet really worked out the way I think everybody had hope. Now, they made the trade early to give themselves a runway of 30 games to figure it out and perhaps as part of the process. But what do you make of Lindholm's fit so far? And should we dismiss the possibility that Alvee and Rutherford would be so bold to flip a player they just acquired? - Yeah, I mean, your great listeners can help us but are helping me anyway and, you know, maybe yourselves, you know, in terms of that having precedent, or somebody was picked up at the top, they're going to help them in the playoffs. Doesn't work out to make a quick flip like that. I just don't see it. Like I just, you know, don't notice, I don't notice Elias Lindholm and Alfred when he's out there for me to say, "Hey, that's a guy that is worth a first round draft pick." Even short term, like, is he worth a first round draft pick? A pretty nifty prospect. And, you know, a fourth round pick and who's make-o, you know, despite what's happened to him in Calgary so far, I just haven't seen it yet. And I know, you know, we're talking, I've been using them at the end of games. His ice time is significant, but the offense just isn't there. And I know that their, you know, management is disappointed so far. Not so much in his overall game, but in terms of producing offense, if you're a guy that can play in the top six, you have to do something to help your team put the puck on the net. And, you know, other than a couple of games where he got two goals each, that just has a materialized, yeah. So I think right now, I think most people would label that deal disappointing at this point. Still some time to go for disappointing so far. - I mean, it's just his usage has been so curious, right? I mean, he's been moved off the power play. He's playing third line center and, you know, I'll do respect to R.S.D. Baines and Vasili Podkolsen, but he's getting attached with the latest guy up from the Abbotsford Canucks. I mean, if I'm a lies Linholm, like, did you get me here to play big minutes for you in a playoff push? Did you get me here to play third line center? I don't quite get it. - Yeah, yeah. And, you know, I guess relatively speaking, it hasn't been that long. Do you just go away from him in the top six? Or do you keep pushing it knowing you're going to make the playoffs and just try to make something work? Is he trying to wake up at least Linholm? Like, what's the plan here? But you got to think that Jim Ruttheford who out of in Carolina knows a hell of a lot more than we do. And you know, we're talking fairly familiar with him. So, you know, a little bit of patience here. And also let's not forget, you know, postseason is a different game. But I just haven't seen anything that makes me think he's going to excel at that time of the year. Not yet anyway. - Yeah, I'm with you. And I thank for Linholm, the playoffs is where you should see his value and that's what they got him for. So let's see how it all works out. In terms of your question, the last one I could think of was Jim Ruttheford, 2018-2019 Donnie. When he traded a Carl Haglund for Tanner Pearson. And then in the same season, traded Tanner Pearson for Erika Branson to the Vancouver Canucks. Now, obviously different scale, right? We're not talking about it. - You guys, I haven't got a computer for me. There's no way that was off the clock. - No, I didn't remember that at all, Donnie. - No, I mean, I was impression, but I'm not buying it. - But I remember, the reason I remembered, and I did look it up to make sure it was 2018-2019. But I remember it because the Haglund trade, he went from LA in season to Pittsburgh to Vancouver that year. But it's a smaller scale. We're talking about trading player for player, whereas the Canucks gave up a bevy of future capital to acquire a Linholm. - Yeah, yeah. Yeah, the Pearson deal, looking back on that, that was surprising because it didn't have much time in Pittsburgh. It was like he was there for a couple of coffee and then off he went to Vancouver, where he was pretty good, right? And so, yeah, that's one that he didn't remember. - Donnie, we appreciate the time as always. Thank you for making me see how I'm alone on the island of no cup holders at Rogers Arena. - Yeah, yeah, no, come on. If you sit in the, there are rain, you see places like the some seats don't have a cup holder, like you notice it, it's 2024. Come on, get with it, yeah. - Thanks, Donnie. - Okay, guys, lots of fun. - There he is, Don Taylor, Donnie and Dolly, 10 to noon, check TV, and joins us every Monday here on Canucks Central. I have not gotten roasted this long and a long time. - Yeah, no, this one was a funny one. And you know what, it's a low stakes one, really. - Yes. - And people will now remember you as the anti-cupholder guy. - Apparently, it's not even that I'm anti-cupholder. I'm just surprised that it's this big of a deal. - Oh, you were kind of big time in cup holders. Who cares about cup holders, I have a table I can rest my drink on when I'm at the game. - Yeah, it's less than it's integral, more than it's basic, movie theaters got them 20 years ago. - Yeah, 100%. - Peter, with this tweet, "It was an elitist take from your luxury press throne high above." - Yes, being called elitist. I will say, 'cause I mean, when I was in Seattle, they had the cup holders, they're fantastic. Watching the Seahawks game. - Yeah, I guess so. Beer in hand equals warm beer. A lot of these types of comments. It's the first Vancouver cup, Dan. - Listen, the Canucks can't reach for the Stanley cup every year, at least they can reach for their own cup in a cup holder. - Oh, how can you have Lord Stanley? - If you don't have any cup holders. It is Canucks Central, Dan Richo and Satyar Shah. Come sit with us common folk in the upper level and it'll become clear very quickly. Thank you, Tiffany. You know, maybe I should. Game in the 300th level, coming up for me. One of these nights that I'm not on the clock at Roger's Arena. It's Dan Richo, Satyar Shah. Lot's still to get to, and we will. It's Canucks Central on Sports at 650.
