I know that summoner audience for the finer points of hockey the Chris Johnson show. You are your friends the biggest stories Bringing you inside the game. What did you hear the Chris Justin show? What is going on? Here's Chris with your host Carter the game Active to our colleague at the athletic Rob Rossi for getting the exclusive Sydney Crosby is nearing eight contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins the news dropping very early Monday morning We did talk about the topic just before the weekend and now a another leg has been added to that story cj What are you hearing on that topic? Well, I would advise you to go back to thursday show and delete it Although We were not reporting anything. We were just oh That was one of those days and the hundred percenters will know that preparation is not my strong point We just veered into this conversation It was literally just two guys julie and i chatting about hockey and we went down that rabbit hole and angered All of the penguins fans and some of their reporters seem to take it quite personally Um, but it was not like a report. It was just more like hey guys It's after july 1st and Sydney Crosby hasn't signed yet. What's going on there? um But Rob Rossi is is You know locked in on that beat as they come he's covered the penguins since Sydney Crosby was chosen first overall in 2005 so Uh, certainly have no reason to doubt it is reporting You know important to note nothing at this point is done done and until You know you can be making progress until you don't in a contract negotiation Although I have no reason To believe if if both sides on this one are are confident They're gonna reach a deal that they won't be able to and and So this frames it up. This is the opposite chat of what we we went we went down door a last time This is door b. This is now Sydney Crosby, you know approaching his 37th birthday in august so before he plays the next NHL game You know signing what maybe his final contract as an NHL player quite possibly I mean we all I think hope that he can play well into his 40s, but you know We'll see what his body allows where his mind's at and so the fact he's gonna sign this extension now kind of Confirms I would think you mean you can always be traded of course But I you know I think it's this would be his moment if he was If he had any of the thoughts that we were putting into the universe that he might want to leave This this would confirm. I think that that's not gonna happen. So um You know it's it's a legacy type of deal It puts the to me it shifts more pressure and I'm not saying Kyle dubas in the front office didn't feel pressure already, but it does shift more pressure to Do everything they can do at least try to get this team back to the playoffs At some point during the period of time or cross be still an NHL player Which I think is going to be a tall ask The metropolitan division Isn't shaping up to be necessarily all that Stout But you know the devils I think will be improved I don't see the rangers going anywhere from where they've been You know the flyers you would think are going to take some steps like like it's it's not going to be easy Um, you know carolina looks poised maybe to take a step back But I mean they've been a top five NHL team for a number of seasons now Even if they take a small step back still probably a playoff team So pittsburgh's got to find its way back into that mix and and You know with cross be signed and and obviously malcon and latang still there the trade for carlson last summer You know you have those players. You can't be You can't be a seller at the deadline next year with the way they were this last season Is this the contract where sindy crossby gets an a av above 8.7 million? Yes, I mean He's he's done the organization a favor. I would say I mean look at work for both parties because he wanted You know, I think that he's always had a great relationship with that organization, right? I know it's it's shifted ownership here in the last couple years to fenway sports group But you know for most of cross b's career. It was a team owned by mario lemue and ron burkel I mean you'll recall the cross b spent the first three or four seasons of his NHL career living at mario's house Um, you know, I think that that they they had an unusually close relationship You know right to the top of your organization to the superstar And so they were able to work together to make things work that that both sides could live with You know, crossby's gonna play a 17th straight season next year with that 8.7 million dollar cap hit That's allowed pittsburgh to be aggressive over the years of his prime Uh reach force down like up finals be a perennial playoff team until they miss these last two years But you know, this is a different kind of contract and and You know, it's it's kind of crazy that crossby is going to retire and never have been the highest paid player in any given season in the league I mean, that's that's kind of nuts when you think about it given that he's Certainly he's he's either mount rushmore or mount rush more light on on anyone's all-time NHL players list. I mean in terms of certainly Top six seven player. I would think on like anyone's list and you could probably make a case to have him a little higher than that Um, and he grew up in the salary cap era like that's the other thing I mean What a player made in 1993 94 mattered to their accountant and their families, but it didn't necessarily matter in the big picture the same way It's mattered since 0 4 0 5 when the lock could introduce the hard salary cap and that was you know Right when Sidney Crosby got drafted first overall. I mean this this this era of the league You know starting in 0 5 It the rules were brought in that you could only make up to 20 percent of the cap and Crosby never did that despite being You know coming in as a generational hype You know get a hundred points in his first season Um, I know we dealt with some injury issues in those first five six years in the league But like immediately delivered on his promise took the penguins to the cup in his third season his fourth season. They won Um The fact that that he somehow comes through his whole prime and it wasn't the highest paid player is kind of Kind of wild. So I would think now with you know many players Uh making eight figures that that being 10 million are up. I would expect Crosby's next deal will will at least be in that range It's you know, I don't get any sense. He's pushing to become the highest paid player in the league At this stage, but you know, there is an opportunity to make money here and let's not forget He's coming off a 40 goal 90 point season at age 36. I mean this is He was a special player at 18. He remains a special player at 36 Is there something to the fact that we're hearing about this particular news story now And i'm only thinking about last episode, which yes, you didn't tell us to delete But there was a really interesting detail where seemed as if at the first opportunity the Pittsburgh penguins Jumped to extend Sydney Crosby were a week out from july 1st And now we're hearing that they're nearing an extension What can you say about what those negotiations could be like or anything to that effect? Well, it sounds like I think both sides. I guess we're comfortable Uh with with just letting it play even another week from free agency. Obviously we came through a pretty congested period You know the the penguins front office had lots of time to prepare for the off season their team missed the playoffs So they had a couple months, but you know what just Kind of the way it went to From draft right into free agency were obviously they were active. They made you know trade, you know trading riley smith Um, you know, I think Crosby was comfortable letting them sort of do that business and then they would get down to to this business So, you know it again you can do that when you You know deadlines don't necessarily matter or or in this case it was a start line If everybody at the table is comfortable. I think there can be some different dynamics In different talks, you know, it does sound like in this case. So They're both sort of aligned on where this needs to go and now it's about Arning out the final details. Arning out the structure of a contract Maybe even just discussing when's the best time to announce it? um You know i'm about to go on holiday. So you can probably announce it just about then i'm going to learn about it in three weeks but uh Yeah, I mean it's it doesn't sound like there's anything to be read into that too much But you know the question does remain that where that conversation started last week for us is that it He's been eligible to sign a contract. I think at that point for two or three days Like why hasn't it happened? I mean typically You know, you want to you want to do the victor headman, right? Tampa announced they ended up announcing it on july 2nd But that was because july 1st They dedicated to saying goodbye to steven stamko's. I mean julian breeze bah said First of all leading into free agency, but also on july 1st We've basically got a deal done with victor, but we just said let's put it to the side They announced it the morning of july 2nd, but usually what sort of legacy players You know, it's not that difficult in negotiation. I mean, can you imagine negotiating with city Crosby? I think it's akin to okay. Here's a piece of paper. I'll slide across the table Can you write down your numbers and then we'll sign it? I mean, I don't think there's a lot of hardball now Maybe there's probably some nuance there right kaldubus is probably explaining to him and his representative papra song You know, here's our plan This is what we've got committed to players. This is what we want to do We can fit you in best that like, you know, it's not that city Crosby's holding them hostage I just think he's in position two if he cared to um But you know, obviously he's he's shown in the past. I don't think money is is He's a driving force. I mean everyone wants to be paid fairly to what they believe is fair, but um You know at the same time I see lots of people always out there saying like well at the end of your career just take two million I mean When you're still scoring 90 points, like why would you do that? Uh, do you know how hard it is to make 10 million dollars? I mean, I do because I haven't got there yet and You know, I've been at I've been at it for a while But I'm just saying like you don't you don't just Play for free. I mean as much as I know we want to have this notion And I have no doubt that city Crosby loves hockey more than or as much as anybody Uh, this is he's dedicated his entire life to this, but you know, he should be paid and so Yeah, I don't I don't read a whole lot into the timing But I do think it's best for everyone to settle it because then They'll they'll quiet podcast like ours, uh pretty quickly Of course. This would happen immediately after we talk about city Crosby. Of course. This would happen after I let my mind Well and producer Nick wisely titled the show like like he he sold that aspect of our chat I mean as any good SEO manager would he knows he knows how we're going to get people in the front door even But anyway, I own it. We did we did we did talk about the possibility of him playing somewhere else Yeah, it's okay. It happens Um to be fair though I was saying Colorado if anywhere else because I saw someone saying that we were trying to make it about bringing a Canadian guy home Like this is not there's there was no patriotism in there at all um And I and I think city Crosby is probably among the most celebrated Canadian athletes despite playing His whole career since age 18 in Pittsburgh. I assume I don't know this But I assume he's going to live in Pittsburgh like Mario Lemieu has most the rest of his life like I I would expect that that That's home for him, but it doesn't make him any less Canadian in in our eyes So I don't I don't know where that particular criticism was coming from Yeah, dude could have signed a contract in the khl Over to finish his career. I think we've still looked at it was one of the greatest to ever play from from our nation Like yeah, although we would have probably criticized them for going Yeah, yeah to rush at this point in time. Yeah, that's actually a very fair point Um, you could assign in Switzerland and that's actually a much better example Finished in the national league there, uh, you know finish up with Zurich And we would have still celebrated him as one of Canada's great athletes and and ambassadors I shouldn't just said khl. I'm sorry. Um Yeah, anyway You mentioned uh Crosby likely being on many people's mount rushmores Do you have a mount rushmoor? Is he on yours? Uh, you know the words get it. Yes. I'd say yes. He is but where it's complicated is You know, connor mc david in this last 12 months in particular has Has bolstered his credentials. I mean his credentials were already great, but every year you add on Everything you add to the legacy makes makes it possible that You know, it might be hard to have All of or some of gretzky lamu bobby or sindy crossby and then if you want to put connor mc david up there You know, then i'm overlooking gordy how potentially So if we have like a seven person mount rushmoor for sure, but it's it's it's a little I'm aware that connor mc david will probably be there if he isn't already there um Just because the guy's showing no signs of slowing down You know, if you look at sort of air adjusted points. I mean he's second to gretzky all-time and in That sort of category obviously came very close to lifting the stanley cup But you know would assume his career is going to include some championships Either internationally at some point um or or with the oilers, but Yeah, I think crossby is there and I think what's what's great about his career honestly I think we celebrated enough this year, but like not a lot of people Were as effective as he is at this age too. Like longevity starts to count into this too, right? Like you're you're measuring The high water mark like at his absolute peak. What did he represent? I mean, I don't think there's any question he was the best player in the NHL at his high high water mark um You know the ultimate sort of team leader You know, he's in addition to the the two cups the three cups rather He's got you know the two olympic gold medals When a world championship gold so he's got the triple crown like he's he's got absolutely everything you could want on your resume more or less I mean, I'm sure he wants a fourth Stanley cup because when you get three you want four and when you get four you want five But you know, he's he's there and then now if you start to look at the all-time scoring list Like he's he's passing a couple of people a season with the great years. He's still having so I think I think crossby's there. There's a little bit of a what could have been aspect to his career Just to me like just a little bit. I'm basically missed a season and a half in his absolute rockin prime um, which you know I guess the thing is it would it would it get to where he probably won more heart trophies Would have won probably one or two more scoring titles might have won another Stanley cup like like that's But despite that. I mean any career is going to have an element of that Um Very few players and make it through an entire long NHL career without having Either a lockout interrupt something or significant injury or both um and so Yeah, he's that's a long way saying he's on my mount rush more but you know, I am also aware that we're not too far from having the same conversation about Conor McDavid, you know, give him another five years and see what he's able to add to his trophy case and just where his numbers end up Okay. Well all's well that ends. What would Sydney Crosby it looks like and uh once his contract's done He can do things like celebrate more with the Canadian men's national soccer team as he did uh over the way I love that by the way. I love that celebration with them. That was awesome I love the win for for Canada over Venezuela and penalties, but to see Sydney Crosby in the room That was a fun story. Yeah, I mean that's the thing like It's I'm sort of torn sometimes over nationalism, but I do feel like Canadians kind of stick together and You do feel something right like like I will be the first to put up my hand and say 10 years ago. I was not watching canons men's national team soccer team play often I mean, maybe if it was on tv or something, but you know, obviously with them climbing in the standings qualifying for the world cup and Guitar, I know it didn't go great, but still like playing more and more meaningful games You know, it's easy to get excited about it And and it's sort of the way I think you know going back 20 odd years when Mike we're one of the masters You didn't have to be a golf fan to kind of feel something As a Canadian to see someone have that achievement or when Steve Nash first won the mvp award and the mba Like, you know, now it's normal to have a lot of high level Canadian players at the top levels of basketball But back when Steve Nash did that, you know, we didn't have We didn't have a lot of people that could ever be in that conversation. So you kind of felt something and so Um, there's just something kind of I don't know if it's it's maybe it's a little romantic. I can get romantic about sports It's it's a little romantic to have city Crosby. You know, I don't know if you've read joss cloak story. He was on a buddy's trip Uh, he was on a buddy's trip with guys from remuski that he goes for a trip every summer with And they just decided when they saw that the men's national team is going to be playing in arlington For that game around my guess the time they were going to go that they decided to go down And that he's there wearing a you know, the kit and and in the in the locker room and everything So that it just was it was pretty cool and I'm kind of wondering like is he going to show up for tuesday's game or Like is he because he's a superstitious fellow. So does he feel like he needs to be there? I mean, it's not far to go from pittsburgh. They're playing in new jersey right or new york. Yeah, they're in new jersey So, I mean easy easy trip. I hope uh I hope 87 keeps a good luck going for team canada. That's it. Like could you imagine Uh a man who we talk about patriotism and nationalism. I associate a peak in Canadian sports nationalism and patriotism with the golden goal of 2010 I don't think more canadians were ever more united for an event at least in this century Then that goal at least in my eyes And he ends up I love the idea if he does it if he goes to that Canadian game Uh, get starchy to he goes there and he's like a Canadian good luck charm I would love that story The man has been eating like a peanut butter sandwich before every game for like whatever 1200 games or whatever he's played like saying And I don't know all the superstitions. I remember that's one and just because I like peanut butter shadow peanut butter but uh pb and sid but uh You know like i've just said he is highly super like he he played 17 seasons with an 8.7 million dollar cap Largely because he was born on august 7th 1987 and that led him to wearing eight seven Um I don't know. I I have no insight into this The problem is maybe they can't announce his contracts because he's going to be too busy Going to the Canadian men's national team game and he's going to have to announce it later in the week That'd be pretty funny That would be funny uh crunchy or smooth by the way with peanut butter Smooth is my preferred, but I I like peanut butter in all its forms I think you win regardless. Anyway, in fact, I was at cobra pop us house This weekend My dad And my sister's kids were there and they are in their they're in their prime peanut butter years And he had both And so I put smooth on my toast yesterday morning Shout out cobra popa man Yeah, he's he hasn't been uh, he hasn't been around the pod lately What's he doing? I don't know. He's still listening though like every episode Yeah, even he actually it's cool. My nephew is in sailing camp in cobra with my dad So he's staying just just the two of them uh for these two weeks and they listened to the last episode together So shout out henry if you're listening to this episode too with papa Of course Um, this is our last episode before we both go on well-deserved breaks this summer Um, I normally on Mondays we do ask cj and we take a ton of questions from everyone who listens to the show We did sort of a mega one on the thursday So what I decided to do instead for our last one Is a little bit of an exit interview slash season in review. I've got an interview Yeah for the season is this like h is hr gonna like come in here like a third box is going to appear and It's steves Cj you've been fired and here's your exit interview. Whoa. Oh, I didn't say that I mean for for the season Not if I exited if you could work for the season. You're not I know I just associate it with like you've left a job and it's you're like, it's it's your parting gift It soon fired me than you don't worry about that. No, no one's getting fired. I'm just getting around. I know no This episode is brought to you by our good friends at nfl sunday ticket on youtube tv I'm sure by now you've all got back into your sunday routines But they could be even better with nfl sunday ticket and youtube tv You get the most live nfl games all in one place every game every sunday And you can even watch up to four different games at once With multi-view one of my favorite inventions of this decade. It's exactly what you need to catch all the action make your sundays more magical and also YouTube tv is great. I got it this year. It's awesome Sign up now at youtube.com slash bs device and content restrictions apply local and national games on youtube tv nfl sunday ticket for out-of-market games excludes digital only games big fire Anyway, uh these questions, uh, they do dip into this past year But there are some forward thinking ones just give me as best of an answer as you can for each of these questions Let's start with this one. What's your favorite story that you wrote from this past season? Oh I don't like talking about myself like this. Oh good shut up. Just talk about yourself. You're you're the dude. You're the shit but I will say Actually this year. I'm I was pretty proud of my work. I was I thought it went really well at the athletic and You know, you got to do a whole variety of things which is what keeps me fresh and excited to to do the job so favorite story My favorite story might have been I don't know if you remember this one, but I wrote a story about a men's sort of beer league player Uh, Ike Werner was his name in february who who unfortunately got his his neck cut by a skate accidentally And they were just happened to be doing that Um, he was playing at the Leafs practice rink and the Leafs doctors were there And helped tend to him and that might have been my favorite if only because it certainly had a happy ending Um, it was a little different it, you know For me like I'm not saying it's necessary. I don't know if you can say it's like the best story I wrote, but it was different It was timely. It was relevant with a lot of discussion going on in the game and You know, it was really I was really Like I'm still pretty impressed by Ike like I went and met with him Uh in downtown toronto, we had a coffee for that interview Like I think within a couple days of this happening and like his willingness to trust me With the story and to tell it he ended up going on television after and doing some radio Uh, because he thought it was so important to to spread the message about wearing neck guards And so that that might have been my favorite in that You know, it was So I probably said this on the pot a thousand times, but I you try to be first best or different with a story Um, and it was a different kind of story. I think it was a relevant story and and It was excited my comfort zone too to be honest. I mean to to go meet a stranger under those circumstances He's still you know his his neck was bandaged up when we when we had that coffee to have like a very I mean it had to be a heartfelt conversation. I mean he's You know, it was a he's a young father and and you start thinking about everything that could have happened And so that was probably the favorite story. I did it got great reaction to um And as I say it's a happy ending so that that's the most important thing This next question is a little different from the first one. What was what was the best interview you had this past year So it didn't have to be an overall story. Maybe you just had a really iconic or hilarious or heart Part felt interview with somebody it could be your first answer, but it could be someone else Yeah, I mean obviously that interview I could qualify, but I think You know, probably when I went to win a peg and sat down with mark chipmen the owner of the jets and and You know, he was really kind with his time We spent I don't know 45 minutes or an hour in his office and he basically Explained all their their challenges selling tickets this year and and how they got there what they were doing to remedy it you know Reaffirming the commitment to the marketplace, but that was that was a relevant story because A lot of us the jets had a good season this year I know they didn't maybe have the playoff success they were hoping for but You know, they were one of the NHL's top teams right from the get-go through most of the regular season and it's a Canadian market where we know people love hockey and they weren't selling out their building and and We also know the margins are a little smaller. It's a smaller market. They have a little less um corporate support that than other teams and and they have a smaller building so Um, yeah, I think that was probably my biggest news making interview. I would say and and it was Like it was cool too. I mean, it's not every day even in my position. You're sitting in a NHL owners office You know having really frank discussion like that one and and mark was pretty trusting in me to to share everything he shared and and You know, I know that they they did actually experience a bump in attendance after that story published somewhere in February March wherever it was Um, and uh, you know, hope it's not hope it's not a story We have to retail next year. I hope that that it was a blip in time But that's that's probably my favorite interview and again It's most sort of most unique. I had no other experiences this past season like that one What was your favorite cj show episode or moment from this past season? I mean, it's got to be all star weekend. I think you know when we did those live shows Like I know that that's it might be kind of a cop-out answer the question, but like nothing beats a live show I mean Uh, I think it's always best Julie when you and I can be in the same room to do an episode in that Just by the nature of where we live and what we do and our other jobs like it only happens a couple times a year And then to add an audience element to it like that was It's it's like it's just like put it in my veins like you just get so pumped um Because I guess on some levels. I mean most of the time like I I'm in the studio at least today But usually I'm just literally like in my little office space. You're in your you're doing it from your apartment and Calgary Uh, producer nicks on the line, but like usually it's it doesn't feel like there's an audience, right? But when you're reminded that there are people listening and and appreciating it and you get the play to the crowd a little bit I mean for me that's that's got to be my favorite thing. We did this year It's not to say we didn't have a good episodes or funny moments or Stupid gags, which we hope which always just come up along the way, but I do I do think the live show was my favorite What about you? Do you have a an episode or are you just gonna say a little bit like I mean When this podcast came to be my dream was that we would do some kind of live show in front of people and when the opportunity came to Do that at the all-star game in toronto Like I don't know if it could get any better than what we did this year That's gonna stay with me for the rest of my life. That's That's one of my favorite things i've ever done in my media career let alone Uh, this podcast so yeah that that has to be the best thing we've done And I'll say it's obviously a testament to the popularity of the stp Like that too What's steve and jesse and adamabill, but like I couldn't believe how busy that room was on back-to-back days Like I don't know what the final numbers were but it was packed in there And in fact in in previous iterations of my career I've actually done shows in that same space and was never near that busy um, so I I'm not uh I'm humble enough to say I realize it's not just for you and I but it was so cool to be In a room that busy and with that energy and You know what the guys do is awesome So like it's just cool to be part of it and that it was also neat to see everyone too, right? Like you're like in the little backstage area everyone's there like Tim her ain't he's there like like just you know like we're all part of the same network, but you know It's like any job the athletic. I don't see very many people at the same time I mean we all live in kind of a digital world now, but it's cool when we for me nothing replaces Sort of like face-to-face human interaction and that I mean, let's let's hope next year if we can manifest Julian I don't know where or when it'll be but we can do something similar because that was fun. I agree Um, yeah, that just that experience all around not to mention we got to cover the all-star game Uh, I don't know how many you've covered in your career. That was my very first one So that was a very special week for me. I I I look back up that week very fondly Oh, maybe we'll do a show next year. There's no all-stars. It's four nations tournament There's game there's games in Montreal for one. There you go. So just throw that out there Um name a trade slash move you thought would happen but didn't Most of I don't know if there was the good one for this one Just because like I think back to like obviously I build those big boards over and over again like I feel like we kind of Had it now. I mean, maybe some like Trevor zegris is a name that was like in the rumor mill a lot, but then even he was injured. I mean I'd love to give you like some great story that I just been sitting on but I don't know if I have a good answer to this one. Okay Sorry, that's a little bit of a What's the the price is right theme when uh, someone loses boom, boom, boom, yeah Something like that. That's okay. Did you ever watch much price is right or? Oh, what are my dreams is to be on that show and like bid on items and maybe play plinko And get on the showcase showdown. I I I've watched that show a long time Have you seen the documentary but the person went on that show? It got a whole bunch of times. Yeah, there's a documentary A message you offline. It's actually pretty entertaining a camera what it's called But I'm sure a google search could easily find it for us, but I watched it and it was cool And it was all about like beating that show I I will add that to my list of things to catch up on During the summer. I because I would definitely watch that Do you know what I associate it with I associate it with like the days and I was not I kind of like I kind of grew up in the era. It's like you go to school no matter what But if I ever had like a sick day from school I kind of associated it with like being able to watch the prices right because it used to be on at 10 or 11 or whatever in the morning And yep, obviously most of my life. I've been tied up at that hour doing school or work Yeah, so like you were it was that Um, I think mori was on like an hour earlier Those are two shows like if you have a sick day and you sit in front of the tv Those are like two shows. You're definitely watching the what time did jerry springer come on? Um, jerry jerry jerry. I don't know if I got jerry springer, man I think jerry springer, but I might have been too late for jerry springer. Oh, okay. Well, it was It was a more raunchy version of mori. Oh, yes You definitely needed to have your parents not around if you were going to watch that at a certain age Yes, um, we'll we'll save the rebidistic about shows like mori and jerry springer For hey, if not now then when I mean if we've had like I was actually remarking to jesse when we came in here like I never remember in july first We were basically everything happened and then now we're at july 8th and almost nothing has happened since like it's been Yeah, with with respect to the players who have signed it has been a lot of minor moves You know, not nothing, you know, the fireworks all happened on canada today july first and then Ever since everyone's just been like chilling on the fourth having stampede time Like I feel like the whole hockey world was just like peace stampede time I mean, I think they're I've seen a couple hockey media people Either fly in or just happen to be around in the city stampede's a good time Have you done stampede in Calgary? I haven't and I should have you know, you you would love it I know you'd love it my three childhood buddies have lived in Calgary since 2006 Like my three oldest friends from koburg all lived out and they still live at west obviously I don't think at this point. They're moving home 18 years later, but uh, like I've had good friends in Calgary I've gone out there tons of times in the summer to hang out with them to golf to You know, catch up go up to the mountains hike all that stuff But I've never timed it well with stampede And I should rectify that I was actually asking my buddy james who lives in Calgary Uh this week i'm like, am I too old like to like come up to stampede for the first time next time or no Because it does seem like it's pretty like partying is part of the stampede thing like let's just call it as it is Absolutely like you're not going there just to watch the chuck wagon races or whatever No, but there are parties geared towards Olds I don't know. I I've been to parties. I've been to parties at stampede where you're seeing like People in our age in our respective age groups Yeah, well james's response was that you can still tailor your his opinion as you could tailor an experience towards our age group and still have a good time So it wouldn't have been it wouldn't have been like full 23-year-old cj at stampede thank goodness Uh, but that there's there's some version of like 43-year-old cj that can can work out there Yeah, absolutely. There's there's definitely spaces for that. You should uh, you should come out next year Or is it always right after free agency? Like is it always right now ish? Yeah, it's always right now So like if this is running to like the 14th this year You could you could easily pop in for like a couple days Hang out go to a couple parties. I'm going to code it like a stampede breakfast and have pancakes and whatever comes with it And then just go for an afternoon nap If that's what you want to do. That's what you should do As long as you work that's how old man does stampede Those are where cowboy hat you're in the spirit Um, we'll get to a few more of these before we wrap up here. Um, I know you can see who voted for who Uh through the phw a with the angel awards cj who was your pick for nhlm vp this year and why? My heart trophy vote went to nikita kucharov And he didn't win So I had no problem with nate the mckin and winning. I believe he was second on my ballot You can fact check that I haven't looked at it. He was because conner was third there you go and For kucharov, I just thought Player a judge to be most valuable to his team. I can't remember the exact percentage But something like over 50 percent of the lightnings goals came through his stick either through an assist or a goal Um, I thought that this year in particular the lightning You know, we have this idea of what the lightning had been and obviously They're actually going to be a very intriguing team nap sheer because they've changed a lot of what they've been But they were not the same team of three or four years ago and and they really needed him I thought to make the playoffs They played the first 30 odd games without Vasilevsky even when Vasilevsky came back Was not his normal self and he's obviously been a big backbone of that team success and so I I had him as the most viable player to his team, but certainly I have no qualms or issues with Nathan the kid and actually being the one to to get the award I mean quite honestly like lots of times I picked the person who didn't win Isn't just this year. I mean I just think you do your best job as a voter like you you Interpret those each award the way you should you look at all the relevant facts and you make your vote and I just I want to kutra have 140 points I got double check the amount of points yet, but he was he was obviously having an MVP And brain point was next right like he had like 50 more points in point. I think Like he I mean those two were And I just don't I don't think it's hard to make the case and kutra finish second So I had him first on my ballot. I had my kid in first on my ballot You win I win nothing. Um if you were NHL commissioner, what's the first thing you would do? Hmm You could do anything. It doesn't have to be a real change. It could be I would probably Change the schedule, but not in the way you're thinking I'm gonna say Okay Because weirdly enough my takeaway from this year and everyone experiences it differently But like having like traveled the whole thing Is I kind of liked having the draft and free agency all smashed together? I just think we should smash them together into one big like NHL summer meetings, whatever you call it But you know a number of teams stayed in vegas Uh after the draft and did for agency from there Obviously every agent goes to the draft already all the you know a lot of media people go I would love it if we just had one big festival of like We just went from the draft everyone stayed in that city for another day or two and we did for agency on the spot Guys like you and I would be reporting. Oh, we saw alan wall shouldn't the lobby with kyle doobus And you know maybe they're talking like I think it would be cool To have it all together Um, I realize the NHL is going the opposite direction of this. They're going everything apart They're saying everyone just stay in their home cities and we're decentralizing it But I actually think It would be cooler and if I was commissioner I would have it all happen in one place Over, you know four or five days, which would become kind of a celebration of hockey You know tsn we could do our show from there like on location at the sphere doing free agency You could even have the free agents themselves like get their new jersey in a sense like like kind of like you see with a player Like I think that there's there's actually weirdly opportunity in that and let's face it We try not to make too big a deal of this but like a lot of the deals were cooked and all that right But like I think you bring back the interview period, but you just have it in that that place And so yes, if you're steven stamp goes you're in vegas for two days after the draft You can interview with the teams like legally like you can meet with them I mean we can report on it like I think I think that would actually I mean hockey does pretty well in that cycle because there's a lot of interesting stuff that happened and I think You know you can just base it on what we see internally at the athletic like a lot of our stories were popping at that point in time But I think that I think that you could lean into it and go even bigger so that Weirdly, I'm not going to sit here and say we have to finish the cup earlier although selfishly that would be better But like forget my selfish thing. I actually thought it was cool how it all ran together I just think we should all do it in one city like why is everyone racing out of vegas like we could have just stayed two more days And had an even bigger celebration of everything going on Um, I didn't expect to have breaking news pop off during the podcast But uh the washington capitals are promoting Uh brian mcclellan, uh chris patrick will be the team's new gm. This is coming from eliot friedman just now All right, there was rumors of that Okay, I mean brian's been there a long time. So is chris patrick. I think it, you know It's a it's a title change probably it's salary bump Probably yeah, but like the front office. I think we'll run probably in similar fashion how it has already That makes sense. Uh next one for you, uh, leaf fans will be interested in this one Is mitch marner starting next season in toronto Yes I mean I think i've already said way more likely than not I just don't see a trade coming, but who knows like I obviously don't I can't say with a hundred percent certainty But it feels like he's starting next season in toronto Okay, so I don't know what happens yet. I don't know if they sign the extension I don't know if we're talking about him trade getting traded at some point, but I think You know it's happened that there's been trades after this point of that significance, but it's pretty rare Okay. All right. You heard it here for and he wants to play in toronto. So I mean that too And he's got a no movement clause So I think I want you to start to get used to that And we'll probably debate it for the next eight to ten months well, like I wonder though like There are obviously people are going to hate this because they feel the way they feel about bitch marner Wonder how mitch feels about the fact that yeah, you might want to play in toronto, but there are a lot of people out there We don't really want you to be there and I wonder how that shows itself Through the regular season with their fans. I'm very curious how that plays out true, but mitch is He's been around long enough to know how fickle fans can be in both directions Yes, and i'm sure it's in his mind. I'm going to play so well. They got no choice, but they love me again Not to say people don't love him. I know I don't I think that he's become kind of the lightning rod for this entire team But like it's a team's failings, right? It's not Like the least inability to progress long into the playoffs shirt shirt mitch marner has a hand in it But so does awesome. Matthew's jon Tavares morgan riley Sheldon keef kyle dubas You know, I guess they'll say brad true living although he's only been there for one. You're but like it's it's not one player or one person's fault But he sort of becomes kind of like a lot of the energy goes in his direction on this one, but I I would just say that All I think I think people want toronto Is a team that that wins Like I think all will be forgotten like like can hall and took a whole bunch of arrows for a number of years in evanton I didn't hear anyone complain about ken holland on that cup run and i'm not saying I'm not saying it smooths everything over There's still someone who probably point out the jack hanble contract that they just bought out or whatever But if if you win, it doesn't matter how you got there And so I I would guess without having spoken to mitch his focuses on having a great season You know Getting to work on a kreg burube and if the leaves win all the noise will just have been Just that just just it's it's all the crescendo up to the great moment Which is not me predicting the leaves are going to win But if you're a player for the team, like of course your that's your goal. That's what you're working towards Yep, I like that answer uh three more for you here is utah yeti a good name for the utah hockey club I don't know why you change a perfectly good name like utah hockey club I agree You know that I've been in a spectacular name you and I've been in on this from the ground floor Like I was saying this when it was just one of the 24 options or whatever they had on the original long list I like it. And and now it sounds weird because it's supposed to be just this one year. This one season. They're using it But like we're already getting used to saying it like people are going to say utah hockey club Like, you know, someone is going to be reading the highlights on tsn sports center in october and You know, say hey mckell surrogate chev scored the first goal in utah hockey club history or or maybe we'll start calling it utah hc I don't know if it'll get you know Trim down a little bit there, but I'd call it utah hc that makes that makes perfect sense Right, but i'm just saying I wouldn't change that but it does seem like yeti has all the momentum and and I will live with yeti, but I would prefer Uh, I would prefer it was utah hc. I just think they already have the right answer Uh if uh mckell surrogate chev is in fact the first goal scorer in uh utah hc history Please make sure this part of the podcast is isolated and we shared that out on socials so we can say we were right Yes, although if I could go back in time, I'm going to say josh don't just because it there's something something cool about the idea of like The the passing of the torch from one don't do the the next place. I like that answer too Uh does producer drew have this top five center list right? Uh, he put out a whole bunch of different top five lists lists over the weekend. Here's his top five centers right now I always haven't such a good weekend. I didn't see one of his top five lists And I do follow drew, but I like literally was that little time on twitter Here's this one. Uh mck david mckinnon dry sidal matthews crossby Yeah, I like it So like I don't I don't have much to to amend there. I mean obviously we could debate, but I I think he's got that one pretty locked in What about uh sasha bark off should he be on that list? I don't know maybe fifth I like look at he's an amazing like to say someone is the fifth best in the world or something is not a slight But he he certainly has never produced points at the rate of those players Uh above him. I know there's way more to the game than points and he gets celebrate a lot for his defensive play So it would have been like Just one family cop shut down a lot of the league's best players on route to doing that It's fair, but where would you have ever put patrice berseron in his prime? Like he would have had trouble being ahead of the crossbees and like He was an amazing player and a cup winner in his own right And like one whatever we basically renamed the selky award the berseron award in those in that era I mean, I guess it depends what you're measuring the beauty of any list The beauty of any list is we could definitely we could raise like four more players. I think too and be like whoa jack ickels slighted or Pick someone, but I I'm I'm reasonably Okay with that list that drew put out and of course he put cross me there because he still dreams of him in an half sweater I understand that well producer drew congratulations. You got something right Uh, who's winning the cup next season? I Nashville Oh, you're going Nashville. I love it I love it and then you got a little mini Stanley cup there too. There we go. Why Nashville? I mean usually winning free agency is a bad thing right, but I I actually like they literally added two first line players and they added a difference making defenseman and brady shay and And It's it's going to sound like a stretch to someone out there but I think we can't overstate the fact that they have difference makers at every position and You know where they might be like a little bit weak For for a top tier contender is down the middle Um, you know rhino riley was her first line center last year, which is nothing against rhino riley But I think at this stage of his career you preferably have him in the number two spot But like when you have roman, you see and brady shay and you see sorrows and rhino riley and philip foresburg and marsa so and stamcose. I mean They have they have a really intriguing recipe. Now there those players someone might rightly point out Like that's that's one of the oldest if not the oldest rosters in the league You know, you you have wonder you have questions perhaps about how durable they'll be Well injuries derailed their season in some way shape or form But I just I think a today intriguing mix and I love what they did on for agency day so You know, I was gonna really like my heart truly says edminton's gonna win I I really liked edminton's off season. They came one goal two goals away from winning the stanley cup this this year But I felt like that would be a more boring answer I'm gonna I'm gonna go with nashville and stick with nashville and You know, what a storyline that would be I'm always cheering for the story too. You know that yeah, I know that you're very much on that I love that answer and you uh did amazingly well through who you pick I mean, I can't be the only one to put put a way to early cup pick out there dallas Hard to argue that I like dallas. I I they were my pick entering the playoffs this year I don't think they lost that much blood and I think with the young players the the nucleus They're developing they could still be a contender for quite some time I think dallas gets one next year right see like nashville is the easier answer because I can point to things They added you can just say like dallas gets another kick at the can But why johnson's a year older like and and quite honestly They got to the western conference final game six as it was like they just need maybe another shot at it with the same team But yeah, well, that'd be fine. You don't have chris tannev anymore But like you still have out in juror. You still have why johnston you still have Jason robertson Chopra. I'll ski out of the room too. Like there'll be there'll be a shift there like you're right wise and everything I'm not but I'm not predicting a downfall. I I'm with you. I think dallas I mean dallas nashville emminton colorado the best four teams in the west maybe vegas. I don't know vegas it's hard to know where vegas is like losing chanler stevenson losing march or so You wonder does vegas still have a big trade up there their sleeve like is that going to be the move I miss when i'm not paying attention on my vacation Also brian suder also not going to be on dallas as well. They bought out his contract You're right there's some older veterans who aren't going to be there But like like jimmy bed and tyler sagging could still make up some of that veteran presence I think I don't know. I I like them getting younger at both of those positions if they can as well I don't know. I I think dallas is the pick All right go preds And uh vegas if vegas makes a move, I mean it would be very on bran I've covered one Stanley cup on broadway and I don't know if i'd survive a second Broadway is a crazy time especially if you're going to tootsies by the end of the night um Yeah, I think that's it for the season in review portion Uh again, you did very well with the questions And we are at the end of this cj show our last one before we go off on break We will do some drop ins in the summer We'll figure those out as we plan, but uh, well another great year doing this podcast, man I'm i'm really grateful Uh for all the experiences we've had This past season. I know there i know for me there have been some ups and downs, but uh being able to do the show um has been Just an amazing time And i'm really grateful to work with you and and producer nick and producer drew and the rest of the stp And team at making the show what it is. So, um, yeah, I just wanted to say those things before I give you the last word Thanks, buddy. You're the best. This is so much fun three years is kind of crazy three full seasons Uh still going strong and yeah, we'll be back in august at some point Um, but I got a I got to put my god and fish and sign up on the On the door for the next couple weeks and then We'll uh we'll recuperate, but can't wait for year four of my friend We uh We're going out in style. Yes, sir. Yeah, we've had these sunglasses ready. Uh vacation is very needed Uh, we'll be back when we're back. Uh, thank you to everyone who subscribed to the podcast Thank you to everyone who watches the show on youtube or listens on Spotify Amazon apple where every listen to podcasts Uh, we appreciate you hundred percenters or even if you're trying to get to a hundred percent We appreciate you to 23 percenters. We love you We love you take your time man. Get to that number This all good. You can get there. You have a whole bunch of weeks to get to a hundred percent if you want to if you don't want to That's cool too. Just tune in when you can tune in. Uh, we'll be back with like a season four Uh Properly in the fall but also again You never know what could happen this off season and when we might drop in so Uh, beyond the lookout for our episodes for cj. I'm julian so long. Enjoy your summer The christ johnson show inside the game twice a week follow christ on twitter at reporter christ And follow julian mckenzie at jk mckenzie the christ johnston show
