School is back and Exploding Goods has what you need to win your year. We've got everything from cleats to sambas, dunks, and more. Plus, the hottest looks from Nike, Jordan, and Adidas. Find your first day fits in-store or online at Dick.com. I know that some in our audience know the finer points of hockey. The Chris Johnston Show. We are your friends. The biggest stories. Bringing you inside the game. What did you hear? The Chris Johnston Show. What is going on? Here's Chris with your host, Julian Mackenzie. C.J. with the money flew fast and furious yesterday, first day of NHL free agency. We're looking at your free agent board before we got going here. I think Jack Roslavik at the time of this recording might be the best available free agent left on your board, but that could easily change as we go through today and the rest of the week. Well, yeah, the reality is if you're a free agent and you didn't sign on July 1st, it's not going to be too comfortable. I mean, there's a few names out there. Vladimir Tarasenko still unsigned. Some veterans like Ryan Souter, who I don't think are going to have trouble getting work, but the kind of cantilever of a day like yesterday is all that money gets spent. And then suddenly when the dust settles, there's not a lot of money left around the league, not a lot of teams with spots to fill. And so that was as wild a free agent day as I can recall in some time, maybe ever. Certainly we've seen some times over the years where there's been a number of huge contacts to hold out, but they were so much so quickly that it is a giant game of musical chairs. And there's more money now in the system, teams had more money to spend. And I think it's been a pretty busy last couple of weeks all in all across the league of things getting shaken up. Absolutely. From Frank Siravali, can't believe Cap friendly is going away in a few days, drastically changes the way myself and many NHL front offices do their jobs. They've noted history. Today, being July 1st, is the first day in league history that $1 billion in total contract dollars was doled out in a single day. $1 billion. That's how much money was flying. The NBA calls that Tuesday. Yeah. You see some of the numbers that could throw around in the other pro sports. But yeah, it was a lot. Obviously not all of these contracts are going to age great. But at that being said, I didn't think that there was so many totally indefensible, hard to understand. I mean, if anything, you might worry about the term that some of the older players got, you know, being signed at premium dollar values into age 37, 38, 39. Obviously, there's risk with all those deals. But I mean, I just think that with the cap going up, players are going to get paid more too. I mean, that's part and parcel of this. I mean, maybe the biggest surprise. And I use that term lately is someone like, you know, Reinhardt gets less than $9 million in that environment after 57 goal season. After scoring the game winning goal and game seven of the cup final in the last week and having a tremendous year and really being a contributor, you know, all over the ice. Very, very strong two way player, not just one who produces offense and all those goals. You know, the Panthers managed to keep him at a reasonable number. That might be the most surprising thing of all. And, you know, I do think if Sam Reinhardt was inclined to go to market, he would have got paid more in terms of the AAV anyway. I mean, he gets an eighth year in Florida, which is a bonus. You know, it was, it was a pretty wild day. It was, you know, my phone, it's, it's the next morning and I plugged it in somehow and it's still at 54%. Like, I feel like I can't, I just feel like I can't get it back to 100% just because it's been so much activity, obviously so much texting and calling and trying to stay on top of things. Okay, last unnecessary question before we delve into who hasn't been signed or traded. Just because I know people are going to ask, I think every year we've done this podcast, we asked this question on free agency. What did you eat at the trade breaker desk? I had a salad and a roast beef sandwich. Okay. It was pretty good, actually. Yeah, like, like a trade deadline, we do it up a little bit more fancy and we actually like pre-order a meal like there's like a menu that goes around two weeks before. This one, like there was, there was a variety of options, but it was just like go and grab one off the table and I went with the roast beef sandwich. I'm sure someone could have screen grabbed if you cared me in the background, like knee deep into the roast beef sandwich. But, I mean, there is a reality, like you're on TV for whatever six or seven hours straight, you're supposed to be on set the whole time. And you got to eat. So, and quite honestly, this is, this will be hard to explain, but when you're there, and especially having done it so much, you actually forget when you're not even totally aware of when we're on air or not. Like when, because I'm kind of just doing my own thing over on the insider desk there with Bob McKenzie, Darren Dragger, Gordon Miller and Pure Lebron. So like, we're often in our own conversations. Obviously, we're sharing a lot of info and chasing down news and what we're hearing. And so you don't, you're not even really aware, then all of a sudden there's like a Plinko board in the middle of the studio. I love that board. That was awesome. Right. Or there's like Brian Hayes and Carlo Coliakovo and like bright red suits. And I'm like, what is going on? Because I have like nothing. Here's the thing. I have nothing to do at all with that aspect of the broadcast. Like, I'm thankful we do all that stuff because it's less, it gives us more time to actually try to chase down the news aspect of the job. But I have no idea what's going on half the time. And so, yeah, if you, if you saw me eating a roast beef sandwich on your Canada day, I'm sorry about that. I hate to tell you, someone definitely screen grabbed. Like you've seen it. I have seen the video. There's a video of you just like eating something. Man's got to eat Julian. Man's got to eat. Okay, I need energy for these to use these two thumbs to be texting up the world, you know, like, Oh, you, you don't rock. You're not wrong for that at all. It's just funny to see you just shout out on the sandwich. Okay, all right, all right, all right, all right, let's get to, let's get to the people who has the whole thing is absurd, though, when you think about it. It is. Oh, it is. It absolutely is. But that's why there is no lunch break, right? Like, that's no, like, there's just nowhere to go. Like, obviously, if you have to use the washroom, you can find a time to walk off. But other than that, like, you're, like, just sit at that desk all day long, just tweeting like a maniac. We appreciated the tweeting at the intense work you did on July 1 big money siege. All right, tell me what you're hearing about guys who, as of now, have not been signed or traded. I know we kind of touched on it with Vladimir Tarasenko. Earlier in the morning on Tuesday, we saw a report from Josh Joey where the Pittsburgh Penguins throughout an offer at Vladimir Tarasenko. They don't have that much in terms of cap space, but still looking to try to get him anyway. What are you hearing about Vladimir? Well, I think he'd rather stay in Florida than go anywhere else. I mean, if you remember at the trade deadline when he had a full no trade clause situation in his contract, he basically forced his way to Florida, even though Ottawa didn't end up getting much of a return for him, because he so badly wanted to play there. And he was a good fit with the Panthers. He just won a second Stanley Cup. So you can understand why he would be anxious or interested to remain with the Panthers, but they have a lot of different situations. I mean, they've said goodbye to the Lamborghini here going to Calgary, Brandon Montour gets a massive deal in Seattle. You know, they've had a lot of moving pieces. Oliver Ekman Larson moved on and signed with the Maple Leafs. So, you know, we'll see if something works in Florida. If not, you know, he'll have some options. And, you know, last year, actually, Tarasenko went unsigned into August before the Senators finally got his signature on a deal. So, you know, as I say, if you didn't sign on July 1, obviously, we're going to see July 2 and 3 signings, but it will go to a drip pretty quickly. And some of the players, even if they have a name or a resume, you know, they might have to wait a little while for the best next best deal because now what teams they'll be doing is they'll be saying, hmm, you didn't like everybody signed yesterday, but you didn't. You don't have a lot of options. We're going to try to get you below market for this. And then the players are going to say, well, I'm not going to take that. And then the dance goes on through the summer. So that's not a prediction for Tarasenko. I do think some of his situations directly tied to what Florida doesn't do. And let's face it, we're only a week since they won this Stanley Cup. So there's been a lot to deal with and contend with in the Panthers front office, squeezing in a draft, but between a Stanley Cup celebration, a parade celebration, then free agency. Yeah, so I think that's where he's at. And honestly, there's not, there's not a lot to be resolved around the league. Like this is, this is an unusual free agency. It's not normal. I think it's 62 of the 75 names that I had on the free agent board, signed on day one, or maybe on June 30 some of the guys that resigned like Patrick King, who was on the board at that point. But there's, there's not a lot left unresolved. It's more now what happens. We're almost thinking about the 2025 free agents, the Mitch Marners, who needs a new contract by this time next year. The on dry side, Olen Ebenton, I think that situation is going to take some time, but you know, those are things that we'll look for over the summer. You know, the Martin nature situation in Carolina will be interesting because certainly there were teams that had trade talks with the hurricanes on him, but you know, I think some of the urgency goes away when you've missed the window where maybe they can get a draft pick back. It's not to say he won't be traded, but he also needs a contract. These are restricted free agents. So does Carolina try to convince him to stay? Is there a way to patch this up? You know, Jacob Truman's situation is out there, but I don't think, I mean, look, there's going to, there's probably going to be one or two of those, maybe those situations result in something that's interesting over the summer. But I hate to tell you, you might as well fold up shop here on NHL off season. Like, I don't think I don't see like a lot of fireworks from now on, like there could be one or two major fireworks. Like, obviously, if we talk about a Mitch Marner trade, or re-signing, or if we talk about a Leon Drycidal trade, or re-signing, or not, like those situations are compelling and interesting and I think they're big business decisions for the Leafs and Oilers in particular there. You know, I don't know what happens with natures. You know, it's true, but I suppose there could still be a trade. Obviously, his, as of Monday, he's only got a modified dough trade so he can only basically block trades to half the league. That means there's a whole other half the league that the Rangers don't need his permission that they could trade him. And obviously, it's apparent he doesn't want to be traded, but I don't see, quite honestly, a lot of business just got done in a four day window and I don't see a lot left to do. Which is probably good because our podcast will soon be going on hiatus and so I don't think we're going to miss too much, quite honestly. He says that now, but I can't wait until the big, whatever big trade happens and all of a sudden, I'm doing a podcast from my parents placing Montreal. I can't wait for the emergency pod in August, CJ. See, here's the thing, I'm down for that. But, you know, if we did this thing right through the summer, I think there'd be a lot of episodes where we're like arguing about food or, you know, playing trivia and movie games, or like, there would be a lot of filler because I really do think that like so much of the league's business got done like I think more than ever. I don't know how to quantify that. I mean, you mentioned the stat about the most money and total contracts given out. You know, let's face it, like I was, I've heard that there was like business being done back to the combine at the start of June, like, like even though it ends up being free agency day July 1. I think we just went through free agency month, where a lot of discussions went on. Not accusing anything of any wrongdoing, but just saying that I think a lot of you don't have that many signings in one day without a lot of work being done ahead of time and honestly, I mean, you saw the reporting we were doing in the 36 hours leading up to noon on July 1. And a lot of those deals were already done or handshake done and just needed to be put on paper officially yesterday. I was told there would be tampering rules in place to kind of curb some of that stuff. Yeah, but I'll tell you, I don't mind this, like, like these are big decisions for the teams and the players. It's sort of unreasonable to think that nobody would talk and then it just opens and then everyone's got to make a bunch of big decisions like, you know, look, there's probably someone out there that maybe feels they were burned by this but I don't think anything truly illegal happened. Like, I guess it's against maybe some of the spirit of the rules but, you know, my sense to is the league doesn't have much problem with the optics of this. I mean, I mean, the truth is teams are subject to tampering rules, but I don't think that agents are. I mean, agents aren't employed by the league. And, you know, obviously just as a function of the way the league works, agents have to talk to team people like, I guess I just, I can't, I can't work up a whole bunch of. I think it's a big sort of gives a shit, frankly, like, I just don't. I would, I would just put it this way if it was, if I was making a massive decision for my family for my life, I wouldn't mind a couple weeks to think about it and work through it. And so, I think that's a little bit of what happens obviously there's a few players though more than a few. There's some players yesterday that literally woke up not sure exactly where they were signing probably had to make a quick call, like a quick decision between one option or another. You know, you look at some of the contracts signed, you know, in the evening on July 1st, okay, Jeff Skinner, Adam Henry guys like that I know for sure had multiple offers on the table and and they're probably a little bit cognizant or their agents of what I'm talking about. Like, if you don't get, you don't get your chairs aligned in the first couple days, it could be a long summer of that hanging over you and that's even worse because there's a, there's a practical part of that. It's like, you don't know where you're moving. If you have kids like you don't know where they're going to school like, it's nice to get this locked in on July 1st and now you, you know, obviously players are training and getting ready sort of physically for the next season, but they have to do a lot of planning and things off ice too. And so I don't I think it's just it kind of is what it is that's that's where I land on this. They're clearly was. I don't want to use the T word because it's so it's so legal and it's it sounds like you're like really, like, but they're clearly was some chair arranging ahead of time. You just say it. Yeah, but I don't know is it really, I guess it's tampering by the CBA but I don't know, I just can't get that fired up about it. I was talking with Ryan Lomberg yesterday, actually. And Lomberg along the Lamborghini and there, and we've seen videos of him celebrating the Florida Panther Stanley Cup victories crowd surfing. The man never wears a shirt. That's my, that's my observation. It was insane, dudes walk around the championship belt he's dousing people with beer. After he wins the Stanley Cup, he had a feeling that he was probably going to hit free agency. Dude just avoided his agents as long as he could to just try to live in the moment. And he up until yesterday he had no idea what was going to happen to him. We talked about guys who have been discussing for weeks, potentially about their futures like there are guys like Lamborghini who it's a funny nickname, but there are guys like him who up until yesterday they had no idea what was going on because their minds were just completely elsewhere and funny to put the Panthers. I mean him, Oliver Eckman Larson, Brett Montour, so many guys from that team, Vladimir Terrasenko presumably so many guys from that team are going to get broken up and yeah they can live in that moment forever where they won, but so many decisions to be made in such a small span of time. I'm, I thought a lot about the Florida Panthers yesterday. Yeah I mean it's unique right and it's similar for them and to noilers I think Edmonton did a nice job they retained a lot of their key players on pretty reasonable deals I'm thinking of Connor Brown with TSCN Mark. They got at the trade deadline signing those guys all to come back as I think a positive for them after the season they had. And it's a reminder players like obviously some players come into free agency and they absolutely and it should be their priorities to make as much money as they can it's going to the highest bidder. That's probably the best way to explain how anyone signed in San Jose yesterday, but you know I will say that what you learned from seeing the free agency too is players want to win. And Edmonton getting as far as they did you know they lose by goal in game seven of the Cup final. You know then you got someone like Jeff Skinner on his office bio where he had lots of options I mean he's he's playing on a one year $3 million contract I know he's getting paid by Buffalo so we still still doing that pretty well financially. But you know he's going there clearly to win I mean he could have signed for one year and 3 million in about 10 spots. You know I know the Leafs were among the teams that that had talked to him and you know we're trying to pitch him and on the idea hey you can play alongside Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner on our team so you know free agency is about different things and you know I see in Edmonton you know getting caught around to stay one year one million like I'm sure he could have got more on the market. Even Yanmark 1.4 million times three like these guys want to be on a winning team and and they really believe in what Edmonton's done and so yeah there's there's a variety of things that play out. And you know obviously everyone in Florida would stay there if they could but because it's such a great living situation that's again the team that just was the best in league. And really the last few years they want to present trophy a couple years ago. Been to back to back cup finals and then won this most recent one. But there's not room for everybody and so yeah they're in a particularly unique situation I'm talking about deals starting to be cooked at at the combine you know that's for players who seasons were already over. I mean the guys who played up until June 24 they they just they just had to deal with either the excitement of winning and everything that comes with it or the pain of losing and everything that comes with it and then make a. Make a decision because there's just no functional way to do that when you're in the cup final there's no negotiating going on I mean I'm sure there's conversations that are along the lines of hey we like your guy and when this ends let's get to work. But I don't think you're throwing numbers back and forth or because you know it's just too important to try to win. And you know I think they're all going to do pretty well anyway so I want to gain your sober up at some point here and find his way to Calgary and be a good energy guy for the flames. For sure. I want to stay in the state of Florida, since we were talking about the Panthers we should talk about the Tampa Bay lightning and what it's been like for them the last few days. So this morning before we started they signed Victor Hedman to a new contract with with four years eight million AV kind of similar to what Stephen Samco signed in Nashville. And we should make it similar to exact I don't know if the structure is the same but it's the same dollar number of years it's the same it's the same I was I was kind of playing around with that you're right it's the exact same contract. We should get into that situation because I have to get adjusted to Stephen Samco's in a completely different uniform and Julian Breeze was saying that he's disappointed. He himself I mean and obviously Samco's disappointed and how it all kind of turned out. That is quite the story in itself. What did you think of what happened with Tampa Bay over the last few days. Well you need to know to understand this is it's basically right at the intersection of emotion and cold hard business. And right at that intersection is where we find the answer to how this all played out. Because on one hand when Julian Breeze boss spoke to reporters he's talking about the emotion he knows the fans are going through the emotions he went through personally the emotions he can imagine Stephen Samco's and his family are going through. But then he's also saying we've got a better chance at winning championships by doing what we did. And that's hard in sports right. Because like part of sports is like if you grew up in Tampa as a hockey fan. Like do you know how many 91 sweaters and jerseys there are in that city. Like that guy has been he was kind of hailed as a bit of a savior when he was drafted first over on 2008. You know he's been a member of the lightning organization for more than half of the lightning organization's time in existence. So, you know that it's hard to get used to someone like that and look at he's Stephen Samco's has gone through all kinds of things in his career I mean, maybe one of the most underappreciated parts of his career is how he's consistently come back from significant injuries. And still found a way to be an effective player because that's not easy to do I think mentally I mean obviously there's physical challenge in it but like mentally to be able to push. And get yourself back to the top of the mountain so often I mean this this guy just scored 40 goals. He's 34 years old which you know young young and human years but that's getting up there and NHL years. And he still found a way to be a contributor. And for as much as he's done on the ice. I think he's done more off the ice in that community in that dressing room for that organization and they coldly let him walk. No other way to say it. And they signed another franchise player to the exact same contract he signs elsewhere. Well, here's what I'll tell you this is what they're saying without saying it. They're saying that you can more easily replace what Stephen Samco's does and they feel they've done that in acquiring Jake Hansel and signing him then what Victor had been does. That's that is exactly that is the statement I take from that I'm not saying they wouldn't want to keep Stephen Samco's there's just hard decisions to be made in a cap world. Julian Breezba is not afraid of a hard decision. Some of his colleagues are frankly you know most most teams with a player like Stan Coase would just sign him as long as he wants to play. They'd live with the decline they'd live with the fact he might be overpaid at the end of his career they just want to keep that player. You know, Julian Breezba wants to hang more banners in Emily Rina. I don't know if he's going to be able to do it. I still question whether they're better heading into next season than they would be without Stan Coase but where they probably are better is they're better position. Maybe not just for next season but the three or four beyond it. Because you know they've added Connor geeky a pretty well regarded prospect. They've added JJ Moser a 24 year old defenseman who certainly is still entering his prime years. And at the same time they've replaced in the in the short term. Essentially Genssel replaces Stan Coase and they required Ryan McDonough earlier this off season to replace circuit chat but was traded to Utah to draft. And so they've pivoted on the fly to being younger and so again they may not be better in the short term to start next season but there's there's a lot to maybe there's something to grow into there. But it's hard. And you know, Stephen Stan Coase is such a smart guy. Like he's really attuned I think to the business of the game. Like I don't know if you heard his interview he did with James Dottie on TSN during the during our show yesterday like he was so honest. I mean, one thing I've always loved about dealing with Stan Coase is I've always found to be very thoughtful honest meets questions head on really thinks about things. This this was hard for him, you know I don't think I think he feels a little disrespected, you know he didn't say that but it's implied. And I'll give you some facts here Julian. When Stephen Stan Coase's entry level contract ended way back when believe it was in 2010. 2011 something like that. He became an RFA like he played out all three years of the ELC and for 17 days he was an RFA before getting his next deal. So he had to wait. Victor Hedman his first deal he's extended seven months before it ended. Comes to Stephen Stan Coase the end of his second deal we all remember this he got into that free agent window that used to happen he peeked behind the curtain. He resigns with Tampa two days before he could be a UFA. Victor Hedman after his second deal we didn't even get to the end of it he got a full year out he got an extension. Here we are Stephen Stan Coase went right down to this last week at least having discussions with the lightning ultimately isn't resigned. Victor Hedman 355 days before he could be a UFA is reside. And so I'm not saying there aren't reasons for it but he has been treated quite differently than the man who was picked second over on 2009 than the one who's picked first over on 2008 they're tremendous buddies. Victor Hedman had so much success together. But you know if you're Stan Coase I think you're looking around going like what gives here. You know everybody else gets prioritized and they've played hardball with them three straight times and ultimately let them walk out the door this time so you know I think he'll quickly pivot now like suddenly Nashville is a team. I'm not a free agency means doesn't mean you necessarily win. But I have to say I like what the predators did. And they had a better season than a lot of us expected last year. You know at least got into the playoffs. And now you're adding like one thing they were really missing was offense you had Marsha so and Stan Coase. You're adding Brady Shays like a difference maker for me on their blue line you already have Roman you'll see there. You get UC sorrows extended and you still got potentially ask her off their prospect goaltender to trade and you know if they trade him and they'll be getting something significant back. I mean I think in the short term I'm not calling Nashville like a favorite to win the cup or anything but they certainly like they're all of a sudden a team to be reckoned with for the next year or two or three. And so I think that'll be exciting for Stan Coase he's really close friends with Luke Shen who signed last year as a free agent in Nashville actually texted a bit with Luke yesterday. He said that they had lots of conversations but he wasn't pushing Stan Coase he's like I know it was such a big decision like he didn't apply any pressure he wasn't like come on buddy get over here. But he certainly probably sung all the positive aspects of it and and life moves on like look at this is this happens in other industries certainly happens in pro sports. You know, just as many athletes spend a whole career in one place. You still get lots of don't. And Jerome again less still a legend and Calgary and he went and played for a bunch of teams. Ryan Smith still gets rolled out in Edmonton during the Cup final I was there and celebrated and he went and played for a bunch of different teams. I don't stand close is on probably maybe not the end again but certainly Ryan Smith is on it maybe a different level because he won two Stanley Cups and we're talking absolute first ballot Hall of Famer over 500 goals over 500 assists. It's kind of guy but you know there's still going to be there's a Dave Andrew Chuck statue outside that that building down in Tampa there's going to be one commemorating stamp coast and headman and that they're this championship team. And it's going to be pretty cool when he goes back there to play I think it'll be an emotional scene. Honey up until you went into the contract history for Steven stamp coast. I was about to ask you who feels more the right to feel disrespected between stamp coast and Jonathan Marshall so who also was very honest about how things went with him and Vegas but now it's not even close I think Steven stamp coast should but Jonathan Marshall so also not feeling too great without things went with his former employer. He doesn't feel as if Vegas really did all they could to keep him and now both stamp coast and Marshall so our teammates again this time in Nashville I thought that that that situation in Vegas was interesting. Well if there's two teams in a league that would treat players this way it's Vegas and Tampa and look at Vegas and Tampa each one cups in the last few years like I'm not saying this is the wrong way to treat people like again it's a it's a cut throw in this, it's a bit of a what have you done for me lately business. And if you want to keep trying to win year after year after year you have to avoid bad contracts I'm not saying that these are bad contracts of players of sign but there's definitely some risk with their ages. And you know but these guys have a chip on their shoulder now too so you're not just talking about to former cup winners and Marshall so he's a consmith winner from two years ago, coming off his best season by the way in the NHL is most productive in the league and you know he only signs for five and a half million. It's not a not a crazy deal he signed. And he wanted to stay in Vegas like there's no way around it much the way stamp coast if we had a how to on the show a month ago would have told us he wanted to stay in Tampa and it wasn't a Pinocchio statement like that's it would be much easier to stay where you've had lots of success where your family's comfortable you know Marshall so has four kids I believe stamp coast is three like this is these are big moves for a family in addition to where it's kind of speaking of it from the hockey standpoint. But you know the Golden Knights are I mean almost all the original players are gone right they traded Riley Smith last year to draft like a week after they won a couple of them and he was a original gold misfit we saw what happened with Mark Andre Fleury beloved gold tender that started there. I mean even they've just now traded Logan Thompson at the draft right before he was due to sign autographs at the sphere. And you know he helped them get in the playoffs this year you know I think you can we can go right across the board I mean this is something Vegas has done again and again and again. I don't think they need to make any apologies for it they want a lot of games. This is how they operate I think players know what they're going into. And I think similarly of Julian Breeze ball like he's mentioned this is this this is what he views his job as essentially like he's that he was asked yesterday. Like how's it feel to be known as the guy who had to basically cut ties with Stephen Stanford's and he's like well this is the job. Like he you get you get all the flowers when your team goes and wins a cup and you're being voted GM of the year and everyone's talking about how smart you are, but part of being smart sometimes is having to be the bad guy and or be the one who's the front facing person from the organization to discuss the decisions that aren't popular in the public opinion in the court of public opinion so yeah, I could see where Marsha so I mean Marsha so he's a different case in stamp goes because he was such an unlikely player to become as impactful as he's become. And as a result he hasn't made as much money in his career and so I think this free agency for him was about maximizing his value. So it's not as a stamp goes I say took a discount here but I think you could be in more of a position to consider doing that. And you know you probably I'm reasonably comfortable in saying that he probably would have taken less to stay in Tampa. But once you're leaving you might as well get what the market values you at right so you know two different circumstances but again you're getting to accomplish players that are both like they're going to have a fire under their ass like they're going to be. Whatever I don't know if they'll use these terms but I don't think you can see it on their way like they have something to prove now a little bit more. Like I think there's a little bit more that goes into their office training this year like like there's going to be a little bit of this element of feeling a bit disrespected a bit unloved a bit unwanted by where you were and wanting to you know prove something to those people then also prove that Nashville's right right I mean the flip side of this coin is they found an organization that rolled out the red carpet for them. And they're trying like clearly Barry Trots is trying to win in the short term like this. They could have in an alternate universe in the last 12 months Nashville could have went into something like a rebuild like they traded some players away. Right like they traded guys away at that deadline a couple years ago Granlin and Geno and and others like they started to strip it down they bought out to Shane and Johansson was moved on and all the like. And they still almost made the playoffs to this is two years ago they flipped all those players and they almost still made the playoffs. Right I remember last year they bring in Rhino Riley Luke Shen like kind of character type of signings. Like they my point is that they've they've pivoted right back into trying to win again and and if you're a player that's got to be fun because if you're Marcia so in Stankos like Marcia so gets five year deal Stankos gets four I mean that's that's the only guaranteed length of your your your career at this point so you got to put everything into every year now and I. As I say like I think I'm going to be fascinated by the predators next year like I just think. This is this is an interesting experiment we don't typically see teams built through for agency in the NHL but this might be one where they got some hits because they didn't score enough last year and they've added. Two guys that can score you want to see what Stankos can do me Stankos is clearly benefited as of the players he played with by playing on a power play with kucharov and point and and headman. So routinely like how does how does the power play where Kenny score at a 30 40 goal level still I mean like all these questions will be big burning topics as we get into next season and so. You know I think I think after the emotion of these few days wears off. You're going to find pretty motivated Marcia so and Stankos heading to Nash. 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 in 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/BS device and content restrictions apply local national games on YouTube TV and a false Sunday ticket for out of market games excludes digital only games. This episode of the Chris Johnston shows brought to you by Shady Reyes. Get ready for the season ahead with quality shades built to last. Our friends at Shady Reyes have you covered with premium polarized shades that won't break the bank. Shady Reyes is a independent sunglasses company offering a world class product rated five stars by over 300,000 people. Their shades have durable frames and crystal clear optics making them the perfect choice for all outdoor adventures. And they have hundreds of styles to choose from so you're bound to find the perfect pair to match your style. I got a pair. I know Adam Wild's got a pair. Steve Dangles got himself a pair. Look sunglasses CJ he's going to make an appearance at some point and you'll see him rocking his pair of Shady Reyes. Plus if your shades ever go missing or taken unexpected hit don't sweat it. They have the most insane protection in all of I wear every pair is backed by lost or broken replacements. If you don't love your shades exchange them for a new pair return worry free within 30 days. It's really great. There's no risk when you shop their team always has your back with personal and fast support. Shady Reyes dot com go to that website right now. You can use the code Johnston to get 50% off two or more pairs of polarized sunglasses. Shady Reyes dot com use the code Johnston for 50% off two or more pairs of polarized sunglasses. Okay I have one more question before I get to Leafs corner about Vegas. There seems to be at least at least among us in media types with the reputation with how they kind of go through players and we were just talking about Jonathan Marcheso and thinking of some of the other golden misfits who have kind of come and gone. Does that extend to the players like if you're a player and you're on the market and you see how certain players have come and gone through that organization. Is there a sense between players that they're a little bit cognizant of that and what they could be getting with with GM Kelly McCriman and the rest of the organization and how that could go. Does that reputation extend to the players. Maybe a little bit but you know I think it's still such an attractive place to play. I mean you get great weather, great facilities, awesome fan base, a chance to win the Stanley Cup every year, favorable tax situation. I mean Vegas sells itself, like they don't need to put out a pitch video to get free agents to Vegas. You know what's interesting to me actually is that yesterday was the rare NHL day where Vegas wasn't one of the main characters. You know like where they weren't right in the mix making the Thomas hurdle deal or getting no a handful or you know over the years signing Patrangelo is on free agency day. You know they they were relatively quiet and in fact part of the story is is that they let Chandler Stevenson go who was their first line center. They let Marsha so go top six winger for them. Like how are they going to replace those guys I think when we when we look at potential teams that have to fill some holes. Vegas still has those holes and you wonder if they may be getting involved in trades because I think the kind of holes they have. Aren't really matching the players still left in the open market I think I think they need to try to do something more significant and of course we know that they're not afraid to do something significant so. You know if you walk away with any thought on Vegas I'd say. We've found it kind of interesting that they weren't one of the ones that big players and signing guys because that tells me that they're going to have to be doing something else but you know I don't I don't think that there's. But I think the players are ignoring it you know like Vegas was pitching Stan Coase and I was pitching Stan Coase New Jersey is pitching Stan Coase Anaheim Wow. I mean why not is good friend Alex Colerna is there. That's true. You know the ducks want to get better. Like you know like they're not the ducks aren't trying to finish the bottom of the league next year I know I'm not predicting they're going to surge up the standings necessarily either but they're they're in a building mode. They want the right people around their young players so. You know but like Nashville's a losing out to Nashville is pretty understandable too it's a different lifestyle but it's similar has a lot of the same checks a lot of the same boxes. And a lot of hockey people are settling in Nashville actually like Nashville's. Nashville's like a sneaky hockey town these days it's kind of like how a lot of you got any cellers coming out of Arizona because so many players stayed there in the retirement I could see that happening for Nashville especially as they build. More community ranks and the like in that in that state because so many NHL people are retiring there and so. Not that I'm saying Marcia so and Stan Coase retiring there but they're they're definitely moving there to play and it's a pretty nice place to play. All right. Let's get to Leafs corner. They get Chris Tenev they sign him to a six year deal 27 mill Max Domis coming back Nick Robertson. It seems like he wants out Oliver Ackman Larson joins Yanni Hawken pot there's a lot to get to when it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Let's start with Chris Tenev's deal though. Why did he sign for that long. Can we explain that a little bit. Well I mean he's really in demand player so you know free agency you got to stretch yourself sometimes and you know obviously the Leafs traded for his rights and signed him before he hit the open market but. You know to keep him from hitting the open market they had to put a contract in front of them that made sense and so. You know I don't have as much problem with this length of this deal as everyone else seems to I think that. You know, Chris Tenev has been wildly effective and efficient in through age 31 32 33 in age 34. He was a real difference maker in Dallas after the trade over from Calgary last season so. You know there's nothing in his game to suggest it can't age. I think the question would be just durability like because he plays such an unforgiving style physically throws himself in front of pucks completes checks battles those all the things in the game defensively that. That show up and in him having being one of the best defensive defense men if not the best in the league. To me it's exactly the type of player the Leafs need. I think it's going to do wonders for Morgan Riley having a partner like that. You know he had. Riley's had some partners like when TJ Brody first signed in Toronto they had a couple highly successful years but he's also had a result revolving door of partners I mean Ron Hainty was his partner for a time. You know I mean Morgan's played on the Leafs for so long. It's only natural that he's going to cycle through different partners but I would wager to say he's never had a partner better suited to sort of counter balance his game. Then Chris Tana which I think frees him up in some ways should be good for the Leafs you know down the lineup. I like what Toronto's did on day one of phrase and see I think that Brad true living was successful in starting to reshape his blue line. It still feels a little incomplete which is fine I mean it's only July 2nd still 99 days to the least first game of the regular season. And so I have to remind Steve Dangle of that in the group chat he's been he's been particularly negative lately and it's like I get it like I'm not saying you look at the Leafs first day for agency and they're the favorite to win the cup but I mean you have to build incrementally. I think his frustration honestly is more just built up over the years versus what happened in the last 72 hours, because I like the Max Domey deal the Toronto sign and I like what you're starting to see the blue line could be. I mean he's he's just never been someone to be a 1A starter but I'm not sure that's what the Leafs need I mean they they believe they have that in Joseph Wall if big if you can stay healthy because he's had a lot of different. He's had a variety of injury ailments right it's not like you're like well he's just got a bad knee that he's got to manage it's like no he's he's been injured all over his body and you just wonder if if he can string together fully healthy season but they start to the free agency period for the Leafs as I said they were definitely having conversations or had a conversation on Skinner on Henry, I think that they you're probably looking to add another forward to this mix probably one that can play on the left wing. But you know there's still there's still today and many more days before that we see what their exact plans are for the roster. What about for Nick Robertson and the fact that he might not want to continue his career in Leafs colors. Well I reported that I mean he definitely doesn't want to continue his career he's told the team he doesn't intend to resign this summer. The Leafs gave him a qualifying offer so they have his rights he's restricted for agent and the reality is this Nick Robertson only has so many rights I mean he can request a trade he can make it known publicly that he's not happy that he's frustrated that he feels he should have more opportunity that he wants a fresh start all those things are fair but the Leafs are not compelled by any anything in the rules that they have to trade him and so you know I think that they'll look out there to see if anything makes sense but they're not they're not giving him away for nothing just to you know because there's a bit of public pressure on them or because of you know this has become public and so there's a world where it gets to September and he hasn't been traded and Nick Robertson has a decision to make does he want to hold out potentially jeopardize a year of his NHL career or does he want to maybe try to make it work for one more year because I think the reality is there's actually more opportunity in front of him than there's ever been in Toronto as I mentioned they need another left winger they've just seen Tyler Bertuzzi walk in for agency to Chicago you know you've still got Matthew Nye's you've got Max Domi resigned I mean he can be either a center probably on the third line or you know on the top six on the left wing but you know like there's not a there's not a ton of guys ahead of them maybe Bobby McMahon but I think that there's Nick Robertson's frustration comes out of the fact that no forward on the Leafs played last last year other than Ryan Reeves and he still scored 14 goals 13 in the more at even strength like he wasn't given I mean the Leafs don't use their second power play too much because they like to give that top unit a minute 30 plus which is what a lot of the best teams do I just watched Edmonton's power play up close and personal Conor McDavid Zach Hyman and the company aren't coming off the ice before two minutes unless they score so I mean this is this is just how it is but Nick was also scratching game seven so I can understand his frustration I don't think it's misplaced because he might have to he and they might have to find a way to continue on together because there's no guarantee there's going to be a trade out there that makes sense and that sees him get that fresh start to the desires What about Yani Hawkenpah there was a column from Steve Simmons yesterday where he essentially suggesting that even though the Leafs signed him the injury history might be too big for him to ever play again since he hasn't really played since since March What did you make of that tidbit and the signing? Well I think that it may have been a little overstated I actually didn't read the column I just sorry it's been so busy and no I for what it's worth I only saw that tidbit going around to yeah so I only know that the tidbit was sort of like his career is over like I don't think that's the case obviously before signing a player like this the Leafs get a look at some of the medical records now that that's not to say there isn't risk there because he last played in mid March and wasn't able to come back when the stars playoff run and he has that injuries in the past and he is 32 I believe like there's definitely some risks there but the Leafs also got him at a pretty good number right I mean 1.5 million can almost be buried in most of its entirety in the American Hockey League if it has to be and obviously if he is injured for the year then you know they they placed him on LTIR so I look at it as a calculated bet he's a six foot seven right shot defenseman you know he's a third pairing guy I mean I'm not going to it's not going to threaten for the Norris trophy but if if you know the Leafs believe very highly that they have some of the best sport science and medical people in the game I think that they spend as much or more in those areas as anyone I'm I think going way back Tyler Ennis I remember coming to Toronto they gave a lot of hip issues talked about how he felt like the Leafs training staff was able to extend his career he moved on after Toronto but had a pretty good year here I mean I think the Leafs are betting on their ability to get him healthy and and maybe that they found a little bit of value here if if he can be healthy and so certainly there's some risk given the age of the player in injury history the player but it's hard to argue it isn't a risk worth taking because I do think if if he's able to play on their third pairing making one and a half million that's a pretty good bargain for for Toronto anything else on the Leafs before we wrap up Leafs corner no I just say Mitch Marner is more likely than not to return to the team we've hit this thing ad nauseam we'll see how things develop now that that time goes along but I still don't believe that they're I think that they are comfortable with Mitch Marner returning if that's how things turn out if there isn't enough interest or a trade that even kind of makes sense. And I do think they'll you know they're still going to sign some more sort of depth type of players here in for agency and we'll see how the Robertson situation manifests itself. We'll see if Timothy Lilligrin maybe still gets traded I know he was signed to a two year extension but I don't think you can entirely rule out a trade in his circumstance yet. And so you know they're still going to keep chip point the roster but I think they got off to a pretty good start here and they feel pretty good about the team that the sort of the structure of the team that that's that's now in place I mean don't overlook all of rekman Larson signing either I mean that's someone who can play on the second power play really was rejuvenated in Florida last year. Good puck mover which is one area where the Leafs have I think fallen short at times in a playoffs is you know they have the talented forwards but maybe getting out of their own end getting the clean exits getting the puck into the hands of their forwards as an always been there. I think OEL helps with that and you know not a crazy number for him obviously got a bit of a raise but you're in that raise he just just played big minutes on a team to want to stand like cop after being bought out in Vancouver and so be interesting to see him in a Katie market again I think he's seen in both worlds right Arizona Vancouver Florida Toronto I mean it's it's it's a it's a nice tour around the there on the national for OEL. All right let's go through some quick thoughts on some other teams on my big rundown here we'll go through some more Canadian teams I want to start an Edmonton Jeff Skinner we've mentioned him already. Troy Stecher and Connor Brown are staying. Josh Brown joins Victor Arvidson's probably the biggest signing they made yesterday I also want to touch off on Evander Kane in his future too. What did you think of Edmonton's day in free agency and what could be next for Evander Kane. Well I don't know if they can move his contract I mean it's pretty clear look he wasn't healthy wasn't able to play the last I think five games of the Cup final. Not sure if the organizational fit is as good as it once was there for Evander Kane but that being said we'll just have to see. You know what happens if he if he can be moved I'm sure they would consider it. But I know they also like Evander Kane like when he was healthy he was pretty effective for the Oilers I mean if anything they're probably ruining the fact he just you know had the the groin or hernia type issue sports certainly I think it was that that limited him and kept him out of the biggest games of the final I mean maybe he could have chipped in the one or two more goals it could have been the difference to to finding a way to beat Florida so you know I think it's it's a bit of a TBD on Kane's future. But the Oilers I think as a whole have improved their team a little more skilled. I expect them to be a better rush team I mean Arvitson there's some risks there I mean it's similar to the Hockenpaw conversation in that. You know he was limited last year by a couple different injuries in Los Angeles didn't play a lot of games veteran player but man he's a tenacious guy gets in on the four check he can score some goals got a nice shot. So he complements the kind of players that Edmonton has quite nicely and I know they're excited to get him in there along with Jeff Skinner who I think could really pop in Edmonton it doesn't doesn't have a lot of defensive impact on the game but you know really can can shoot the puck and score a ton of goals in the league hasn't played a playoff game. He's got over 1000 games on his resume the regular season but presumably will be playing his first playoff game next spring in Edmonton so I'm sure he's going to be energized by this opportunity after being bought out by the savers so I think it was a good day for the Oilers and you know sort of the same as a leaf so they'll continue to look around see maybe there's some upgrades on the blue line. We'll see if Kane trades out there I'm a little skeptical about that. But you know they've they've managed to keep the right players I mean Yann Mark and Brown were two thirds of their best line in the playoffs along with Henry. So they kept the whole line not to say they'll necessarily play the line all next season but they've kept the ingredients of that line in place and they didn't spend a ton of money to do so. So I, you know, look, they've still got to hire their general manager and they've got to figure out what happens with dry side all and there's still some big questions in Edmonton but, you know, hard for me not to argue that's a pretty A+ day on the opening day for agency because they didn't have to. They didn't sign anything that's too risky to me they brought back Corey Perry to we didn't mention. But but none of those contracts on the surface or there's something like they're immovable I mean that most of them could be buried in the minors if anything goes wrong. And I don't think that's going to need to be the case I think they had a nice day. Yeah, Matthias Yann Mark also part of the players coming back as well. What about the Vancouver Canucks they signed Jake Dubrusk and a few other guys as well what did you think of their day. But you know they were linked to maybe being interested in Genssel obviously that was off the table before free agency even opened. I think Dubrusk is a pretty good fallback and you know I note you the terms of his deal seven year deal of five and a half million. The exact same contract Zach Hyman signed a few years ago in Edmonton. And you know what happened to Hyman is you know with new line mates in a new situation he took his game and his production to another level I think Vancouver is banking on something similar not to say he's going to be a 50 goal score. Exactly apples to apples but in a similar vein he's being brought in now to be a top line winger for them to play alongside presumably as Patterson. Going to get power play minutes. You know he's he's got a chance to blossom a little bit and you know at his best Jake Dubrusk has been pretty damn good in the NHL I think he's struggled at times with some consistency issues. You know had some problems once upon time with Bruce Cassidy they didn't always see I die in Boston. But you know he's he's a great kid and he's got a nice skill set. And I do think that in a different circumstance now he's going to probably play more minutes with better line mates more consistency consistently Vancouver's counting on him to even take another step. He's in you know his production and helping their team and so I like the move I think it makes a lot of sense. You know seven year deal a little bit of risk there but you know you're signing him he was a young free agent right he's 27 years old so you know you're not signing him for the crazy aging curve years I mean it's going to be a challenge that goes along with five and a half million I think they can live with. They also sort of a sneaky signing is Dan Hine another player out of Boston, who's a local kid from from Vancouver. He was a PTO in Boston last year. And so he gets a nice deal to go back to his hometown team I mean I like the day for the Canucks they you know they lose a couple players. You can see Ian Cole goes to Utah that they signed Vincent de Renee though from Edmonton. So, you know I think that the Canucks. Everything they did was reasonable it makes sense to me. And you know maybe there's maybe they're a team to look for for a trade if something that could still happen I think they're still going to be pretty aggressive out there but they didn't sign any deals and made me go. And frankly I think the brushes are pretty safe or pretty it's an understandable bet for where they're at and the kind of opportunity they have to offer them. Was there a team or contract out there that made you say roo. Well Seattle maybe jumps to mind I think they're under pressure to get back to the playoffs to take a step forward. You know signing both Chandler Stevenson and Brandon Montour to seven year deals like I don't I don't think it's going to be a rut row next season but, you know, when we get to three and four and five years down the road we might look back on those deals and say those were big swings maybe overly aggressive swings. So just because of the age of those players and the amount of mileage on them. That being said there are two players that have won a Stanley Cup, Stevenson and Vegas, and Montour obviously recently here in Florida. You know Montour is a great puck moving D. Stevenson is a very, you know, strong two way sentiment was put up some points the last two or three years been a 50 60 point guy. So I can understand why they signed them and I think that they, it's a sign of Seattle really needing to be a good team next year. But those are those are two of the deals like if I'm going to guess that we might be talking about ones that don't age amazing. Could be both of those two. Maybe I'm wrong though what do I know I mean it's just seven year contracts for players in their 30s. Generally are not going to be good like that's that's all I'm going off of I'm not I'm not chipping away at those individuals as much as I'm just thinking those were big swings but you know Stevenson had a lot of interest in them. He was talking to him Nashville was before they signed both Marsha so on stamp coast. You know he had options Montour similarly at options I think he was he was a chance to go to Utah maybe before Utah. You know, talk about a team that built a blue line overnight I mean trading for circuit Kevin Marino sign of re signing in this case. Kesselring Dursi, who am I missing. They signed in coal yesterday and free agency I mean they like filled out a blue line it's it's like a fantasy draft like in in seven days they went from having no defense been signed to a pretty pretty good looking blue line on paper in Utah. I think that there'll be another team to watch next year actually kind of kind of like the what they've done. You know I don't see the necessarily being a playoff team next year but certainly see them being better than the final season of the coyotes pour went out from all at arena, which didn't didn't help the coyotes had a 13 or 14 game losing streak at one point when they were dealing with all that stuff. Yeah RIP to the coyotes but one other contract that gave me pause. The six year contract old out to Nikita's a door off who great character to deal with for media. We saw the exploits in Vancouver this past postseason, but I still think he's a guy who is really just a really good third pairing defenseman. He only put him in a second pair in a pinch. And now he's in Boston on a six year deal with a five mil AAV. I'm very curious to see how that deal shakes out also a lie slim home signing in Boston too. This is a guy who I thought was going to make like 8.7 million is contract last year if you ask me this at this time last year. And he's now at 775 7.75 I should say not to get anyone confused with the dollar amounts but he had a very interesting situation that led him to Boston as well. I think it's a good fit for him in Boston though I mean that that's a team that can use what he does. 7.75 makes the length of the deal maybe a little more palatable because if the cap keeps rising as we're expecting to I don't think 7.75 is going to be silly money in five years. But yeah there's definitely it's the same risk as those two Seattle contracts it's just the players are a little bit older and their long term deals, you know Zadora. It's a reflection of how much interest was in them I mean the Leafs were interested there Vancouver was was interested in retaining him. I think there's 10 or so teams that inquired at one point on Nikita Zadora and you know most of the teams weren't willing to get to six years and five million but that's how boss that's what Boston had to do to get them. It's like the Leafs giving 10 F six years with with obvious risk at the tail tail end risk of that contract I mean the market is not like it's not consistent right from year to year. You know Sean Monahan it looks like one thing and then these five and a half million times five in Columbus in this year's marketplace I mean that's that's just it's all it's really is a supply demand dynamic it's it's to do with how much money's in the system. You know I can see where we're we're talking about one of the one or more of those contracts we just mentioned one day maybe being bought out or what have you I mean that's just. That's that's the reality of the day I mean Gord Miller actually said it at the very top of our show yesterday. He's like we just come through this day where teams have spent draft picks and all this money buying a contracts or unloading contracts and trades. Now they're going to give out contracts that they might have to do the same with and that's. That's the reality of it. Yep. What about the one day I hope to be overpaid though. I hope one day someone gives me too much money in too many years like I'll I'll deal with that problem if that ever happens. Would you rather be overpaid or underrated. Oh man. I didn't know there'd be like a brain teaser. I just quoted a rap lyric I didn't expect you to. I'll stick with overpaid. All right. Very quickly the New Jersey Devils Brett Pesci Brennan Dylan among the moves made yesterday. What do you think of what they did. Well the devils there's kind of like where the Panthers were a couple years ago like I think that they look at themselves and they have to play a little differently. You know obviously they're trying to get better but the way they think they didn't get better is not by necessarily finding ways to score more goals but maybe playing in a different style being ready for playoff style hockey. Defensively they were a disaster last season some of that was brought on by players at left and free agency. Last summer some of that's brought on by not having Dougie Hamilton for most of the season. In addition to other injuries they dealt with so I like where they're thinking I really when you when you pair it with adding Jacob Markstrom to the mix to solidify their goal tending I. I like where the devil sit you know I've this has always been a devil's friendly pod. Because I was big on them two years ago when they had that unexpected run to the playoffs and one round. Like I'm a believer I like that team. I think they have a very well run smart front office. And I like the deals they made I don't think there's anything too crazy in the contracts. And ultimately. I see them as one of the teams that's on the it's going to be on the up next year in the east I mean they probably would have been anyway just by a function of. Probably being healthier you know another year older for their star players you know they made the coaching change or Sheldon Keith and then Sheldon show himself to be really effective coach and. I expect him to have a positive impact on that group and then you added frontline goaltender and. You know pretty top end defender and Pesci Dylan's a nice you know secondary piece on the blue line like. It's hard not to like the devil's and yet. You know I think that they were in there at least a little bit on Stan coast like I wonder if we still see them try to make a move to add something of impact to their to their for group. Yeah we've went through so much on today's edition of the CJ show to everyone who sent in questions for ask CJ we're going to move debt to Thursday just because this episode did run long. But there's a ton of so if you if you didn't get a question you're thinking about getting a question and still keep sending them whether on discord or Twitter. And we'll try we'll try to get to as many of them as we can for Thursday's episode because this better for Thursday anyway because I am still so dead. Yeah I can tell I could tell and not not as a bad thing because I think you've been incredible throughout every episode we've done as you've gone through your world tour throughout May and June and into July. But yeah you you definitely need some rest. I've never had a month like that one work wise so it's I'm just that you got out of Vegas. It was not even an issue for me. Well there was an issue for some people that's why I'm happy I'm happy but I feel like I feel like it affected like 20% or less of the people. Like my point is if I didn't know anything was wrong I would know anything was wrong like I went to the airport like normal my flight took off. You didn't fly on WestJet clearly. Dude I never fly on that airline I'm not kidding like it's been more than 10 years since I got on that airline. Man I think I'm gonna have to start that too just because you live in the West so that's the other thing like you probably it makes more sense for you like it's not as much of an option here in Toronto. But I just I had some bad experiences on it a long time ago and so I just swore off the thing. But between not getting on a flight this year because of broken toilets and a mechanic strike I think I've had my fill with WestJet for the time being. I've had my fill with them and I well we're down one potential sponsor. But you say you say potentially 20% like this isn't just like media people complaining about this like I know I've at least wanted an HL team that struggled to get all their guys back through through through WestJet like this wasn't just this wasn't just little old me wondering about my situation. This was something that affected a substantial amount of people getting home but yeah this was a bit of a weird situation. It's hard to stay in Vegas I think. Yes I agree with that especially those actually wasn't all Eastern teams because I know Edmonton's for an office stayed in Vegas Washington stayed in Vegas Toronto stayed in Vegas. There were others though I'm sure and and it was just a lot to cram in like even I flew home on the 30th and like it's basically the entire day when you're going West East and like there's lots of news like I had like spotty airport airplane Wi-Fi like trying to just well I mean I'm not it's a first world problem but I'm just saying on a day where you really want to be connected and connected to your phone. It was a it was a challenge but somehow we got here man July 2nd like summer is upon us. I'm going to be I'm going to bed I went to bed at 830 last night. I'm going to do at least two more nights that and by the time I see you Thursday I'll be in full sunglasses CJ chilled out but I'm still I'm still in recovery from that month my goodness. Something about that Vegas trip has tired me out but it pales in comparison to what you've gone through this last little while so I'm looking forward to Thursday when you get the sunglasses on. And because you have the sunglasses on will be even funnier when you get these questions for that's I'm saying I'll be in a better frame of mind answer the goofy queries bring them on. For sure but there's definitely going to be some some other hockey questions as well keep them coming. I met some hundred percenters of the draft by the way yeah shout to the hundred percenters as well shout out there's it like some from California that were there. Nice. It's still wild that anyone listens so thank you for your time thank you I mean we're not we're not wrapping for the season yet so we don't have to give the big thank you but honestly thank you for giving us all your time this year because this has actually been we didn't reflect on it because we've been so in the weeds on everything but like this is one of the best NHL seasons I can remember I think just from from top to bottom like there was so much interesting compelling things happening had a pretty good trade deadline pretty good for agency day like there's a lot going on a league that was that was that was a fun 23 24 to cover. I believe we have two more episodes before we go away for the summer because we're gonna do a Thursday episode and I believe by the 10th you're gone. Yeah 11th I think I fly hmm we'll get into your summer plans before you leave for CJ I'm Julian. Oh I was gonna wrap up we're gonna say something. Oh you're just gonna do the piece. All right we out everybody. See you Thursday. The Chris Johnston show. Inside the game. Twice a week. Follow Chris on Twitter. At reporter Chris. And follow Julian Mackenzie. At JK Mackenzie. The Chris Johnston show.
