EDMONTON OILERS ANALYST LOUIE DEBRUSK | MISSIN CURFEW EP 293

Missin Curfew Episode 293 Oilers Analyst Louie DeBrusk
Recorded at HallPass Media | Presented by DraftKings

The Updogg is going to Oil Country
The Best Poker Players on the Plane
The Panthers Airplane Troubles
Debating Team Canada at the 4 Nations
Louie as a Broadcaster in Edmonton
The Oilers Loss to the Sharks this year
The Impact of Zach Hyman
What Gene Principe mean to the Oilers
Working with Jack Michaels
Watching his son Jake DeBrusk play in the NHL

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what’s missing curfew it’s when you kind of play guilty but you show up how nice is a green light on the road though no practice tomorrow no plane just go Scotty Upshaw in the C and he scores front scor you laughs a little bit of fun and obviously a lot of hockey talk you’re listening to missing curfews fella Friday up my man Fridays are fun they’re going to be when this airs this is the magic of tech technology and having your own Studio thanks to whole past media with this SS you’ll be drunken at Friday morning yeah you you won’t be over I’ll be heading to play golf at a little place called beler Country Club is that a good track yeah it’s a nice track East Side beler beler I do like Bader vodka I used to chug that I used to chug that out of the bottle I’m sure you wouldn’t uh you wouldn’t mind drinking any who’s uh who’s a member at beler uh Jesse our my buddy Jesse is we’re going up to the game is blade open play with you uh I to yeah a little maybe last minute invite to Stewie yeah oh you haven’t no I haven’t invited him you haven’t invited I’ve had so much [ __ ] on the go as you know yeah so yeah you wouldn’t want to bring B bleno in there as your partner and [ __ ] just go to town yeah cuz he F bring BL bl’s a guy isn’t he he is he still like just a stick he’s a stick yeah that that some things don’t change the fact that bla kicks my ass every time I play golf with him so no Blackhawk badier no we’re not going to play Black HW I’m staying on the east side what does that mean I’m staying over the east side but where’s that like white AV or no no it’s up near like sheerwood Park like so it’s you know not so much fors of Scat where Bo Loops from just a little east of there oh so you’re out of the city yeah I’m staying out of the city staying staying out on a farm for two days really you don’t have a hotel room downtown I do not I think you should find I might go Saturday night because I’m going out early Sunday so that’s probably Saturday night is my night to let her rip so Thursday night go to the game uh Oilers are probably going to win game three if you go by the book then what back to the ranch or no downtown probably go buck Diddy downtown and then meet back at the ranch later now the guy you’re going with what Jesse yeah does he like to get after of course yeah but yeah he’s a little I I’d say he’s probably more lowkey than than you than me yeah that was funny uh shout out to Tyson Barry and Chaser from uh no chaser Casey from Greta they’re like uh up dog if you want to come by Thursday let us know where where go where you at you’re like right beside the pine I’m like up dog know that is they kicked you out there last time we up there for the fou they kicked us both out I know I said we’re leaving we’re [ __ ] leaving all right we’re leaving we don’t even want to be here coming back yeah I think we did something stupid probably uh anyways fellas um this will be coming out the UPG will be up there in oil country enjoying it up dog game two 3.6 million people watched it on ESPN that is great for hockey that’s a credit to Steve Levy uh Mark Messier PK BCI um and it’s and most importantly the players man that that’s a feather in their cap no and and the pregame show was great at the point and then I thought like leading up to the game they they highlighted just how great you know the Florida Panthers organization is all the buzz around the city for you know for their second Stanley Cup Final in as many years and you know when you got the best player arguably the best two players and maybe you throw barkoff in there as well three in the world you know why not highlight and have all these you know these fans tune in because the hockey’s great and the atmosphere is great I can’t wait to get in this building it’s going to be incredible but uh the game’s growing and as we know you know salary cap talk all week and stuff going up next year it’s just uh things are on the up and up and that’s good because we want to see these guys get paid more and we want to see the fans start to you know new fans come enjoy hockey stand finals their year I didn’t know how it would how it would be viewed down here because you know of the Edon Oilers and they do have the two two well the best player on the planet and then dry settle right there behind them but I want to give some credit to mat stuck to being a US board player great in the media always says the right thing uh always you know I saw him on McAfee yesterday uh last year when they in the finals he went on you know NBA TNT like I just think Chucky does a great job and he has grown the game in America and people are tuning in because he’s American Bo player his old man’s a legend and let’s get her going you I mean I think I think Chucky being such a good player and a good person that helps those ratings too man yeah it’s you know one thing is calling big Walt a legend but right now I mad could chuck what he’s done you know I I haven’t looked at Keith stats his first maybe 10 years in the league but Matty kachuck is he’s arguably one of NHL’s most did decorated media people that we have and he backs it up with you know with a heart trophy Cal caliber season last year bleeding his team to the finals um a guy that you know at the start of this year played played hurt um you broken sternum in the finals last year and now now as he’s a healthy guy and you listen to him um you know what he says to about his team what he says about this opportunity that lies ahead for them only two wins away from a Stanley Cup Championship it’s you know it’s a guy that that is is cherishing this moment and cherishing this moment for his Organization for his team and for you know for his personal athletes and you know what he he he’ll take on any role right like he he all year he’s you know you said he was came back from injury he struggled he didn’t put up the you know the points he did last year none none of that mattered to him he had one thing on his mind to get back to where they are now and their whole team I mean you know we’ll see the series is like we said you know earlier in the week it’s not over we’ll see how what takes place in Edmonton but um one thing we talked about was you got to have a bird that can get you all the way from Edmonton to [ __ ] Florida without having fuel up well the cats they had to stop in Kansas City and they couldn’t get out of Florida today this is we’re recording on Wednesday fellas they couldn’t get out because of storms they had to stop in Kansas City you were shocked at the relief of the day shocked yeah I’m well I understand not going into the belly of the Beast like is the Beast right now you cannot there’s going to be fire alarms pulled at your hotel there’s going to be chicken that’s not cooked properly exactly there’s going to be hard pasta It’s you know there’s going to be some I’m just saying that that’s just the Mind mind warfare that’s going to be played within Edmonton you can’t trust anybody at those hotels you got to be bringing your own food your own drinks you don’t want to be eating the ice in the hotel I bet you they had this conversation with these guys I bet you they said fellas careful ordering room service we got team meals team meals that’re going to watch bringing our own Chef yeah I would man watch what goes in there next to you know the boys got the shits can’t playing like these these greasy Oilers fans they they know that it’s desperate times they’ll do whatever it takes but but we did talk about this I I did mention and you said there’s they got to get a bird that can go the whole way I don’t know if they’re not flying on a global so I think did the ERS make it way well there there’s no I guess you can fly Edmonton to to Cancun so yeah I guess but but Up Against the Wind that’s a long that’s a long flight that’s a long flight but there’s birds out there that can make it you got yeah you’re right okay so so unless you want the boys just to get off and stretch the legs you’re like all right boys let’s get off here Kansas City stretch legs but for me if I’m the gmr owner Vin viol I’m like get me the plane that gets the boys there safely obviously and just without stop this five and a half six hour flight like your legs are a little cramped up no are you not maybe you don’t want to stop to just walk it out yeah that’s something and then like let’s talk about this going in the day before when you have three days there’s you know there was three days in between right so you’re going in the day before to me is nuts I think you got to get at least halfway up maybe you stop in Calgary maybe you go into Calgary what about uh what about or you could just stay in Kansas City they got a rank there you could have a skate there have some [ __ ] barbecue break out the Tums [ __ ] head back on the bird or you could have stopped you said Denver but that the altitude is what maybe tricky you know you get into altitude might [ __ ] with your lungs a little bit do you remember that flight speaking of long flights we were part of the Florida Panthers do you remember our flight from Washington to vanou yeah I do [ __ ] were we drunk coming off of that plane that’s not as how that one’s up there too that that’s as far as you get too yeah yeah and we didn’t have to stop for fuel not that I remember we we might we might have stopped hey boys did we just stop uh hey did you see the thing about um they asked the floor of panthers you know who you sit beside and yeah um they all play poker yeah Chucky Monty eki Bennett aapa yeah like they got a like when I heard that I’m like oh I like these guys even more they’re playing poker on the bird so that’s maybe one Legacy I left behind in Florida there was there was a great poker you left a couple other you you left a couple you left a couple other things behind in Florida too but yeah Legacy is definitely definitely one of them but um I just thought man I miss playing poker on the bird yeah right that’s and all they do is BET on these games I I remember yeah I know I remember like my time in Vancouver like then the road didn’t really hang out with at home everyone was married with kids like where I got to know my teammates the most was battling obviously the dress room but then on the plane playing cards with Bea and Burrows and Willie Mitchell and horuk and and Edler and um Michael gr like that’s where you get to know these guys and you build a brotherhood like say what you want about it but I think playing poker’s huge and when I heard that the Florida Panthers are playing poker are the Oilers playing poker they got to be right have you heard anything have you no I haven’t but 100% Conor play poker you think Leon Leon poker yeah Leon looks like a guy that plays poker Kane’s playing poker I 100% eom’s playing poker Skinner’s playing poker what about Ryan nen Hopkins if he was he’d be a good poker player he looks like he’s strategic like that buard probably not no Bard’s playing video games actually you know what that’s the guy you want to play in it I think Teddy Purcell told me that buard was a beauty remember we played golf yeah I’m sure he’s a beauty to me seems like he’s easy money and he’s he’s going to be making Banks so he’s the one you want in the poker game who was the easiest worst player you’ve ever played with uh well toots was but we called him bet and toots he lose all the time but he was just a it wasn’t for a lack of just you know he had balls yeah um Easy Money Darcy hor shuck Joe was a pretty good poker player I was probably people would probably say me I I was K Paul Korea uh as you know um Lou was great uh Darien hasher was a good player Louie was good but Louie was such a he was such he was I’m like Lou are you going to play hand yeah I know like get in there Chris bar was easy money he didn’t make much money he easy money I remember I’ll never forget hor Chuck we had the mother’s trip he like he had to borrow money off his mom I think he actually asked his SP for somebody to buy back in yeah Haron was good ke was good Loop’s a good poker player Loops is a great poker player yeah again he’s got and he’s and he’s got Puck luck he’s got Diamond hands oh he’s got yeah what was the game we played hadn’t over to Ireland though MJ’s game yeah card stud he was we bent him over he was down we didn’t he’s like is this a real game like MJ plays it but it’s got to be a real game um up dog I missed the bird although I probably wouldn’t miss that play from Everton Vancouver but hey Panthers if it goes back if you got to go back there for game six get a bigger bird a up Doug that’s right we’ll be right back here at missing curfew welcome back to miss curfew up doll Team Canada four nations get these guys a blue presented by laat Blue Light the prestine pilsner enjoy your beers together so you can let live life to the power of we always enjoy responsibly beer laat USA Buffalo New York all right up dog six guys are going to be announced June 28th uh which are your six guys get these boys the Bat Blue who if you were Don Sweeney who I didn’t even know was a g on the team good job by you I always thought Don Sweeny was American for some reason hanging there obes who are your top six guys June 28th get these boys on the Bat Blue well four guys off theall six guys I know but the four guys I mean come on okay look at down the look at down the point here as Center you got Conor McDavid number 97 you got number 29 McKinnon you are going to enjoy for the first time watching this guy play with McDavid who is number 87 Sydney Crosby generational player so you got those three guys and then kale ma for me is just a no-brainer best defenseman in the world uh so okay so you have those four yeah two now I’m going to go off the beaten path here for you all right okay I’m gonna take I’m going to take Alex petrangelo and I’m gonna take Connor Bard six guys you’re [ __ ] name in Bard on your on your six e I’m I’m gonna say Bard is g to play with McKinnon how’s that that’s going to be my that’s my guess right there well we’ll get into that let me let me let me dish let me dish up my blue lights before I just didn’t want to take the same as you CU I know you’re going to go he he he hey hey I’m going to go McDavid McKinnon Crosby down the pipe like the up dog then I’m going to give some love to Sam Reinhardt Rhino he’s in the Stanley Cup finals he scored 54 goals he’s going to get absolutely paid and then obviously kale Mar and I’m going to go with his D partner Devon Tes as my six guys get those boys a the Bat Blue them a bat blue light Conor Bard ready folks Conor Bard is not in my top he’s not my top 12 fella so he’s gonna I’m going tell you what about Conor Bart this is tell me who you Tak Instead This what I’m GNA do Conor Bard it’s it’s it’s the Caitlyn Clark treatment right Caitlyn Clark didn’t make Team USA which is a joke it’s a joke it’s stupid you have her on the team because she’s going to generate a buzz Conor Conor Bard is going to make the team because he’s Berard and he’s going to get in some games but he will not play in the championship game he will not be in the top 12 say you make the team they’re goingon to have him on the team for experience but he’s not going to be playing on Nathan mckennon’s he’s already going to have a year and a half under his belt not he’s not just a rookie he’s a [ __ ] rookie puke still until he plays another game he’s a rookie puke in my opinion he he I mean he almost got you almost lost your bet right did you lose a bet I didn’t I won my Bard bet okay you won The Bard bet but how many goals did he get 20 he scored uh he got like what 22 yes okay so anyway but he’s not going to be a rookie anymore and he still has not played in an NHL game with good players not one you make a great point I I I would love to see him play with McKennon or McDavid or Crosby imagine he played with a guy that actually carries the play and that feeds through that other guy instead of I I just think they’re they’re crazy not to give him a look see what kind of chemistry he has with these guys because arguably like no whether he deserves it or not he’s probably just just as skilled or better than than than the [ __ ] top you know there’s going to be six guys there that are better than him and then it’s arguably like he’s like Sam Reinhardt and him Sam Reinhardt hasn’t had a breakout season since last year Reinhard scored 54 but playing with barov and [ __ ] for yeah well right here he’s going to be playing with Crosby I’m sure he can rip those one-timers home to but yeah but I mean I’m just saying wait till he gets a chance no listen you I don’t know who loves Bard more you’re luk y Scout right now say I I want I want Conor Bard or r on my team for next year next year next year in the NHL Reinhardt you really scored 54 goals you would rather take Sam Reinhardt than Conor Sam reinard in NHL season for one season one season yeah I take Reinhard for sure but reinhardt’s a Winger Bard’s a center I know but so Bard’s going to be on the wing because look on this projected four nations cup yeah it’s McDavid mckin and Crosby Point yeah now I’m going to make another statement here I’m missing curfew I don’t know who the coach is going to be I think it should be John Cooper I hope it’s John Cooper to me I’m to put point on the wing and my fourth line Center no matter who the [ __ ] is a coach Ryan O’Reilly is my fourth line Center I I I like that that is just who my fourth line Center is you need him in the dressing room you just need him he’s a fourth line you need to snap the draws back yes now when you look at this team to me you know if you want to look pull up team USA’s projected lineup like you’re going to need some some some PK guys and maybe I’m biased because it’s fact Daddy but I would put point on the wing and then there’s rumors of you know do you put McDavid and McKennon together do you try mcken on the right side now if that happens then maybe you slide Bard in there but to put Bard on the wing I I don’t know up I I just I mean we’re talking about Team Canada here the the kid’s going to be a stud I get it but we’re talking about Team Canada here let me ask you this do you think they just bring the whole Oilers Top Line McDavid Heyman and Nan Hopkins as a as a as a line I don’t think nen Hopkins makes the team I he’s a good penalty killer I think I think he’s deserves a chance to look at it yeah for sure um I also say it’s a good point I I don’t know would you take would you take stone or would you take nen Hopkins like for overall you Stone I would take I would take Stone because he’s a right-handed shot but I don’t think Stone makes a team either okay and now for the listeners out there we might be rambling on but right now A projected lineup of of what I have in front of me think of these right-handed Wingers Stam Co Heyman Marner Reinhardt Stone bard Mara sh [ __ ] then you can put Barelle in there you like there’s they all right-handed guys we we’re struggling to find a left-handed shley Robert Thomas like [ __ ] there’s no left-handed Wingers the only left-handed Wingers right now is Marshon and Marshon that’s it there’s only marshan that’s a left-handed [ __ ] Winger so I think you know Crosby maybe goes to the wing I think I why not it’s [ __ ] mcdavid’s a lefty marant’s a lefty Crosby’s a lefty that’s the only lefties on this team so here’s the projected lineup That Prince Kyle found for us Stam Co McDavid Heyman Marsha McKennon Marner Reinhardt Crosby Stone Bard Point Marsha Shaw I don’t know why I don’t think Marshall is not on the team either martyr he’s not guaranteed on the [ __ ] team no I would take Mar out of there and I would slide Reinhard up there I would go Marsha McKennon Reinhardt and I got Crosby and I need some wiggers for Crosby I need some wiggers for CR I really think right now if if next season continues to go the way this season has gone Newen Hopkins makes this team with McDavid and Heyman that’s that’s that’s the first line first line then you go yeah I’m just saying that line you don’t even have to think about these guys know how to play hockey they’re [ __ ] in the Stanley Cup Final currently it’s just to me it would be you don’t even have to think about that they already know each other they’re [ __ ] good then O’Reilly they already know each other they’re [ __ ] good and then O’Reilly you put him in because he’s a left-handed draw and he’s just going to be you know whether he plays or he doesn’t he can he’s just right there I think Point can play the wing i i i the way that point could play and protect the puck on the wall and get his Boots moving I I I got no point moving Bren point over to the wing but n as a young kid putting him on the wing I’m sure he can handle it listen you’re going to be right they’re there’s no way they’re leaving the kid off the team but let me say do you think Conor D yeah will make an impact in the four nations cup 100% if he plays a great player you do he’s fast he sees the ice well it’s a it’s a moment where he’s going to I I don’t know I actually did you get the chance to watch him at the World Championships I didn’t he would had a chance to play I didn’t watch any of that I I know Team Canada didn’t you know didn’t play the way the way they did but um I did see a lot of Brady kachuck highlights from the worldship though BR was like fighting guys or trying to fight guys it was great for a minute okay we talked a lot about the forwards let’s talk about the D sure and this is right up your wheelhouse um do you go the Canada’s always like to do left-handed right-handed OB it’s just the way they’ve been it’s always been like their M Mo at World Juniors at World Championships the whole thing so so you got Ma you have you have Taves yes you know let’s just start with those two and then where else you put some guys I’ll give you my I’ll give you my guys right now okay so I got Taves and marar as my top pair okay I got Morgan Riley and Petro Angelo as my second pair yeah and then my third pair I got the [ __ ] Beauty Drew dowy just cuz he’s a [ __ ] Beauty yeah and Josh morsey and then my 78 I mean you could pick whoever you want really but they say buard and and uh Bard Vince Don or Hamilton cuz well actually Doug didn’t douy Hamilton didn’t play last year I mean EV Bard’s going to get a look obviously yeah Hey listen this Dobson from the Islanders has an absolute bomb as a right handed shot a lot of right-handed shots again here so Taves marar Lefty righty Morgan Riley petol Lefty righty uh dely and Mory Lefty righty like that’s my top six as of right now but listen a lot of things are going to change right there’ll be injuries guys are going to step up and when you talk about Bard you’re right about him playing with other players and it’s going to be you know is he healthy and what type of year he’s having it too right totally yeah it’s going to come down to somebody’s going to come out of the gates next year maybe Reinhardt cools off next year maybe he gets 10 bananas a year and what if he signs in like Columbus for 10 bananas a year and doesn’t play with the players that heat playing with currently and he has an off year like [ __ ] dog Columbus say no listen Reinhardt listen reinhardt’s I mean Reinhard is not guaranteed on the team by any stret yeah I’m just saying reinhard’s had two great years and so is Heyman but if Heyman doesn’t play with McDavid and Reinhard doesn’t play with barov are they having 50 goal years probably not arguably not I’m gonna go an honorable mention to Brandon Montour yeah I I I think you could put Brandon Montour in the mix there too yeah hell yeah for for sure yeah I love Mon’s game but but but what about last thing here before we head to Our Guest up dog power play one power play one for Team Canada McDavid McKinnon Crosby macarr and then stammer h i mean I’m putting Hyman in front of the net you’re putting him okay I how do I argue that the guy had 50 [ __ ] seven goals or something and M Mar’s the only defenseman on the ice obviously yeah so it’s it’s McKinnon Mar McDavid up top and then I have where you Crosby Crosby on the goal line yeah yeah so you got so sick you know you got got one two three four yeah so you got Heyman McDavid McKinnon Crosby marar yeah I should be coaching the team that’s who that’s who’s out there don’t come off I got score I’m going to go McDavid McKinnon Crosby marar stammer for one time City over there but you do need that front guy you do need that front guy but the only problem with this Crosby can stand in M car is is McKinnon and McDavid they do the same thing on the power play they wheel but they’re going to be they’re going to be opposite sides I hope so yeah left and right and they’re going to just be circling the goddamn wues [ __ ] Co it’s going to be chaos man I can’t wait to watch it we’re going to go let’s where do we want to go Boston or Montreal or both I like Montreal better than Boston yeah yeah yeah plus we got a guy we got a guy Boston we been dodging for last year Hey listen it’s great for hockey uh badar I’m sorry I’m old crusty vet but I still treat you as a rook I’m sure you’re going to Pro I’m sure you’re going to prove me wrong I think you’re great I can’t wait to see 97 with a [ __ ] Canada Jersey on it’s been way too long this is going to be a great tournament it should be the Six Nations but unfortunately it’s the four nations upd dog our guest coming up is brought to you by DraftKings fella presented by DraftKings stay tuned fellas because you’ll hear hear more about DK and all it has to offer throughout our show DraftKings the crown is yours absolute Beauty a great get here by the up dog Louie debrusk coming at you next uh welcome back to Mr curfew up dog uh big fan of this guy uh love like I said I’ve watched I watched probably 70 of 82 others games this year uh I love the broadcast I love the way this guy played you reached out and got him so I’m excited about this guame yeah I remember too in training camp when I was up there in my last sah he him sitting up in the stands and me being like [ __ ] right Lou the bruss up there yeah good guy always around always around the Lou thanks for joining us buddy we’re a big fan of yours thanks for taking the time thanks for having me guys I even put Lou dog as my name on the zoom call so I got the dog at the end there you go I’m part I’m part of the clan I appreciate let’s start there with your telecast because like I said me and up dog watch a lot of O those games you guys do a hell of a job uh just talk about the chemistry you guys have and how much fun you’re doing it because when we when it watches it looks like you guys enjoy every single game and it’s probably easy when you’re watching 97 and 29 most nights yeah yeah it’s h you know it’s funny when I first started with Evans there was a few dark Ys there when I say a few like almost a decade and I don’t say that lightly because when I played for the oers that was the first dark years for the for the organization after the Stanley Cups so I understand what that was like so I had some empathy for the team and what they were going through but obviously in the last six seven years youve really started to see this team start to take on light obviously under Conor mcdavid’s watch and he and being the superstar that he is he just knew this team was was going to methodically get better and better and better and now they’re in the Stanley Cup Final um and you know I don’t think too many people are that surprised they there but for Jack and I know we’ve known each other since he came on board and we’ve been friends ever since and you know when you’re friends with somebody off the ice uh off the ice out of the broadcast Booth U it’s it’s easy to be friends in the broadcast Booth it’s that’s so mean kind of how to say so for him and I we have a chemistry that way we love calling hocky we love calling games we like seeing what’s happening on the ice we get excited for great plays um and this team’s had a lot of them I mean that we we kind of P ourselves sometimes we’re sitting up there and you know Conor will do something he does or Leon or n or you name it the players on the I some of the things they do out there on a nightly basis are just incredible and it just doesn’t happen all the time so when you’re when you’re in it every single day sometimes you can get desensitized from the great stuff yeah and you have to really be aware of that you have to be aware of the fact that hey these guys are doing amazing things right now I mean they’re breaking records they’re they’re they’re destroying records that have been around for a while time so let’s give them the BET let’s give them that doom and make sure that we’re we don’t talk about them because we think we’re talking about them too much we can talk about them a lot no that’s such a great point you heard Paul Maurice’s comments about like how good 97 and 29 are and you almost take it for granted right like you just expect them to go out there and get three points you expect them to to to break records it’s like man what they’re doing is is it’s so crazy that this is oh this is just normal this is what Conor does every single B it is there’s a ton of weight with that right and I I’m I’m I’m completely aware of that I know Conor’s handled it really well the handled it well playing in a Canadian Market as you know it’s both of you guys have been involved in Canadian markets and been arounded you understand what is what the animal is here in Canada it is different I mean we we 11 breade this game um you’re going to see that when you come into the Edmonton and Tak in a couple games here for the stall clup final it’s just a whole different situation and you have to be mentally and emotionally strong to handle it so I give him a lot of credit because there’s been a ton of pressure here and when you’re the best player in the game spor is there’s always going to be that expectation it’s Destiny right it’s uh it’s kind of when you’re a generational player you’re expected to win simple as that and I know he knows that more than anybody that’s the thing we all talk about it but this guy understands kind of what he is far as the game is concerned and how how you know his impact on the game and what he’s had as an impact of the game already but he wants to win he wants to be that guy and when you listen to Dr side at the start of the Year uper bust I mean I think every single player going into the season feels that way I mean he just said it and there’s nothing wrong with saying that there should be expectations that is a hefty expectation but I think from their perspective that’s exactly what it is they they’ve had all the individual Awards they don’t it’s yeah it’s nice to get an N Ross it’s nice to you know go out there and get the rocket Mard if you can be in that mix it’s nice to score 50 goals and get 100 assists but for Conor and for Leon and for the whole four of this teams including new Hopkins has been here the longest it’s about winning that’s what the game’s always been about and that’s what they’re trying to do right now but yeah you know I I think that I that’s probably the biggest thing for me is how they’ve handled that pressure and every single year it seems like they’re able to come in and do a little bit more and we’ve seen it again this year their first taste of the Stanley Cup Final hasn’t started great for the team but um they’ve gotten themselves there and they’ve had a taste of it and there’s still lots of a left in this series uh we all hope I’ll I’ll just stay there for one sec with with Connor um Louie Connor I saw something Connor last uh last series when he stuck up for you know the the media scrum when someone asked him about nurse and playing better or whatever and he and he just kind of took he’s like I’ll take that that was something I you know I’ve known Conor a while now it was something I seen that I was like wow this this maturity level and him knowing like I’ve been to this you know Western Conference Final before I didn’t get to the yeah I didn’t get to the promised land these are my boys you’re around him every day is there something right now you see like in in his eyes or in practice or the way he handles his teammates that you haven’t seen yet that you’re like you know he realizes that all the greats get to this moment and that when they’re so close you know the the margin of error is that much bigger like is there something you see that that you’re like that just still impresses you with Connor that that that you haven’t seen yet you know what I and I would I would all she tell you that I don’t think it comes naturally to you know that’s the one thing I think people just expected the best players in the game to be these superhuman beings that you know are confident walk around and command that attention and command that respect that’s not necessarily always the case I mean I’ll take Wayne gry for example you know he had other guys in that room in the 80s when they were winning stanle cups that you know like the mark Messi in the world he talks about Le fogland all the time you know the older veteran player that just you know came to the rank every day buckled out played the right way they respect those guys and Carter is no different he has a great respect for the grunts of the game you know he really does he understands it you don’t have those boxes checked up you’re not going to win right you know let’s face it yeah I was a gr I’m not afraid to say it you know the fourth line grind but if your fourth line or your third line or guys in your your fifth and sixth your third tering our P their weight you’re not winning anything I don’t care who you are he understands that so I think what I see in Conor I’ve seen a lot of growth he’s got more comfortable in that skin of being the best player of the game and it just comes with a territory he’s been really good that I think you have to give him a lot of credit for that Leon’s come out of his shelter he’s a great interview you guys know that you see what he talks about he speaks from the heart he’s not he’s not going to pull a punch if you ask him a question you’re going to get an answer and I think that’s kind of where they have to get to to to understand that they’re the leaders of this team you know and this is how they’re going to have to do it and for Conor the one thing that I’ve seen is he has taken responsibility with that he has taken that uh stance on his team where I’m kind of tired of hearing you guys bash our team stop bashing our team and we talked about it quite a bit throughout the year this year the games have been tight I mean they’re not blowout games right these have been very tight games and yeah in the end of the game it seems to get out of control when you’re you’re trying to push and you’re pulling your goal there’s an open net goal and all that but that was the one thing this team really had to buckle down they knew they couldn’t keep playing the same way if they wanted to be successful yeah they’re putting up all these points they’re breaking records in the power play they’re scoring titles and all that but they understood that they had to buckle down to the team and play defense and I think that the biggest change that I’ve seen in the top players and it’s still a work in progress they’re awesome at it they’ve gotten the Stanley Cup Final but there’s still work to be done there and I think when they play that way and they Ute well in the overall game is when they win hockey gam that’s what they’re going to have to do in game number three if they want to win and they know and that’s that’s kind of that realization that you know what sometimes when I always go back to like Steve Eis in Detroit you know Joe sck who didn’t drop off point totals as much as I them those are the two guys back when I was playing you know Detroit Colorado winning cups and you know I just watched how they went from 150 Point guys to 85o players and they were better they were better teammates and better players for it because they played the right way and if you didn’t play that way you didn’t play for the win they just booted you out of there it’s like see you later we’re not going to use you and I think that’s the mentality that evon’s trying to take over and it’s taking some time because when you’re the guy that’s expect to put up three points T night um it’s it’s a pretty uh heavy task to do and you you want a win guge 21 32 31 with an open letter that’s kind of what they’re looking to do well Lou I might have to steal that need the grunts I might make that a t-shirt buddy you need the grunts he bud you [ __ ] you need the grunts Boys Hey Hey ham and anchor buddy H you got to be ham eggar you don’t have I mean listen Florida talk about those guys look at them yeah I the one thing about Florida and I will tell you in the last I’ve seen them dismantle my my son’s Boston team twice and that’s not an easy thing to do because they beat him at their own game yeah they were down 3-1 last year up against one of the best teams in history and they found a way to grind out that win now it punished them when they got to the fin they left it all the table for the first three rounds and it hurt them in the final and they’re healthier now and it shows and I think that what happened though is when they go up against the bostes of the world they’re up against Tampa Bay every single year they’re looking at them right there in Florida going holy gez that’s a team we have to take over who was a three straight Stanley Cup idals you know you have to elevate your game they’ve elevated their game and they are a team they’re a great team and I think some of their their role players and grunts don’t get enough respect that londell’s great that kid’s awesome he’s so nasty I’m telling you he’s suppressed right now he’s on a very good team suppressed but that guy he’s a player and that that that makes all the difference when you’re neutralizing top lines and you’re trying to balance things out when your depth plays the way their depth plays you’ve got a really good chance of being successful hey Lou I want to go back I want to go back to the dog days at the start of the year just just for this is a personal question for me and up dog because we’re watching the Oilers I’m like upie we got to bet him again there’s no way they’re going to lose they lose I’m like upy we got to bet him again they lose I’m like up we got to hammer tilt Lou Lou when they lost that game at the shark when they when they lost that game at the Shark Tank me and up dog were we hit rock bottom but what was it like for you were you guys just like what is like what was it like was it just like well how do we just lose that hockey game where’s our team what was it like inside that organization it was I will be honest with you and from my perspective because I talked about those 10 years that I covered the team where they had four first overall picks and I remember Kevin Quinn was my partner at that time and I would 10 games into the season I’d top him and say Sad luck be a long year again yeah you know what I mean it’s gonna be a long year like they’re just they’re just not there yet they’ve got all these first overalls they’re trying to figure out how to play in the NHL it kind of reminded me of that a little bit is what I felt I felt geez this is a real kind of almost step back but what I will tell you is and I truly believe this I just think all the talk in the Summer Conference Final the year two years before lost to the Stanley Cup champions of Vegas B the knights last year where they pushed them harder than any team in the class they gave the Vegas golden knights the hardest time in that second round matchup last year they lost it but they pushed they had lead in every single game of that Series so they were running right with the Vegas golden knights who went on to win the cup then they go into this season and the expectations from the Conference Final to last year losing the Stanley Cup champion again they lost the Avalanche two years ago bad the there’s only one the next step is get to the final here we go give ourselves a chance to win this and I really do believe that expectation took on a life of its so and I think that it was really heavy I do and then things start to go south a bit you don’t win a couple games you get up against a Vancouver team the first two games of the Season that won the Pacific you know and they came in like Gang Busters and just you’re like wow like you think you should be able to beat that team that’s a pretty darn good team like that but people didn’t see it that way so I think the outside know he started to pile up and I’ll give him credit I I’ve been around for a lot of coaches in this organization I can tell you that the player especially Ryan nen Hopkins I think he’s at nine eight or nine for sure um it’s it there’s been a lot of turnover in that regard and that’s hard to see from anybody outside the game but especially for those guys in the you could tell it was a really tough situation having to let another coach go and bring somebody else in and there was a little transition period very short but where they were like okay we need to start buckling down and getting things going here that game in San Jose though I do remember clear as day because we Jack and I were talking going hey you know they can’t lose team like this is kind of a team this is a team where it’s time to start turning this around because you’re digging yourself a whole you might not be able to get out of but give him a lot of credit I don’t think people talk enough about that they were way down there and they just climbed right to the top and now are one of the final two teams pretty impressive season in that regard and I think you have to you have to think of it in those terms they found a way to get there which is the most important part yeah I was going to say that we had a close friend of ours during that stretch and I think it was maybe after San Jose you know sent us the line on the on the you know the cup Contender they’re like evon’s plus 18800 right now to win is this something you should you should tickle and I’m like guys there at Rock Bottom I would not even I would not even exercise it you know but uh let’s just let’s talk about the coaches that would have but God Lou they were so they were so in one I’m like I’m not touching this team I’m not touching this team yeah you’re alone I mean that’s reality that’s how it was and that’s how they felt but I’ll give them a lot of credit those guys buckled down and uh they ate a lot of crow a lot of uh talk from us on the outside and I think they used it as motivation I really do I think they used it as that that little bit of a you know on the shoulder always go from you know hey get things going here every single time they started to think it wasn’t going to go they started hearing that noise that voice on their shoulder and uh good for them good for them I did I did say the up dog I said they’re going to go on a run I didn’t think they’d win 16 straight Louis but I’m like they are going to go on a run here and we just got to catch it I caught like the last I think I caught the last seven or eight wins of it so I got a little bit of my jedar back from the from the tough start but it was an unbelievable run yeah so I wanted you just said motivation what does this group well what motivates these guys like is the media sometimes I I never dealt with Canadian media like Obie and yourself has and you’re part of it but you’re not one of those guys you’re not one of those guys is there is there a you know inside that room do they use that as fuel sometimes do they you know when when all of a sudden like the hockey world and especially the the internal Hockey World the beat writers and all that is this a group that’s always used that as motivation or does it you know I I don’t know I guess I’m asking what what really makes this group tick I would I would tell you yes but but only to a certain degree I think that uh unfortunately being in this you know I don’t even know what you want to call it but it’s uh you’re under a microscope no question about it and Tellis like it’s like you know like you’re you’re so everything you do everything you say is scrutinized is talked about we’re all armch GMS here at EB I don’t know if you know that we all know how to make a winning team Bob stally Bally B that we all think we know yeah to be the ones in char of doing that you have to kind of quiet that outside noise and I think you guys know playing as long as you both you guys did like that team is your world that becomes your family that becomes your world and everything on the outside and you can look at it one of two ways you can look at it as arrogance and however you want as far as being that group I don’t look at it that way I look at in survival I look at it as hey if you were to actually open up the news page every single day back when it was newspapers if you go on the internet today and you start looking at stuff I mean you’re going to think you’re a terrible player every single day you can’t do it so you have to block out that outside noise you have to do it from within you have to have those internal conversations on and I think that’s another thing going back to when you talk about Conor I really do believe that there’s more of those conversations going on with this team I think that you know the Zach hman that have come on board Cory prry obviously adding him into the mix the Dell player the oldest team in the league at the end of the year so they’ve got guys that have been around and they tried to build it that way to say hey this is our group right here of course you h engaged the the crowd and the fans and they respect them a ton but you can’t hear all that noise all the time you have to block it out and just be a team and I think that’s great stronger that’s the motivation God you’re talking about is that they want to do it for for themselves first that will obviously lead to the outside and make their fans really really have and and good point on on motivation with with veterans in your group because the veterans like throughout a playoff stretch they realize like this could be it this could be my last crack right and that in your internal group can prove to the younger players and Edmonton’s been made up of a lot of younger players you a lot of you know new players into the mix and those guys don’t really realize how hard it is to get you know the the first round Victory or even to make the playoffs and then by this time you have Cory Perry you got Heyman has been there now you’ve got you know nurse you’ve got these guys that have been around going guys this is we’re as close to this as we may ever get like now let’s like use that as the motivator and unless you got those guys pushing everyone you know you might just say ah we got next year if this doesn’t work out look at Adam Henry I I know you guys know Adam right yeah of course he he goes the Stanley Cup Final with New Jersey dbls in his first four year that was his first goal since that playoffs sorry he scored one I think with against the all Kings in 14 that’s a long time that’s a long time 12 or 14 when they lost to the the kings that was that year sorry 12 yeah it it was his first year they beat us get all messed up and all but anyway what I’m saying is there is a guy that I’ve talked to this year when he came aboard and he’s got a a great attitude I mean he’s thought about his business every single year but you start wondering to yourself you know I never won a cup I watched a lot of guys win cups I don’t know about you guys when you’re watching every single year you’re like that’s what it’s all about I’m sorry that’s what you gauge your career on you really do and I think afterwards you can lighten up and understand you still did a great job even though you didn’t win when you’re in the mix when you’re in that business the business is winning simple as that yeah you’re there to win and when you don’t I think people don’t realize how hard they take it upon themselves um I can use my kid for example in 19 I mean he was wrecked in 2019 he lost to St Louis one year later d one year you know like I mean that’s timing right but but you know as well as anybody that’s a tough place to get to right and I knew that because I’ve been around the game for a long time and I watched I sat there and made sure I watched that celebration on the ice and watched St Louis hoist that cup around because there were some great guys in that room that had never W to yeah right and every single year I say the same thing when the Stanley wion it’s an emotional time for anybody that’s been around the game because you’re happy for the GS and Congress said it best when he think he was 14 or 15 years old when he’s watching the St cup be her raised right before he got drafted he said but I was jealous yeah I was jealous of those guys LIF in that cup because that’s what everybody wants right and I just think you have to have those guys that have been through those experiences to be able to say like in a game like game number three coming up tomorrow night hey we need to buckle down this is still a series and we need to get back into it and for the Florida G that have bu around the opposers of the world which I it’s great to see him on board doing that the guys they picked up the DN and that injecting their lineup Terence SEO who already want to stay on the cup he knows they know hey we can’t give this team life do not give this team a stiff that’s that’s the Dos right there who brings it tomorrow night let’s see what the series is done after three Lou I gotta ask you you may a great point they got swept by the as Western Conference a couple years ago they lost to Vegas and it always goes back to betting for me Lou I’ve had money on the Oilers every year but this year because I just thought when when are they going to when are they going to learn how to play defense when are they going to to learn how to go score 3-1 32 like you said now I want to ask you about Paul coffee was cough and no block too but does cough been the guy that’s come in here how have they learned how to play the right way Lou that’s my question how have they learned to play the right way I think it’s been a progression for years I really do and I think every coach that’s been there for those years has started to implement that and make them understand Dave tip but I mean I remember talking with him had LS about it I remember one conversation we had these coaches are smart you know honestly I have such a respect for from a player’s perspective to a broadcaster’s perspective coaching right you know you get a little older and you start watching you’re like geez you know there’s a lot of moving Parts you got to take control of here a lot of a lot of different things you’ve gota you’ve got to mix and match Dave tippet said one time though when he kept right side of mdavid um finally it separated him and I asked him about he said I had to put them together now this was early when they weren’t as deep as a team but I have to put them together to let them understand that it wasn’t going to work it wasn’t going to work long term by keeping them together and the only way to really know that is to experience it is to go out there and lose together I know that sounds crazy but you have to have that in your mind like yes you can put them together in SPS so they’re awesome and you have you can use them in certain situations and they do and so does all block now but I think that it was it was a message to say if we don’t balance this out and we don’t play the right way and we don’t be Come Harder to play against then we’re never going to win anything and it takes time to embed that into the mentalities of players that have been able to go out there pretty much do what they want their entire years go out there just and just win the game for the team it gets harder and harder to do that so in start of with da no question about it I think when he came on board you know this last like five years I’m talking about right J woodc came in did wonderful things look look at his record when he first took over the team you know he came in and he started to implement stuff and then it was just a progression again Chris no comes in with Paul coffee and you start to implement different things I don’t necessarily think there’s been massive changes to be honest I think it’s mentality I think it’s how you get the message across think you know cough back there has a little bit of a pretty he’s a jokester right like I me he’s always kind of cracking jokes and he’s very light um intense don’t don’t mistake that for not being competitive those you know those 80s guys as anybody they they’ll compete in anything but it’s I think it’s just finally when the message does resonate and you realize and you’ll see like when they have difficulties Evanson for me is when they get off that path when they get off that path start getting running around not being strong in front of their net um that’s when they start to be us a bit and if if the goal tender is not standing on his head then you’re not winning the pocking gam but I do believe that they’ll bring that back to a little bit more regular but that’s where it starts it’s been years in the making though honestly for me for this team and if you look at any great team I I always look at a t Bay Lightning you know they lost more straight to thums Blue jacks yeah before they won their first down well second in their franchise history but first from that core and then they just learned how to do it and sometimes you need that hard lesson to said it in St yeah C got a nice tan too C got nice does he keep that tan how does he keep that tan going up there in edmon he’s always got nice he goes for walks that’s what he does he goes for like like like him and Jack will go walk the city I don’t know how they do it I get MB back after Lou me too Lou me too it’s it’s MB back or it’s barback I don’t know about you guys but I my wife wants to go to the mall we don’t go that much anymore but walking to the mall I swear it’s like yeah she’s a machine she can walk all day her and my daughter can go forever I I’m like I’m just gonna be sitting over here in this chair her having a coffee I’m not GNA walk anymore because I yeah got put some good shoes on if you’re gonna walk around the mall with your wife Louis I want to ask you about a guy um who I guess just your time in Edington you know even dating way back have you seen a guy come in and you know bring as much impact to Zack Heyman to like a group of guys yeah and then just like maybe just his success like the last couple years and then throw out the playoffs and then maybe how he can kind of break away from this Florida Panthers sort of defensive strategy against him because we really we talked about it he hasn’t really been able to get get open in front of the net and get those opportunities but but maybe just a little bit about him and and who he is as a guy and then you know what what’s going to break out here at home for game three for him it’s determination right like for me was Zach whenever I look at him and I you know because I saw him in triou I against my kid twice two seven game series I lost both of them and he was good in those playoffs but he was not the player he is now like he and and again that’s that learning along the way he puts the work in simple as that is how he’s gotten better I think he and he’s he’s smart he understands who he he understands the situation he and the opportunity he had when he came to Edon he saw that opportunity and he absolutely grabbed on with both hands and did not and unfortunately for some over the years I’ve been here covering this team they have let it they haven’t been able to maintain them a lot of pressure playing with 97 and 29 a lot of pressure but he’s he’s he was the perfect fit for it and I have him to be honest with he’s been one of the most explosive guys to come on the scene to score 50 goals the way he did this year um the work ethic every single night I think he’s a great leader example for everybody else in that dressing room and I do see some Tendencies rubbing off on other guys you know other guys starting to spin with the puck the way he does on the line the way he goes to the net where are you going to score goals get to the dirty areas and score right and you know for him though the Florida Panthers I think I would say Matas e on the defensive side of it Maas Eon was an amazing pickup last year incredible I honestly thought they had no chance of bringing in on board I there were some Rumblings that he might be the guy coming I’m like yeah really you been ask BR gonna trade that guy well lo and behold they did that was a great move and you know you gotta give Petty h on credit for them that’s you know you know you got to wait till the end you make your pitch you go out there you get the player you want I don’t know he could have picked a better guy at the price point he’s at to come in and be that guy so he would be the other equivalent for me in my time I think so far seeing guys come on board um and then you know what for for Florida I think that’s probably the biggest part of the game that we touched on earlier that people don’t give enough respectful they are really tenacious our defending team if you go back and watch replays Around the Net and I do this all the time my wife hates watching games and anybody I’m watching because I’m always rewinding checking stuff he’s the analist in me I can’t I can’t help I down the basement it takes me four and a half hours to watch a game because I’m constantly reviewing stuff watching stuff again but if you watch them in front of their net like they’re just so focused they’re so focused on where the danger is they don’t get drawn like the one thing Conor’s been able to do Leon can do that with the way he hold the puck those guys new J hoop they can kind of sway into getting like Puck watching one guy and all of a sudden they’ll draw a couple players to them they don’t do that they don’t do that they protect that house as good as anybody they’re really and they got a great go so I mean not only them the guys protecting the house they a big that me kid I mean my son mentioned him because he fell his PRS a few times in the series versus Florida and he said this guy is better than people think is this guy you know is going to make it hard for you to get front of the net they all do though everybody’s bowed that way how can you change that I think Scot you just got to go and I really do believe you just got to will yourself to get to that spot you got to get a little hungrier I do believe you they could have a little more of a shot mentality obviously game number two was a complete opposite of game number one but I don’t think in a series like this where the pressure that the pressure of Florida to me has been outstanding I cannot believe how fast they can get on a pu carrier how they take your time and space away and they do it to everybody but the one thing if you go back to game one the first and second period 25 to 12 I believe the shots were in favor of EMT yeah they put the pressure up it’s hard to do that for 60 minutes but from edington’s perspective I think they have to think we need to do this say [ __ ] we need to get on these guys and make them defend defend defend and if you don’t and they did push a little bit in the first period there they got the goal by at home they snuck one through but BR like uh oh the dam is broken here well you know what happened they allowed them to kind of get back into the game and stabilizing that one-1 goal was the turning point it is done once they got that goal the tie you saw Florida take over and start to get to their game and it was like uh oh there’s no time and space anymore they got to find a way to change that momentum in the game if they can Lou I want to ask you going back to Edmond here Edmonton here will the have last change uh we don’t know what’s going on with nurse cc is going to be back in the lineup and I know how good atol has been unbelievable him with Bard’s been unbelievable is there any way in your mind Louie with the home ice with the last change that you would ever think about splitting up buard at col to kind of balancing out with not knowing what’s going on with nurse or is that pair in your mind always staying together they’ll see time together for fur but I think as Nur an go you’re going to have to spread the wealth I think you could try and be solid especially up against the barov line I would say but then I look at it and I’ll tell you when the barov line is neutralized the Bennett line goes out there I see Bennett line I mean Rodriguez taking all the face off I don’t know what’s going on with Bennett’s hands still but um and there was Rodriguez and for Veri they made a switch like you know they had a little bit Veri Rodriguez and kind of made some switches that have worked for them I think it’s time for Ron to do the same thing I said this the other day after the game I’m like yeah it’s time I don’t see a dry saw like ating as much as they should you’re going to keep Conor and Leon separating you got to find maybe new Hopkins and drle find some I think F you know is a guy who’s a healthy strats he a li but the one thing he does is he gets on the for check you know he gets on the for check he disturbs he gets pucks back and that’s the key when you’re playing with both 972 I you need to get puck in their heads you got to go get it first to get it to them all it can’t always be them going to get it you get it in their hands more often than not get to the right placees good things will happen they haven’t done it enough but yeah I agree you know Shane I think that they’re going to I think there definitely could be a situation where they split that up to try spread the wealth out a bit too many minutes for those guys and and you’re going to have rights and left back in the mix with CC going back in which is also a positive three left three rights Lou I want to ask you about the bottom six fors I I think no Block’s done a good job of earlier in the playoffs last round especially Shuffle in the deck to me now there’s two guys Sam Carrick and Cory Perry to me have to be in the lineup every night moving forward is noblock shuffling the deck too much with the bottom six and overthinking this a little bit or what would you do moving forward if you were in that opinion because he has had guys in and out which I think you know keeps him healthy but as of now for me Carrick and Perry go to be in there yeah the grd and Swagger right um I like what I like when everybody brings to the table I think I think it really is if if I had to take a guess because they haven’t been directly around the team but I would tell you that they want to have fresh legs in there too I think when you saw in game two was a little bit of fatigue too I think you saw team that was starting to feel the effects of the long run and Florida had just a little bit more of the tank in my opinion and I think the two days in between in my opinion are going to help Evanson better it just that just because of how much time the Stars play I think it’s gonna it’s going to benefit Evanson instead of Florida it’ll benefit Florida too I mean barov gets a couple more days of rest looks like he’s goingon to be fine and Tesha gonna play game three um but I just think with the top guys especially playing as much as they play in Emon that extra day is critical it’s critical just to recover a little bit more but um yeah you know what I I I thought maybe Dereck Ryan injected in just to add a little bit of speed I thought even a guy like Sam G who when Jack used to always say you know you could roll it a bed and score a goal you know and he does he well you get that veteran guy F he do he just can really Buckle out and give you that give you that great game and he’s done that for Evington I I don’t know if I want to say it’s panic but I just think that you’re trying to find the right Mick you’re trying to find a spark and there’s no question this team needs some dep sporting they haven’t had a goal by a forward in the series yet in two games they’ve got one goal by defensely it’s you know what they have to generate some offense now I know we talk defense all the time they’re not really giving up a ton of goals no this is a team that can put the puck in the net they got to find a way to get to this guy they have to find a way they’re not going to win this year that’s a good thing to be set about you can roll a bed and score a goal that was definitely not s like by Brian can’t get out of bed he can’t get this guy out of I mean look at his first game this year when the team was in the dumps uh Sam came in and scored two I think and he was just like Oh see it was like the magic answer bringing a good almost like playoffs honest to God it was you know he’s a very well-liked player on this team he’s a well-like player in this organization in the city you know he came in as an 18y old um and for Sam you know for me he’s kind of one of those players that it’s been great to see because he’s had to change his game over the years as we all have you know we’re all different players and we come up through the rank so that next thing you know you find that Niche it’s going to get you to the league and keep you there he’s had to he’s had to really work in different areas to be a better player to you know stay around the national hock leagues for over a thousand games you know that’s that’s pretty impressive I’m sorry that is that is one of those tip of the cats for me that because you guys know it’s a grinding ruling lifestyle and to go that long to be around the game for that long you’re doing something right and you’re committed might be a little punch they need I don’t know if they’re going to do that I’m just saying thinking outside the box if you want to punch you want to spark he’ll give you a spark no question about especially with the building they’ll be pumped to see him in there I don’t want to punish anybody though and I know that’s hard to look at when you look at guys making mistakes in the playoffs I mean the the the margin of there is so small it just it’s I I don’t know if the two series that I did even the ranger um Carolina series it would be like a split second mistake it was in the back of it like it’s just you just you get punished when you make a little mistake nowadays it’s more glaring because it’s the playoffs and I know guys look at people and say he just I can’t play but that’s not the truth it’s it’s there’s a lot of moving Parts there but I didn’t really answer your question I don’t know I don’t mind the shuffling right now because I think you’re trying to find and you you’re you’re putting fresh legs in there I think energy is so important with how intense and hard this game is being played right now you got to have guys that can go you got to go go go and the only way you’re going to do that is by being fresh and using your bench Louie uh I got to mention that you know your squad there at at sports you guys do a great job you should get more air time all my Alberta boys say like we wish Jack and and the boys get the Saturday night home games like it sucks when they take it you know Coast to Coast because Jack just calls such a great game but a guy on your squad Jean Principe who’s been around forever what a guys guy we all I mean I think every NHL loves coming into Evington just so you know you get to see those those curly locks and he comes in and he’s always got a smile on his face um H how is his perception amongst like you know the the city you guys you know you got such a good squad there you’re well-loved uh what What’s Jean mean to the city of Edmonton he’s a man of the people yeah you know he really is and it’s outstanding excuse me he’s a guy that you he’s like a fine wide you appreciate him more the more you’re around him because you’re like this guy works hard he digs up and flushes out stories um he puts his spin on it you know the Gen isms and all that his puns he loves the puns but the thing for me is the way he treats people you know Jean is I don’t know if Jean’s had a bad day at his life you know I know he has but he’s one of those guys that puts is Best Face Forward every single day he comes in he treats everybody the same very very well-liked person in this community and especially around the team I mean he’s just he’s just so easy to work with glad to see him doing work and still working and I saw a commercial of his the other day and uh I’m telling you what he’s a great actor he’s an awesome actor because he’s doing all these sticks of these spiels all the time and his openings and all this putting all that costumes on and all that he’s acting all the time and doesn’t he realize I see him in this commercial I’m like he might be the most natural actor I’ve ever seen I actually texted and said that’s outstanding it was hilarious but uh yeah you know what uh great person great person first and foremost he’s been around this game for a long time and I’m happy for him yeah I gotta ask you about your partner uh Jack what’s his pregame like because I know I know when puck drops starts these fo how many Red Bulls how many coffees does he have a pregame now like what’s this guy like on game day he’s charged up E I swear to God this is the craziest thing doesn’t drink coffee what I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drink coffee I don’t think I’ve ever seen him a cup of coffee like I I’m I’m sucking this back still I’m always sipping coffee throughout the day um I don’t think he’s not a Red Bull guy he doesn’t do Red Bull or the he just you know what he’s just an energetic guy that brings it that’s kind of how he does it right but yeah he can he has an energy level that uh you know what it uh it brings you to a new level because it’s it’s always there and I think that’s why the fans are so drawn to him too and he had some big shoes to fill here coming on board you know Rod Phillips his you know it’s up his games that he did in the broadcast are up in the rafters here so I mean that’s the shoes that he was feeling coming and taking over rod Phils to the radio side not too many people could have come in and had the impact he did um but he did he came in and he won people over very quickly and then you know transferring over to the TV was uh pretty easy for him and he’s done a great job and we have a great time we try and have fun I think that’s important thing is you know we don’t try I don’t know but for anybody else would say but don’t try and try to be a no at all necessarily I just want to have fun making an exciting game I I get excited as well when I’m up there down the bench when I’m doing bench bide games I I get I’m I’m with I’m in the flow of the game like everybody else sitting home watch it trust me I’d love to drop an F bomb every once in a while U with stuff that goes on but it’s just you’re riding that wave of what’s going on in the game there’s highs there lows lows I always say it’s no different than us sitting on couch watching a game on a big screen TV and talking about the game we just can’t swear yeah yeah Lou Louis last one for me buddy I love the way your your your your son plays I love his game he’s he’s a throwback guy up dog’s got a beautiful baby boy Beckham now that’s working on his onetime for a guy that work on that one time oh yeah do it for do it that’s a losing that’s a losing Ur yeah for a guy who played in the league how how joyful is it for you to go to the game see your last name on the back of his jersey and for me that doesn’t have any kids when I when I see you in the crowd and watching him play that’s it’s got to be pretty cool right cuz I remember my dad saying once he saw me out there with the O’Brien on the back was one of his proudest moments you know I I remember one of the first one of the first moments that that really hit me was I went in for uh playoff game uh during the season I kind of shot in there and that’s been the hardest part I’ll be honest with you because I’m in the world too and Jake and I talk about it all the time he’s back in now we’ve called a couple times together it’s like you know he’s in the world I’m in the world you know when you’re in that world it’s going to be really hard to tr to go and see him live so what I see him live it’s it’s special it’s awesome I’m still intense though I want him to win I want the team to win I want them to do great but I was coming up the escalator at TD Garden and right in front of me there was a de brusher I took my phone out I took the picture and I’m like it was just s of little singy like that’s really cool you know it’s cool to see that 74 to bruss up the in front of me and it’s proud there you’re proud of your kid because yeah I know what he’s gone through to get there just like you did and both you did and I had to do in a different way but you you found a way to get there getting there’s one thing sticking around is a different thing you’ve got to really commit yourself because there’s always people underneath that are always trying to take your job and it’s a really competitive world but I’m really proud of him I think he’s really uh studied himself as a as a consistent performer in the league and he goes out there and just plays the game the right way and I every time I get to watch them I’m proud of them you know I’m um I’m tickled I’ve got to do some special things of them too you know the interviews uh Ben side to be in the building calling a game where he scored a goal is you know for me it’s sides just uh yeah I’d fin myself because it’s pretty cool not too many people get that chance yeah you’re right that’s awesome but any insight where he wants to go play next year or uh I mean Hey listen if I’m a GM right now I’m looking his name is highlighted on top of my list I was highlight at the top of my list absolutely yeah you know it’s it’ll be interesting he’s worked hard to get here and we’ll see what happens in the next month before free agency opens up if something gets done or not and um it’s his call though I think he’s I I haven’t talked a ton with him about it to be honest with you because I he’s 27 now and I’m like listen you it’s it’s the most important thing is where you’re most important thing of what you’re your situation individually it has to be good for you and it has to be a place that you feel comfortable and you feel good about going to if you do go somewhere else and if you stay that’s fine too but that’s your decision and we all have to make those decisions guys right you have help I’ll give him input here as agent will as well people he talks to but it’ll be interesting it’ll be interesting to see what what happens in the next few weeks here to to open up pre agency and but I do know that he’s he’s nervous but he’s excited at the same time he’s super excited with the opportunity maybe to see what the league thinks of him and you know if it ends up going back to Boston as a place he’s very Co he’s a brillin don’t get me wrong he’s played in that Organization for eight years and if you watch the way he plays it’s you know not everybody can play that system by the way you have to be a certain type of individual to buckle down and play that kind of hockey and that’s why certain teams pick up certain players and Boston has a knack of kind of finding those guys that can step in and play that way yeah I I hope you I mean I think the Brun should hang on to him but if not tell them to have his ringer on July 1 because it’s going to be ringing off the hook if you ask me L but hey you’re you’re great for the game buddy honestly keep doing your thing you’re great for hockey you’re a beauty up dog thanks for getting it but Louie enjoy game three and four if you see the up dog up there keep out of trouble eh keep out of trouble I’ll hit you up yeah I’ll try I’ll try and bump into you somewhere there maybe I need to try and take you g in the next couple so yeah awesome thanks guys for thanks good [Music]