A Sit Down With Bedard and Nazar

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Okay, so we're on the scene here in Toronto. We've been working on this for a couple of weeks, right, Elliott? To try to set up Chicago coming through Hoot Town, a chance to speak with both Conor Bernard and Frank Nazar, and then of course we see what happens on Friday where Conor gets hurt and we're thinking, oh man, we're still happy to talk to Frank, of course. Great talker. You will see if you don't know a great talker. Yes, but Conor surprised a few of us in the fact that he made the trip with the team. He wanted to. He wanted to make the trip, so we unfortunately won't get a chance to see him. I know fans in Toronto, Montreal, not over disappointed, but he had a chance to hear him. Yes, and I mean, I don't know, maybe we shouldn't have been surprised, but blue the doors off the two of them, this interview, you're here coming up in in a little bit. Yes, excellent. I'll say this. I always joke that the people who do these interviews give great answers to stupid questions. This is great answers to stupid questions on an exponential 50 scale. Yes, yeah. The best ones are when you and I are just out of the way. It's the less we interview in the better. As expected. They were tremendous. Okay, so we're going to get to that here in a moment. But before we do, we should talk about the big news on Monday, of course, out of Buffalo. So Kevin Adams, after five and a half years at the helm, as General Manager of the Sabers, he is out. Yarmul Kekalainen is in a permanent basis going forward. Terry Pagula, the owner, put out a statement on Monday. Among the things he said was just we are not where we need to be as an organization. We've talked about this yesterday's pod that this was a possibility. Certainly that a change could be happening. So bring us up to speed and what all went down here. From everything I heard, Kyle, especially since we dropped the pod Monday morning is that our guess was correct that I think Kevin Adams knew this was coming. As he went on that road trip as six game or were they won the last three games, I heard from some people around that it was true that he kind of saw the writing on the wall if he didn't know already. And so I don't think this came as a big surprise to him. It's never easy on anyone's family, their own ego, nobody likes to not succeed in what they're doing. I think everybody can tell it was just it was just time. The phrase we've been using a lot lately was just time. And you know, actually I'll say this in a lot of ways, the people I really feel for as I understand a lot of the Sabers staff, like their hockey operation staff, coaches, you know, on down equipment staff, training staff, there's a lot scouts, there's a lot of them are in the last year or their deals. So whenever the person who signs you is out and there's that uncertainty there, I always feel for that group of people. And you know, I think because it was a trip where you know, the Sabers were coming back overnight from Seattle and Yarmul Kekalainen, the new GM announced on his Instagram that his father, Kari, had passed away. And it was a beautiful tribute that Yarmul gave for his dad. You know, there's there's a there's an information vacuum internally. They know there's a change, but I think everybody's still waiting to find out how everyone's going to be affected. So I know what it's like to be in the last year of your contract and be uncertain about what your future can be. So I understand how hard that is on people. But I assume over the next day or so, we'll get an introductory press conference and we'll get Yarmul Kekalainen explaining to a staff what's going to happen. But in moments like this, you do expect change. You know, one of the things I often think about is do you learn the lessons when you get your second chance? Do you learn the lessons about what went right and what went wrong in your first chance? And he was in Columbus for a long time. He got them their first playoffs series win happened under his watch. There were great times there like knocking out Tampa in that first round. One of the biggest upsets we've seen and there were disappointments. And you know, the one thing I would say about him is I think he really knows players well. He's a scout, a very good one. I think he has a really good eye for talent. He's not afraid to make big decisions and big trades. He did that. But I always say, okay, obviously there's things that didn't go right. Do you learn your, those lessons and how to attack them better? You know, one thing we talked about on Monday's pod was that he didn't come in hot. He was kind of quiet looking around. But I did hear on Monday that as things progressed and as things weren't doing really well, he was starting to become, I don't know if more vocal but more present. He was around more. He was asking more questions. He would ask people, you know, why did this happen or why do we do things this way? And you know, it's interesting. When he got hired, someone said to me, it's going to be interesting to see if he goes in there because I think the general feeling was if Buffalo got off to a bad start, Adam's runway was US Thanksgiving. And it turned out to be pretty close to accurate. A couple of people said, you'll get a chance to see like the biggest question you have in Buffalo is do you think you can win there? They haven't made the playoffs in 15 years. There's been different GM's, there's been different coaches, you know, and I've said this before about Terry Pagula. When he got the team from Tom Golisano, he rode in on the white horse like the conquering hero. I never thought that it would turn out this way, never. And you know, I, some people said to me is, Kekele, I'm going to see the way this team works and say, you can't win here. Well, obviously that's not the case. He must see something. He feels that they can win with or how they can turn it around. It's high risk, but it's high reward. You know, we all know what Buffalo was like when they're winning. It's one of the best fan bases in the league. They love hockey. They remember that one year they had like seven of the top selling 10 jerseys in the NHL. And those fans, they deserve it. They absolutely 100% deserve it. So I look at as a high risk, high reward situation. Can you turn around a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 15 years? But if you do, you're a god in that town. It's a big reward, big reward. No question. And I mean, part of the Pagula regime has been hiring general managers without any real previous experience at the NHL level, at the GM level, at the GM level. They were experienced hockey people. Yes. Not as Jenny, but they were not as GMs. But you know, you look at it. Someone pointed out to me, Kyle, you look at like you look at all the GMs who won the Stanley Cup. A lot of them over the last little while. They're first timers. Yeah. You know, Bill Zito, first time GM, Cali MacReman, first time GM, Chris McFarland, first time GM. But I was calling Patrice Brezwa. Julian Brezwa, first time GM. They were all experienced hockey people. It's interesting. It's going to be really interesting. And I think the biggest decision, and he'll have to make it quick, is Alex Talk. And my understanding of the whole talk situation is that the two sides haven't been close. I think the Sabers kind of looked at it to get to talk where he wanted to be. They might have to make some tough decisions. Like it basically came down to from what I heard. If we want to sign talk, we have to make some tough decisions everywhere else, and where they willing to do that. And the Skinner buyout money, I think, is part of that. So we'll see how Kekalainen feels about that, because that's obviously the biggest thing hanging over their team right now. And naturally, when you're in a spot as an organization where the team has been struggling, something like this, by way of a major change happens. You say that a lot of people within the hockey ops are in the final year of their deal. I mean, that's when people are maybe a little more willing to talk quietly. I mean, if you got any sense of what the message is out of Buffalo over the last little while, and they try to put the finger on of the 25-26 edition of the Sabers, what the issue is? You know why? It's a great question. I just don't know that they lock it down. Like great teams have to. When you play Buffalo, Buffalo plays really entertaining games. Some of the best teams in the league don't often play very entertaining games all the time. And like not everybody can win like Colorado wins, right? So I think that's one of the things like they're going to have to be better at locking it down. Because we all, I should say always, but the last number of years we've looked at them as individually, you say, well yeah, I would like that player on my team. That's a good player. There's a lot of talent. here there's a lot of talent there and yet collective once again. Now we'll see where this goes as we've talked about. It's an interesting year in the east. They've kind of depth of the basement isn't doesn't run as deep as maybe in years past but once again clearly they've gotten to a point where status quo is no longer working and so the changes made here at the GM level. Anything else you want to get in on Buffalo before we move to our interview. No, I think they're tired of us. They want to hear from the other two guys. Okay, here without further ado, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar of the Chicago Blackhawks in conversation from their hotel in Toronto on 32 Thoughts the podcast. News drop today Connor just can you update us on exactly what you're dealing with. Yeah, I mean, I guess it probably doesn't come out yet so I keep it vague but yeah I just show the thing and but it's feeling pretty good so just kind of start kind of that rehab process and hopefully be back as soon as possible obviously. Anyone from hockey Canada reach out like just to see how you're doing. Not to me personally, maybe to Kyle or Agent or something but not too sure that you know obviously I think that's something they would they would do and just see but you know I'm sure stuff stuff comes out quick so you know you'll probably get a text and that's about the exact day I'll be back so but no I think yeah maybe to them but not to me personally. I was thinking about you know after that St. Louis gamer around the year and the two you did the interview in the post game and you would said like we want to be good now not necessarily three years from now and it was kind of like holy smokes like I got everyone's attention because of how you're playing and just the way you two have carried yourself so far. What did that early start for you guys just do for the overall psyche and the belief and what you're doing was working? Yeah I think honestly blasher like the end of last year when kind of you know Frankie comes up and we got all these guys coming in more as the greener came at the end of the year of those guys and I think we saw at the end and you know if you asked a lot of people where they saw us at the start of the year kind of on the outside it would have been you know lower and it's still you know on the first half of the year but we got a lot of belief in our group and we went in had a great camp and so it was never really like man like we can maybe sneak some wins out it was always like if we go play our game player best like we feel like we're going to be tough to play so that was an exciting feeling for us and we want to just keep building that. So we keep hearing that the dressing room like it's a younger group now compared to last year so what is that room like nowadays? It's been fun honestly I think you can tell the moods definitely changed a bit a lot more smiley we get guys like more as you go around jump around and always chirping and someone's ear and I mean you know we're part of it too we're always making jokes and laughing and you know it really just makes makes the mood a lot more brighter and more fun to be at the rink. Frank what do people rip Connor about like what what does he get it about? Well for me I'd say just not doing anything like on the road like I'm always getting the door for him waking him off it's crazy are you one of those guys who doesn't like these like five alarms or something like that? Yeah but he's his alarm I'd like to say this I for the first time ever I could say when you and I have something in common because I need like five alarms too. Probably a screen time. Frank's alarm is like I don't know like he knows those alerts you get on your phone when some there's like a murder on the it's it's like loud in that so I'll wake up to his and then we'll land bed for 45 minutes we'll attack the day so it's funny let me just seem like we like took a nap yeah and so what does Frank get ripped for by the teammates? Oh like a lot of stuff like like he'll he's very outgoing stuff so he'll say something stupid a lot or do some stupid so it's usually just in the moment. So Frank what's the stupidest thing you said this year? Oh well um I know I think I only say stuff that's smart. So and you guys have been moving on the road together this year right so like were you relieved that Connor still wanted to come on the trip like were you worried about what was going to happen if he wasn't there? Yeah I thought I was going to be put with Morsy and yeah there's like a time he's doing like burpees in that yeah that's actually fun so you tell yeah Rinsy was telling us that one morning he woke up and he like heard noise in the bathroom or something so that could obviously the story could go anyway but um he was Morsy comes out of the bathroom and he's like Rinsley what were we doing in there he's like I'll just like burpees I like start my day with like getting my energy going and like it's good for like you're I don't even know what but some dumb science thing and uh I thought it was pretty funny that's a lot of different directions that's that's a bathroom where I know that explains that explains him like perfectly yeah that's the story I've heard he's something else like like he's like I know he's a lot of young players that come in they're kind of quiet they kind of feel their way not this guy I don't know even if you just watch him in pre-game see it tomorrow you'll like probably laugh like he just flies around like all the time never tired um if if we're talking like a hundred yards away he hears us and he'll walk over and like join in you know like ask what we're talking about it's great stuff like that it's whole area I think everyone loves it yeah I really that's so fun what was that old product of the 90s like that no they uh they hear that's right the oh what was it called uh oh there's like the great infamous yes I know it's like a dumb and dumb and when he turns the the earpiece on really loud and he hears like the the house like like two acres away that's more easy because because Frank one of the things that people say about you is when you got to the national development team for a month you were kind of in the background and then you kind of took over at Michigan for a month you were kind of in the background and then you took over now here I understand it took a little bit longer but it was only a matter of time until your personality kind of took over is that a good way to describe you I think so for sure I think it's more of um I like to come in and like more of build respect build trust and then kind of go from there and and try to be myself okay so there's a story I think you've told it before about Pat Maroon and he gave it to you wines and you were like you didn't say anything for like weeks after that happened what was that story yeah um I think we were playing maybe Seattle or or something and close game and we weren't playing the best to start and during intermission he came in and kind of like screamed at us like for not getting pucks deep and turning pucks over and kind of stuff along that regard and um go out and it's legit like my first shift at the next period and I'm in the neutral zone and like try to make a move turn it over at the at the blue line and they go down they don't I don't I don't think they scored but they go down and I come and he's always at the end of the bench and I sit down and he's like how he can just like feels presence next to me this big guy he's just absolutely lays into me and his screaming at me and saying a bunch of a bunch of bad stuff playing a good way and um I mean yeah when you see a grizzly bear like that attack you it's like scared me for a bit so I was a little nervous after that to you know speak out but um got me going right started starting listening to him and and plan plan the right way so did you ever were you ever on the receiving end of one of those from Pat Maroon uh no I'm not like yell like that um he would speak to our group and like it would say stuff they're like Ios he was doing so yeah I kind of got that but uh but patty's the best like you know he this is all out of care and um and it wasn't like a normal thing or he's just like laying into us but uh it's funny that you got frank and yeah obviously like he said big guy and um I was a lot of experience so but but he was amazing and um but yeah I think he indirectly gave it to me a little bit so you've said that like Connor great personality funny guy once you get to know him and it seems like publicly it's starting to come out a little more here now as we're going along are you taking any credit for that no I think that's all him um I think I mean the young guys definitely have a big part of it is uh we're coming in and you know given given him something to relate to and then each all right um just guys to hang out with um guys to talk about stupid social media things that come out and to laugh at and um kind of like my thing like gaining respect and feeling comfortable you know I think that's just a big part of it is you know getting along with the guys that you're with and uh having guys your age to connect with and um no but all that confidence and and comedian you know just comes out I think you're almost like your first bit and let your words say the wrong thing or um like now if I say something interview that not that I cared what people think but if I say something like feeling like like I can care less really uh in a good way I think and not that I'm saying anything crazy but I think when you're first getting the lead you're kind of walking on eggshells bit in that sense and um just not rubbing on their own way so uh but you're comfortable on and and stuff and I think that's with any guy I think that is so important what you just said because I think it's like that way for everyone it's like Kyle and I in our business like everything we do good or bad everybody sees it everything you guys do good or bad everybody sees it you have to learn at some point not to like only to limit the opinions that matter to you to a small group of people. Yeah, I can imagine for both of you, that was a hard lesson to learn, was it? Um, I think in some ways, you know, for me, you know, you come in at 18 or when Frank came in and we're young and there's obviously a lot of guys in the league and older guys that have done so much. So you just want to keep what you say to a minimum and try to, you know, just say the right thing and stuff. But honestly for the game, like you look at Frankie, like, um, stuff he, he does that goes online and kids love it or stuff that, you know, we can do to grow the game in a sense and obviously we're hockey players, but we're people as well. So, um, if we can show a little bit of our interests or what we're like and I think that's, that's great for, for kids and I remember being in that, in that spot and love and kind of getting to know guys off the ice that you're like idolizing a little bit. So I think that's cool. For me, that was kind of something that, you know, in the beginning, you, you think about us, oh, you don't want to mess up or do the wrong thing. But then like, you realize the opportunity you're given playing on NHL, you know, it's just so amazing. It's your dream, right? So it's like, why, why wake up scared? Why wake up, uh, with that feeling of, um, I don't want to regret, regret anything and, um, you know, just be excited and, and very grateful for, yeah. So, Connor, somebody knows you well was saying that, you know, of all the things you did this summer, there's the hockey stuff and what you worked on. But one of the biggest things that they noticed was whatever weight may have been on your shoulders, whether you would put there or maybe others tried to put there, like, they noticed like it was gone. Like you'd let a lot of stuff go and you were just enjoying what you were able to do in your life and as a career. Is there any truth to that? I think a little bit, yeah, I think I mean, we had a four or five month summer. So I think that was good for me every year before, obviously, with the draft. And then I went over to World Championships, which was great, great experience. But I think just having some time to chill out and, you know, physically, mentally and, you know, I think, you know, last year, there's, you know, I didn't meet my own expectations. Um, so just being able to look in the mirror and kind of seeing, you know, where you can, you know, improve and, um, work on stuff. And honestly, you know, for me, I think it was kind of not chilling out, but, um, not taking, it's hard to word, but just, yeah, like you said, relax a little bit. And I mean, just have fun playing hockey. And, you know, it's, you know, it's the greatest thing in the world what we do. And I think just bracing that more a little bit was, was, was good for me. Frank, what's the biggest difference you've noticed in him this year? I think that was honestly a huge part of it. And really just seems a lot loose around the rank, um, kind of just in that regard. Besides, he's like 10 miles an hour faster on the day. But I think that's the biggest thing. And, you know, he really wants to win and, and works really hard. So I think putting all those things together and just has been lean to his, his success. Okay. So Connor is very guarded about the training he did last summer. So he's down to one arm. He cannot stop. Tell us all the secrets of the horse trainer. Oh, man. I think he's with like LeBron and yeah, we were together. Um, yeah, me him and Morsie. No, I just started eating cookies like 10 cookies a day. No, no, no, yeah. I heard you are very particular about what you eat though. Um, honestly a little less than I was. Like you talk about everything relaxing a little bit. So, um, yeah, we try to eat healthy, but, um, you know, Frank always makes me buy him dessert. So I tag along. What's the dessert? Yeah, we're, we're big ice cream guys. Like ice cream. Yeah, what's your dessert? Yeah, we're cookies. Yeah, every hotel. And we started a rank. His mind's good. So what's the best cookie? So far, in my opinion, it was in Vegas at the, the wall door. Okay. What's it? Frank, he didn't like it. Just chocolate. Okay. Just like a room service thing. Yeah, room service or pregame meal. Oh, yeah. Or yeah, just the ones at the hotel. So that's my one right now. To thick. So what's yours? Um, I really like the Seattle ones. Yeah. Oh, yeah, and I was there. There's like one. I don't know. Actually, our plane ones have been out. Yeah, really. Yeah, actually, like keyed him up for us. Yeah. So it's good. Never hungry league. We don't have, we just have skim milk though. So we got to talk to that. I'll bring that up with the people. Just hold on. Right. Well, it's like the NHL pro. Yeah, like the league promo that, yeah, yeah, you like to finish your day with a free thing. That's not brand. Like, and who doesn't? That's was the most relatable part of all of it. I wanted to ask you what Montreal game last year? Were you like the only guy in the building? Who knew the puck was in the net? Um, I think the goalie must have known. No, but I think so. I obviously I scored and I didn't, I don't want to sell you like too hard. I was like that year. I kind of was throwing out some pretty hard sellies. So I wanted to lay back a little bit, but I went through the line and no one gave me fist bumps. And I heard guys like saying, what the, like, you're not, I'm not, I'm not going to swear, but they're like, what the, like, what's he doing going through the line? Like, and I'm, I'm giving them side as I'm like, I literally just scored. Like no one's giving me any credit. And even fliggy is like, man, nice try. And I'm sitting there like, tune it. The puck's in the net. Like, what are you doing? Like the five literally scored. And um, once they reviewed it, I was like, waited like two rounds to tell like four guys had gone after you and you didn't tell anyone. But like, they thought they should have shot again. Yeah. Which is insane. Yeah. The bottom line is the puck was in. But you know, I just wanted to ask like, you're relatively new at that time. It's the best rink in the league, right? Aside from like, I would say Chicago. Yeah, I know you guys got to stand up for the United Center because when it's rocking, it's rocking. But what's that feeling like? Like going down and a shootout and Montreal, that building's crazy. They're trying to make the playoffs. That must be an incredible feeling. Yeah, I was, I mean, that's probably one of my most memorable and favorite, favorite games of my career. And I kind of fumbled the puck a little bit. I was like, no way I'm messing this up. And once I was able to deek and then score, I mean, I have to see just feels awesome. And I think the craziest part, almost, oh, my career was when we first went out. And I think it was like, Damadov's first shift. And you can feel your boot shake. And like, the crowd was going insane. Just absolute nuts, cheering. And you couldn't even hear like anybody on the ice. Usually when the crowd's going nuts, you can still hear guys talk on the ice. And it was like, this was just holding on their level. Okay, Olympics. I mean, you had a tremendous world championships. You know, a great start to the year. You're both at the orientation camp before the season got rolling. So we thought it would be great to ask you Connor, make one case for Frank Nazar to make team USA. You make the case for Conor Bernard to make team Canada. I think versatility is something, obviously, special offensive player. But I mean, he's our first guy out there on the penalty kill, six on five, any situation taking face offs, really anything. So I think that's when you're building those type of teams. And I think, you know, they've talked about that a lot as it's not an all-star team. It's for guys at full roles. And he's someone that can fill any role. And play with Tom the top line on the fourth line penalty kills. So I think that's something that's rare and what's part of what makes them so special. Man, thanks. No slave. I mean, this one's easy for him. I think just the tremendous start of the year. I mean, what is it? Nineteen goals. Like, it's just, that's, I mean, that's what you need, right? And I think he's really found his game up and down the ice defensive zone, offensive zone. And he's really just been a dog all around and making plays. And you know, he really sees the ice, like, like, no one else does. And honestly, the way he's been playing and how he's been going and how he's been putting the puck in the net, I think, you know, it's a shame if he's on that list. You do know that the Canadian public is starting to clamor for you a bit. We're living in the States, but my, my parents will be like, they talk like they'll watch obviously a game or whatever in an intermission. They're like, they're talking about Olympics, not just like me. They're talking about Olympics every day. So I'm, I'm happy we're not here all the time for, for the noise of that. But yeah, I don't know. I think there's so many players and every fan base is going to want their guy in. So, you know, I think it's a great job for them because they have so many options, but in the end, you can pick. You go a hundred different ways of that. So I just kind of wait and see. At the camp, Frank, was there someone maybe you didn't know that came up to you or you sat with and you talked that he said, wow, like I never knew this guy and I was really impressed. I was able to meet everyone there, which was great. I had a good time, we golf. I sat and talked with the Hughes brothers for a while. I kind of knew them, but never really sat down and had a, you know, a good conversation with them. And, you know, that was fun here and a bunch of stories from them. And, you know, what they thought about certain situations and certain things. And I've seen the big trade coming up might be top of the mind, but really, I think, talking with Jack Luke and Quinn was a pretty cool experience and really just, you know, getting to know them a lot better. What about you? I don't know if one guy comes to mind. It was, it was a lot of fun. Like, everyone was so good at, um, sitting with different guys at a dinner or whatever and just getting to meet everyone, I think. I remember, like, me and Max flew together and, you know, we were like, We were like, "Hey, we gotta always be around each other." So we don't have to be nervous talking to him, but they were so great with everybody. And honestly, I noticed, I think Martian was probably the most outgoing guy. That's a big surprise. Yeah, I know, he kind of was always in the mix. But it was a lot of fun. I got to talk to everyone there. And I think even the women's team, the Paralympic team, which was awesome, they included them in that. So it was a great camp. So we heard a story about golf outing. It was at the Riviera in California earlier this year. Yes, Sam Lafferty, Underpar. Underpar. So if we take anything from this interview, that goes out there, Underpar, Sam Lafferty is a stick. Really? And I was blessed to be his partner, best partner. So yeah. You were plus two? No, no, no, no. So I was in the back here. I had a good back. Frankie did not miss a fairway. Frankie Fairways. Yeah, but I was cursed to be going up against them. So I think you're a partner. I was with Ryan Denado. Okay. And how do you, like, are you, like, what's your handicap? No, I kind of suck. No, it's underpinned. You're pretty good. Very up and down, really closer. But so I kind of cut you off there. No, but I apologize. That's exactly where I was going. But no, it was, that was unreal. Yeah, such a cool horse and great weather. Yeah, I was a lot of fun. And Donnie didn't have, like, the perfect club. So he didn't play his best. So, but it wasn't because of him. So Lafferty is the best player on the team? Yeah. Yeah, he's a stick. He just, he swings for the moon. It's insane. 350. It's not even like a line drive. It's like that thing's hitting the sun and coming back down. Really? Yeah, he can absolutely pound a ball. Wow. Part four, he put it like a foot away. Yeah, he almost holds on to part four. Seriously? With a three wood. Yeah. With a three wood? Yeah, it was. Yes. Insane, because of all. 300? Yeah, at least. 280 to 300? Oh, okay. But it was like a, I don't know. Yeah, I guess that's part four. Short part four. Yeah, I think that's a pin in the front. Yeah, something like that. But it was literally like, like that. Yeah, and I end up, so it's like, with the hand he gets it. Do you make the pie? Please tell me how you make the pie. Okay. So it's like, with the handy, I actually had a good hole too. Handicat system, he gets it too. And the guy, I don't know, I think I did. It's like, I've already had it, it's like, and it'll be nothing. But actually, I don't think I did. I think it's part, yeah. So I part for it. I part for a birdie. With the handicap and the two still beats it. So it's like, even if I had to go to a great hole for, for videos, it's nothing you could do. I think they would have beat pros out there. We had a good run. Yeah. Because I was, we were stroking a bit. He was calling his wife. And they, they just had to be like six months ago. Ish around there. This is before the round. So we got there like 45 to an hour early. Check it out, like, go hit balls and stuff. And he's just gone. And apparently, well, not apparently. But he attacks him or call him or whatever. And he's like, yeah, like, I gotta get my daughters passport and notarized. So we're in like near Santa Monica, I guess. So it's like, so they're gonna be a notary. But there's two notaries, like 10 minutes away. First one's closed and then he gets the second one. So long story short, he had his daughters passport and notarized. And then gets their legit rate as a t-time starts. So he didn't hit one ball. It was probably panicking. And then he goes out and shoots a 70 or whatever. Yeah, any, any double in the last one. Yeah. So he was gonna break 70. Yeah, yeah. Oh, wow. That would just make me crazy. 17 holes and then a double vogy to miss breaking 70 on Rupert. I would go insane. He's pretty chill though. He was still happy. What was the best, uh, best reaction after his goal against New Jersey this year? It was. He was your game seven cut fire on the bench. I was hurt, so I didn't. Oh, yeah. Our bench went insane. Yeah, he's like the best guy ever. Obviously he wasn't playing as much at that time. So whenever he's been playing great and just to see him get a goal in general, obviously. It's amazing, but the goal of the year, the hands down was unbelievable. So it was awesome. You can always tell how much a team likes a player by the celebration on the bench. And you can see like you guys really like that guy. Yeah, he's one of the best people I've ever met in hockey or anything. So it was, yeah, it's cool. So I understand world juniors at this time. You guys aren't always going to see eye to eye on this. What's the wage you're going to be? And what's the taunting like as this tournament starts? Yeah, we get it. We got to figure some out. Might have to do something more than cookies this time. Mr. Dickey was telling us that his fantasy at home, like the guy has to like caddy a couple rounds for like everyone and stuff. So stuff like that's funny. But I think some public's funny too. Like where the jury's here. Money, I don't know. What do you think of the Canadian team this year? Pretty stacked, like obviously, like normal. But no, I think they're favored. I don't know, obviously they got every year. We got so much talent. So I think they got a great shot. Bit of a revenge year for the last couple. So should be good and can't always expect to win. And what do you think of the US team? 3p, I mean, has it been done before by the US? Not by the US, no. Canada has a five in a row. Yeah, so I was going to be first, right? Home team advantage. That's all I got to say. Yeah, like you're being in a fantasy football, like how have your seasons gone? No, I think it's been good for me. I need actually a huge night tonight. I'm in a couple leagues and I need I'm up, but they have guys playing. So just because they got to have a calm night. So I had an equipment question because when we were in Chicago, a couple of weeks ago, I was asking you, you're telling me about your gloves. And now you've got a rotation of two you would go through during a game as opposed to just the one pair for so many years. But someone said to me, like when it comes to your sticks, you know if your stick is five grams off weight, if the flex is like 0.2 difference, which blows my mind. Like how do you know your sticks so well? I can tell you like the exact amount it's off, but so I was just a person said to me, they're going, he's going to downplay it, but don't I don't know. I mean, if it feels any different, yeah, I'll just get a new one. That's the luxury being being in the show. So you get a new stick, you know, so yeah, that's probably the pickiest thing. I'd say I am, is my sticks. Skates a little. I guess that's probably what everyone know, those two things. Are you like that Frank? Not too much with sticks. Skates, I actually hate new skates. Like I will wear my skates until my feet are showing at the bottom. And I get, I get some hate from the trainers for it, but. Yeah. Do you have any money though? Yeah, a little bit, that's the way. And you guys like do you talk much shop like in the stick room and stuff or other guys that like to come here and. Donnie, it was a big stick. Donnie, yeah. Donnie's pretty fun out of everything. Yeah, um, I always, I mean, that's probably the Merk's not very picky. Merk is not picky. I think, I don't know, not really many guys. Just donnie. Yeah. Last one for me, okay, for each of you. Connor, one story about Frank that nobody knows. And you're going to do it to figure out. Yeah, I'm not. Wow, it sucks I got to go first. And no one knows. Oh, I actually have a funny one. I actually have a funny one. It's, I don't know how funny it is, but. I remember you're like first game, like second game, like we come into intermission and you know, like coming to there's no music player or anything. And you'd just be rapping out loud, like singing a rap song. And he like didn't know anyone, like just got there. I think I was sick inside of you in Vegas. And you're just like, you were rapping the whole intermission. Like 15 minutes. And I thought it was hilarious. It's bad. What was it? What was the, what was the rap? Oh, it's a new song every time. Okay. Yeah. But it was like, it's pretty loud. Like I think the whole room, you kind of hear it. It didn't know anybody. There's another soul. Yeah, I love this guy's confidence. Well, so much for taking time, but I kind of find your voice. That story was wrong. No, that's just, I like, I like singing during games. Just try to not think about much. And the one story will come. Nobody knows. This one's actually unreal. It was this year. You're going to know what I'm talking about after I see it. But it was this year. And I kind of came back to the hotel a little bit later. It wasn't too bad. But here, he fell asleep for the night. And it was me and Louie Crevier. And we walked in and I was like, oh, I kind of might be sleeping. So like, let's be a little quiet. Or like, so we both walk in together. And we see and he's just completely out on the bed. Like, just, just sleep over like. I would both sleep in my life. Yeah, best sleep was life. And like, how can we, like, how can we prank him right now? So we, um, me and Louie started just grabbing random stuff around the room and started stacking it. And I said, I don't know if you've ever, like, seen anyone do this. And we just created an absolute mountain on his head. And he's, he's just sitting there sleeping like, sound asleep and we're peeing our pants laughing. And there's like toilet paper, bowls, cups and like magazines. Books like everything. - Oh, how high did this get? - Oh my god, it was pretty high. - It was a couple feet in the air. - Yeah. - It was, yeah. - I checked my phone in the morning. - I was dying. - I don't know how you didn't wake up. It was old. - Most insane thing ever. And yeah, we were literally peeing our pants laughing and it was great. - You stacked and unstacked and you like didn't do that. - I was out. - No, you scratched your butt one time. (laughing) - That was out. - I don't even know. - I think that's the best place to leave it. I think there. I don't know for topping that. That's great. Thank you so much guys and speedy recovery Connor. Yeah, I appreciate what you guys do in this. - Sure, yeah, thanks guys. - All right, our thanks once again to Connor and Frank to Ben Fromstein of the Chicago Black Hawk VR and the entire Hawks organization for making that happen Monday night after just traveling in from Chicago. Okay, a reminder. Later tonight, the Oilers in Penguins and Flames and Sharks can be seen nationally, a regional to national for those games on the SportsNet family channels and SportsNet Plus and Scotiabank Wednesday night hockey tomorrow. The Jets and the Blues, their first meetings. It's that incredible first round series last spring. - Can I just say one thing? - Of course. - Dom, hope you had a great night Monday. (laughing) - The gift that keeps on giving and Stephen, thank you again. - Yes. - We will be back again our regularly scheduled programming on Friday morning. Have a great rest of your week. (upbeat music)