And then you had Pickard and Jari and Connor Ingram, who we tried to... maybe convince each other that there's something there now he's retired so I guess there wasn't anything there um Devin Levi was it was a wonderful gamble for the Edmonton Oilers and everyone is excited to see him everyone's rooting for him and then he gives up seven on 22 in Vancouver um I kind of thought Jari was going to get the start tonight they go with Levi and uh there you go uh it's just one game but that's gonna that's gonna turn a lot of heads in this market

Oh, yeah, for sure.

And, you know, I think it was probably wise.

Jari had a tough night, opening night.

Get him on the road and get him a game or two.

Maybe he plays two of the next three.

And Levi plays as well.

No,

You can't really complain much about that preseason on the ice, can you?

No.

It, it was, uh, uh...

Whenever there's a new coach, uh, o- one of the things that they do, and, and I, uh, I always look forward to it, is they uncover talent that maybe the previous coach had made a decision on.

Uh, and we're seeing that.

Um, not that, you know, uh, Cristobal got a chance to look at Owen Michaels, uh, but that's a, a player who has emerged.

I think Shakir Makamudun, uh, has played well.

How excited are you for the season?

What is your prediction? And you can maybe, I'm sorry, I'll begin by saying, unless you have this saved for your program, I don't want to cut your grass low tide, but I would love to hear your prediction for this Oilers team heading into this season.

Well, I think I'll predict that they win the division, but I'm also going to say what I've said quite a few times, and that is that I can see this team winning the Stanley Cup with Mike Babcock.

I can also see this team having a new coach by Christmas.

That's just the nature of the beast.

You know, we're sitting on a story that might not be a story.

And as media, you absolutely have to be responsible.

You can't go, you know, carelessly searching for the story.

Do you think this goaltending duo, and then three-headed monster when Freddie Anderson gets healthy eventually, is going to be successful?

Do you think that he'll be able to work out at the center position? Because I know just based off the way you're speaking here, you clearly are pretty high on Szymanski.

Oh, yeah.

I think Szymanski showed in the games that he played, he's not going to score a whole hell of a lot, but he can be trusted.

The thing about Doc, you can see what they like about him.

He's big, and he's strong, and he's tough, and he doesn't back down.

And if you can play him at center, that's great.

But it's really a leap.

If he's doing that on third, fourth line, that's A-OK, eh, Ty?

Do you think that he'll be able to work out at the center position? Because I know just based off the way you're speaking here, you clearly are pretty high on Szymanski.

Oh, yeah.

I think Szymanski showed in the games that he played, he's not going to score a whole hell of a lot, but he can be trusted.

The thing about Doc, you can see what they like about him.

He's big and he's strong and he's tough and he doesn't back down.

And if you can play him at center, that's great.

But it's really a leap.

If he's doing that on third, fourth line, that's A-OK. A-Tide?

[laughs]

But it, it's hard to do, right? You've got, you've got a lot of people who have a lot of opinions about a lot of things.

And there was a sense of keeping it, you know, in the community and guaranteeing they would stay.

Because, you know, remember, they, they, they pulled it from the clutches of, of, you know, a billionaire in Texas, uh, and they weren't going to let those reins go.

I'm not so certain it was, uh, Daryl Katz, uh, you know, uh, s- specifically, but they wanted some guarantees the team would stay there, and I remember that being a part of the process.

Uh, and, uh, you know, I mean, we, we know what's happened since.

But yeah, they, they were, they were vehement that the team stay there because that was, that was their legacy.

Mm-hmm.

[laughs]

...

it, it's hard to do, right? You've got, you've got a lot of people who have a lot of opinions about a lot of things.

And there was a sense of keeping it, you know, in the community and guaranteeing they would stay.

Because, you know, remember, they, they, they pulled it from the clutches of, of, you know, a billionaire in Texas, uh, and they weren't going to let those reins go.

I'm not so certain it was, uh, Daryl Katz, uh, you know, uh, s- specifically, but they wanted some guarantees the team would stay there.

And I remember that being a part of the process.

Mm-hmm.

There's really no... good excuse not to go if you're a fan of football and and they're in around the community

yeah i i think so i mean i don't know what the total number will be but i got a lot of guys who are my age who were like totally off this team like real bad yeah uh and and slowly but surely they've been mentioning like i i usually bring up the elks because i'm a big cfl fan and and i you know It's been brought up to me now.

What are these guys doing? How well are they playing? A couple of guys texted me yesterday saying something along the lines of, you told me this team was going to be good and now I'm cheering for them and look, they're awful.

Of course, that script changed too.

I guess, you know, it's just it's delightful.

It's so positive, you know, for many years, because if you're a CFL fan, then you're always worried about the survival of the league.

Right.

That's hilarious.

Yeah

... that he was putting on.

So I mean, I, he's fine.

I think you could wake him up midnight in a snowstorm and he'd skate a mile in 10 seconds.

But, uh, you know, you just wanna make sure everybody's okay.

I like this team.

I, I wonder about Mike Babcock.

Mm-hmm

You're lost for

words.

Can I buy a copy of that thing? You know what? I love Dolly Parton.

When I was a kid, I grew up in a country music house.

And then you had, you know, my dad used to say, we like country and western.

And then my brother and I would bring the rock and roll in.

But I knew Dolly Parton from when I was a kid.

eight.

You're lost for words.

Can I buy a copy of that thing? You know what? I, I, I love Dolly Parton.

I, when I was a kid, I grew up in a country music house.

So, and then you had, you know, my dad used to say, we like country and Western.

And then my brother and I would bring the, the rock and roll in.

And, but I, I knew Dolly Parton from when I was a kid and she, you know, was a very talented writer and performer.

And then she just exploded like nine to five being an example of where she, she landed.

Yeah.

Do you believe that?

I do.

I think that, that, that the, Montreal is, whoever comes out of the West, Montreal is gonna be an ab- is gonna be Everest to climb.

They're nine and one, and they're good, and they're deep, and they're, they're, you know, your basic nightmare.

But i- if, if you look at the, the West right now, I think the two teams, the two best teams in the West right now are Edmonton and British Columbia.

Uh, in the first, you know, weeks of the year, it was Edmonton and Saskatchewan, and, and, you know, we'll see where Winnipeg lands.

But I, I'm, like, I'm liking this, th- this is a tough division, man.

Yeah

Do you believe that?

I do.

I think that, that, that the, Montreal is, whoever comes out of the West, Montreal is gonna be an ab- is gonna be Everest to climb.

They're nine and one, and they're good, and they're deep, and they're, they're, you know, your basic nightmare.

But i- if, if you look at the, the West right now, I think the two teams, the two best teams in the West right now are Edmonton and British Columbia.

Uh, in the first, you know, weeks of the year it was Edmonton and Saskatchewan, and, and, you know, we'll see where Winnipeg lands.

But I, I'm, like, I'm liking this, th- this is a tough division, man.

Yeah

Mm.

And, and a year and a half after, uh, his career was over, he was pitching again.

And, and actually the golden, uh, years of Tommy John were after, uh, the, the TJ.

So, you know, this is a guy who, who, uh- revolutionized the sport, but it was also really good.

So you have to look at it in, in two ways.

Number one, uh, very famous for a surgery that is routine now.

Uh, every Major League team has two or three or more of the, uh, their pitchers go through a Tommy John surgery, and they can time it out.

Yeah, seven, seven-day.

[laughs]

... ridiculous run, and now everybody's talking about them like they're geniuses.

And the Jays, like here's the Jays problem.

They've ha- they've been all over the place with their pitching.

You know, Savage is a young pitcher, a lot of pressure on him.

Uh, he hasn't been able to deliver, not surprisingly because he had a dream season last year.

Uh, Cease has been great.

Yes.

[laughs]

And then they went on this ridiculous run, and now everybody's talking about them like they're geniuses.

And the Jays, like, here's the Jays' problem.

They've ha- they've been all over the place with their pitching.

Uh, Savage is a young pitcher, a lot of pressure on him.

Uh, he hasn't been able to deliver, not surprisingly, because he had a dream season last year.

Uh, Cecil's been great.

Yes.

Yes

... before game two.

Uh, and he didn't have time to tell his wife, "This is the legend." Uh, so she's with the New York Rangers wives at [laughs] Madison Square Garden, and she's looking for her husband, you know, which I mean, the, uh, unreal anxiety.

You know, "I, I'm married to this fellow, he plays for the New York Rangers, and I can't find him." Uh, and then she finds him [laughs] over on the-- standing at, uh, you know, at the blue line, uh, for the anthem on the other team.

So that was pretty wild.

Uh, one of the craziest was, um, and I'm gonna get it not quite right, but in like 1983, an outfielder named Joel Youngblood, uh, was playing at a double header, uh, Cincinnati Reds versus the Montreal Expos, and between double headers, he was traded from Cincinnati to Montreal.

So he played for both teams on that day.

Yep.

Yes

... uh, before game two.

Uh, and he didn't have time to tell his wife, this is the legend.

Uh, so she's with the New York Rangers wives [laughs] at Madison Square Garden and she's looking for her husband.

You know, which, I mean, the, uh, unreal anxiety.

You know, "I, I'm married to this fellow, he plays for the New York Rangers and I can't find him." Uh, and then she finds him [laughs] over on the, on the, standing at, uh, you know, at the blue line, uh, for the anthem on the other team.

So that was pretty wild.

Yep.

So take us inside this piece a little bit and, uh, maybe some of the names that you came across in your research that, uh, could be potential fits for Edmonton, whether they be in season or a little further down the line.

Yeah, it's, it's always been, uh, with the exception of the period maybe when Jason Arnott was drafted and then before he got, you know, outside the fan base in terms of, uh, you know, something he said.

Uh, the Oilers are right-handed centers, uh, for the most part have been, you know, secondary considerations and they haven't had a strike.

I remember when they traded Everly for Ryan Strome, you could at least say, you know, Ryan Strome's a right-handed center.

But they didn't use him properly, and they sent him away for Ryan Spooner, uh, shortly thereafter.

So, uh, the, the idea, uh, for the article came about because I, I went back and I, I listened to, uh, Stan Bowman and I listened to the players on the exits, uh, after the, uh, playoffs.

And they all talked about Draisaitl and McDavid playing together at five on five.

What, why do you think there's maybe not much of a market right now for a player that does look like he could be a pretty immediate help to a, a team in need of scoring, uh, assistance?

So take us inside this piece a little bit and, uh, maybe some of the names that you came across in your research that, uh, could be potential fits for Edmonton, whether they be in season or a little further down the line.

Yeah, it's, it's always been, uh, a-- with the exception of the period maybe when Jason Arnott was drafted and then before he got, you know, outside the fan base in terms of, uh, you know, something he said.

Uh, the Oilers are right-handed centers, uh, for the most part have been, you know, secondary considerations, and they haven't had a strike.

I remember when they traded Everly for Ryan Strome, you could at least say, you know, "Ryan Strome's a right-handed center," but they didn't use him properly, and they sent him away for Ryan Spooner, uh, shortly thereafter.

So, uh, the, the idea, uh, for the article came about because I, I went back and I, I listened to, uh, Stan Bowman, and I listened to the players on the exits, uh, after the, uh, playoffs, and they all talked about Draisaitl and McDavid playing together at five on five.

And then Mike Babcock said the same thing when he came in and did his, uh, media avail introducing himself as the new head coach.

So with that said, uh, we know based on the numbers that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not an adequate second line center, had a 37% goal share at five on five a year ago.

What, why do you think there's maybe not much of a market right now for a player that does look like he could be a pretty immediate help to a, a team in need of scoring, uh, assistance?

Yeah.

So Babcock is like, he's the strictest, strictest coach they'll ever have.

Uh, but there's also things like, you know, wh-when, when, when Babcock was in Toronto and the team was losing, he, he oftentimes would, you know, uh, take a guy like Leo Komarov and put him on a line that had skill and, and that was sort of the penance you had to do if he was unhappy with your defensive play.

So I, I think those things will come into, to play.

I think that, uh, you know, uh, I looked for players who, uh, are not terribly popular with, uh, fans who, who, uh, Babcock might a-adopt as his favorites.

He did that with Komarov.

Uh, certainly Oilers fans remember Mac T and guys like Marty Reasoner-

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

So Babcock is, like, he's the strictest, strictest coach they'll ever have.

Uh, but there's also things like, you know, wh- when, when, when Babcock was in Toronto and the team was losing, he, he oftentimes would, you know, uh, take a guy like Leo Komarov and put him on a line that had skill.

And, and that was sort of the penance you had to do if he was unhappy with your defensive play.

So I, I, I think those things will come into, to play.

I think that, uh, you know, uh, I looked for players who, uh, are not terribly popular with- Uh, fans who, who, uh, Babcock might, uh, adopt as his favorites.

He did that with Komarov.

Mm-hmm.

Five games, yep.

Yeah.

And, and, you know, he showed it there, but he also showed it in pre-season where he really impressed.

Now, in the AHL he didn't do as much.

Uh, I think part of it is that, that, you know, and he's talked about wanting to, you know, hold onto the puck more, stick handle, uh, you know, be more a part of the play.

And I just think that's, it's, it's, you know, good thing to work on.

You wanna have everybody be able to handle the puck.

Yep.

Five games, yep.

Yeah.

And, and, you know, he showed it there, but he also showed it in preseason where he really impressed.

Now in the AHL he didn't do as much.

Uh, I think part of it is that, that, you know, and he's talked about wanting to, you know, hold onto the puck more, stick handle, uh, you know, be more a part of the play.

And I just think that's, it's, it's, you know, good thing to work on.

You wanna have everybody be able to handle the puck.

Yeah.

Mm.

Uh, and so I, I-- you know, his bets are still his bets and the-- you know, some of them have worked out well, uh, some of them not so much.

But i- in, in free agency, like on July 1, uh, uh, uh, I keep saying this because I just think it's s- such a, such a big deal.

They reset the roster with the Nurse trade.

So all of these things are possible because Nurse has been dealt and they didn't retain anything.

So i- it, it-- the roster just look- it's looks lush compared to the way it was.

I remember there were nights when, uh, the owners would be in warm-ups and somebody would tweak something and, and, you know, they were down to, like, 21 men-

Hmm