Ryan Whitney

The Edmonton Oilers will win the Stanley Cup

I picked the Edmonton Oilers [to win the cup]. The way the season starts, it's obviously not ideal... I pick the Edmonton Oilers.

Macklin Celebrini is going to be the first overall pick and an NHL superstar.

They have a kid named Macklin Celebrini. He's gonna go first... he turned 17 in June or July and he's dominating college hockey already... Macklin Celebrini, what an age... he's defensively very aware... NHL superstar.

The Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in all of professional sports.

For any hockey fan that's enjoying watching the highest level playing for the best trophy, that's the hardest to win in sports. The playoffs are still a man's game... it's two teams that basically beat the shit out of whoever they play against.

The Florida Panthers will be unbeatable if Sergei Bobrovsky continues his current level of play.

If Bobrovsky's playing like this... he's 11 and two in the playoffs with this insane save percentage and goals against and he's in one of those zones. If he continues to play like this, I don't know if they can be beat. I don't think they can be beat.

The Florida Panthers will win the Stanley Cup.

I picked Florida... now I'm at the point of like, alright, something special is going on here and the goal tending [and] what [Matthew] Tkachuk's doing. It's just leading me to think they'll somehow get it done.

Connor McDavid is the best athlete in the world.

I'm gonna keep backing the best player I've ever seen... [McDavid] is breaking records and he's doing things that haven't been done in about 40 years in the NHL. He's joining the list of Gretzky and Lemieux every season. Watching him like night in and night out, it looks like a different league. It looks like an alien on the ice.

Connor Bedard will not be better at hockey than Connor McDavid.

I don't think [Bedard] can be [better]. I think he's going to be incredible and I think he'll be a future superstar. But I think McDavid is a once every 20 years type guy. I don't see it happening.

The winner of the Rangers-Devils series will play the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final

Rangers Devils winner, I think goes on and plays the Bruins in the Eastern Conference final.

The winner of the Oilers-Kings series will reach the Stanley Cup Final

I said today on Chiclets that the winner of that series is gonna go to the cup final. Ooh. And LA right now... they're 25 to one... but the winner of that series goes to the cup final.

The Bruins will beat the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final

My final matchup is Bruins Oilers... and I don't see them [the Bruins] losing. I think they get it done. So Bruins over Oilers.

Georgia is going to crush Ohio State and Michigan/TCU

I've called the entire season and they're [Georgia] going to crush Ohio State and then they're gonna crush Michigan too. Or TCU all.

Arber Xhekaj is a fan favorite 'unicorn' who will stick in Montreal

Arber Xhekaj and then the boys call him 'Wifi' because his last name looks like a wifi password... this kid was working at Costco last year... young defenseman, tough as shit... he's a fan favorite in Montreal who's exceeded expectations.

Connor McDavid is the most dominant pro athlete in the world right now

Conor McDavid is the best pro athlete right now... Conor McDavid dominates hockey more than any other athlete in the world dominates theirs.

Cale Makar will be the greatest defenseman of all time

Kale Makar is number two... Kale Makar is the Conor McDavid of defense. He almost might be more valuable according to Wayne Gretzky... [Nathan McKinnon] said that this will be the greatest defenseman of all time.

The Blackhawks will likely trade Patrick Kane this season

Is [Patrick] Kane gonna get traded? That's a tough one. I would say yes. And they made it sound like it would happen at some point during the year... They'd be probably smart to trade him.

The Buffalo Sabres are a legitimate up-and-coming team with elite young talent

Things are changing in Buffalo. And Jack Eichel... there was so much baggage and drama there. It ended. They got a couple really good players in for him. And they've taken off and they have the youngest team in the NHL, I would say they have like six legit studs that are under the age 24.

The Colorado Avalanche will repeat as Stanley Cup champions

I think the abs [Avalanche] unfortunately will probably beat the Oilers again in the Western Conference final. And I'm picking the abs to win again.

Alex Ovechkin will definitely break the NHL goal-scoring record

Is Ovie gonna get the record, just yes or no? Yes. Definitely yes.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will come back and win the 2022 Stanley Cup

Tampa is coming back and winning this thing really? But I've been, I've been on Tampa for the past two years. I've picked them the wind, the last two cups. And I picked them again this year. Cause I won't pick them until they lose.

I could shoot an even par to qualify for the US Open through local qualifiers

I, I think I could get through the, the locals. You have to go play it's one round. Right? ... If you're going to put it this, or you go out and shoot even par that day, it could be enough to get you through local.

Hangovers become two-to-three day events after you turn 35

Overall, dude, I cannot, cannot go out if I have something to do the next day... if I'm up till two in the morning drinking, I'm actually done for like two to three days. Oh... Monday, you're a terrible Tuesday. It creeps in and then Wednesday, you're not hung over. You just don't feel right.

The Lightning will win the Stanley Cup because Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best goalie in the world

I lean towards goaltending. It's like having the number one ACE pitcher. It's like having the best quarterback, having the goal, the goalie that is the best in the world. It's like, how am I going to pick against that? I've honestly also said I will not pick against tip until they lose. I picked him to win the past two Stanley cups.

Cale Makar is a generational talent who could play forward in the NHL if he wanted to

I swear to God he could be a forward in the league. Like he could, if you put them up front, he could probably play wing and be fine and get fricking 80 points. Like he does defensively. So it's just a player, like a generational type talent who I love watching.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are top-three all-time NHL dynasties if they win a third straight Cup

With the parody in today and the salary cap, I have to put them top three greatest teams of all time. And people will say that's such recency bias, but not 32 teams in the league back then.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is the greatest 'clutch' goaltender in NHL history

Vasilevskiy in the last, I think eight games where you could knock a team out being eight and oh, giving up two goals. That has to be up there in terms of mindblowing stats in terms of a guy at the biggest moment being better than anyone else has ever been.

The word 'pal' is the most disrespectful thing you can call someone

I'd rather get slapped in the face. I'd rather get some, somebody spit in my face too. And then pal me. It's like... basically giving me a hug opposed to what's up pal. Can you pass a salt? Okay pal. You're just like, no problem pal. Ruins dinner.

The Capitals can force a Game 7 because they have found a reliable goalie in Ilya Samsonov.

I actually don't [think it's curtains] because they have a goalie, they found a goalie... Samsonov last night and every game pretty much has been really solid since he came in. I think the capitals can at least force game seven.

NHL scoring is up because of power play strategies and better talent

The scoring staying up has a lot to do with the power plays and also just the games. Good right now. I think hockey's, I think the ratings are up... I think because of all the penalties called. So people's complaint right now is that it's not even, it doesn't even feel like hockey, some games... It's turned into just survive five on five, wait till you get a power play.

No Canadian NHL team will win the Stanley Cup this year

I don't think Canada is going to win the Stanley cup. You're a maple leafs hater. You're an Edmonton Oilers alum... I just think the Leafs have this vibe about them... I don't know if [the Oilers] can figure it out.

Maple Leafs fans are cocky despite having zero championship success in the modern era.

Maple Leafs recently, they're just very cocky about the Leafs for no reason. Yankees fans are a joke, but the Leafs... they haven't won a cup since '67, they haven't gotten out of the first round in 20 years. If they could show a little humility and kind of admit that they're the joke, I wouldn't hate them as much.

The Maple Leafs have a legitimate mental block when leading series

The maple leafs recently, while leading well down in the series, they're like seven or eight and three, well tied in the series. There are about 500 to eight and eight. And when leading these series, they're one to nine. So it's more of like, it might be a legit mental thing.

Cale Makar is currently the best player in the NHL

Right now Cale Makar is the best player in the league. He is a fucking treat to watch every single game. He's doing things that I've never seen before really done. Like he's the McDavid of defensemen.

The Avalanche need Nazem Kadri to keep his cool to win the Stanley Cup.

Three playoffs in a row, [Nazem Kadri] has been suspended. He plays on the edge. He's one of those guys that makes teams good... but he can't control his temper. He has to just keep his cool, right? Because he's actually one of those guys that they need to win the cup.

I won't pick against the Lightning until they actually lose a series

I said I won't pick against them [Lightning] until they don't win. So I am on the Lightning. I want the Lightning, but I'm going to be very surprised if the Avs don't win the Stanley Cup.

America needs night golf with floodlights on 18-hole courses

Why in America do we not have night golf? ... you can get a short, you know, a four or 5,000 yard, 18 hole course. So they're all short par fours or par threes and play golf at night. Tee off at 10 o'clock with your buddies.

The NBA is a 'sick league' where stars care more about movies than winning

The best player in the world [LeBron James] is walking off the court with 15 minutes left in the game like an asshole. And nobody says a word to him. And then he talks about his fucking cartoon movie after the game. Imagine being on that team. You just lost after being champions and talking about the Monstars.

The Montreal Canadiens aren't actually good, they just have a hot goalie

I think Montreal isn't good. They have an amazing goalie [Carey Price] who's hitting his stride at the right time... it's like they get goaltenders that get hot and then the magic of the Canadians jersey they end up winning games... the Canadiens will get into the probably final four and then just get shit pounded by Vegas or the Avalanche.

The 2021 Stanley Cup Final will be Tampa Bay vs. Colorado

I'm going Tampa, and I think the Avs end up getting it done against the Knights and then smoke the Canadians. And we're looking at Tampa, Colorado, and I think it'll be one of the best cup finals we've ever seen.

Sidney Crosby is a top-five hockey player of all time

Crosby's in my top five players of all time. I actually think it's in no particular order... it's Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe.

Alex Ovechkin is the best goal scorer in the history of hockey

Ovechkin is, I think, the best goal scorer of all time. I know he doesn't have the most goals, which he actually somehow might break... But Ovechkin is right there with Gretzky and Hall, top goal scorers of all time.

Whoever wins the all-Canadian division will get smoked in the playoffs by the American teams

The all Canadian division is sick... I think that Toronto's a wagon... but I don't know how deep the division is. So people are like, Oh my God, they're going to come... Whoever comes out of that division, they're going to get smoked anyways.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders and I am rooting for them

The Maple Leafs have been pathetic. 53 years? But now they have a team that is like legitimately built to win a Stanley Cup, I think... I've actually come out and said that I'm rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the cup this year. That's my team this year.

The Chicago Blackhawks have no chance of making the playoffs

I said, it's great to watch, but there's no chance they're making the playoffs. No chance. I just don't see it happening there's like the depth isn't there maybe if Toews comes back but who knows what's going on there.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are going to win the Stanley Cup again

I can't pick against Tampa... their team is just so stacked. Last year you saw they were like just heads and shoulders above anyone else. And people kind of say, oh, they don't have Kucherov all year. I'm like, yeah, that's great. They're going to get him back right for the playoffs... he'll be ready to go. And then you just throw that guy in with the team they already have.

PGA Tour golfers are higher-level athletes relative to their sport than any other professional athletes

I actually say a lot that I think that PGA Tour golfers are better at their sport than any other professional athlete is at their sport, if that makes any sense. If you threw me in an NBA game, I'll look like Sean Bradley. Throw me on the tour, I'll shoot 100 and quit.

The 2020 Stanley Cup champion will have an asterisk and should be called the 'Corona Cup'

I've called it it's going to be the Corona Cup this year... forever a little bit of an asterisk people have argued with me over that but still I just think it's different it's odd.

Hockey pests and 'piece of shit' players will struggle more than anyone to get motivated in empty arenas

I think it's way harder for the guys that play that 'in your face' like 'I'm a piece of shit' type player where it's like the crowd fires me up... those guys, I mean they're going to have to get up to be in people's faces with no fans and no noise.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will win the Stanley Cup because of their previous failures

I've said all year that I like Tampa just because of what they went through last year and then bouncing back... I just refuse to believe a team that good isn't going to win a Stanley Cup at some point in these few years.

Brad Marchand should not have been suspended for his 'rabbit punch' on Scott Harrington

I was going to puke if he got suspended. That is not a suspension. Stanley Cup playoffs, a little punch in the back of the head while the guy's on his knees... it was not suspension worthy.

NBA players and fans are soft for cheering an injury comeback that NHL players do routinely

I saw that asshole from the Cavs [Kevin Love]... broke his nose and came back with a fucking mask on and got a standing ovation. Are you shitting me? Ryan Malone on Pittsburgh... got a slap shot directly in the face... shoved a couple tampons out there and came back, no mask, no standing ovation for him.