Takes

The Capitals are 0-5 in shootouts because their goalies catch left-handed

We're oh-five in shootouts this year. And I'm gonna strictly say that it's only because we always shoot on southpaw goalies. We don't actually get to shoot on regular goalies for the shootouts.

Hockey players are the best athletes to hang out with because they are the most chill

Hockey players are my, some of my favorite athletes especially to hang out with and to play golf. ... they're the funnest people to hang out with because they're the most chill. They're so fun Canadian hockey players... they're just sweet people. Kind people until they're not.

The Panthers mocking the Oilers is weird because they've already beaten them twice

Do you guys think it's a little weird that the Panthers are like mocking the Oilers to such a crazy extent? I'm just asking if it's weird? They beat 'em twice. It does feel like they're going a little extra hard. ... Why are they so obsessed with the Oilers?

Jonathan Toews signing with the Winnipeg Jets is the perfect way for him to end his career

Jonathan Toews. He's back, he signed with the Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team. ... I'm happy he's able to now play again. Hopefully end his career the right way. 'cause it really sucked the way it ended in Chicago.

Oilers fans will not blame Connor McDavid if he leaves Edmonton

Conor McDavid is such a special talent. I'm wondering if there's maybe parts of the Oiler fan base... If he did leave, I bet you there'd be some Oilers fans who'd be like, we don't blame you. You've done everything you can for the Oilers and they just aren't able to put the full team around him.

Connor McDavid is the greatest hockey player of all time

I just started running around the room... running around greatest hockey player of all time. I just started tweeting that like, it's just, it's incredible to watch him.

Coaches should always be involved in the post-series handshake line.

I just think that, you know, maybe [Paul Maurice] is downplaying how much that the coaches mean to a team... I think they deserve to be in there and, you know, whether you're winning a series or losing a series, going through that handshake line, you know, just what it means to shake every guy's hand... I think it's one of the best traditions in hockey and it shouldn't be taken away.

Jamie Benn is the player who deserves a Stanley Cup more than anyone else in the league

Number one, Jamie Benn. That's kind, that's kind of my, my player right now. Who doesn't have one that, that I feel like, God, that guy deserves one. He's, I mean, I think, 16 years in 17... a warrior, a beast, a true captain, a leader, and he is done it like teammates love him. He's done it for so long that if Dallas were to get one, that's kind of my guy.

Dallas is the best warm-weather hockey town in North America

I think Dallas... those playoff games. It's crazy that arena gets loud, sneaky La Kings are, are awesome... but LA and Dallas kind of stick out and the, the, the Panthers fans have come on here. They, they've made these games a complete party.

Montreal's Bell Centre is the loudest sports building in the world, louder than LSU's Death Valley

That is the loudest building I've ever been in in my life. That is, that's louder than Death Valley. LSU on a Saturday night... I was amazed from, from the time I walked in until the time that I left. Like, they're pissed off. They're loud, they're super knowledgeable. It's crazy.

International hockey tournaments like the Olympics are not legitimate without Russia involved

The worst part about four nations and the Olympics next year. Do you guys know? No, it's no Russia. Oh. So nothing is really that legit because best on, best on best hockey? Like you need Russia involved. It's just, you know what I mean?

Blackhawks owner Jerry Reinsdorf is a piece of shit

I've been watching all the games illegally this year. Good for you. I have a workaround that I'm, I will not tell, but I have a workaround that I've been watching the games illegally because [Jerry Reinsdorf] is such a piece of shit. Yeah. I don't wanna give him money. He sucks.

I can definitely beat up my brother Matthew Tkachuk in a fight

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. [Big Cat: You could beat the fuck out of him?] I'll say and he'll see it and be like, yeah, he can. Oh, he knows. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Alexander Ovechkin is not on the Mount Rushmore of hockey

I don't think that anybody would have him in the Mount Rushmore of hockey. ... Once he passes Gretzky for goals, I would say he's probably yes, gonna be coming in around like sixth or seventh all time. I think still a lot of people put Stevie Y ahead of him.

Connor Hellebuyck is unproven in elimination games

Hellebuyck has been on this incredible run... not so much in playoffs or in big money games. ... In an elimination situation when all the chips are on the table, he is unproven.

The Maple Leafs current roster is the best they have had in 20 years

I would say this is the best lineup the [Maple Leafs] have had in the last 15, 20 years. Very solid backend. They're getting incredible goaltending... Their Core Four, all the guys making all the big dough [Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander] are buzzing.

Alex Ovechkin being ranked 54th on ESPN's Top 100 Athletes list is disrespectful to hockey

That Ovy [Alex Ovechkin] is so far down. Like Hank said, it's disrespectful to hockey, it's disrespectful to the entire country of Russia. The man is about to surpass Wayne Gretzky for the top goal scorer of all time in the NHL.

NHL goalies should be pulled from the ice with at least four minutes remaining

I think the goalie should have been pulled with like six minutes left in the period... no, I think they just like four and a half... I think you pulled the goalie super early. Yeah. I I feel like, I don't know, it just, at the end of the game, they didn't get that guy outta there until like a minute, 45, 2 minutes left... it should definitely be more than one minute, 45 seconds. Yeah, it should be like three and a half, four minutes.

The Conn Smythe Trophy is the cruelest gift you can give a player who just lost the Stanley Cup

Fuck off on giving me that trophy after I just had my guts ripped out and was on the brink of a historical, historical comeback... why would you want to accept it? It's cool that he won it. He was the best player in these playoffs. He broke all these records, but fuck off on giving me that trophy... I would say it's probably the meanest gift you can give to somebody.

If the Oilers win Game 7, it will be the most iconic moment in Stanley Cup Finals history

This would be, I think, the most iconic moment in Stanley Cup finals history. If they're able to pull [off the comeback].

Connor McDavid is the greatest athlete in the world right now

Connor McDavid and him being the greatest athlete in the world right now, better at his sport than any other person is at their sport.

Atlanta deserves to have an NHL team again

I loved Atlanta. I loved my time there. I had an incredible two years. The fans in Atlanta I think we're awesome. I think it's a great city to live. Lots to do. I'm all for getting hockey back in Atlanta. I think just, you know, that's where I started my career at my first two years there. I had great experiences and, and I'd love to see hockey back in that market with the right ownership group.

Connor McDavid is the most talented player to ever play hockey

I will say this guy's the best player that maybe we've ever seen play the game skill wise. Stuff that he can do out there... there's no one even close that can do the things at top speed that he does night in and night out.

NHL players want the 'physicality and shots' in the game's gray areas

The best part about that series was watching Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand shake hands. I mean it's, it's an f you to all those fans out there that try to take that component out of the game... you're telling me that I've never been cheap shotted before... I love them for it. That's a part of the game. Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant.

Ovechkin's days of being a physical force are limited

I think the days of where he's running guys through the boards, you know, a force to be reckoned with out there, those might be limited. But, you know, I think when it comes to goal scoring, he's, I think he could do it till he is 45 years old.

Patrick Kane is the greatest American-born hockey player ever

Patrick Kane's gonna go down when he Retires as the best American born player of all time. I still think that there's potential room for Matthews to maybe overtake that Throne... but for now, let's give Patrick Kane his flowers.

Cutter Gauthier is a 'pussy' for refusing to play for the Flyers

That guy's a cutter's a pussy. That's a, that's a fact. Because... he told Philly that he wanted to play for Philly and then change his mind two months later.

The Blackhawks should hold a press conference to protect Connor Bedard from rumors

The Black Hawks should do a better job of making sure they protect Connor Bedard at all costs. And you're, he's your franchise player. Maybe just do a press conference and explain what happened [with Corey Perry].

Connor McDavid is a 'coach killer'

Is Connor McDavid a coach killer? Big Cat, 'cause this is coach number four I think for him... I'm gonna say that he's a coach killer. Just because it's fun and I have no idea if it's true or not, but it's always good to just slap that label on a really good player.

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.

The NHL conference final matchups are absolute duds

Hot seat to have a couple. Yeah. First one is NHL. The conference finals. Absolute dud. Matchups. Absolute dud. It's Dallas verse Vegas. Carolina versus Florida.

The NHL should rig the draft lottery for major markets

If you're the NHL, you should absolutely rig the draft. Duh. This is entertainment. Yes. Listen, you're a multi-billion dollar corporation. Do you want your best players to be playing for teams that nobody cares about? Yeah. No you don't. You want them in Chicago.

Connor Bedard has the best shot the NHL has ever seen

His shot is like the best they've ever seen. Like it's, it's, it's like insane how he's able, what he's able to do and how he's able to quickly elevate the puck and he's just, he has a lethal shot. So, so, so it's it's cool. He's a phenom.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the best duo since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen

I say he's Pippen and Jordan, I say the best duo since Pippen and Jordan. Wow. They're gonna, I think they're gonna win win a championship.

NHL starting goalies are the weirdest people on the planet

Starting goalie is just outta control. Like, you don't talk to 'em, don't go near 'em on game day. ... I think it's from a young age on where you're in the crease, you got no one to talk to... I wouldn't wish being a goalie on anyone.

Patrick Kane is the greatest American born hockey player

I mean I think he's [Patrick Kane] the best American born player. Me too. Yes. No hands down.

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.

The NHL beat writer who celebrated with the Stanley Cup should be fired for a lack of integrity

There was a Colorado Avalanche beat writer that picked up the Stanley Cup and celebrated with the team and called it one of the best nights of his life. And frankly he should be executed. Yeah. Send him to the LIV tour. They should chop his head off. That's not what journalism is supposed to be in America. It's supposed to be fearless truth tellers, impartial scribes.

The Stanley Cup lifting ceremony is a top-three sports tradition

When you see that, no matter who you root for, it's a great ceremony. Like you're seeing the person lift the cup for the first time, the team captain, or like a long time veteran on that team finally get their Stanley cup. It's awesome. That's like a top three sports [ceremony].

Cale Makar has a chance to be one of the greatest defensemen ever

Cale Makar... who we talked to Whitney about it, like one of the, he has a chance to be one of the greatest defenseman ever in terms of where he's at his career right now in the talent level.

Wayne Gretzky's dominance over his peers will never be seen again

Just given how much he was better than his peers at that time. I don't think that we're ever going to see anything like it. I think Lemieux was close... Wayne was like three times as good. Maybe four times as good as some guys... The sheer dominance and the amount of points that somebody could produce and comparable to the better overall competition, it's just going to be very diff Wayne was just so much more ahead of his time.

The Lightning are the worst back-to-back champions of all time

The idea that the, the lightning might be the worst back-to-back champions of all time. If you look at the bubble when put an asterix on that, and then you look at them playing like maybe one of the worst Stanley cup champion or say like a finals teams in recent memory, like last 30 years and the Canadians, and now they finally run into a wagon in the Stanley cup finals.

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.

Losing a triple-overtime game at home is the worst feeling in sports

There's no worse feeling than having committing six hours of your time into a hockey game and coming away with absolutely nothing. It sucks the soul right out of you. And it was against the backup goalie too.

The Tampa Bay Lightning's back-to-back Cup wins is the second-best redemption arc in sports history behind UVA

The one thing that's nuts to think about, obviously everyone goes to the UVA, losing to UMBC, coming back and winning it all the next year... I think the Tampa Bay Lightnings might be right behind that because... [after being swept] they went and won back-to-back Stanley Cups.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are cheating by exploiting NHL salary cap rules

I do feel like we should take some time to point out the fact that the Lightning, the cap gymnastics on the part of the Lightning... I find one way to make an excuse out of my prediction of the Canadians winning. And that's just like putting all my eggs in the 'these guys cheat by exploiting the cap' basket.

The Montreal Canadiens are officially America's team

I think the Canadiens are now officially America's team. It feels like it's coming home. Is it coming home? It's coming home. It's coming home for the Canadiens.

The NHL should suspend players for dirty hits but allow them back for one 'grudge' game

I think they should do this more often... suspend him for enough games where he can come back and then everyone can tune in to watch him have fights all night. I think the rule should be if you get suspended for a dirty hit in the playoffs, you should be forced to start the next game, skate one shift, and then after that point, your suspension begins.

First-round overtime hockey is a grueling slog that uses up too much energy

What I don't like is first-round overtime hockey playoff games. Because you constantly think to yourself, you have so many more of these series to get through. And we're already playing extra hockey.

Tom Wilson is currently the NHL's apex predator because the league phased out goons

The problem is the NHL not having, they basically got like the goon, the goon is extinct in the NHL. The fighting has been phased out of the league. The big guys don't have a place anymore. Therefore, Tom Wilson is the toughest guy in the world and he beat the entire New York Rangers roster.