Takes

The US and Canada will face off in the gold medal game of the Winter Olympics

We're circling the last game day of of the Winter Olympics. It's gonna be US, Canada. Let's just take care of business boys.

Ovechkin breaking the goal record is a top-tier sports moment

Leading up to the [895th goal], it seemed like there was like 21 games and then 11 goals. He broke his leg and we were like, take your time getting back. He's like, no, two weeks I'll be back on the ice. Being a part of [the goal] was really cool. I mean, I had an assist on 890, 91, 92, 93.

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.

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.

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.

The Oilers will win the Stanley Cup in seven games

I think it's Oilers. I got Oilers in seven. I think it's Oilers.

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.

Colorado is the best team in the West and will return to the Cup Finals

Colorado to me is, they're the best team in the West. And if they play Dallas, which I think they will in the first round, one of those kind of unfair, like either team could win the cup and somebody losing first round.

Ovechkin's record-breaking goal from his office was the perfect way to end the chase

It was awesome to see him score from his office against the Islanders... Ovie was like, fuck it, I know it's at home... he said, no, I don't wanna do it on empty netter. Instead he did it from his office. Perfectly. Perfect, perfect shot. That shot has been happening for 20 years.

The Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team is a true dynasty

The Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team won another national title. Four outta six years, eight total dominant. Dynasty for sure. That's the Dynasty.

Winning a Stanley Cup in Canada would make me 'Captain Canada'

I think about it all the time... [PFT: It'd be Captain Canada at that point.] Yeah. It's made me think about it too much. But I feel like I have my whole day planned when we win.

Connor Bedard has 'dog in him' and will become one of the greats

I believe that he does have dog in him and it will eventually be unleashed. He's too stubborn not to become one of the greats. ... This kid is very young, he's very determined and he is gonna figure it out with my help.

Kirill Kaprizov is a top three MVP candidate

Minnesota, Kirill the Thrill [Kaprizov]... Probably a top three candidate for MVP right now. And just an unreal player to watch where every game, game in, game out, shift in, shift out, he has must-watch television.

The Oilers will win Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals at home

I feel like they are, the Oilers are going to win game three at home though. They need the tits. They need the tits.

The Dallas Stars are the best-built team in the NHL

How do you not pick Dallas? Like, what would be your reason for not picking Dallas? ... from the coaching Pete DeBoer to the stars up front. They have scoring depth up front. They have veteran presence, they have sandpaper, they have youth, they have speed, they have defense... Jim Nill deserves a lot of credit.

The Boston Bruins will win their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Just gotta win in Toronto. Now it's a tough, it's tough to win in the playoffs. You know, the leaves are a good team. They, they battled through adversity tonight. And, and we gotta come back stronger. Put Swayman in the net and, and we're gonna win.

The Capitals are going to be killed by the Rangers in the first round

Bad news is they have to play the Rangers who won the President's trophy, which is, you know, basically impossible to lose in the playoffs if you're that good of a team... there's like no chance that we can beat the Rangers, but I'm just glad to be there.

The Florida Panthers are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference

Florida being the wagon that they are, they're probably the, probably the, the number one favorite in the east.

Connor McDavid is so fast he doesn't even get tired on the ice

I honestly don't think he even gets tired. ... He's just so fast. ... And the dual threat of being one of the best passers in the league and now having the ability to score kind of whenever you want, is just taking his game through the roof.

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.

The Bruins are the greatest regular season hockey team ever and will dominate the playoffs

I'm all out on this team. This team is different. They're the greatest hockey team I've ever watched in the regular season. They're the greatest regular season team of all time. They're gonna dominate, they're gonna run through these playoffs.

Arbor Jacki is a fan favorite who will stick in Montreal

Arbor Jacki [Xhekaj] and then they call the boys call him wifi... he's come in as a young, this kid was working at Costco last year... defenseman, toughest shit... fan favorite in Montreal who's exceeded expectations.

Jacob Chychrun will be the biggest name defenseman moved at the deadline

For trade for defenseman right now the biggest name is Jacob Chychrun and he plays for the coyotes. ... I would say that he's gonna be a big name defenseman that moves at the close to the deadline.

Alex Ovechkin will definitely break the NHL goal-scoring record

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

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].

The Colorado Avalanche were one of the most dominant Cup winners in history

The avalanche incredible team, like an absolute wagon of a team... they went 16 and four in the playoffs. They had, they had a four game sweep [of the Predators]... the Oilers [sweep]... 4-2 against the lightning. They, if you combine it all and he'd take out overtime losses and the regular season, they had, they won a 78% clip, which is insane. It's pretty like dad is just, thrills are just awesome. Awesome hockey team that deserves to win the cup.

Game 4 is the pivotal game of the Stanley Cup Final

I'd say that it's gonna come down to pivotal game for winner that game... if they lose it, it's over no way that they went three in a row.

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.

It's a huge disappointment if the Avalanche don't win the Stanley Cup now

The Avalanche looked like the best team. Like if they don't win it now that's would, that's a big disappointment, big disappointment, huge disappointment.

The Avalanche will easily advance to the Stanley Cup Finals

Yeah, I would say the Colorado is going to easily advance... [Edmonton is] basically kind of without [Draisaitl]. And also now Kane just got a one game suspension... I think they're going to Colorado is going to advance.

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.

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.

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 Stanley Cup Final will be Colorado vs. Florida and it will be the most electric ever

I think this is a year where the favorites get to the top. I think it's going to be Colorado and I think it's going to be Florida. And I think it will be the most electric Stanley Cup Final of all time... both of those teams are extremely fun to watch.

The Winter Olympics ratings decline is due to a lack of NHL pros in hockey

The average total audience was 11.4 million viewers for the 2022. And that's a sharp decline... I'm convinced it's the hockey like it's, it's it's hockey, not having the pros and not having it as like a tentpole.

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.

John Tavares will be out for the remainder of the NHL playoffs

And also that John Tavares got hurt and is probably out. Do you think he's out for the playoffs? I would assume. I don't know.

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.

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 Taze comes back but who knows.

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.

The 5-overtime NHL game was caused by bad ice in Toronto

I personally blame the blame the ice in Toronto for the 5:00 overtime game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will win the Stanley Cup

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.

Success in hockey comes down to 'playing heavy' and winning stick battles

The way I want to play the game, we need size and strength. Being physical... You can play heavy, it's just winning puck battles. That's what it boils down to. Using your body winning puck bottles, having heavy sticks. That's what I mean by heavy.

Zdeno Chara is the sports respecter of journalism of the year for writing down answers with a broken jaw

Zdeno Chara has a broken jaw, he can't speak, and he still met with the press and answered questions by writing down his answers. Class act. ... The respecter of journalism of the year. Sports player who respects journalism the most of the year.

The St. Louis Blues will win the Stanley Cup in six games

My assumption is that [the St. Louis Blues] are going to get the job done. I picked Blues in six.

Capitals losing 5-0 is better than a close overtime loss

If it was a 4-3 overtime loss, I would be a little bit more worried. But the fact that I was rooting for it to get worse... 5-0, you can just wipe that one off. You can just say, wasn't our night, fellas.

The Washington Capitals have a 20% chance of repeating as Stanley Cup champions

Pittsburgh did it for the first time in like 20 years... I'm going to say 20%. They're a good team, right? ... I just think that it's tough because guys are exhausted and they've ripped it up extra hard.

Montreal is the best atmosphere in North American hockey

Montreal... you should see this place. Just the fans right on top of you... the seats just go straight up. It's loud as hell. The French are completely nuts. By far and away, it was my favorite place to play.