Takes

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.

The Colorado Avalanche are the absolute 'wagon' of the NHL

Colorado is the wagon guys. Colorado's the one that you're scared of... I can't help but see them running through the entire league and then winning the Stanley Cup with ease. Right now they are on pace to break the Bruins record for most points.

Conor McDavid's team-friendly contract was designed to make him easily tradable to a contender

This seems like it would be very easily tradable. Very, very easily tradable contract. He basically, I mean smart by him. If in a year and a half the Oilers aren't competing and he can go somewhere for a year and a half and it doesn't fuck up some team's cap.

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 Edmonton Oilers cannot win a Stanley Cup with their current goaltending

I said on Chiclets, like they don't have a goalie that you can win the Stanley Cup with. Now, once again, they were one game away from winning the cup with him... But if your starting goalie is getting pulled and losing his job in back to back playoffs, I don't think you have a Stanley Cup goalie. No.

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 currently incapable of winning the big one

I feel bad for [Connor McDavid]. He's an incredible player, but as of right now, I'm just going on the facts that I see — has not won the big one. And I'm not trying to do insult stats, but he's the only captain who's lost in back-to-back cup finals in the last 50 years.

Brad Marchand is a lock for the Hall of Fame

That's why I believe he's a hall of famer is because he was one of the best clutch wingers in the game for a significant almost a decade... Brad Marchand [is] the leader in Stanley Cup finals goals [among active players].

Getting into a line brawl is the best way to shift momentum when you're losing a playoff series

As a hockey expert, my plan, whenever you're getting your ass kicked in a series and you wanna shift it around, just get into a massive line brawl at the end of that game and just try to change the energies up somehow.

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.

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.

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.

The Four Nations Face-Off final was equivalent to an All-Star exhibition game for Team USA

That term meant a lot... [Big Cat: You agree right, that was just the All-Star break?] I don't know if I answer that... Give's a shit about that. That's exhibition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Matt Cook was a dirty player

I remember either [Chris Higgins] in the intermission, he said, Hey, just make sure you keep your head about there 'cause you know these guys are coming after you... Matt Cook kind of asked me to go... ended up knocking him out... But he was a, he was a dirty, dirty player.

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.

Sasha Barkov is the best 200-foot center in the world

Sasha Barkov easily in the world right now, probably the new Anze Kopitar as the best 200 foot center... he back checks like a maniac. He's the most reliable center ice position player I believe on the planet. Even more so than McDavid from a defensive standpoint.

Connor McDavid still sucks because he hasn't won the big one

Not that he [McDavid] needs it again. He, he still hasn't won the big one, so we're gonna wait on that... Right now. He still sucks. In a way I'm kind of hoping that he loses so we can really focus this take on him. Like, losing in the Stanley Cup finals would be the ultimate point on that crown of cannot win the big one.

I want the Rangers to win Game 6 and then lose Game 7 in historic, embarrassing fashion

I would like the Rangers to win game six. And then lose in historic fashion [in game 7].

Edmonton losing in the Stanley Cup Finals would be the best storyline for hockey

I kind of just for our own sake, I hope that Edmonton loses in the finals. Just for the storyline. Canada... I hope they get to the finals and I hope that Edmonton loses.

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.

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.

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.

The Rangers' status as a juggernaut is a direct result of Tom Wilson's hit on Artemi Panarin

The Rangers turned around their entire franchise a couple years ago when Tom Wilson in a horrifying act of violence threw Panarin into the ground... They fired their entire front office after that because they realized that they were a soft hockey team. Since that moment, the Rangers have turned it around.

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.

The Maple Leafs won't win a Cup because their fans are mean to them

I think it would strictly be because their fan base is too hard on them... They have one bad period or one bad game, they're sell the farm, get rid of everyone. I think their fans just need to be a little bit nicer than the players.

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].

The Florida Panthers' physical style of play might not work against the Vegas Golden Knights

Florida is like a team that as a team feels like they just want to get in fights and bother you. And Vegas is the most disciplined big team that it might not work for them. It's obviously game one, but it might not work against a team like Vegas who's like, no, fuck this, we'll play hockey.

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.

Rob Brind'Amour's post-sweep comments were 'the biggest loser talk' ever

The hurricanes got swept and Rob Brind'Amour afterwards said... 'we didn't lose four games, we got beat, but we were right there.' ... That's quite a quote. ... To come out afterwards and say the history books will show we got swept, but that's not what happened. ... On the surface that's the definition of Loser Talk.

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.

I am buying Blackhawks season tickets because of Connor Bedard

I watched a highlight video. There's like a 20 minute highlight video I was watching and I did buy season tickets. I hope everyone here likes to go to hockey games. Cause we're gonna go to a lot of hockey games. I got swept up. I mean he looks, I, I know there's a lot of pressure on him, but he does feel like a can't miss guy.

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.

The Florida Panthers' upset over the Bruins wasn't as shocking as people think

I don't think it was a choke as much as people are saying. ... You look at Florida's team, they're loaded, they got superstar players. ... They had been playing playoff hockey for the last month trying to get into the playoffs... the Bruins really hadn't been tested pretty much all year.