Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome back to Canucks Talk here on Sportsnet 650. Jamie Dodd, Thomas Trance. We are broadcasting live from the Kintec Studio. 650-650 is the Dunbar-Lumber text line trusted by contractors.
And just so our listeners know, I was looking through listed heights of NHL sentiment and getting madder and madder at how massive a lie this data set is. Like every number is a lie. Why are we judging anything off this?
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Chapter 2: What was the impact of Claude Lemieux's passing on the hockey community?
Find them at three convenient locations or visit Dunbar Lumber online today. Guests on Sportsnet 650 call in on the Able Auctions hotline. Email sales at ableauctions.ca to get your business assets sold and your building cleared. Now joining us on the ABLE Auctions hotline from Sportsnet, covering the Montreal Canadiens, he is Eric Engels. Eric, thanks for doing this today. How are you?
I'm okay. I hope you guys will appreciate that I won't necessarily have the same enthusiastic tone in my voice. Of course. Absolutely. I'm a little shocked about what has happened here today.
Yeah. And for our listeners who haven't heard what you're referring to is the passing today of former Montreal Canadiens player, and of course Devils and Avalanche as well, Claude Lemieux. And shocking at age 60, especially shocking because we just saw him in Montreal on Monday yesterday. carrying the torch at the beginning of game three to an incredible ovation from the crowd.
And so we completely understand, Eric. And I did want to start by asking you about Lemieux's legacy, specifically in Montreal. You know, I'm 40. And so my memories of Claude Lemieux are from the Colorado Avalanche. That's first and foremost, you know, the wars against the Detroit Red Wings. But of course, drafted by Montreal, started his career there, won a cup early in his career with Montreal.
What did he mean as a player to that city?
I think I appreciate the question because you know a lot of times and often times especially on the day of somebody's passing it's so easy to just focus on the grim reality that sets in and he's got a life to be celebrated and you know What he means to Montreal is probably the same thing he meant to New Jersey and Colorado. Conversely, with everything he meant to every other team, right?
Like this is a guy that you love to hate and a guy that you loved if he was on your side of it. If he wasn't the fiercest competitor I ever saw, and I watched pretty much the majority of his career, he was top three in that category, uh, would do anything to win sometimes cross the line significantly to do that as a person.
And then anybody who knew him really well would tell you he was a great guy and he was just, uh, a charismatic, very smart guy. And, um, yeah, it's just shocking. I mean, it's just, uh, I I'm rarely at a loss for words, but I, I, Everything I'd heard about Claude was that he was in great shape, he was healthy, and really taking care of himself in a good way.
But you never know what's going on in people's lives and what could lead to these circumstances. I'm shocked. I'm really shocked. And I know people that are close to him are extremely devastated and shocked.
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Chapter 3: How did Claude Lemieux's legacy influence Montreal Canadiens fans?
And in those defining moments, I don't know if there's a greater legacy you can leave, and that includes making it to the Hall of Fame. So, yeah. I know we have to talk about the Canadians, so we probably should get to it.
Yeah, we will. And first of all, Eric, thank you for sharing your thoughts on Claude Lemieux. And again, we completely understand the circumstances of your chat with us today. But as you said, we will talk about the series, the Eastern Conference final between Montreal and Carolina. And it was a tough night for Montreal fans last night at the Bell Center.
Just a smothering performance from Carolina. Difficult to even get the puck or get a shot on net for Montreal. And that kind of carries over a theme that we saw, even though the previous two victories were... Overtime wins. It was a lot of Carolina puck possession in those games as well.
How much of what we're seeing here is about Montreal simply running out of gas after two tough seven game series versus a mismatch in terms of talent and style between the two teams?
I think what you have is the confluence of the Canadians being taxed heavily through two series and the Hurricanes getting the type of break they've never had at this stage of the season before. And you look at their failings in past conference finals and you say it's a commonly held opinion across the NHL and not one that's just coming out of the top of my head.
I speak to everybody in the league from GMs to coaches to whoever you want to talk to that have openly questioned, like, can these guys play 82 games like playoff games and run through an entire playoffs? And the answer seemed to be no. And then all of a sudden they get an 11-day break after sweeping through two rounds and look at what they look like.
You know, Marty Samuel, we talked about how it's certainly not the only factor, but it helps them play their style. And that style will be put to the test if they make it through this round. You know, it looks more probable that they will, that they won't.
against a Vegas team that plays a pretty similar style and brings that level of pressure and has that level of veteran experience and also is getting a little bit of rest while the Hurricanes are putting the afterburners on against the Canadians. We'll see how they hold up to that if they make it there. Are the Canadians out of gas? They are the youngest team in the league.
They are in the conference final and embracing an opportunity and not just treating this as like the gravy train and the cherry on top of a sundae that they didn't expect. They're here for a reason. They didn't luck their way here. And it's time to see what kind of resolve they have to jump over the mental hurdle that's in front of them. Because it's not just the 3-1 deficit.
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Chapter 4: What are the Carolina Hurricanes' strengths in the Eastern Conference Final?
I mean, You know, I don't remember the 93 Habs run. My first hockey memories really are in 94, which I think is pretty common for boys our age in this part of the world. But yeah, I mean, Claude Lemieux was honestly one of my favorite players. Honestly, one of my absolute favorite players. Just terrible news today.
Yeah, awful news and all the best and condolences to Clill the Muse family and friends after he passed away at the age of 60 today. 650-650 is the Dunbar Lumber text line.
Anson from Burnaby texts in so of all this Viggo Bjork hype what's the inside info to the Canucks have him in the top three or else this discussion doesn't matter I mean I wouldn't say it doesn't matter right because we're gonna we're gonna second guess and we're gonna have our own opinions about whatever the Canucks do or don't do at the draft I think it's still more than relevant to kind of
get our opinions out there, talk through it, work through it with the listeners, how we're viewing this draft. The question of what's the inside info and do the Canucks have him in the top three? Again, I would kind of return to a theme of ours this week, which is that shouldn't be written in stone yet.
I know they've had their big scouting meetings, but the world championships are still happening. Ryan Johnson's been on the job for what? Two, three weeks at this point. They've had the world championships are still happening. The combine is next week.
So that's a chance to chat with these players in person, which is a big, big deal, especially when you think about the emphasis that this management group has placed on character and building that culture. So, yes, we've obviously heard a ton of smoke indicating that the Canucks have Caleb Malhotra very, very high on their list. There's also no reason to think that this process should be over.
So I would absolutely anticipate that it's in flux. And they've just changed management groups as well.
Teams are finalizing lists down to the last week before the draft. You know, you get everyone together again. Oh, you used to for like the week ahead of the draft. And there's big picture conversations. And especially if there's been recent changes in a front office, like there's probably moving parts. Final arguments. We'll ask Books about the process.
How set should a list be at this time of year?
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Chapter 5: How do the Montreal Canadiens match up against the Hurricanes?
At the very least, you should have it again. I'm not saying you necessarily have to move all the way to... Throw out the draft list, yeah. You don't have to see it like I do, but you at least have to chat about it, especially if that's something that anyone in your scouting room had said. Right? Let's revisit this. We've seen an eight-game sample of him as a standout against NHLers. Yep.
Does that change how we view him? And if it does... then how do we recontextualize this scoring production? Likewise, you know, does Stenberg now putting the emphatic exclamation mark on his draft eligible season in any way change how you're viewing him?
Because there was at least some thought that with the way his season ended, he'd opened the door to some of the defenders or Caleb Malhotra on a lot of teams list for two. Has that changed?
Now we have a lot of people texting in because your Vigo Bjork hype is working on a lot of people. A lot of people saying, okay, I'm on board. But also a lot of people saying they want like a repeat of the Sedin's draft and the maneuvering and the trades to get another top five pick. So you can have your cake and eat it too. That's the have your cake and eat it too plan, right?
Like I love both of these guys, whether it's Stenberg and Bjork or Bjork and Malhotra, whatever it is, right?
I so look if you can figure out another way to get a top five pick whether it's moving Philip Ronick to San Jose or Chicago or whatever it is that's incredible do it New York maybe if they're interested sure the other thing I've been thinking about a lot though is the Canucks need to find a way to acquiring an unprotected 2027 first that has legitimate upside so not from like the Colorado Avalanche
but one that could actually meaningfully give you a chance to win the lottery. I agree. And I'm trying to, I'm like, I'm still working through, okay, what's the team to target here, but almost not more than two or four. Cause like, look, don't get me wrong. That's an incredible hall. But I also think that's a little bit unrealistic. Whereas I think the 2027 first is,
Not easy to do, but there's at least a path to do it if you're kicking it out a year down the road and some team is overconfident about their own chances.
So the 2027 unconditional, but you're aiming for 2028.
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Chapter 6: What insights did Jason Bukala share about Viggo Bjork at the IIHF Worlds?
I was thinking today. So Ryan McLeod had five points in 13 playoff games, minus seven for the Buffalo Sabres who don't seem to be very good at evaluating who they are, which players they have that are good. They have Krebs to extend. They have Benson to extend and they have tuck to extend and McLeod makes five and a half and they don't have the cap space to do all of it.
their goal some guys are going to shake loose from the Buffalo Sabres now in my opinion if the Buffalo Sabres are smart it would be Jack Quinn it would be Peyton Krebs and it would be maybe Josh Norris who they'd consider dealing and and I'd be looking for like an upgraded center like you're bundling good players to try and get great players kind of what they did with what Utah tried to do with Paterka but you know hopefully you do it better than that mm-hmm
McLeod to me six foot three skates like the wind 26 years old no one thought he could score a lick and he has 53 and 54 points the last two years and that's with 16 and 17 minutes of play and not a ton of power play time like you're telling me I can't build that guy you know Pedersen on his left wing Linus Carlson on his right 20 minutes a night in the bumper on the power play can I build him into a 75 point first line center
that some team thinks, you know, is worth a first round pick. Like also like, those are the sorts of, those are the sorts of things I want to see that connects like really in a really predatory way.
Predator eyes. Isn't a 20. Here's the thing though, with Ryan McLeod, isn't a 26 year old center with good athletic traits and that scoring who signed at 5 million for the next two years already worth a first round pick.
Well, I'm saying they'd need to... You'd be probably... I'm talking about a situation where you'd be sending a top young player. Right. Like, you'd have to be giving them a cost control. Like, one of Vancouver's young guys that everyone's excited about. Yeah. You know what I mean? And so maybe it's one of the defensemen. Mm-hmm. And they have Kesselring, who's, like, a problem for them, too.
Mm-hmm. You know? And they get a... Whatever. Forward. Like, Drew O'Connor and... you know, Villander or Booyah from a cloud in Kesselring and maybe you get a pick in it.
Yeah.
But you can recoup the draft asset, something like that. Yeah.
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Chapter 7: What are the implications of the upcoming NHL draft for the Canucks?
Let's go.
We are hearing you. You've been waiting all day to hear me talk. That's correct.
All week. Ever since your hit ended, Boox, I've been waiting for just this moment.
Oh, buddy. I love the authentic Seattle Supersonics. Yeah.
Let's go. Thanks, buddy. I just got a new collection of dad hats. I'm moving on from the flat brims that my Gen Z buddy over here prefers. Hey, Boox. You wrote some interesting stuff about Stenberg. I've been crushing my draft deep dives. I've got takes, but let's start with Stenberg. Let's let's open the floor on Ivar Stenberg because the profile is insane. We both wrote him up this week.
He's your number one. I still can't get there over McKenna, but I think this is a very, very special player. What are you seeing?
Can you guys try and hear me out for three minutes? Yes, absolutely.
We're going to throw some pet theories at you afterwards, so they would only be polite.
I love it. I love it. That's what I'm here for. That's why I got dressed up, just to be here for this. But anyways. um here's here's how i thought it through and um i'm curious to agree disagree i'm just curious to get both your thoughts on this and maybe dom in the uh in the background noise he'll he'll shoot me a text agreeing or disagreeing as well but here it goes so
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Chapter 8: How do player profiles affect draft decisions for NHL teams?
He's more buttoned up from his red line down to his goal line. And then on top of that, I think he's as smart to find the puck in the offensive zone as well. So are my splitting hairs? Yeah, a little bit. But they're both late birthdays. The body of work has both been relatively exceptional. McKenna hasn't been as good defensively. But give him kudos.
He improved a lot in the back half of the year. He really did. I'd call it at least 30%. But the other guy, he's just more for me. That's my simple way of putting it. And it's not because I don't like the other guy. They're just different.
I think that's reasonable. I think the reason I can't... Like, I'm a huge Stenberg fan. The smoothness that he moves with, which is, I think, what you're alluding to, right, is really impressive. The difference for me is Stenberg plays through contact expertly. And whereas McKenna...
plays around it but like kind of through it like he kind of jukes into weird space and then passes out and just moves laterally in a way that I feel like I can't come up with a comparable for and when something to me feels novel I value it I'm like okay I can't even think of a guy I've seen who moves like this that to me feels special.
So when I combine that with the historic WHL track record versus Stenberg's exceptional, but, you know, we've seen Adrian Kempe and Leo Carlson and those types of guys perform that way at 16 and 17 in the Swedish system.
To me, that's sort of where I just give precedence to the novel, rarer profile of McKenna versus the stupendous profile of Stenberg, even though I rate both extraordinarily highly.
So let me ask you a question, and this is somewhat obscene, so bear with me for a sec here, Jay. Let's go.
Okay.
Quinnipiac, Ethan Wittenbach. Fifth round pick to the Calgary Flames. Leads all freshman scorers against CAA. Right? 59 points, if I'm not mistaken. He jumps off the spreadsheets. Jumps off the spreadsheets, right? Not a lot younger. Not a lot younger than McKenna, really, when you start doing the math.
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