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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Cerebelli.
Chapter 2: What latest hockey news did Frank Seravalli share?
Cerebelli. Cerebelli. Frank. Cerebelli. Frank. Cerebelli. Frank.
Frank. 702 on A1's Happy Wednesday, everybody. Halford Brough, Sportsnet 650. Alfred and Rob in the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Are you drowning in tax debt? If you are, Sands and Associates can opt to reduce your debt by up to 80% with no upfront fees. Visit them today at sands-trustee.com. We are now in hour two of the program.
Frank Cervelli, our NHL insider from Victory Plus Live from the Stanley Cup final in Carolina is going to join us in just a moment here. Hour two of this program is brought to you by Jason Hominuck at jason.mortgage. If you love giving the banks more of your money, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit him online at jason.mortgage.
We are broadcasting live from the Kintec studio. Step strong with orthotics and footwear from Kintec. 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.
Let's go now to the Able Auctions hotline. As mentioned, our next guest is our NHL insider from Victory Plus, Frank Cervalli, here on the Halford & Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. Morning, Frank. How are you? Pretty good. How are you guys doing? We are well.
We've still got a lot to unpack from yesterday because we haven't got to a number of things, including Gary Bettman's State of the Union media address that he does annually before game one of every Stanley Cup final. Let's just open this up so the conversation can go anywhere. Was there one big takeaway or one major topic that maybe superseded the rest when Gary met with the media yesterday?
Hmm.
So there was Russian participation was a big one. There was talk about, of course, all-star weekend in 2027. Let's start, I guess, with the idea of succession. Yeah. It seemed to be a big report or topic heading into yesterday, and the commissioner poured cold water on that, saying that his demise or retirement is greatly exaggerated, that
Yesterday was his 74th birthday, and that it's natural to recognize that this isn't something that he can do forever, that they've had some talks with the NHL's executive committee, which is the smaller, more powerful group of the Board of Governors, that they've apprised them of what they would like to do, but they haven't actually put anything into place. And to use his words, quote,
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Chapter 3: What were Gary Bettman's major points in the State of the Union address?
Is there a sense that everyone is relatively happy with the work that Bettman has done? And I know it feels like the lockout wasn't that long ago, but it has been that long ago. And since they've kind of negotiated labor peace, and I think maybe something has to do with Marty Walsh coming in as the NHLPA boss, it just feels like everything is all right. on the NHL front.
You know, there's no more problem franchise. Now they've cleaned up Arizona. There doesn't seem to be any one major issue looming over the league like there has been in years past. So, long-winded way of asking, are people pretty happy with Bettman right now?
I think that's the case. I mean, look, nothing is ever perfect. There's probably always something to pick at. But in terms of, hey, the NHL just starred at the Olympics. Revenue is so much so like record wise that it's way outpacing the cap, which is a whole other topic. Um, there are no problem franchises.
They seem to have nailed, absolutely nailed the Arizona to Utah moves and now expansions on the horizon again, because suitors see the NHL as a, a value play to, to join in at the major four pro sports level. Uh, there's labor piece, uh, I can't really think of a record TV ratings. They're up in a massive way. This is the most visible that the NHL has been in the U.S. probably in two decades.
I can't really think of one negative to chew on. And I'd say part of that is due to the commissioner. Part of it is due to the rapidly evolving sports landscape and how...
insanely profitable it's been or valuation wise it's been for these owners and now look at just how revenue fits into the whole picture um the league has managed to keep through a massive change of wealth um with covid and now uh into this next cba like the owners are in such a great spot that's
He's even slowed how much teams need to spend on the cap that it's put everyone in a really good position to smooth out this increase.
Okay, let's talk about this news involving the Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche. What did you think of them poaching Chris McFarlane from, you know, the President's Trophy winning Avs, the team that was supposed to win the Stanley Cup this year? It forces Joe Sackick back into the GM position. What did they do to get him out of Colorado?
Well, they offered a promotion, complete control, and a significant, significant raise. And so all those things still considered, I totally understand how the Nashville Predators arrived at this trying to land Chris McFarlane, a truly sharp hockey mind who is a worker and grinder and has earned the respect of everyone around the NHL.
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Chapter 4: How does the NHL view Gary Bettman's leadership currently?
There's a lot of holes and voids to fill.
Yeah, centers, pretty valuable in the NHL these days. And that's why there's a lot of talk in Vancouver that the Canucks might draft Caleb Malhotra. Now, you were the first to report? that the Canucks had a deal in place with Manny Malhotra, Caleb's dad. What did you think about Manny being hired, and what do you think about the possibility of the Canucks drafting his son, Caleb?
I think it's a great fit. I really do. I think for this team, with where they're at, having a coach that can grow with them and hit the reset button on this team's culture that's so desperately needed... He's going to be that beacon that helps guide that.
And the comfortability factor between being a former teammate of the Sedins, working really closely with Ryan Johnson, I think it checks just about every box. The only awkwardness is what to do with the draft. And I'll just say that we can hypothetically debate this. I have a hard time envisioning right now Caleb Malhotra not being available on the board for the Canucks to take at number three.
But what we don't know yet is what happens with those two slots before that number three pick. And that's the part where, I mean, you can work yourself up into a tizzy, but what happens if Iver Stenberg goes one and the Sharks take a defenseman? It's a possibility.
And if that's the case, then, well, then maybe Gavin McKenna falls into your lap at three and you just have to execute and take the highest skilled player. I think there's a lot of teams that have been paying very closely attention to exactly what you said about grabbing a center and him being arguably the premier center in this draft.
That matters, and that's a big reason why he has shot up the draft boards and rankings, not just because he closed with one of the best second halves of the season, but also because of the premium position that he plays.
We mentioned one of the two coaching vacancies in the NHL right now, one of them, of course, being Edmonton. The other one, Toronto. Now, I'm curious, what have you got here? There was a report this morning, I believe it was from Darren Drager, that the interviews this week are going to include Patrick Waugh, which I did not see coming.
And then, of course, there's a handful of other candidates out there as well. What do you know? What are you hearing on the Maple Leafs coaching front, Frank?
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Chapter 5: What are the implications of Chris McFarlane's move to the Nashville Predators?
It's like in the second half of the season kind of thing. I wouldn't be surprised if he joins them for a second half run. It's going to be something. It's going to be something. We're going to talk to Mike Tannier about this in one second. Before we get to Mike, I need to tell you that we are in hour two of the program. We're at the midway point of the show.
And hour two is brought to you by Jason Hominuck at jason.mortgage. If you love paying too much for your mortgage, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit him online at jason.mortgage. To the Able Auctions hotline we go. Our next guest is our NFL insider from the Too Deep Zone. It's Mike Tannier here on the Halford & Brough Show on Sportsnet 650.
Good morning, Michael. How are you?
Well, I was doing better a couple of days ago. When I was minding my own business, I had just completed the Los Angeles Rams team chapter for the FTN Almanac, which will be on newsstands or wherever, on the internet in July. And it was all done, and we were all sort of celebrating with champagne, and then the the Miles Garrett trade happened. I'm going to tell you something right now.
As I was doing extensive rewrites to that chapter, the Aaron Donald rumors and posting happened. So I wrote a couple sentences in there in the chapter which said, Aaron Donald is talking about coming out of retirement. I don't want to think about it if it happens. And we are definitely not revising this chapter if it happens. So that's where we stand with the Los Angeles Rams right now.
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Chapter 6: What is the situation with the Colorado Avalanche's management changes?
Okay, let's start with the Rams. The big question is, why did the Rams choose to do this? Everyone knows that Miles Garrett is, let's just call it, the best defensive player in football. I mean, the best player in football.
So I think you just answered it.
Period. But why did they spend so much, including shipping out a pretty good rush edge in Jared Verse and a first, a second, and third round pick for Miles Garrett?
This is the biggest all-in Rams move since the last big all-in Rams move.
Which was a couple weeks ago or something.
The only time this offseason, when the Rams have been out of character, was when they drafted Ty Simpson. And I think if the Rams had gone out there in the draft and said, hey, Kenyon Sadiq, another tight end, let's have 80 of them. Or offensive lineman, we just need a guy. Or a defensive back. No one would have blinked about any of the other moves this offseason.
They're all in the win while Matthew Stafford is there, and they bring in Trent McDuffie, and now they bring in Miles Garrett, and you lose Jared Verst, but again, you trade a very, very good player for the best player in the league at that position, and you throw in the draft picks, and it's an all-in move.
The only thing that kind of rattles around in McCann mentally is, why did they go try to get their quarterback of the future, too, instead of getting one more guy for 2026? But that's kind of like your Rams wisdom there. That's like, oh, we're playing galactic chess. We see the whole board. We see the future, et cetera.
You take that out of the equation and say, yeah, Rams are doing everything they can. They want to get past the Seahawks. They know there's a short window, and Garrett's going to help them do that.
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Chapter 7: How are the Nashville Predators planning their offseason moves?
Even though I said that they paid a huge haul to get Myles Garrett, did the Browns actually get enough in return for trading who might be the best player in the National Football League?
That's an outstanding question because there were Garrett questions. I think it was only last year that I was sitting there, maybe it was two years ago, listening to Barry answer questions at the Combine about a Garrett trade. And it seemed at the time, two first-round picks. could have been it.
And I don't know if verse and a first-round pick and a second and a third add up to two first-round picks, et cetera. But had they done that, like clean-slated a couple years ago, maybe they'd be in better shape now. The one thing I hate is when it's a trade for the far, far, far future. It's one thing to trade for next year.
When you start talking about 2028, you lose me forever because a million things can happen in the interim. So I don't know. I'll say this was maybe the best move the Browns could have made right now
But the right move might have been not to hand Garrett financial apologies and pat him on the head and say one more year in the past, get that done in the past, and maybe they'd have a clearer perspective of what's happening right now in the present.
How much does A.J. Brown help the Patriots? I can't help but think about the Patriots' performance in the Super Bowl, and I was like, they went in there. I mean, they had the 14-3 season. They get to the Super Bowl, and then it's like, oh, maybe their schedule was really easy because this does not look like even close to a Super Bowl contender, yet they were in the Super Bowl.
And that's a good way of looking at it, not just the Super Bowl, but in the championship game. Oh, the opposing quarterbacks hurt, and it's a snowstorm. Those are places along the way where the whole system seemed to be working in their favor. Brown definitely helps. You're going to get a with-the-program version of Brown, at least in the short term.
They also have Romeo Dobbs now, so that's kind of a refresh of their receiving core around Drake May. The question becomes, how much was the schedule a factor in And the answer probably is a lot. And then you also have to look at, well, the Bills are there and the Ravens are rebuilding and Patrick Mahomes will be back.
The one thing I'll say about the Patriots schedule, the Jets are still the Jets. The Dolphins are an even worse version of the Dolphins. They might have four wins right off the bat walking into the season with this new receiving core. So Brown's going to help. I think they're going to be a playoff team.
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Chapter 8: What potential trades are being discussed for Roman Josi?
I'd have to go with the Chiefs because you can insert Patrick Mahomes right away and say, well, there's one solution. You can insert Kenneth Walker and say, oh, they weren't able to run the ball for a couple seasons. There's the next solution. And while they lost a lot of guys on defense, they drafted guys on defense. They have the coaching staff with Spagnuolo intact.
They can turn things around quickly. I'm not sure what the Bills are doing right now with promoting Joe Brady and keeping Brandon Bean, et cetera. They seem to kind of be at their wit's end or at cross-purposes right now. Ravens are intriguing because, again, once the Browns get weaker, you start looking at those teams.
And you say, okay, Lamar Jackson comes back, and there's kind of a new mindset there. What does that do to that team? Hard to say. They lost a lot of guys, Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, and free agency. That could be another team that's at the crossroads, at cross purposes, whereas the Chiefs, you know that they can turn things around very quickly with their quarterback back.
Who is Patrick Mahomes' top target going to be next season? Kelsey's still there. He is, right?
Kelsey's still there under a new deal and was still getting the job done. I'm checking Waze right now for a traffic port to see where Rashi Rice is. I laugh, but maybe I shouldn't laugh when it comes to that guy. It was well-delivered. Yeah, thank you. Mahomes has used a committee approach that was based around Kelsey as his safety valve in the past. Probably what it's going to be.
We'll see about race suspension. Worthy is there. The fact that they have Kenneth Walker, we'll see what he can possibly give them in the passing game as well. They might be able to do a little more with a little less if they can run the ball efficiently.
Finally, before we let you go, Russell Wilson is on his way to the booth. He will be joining CBS as an analyst this season. Jason and I talked about it yesterday. And we spent a fair amount of time trying to... Well, it was a two-parter. Understand his legacy and then figure out his Hall of Fame candidacy. They didn't do a great job of either.
And I think that's because it's so confusing and it's very complex. There's not a lot of guys that play themselves out of contention, potentially... the way that Russ has over the last few years, where do you stand on? Let's just do the hall of fame candidacy.
Yeah, you're exactly right. When it comes to hall of fame candidacy, he played himself out of it in recent years. It's not just playing poorly, but all the stories out of the Broncos, the way that went down really made a very negative third act to his career. Whereas you've got guys like Matthew Stafford have these amazing third act.
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