Spittin Chiclets
Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 651: Featuring Liam Blutman & Michael Landsberg
01 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is discussed at the start of this section?
Hey, Spittin' Chicklets listeners. You can find every episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is Barstool Sports.
I brought it towards the Coyotes, and I asked them if it was okay if I joined the Spit and Chicklets podcast full-time.
Ryan Whitney's got a pink Whitney out there now. This is a standbagger. Get that on camera. It's a full-time member. Marley just got an assist from Chris Bates. Whoa, we're buzzing right now. Sonk. What is up, folks? Welcome to episode 651 of the Spittin' Chicklets podcast. And that's right. The cup finals are set. Here we come. Pinkies up.
The pinkies are going to be up in Raleigh for game one tomorrow night. We know that. I actually was at Keith's nephew's graduation party. Shout out Brian Yandel, graduate from Christian Academy. He's going to Lynn University down in Florida.
And it was during the Champions League final where all these Chelsea fans were in the restaurant we were at watching, hoping Arsenal lost, screaming at me, pinkies up, no joke. Couple great young lads. It's just pinkies up, Whit, pinkies up. They don't have Pink Whitney here, but pinkies up. And I said, I appreciate it, boys. As long as Arsenal loses, I'll be happy. And that happened.
So pinkies up to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Vegas Golden Knights, and Arsenal losing the Champions League. And pinkies up to everyone else out there who loves drinking the pink stuff.
Why were you happy about that? Is it just because you're with Chelsea, guys?
I'm a Chelsea fan. Now, am I a diehard fan? I was. And then they're not very good anymore. So I'm kind of really in when they're good.
That means you have to root against them? Is that kind of how soccer works?
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Chapter 2: What impact did Claude Lemieux have on the hockey community?
And Pepe came over quick. An all-time nickname. Pepe Lemieux. Pepe Le Pew, if you remember the French skunk. Same accent. So just an all-time nickname. But he always had his family around and he always, you know, they were out there for the draft, but he brings his wife, his wife's husband or his daughter, sorry. And his wife's there and they're just great people to be around.
And, and Brendan also was one of those guys on the ice that you hated playing against. And I'll tell you a story. And he said it, I saw him in Nantucket a couple of summers ago. I think his wife has a house out there and saw him out having a couple of beers. And I was like, Hey, I got a hockey camp going on here. That's why I'm we're out here, whatever.
next morning he shows up at eight in the morning he's got shorts on didn't have any sweats because he's on vacation and he learned that i'm sure from his dad just being there for other guys i didn't even have to ask him he just showed up to the ring he's like oh what time's camp i said eight o'clock he was there at 802 it's like he's there ready to go bringing the energy for the kids and i'm i'm sure he learned that from his dad just a a true true warrior of of the game and and like you said i think most importantly was a was a great father and a great grandfather and uh
Surely going to be missed, man. It's horrible, horrible news for the hockey world.
I don't know, Whit, if you saw Ken Danico. Obviously, he jumped on a few different news outlets because he loved them. He was very, very close with Ken Danico. And Ken Danico, you talk about being there for teammates, Jens. I think Ken Danico dealt with some struggles off the ice. I think it might have even been in his post-career. And he said the first guy to reach out and offer help and help
know anything anything he needed was pepe and um that just kind of that's the guy he was and going back to like maybe what his reputation was on the ice um that's that's like that's so far in the rearview mirror compared to the man that he was off the ice and what he was willing to do for friends teammates and family so uh to all of his children he's got four kids to his wife and and
you know, all of his family members and friends, like this is, uh, this is gut wrenching. And we, we have Michael Landsberg coming on at the end of the show. We, we try not to talk, uh, like overbear everyone with like the mental health stuff. Um, obviously we do mention it once in a while because we think it's extremely important. Um, so he's like one of the people that was like,
ahead of it all and was okay using his platforms initially where maybe it was like faux pas and it wasn't something that was talked about a lot. Um, he was one of the main guys that, uh, that started talking about it and he's dealt with a lot of, of mental health struggles on his own.
So we just wanted him to, to, to bring him on because we have, we have a lot of, uh, we have a lot of listeners and a lot of male listeners who, who deal with a lot of stuff internally. And we just want to give you guys like an outlet or, or, um, how do I say this tools in case you are somebody that might be dealing with stuff in order to reach out and get this type of help.
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Chapter 3: How are the Stanley Cup Finals teams performing?
You talk about Freddie Anderson and the stats that he's put up. This team ended up winning their division and having the draws they did in playoffs based on success from Bussey earlier in the year. And we've had him on to talk about how he was in the Florida organization and Charlotte is their AHL team. And he was driving to Charlotte. And I believe...
At a gas station, when he was filling up, he got the call like, hey, we're rerouting you. You're getting picked up by the Hurricanes. Like, I think he had the best start for a goalie in the history of the NHL through his first 25, 30 games. Like, 22 wins, four losses, and something else like that. But, like, they're D. I mean, you talk about Slavin.
Like, Chatfield, to me, you look at the box score, and half the games, he's their ice time leader. And I love what Trip Tracy said about him. He plays and shows up to the rink every day. Like, like I need to prove that I need to prove to be here. So to hear that, that was, that was pretty cool. And I mean like that Walker, like he's an impressive skater.
Like where, where did they pick up him from? Was he in Philly?
uh he was it was he in colorado i don't know where he was but you look at their their 6d and how they move like nikishin's probably lugging the the least amount of ice but he's this 6364 russian frame where he's fucking buzzing up and down the ice so the size and mobility of his back end the way that it was built is is tremendous and and what's crazy about this is i would say the
and this is not a knock because I thought that they showed up a lot better towards the end of the Montreal series, but their, their least achieving line out of the four has been, I would say a host fetch and, and Jarvis.
That has to change.
And it has to change. If they're going against Vegas, like, like I'm like, The fact that they were able to gain that confidence and put some points up towards the end of that series against Montreal is huge. Like Svec getting that OT winner, I believe it was game three in Montreal. These are confidence boosts that they're going to need.
But that fourth line of Robinson, Jankowski, and Carrier, that's the type of fourth line you need if you're going to win a Stanley Cup. You're seeing it the exact same thing in Vegas. The third line of Jordan Stahl, do you know how long he's been there? I was shocked.
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Chapter 4: What are the predictions for the Stanley Cup Finals matchup?
Yeah, okay. You've been burying them for him. Okay, man. Look at you. Yeah, I'm ready to go, man. You look exactly like a guy who knows where bodies are buried. I got to be honest. I've never seen him smile. Have you ever seen him smile? He's all ear to ear smile. He's giddy. I'm giddy. He's itchy. He's itchy. Now, Blutman, I want to preface this for people who don't know.
Blutman is an actual enormous tennis guy as well. Before the year of the playoff, before the playoffs begin, he always releases a list of teams that will not win the Stanley Cup. And if they do, he can't watch Wimbledon, which apparently is like his favorite thing in the world. One of those teams, which it's amazing how it's come. is the Carolina Hurricanes.
So you have said for years they are not a threat. That has to scare you now. You've got some serious karma going on in your world. I mean, I've been right like six straight years. You know, this time... It's getting dangerous, but it was dangerous with Edmonton the last two, and I was out on top. I got to keep showing my way.
Look, I'm a big believer that we get on the airwaves, and we say a lot of things, and we say things, and we never back it up with substance. Takes with stakes. That's all this is. I'm a believer in what I say. I'm going to continue to roll with it, and it just so happens the dark side, my side, is going to be the ones that need to put an end to them.
So we're going to work on that, and we're going to do it. You know what I'm saying? Are you are you worried? Like, are you in fear of this team? Do you actually still consider them as like note? Because to say that they can't win the Stanley Cup to me, that says they get to the final against your team. You still have to be like, oh, no, I'm not worried. I told you they can't win. Worry.
That's not the correct word. I'm just very anxious. Uh, I hate the way I just, ever since we won game four, it was like a three minute celebration for me. And I was on to game one, game one, game one. I want to get this serious. I really, truly do. Like, Western Conference champions, Eastern Conference champions, whatever it be, don't touch the trophy. I don't want any of that merch.
I want Stanley Cup merch. That's what we're playing for, and that's all I've been focused on. That's all I'm thinking about. I woke up today. What was Liam Blutman's first thought on June 1st? The new month. Woke up at like 5.50 a day. Cup week. No, first thought was, man, Pavel Dorofeev's going to have a heck of a series. I thought you were going to say, man, I'm hungry. Here we go.
I got to pee. No, Dorofeev's going to have a great series. And, you know, I look back and I see the two games. Regular season means nothing. Why? Who cares? But Dorofeev has three goals against Carolina in the two games this year. Oh, geez. Got him plus 4,000. Colin Smythe, he had 14 shot attempts in two games against Carolina. Woke up with the field.
I think it's going to be a big Dorofeev series. Are you worried at all with the odds makers have Carolina the favorite here? Or that's just because Carolina's only lost one game? It doesn't bother me. We're big underdogs against Colorado. We've been slighted the entire postseason from an odds perspective. It doesn't mean anything to me. Too much weight on regular season hockey.
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Chapter 5: What challenges are junior hockey programs currently facing?
It's now just go to the CHL and then you go to college. It's just turned in. The USHL is fucked. The National Team Development Program could be in a tough spot. Carter Meyer, who I played with his dad, Freddie, he left the National Team Development Program to go to the Quebec League. He needs a release. He's going to play with his brother next year. Yeah, it's a crazy story. Where is he going?
I want to talk to Freddie. The Ramparts. I want to talk to Freddie more before we really discuss it, but a crazy – I shouldn't say crazy, but something you haven't seen before where you're leaving the National Development Program, which I've heard things are –
They're at a crossroads, which it seems like the entire junior hockey landscape is at a crossroads, but it's turning into... I think there was a kid the year before, J.P. Hubert or something like that. Hurlbut. Hurlbut. He left to go to the WHL, and it's a little scary for USA Hockey. I'm not going to lie. And... Interestingly enough, a star player on Everett, Landon DuPont.
We've talked about Mickey DuPont, who is a member of the Penguins organization. He's a great offensive player.
Great guy.
He played in Europe as well. His kid is disgusting.
Nasty.
Like... Scott Niedermeyer. You're looking at like Quinn Hughes, Scott Niedermeyer, any undersized a little bit defense, and it's incredible. And now Everett season ends, and then all the news is, where is he going to go to college?
And all of a sudden, I think he's going to be going on visits, and you know Michigan will be in the mix, and you know all these other teams with probably big dough and big pockets will be in the mix. But the question I have, and I wonder is,
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Chapter 6: How does playing in college hockey compare to junior leagues for player development?
No question about it right now. No question. I love Carter Meyer, too, and I think he's making... Oh, he's sick. I think he's making a great move going to Quebec. I feel like the development program was almost too easy for him. So go to Quebec. You're playing against older guys. It'll be a little bit better for you.
But yeah, I think Landon DuPont right now, I mean, especially with like what guys like Quinn Hughes and Kayla McCarr and Zach Orenski have done over the past few years. And you're seeing how much value these puck moving defensemen have. I think it's no question. He's going to be the story of college hockey next year.
Him, along with the three Plant brothers that are playing at Minnesota Duluth, they'll be the story of college hockey. But, Whit, I just wanted to ask you about those guys like McKinnon and Verhoff who left juniors to ultimately test themselves, right? You go into a tougher league with older players, and I know he had mentioned it earlier,
uh in in the doc that you guys did with him like he knew he wasn't going to be putting up the same amount of numbers he knew the game wasn't going to be as easy but at the end of the day man like if you're getting yourself better you're getting yourself to that next level who cares if you drop a pick or two it's not like the nfl i agree but i think some people do i i'm in agreement with you but i think it's not like the signing bonuses are capped anyway they're all the same yeah
It's all the same, basically, if you're a top 15 pick. I agree with you, Yance. And funny enough, if you drop, if you're a guy that's considered to go first overall or whatever, I think that if you have the mentality of you're staying a junior because you want to be a higher pick, I would avoid that guy at all costs. That tells me everything what you got between the years.
I want guys who want to challenge themselves and learn. Put me against harder competition. We fucking drop the line here all the time. Iron sharpens iron.
Ryan Whitney. And you're going to frat parties and football games and probably enjoying your life a little bit more. It's a little better for sure. Yeah. All right. So we got Michael Landsberg coming on soon. Is he ready now, G, or no? Needs a few minutes here. Needs a couple minutes. Okay.
Any other subjects that we could talk about in the meantime?
Mason McTavish's name has been thrown around as a potential trade target for the Ottawa Senators, apparently. Well, his dad was the first hire. Dale McTavish, I believe, was the first hire that Steve Staios made when he came in. So that's why McTavish Mason's name is kind of floating around the Senators organization. It seems as though being a healthy scratch in the playoffs, it's like...
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Chapter 7: What insights does Michael Landsberg share about men's mental health?
Obviously, Anaheim has to tinker the roster a little bit, but I feel like they got their foundational pieces and they're going to be fine. So I think that that for sure... Kind of like with Zegers, remember when they went through the contract bullshit? It just was like, oh, okay, they're not starting off on the right foot.
Don't know exactly if he's Quinville's cup of tea as well as what Verbeek knows what's going to be able to get them over the top. That guy making $7 million compared to what you're going to have to pay everybody else, it doesn't work.
Real quick, you guys mentioned offer sheets and the Ducks. I do think Olin Zellweger, I think he's a guy who could definitely get offer sheeted this summer. He was getting healthy scratched at the end there, 22 years old, puck moving D-man, obviously a hot commodity around the league. He actually looked good in the games he got in there, but they have too many guys in the back end.
They're just not going to be able to fit him in there. Well, we know there'll be 31 teams gunning to offer sheet Dorofeev. I mean, nobody's taking it easy on Vegas after the run he's had.
And he's going to reject them all and sign an eight-year deal at $7 million just to be happy in a no-tax state with Sunshine.
All right, well, we're going to bring on Michael Landsberg, but we want to talk about Noble First Biz. This episode is brought to you by Noble. I can't stop wearing my Journey 2s. It's just, they're everywhere. Barstool's favorite footwear brand is Noble.
It's a brand known for their best-in-class footwear, and they're everywhere right now, walking around city to city at the airport, grabbing coffee wherever I go. They've got so many great styles and colors, but we've been loving the Journey 2s. This is Noble's daily running shoe with an emphasis on comfort, support, and dependability. Soft where you want, structured where you need.
Biz, have they been worn everywhere by you?
I was just on the road in the conference finals. That's all I was wearing on my feet. Wayne was asking about it. Not with my suit. Come on. I had my Noble Traxedo on. I was farting in that thing the whole plane ride, and the material is so good that it wasn't letting it out, so Wayne didn't have to smell my farts the entire time.
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Chapter 8: How can individuals seek help for mental health issues?
Well, I mean, I just, I thought it was important to bring you on. Like we, we do talk about it sometimes. Michael, I got to make sure I'm calling you the right name. Michael. Michael. But, you know, like, you know, we, you know, we're trying to keep it a little bit more positive around here.
here most of the time and we do touch on it when it is necessary but we just felt like bringing you on was was the play because like you've been ahead of this for a very long time you've dealt with your personal struggles and we just figured that you'd be the one to be able to get through to a lot of people listening if they are dealing with something in order to to
to reach out to the right outlets and handle things the right way so um we appreciate you and everything that you've done in the mental health space and ever since you were on on tsn and talking about all this stuff before it was like at the time you were doing it it was kind of like faux pas like not many people were talking about this and really understood what it even was
You know, thanks for all that. It's funny how it just fell into my lap. I mean, I battled anxiety all my life, depression, really severe depression to the point where I understood why people take their own lives. It just kind of happened like out of nowhere because... We were doing a show.
Stefan Richer was a guest on Off the Record, and I had read that he battled depression throughout his career. So I thought that would make an interesting question. I'd never spoken about it at all. Never a single word. I just figured what difference would it make? And people would just think, oh, yeah, Lansford, he knows a lot of people don't like him, so he wants us to feel sorry for him.
So I never mentioned it. So I said to Stefan, step out of the green room for a second, if you would. I'd never met him before. I said, would it be okay if I asked you about depression? And he said, it's painful. I don't like to talk about it. So I said to him, would it help if I talked about it? He said, sure, let's do it. I told him a bit about my story. We went on the air.
I asked him, and he gave me this great answer. He said, imagine a Canadian kid Born in Montreal, drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, rookie of the year in the NHL, last Canadian to score 50 goals, Stanley Cup champion for the Montreal Canadiens. And not one moment of that did I enjoy. And I thought, wow, that's got to be like the definition of depression.
So he went through this and I realized because I'm hearing the count of my year, I'm almost out of time. And I got to mention it because I promised him I would. So I said 11 seconds worth. All I said was, hey, Stefan, I'm sure a lot of people appreciate what you said. I know there's one other person on this set who's experienced depression and that's me. And that was it.
And the reaction to that was insane. I'm like reading these emails. I'm showing my wife and she goes, holy shit, how did that happen? I wasn't trying to do anything good, but people heard that and they heard I wasn't ashamed or embarrassed. Stefan wasn't ashamed or embarrassed. We didn't sound weak. And all of a sudden, you know, this became my new life.
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