Vegas Guyz Locker Room
A show for sports talk with Team, Fantasy implications, and a WHOLE LOT of FUN! We review both NFL and NHL news and how they may affect the teams themselves and your fantasy teams. We also dive into regular conversations that are happening in entertainment from movies, television, and so much more! Our goal is to help you navigate your fantasy leagues and help you win your leagues and get those all important bragging rights for the next year, and who doesn't love to hold your championship victory over all your friends! We also bring you into our own fantasy leagues and talk shop about our league mates and smack talk the competition. Join us on our goal to entertain and bring some laughter into our space. It's going to be fun!
Vegas Guyz Locker Room
Fantasy Football Forecast: NFL Player Moves and Their Impact Plus NHL Playoff Strategies Revealed
Get ready to tackle the fantasy implications of the latest NFL player moves with your hosts, Rick and myself! This episode is jam-packed with heated debates and expert analysis on how Saquon Barkley's jump to the Eagles could supercharge Philly's offense and what Kirk Cousins’ transition to the Falcons means for their key players. Plus, we're weighing in on George Pickens' zigzagging performances and the impact of top running backs like Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler finding new homes. If you're itching to know how these changes will affect your fantasy draft picks, we've got the playbook you need.
Switching gears, we lace up our skates to slice into NHL strategy as the playoffs approach. Dive into a discussion on how savvy teams utilize the Long-Term Injured Reserve to their advantage, and the implications of huge trades, including Thomas Hertl’s strategic move. We size up contenders from the Rangers to the Canucks, analyzing goalie performance and the smart acquisitions that could tilt the ice in favor of some teams. Whether you're a fantasy football fanatic or a hockey enthusiast, this episode brings you insightful predictions and in-depth analysis you can't afford to miss.
Finally, we're not just playing armchair quarterback; we're giving you a front-row seat to the upcoming season's biggest potential shake-ups. From the Cowboys' offseason decisions that could pressure Prescott, to the future of quarterbacks like Jordan Love and Brock Purdy, and a peek at the NHL playoff contenders' strategies, we're covering all the angles. Stay tuned for our bold predictions and an exclusive breakdown of how recent trades and strategies will resonate through the sports seasons. Don't miss out on the play-by-play action that will have you dominating your fantasy leagues and playoff brackets!
All right, welcome back everybody to another episode of the Vegas guys locker room. I am here once again with Rick and we're gonna talk a little football, a little hockey and some fantasy implications. How we doing, rick, we're doing great, how you doing. Yes, good, good, buddy, good to get you back on the show. I know you've had a couple busy weeks. You know when a little. Uh Well, I know your wife's birthday was last week, right, was it last week or the week before?
Speaker 2:yes, yeah, last week nice got there enjoy some time.
Speaker 1:So that's good, that's always good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and birthdays, birthdays last like five days now. Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's a week-long event.
Speaker 2:It's a week-long thing.
Speaker 1:Where did that start? Oh it's, it's, apparently it's, it's one of those fads that we just it just came about and we didn't realize it. But but, big week in football, with free agent frenzy going on, a lot of big names moving. It's been surprised and they see some of the names. We'll start up. What's your, what do you think is the biggest move? That's, uh, this happened so far, and how is it effective? Fantasy for your fantasy outlook for next year? I.
Speaker 2:Think the biggest move, when I look at how this affects both teams, is Barkley say one yeah because when we look at, say, come Barkley, we're looking at a guy that's Not just injuries but he spent At least five years with terrible offensive line. He's had the run behind. So this is really gonna be his first real opportunity to run behind a Very good offensive line for Philadelphia. So, that being said, it can't hurt Jalen hurts, isn't? He's gonna love having that type of Workhorse behind him. It's gonna open things up for him.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, and of course he can throw the little five yard pass to and, let's say, quen run. And I know Philadelphia had some serviceable backs the last few years but they've never really had somebody with the size and strength and speed combination that Barkley has. And I know a lot of people are either down on Barkley or think maybe he's On the decline. But he can't really Judge it yet until we see.
Speaker 2:He does with a team around them, because he's played on a terrible team with a terrible offense line that has no receivers. I mean it's, it's just, it's a whole that you know all teams had to do was game plan for him Playing the Giants. So yeah, I think that's a big, I think that's a huge move, I think it's just gonna be a Very positive thing for Jalen hurts.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely I. You know what I'm looking forward to seeing say qualm play on a team where he doesn't have to be the main guy.
Speaker 2:You know he's you know when in passing game.
Speaker 1:He doesn't. You know it. In New York, like you said, they had no receivers, so he was a number one option in the passing game, number one option in the run game. Yeah, I think there it's. You know, it's gonna open it up and, yeah, he could be on the decline but he's not gonna have to do as much as he had to do in New York. So you're gonna get a fresher Barkley for most of the season.
Speaker 2:So I don't take the beating. Yeah, Exactly when you got no offensive line. You're getting just pummeled every time you touch the ball.
Speaker 1:So yeah, they're back then and playing with the Giants. You just, you just stacked eight guys in the box and said yeah, go ahead, try to beat us with Daniel Jones.
Speaker 2:I mean, that was, that was the whole offense.
Speaker 1:That was it. So, yeah, I think that's gonna be an interesting one. I thought on us. Another big one I liked was Kurt Cousins going to the Falcons, because they got some offensive weapons there now in Atlanta and I'm curious to see how that works.
Speaker 1:Especially, everybody's been, you know, big cow pits ever since he got drafted one of the most phenomenal Physically talented tight ends ever to come out of the draft and he's just never produced as far as fantasy wise. I'm curious to see if that changes now with an established quarterback in Kurt Cousins.
Speaker 2:Kurt Cousins, he, he's, he's continually the doubters that keep doubting him. He's pretty much put that to rest. Yeah, he's a very solid NFL quarterback who can distribute the ball accurately and he's, he's got weapons around him at Atlanta. He had pretty good weapons at Minnesota but Dalvin cook, he declined pretty quickly. So that run game tenant dried up for them the last couple years and I think that With Atlanta you know they're they're gonna love having. They haven't had a quarterback. I mean, who's the last quarterback?
Speaker 1:Well, Matt Ryan. Yeah, matt Ryan, decline. He declined. Those last couple years wasn't as good, but yeah, they got too good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's been a while since Atlanta had a guy who could throw the ball and distribute the ball. Yeah, I think it's gonna be, I think it's gonna be huge for Kyle Pitts.
Speaker 1:I think he finally puts up some numbers that I know people looking forward to. I think Drake London picks up the game, because he picked up the game with mediocre quarterback play last year, I think with her cousins. I think it's it just. It's just gonna be that much more of an impact, fantasy wise, and I'm looking at and they're, and they're playing in a division.
Speaker 2:That's for the taking.
Speaker 1:I mean they can they improve?
Speaker 2:You know they improve to the point where they're playing. What a decent Tampa team, new Orleans, who knows? In Carolina still trying to find their way. I mean they could easily just vault to the top of that conference absolutely any that division.
Speaker 1:People forget about how Lana's defense was actually really good last year. It's just the offense, just kept letting them down and they weren't scoring enough points. So I could easily seen the Falcons definitely being the favorite to win the NFC South now, Even though that I think Tampa Bay could give them a run for money. But I think it'd be between them two and I'll take the Falcons.
Speaker 2:I agree with that. But Josh Jacobs, yes, going to Green Bay. You know Jordan Love again another guy who surprised a lot of people. But when it comes to how they built that team now, then the moves they've made and Having a very good offensive minded coach, they've done everything they need to make him successful. And now you bring in Josh Jacobs, who is durable, he's a workhorse, he can catch the ball, that's. That's an upgrade from Aaron Jones, who was good receiving the ball, but he was injury prone and he really couldn't last the whole season. Aj Dillon's never really panned out the way they thought no.
Speaker 2:So I think that's a huge move for not just Jordan Love, but for the Packers.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, I think that's gonna. Yeah, I think that's gonna be. That's gonna open up the game a little bit more. I know Aaron Jones was getting up there in age, so I know they wanted to move a move away from that. You used to get Josh Jacobs, who I believe what he's only what 26, 27, he's still really, really young he came.
Speaker 2:He came out early, yes, and he kind of has a chip on the shoulder which doesn't hurt.
Speaker 1:Yeah, doesn't hurt. He feels like he didn't get his do so, no, yeah, he's he's definitely a guy I would target in fantasy drafts coming up next year because I think he's gonna be the workhorse there and I think that's gonna help Help alleviate a lot from Jordan Love, because we saw the difference in that Green Bay team when Aaron Jones was in the lineup and out of the lineup they were just more explosive.
Speaker 1:You just, you just know that Josh J was gonna make a huge impact there. Another one I'm interested in, and it's more just for comedy reasons Russell Wilson to Pittsburgh. What do you, what do you make of that move?
Speaker 2:Well, I Think Wilson, he's obviously on the downside of his career, yes, and Pittsburgh, notoriously they're just just the way they're built in. Their philosophy is they're gonna. They're thinking defense first. They're thinking they've always been able to find receivers, that's are, you know, they don't really go out looking for them, they just find them and it's really hurt them because they've had several years when they've neglected their offensive line. They continue to struggle with their offensive line year after year. And and Russell Wilson with the offensive line, that's maybe middle of the pack. That might not be a good formula. No, because he Defensive figured him out and you know he's he's not able to. He doesn't have the escape ability he had early in his career. I Don't think that's, I think it's a temporary Fill, but they don't even look like they're looking to ever draft another quarterback, that's.
Speaker 1:That's a curiosity of that right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't think I mean pick it. They're saying there's gonna be competition for the starting job but I'm not. I'm not very confident that Russell Wilson is gonna get much of an impact for them.
Speaker 1:I'm just more curious because we know Pittsburgh's a very blue-collar town. You know that's, that's a working man's team. Those guys are, all you know, hard-nosed guys. And Russell Wilson, that doesn't really fit in that blue color kind of category. No, with his lifestyle, I'm just interested to see how he fits in that city, because that just seems like polar opposites of Russell Wilson and Mr Unlimited and the whole, the whole Pittsburgh area. Just it doesn't seem like a good fit to me.
Speaker 2:No, he doesn't even look like he belongs in that no city and I think it'll wear. You know, within two, three weeks, the Susan starting, it's, it's gonna, I think. I think it'll I think I saw some stat, I'm not sure what it's. He led the league last year in completed passes behind the line of scrimmage Mm-hmm, Like little dump off passes that the I mean his ability to throw the ball down the field is just evaporate.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's evaporated, yeah, he doesn't have the arm like he used to. He used to be great at that.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:That was the big thing that made him huge in Seattle. He threw a great deep ball, I know, and he just he doesn't have the arm for it anymore.
Speaker 2:Now maybe he'll prove us wrong. Maybe Pickens will make enough noise to catch some passes. But you know they got rid of one of their speed guys, the Auntie Johnson. Yeah.
Speaker 1:They didn't really get much in return for that. Didn't they get like a mediocre score for that trade?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're, they'll always, they're going to be good defensively. You know they'll win ugly at times, but I just from a fantasy perspective, but I don't think it's going to have much impact. No.
Speaker 1:I think it's going to be another tough year. If you're looking at drafting any kind of anybody on the Pittsburgh offense, I think you're in for maybe a little bit of heartache. You might have some some these.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I made that mistake last year actually.
Speaker 1:I just figured I'd throw that in there, because I know you had.
Speaker 2:I knew you had George Pickens. I was dying every week with, with watching the stealer offensive players.
Speaker 1:Anybody. If, if I just know, if you had George George Pickens, if Rick played him in the lineup, you set him on the bench, because the only time Pickens did anything is when you put him on your bench and then he'd go off. Yeah.
Speaker 2:He went wild in like December.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know anyways, but we had to. We had a couple, we had some three really kind of big name running backs that are kind of later in their careers. I'm curious to see who do you think will probably have the biggest impact and fantasy for next year, with Derek Henry going to Baltimore, Austin Eckler going to the commanders and then Joe Nixon being traded to Houston. Out of those three, who do you think is going to have the biggest impact next season as far as a fantasy running back?
Speaker 2:I think Derek Henry will. I think they're going to be. There's just so many options there for Lamar. The tease he's going to it's going to open things up for him because he's another one. He's leaving a fairly pedestrian offense that could be a defensive, just just keyed on him. So now he's on a team where you know it's hard to just just game plan against him because you got Lamar running around, you got some decent receivers at great tight end and and I think that Henry's going to do nothing, but you know, flourish in that type of environment. He won't have to carry the ball 30 times, but I think he's going to get his share and I think that that's a positive move.
Speaker 2:I look at the other moves Eckler, he, it's. It's kind of a downgrade from going from Herbert to where he's going. Yeah, who's going to be the quarterback? Um, and then who was the other one?
Speaker 1:Joe Nixon, joe Nixon, guy being traded to Houston, yeah.
Speaker 2:Nixon. I look at Nixon, that's that's. That's probably a good move for ball sides. I think the Bengals don't really need Nixon. He's declined but his influence and his stability is is going to help the Texans. He's not going to have to. You know, devin Singletary was tremendous last year.
Speaker 1:So they're going to have a two headed.
Speaker 2:you know they're going to platoon those two back and forth, and I think that it'll be good for Nixon. He won't have to do much as much as he's been asked to do for Cincinnati. But I think it's good for Cincinnati too, cause they free up the cat space and everything like that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think, yeah, freeze them up.
Speaker 2:They actually like that kid, Chris Brown, that young kid he, they like him and, um, I look for Cincinnati to be in good shape. They could just keep Higgins for another year. Yeah, looks like they're going to probably do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he did request a trade. I don't know if they're going to honor it. They put them. They hit them with the franchise tag. He did uh he did record requested trade from the Bengals. So I'm hoping they worked that out because I think that's a great tandem there in in Cincinnati and it's been great to watch with for fantasy purposes Anyway you look at all the great fantasy quarterbacks.
Speaker 2:With the exception of, like a Lamar who can run so much, they usually have a good one, two punch and receiver. They got, they got a tandem. That's great, like even uh. You look at, uh, minnesota say, uh, you know they develop Justin Jefferson. But then Addison became Addison looks like another Justin Jefferson. So you know they got a tremendous one to punch and I think that the you know you look, when you're looking at quarterbacks and how you're going to rank these guys, you can look and see what the weapons are and you know, when we look at our quarterback list and how we rank these guys and these moves that have been made, some have been good for some quarterbacks and some won't be. So we'll just see.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm speaking to the Minnesota. I'm curious to see where they go because with cousins leaving, you know you got two stud receivers there and I know the only sign they've made so far is Sam Donald.
Speaker 1:I was kind of curious on that one because you know Sam Donald's had his his chances. He's never really flourished. I was surprised I'm not go after one of the you know one of the more veteran guys to try to solidify that and maybe go for a rookie, because you know you had Ryan and Tannehill was still available. I believe there was another.
Speaker 2:I think they're going to draft a rookie and let Donald start for a little while but try and get one of the. I know they like McCarthy a lot, from Michigan they were. They got to see him kind of up close. They're pretty close to where he played and they've been. What I'm hearing is that they really like him because they know they're not going to get you know. I'm not sure where they're picking, but they're not going to get you know.
Speaker 2:Caleb or any of those guys, but they could get McCarthy and McCarthy might just be what all they need with the weapons they got. So I don't. I think Donald yeah, his his presence there it looks short term and it looks like it's just a stop gap to get. So I think they're going to draft a rookie quarterback.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's going to be fun to watch. I'm curious to see because you know that team is pretty much built to win now. I know they got a lot, of, a lot of capital place and a lot of guys and before everybody's contract starts hitting, you want to try to make a run at that Super Bowl and you know, with cousins they had a chance. I just I'm curious to see how they go with this. It's going to be interesting to watch, especially in the NFC North, with Detroit really taking a foot head foothold and Green Bay now really stepping it up and showing that Jordan Love was actually a good choice for the time being. It remains to be seen. I'd like to see him put a couple seasons together before before he crowned him the next you know winner in Green Bay. But it's going to be interesting to watch.
Speaker 2:Yeah, love is. He's very unorthodox, he throw, he makes unorthodox throws. He's kind of creative and he it could be they've just put enough around him where he's just going to prosper just from having so many weapons, having so many weapons.
Speaker 1:It's amazing they put all those weapons together after after Roger's wants to leave, yeah Well curious yeah, but all right.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean there's been a lot of moves and I'm sure there's going to be more moves coming down the road in free agency that's going to affect fantasy, but those were some of the big ones. On, in case anybody wants to know, mac Jones got moved for a bag of peanuts to the Jaguars. Oh. But so now we'll look at. We'll look at the top 10 QB's in fantasy last year and we'll kind of figure if maybe they're looking to repeat some of the guys in the top five. We'll see if they'll be top five guys in the remainder of them. We'll see if they'll finish in the top 10.
Speaker 1:We're going off a standard scoring. I'm actually going off of fantasy pros stats or what they had is their fantasy QB leaders. And at number one you know not, wasn't was a big surprise was Josh Allen, the. I mean he's had a nice string of being like the number one, number two fantasy guy for quite a few years now. Do you see him just keeping that going? I know there's been a lot of moves there in Buffalo. I don't see that continuing with him.
Speaker 2:He plays kind of reckless and he's been very fortunate. I mean he's a big guy but he'll always have good fantasy value just because of how he can run too. But even these guys that run, it's like at some point. You know it takes its toll, it's going to catch up.
Speaker 1:Eventually, it's got to catch up eventually, yeah.
Speaker 2:And I think that of Josh Allen to me you're not going to. Really, if you were to draft him wherever you can get him, it's not a bad pick, but I think his number one status is going to drop. Oh, I believe. So. I believe it right.
Speaker 1:And if you look at his total from last season, that end of that season the numbers for him started to dip off. He had some down games, I think you know, maybe just listen.
Speaker 1:Defense is learning how to play him and you know, listen, you're getting older. Stefan Diggs is not getting any younger. You lose. Gabe Davis, you got two good tight ends there. I'm curious to see if they target those guys more and get those guys more involved, because it looks like you're on the window for the Buffalo Bills is starting to shrink a little bit and I'm curious to see if Josh Allen, I think it's closed, yeah. I agree. I think it's closing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it is closed because their defense is falling off in that whole division other than New England, the vision, I mean they're dealing with Miami now. You know the jets. I'm not giving up on the jets yet.
Speaker 1:No, no, absolutely they're still going to get these.
Speaker 2:They're going to have weapons and a great defense If Rogers can stay healthy.
Speaker 1:they're going to be in every game, Right.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I think you're right.
Speaker 1:I think the window for them is. I think he's still a top five option. I don't think he's going to be a top three option next season. I think he still makes the top five, just looking at this list.
Speaker 1:I think he's still be. He'll still be there, but yeah, I don't think. I think you're right. I don't think the number one status is going to be there for next season for him. Number two this is no surprise, because the push push got him there. It is. This is Jalen Hurts and he just picks up another weapon. I think he's a top five guy next year I could see him moving into that toss. But what are your feelings on that?
Speaker 2:I agree, I actually have him in number two because of the cast around him and now teams are gonna just have a hard time game planning against all the options he has. And he's smart, he's mobile. I think last year was a blip, and of a blip on the radar screen. I think Philadelphia just lost their way with some. Their defense really fell off and he was trying to do too much. But now I think I look for Hertz to have a big year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think he does too With the Barclay option there and he's been one of those guys who everybody's doubted him and he's always come back to prove him wrong and kind of the same thing they thought maybe he's gonna have. He's gonna come back full force with a chip on his shoulder and I think he has a really big season. Next one was surprising because of the first part of the year nobody thought he was gonna be in the top 10. But Dak Prescott had a big second half to the season. He was the number three fantasy quarterback on the year. He kind of gets there, he kind of leapfrog a couple people because he did play in week 18. Not a lot of those guys who were in the top 10 played in week 18. Dak Prescott I know that they haven't really made any moves in Dallas and I think their left tackle is still a reason they never do.
Speaker 2:You know, it's like Dallas always thinks they can stand pat. Oh, we love our guys and we, you know, we believe in our guys. You know all the Jerry Jones rhetoric but they do that a lot where they don't really try and upgrade much. I think the last guy I remember then kind of going after was a Mari Cooper. Yeah, but I think if you're not, if you're standing pat especially the way their season kind of ended, the disappointment and a very poor performance- in the playoffs.
Speaker 2:I think that that's just. Everybody else is trying to get better and you just think you can stand pat, and so I look for Dak to just have difficulty duplicating those numbers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't, you know, I could see him falling out of the top 10 completely. See the fact that they have no running game. Tony Pollard, now with Tennessee you lose your left tackle, which has been your cornerstone of that offensive line for a long time. In Tyrone Smith, he has not re-signed, he hasn't signed anywhere. So there is a possibility he does come back, but if you lose you, lose those who is there running back. I don't even know who they're starting running back. It's going to be next year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's that. If I look it up it's that kid. He played like 20 snaps last year. I don't know there it's just, you know, I guess, jerry Jones. As long as his brand is worth billions of dollars, it doesn't matter really. Yeah, I guess he's kind of saying, yeah, I'll punt.
Speaker 1:So, yes, I'm still the. I'm still the highest, you know, grossing franchise in the NFL. So, I guess he's just going to go. All right, whatever, We'll just get through this and rebuild it. But yeah, I don't see Dak Prescott in the top 10. And if he does make it in, I think he squeaks in maybe nine or 10. But I can see him definitely falling off because they're becoming one-dimensional.
Speaker 1:All you have to do is guard, cd lamb, and you already know that that's, that's that's going to be the case there, because they just have no other weapons.
Speaker 1:Number four was guy got leapfrog by by Dak Prescott was Lamar Jackson. I thought he had a phenomenal year. He did not play in week 18, which is why Dak moves up to number three, but I definitely see Lamar Jackson having a bigger, bigger year than he did this year due to the fact that some of the signings they got, and especially if they go after some more offensive weapons in the draft, I could definitely see Lamar Jackson going up and getting into the top three next year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, lamar, he's never going to be a great thrower at the ball, he's just not no His. There's nobody in the league that that can take off and run with not just the speed but the power, and so again, we're looking at fantasy. It's like it's like an extra touchdown every game for him, just with yards or running one in. So you have to look at him as he's an outlier. He's not. He's not really comparable to anyone else. He's just different.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So so that standpoint, yeah, that makes him a top five, because he's you just have to factor in the escape ability it's and it's not just scrambling, I mean, when he takes off, he's trying to take it to the house.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah, he's not looking to pick up the first.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's not trying to slide or that he's looking to score.
Speaker 1:So you know, that's a different, a different animal there.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, and I think he'll get Mark Andrews back who was hurt most of the season last year. So I think the touchdowns kind of go up for for passing touchdowns for Lamar. Derek Henry kind of takes off that running burden and short yardage where you don't have to use Lamar to try to pick that up. I think it opens up a little bit more for Jackson, and I really do. I think he's a top three guy hands down next year, especially if you know when another year on his belt with gosh with flowers, who really showed great, he was great during his rookie campaign. I think he just had to do it and, yeah, I definitely see Lamar Jackson being a top five guy next year. Next one Number five was the biggest shocker. Mr Jordan Love ends it. It gets into the top five as far as fantasy stats. Now he he definitely came out of nowhere. I don't think anybody saw a top five fantasy performance out of Jordan Love this year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he, very late in the year, just started lighting it up and I think I don't think he's a top five. I think he could be a top 10. But I got some guys ahead of him. But I do think you can't where you're going to get them in the draft. You probably can't do much better because you're not going to have to. I mean, it's the third, fourth round. People are starting to pick a quarterback. If you want to just wait and take Jordan Love later, he's going to be there later, yeah, even though he's going to be available later than a lot of these other guys. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, the value is there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the value is going to be there, especially, I mean, he's not proven. Like you said, this is the first year he was the full time starter. So of course people are going to have the reservations and picking them up to see if he can duplicate it. I think when he really started flourishing, when he started spreading the ball around and throw him more to the slot, because I know in the beginning of the year they were just kind of trying to force feed Christian Watson a lot and I think they kind of hurt where he was going to, because every time he knew he's like he's going to go to Watson and try to force feed it.
Speaker 2:And that seemed to be the case. Watson played most of the year hurt, so they threw it up in the air thinking he'll jump up and catch it, but he had a bad hamstring most of the year. So I think he wasn't the same player. But if he's healthy, I mean that's just adds to their other, their, their core of young receivers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think they've got three solid receivers there. That can that. You know that can be big plays and we have big games any day, any week. I mean it could be one of the other guys. I mean you saw, you know Dobbs do it. You saw the trying to think of the rookie's name. He did it on occasions and then, yeah, watson can just add that other factor. Now you got Josh Jacobs in there and gives him another weapon. I think that just opens up the passing game a little bit more for Jordan Love. But I agree, I think top 10. I don't think top five again. I don't think anybody's going to get caught off guard by love this year.
Speaker 1:Number six was, of course, Mr Brock Purdy. Mr Revellevent finishes as the number six fantasy quarterback on the scene. What do you make of this? Do you think he's a? Do you think he's a top 10 fantasy quarterback for next season.
Speaker 2:And not because no knock on him, it's just that he's not going to ever have to throw. You know, 35 times a game, 40 times a game. So he's limited. If they asked him to, he probably could. He's. He's. You know he makes plays and but as long as he's not asked to do that, he's not going to throw. A fantasy standpoint you know it's always they're happy with. You know, 18 for 26, for 240 yards and a touchdown. You know he's never going to throw for 400. So it's you got to look at what the team around them in that system, what, what his fantasy value is. Now I have heard rumblings about Debo. If, if Debo was to go, then that doesn't bode well for that offense, because they're a different offense when he's not in there.
Speaker 2:So yeah and we'll we'll have to monitor what's going to happen with Debo Samuel.
Speaker 1:And with Brock Purdy I mean you almost need for him to be kind of a game, a weak winner for you. You almost need three touchdowns. And that's not what he's asked to do on a weekly basis. You know they're going to run the ball, and that's that's who's going to get those. Tds is going to be in the cavalry, that's who's going to get. You're hoping for those odd three, four touchdown games.
Speaker 2:And when they get down to the two yard line, they're going to run it in the jamming in there. They're not going to throw passes from the two yard line.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Purdy's not going to go in there with the touch push either. You know you're not putting that.
Speaker 2:Right, so those are all things that lower quarterbacks fantasy value. We look at how they use them.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I don't see Brock Purdy as a top 10 fantasy quarterback next year. I think he does take the dip. I think this year was a little bit of a surprise, I don't. I just think there's other talented quarterbacks. For you know, with that, throw the ball a ton more that listen that, you get the more opportunity to score with these guys and you will with Brock Purdy.
Speaker 1:So I think he does fall out. I think more it was more of the touchdowns he had a. He had a good touchdown ratio this year, so but I do some looking at some of the names on the list. I definitely think he falls out. Number seven was, of course, jared golf, who had an amazing comeback here, great year with his guys. He comes back and he is the number seven fantasy quarterback. He's kind of my wild card to see if I get back, because I don't know if I trust him being a top 10 to you.
Speaker 2:No, I don't. I think golf, again, he's Kind of like party, where he's he's a gamer and he he'll win you a lot of games. But again, are they? Are they? Are there any chunk plays there? Are there any? Because it's throwing the ball down the field, not really that you know, they're looking to just Kind of work their way down the field.
Speaker 1:They're another situation, they're not they're like Niners were listen you, they're gonna go on the run game. That's where they're, that's the focal point of their offense.
Speaker 2:I think goth, he's great, he's great. A lot of little crossing routes with, with st Brown, 10, 15 yards. But what we're looking at fantasy, we're looking to rank quarterbacks. At least what I look for I I'm always looking for guys that can Make chunk plays, that can also throw it down the field, yes, where you'll make big plays. And Duff doesn't really do that and Again, it's they don't ask him to, but I don't think he he's comfortable playing that way either.
Speaker 1:I don't get. That's definitely not a strong suit.
Speaker 2:So no, so I I got some guys ahead of him, but again you're looking at where you could draft a guy and you could grab him later too, probably.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean he wouldn't be a listen. I definitely think he's. He's in the Upper half of the league as far as fantasy quarterbacks. I just. I don't believe top 10 is where he's gonna be at, and the next guy number eight was mr Patrick Mahomes, I Think he is another top ten quarterback, because I think they go out and they find him a weapon to throw the ball to rather than Just Travis Kelsey, and I think he does move up. I think he gets a little bit better. What do you think?
Speaker 2:Yeah, mahomes is a solid top 10 and he's, he's durable. If he has to throw it 40 times, he can, you know, and he can take off and run when he has to. But his ability to make plays like to buy time, that's, create opportunities for big plays is. But they do have to find that next Tyree kill, and you know they're not easy to find. I think if they find another weapon who can stretch the field a little, yeah, mahomes will definitely be still one of the top ten.
Speaker 1:I think that, I think their eye on that wide receiver that broke the 40 yard dash. Xavier from from the, from Texas, I think I think that guy yeah, that's who I think their eye and and this because they didn't pick that guy.
Speaker 1:That guy's not projected to be a first-round wide receiver, but they do have him slide and that would just fill that Tyree kill role and they can get back to that same old listen heat, because that guy that that was that was amazing to watch him run that 40 and Just break that record. That's what he wanted to do.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I think 42. Yeah, 421 or something. Yeah, 421 is what he had it was.
Speaker 1:It was ridiculous, right. So yeah, if they do, I that I think that's where they're probably they'll probably go as another receiver and, like you said, the receivers in this draft are so deep I think for sure you find a good one for Mahomes to fit into that, that offense. So yeah, I look at when, the Holmes being probably moving up into the top five again if he gets one of those weapons and With the with rice getting another year under his belt, I think I think he improves as well. So Patrick Mahomes definitely probably a top five guy for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're also looking that there are some great receivers coming up, that kid from Washington.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, and.
Speaker 2:Polk. He's another one. That's good. I mean first year, could you know, used to be wide receivers, don't a couple years to it. Now guys are coming out and they're they're producing in their first year. So I think that that's how the NFL has changed. You know you can't touch receivers the way you used to. So these kids come out of college and they get a little more room and to maneuver like they're used to and they can, they can be Pretty effective in their rookie year.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, cuz you can see it Like you said, that they don't have to be the most skillful route runners, and usually when you come out of college You're probably not.
Speaker 1:You're not as crisp as you should be, but those days where you have to be that to be able to get that separation, you kind of get a little. You get a little extra when you can't be touched. So you, you get that extra for where you can get, get a little bit more space. So, yeah, I think, yeah, I think this will be a good one for Patrick Mahomes, number nine we got to a tag of oil or from Miami, which I thought everybody you know I did I was one of them. I thought he was gonna have a bigger year than he did. Is he a top ten guy next year or have we seen him kind of his peak right there at number nine, kind of that upper half I?
Speaker 2:Think he's right at the right on the bubble, his, his size and stature and and defenses are starting to figure out they. They ran so many quick crossing routes with their receivers, the defense that took them a while to adjust to that. Once they started to Bump the line a little more with those receivers, hold them on the line a little, that hurt to a little because he was used to those guys just throw a little five ten yard pass cross and the lem run 20 yards, yeah, and and I think that some of the defense that started to To catch on to that Mm-hmm, it took him a while because they were very successful doing that, but but still when you got, when you got waddling Tyree coming, you I think you or me today have a little bit of success All you got to do is get the ball.
Speaker 2:That's all you need to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, give them two steps and just get them the ball as quick as possible.
Speaker 2:I mean that is accurate. Yes, I mean I probably throw it behind the guy three feet, but you know, I think we.
Speaker 1:I think we'd be successful, though I think you'd be a chair and be successful with those guys. The number ten guy was kind of another surprise was Baker Mayfield. You know, at a Tampa Bay I you know he had a solid year. It was up and down, he had some some disappointing weeks, some really good weeks.
Speaker 1:He gets my Kevin's back. I'm curious on that one because I know a lot of guys were kind of iffy on Baker. I'm still a little iffy on Baker. He had one good season, like we saw this play out before and Cleveland. You think he disappoints again.
Speaker 2:No, I think Baker will have a similar type of season where you know he has those flashes, those games. He's just kind of a resilient player that Overcomes, you know, the doubters and overcomes adversity. You know it's not consistent all the time, but you know he's. He's got a good arm and he's tough. He's mentally tough. He doesn't seem to be affected by as all the chatter and he's always kind of trying to prove people wrong. So I think that alone keeps him a high compete level. For him he's very competitive. So I look for Baker to have a solid season. I would put him Probably like in that eight or nine spot.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, all right, all right. Yeah, I'm curious, that's the one I. That's my wild card for next year.
Speaker 2:But we talked about be ever comfortable saying, yeah, give me a Baker, may feel I don't think.
Speaker 1:I don't think that's ever come out of the draft.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't think you're ever like, hey, I got Baker. But, like you said, he just he has games where juice he's he just threw for 360 or 320 and three. He has those type of games. Yeah and it's just not week in, week out. But that's his game. Yeah, it's always gonna be that way too.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it's then they did. Yeah, it's. Baker may feel he's got the same receipt record, but I believe all of them are coming back and listen if they get they get kind of a running game going. Hopefully that helps out. I mean, they made guy what was his name, though running back there that last year. I'm drawing a blank now.
Speaker 2:Oh, richard yeah, yes, white.
Speaker 1:Yeah, white in him. He had a decent year with you, especially coming out of that, that often so. But I I do think, I think some of the guys we talked about falling out, because I think somebody like a CJ Stroud We'll definitely be in the top 10 next year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, stroud is. I mean, that was incredible what he did with a lot of no-name players. That became known, so so. So when I'm looking at you know, when we're thinking of who moves up, who's not in that list that we just went over, you could, you could put Kyler Murray in there, who missed most of the season, yep, and is capable of, you know, lighten it up at times. Oh, absolutely. And if they get him, marvin Harrison, who knows you know, yeah, they're, they're definitely gonna.
Speaker 1:I receiver because they did make that trade the day where they they sent Ron Dale Moore to Atlanta for Desmond Ritter. So you know they're probably looking at getting a receiver Into that mix and yeah, it's gonna be somebody big, it's gonna be a big name. You know, that's probably where they're gonna go with the number four spot I.
Speaker 2:Think Marvin Harrison Jr Is gonna go. I think Arizona's gonna take him in the number four pick. Yeah, keys considered a generational type of talent.
Speaker 1:I know a lot of people. Some people have Marvin Harrison going to New England. I'm curious on that one. It's, you know, that whole new regime there. I don't know what they're they're gonna look like. You know, if it was Bill Belichick, you know that's probably never gonna be the case, but now, with new leadership there, I'm curious to see if they do do that.
Speaker 1:You still have a neighbor coming out of kind of college and he's a big-name guy and I think either one of those guys with Carla Murray's gonna be a big play, big play receiver next year right, I agree.
Speaker 2:And and then you got burrow. Who, of course, if he's? Healthy moves, moves up cousins. He's always been a steady top ten guy in fantasy.
Speaker 1:He's been that one guy we're like well, I can always just grab Kirk cousins in the later round he's. He's like that fallback guy. That's everybody's fallback position going. I didn't get one of the big names, I'll just grab Kirk cousins in round seven, yeah.
Speaker 2:What do you think of Anthony Richardson? You know he started.
Speaker 1:I'm curious because you know, we didn't get to see a whole lot of them. He was, he got hurt. You know what? He played three games got hurt.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm curious.
Speaker 2:He kind of reminded me of a of a bigger Lamar Mm-hmm, he was power. I mean, when he ran it was frigging like he. I said, oh, he's not gonna last Look at, he's just trying to run over linebackers. But I think he's. He's like he could come out nowhere. Who knows? Yeah, who know, if he's, if you work on throwing the ball a little bit more.
Speaker 1:I think you can see some big things that he's got a sprinkle in the running game, not just try to be the running game. I think that's where he needs to change his game. Okay, yeah, he was a big boy in college, but you know there's some big boys in the pros and they're, they're definitely gonna hit you.
Speaker 2:Well, he found that out.
Speaker 1:For sure. Yeah, you did. Yeah, you did. So, yeah, I mean there's some. There was some other names Like we. I think some of those names fall out and, like we mentioned those, those guys are very capable of finishing in the top ten.
Speaker 2:And we still don't know where fields is going exactly or if he's going, yeah, we'll see that's gonna be.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, we've. There's been plenty. There's gonna be plenty of time to debate that one, because I think Chicago's gonna take their sweet time with this move and see what they can get as far as offers or Whatever they're gonna get up you know I'm curious to see where they move.
Speaker 1:I know me and Sean have been on the show. We talked about it. I'd rather trade that pick and get some other needs because there's a lot of needs. On the Bears, yeah, I just don't. I'm not a big Caleb Williams guy. You look at him against ranked teams 0 and 4. I Just I don't know. I don't know. I could see. I could see those drink may. I could see those guys being bust. I, you know what you're getting out of. Justin Fields and we talked about everybody loves his work ethic. Give me a guy who's gonna try to improve.
Speaker 2:I can work with that well, over over the years, the, the hyped quarterbacks out of college. There's definitely more busts than, yes, ones that hand out, so mm-hmm so should be an interesting.
Speaker 1:It'll be it'll. It makes for exciting coverage, that's for sure.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But all right, so those are our top ten picks and they'll let you know that who we believe it will be back in the top ten and who falls out. And now we're gonna move on to a little bit of hockey and talk some Vegas Golden Knights who have put together a two-game win streak.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're going for three the night the first time in like three months. But it just goes to show you I mean in the in, in the NHL and People, for they don't, they don't realize how important those points are in October and November, because you can be mediocre for the next two, three months and then just gear up and you're still in a playoff spot because you were, you came out of the gate hot mm-hmm so I think that that the Golden Knights I mean the whole league is crying foul and complaining, oh yeah, and all they're doing is is they're just being smarter than everyone else?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's all they're doing, Absolutely what do you not?
Speaker 1:do you not want them to use the available money? What kind of GM would not use available Capsuace Until?
Speaker 2:they change those rules for LT IR mm-hmm then you know everyone else. No one else is. I mean, they can try it too. They can use the same tactics.
Speaker 1:They did it for both their kind of runs where all of a sudden guys were back in the play. They did it for both of those runs in. You know right, it's part of the game. It's part of the game.
Speaker 2:It's part of the game and other teams could do it. So what they've done what they've done is they had a good look at a lot of their young kids the last couple months.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm but they, they know, they realize, okay, they're coming to the part of the season where you got it. You got to find your game. You got to get your team ready. If you're gonna make the playoffs, you got to be ready. And when they looked at their lineup you could see the week where the weaknesses were with what they had without stone. You know that there's just not many players that can replace what he does exactly. So so they look around the league. They don't see much. And then they they realize, oh, look you, let's give San Jose a call. And they've probably been talking a while since Stone got hurt. So they just managed to Okay, well, stone's done for the season. Okay, and we can now see what we can do, what kind of player. It could either be a rental or it could be somebody that we're looking at keeping long term.
Speaker 2:Hurtle's still in that situation where he's not. He's kind of right in his prime. He's had some decline in his numbers because he's played with such a terrible team. But anyone who's watched Thomas Hurtle I mean, when I heard we got Hurtle, I was like, oh my God, unbelievable that we pulled that off, because he is exactly what they needed. They need that type of big body net front presence that can smart, that can either distribute or shoot, oh yeah, and he's going to slot right into the second center spot when he comes in and that enables them to move Carlson back to the three line where they need him. Because Carlson can't. It's not good for him to play in the top six, and the reason is because he kills penalties and he's on the power play sometimes. So if he's in that top six it's a lot of minutes for him. So if he goes back to the three then he becomes that tremendous penalty killer he is and he can do damage on the power plate too. So I think he's more comfortable in that spot. So Hurtle doesn't have to be used to kill penalties, so it just fits. So what they've done there was huge.
Speaker 2:And then they went because they know Martinez is near the end and they know they've had some real trouble with some of their Just their defensemen. They have struggled. White Cloud struggled this year. Yep, hague has struggled as well. Hague struggled. And Theodore, we find out he was out two months. He had back surgery. No one even knew what was really wrong with him. It's funny how the NHL doesn't have to divulge this information Right. So they go out and get Hannafin, who is almost a clone of Theodore. He's tremendous with his. He's a great skater and great with the puck. Now you do have to live with. He's a risk taker, just like Theodore, so sometimes they give the puck away, but that's not really what Cassidy wants. But at the same time, he knew that we needed more from our defensemen. Absolutely, you still need that spark.
Speaker 1:You know, when your forwards aren't producing, you need somebody to kind of spark the offense. You really look at that blue line. You know it's always been somebody Last year. You know every year you see our blue line kind of in the top scoring blue lines in the league Because they do provide it.
Speaker 1:They do come down. They're not afraid to try to make a big play. But, like you said, there's been some struggles Guys getting older kind of losing a step. So I thought that was a great move. I really enjoyed the Noah Hannafin move. I'm just a little worried are they going to resign him and be able to resign him Because he is a? It's tough Because usually when you make that big giving up a first round pick for a guy in an expiring contract, usually you have a deal worked out beforehand for an extension. Yeah, and that then never came out.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean somebody's going, Just like Riley Smith was the guy going last year. We knew he's going. Okay, who's going now? And then, when I think of who's not going to be here next year, I'm thinking of Janell or Stevenson.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's in the UFA. Marshy's in the UFA, yeah.
Speaker 2:Marshy. I mean it's almost hard to imagine they would let him go, but yeah, you got to think of who's on their way out. And Stevenson comes to mind too, because we are a very deep at center.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And if hurdle slides right into a center spot, he can play either, but he's probably stronger at center. I think he's more effective.
Speaker 1:He's more effective, and so that means you move channel or Stevenson back out to the wing, where I don't think he is as strong as some other guys, but yeah, that his speed makes up for a lot of stuff. But yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 2:I don't think he has back. Stevenson is. He has struggled this year with his handling, his puck management. He's a great skater but it seems like when the puck gets around him he tightens up and it's shown now. He did make. I don't know if you saw the game the other night to get into overtime. Oh yeah, he made an amazing play. It touched his stick for a millisecond but he it was. It was the redirection. The redirection to Marshy. I don't know, I'm still not 100%. Yeah, he meant to do that.
Speaker 1:I think he was trying to, I think he was trying to deflect the shot and, you know, get it on net. It just happened. Yeah, right, but in slow motion.
Speaker 2:it looks like an incredible play, but I don't know. I'm just it worked out.
Speaker 1:But that might have been a little more luck than skills, but we'll take it.
Speaker 2:Right, I mean you saw the player.
Speaker 1:I didn't see the place.
Speaker 2:It was unbelievable. But it's like, did he really mean to do that? I don't know. Anyway, but the Knights are now. You know they're, they're in position. But when you look around the league, I don't really see. It's kind of really separated to me to like four or five teams. When I look around the league, I mean Florida's on a mission. It looks like.
Speaker 1:They just look like they're, they look solid, they look very and they improve. I mean you pick up Tara Sanko at the, at the deadline. Yeah, they picked up somebody else, didn't they? I forget, trying to remember there's been so much, so much.
Speaker 2:What's amazing about them? They got they. Can they now have a one to punch it goalie with Stoll Arts, also with the Braske. They're both playing on the unbelievable Not many teams have. It's kind of like what happened with the Knights last year. People forget the first round of the playoffs. It was all. Laurent Grossois yes, he was the whole story. And then Edmonton he was still, and when he got hurt Aiden Hill became the story. It's when you have multiple goalies that can be plugged into and played big that's. That's huge, because when you're leaning on one it's, it's just a matter of time. The attrition I mean look at Vasilevsky he's really declined this year. The Vasilevsky's played more games than any goalie in the last 10 years. So I think Florida's the they look like the team to beat the Rangers. I think in the east it's between the Rangers and Florida, just because they're strong in every aspect of the game. They're top five penalty killing, their top in the top 10 power play. They're goaltending grade to play defense.
Speaker 1:Shisterkin's really found his game lately, so yeah he's, he's definitely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, shisterkin yeah, and I'll tell you the thing about Florida that's been impressive is they're getting scoring from different guys. You know it's not a top heavy team the way Edmonton's top heavy and Colorado's top heavy, where you shut down their top lines, you can beat those teams.
Speaker 2:Yeah those two teams in these. So I'm looking at the Golden Knights. They're going to be in a good position, but they're they're going to have to contend with Vancouver, who is similar to those teams that I just mentioned, where there's really no weakness Defensively or in special teams. They got a ton of skill. But the real surprising team to me they've been really so consistent is Winnipeg.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness, yeah, winnipeg has been at. That's remember we wouldn't. This time last year they were talking about tearing that whole thing down and rebuilding and all of a sudden they're out of nowhere and at the top of their division.
Speaker 2:So I mean man well, they got rid of Wheeler, but they kick. You know they picked up Monahan and they just. They're very balanced. If you look through them they're almost kind of like the Knights, where you try and get scoring from different people, not just your top line. But I think that Winnipeg's been, they're going to be, a tough out. They're solid, defensively they're second. They're either first or second in the league and goals against they're made for the playoffs because they're kind of deep and balanced. They're better than they were last year. Last year it seemed like the blue line let them down. I think they're under the radar because you know.
Speaker 1:They've been quiet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're a small market team.
Speaker 1:Yep exactly.
Speaker 2:Small market team. They picked up Tyler Tifoli as well. Correct at the trade deadline.
Speaker 1:Tifoli, there you go.
Speaker 2:That shows me that they are, they're trying, they want to win, they want to do it now and they go out and they get a bona fide goal score that can make the difference for them in big games. He's a big game player, he's a clutch player.
Speaker 1:He's the ultimate trade bait, because I think this is what his sixth team in three years he's become.
Speaker 2:That's what he's become. He's become that guy, everybody goes after I know Tifoli's become that guy every year.
Speaker 1:Every year, every year.
Speaker 2:But he plugs right in. It doesn't take him like, it doesn't take him 10 games to adjust.
Speaker 1:No, exactly, the guy plays on teams for half a season. He's great every year.
Speaker 2:In fact did he play yet his first game.
Speaker 1:I don't know.
Speaker 2:I don't know yet, because you can almost guarantee he'll score in his first game. Yeah. I mean, he's amazing, I joked around about it because I was like man, it's played for his sixth stock, you know, sixth NHL team in three years he's been treated every year, Every trade deadline.
Speaker 1:Tyler Tifoli's moving, that man guy says you know, he's got something. He must be a great renter.
Speaker 2:He's a great. Yeah, he doesn't mind. You know that's his role and I think any team can't go wrong, you know you pick up a guy just for your playoff run. That's the kind of guy you need. Yeah, that's the kind of guy you want, because he's been great everywhere. He's played.
Speaker 1:You know, you always see him, he puts up great numbers. I mean, he fits right in, he's kind of that Swiss Army knife. He can play any role, yeah.
Speaker 2:I agree.
Speaker 1:But yeah. So what do you think about the game tonight With the Knights playing God, who are we playing tonight? I'm trying to. I just had.
Speaker 2:Calgary. Yeah we're playing Calgary. Hannafin's going against Calgary.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's going to be curious Because I thought Calgary would be a bigger seller. I know they kept some guys. I know a lot of people thought Markstrom was going to be traded. But the big name goalies usually don't move during a trade deadline Because you know that's the hardest position to kind of get acclimated to moving to another team. So you know the goal tenders rarely ever move with the trade deadline. I thought they were going to dump a little bit more than they did.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they were kind of. I mean, a few weeks ago they were buyers and they become. They look like they're not going for like a complete rebuild but they're trying to make a few changes. It was a financial move for them, you know. They realized that they probably don't have the team this year to make a run. But I expect the Knights just If they could just get a little more consistency in their game. But even they won the other night at Seattle. But even in that game just some real defensive mistakes that have haunted them the last month or two. What happens when you make a lot of defensive blunders, your goalie starts to lose his confidence a little because you know it's like you're asking too much. So I think if they can start showing up some of those defensive blunders, it's not a one guy.
Speaker 2:It's like the whole team. It's been a team effort. But at the same time, if you're going to start scoring four or five goals a game which wasn't there for a while for them, that can make up that your margin of error is much less. You can win games five to three, four to three. You don't have to win two to one, two to nothing. So they are starting to. Their offense is heating up and that's a good sign. I would think if they were to, because you know they're not guaranteed and they know this too, they're not really comfortably in the playoffs yet. No, there's teams still right. Minnesota's right there.
Speaker 1:Minnesota's right behind them and they're playing aggressive. They're really going for the playoffs yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean you've got to stay in the game. I think the Knights need to get off to a good start. I'm curious to see, as Because the first two periods they played last game I thought they did a really good job of trying to keep pucks away from the net. You know, we kind of had the shot lead for a while there. Then they kind of started slipping that second half, the second period, where all of a sudden we weren't winning the shot battle and we were letting more shots get passed.
Speaker 2:We weren't holding the puck in the zone long enough, but that's been the story most of the year is playing a full 60 minute game. It's been few and far between for them. They've had those lapses of six or seven minutes that the other team looks like they're on a power play, they're just playing catch. It's like. And sometimes I'll look at the screen, I'll go are we on a panel? No, it's five on five. It looks like we're frigging, just chasing the puck. So you know that's been a problem for them. But you know these moves show that when it comes playoff time it's still going to be, we're going to be a formidable team to play.
Speaker 2:I'll tell you who I think is very vulnerable. I didn't mention Colorado. Colorado, it's almost. It's kind of strange. But if you were to look, they have been a terrible road team this year. They're very good at home but I mean, if you can't win on the road, you're not really what I consider a true playoff contender. So I don't really know. I think you know again, they're a top-heavy team, the McKinnon line and you shut him down. You know you can beat them, but they've been very poor on the road and so I put Vancouver way above them and I think Winnipeg is an interesting team to me. So we'll see what happens. That's kind of I look at those five or six teams is what it comes down to. Now you could mention throwing Carolina Boston kind of lost their way when it comes to five on five. They're a good team with their special teams, but when they play five on five they have a hard time scoring.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, it's been in when their weakest point I think it's starting to show is they were kind of coming into the year kind of weak down the center and I think that's starting to show a little bit with you know, with Bergeron and Craig going and retiring. That's kind of I think that's kind of been blown up. I think Goldton, he's kind of kept them in a lot of games. Swamin' has played fantastic and Carolina just got better at the deadline with getting Getzel and getting the Birdman over there I think the Birdman might be.
Speaker 1:I think he needed a change of scenery and finally, coming out of Washington. He's getting out of Washington. Maybe, that's good for his career. He seems like he's excited to be in Carolina and it's going to be a fun team to watch. I think that scoring element they needed another score, you know Ahu and.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they just, they need somebody else.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they addressed their needs. I'm probably short, changing them a little too much, but I just think that Florida and New York they're just complete teams. They're very complete.
Speaker 1:Because the biggest thing with Carolina, what Carolina doesn't have, like you said, with Florida and New York Florida. You got Freddie Anderson back, but how consistent is their Goldton going to be? Right, because that's kind of been their biggest you know biggest warriors consistency at the Goldtoner spot, but they've definitely got the weapons.
Speaker 2:Right. And another team we didn't mention and to me is I don't really fear them like I did maybe last year as Dallas and the main reason is because Attinger has not been the same goalie he is. He was pretty dominant the last couple of years, yeah, but he struggled. This year His save percentage is other 900. So which is really a big drop from what he's done the last couple of years. So you know, it'll be interesting, but this is really the best time. March, this is when hockey heats up and it's, for me at least, it becomes the I mean, hockey becomes everything this time of year.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, baseball. I probably don't even watch a baseball game until June, but you know, that's just Well, by then the Dodgers will be 20 games up anyway.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I celebrate the opening day because you know I get a hold of Nick. That is the day that the Mets are mathematically eliminated for the playoffs. Oh God.
Speaker 1:I always like to congratulate him on a season being over as soon as opening day starts. So but yeah, once playoff hockey starts in, like this time, I'm really looking to see who gets hot here in the last couple of weeks of the season, Because hockey is one of those. Whoever's coming in to the playoffs hot, they've got a really good chance of making a run. They can be the eight seed, but if they're playing some of the best hockey going into it don't count out those guys.
Speaker 1:It's one of those sports where you just can't say, hey, they're the eight seed playing the one. They got no chance.
Speaker 2:Not necessarily, which almost never happens in other sports.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Hockey is like the only sport that happens all the time, all the time, and you're not surprised by it. Right, no, it's whoever's hot and it's such a fine line between you know success and failure and hockey. That's why you have to be dialed in coming into it, because you're not going to just find it.
Speaker 1:Push a button, yeah you know it's not going to happen. You got to start building some momentum here and hopefully, hopefully, our Golden Knights can get there. I know with Hurdle, they expect him to play. They're hoping for him to play the last couple of weeks of the season. And hopefully we can get on a nice little run there and get into the playoffs on a good momentum and hopefully get there.
Speaker 2:Watching Hurdle and the Golden Knight uniform. It's going to be something, because maybe not the last couple of years, but when the sharks were formed at the bottom.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:He was a thorn in such a way.
Speaker 1:I used to. I couldn't stand it when he was at the sharks because those were the. Those were always his days, and I remember playing fantasy hockey as well, and everybody goes you didn't, you didn't, you don't want that guy. I'm like, no, I don't draft San Jose sharks on my fantasy team.
Speaker 2:And I even listened to people the last few days oh, hurdle, he's only had 60 points, I only had 68. You know what? How many assists are you going to get on the sharks Exactly?
Speaker 1:There's nobody on that team.
Speaker 2:There's nobody. Well, you can't do it. How are you going to? How are you going to put up numbers?
Speaker 1:I can't.
Speaker 2:There are very. There are bottom five team.
Speaker 1:Oh, and they got. They're going to be that way for quite a while they're they're rebuilt.
Speaker 2:It's going to take five or 10 years. Yeah, yeah, you're looking at those guys.
Speaker 1:You're looking at that whole build. You're looking at Arizona. Status is where you're going to be at for a good while Because those guys, it looks exactly how they did their rebuild and you can rebuild, but, man, they just completely emptied the cupboards and you just went with the retaining 17%.
Speaker 2:for years that was, that was the greatest trade by my RT.
Speaker 1:I was like man Pat, I'm back for that one. That was a good move. I don't know how you got them to agree to that one, but all right.
Speaker 2:So well, maybe they really like our David ends from the center. They, he is here. A lot of good things about that kid, but maybe that's they just they like who they're getting.
Speaker 1:Hey, I'll take the proven commodity, because you really know, yeah, I'll take that proven guy any day of the week. Give me that, especially when we got our. We got Stanley cup window open. You know, so I'll take that. I think that was a great move in the night's history.
Speaker 2:They picked up stone crucial. They picked up barbyshev. Last year they picked up Eichel. If you look at their farm system and who they let go, there's only one guy, yeah. I agree with it really kind of turned out to be pretty good that maybe we should have kept. It was Suzuki.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Right, that's the only one. Eric branched them. Yeah, yeah, branson has a gold Cody glass, absolutely disappointment yeah. Yeah, so Suzuki is really the only one you could ever say, hey, maybe we should have kept it.
Speaker 1:So, anyway, yep, but all right guys, that's all the time we have for the day. Rick, thanks for joining the show. Man, always great talking sports with you. We can go on for hours talking this.
Speaker 2:So thanks for joining the show.
Speaker 1:And listen. We're going to get Rick on here and hopefully we're going to do some video podcast soon with Rick and we're going to upgrade this and get this ball going. So thanks, rick, appreciate it, buddy.
Speaker 2:All right guys.
Speaker 1:Thanks for joining the show, guys. We'll see you in the next one.