318: Bored With Subaru, Hatfields And McCoys, Defining Aggression

Transcript

You're on the aisle seat, the Go-To place for New York Islanders hockey dogs. Welcome aboard the aisle seat podcast, Mike Carver here with you at the New York Islanders have points in 12 straight a win over Florida on Saturday afternoon, two to one at the Barclays Center. Of course, their 10 game win streak was stopped Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. We'll talk about that and a lot more Nick Al Berger from Sportsnet in Toronto. As the Islanders get ready to get reacquainted with an old friend, John Tavares, on Wednesday night at the Nassau Coliseum Big Game as the Leafs come to town. As always, you can listen to the show on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify. Tune in I Heart and our new hosting site Buzz Sprout. And, as always, the home page at Aisle Seat dot com. The sponsors, of course, Oakwood Automation, Bright Building Services, Santorini Restaurant, the Main Street Board, Game Cafe and Accurate Precast Corporation. They take care of us. Please take care of them. Get your seat podcast T-shirts at Yassmin Outfitters dot com. Devin has that and plenty of other outstanding products. The bar in stable and much more. Go check him out at Yassmin Outfitters dot com. So like we said at the top, the Islanders now points in 12 straight. They got the win streak broken on Thursday night against the Penguins. They rebound on Saturday against the Florida Panthers overall. Hard to complain here now. It's tough because when you've won 10 games in a row and you have a three nothing lead in the third period like they did Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they blow that lead and they blow the game, something so uncharacteristic in something so uncommon for this group, especially since Barry Trotz has been here. We know what the record was going into that night. We've said it a billion times and it became a thing on Twitter, especially in the second intermission, when they were up three nothing. The 48 two and two now 48, two and three, as we know. Look, I think that it would have been a lot worse situation, a lot more to get upset about if the team had not won 10 in a row going into the game. OK, is blowing a three nothing lead bad? Of course it's bad. Is there a lot of things that go on when you blow a three nothing lead? Absolutely. But it softens the blow. You know, the head can get on the pillow a little bit easier, knowing that the team had just won 10 games in a row. So as tough as that loss was, and let's be fair, the Islanders did not play very well that entire game. I know they had a three nothing lead in that game, but they didn't play great going into the third. And as the third started, the penguins pressed. They had just come off blowing a lead against the Bruins early in the week. That was a hungry Penn's team knowing that they got swept by the Islanders in April. Getting embarrassed again, three nothing. The pens pressed hard and the Islanders did not have an answer. Now the sequence of that entire game on Thursday was that three one when Anthony Bovill had a chance to, you want to say, put the game away? I think that if Anthony Bouvier finds the net and makes it four one on the play where Matt Murray somehow laying on his back, throws his leg in the air and stops it, Beverley had the entire net. Murray was floundering on the ice, throws his leg in the air, makes a miraculous save, and Brian Ross goes to the other end and makes it three two entire sequence of the game, as you all know. And that changed it. A couple of minutes later, the penguins tied a three. Islanders do hold on to get a point tried to play the keep away game in overtime eventually, which they and by the way, they've been very good at that. So early in that overtime, islanders were trying to play keep away. They kept Crosby on the ice for about a minute and a half two minutes. They could not find a goal and eventually the penguins found one. At the other end, Brock gets stripped by rust again behind the net. Tough play right there. Hey, like I said, it gets a little bit easier and the head can hit the pillow a little softer. Knowing they had won 10 in a row going in, they're happy. They blew a three point lead. Of course you're not happy. Was Barry Trotz happy? Of course he wasn't happy. He gave comp the business a little bit with the it won't become a trend and stared him down, and Beacon brought up the record with scoring three goals. Good job by Baker, but Barrie gave him the stare. I love that part of the press conference. So and that's what I love about Barry Trotz, because you don't have to worry because you know that he's going to clean things up. Talked about it every time that they had lost a couple of games in a row last year. You said Barry is going to get it right. He's got to work on it. He's going to get this team together and they do. And what do they do after blowing a lead three nothing end of a 10 game win streak, they still get a point. They come out Saturday afternoon against the Florida Panthers at the Barclays Center, and they play a very sound game. Was it more of an up and down game than you're used to seeing out of this New York Islanders club? It was. They had their most shots on goal that they've had in any game all year. They let the Panthers get a lot of shots on goal, but I thought five on five, it was pretty even. I really did. I thought the Panthers had their best chances when they were on the power play. They're a very dangerous power play. Trotz said it after the game. We all know this. They got a big break on a disallowed goal as well. With the high stick. I believe it was Berkoff in front of the net. So the islanders get a break there. They get a fluky goal too, with the response right after the Scottie Mayfield goal, so they played well. Grayson Bobrovsky were outstanding. Eberly save the day too, with his stop in the net. It was a good, solid win at the Barclays Center for the hours on Saturday. A good response after a game where they blew a three, nothing lead to now give them points in 12 straight another couple days off as they get ready for the Leafs on Wednesday night. And that's what you like to see. You like to see strong responses. As bad as it was Thursday to blow that lead, they came out and they gave you strong effort and the wild part about the 12 straight games with points getting another win on Saturday. Keeping this thing going is the amount of up and down the injuries, the things going on with the forward group right now. And even you can include Letty being out for a couple of games and Dobson having to go in. Letty, of course, gets back in. But I mean, just look at this laundry list of things that have happened just between, you know, the start of the Florida game. In the end of it, you've got autoclave all the go up and down a bunch. He has never gotten a game. He did skate in the warm ups on Saturday. He's back at Bridgeport now. Who knows? I'm sure he'll be bouncing back and forth. Eventually, he well, you would think getting to a game. Oliver Wahlstrom goes back to Bridgeport before that game on Saturday, with Eberly coming back into the lineup. And as I said last week, I'm not going to get crazy about it. I said I would get crazy about it, but it's hard to with how the team is playing. It's hard to wedge a kid in who needs to be playing with better skilled players to show what he can do. It's a if you like to call it a Nino, need a writer type situation? If you guys will know what I'm talking about when I say that the year that Nino need writer got buried here and they didn't send him to juniors, which I understood, but he played for mine minutes all year with guys that were not going to allow him to show the kind of talent that he has and that hurt him in this organization. And you don't want to do that to Oliver Walsh. Thankfully with Wallström, they have the ability to send him to the NHL and allow him to play. And that night he goes and scoring a goal. Got to go. I think Saturday night. So Wahlstrom gets right and boom scores a goal for Bridgeport. He's so talented and he will be back. I don't care about the nine or 10 games, whatever that is, there's going to be a spot. They've already played nine. They're going to be spot. They're gonna need him again this year. It's just the way things are going with injuries. They're going to need him again this year, I believe. Now I say that we know how much my luck is with these things, but I think that they'll need Wahlstrom at some point again this year. Going on with all the moves barely played with Zika and cow quarterback, and that's what you like about Josh Bailey. No, ego. He's a guy who can play on the top line and he can produce when he's with those guys produced at a level that this team produces at. Obviously, the Islanders are not scoring five or six goals a game, but Josh Bailey has a hand in things with how the Islanders score their goals a lot. But he's versatile enough that even though he's not playing with bars Alan Lee or he's not playing with Brock and Biophilia, he can go down to that situation with Zika and cow, and he could still play his game and play it well. You love to see that. Josh Bailey brings a lot of versatility in that department. Zika then gets hurt block in the shot in the first. He did not play in the third. Barry Trotz says that he should be fined by Wednesday. We'll see what happens there. They sent Cole Baggio back to the bridge after the game. He could come back if Zika isn't ready on Wednesday, but most likely is. Trotz, I believe, was saying Sunday. Maybe Leo Komarov, who is finally going to come back, it looks like can slide and play some center. So the island is looking all that up and down, players. Don't forget Andrew Ladd either scoring a goal Bridgeport as well over the weekend. Andrew Ladd is going to be back in the mix. He could be back Wednesday for what we know. We'll find out more practice on Tuesday. But Lad Leo coming back. Cole Baggio down on who's been up and down. Wahlstrom now back to Bridgeport. Zika could be heard again. You got Bailey playing with, you know, a couple of guys on a third line. That is a lot of movement for a team that's got points and 12 straight games. That's a pretty good job by everybody, players, coaches all deal as a lot of movement, a lot of moving parts for this island or forward group during this entire run where they've got points and 12 straight and they still get it done. They score a couple. You get nothing. They leave with two points through that one out there last week, I kind of liked it. So there we go. We used it again. Score a couple. They get nothing. You leave with two points. Her model? Got to have it. But it's a lot of moves and it's a lot of shaking and everybody's contributing, and even with all of those things happening, they're still getting it done. So now the Islanders will play the fourth game of this four game home stand in a different arena, of course. They played three games at the Barclays Center last week. Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Florida final game of a four game homestand in a different arena, this one will be at the Nassau Coliseum. They will play the Toronto Maple Leafs before heading to Philly on Saturday. And with the Leafs coming to town, I think that would be pretty fair on the show. We kind of put the Johnny thing to bed at the end of last year, especially after that February 28th game obviously mentioned it when the Leafs came back in early April that last week of the season, and Tavares, I think, had the winner of that night. If I'm pretty, if I remember correctly, I don't even remember. But I think Tavares, I know he had a goal in the game. I'm pretty sure had the winner, but the Leafs came in and beat the honors that first week. We know that things are going to slow down. I'll talk a little bit more about it after the break. Joining us right now, one of my favorites, one of your favorites, of course, from the Great City of Toronto, the host of Leafs Nation on Sportsnet does fantasy hockey for them as well. And of course, the UN Muzzled podcast, which I was thankfully a part of last week. And that is the Great Al Burger. Nick, how are you, buddy? Carver, I'm fantastic and hello to all you Nutjob Islander fans out there. What's going on, you know? And we talked about this on your show last week. Me, you and comp. You're very misunderstood by a lot of the other fans. Now a lot know that you the game that you are playing, there's there's no question about that, but I think there is still some people out there who just think that you're a jerk and and you don't mind that. No, no, no. Because I am somebody in this business. I understand what ratings are. I think you're totally right when you say, I misunderstood. But that said, I do bring a lot on myself by some of my tweets, and there's a reason why I always seem to hashtag. I was like, I want people to see this stuff. I want you to get bothered by stuff. I mean, it drives ratings. Let's be honest, when it comes to Twitter and social media, people are going to start talking about you and I do it in a fair way. I mean, at the end of day, karma, do I used to think at times we do forget that we're just covering a sport and it's all funny. Yeah, it stinks that John Tavares left, but I get that. But I would never get to a point where it's like life or death. I know hooligans in soccer got that way in Europe, like I have so much passion for the sport. You know, I enjoy watching a lot of teams get all the Maple Leafs included, but I'm never at a point where it's like life or death, and I think that's it sort of makes me laugh and a reason why I chose because people take life too seriously that there's way more outside of sports that we have to think about and care about. I think sports is actually a really good vice to take away and get away from the actual hardships that are happening in daily life. No, I agree with you 1000 percent. That's what sports is all about. It's about that little bit of an escape. But I know that sometimes maybe a couple of people can take it a little too far. No question about that. I know a lot of people in your area thought that that happened last year on February 28th at the Collee know a lot of people up there did think that. Now look, here's the John Tavares stuff is it's hard for me because obviously I do. An Islanders show is the IOC podcast. Every week we talk Islander hockey. And to be fair, we have not talked about John since the end of last year. Or really, you know, that February 28th game when they played him in April because the Islanders have been playing really good hockey. He does not matter anymore. He's not here. But Nick, it is always good to kind of check in and see how he's been doing because this is a big game on Wednesday night. Both teams are playing really well going into the game, and what I really am going to talk to you about is how, you know, you start to hear the little bit of I don't know, is Leafs nation getting a little antsy? You know, a lot of visiting teams come in now. I saw Ovie gets asked about it and he kind of gives his spiel on what he thinks the Leafs need to do. Drew Doughty kind of didn't want to talk about it a few weeks ago. Has the pressure started to get on Johnny already? He's only been there 13 months. Has the pressure been? I know you're relishing this moment. I'll add to that. I think I think it's hilarious that you're the producer and you're on the air a lot on on the bench in CBS Sports Radio and that airs in Toronto, as you know. Oh, they don't like me up there. They don't like me up there at all north of the border. But I think obviously you have your opinions of John Tavares, you know, from from where I sit so far, so good. As a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he's been pretty much as advertised. I mean, make of it what you will. His leadership qualities. He's the new captain of this team. They're ready building commercials, by the way, in Toronto's game on Long Island on Wednesday that he returns with the C so much. Oh my god, no. Let me just tell you guys up there something and I know it's not you. I'm speaking to everybody up there. Nobody cares that he's the captain of the Maple Leafs. No, nobody cares. And the and the best part about him, you know, he got a free pass because the biggest, you know, locker room situation than that team had to deal with since he's been captain, he wasn't even there to deal with it. The day that the old stuff happened at Babc**k is up there practically crying Tavares because he was out injured. He was nowhere to be found, so he knew how to deal with the biggest off the ice issue yet this year. You're not incorrect at all. I'll add to that, honestly. And I'm not just saying this because I cover this team. I live in this market. It's a lot to handle to be, you know, the Toronto Maple Leafs. And the media scrutiny, like I think you're right and bringing up the fact that we're 19 games into this season and there are legitimately people, you know, tweeting at me and asking me, Hey, are the Leafs going to make the playoffs air? Really, don't care if they make the playoffs. It's good for ratings, obviously, if they do make the playoffs. And B, I just think it's way too early to make an assessment. They've dealt with a lot of injuries. You won't see Mitch Marner on Wednesday night, one of their top players. He has a high ankle sprain or an ankle sprain they're calling. It looks like a high ankle sprain, if you ask me, but he's going to miss at least a month. So he's out and he's a normal winger. As you guys know, for John Tavares. So I think when you look at this Maple Leafs team during complete their work in progress, they got their issues. Their their backup goalie was put on waivers on Monday. Like, this team is struggling to find its identity, whereas you look at this New York Islanders squad carver, as you know, and they've won 11 of the last 12, 11 and one in that stretch. They're playing brilliant hockey right now and basically haven't skipped a beat since last season and that unbelievable Jennings award winning season. You know, Barry Trotz, when you know the best coach like a lot went right for that team. They did great things last year and they've doubled down this year, which is the more impressive thing for me as somebody who's not in that market. So certainly, I think you look at these two teams right now, everything's trending upwards and onwards towards the New York Islanders, whereas the Maple Leafs are are still trying to find their identity. And that's crazy to say that we are 20 games into the season have found it just yet. But that said, they've dealt with a lot of injuries and we'll see what they do over the next couple of games here. Do you start to get the feel being in what a lot of people do consider, you know, the hockey capital of the world and not because the Leafs win per se, but just because Toronto, Canada, the whole deal. It's such a major point and focus of hockey in general, not just the National Hockey League, but do you think that the perception has changed on the islanders, like you said, because a year ago they took a lot of people by surprise, 103 points went around and now they've come out here and they've gotten off to such a good start. Have you kind of noticed up there in that area that the islanders are starting to get a little bit more respect? I would hope so. But no, I don't. And I'm not surprised, to be quite honest with you. I do not get it, and I have had a couple of friends who know my new gig hosting Leafs Nation, the pre post-game intermission host the Toronto Maple Leafs and I've, you know, disclosed before that if there were a team I'm going to cheer for, it's going to be the Maple Leafs. But I'm a realist like I. I love hockey, I love the NHL. I'm going to give props to good teams out there. The islanders are really good team, but I think to answer your question, I haven't really heard otherwise. Like, I'm the only one seemingly tweeting on a daily basis in this market of the Islanders continue to win and win and win and win. They won 10 in a row, lost the next one in OT, blowing a three nothing lead like they're a legitimate hockey team. And I'll say this like you guys care more about John Tavares than they care here, about John Tavares and him being a maple leaf and spurning the islanders, like a lot of people, don't understand why people cared so much on the island. Do they still think? Do they still think that the Islanders fan thinks it's life or death that John Tavares isn't here anymore? Yeah, I think so. Like, they're building up the storyline. Like, I think it's a great storyline. I truly do. And I'm with you. Like, you talked about that conversation that people, they had the whole, you know, the Cerra Nation Day where they named the day after that was ridiculous. That was awful, Nick. You know that that was awful. You're a pro athlete, bro. Like, you know, man up or woman up. If if you're returning to the former place that you called home for a long, long period of time and oh, God forbid, they're a little mean to you. Like, that's part of being a pro athlete, in my opinion. You know, within reason, if people are uttering death threats and you know, that's one thing and doing some stuff to you like, that's another thing. Like if it's if it's with the lines of hockey and like, you know, the passion of a fan base like I have no qualms with, I had no issue with with that building from everybody. You know, I've talked to you in this area who went to that game the first full back of the call last year there, like there was no game like that one and there hasn't been one for a long, long time. It's just like as you talk about it all the time, it just all that pent up aggression in a one building into a fan base and they let him know. I had no issue with that. And I think it adds to the plenty of storylines that are brewing here not only Leafs nation, but every time the Maple Leafs and Islanders get together, we'll see again on Wednesday night. Yeah, it's very interesting because honestly, I you said like it's good for ratings and they're building it as John Tavares goes back to the Islanders on Wednesday. Up there, I get all that. Honestly, I'm not going to lie to you down here now. This also has to do with the fact that the Islanders obviously do not get the coverage locally. With so many sports teams here, you have so much, so much going on. Even though all the teams suck, they're they're all awful. But you know, it's just the islanders still don't get that push, but I have not seen anybody at all and we're still a couple of days out here. The I out a couple of days off, and maybe it's because they're playing so well. The whole narrative of John Tavares coming back to the Nassau Coliseum again is kind of, you know, it's not there and I don't have a problem with that. I don't think that the listeners to this show have a problem with it. I think that everybody is just fine being in that space. I talked to you about this on your show at the end of last week. Will people boo on Wednesday night? Of course they're going to boo. He will always get booed. Whether it's the Nassau Coliseum, the Barclays Center, the Belmont Park Arena in a couple of years when he comes there for the first time is a make believe. It doesn't matter where he plays the islanders in this area. He is always going to get booed and it's that simple, but I'm kind of surprised that they're still kind of pushing it as he's going back to the islanders where as down here, it's kind of become since that first night. Not that big of a deal anymore. You're right, it's tired and I of the fact, too, that I think a lot of the fan base seems to be a bunch of hypocrites because that Kawhi Leonard, guy who played for the Raptors last, oh, don't get me started on that. So he goes to L.A. to play for his hometown city. He probably would have been a Laker, but he didn't want to get involved in that. Who BLESSÉ went to the Clippers and I couldn't believe the disdain coming out of, you know, the venom out of the fans here, like the guy legitimately won this team its first title franchise history. He was everything in many respects. He pulled the John Tavares, but he did the same exact thing, except he actually gave them something before he left. Exactly. So they they they they hate. Well, they don't hate Kawhi Leonard. Like they're angry. He left, but they love John Tavares and don't think he did anything wrong. Like, it's a double double standard type thing. It's like a two pronged thing where it's like, I don't comprehend it, you know? Yeah, I don't get it either. Like you said, and I know I talked to you before that game last year, I don't think I talked to you after what they did, the city and the mayor, whatever went on there and I got to tell you, nick it and I feel this way too. I bet you Johnny wasn't happy with it, either. I mean, the last thing that John Tavares wanted to do that Saturday night in Toronto was go skate out there to a standing ovation and have a big pomp and circumstance for him. The whole city did a bad job with that. It was so lame, man. And you know, like, I understand we're in 2019, but I miss hockey from the late 90s and the mid 90s, and I do feel like social media has killed the intensity of the game. Like, I'm for one who who doesn't endorse fighting. I think there's a need for fighting in hockey. Just took it at least game on Sunday night. Java the eavesdrops amidst what Jake was in a minute in after I had it in, like on one of his teammates, Brandon saw it and ignites the Chicago Blackhawks. I think there's a need for that physical animosity in a game, and sadly we've been stripped of that. And again, it's it's social media, and I just I could not believe that it got to that point where, you know, we got the box of tissues out. And, you know, don't get me wrong, I love John Tavares, just as many people do in this market, like, I think he means a lot to this team. But I just thought it was a bit bogus, a bit ridiculous. I think you're totally right. And certainly John Tavares would never admit, but he probably was not a fan of that treatment, either. I don't think any player wants that type of preferred treatment and give off that perception, at least. All right, one more. Forget the Tavares stuff anymore. Let's get to the team. Let's get to the team here. And then I want to ask you a couple of things about the Eastern Conference. Just looking at this leaf team as they head to the Colly on Wednesday night. Is this the same problems kind of that have plagued them through the last couple of years? You know, a lot of first round exits? Is the seat starting to get a little hot for Mike Babc**k? Obviously, they have the stars that are getting their big money. Marner gets his check right before camp, as you know. You know, he the RFA went throughout the entire summer. A lot of rumors maybe somebody would offer sheet him. That never happened. As we know, where is this leave team at right now in this Eastern Conference? Are they the same old we can run and gun with you? But when it gets to a tight, you know, scoring game like that Bruins series last year, they're going to end up falling short. Well, this game on Wednesday is going to be intriguing for many reasons. I think you look at the first 19 games of this Maple Leafs season, they're nine, six and three. I think we do forget at times and especially covering this team in this market, people seem to have estaria rather quickly and go nuts. When I think you do forget there are 82 games in a season and there are ebbs and flows in a season and different months, just Saskatchewan. Last year, we scored 18 goals in one month and the rest what we know, what happened there. I think you look at this Maple Leafs team sort of there lost a bit right now. That said, I think there are a lot of encouraging signs to pull out of their game, although they lost it on Sunday night against Chicago, a five four thriller. They put 57 shots on goal against one of your faves on the island. Robin Lehner. He was outstanding, making 53 saves in that game, 157 shots for the Maple Leafs. I think the Leafs may have found something offensively. That's the one thing I've noticed from this team so far this season that we shot. We saw excuse me a lot last year and was their ability to score control the pace. Puck had a lot of things that had sort of been missing from the DNA of this team for the most part, and a good chunk of the first 20 games or so of this season. Was that so I wonder how that would correlate to Wednesday night again, because I think for a variety of reasons, the islanders are always going to be a tough opponent, at least in this era. I like how physical they play like that fourth line plays. I think at this point, we know the Maple Leafs are not a team that's not going to that's going to be physical. I think they're their M.O. is to yeah, you can take your penalties and be physical. What will get you on the powerplay? But right now, the powerplay has continued to struggle, although again, there were encouraging signs back on Sunday nights. So I think there was a lot of positive support from that Sunday game. The offense could have woken up, but as you know, down there, the stingiest team in hockey is the New York Islanders. So I'm sort of I'm enamored and intrigued to see what happened on Wednesday night, considering the Leafs may have found their groove a bit offensively, which has been missing in recent games. You know, you brought up that leaf power play and of course, the guy that was coaching it the last couple of years is Jim Hiller. He's now the Islanders power play coach. So have the Leaf fans. I kind of said, I don't know. Listen, it's a coach, the coaches and on the ice, the coaches and getting it done. But you said there's been a little bit of a decline in the power play and I know how crazy things can get up. There are the leaf fans up there wondering why Jim Miller is on Long Island and not still in Toronto. Oh no, he was garbage last year. OK? I like it, and I'm not even, you know, being funny about it. No, I'm not, either. Listen, he came over and you saw the numbers and you're like, Well, this is a lot better than what the islanders have been doing. So there you go. Yeah, it's it's, you know, I'm not diminishing the role of those type of coaches, but I do think it's, you know, some some coaches wear out their welcome and a new voice is needed to lead and maybe calling them garbage is a bit harsh. But I think he's obviously a good coach is the reason why he's coaching on a variety of teams around the NHL now and in the past. But the Leafs needed a new voice right now. I mean, it's it hasn't been great in terms of the power play. Mitch Marner is out, so William Nylander moved back to the top unit. And I just think it's it's a work in progress. You look at all the firepower on that team. It's it's sort of funny. You look at teams in recent memory like the Nashville Predators last year had so much firepower they stuck up the joint in the powerplay even years back, the Anaheim Ducks same type of thing. So it doesn't matter as much about your personnel, more so how you move the puck. So I'll definitely zone in on that and see what the Islanders power play can bring to the table on Wednesday night to. I love that Barzal kid, by the way. Yeah, he's something to watch. And you know what, Nicky shooting the puck a lot more this year. I don't know if you guys know that up there, but you definitely do, because you're also a fantasy guru, so you do a lot of fantasy stuff. So you know that Mathew Barzal is shooting the puck a lot more, which being a fantasy guy like you, you love to see. Yeah, it's massive. And especially you look at the Sounders team because Carver, as you know, I think it's fair to say like, I mean, if there's a team need right now, it's offense. There's a reason why they went after Artemi Panarin with big money. Mitch Marner, I'm sure they were interested in last offseason. Like, that's the next big get, I think, for this team and I trust me like Lamoriello will strike eventually, but they need some offense and you have to put the puck to the net and you look at, you know, I see a lot of comparables in Mitch Marner and Mathew Barzal, just the way they play the game and how their speed is a big time factor. Both neither of the guys have really good shots. I would probably say Basel's got a better shot than Mitch Marner, but you can find your way and with that speed, you know, generate a bit more often. So I don't have that issue at all. I think it's great that bars are shooting the puck more, and with that intern, I think more points will come. And he just type of guy who seems to put it on your stick when you don't realize it. So that makes it even more important for guys he's playing with around him. Like Anders lead Josh Bailey, the list goes on and on you. Can you really put anybody with with Mathew Barzal and he's going to make them better. But when I noticed that early on that issue and the puck more, it's it's good for a variety of reasons, clearly including fantasy hockey. Last one here, Nick. You know, you look around this Eastern Conference, you see a lot of these teams all around. You follow the league like nobody else. You know, to me, I look at the East now and it's very early. We know that this thing is a marathon. So much is going to happen between now and early April. But right now I see the teams at the bottom of the conference that I thought would be there when the season started. You're Detroit's, you're Ottawa's, the Devils, Columbus, the Rangers. I know the Rangers and Devils made some improvements, but I thought one through 20, they still weren't quite ready to compete with the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. And it seems like to me, you know, you got a lot of the same teams that were there last year. Capps Isles, Bruins, Leafs Penguins have been hot lately. Surprisingly, you know, Florida, we thought, would be better this year. But then you kind of look in Tampa has been very sluggish so far. Now they had such a monster year last year, they had to be a little bit of a regression, no doubt. And Carolina got off fast and now has lost four in a row isn't playing very well. What's your thoughts overall on this Eastern Conference here so far? It's been very fascinating and I've noticed sort of the same thing as you. I do think Detroit and Ottawa, the A-Class, or maybe the opposite of the class of the conference right now. And I think if there is a year or bottom out, it's probably this year when you look at the prospects and especially the top 10, there's a lot of prolific stars there that we think could be unbelievable NHL players. I think with respect to the Tampa Bay Lightning, I think they're going to find their way. If you look at the games played, they only have 15 most teams up 15 or, excuse me, 17, 18 or 19. At this point, of course, the global series had an impact on that and then going over to Stockholm. I will note that Tampa 17 goals over the last four games. I think that's the biggest thing. When you look at that team, are they scoring the way they can and the last couple of games they surely have? And once that starts, I think the confidence goes a long way to come on the back end. And I think of No. Two, like Andre, Vasilevskiy has been just okay so far, coming off. Vezina Trophy winning season, it was just so much star power on Tampa that I'm not really worried. I do chalk it up to, you know, maybe a bit of a hangover as to what happened last year. I think there was a lot to handle for that team. The fact that how impressive they were, they were unbelievable. You know, milestone reaching almost in the regular season in terms of the Presidents Trophy. And then you get unceremoniously swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round. I think you have to dwell on that all offseason, a bit of a hangover. And I think, you know, I'm not shocked at this sluggish start for that team. I think they'll find their way eventually. As for Carolina, again, as you mentioned the ebbs and flows of the season, they're struggling right now, but I I wouldn't doubt that they're going to get back on track at some point in time. That Metro in general visit is very, very intriguing to me because I, for one time, New Jersey would sneak in there. It's been a pitiful start for them. I don't want to say they're done, but they've got a they've got to start winning. Some hockey games like the Islanders, obviously are going to be there. The Capitals have been really, really damn amazing so far and I think they will continue with the, you know, the guys they have on that roster. Philadelphia's played much better. Yeah, they're a lot better than I thought they would be. I didn't think the flyers would be that good. Exactly. Like there's a I think it just speaks to the parity in general in this league, not just the Eastern Conference, like on a nightly basis. You really don't know what's going to happen. I'll ask the other day that, you know, Boston plays in Detroit, and somehow the Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins, who had barely lost in the first 15 games of the year. So you really don't know what's going to happen, and I can't wait to see. Do you buy the national team? Do you buy the Buffalo team at all? I've been asked this question a lot. I just feel like something's a bit different under Ralph Krueger. I would say. Right now, it's the most important stretch of the season for this team, which is funny to say because it's only November. But you think back last year they had a crazy, crazy 10 plus game win streak and then boom, like it was finished. So I'm more intrigued to see how this team weathers this storm proverbially and handles sort of adversity because, you know, and what the islanders you know, with the Maple Leafs, like any team out there, it's not going to be all great, all the all year long. And I think that was sort of one of the issues with Tampa last year. They dealt with, you know, no negativity all year long. And then you go to the playoffs and boom, just like that, you're finished. So I think when you when you look at Buffalo, I just I'm curious to see how they snap out of this thing if they snap out of this thing, and that probably could be a telling sign in my world that this team has what it takes to finally get back to a playoff spot here. Nick, tremendous stuff. As always, can't thank you enough for doing it. Nick Ahlberg, host of Leafs Nation on Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey for Sportsnet and of course, the On Muzzled podcast that Nick, I know you drop this on your show with me and B-complex Week. The fans are already clamoring body January. You said there's a possibility the tailgate Donald will bring the bagels. We'll get everything going for you. Your body's on the rip tide. He's playing there that night. So let's make this happen, Nick. I'm going to stay on you about this. OK? Okay, fair enough. Keep me in check. Thanks so much for having me, and thanks for coming on and muzzled the podcast as well. I encourage everybody to check that out and I love talking to Islanders hockey. It's been a lot of fun. Thanks, Dave. I'll talk to you soon. Bigger my thanks to Nick right there, getting a little check in on what's going on with the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. Sounds like our old friend is adjusting well to being the captain up there. They seem to think it's a big deal that he's coming back to Long Island. As the captain we all know down here that does not matter. We do not care. All that we care about on Wednesday is two points. That is all that matters. But you can still throw Johnny plenty of booze if you'd like to. By all means do that. We're going to take a break. We're going to come back. We have a lot more to do. The Seed podcast rolls on right after this. The IOC podcast is brought to you by Oakwood Automation if you are looking to leverage modern technology to control your home or business. Oakwood Automation Systems has you covered. Put control over your alarm system, surveillance cameras, home theater, indoor and outdoor audio, and so much more in the palm of your hand. For more information, go to Oakwood Automation dot com or find us on House and Facebook by searching Oakwood Automation, Bright Building Services Bright Building Services as a full service commercial cleaning company serving businesses throughout the New York metro area for over twenty two years, with clients spanning all sectors from boutique fitness and corporate headquarters to laboratories and medical facilities. 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Smart first, Arsalan, you're listening to the IOC podcast. Now. And win back the aisle seat podcast, my car over here with you. My thanks again to Nick Alberta Sportsnet, of course. Leafs Nation formerly used to hear him on Sirius XM on the NHL Network radio. I love Nick. I know that he's misunderstood by a lot of people, as I always like to joke around with him. But Nick knows hockey. Nick is one of the guys in the Canadian media that I actually like. Nick tells it like it is. He's not a homer for the Leafs, and that's why I like talking to him and he's funny, and I know that he could be a little annoying. Sometimes, probably. And it's something you guys with some of the stuff that he does on Twitter. But believe me, it's all in fond. Nick's a good dude, and I like having him on, especially when it's time for another round of islanders and Leafs like it is this Wednesday at the Nassau Coliseum. And look, I brought it up with Nick, and I'll say it really fast here again. We don't do a lot of Johnny here anymore. That's it's dead in over. OK, the ship has sailed with everything that happened last year, February 28th, a night that Islanders fans will never forget. It was a crazy night, an amazing night at the Nassau Coliseum, you saw when they came back in early April, the juice wasn't the same and the juice never will be the same. But he'll always be booed when he comes here. It's not the big event like it was last year, and it never will be again. But it's still got a little bit of meaning because it's one of the Islanders competitors in the Eastern Conference. They are both very good teams and it matters big time when these two teams play. And of course, there's some added incentive of beating Johnny. You know, just days, they'll always be that little bit of something when the Islanders play John Tavares. It's just that simple. And they get another round with him on Wednesday night, this time at the Nassau Coliseum, the next two times they face him this year will be up in Toronto. So they obviously rotate every year to here and two there. They play three times a season. So this is the only time he's on Long Island this year. Glad he came back from his broken finger in time to be there for the game, and everybody will give him the boos on Wednesday. And that will be that. And then it'll be on to Philadelphia on Saturday Islanders. It's the schedule has been a little bonkers. There has been some long stretches of off days like this. You know, you're playing two games in a span of a week now. They play Saturday against Florida, then they play Wednesday and Saturday again. They've had a couple instances of four days off in a row already in the past couple of weeks. I'd say that it hurts, but it clearly doesn't because they've got points and 12 straight games. So eventually the schedule is going to get crazier and it's going to be more going on. But for right now, it is what it is, you know, and they've got some guys hurt. So having these gaps in the schedule, it's not the worst thing right now. So when they're done with the Leafs on Wednesday, they are in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Now that is a Isle's meet ups. Yes, man outfitter tailgate ticket meet up special on Saturday, down in Philadelphia, the orange tent is heading down to the New Jersey Turnpike. Going to be a big crowd, there are still a couple of tickets left. It's a great section up in the two hundreds. There's a bar right up there. You can hang out and chill and watch the game. Really, a lot of fun. So if you're in the New Jersey area, South Jersey, Philadelphia, I know a lot of the Philly meet up crew will be there as well. There are still a couple of seats to sit with the meet up crew. Go get them. Check out the aisles, meet up Philadelphia Twitter handle. Check out the ESPN outfitter Devon's Twitter handle. You can get tickets on either of those. They've got the links up there. They've been tweeting them out today, I did see. So if you're interested, go down to Philadelphia on Saturday. Are you going to have an outstanding time? I was there last year in March when they went and I had a blast, so I suggest anybody that wants to make it down there on Saturday. Go grab a ticket. There's a couple left. It'll be a good time for all couple of other things before we get out of here. And speaking of Philly. One more note on Philly. Philly is playing a lot better right now. I know the Islanders beat him a couple of weeks ago at the barn. That'll be a good game. Philly has moved into third in the metro right now if you open up the standings page. So the flyers, obviously a team I was not very high on, like some people were like B comp, but they have played a lot better. They're third in the metro and they play the Islanders at home on Saturday night. So that's a big game in the metro. Be interesting to see the islanders get on the road and get some things done. They've been playing a lot of home games this year. A lot of home games and the stretches are going to come where the islanders are going to play a lot of games on the road. Those are coming around the corner. So we'll see how they islanders adjust to that, including a West Coast road trip that's coming up. So let's get into a couple of housekeeping things the West Coast road trip that is going to be, I think, the week before Thanksgiving, right around there. Here's what we're going to be doing with the West Coast Road trip. I'll see podcast wise, I've got something that I've been thinking about doing, and I've kind of thought about how I want to do it. And we're going to try it out and see if we can have some fun with it. The Monday night, November 25th game against Anaheim. It is a 10 o'clock start. Of course they are on the West California road trip that week. They're in San Jose. Saturday night ANAHEIM Monday Kings on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, the Monday night game against Anaheim. We are going to do a live Twitter aisle seat podcast, but it's going to be during the game. So basically, it's West Coast, it's late at night. People will be hanging out at home on a Monday night. Maybe you're off that week, maybe you're not, but a lot of people do stay up late for these islanders West Coast games. So what we will do is I'll just kind of be hanging. We're going to watch the game, you watch the game, have the game on your TV, throw on the live feed, on your phone or on your iPad or whatever you got your tablet. And as the game's going on, as things are happening in the game, we will talk and have some fun and react while they're going on a little live Twitter interaction, not doing play by play. I can be doing anything like that. I'm not going to be sitting there saying, Nice Pat, you know, and the pass goes to bars at the back of what we're not doing that we're watching the game and we're going to just talk about things that happen in the game. Great plays. What are they doing there? You know, we're going to try it out. We're going to see how it goes. And if people are into it and we have some fun, maybe we'll do a couple of more as the season goes on. Little idea I had. We're going to test it out. You guys want to come hang out. We'll do Twitter live that night. We'll talk about the game while they're playing the Ducks. That is going to be Monday night, November the 25th, the Monday before Thanksgiving. So tune in. Let's have some fun with that. Another note. I am here to announce another live I'll see podcast show a live show. We already know February 15th off side tavern that is set in stone. I hope to see everybody out there. That is our Manhattan one. And I think it's time that we gave a little love to the Suffolk crowd. I'm going to be doing a live show at the tap and barrel in Smithtown. That is a blue and orange army watch party night right there at the tap and barrel. It's one of their normal regular spots, so I'll be doing the show there before the Islanders play in Toronto Saturday night, January 4th. So I'll see podcast Blue and Orange Army Watch Party, Tap and Barrel and Smithtown excited to go there. I haven't done any of these really out on Long Island yet, so we're going to bring the show out to the Suffolk County crowd, the Blue and Orange Army crowd. We're going to be doing all that Saturday night, January 4th. Please come out. Let's hang. Let's have some fun as the Islanders will take on the team that they'll be playing on Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs, but this time in Toronto. So a little live Twitter stream during the Anaheim game on November 25th and then a live I'll See podcast at the tap and barrel in Smithtown Saturday night, January the 4th. I have something else for Nassau County that I'm still trying to lock down, and I will get that to you guys as soon as I can. Not forgetting about Nassau County. Don't worry, it's common, but that's going to be a little Suffolk County Blue and Orange Army the whole deal on Saturday night, January 4th. Also one more note before we go. The Islanders held a really great season ticket holder event on Sunday at the barn. They had all the players, their pictures, some autographs, all the guys were there. It looked like everybody that I talked to had a great time. It seemed like at the event saw some great pics. People were posted on Twitter. And this is one of those things. Just we talked about this a couple of weeks ago when the Islanders did the Belmont thing really cool to see the islanders doing a lot of stuff like this for season ticket holders and get the fans involved. They go out to the. Everybody seemed to have a really cool time out there. Also on the arena front, you saw the pics today, the overheads from news chopper eight eighty. The foundation looks like it is getting in the ground there. Over at Belmont, they are building that thing fast. That is going to be a fast build over there at Belmont Park, so they are starting to pour some concrete in. Things are starting to take shape. Very exciting to watch those pictures. Watch that Islander Arena start to get built. So before you know it, the fall of 2021 will be here and the Islanders will be playing in their new home. Can't wait. Everybody's excited. I am just as much as anybody else, and that's it for this one. The Islanders points and 12 straight. We'll see if they can keep things going here over the next week again. It's tough because they're going to play two games in the next week, you know? Toronto Wednesday, Philly Saturday, and then they start a home at home with the penguins, who they just lost two, of course, at home on Thursday. They all have a home at home with them next Tuesday and Thursday. First game in Pittsburgh. Second game back at the Barclays Center before they hit the West Coast trip. So you're going to be start to see the more condensed schedule coming, but you've got another week with only two Islander games coming Wednesday and Saturday. We will talk to you guys before then. We'll see if Ladd and Leo Komarov and etc. back in a lineup Wednesday. Islanders getting a little bit healthier, too. My thanks to Nick Al Burga from Sportsnet in Toronto for coming on. My thanks as always to the sponsors Oakwood Automation, Bright Building Services, Santorini Restaurant, the Main Street Board, Game Cafe and Accurate Precast Corp. They take care of us. Please take care of them. Get your C podcast shirts at Yassmin Outfitters dot com. Devin will take care of you with whatever it is that you need, and if you want to go to Philly on Saturday, there are still tickets available. Like I said. Check out the Owls made up Philly Twitter handle. Check out the Yes Man outfit or Twitter handle. You can find links there if you want to come to Philadelphia on Saturday night as the Islanders take on the Flyers. I will see you guys next week. I'll see podcasts by Carver. See you then.