Miller and Moulton

April 1, 2026 Hour 3 Seth Everett & Dave McCarthy

41 min
Apr 1, 2026about 2 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Miller and Moulton discuss NHL playoffs readiness with guest Dave McCarthy, focusing on Tampa Bay Lightning's championship pedigree, Auston Matthews' future with Toronto, and goaltending as a critical playoff factor. The show also covers Seattle's NBA expansion announcement, franchise valuations in sports, and April Fools' Day pranks.

Insights
  • Tampa Bay Lightning remain Eastern Conference favorites despite recent inconsistency, with elite goaltending and core players positioning them well for playoffs
  • Auston Matthews situation requires immediate clarity: Toronto must decide on long-term commitment or trade him while value remains, not sell low after one down year
  • Goaltending depth is a significant playoff differentiator, with many contenders relying on unproven or inconsistent netminders versus established elite goalies
  • Sports franchise valuations appear disconnected from operating profitability, raising questions about whether scarcity alone justifies multi-billion dollar valuations
  • Seattle's NBA expansion represents a generational shift in sports business, with expansion franchises now commanding unprecedented fees compared to relocation models
Trends
Elite goaltending becoming increasingly rare and valuable as playoff differentiator across NHLSports franchise valuations reaching unsustainable levels despite operational cost pressures and revenue disparitiesNBA expansion model preferred over relocation, signaling league preference for new markets over existing franchise movesRegional sports network (RSN) revenue collapse creating valuation paradoxes for profitable franchisesPlayer agency and contract leverage shifting power dynamics in franchise retention decisionsApril Fools' Day pranks leveraging social media and AI-generated content for enhanced authenticityChampionship pedigree and organizational stability becoming premium assets in competitive sports marketsLabor stoppage risks in MLB creating uncertainty for 2027 season despite hopeful player negotiations
Companies
Tampa Bay Lightning
Discussed as Eastern Conference favorite with championship pedigree and elite goaltending entering playoffs
Toronto Maple Leafs
Front office restructuring discussed; Auston Matthews' future with team analyzed as critical decision point
Colorado Avalanche
Mentioned as Hart Trophy contender with Nathan MacKinnon; compared to Tampa Bay's supporting cast depth
Carolina Hurricanes
Identified as second-best Eastern Conference team with goaltending questions entering playoffs
Buffalo Sabres
Referenced as strong Eastern Conference team with goaltending concerns for playoff success
Dallas Stars
Noted for playoff goaltending inconsistencies despite strong regular season performance
Montreal Canadiens
Mentioned as playoff matchup consideration with goaltending uncertainty in Eastern Conference
New York Islanders
Discussed as playoff contender with solid goaltending but defensive concerns
New York Rangers
Referenced in context of goalie fight at Madison Square Garden between Markstrom and Sturgeon
New Jersey Devils
Discussed April Fools' prank from 10 years ago involving fake logo and name change to Angels
Seattle SuperSonics
NBA expansion team announcement discussed; represents generational shift in franchise acquisition model
Tampa Bay Rays
Relocation to Tampa discussed with Steinbrenner family support and spring training facility implications
New York Yankees
Spring training facility hosting Rays; charged $15M for ballpark use; A-ball team remains in Florida
Portland Trail Blazers
Valuation comparison point; recently sold with franchise value implications for sports business
Carolina Hurricanes
Valuation reference; eighth ownership stake sale used to calculate $3B franchise valuation
Washington Commanders
NFL franchise valuation comparison point against NBA Trail Blazers valuation
Boston Bruins
Referenced as example of team retooling after missing playoffs, similar to Leafs situation
Ottawa Senators
Example of team missing playoffs due to goaltending failures despite defensive competence
Las Vegas Golden Knights
Referenced as Cup winners with unproven goaltending (Aiden Hill), supporting goalie depth argument
Floor Meisters Studios
Broadcast location for Miller and Moulton show in Jacksonville/Tampa area
People
Seth Everett
Hockey analyst guest discussing NHL playoffs, goalie fights, and franchise valuations
Dave McCarthy
Expert guest discussing Lightning playoff readiness, Matthews situation, and goaltending concerns
Mark Miller
Co-host conducting interviews and discussing sports business trends
David Moulton
Co-host discussing franchise valuations, Tampa Bay sports, and playoff analysis
John Cooper
Quoted discussing team's recent performance and reliance on goaltending
Nikita Kucherov
Discussed as Hart Trophy candidate with elite performance despite team's slow start
Nathan MacKinnon
Hart Trophy contender compared to Kucherov; benefits from stronger supporting cast
Auston Matthews
Central figure in discussion about franchise direction and potential trade scenarios
Keith Polley
Stated Leafs view Matthews as foundational piece; explicitly ruled out trading him
Freddie Anderson
Expected to take over number one goaltending duties in playoffs for Hurricanes
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Elite goaltender cited as key playoff advantage for Lightning
Jason Stark
Upcoming podcast guest discussing 2026 MLB season and labor negotiations
Michael Ozanian
Suggested as expert resource for franchise valuation questions
Hal Steinbrenner
Released letter supporting Tampa Bay Rays relocation to Tampa
Quotes
"Kutcher's like an artist and a professor teaching a course in real time during the game to the point where the novice hockey person would watch and be like, yeah, I can see what he's doing there."
Dave McCarthyHour 3
"If you took Kucherov off his team, they're nowhere near where they're at right now. And so that I think is the mark of a leading contender for the Hart Trophy."
Dave McCarthyHour 3
"You either sign them to a six, seven, eight year extension, 100 million dollars, you make them a Leaf for life and we put this to bed once and for all, or if you don't want to resign here then we got to trade you."
David MoultonHour 3
"The game should really just be called goalie because if you don't have one you don't have a chance to compete."
Dave McCarthyHour 3
"If the operating costs are so egregious and the revenue is so depleted, how are the valuations so high?"
Seth EverettHour 3
Full Transcript
You're listening to Miller and Moulton coming at you from the Floor Meisters Studios Floor Meisters keeping it real And now here's Mark Miller and David Moulton. We are halfway home For the show in Jacksonville in Tampa, St. Pete Therefore for the week since it is on day after all final hour of the show South West, Florida Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Venice, live Oak Lake City and surrounding areas to both Miller and Moulton Miller and Moulton.com Miller underscore Moulton on X. It's an April Fool's Day Our poll question is do you take part or have you taken part in April Fool's pranks? Seth Everett is our guest at this day in time. Are you a prankster? No, sometimes I'll do jokes, but I don't let it go too far My favorite one of all time was 10 years ago today, and I just saw it on Facebook memories My hockey team the the devils they came out that morning and they had announced a logo change and They changed their whole look and they named themselves the New Jersey Angels And it was brilliant. I mean it had a whole logo and jerseys and renderings and all this stuff and they had Like this is 10 years ago. So like if you think about what they could have done with AI now Where they could have had it or like the whole arena decorated It was so smart and I remember that was my favorite uh April Fool's because I felt for it. I was like, oh, well, maybe they changed the name and I was I was wrong I was naive 10 years ago I all I want Seth is for next year For your daughter to send you pictures on April Fool's of herself in a Tampa Bay Lightning Jersey That's all I want. Right. Right. Who'd you're off jersey? I don't care Vasila. It doesn't matter to me Great point. Whatever she wants to do How heartbroken would you be if her fandom changed in the four years she's in Tampa? It's not going to have no I have no worry whatsoever To the outside of the I never think about this Say again, she's gonna be in a championship city now, you know a team that wins in the post A real hockey area, Florida, you know Did you enjoy your first goalie fight or was it your first goalie fight last night? Well, no, I I mean 20 years ago. I was there for uh, wa versus Vernon Patrick so you guys lost both goalie fights you've seen. Yeah, those goalie fights. Yeah, this one was wild Um, I have pictures of it. It's it was pretty pretty nuts I mean, I understood the logic of it, but I I didn't understand why markstrom was skated all the way over there. I just I've seen so many more egregious hits on goalies That I I didn't and the and the codder one wasn't it wasn't an intentional hit I mean it was incidental contact and yeah I mean he didn't like hold up and and and try to not hit the guy But uh, that was quite a quite a teta teta and boy they replay that a lot of that scoreboard I didn't think it was like one dominated the other. I thought it was kind of even Well, you're a devil's fan right now and you're showing it because I'm neutral and I don't care about either of those teams I I I don't like really either of those teams and He did initiate contact on the goaltender. I thought it was ridiculous that he skated all the way down to start a fight with the other goaltender because Sister can just you know, he kind of went over quickly and then he skated away He's just standing there and here this guy comes 200 feet. I think he might have been a little winded from the skate But he clearly lost the fight. He got hit more and ended up on his back So I mean Seth, I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't like your team. I don't like david's team I really don't but I give your goalie credit for doing it because In an otherwise meaningless hockey game between two teams that aren't making the playoffs and have nothing to play for It leads the highlights now. So good for him for making the skate. I mean really and truly good for him 100% Yeah, no, it was a good time Well, the other thing is quite frankly That, you know, did markstrom overreact the devil's goal? Yeah, okay. He did and did he get beaten the fight? Yeah, he did but The fact is he saw she's sturgeon You know who wasn't doing anything but he saw him in the scrub. So he said, oh, it's six on five I can't allow that to happen now as he's skating down just sturgeon takes himself out of the scrum But he didn't care. He's like it's on Okay, well, but we've spent time talking about there's another hockey team in toronto When they took out their best player and the whole team didn't react to it. Didn't do a thing I'd much rather have your goalie overreact Okay, in a meaningless situation Okay, then what the toronto hockey team did I mean, you know, I didn't care if the devils and rangers fought for the final 11 minutes of the game What the hell go? Right do like the lightning panthers game in the preseason. Yeah Hey, look at both Literally when the teams have nothing to play for those players by showing some toughness And some character in things that matter and hockey are showing the general manager I'm not the guy that you want to get rid of in the off season. I mean that's That's what you're doing. So I I'm all for it. I I have no problem with it. I'm with you, david I think you're your assessments right on Yeah, it was it was fun. It was a good time That was the loudest that building got and we were commenting Earlier that I remember. Yeah, I haven't been to Madison Square Garden since 2018 That's a long time And I got you know, we we sat there and I said, okay. Well, you know, this is this is the magical arena The the the whole thing and it just seemed very pedestrian for the first two periods. It was just kind of like Yeah, yeah, it was like a regular game. No no big deal. And then when that fight happened I go that's Madison Square Garden like that you heard you heard the the acoustics in there are great And uh, you find yeah, it was finally like it was it was intense. It was a lot a lot of fun It's why it's a slap. It's a slap Well for you, okay, but uh, it's why it's a great concert arena if you ever have a chance to go Okay, whether it's hockey basketball or especially a concert for whatever reason the acoustics in that building are great You know, it's not there about five or six times. Yeah, or whatever reason Okay, and so, you know, it's part of why musicians think it's a special place. It does sound very good Uh, when you get there curious, I don't think we talked about this last week. So, um Big announcement Seattle's gonna get a team Yeah, yeah Yeah, it seems like your life is your life now complete. Okay, you know, like the The team that wins the championship and the guy holds up the sign that says now I can rest in peace Yeah, yeah, if the sonics are coming back, are you done basically do you have any more angst? To toward toward what towards starbucks or anything life in general anything no more angst whatsoever No, it looks uh, it's it look it's a um, it was it was very I'm very happy for the people that are happy about it um, it seems like the nba is a very very different league 20 years later and A lot of the people that I've talked to and I'm planning a podcast on this, uh just just They're they're getting their wish they didn't want to relocated franchise. They didn't want to take the Sacramento Kings They didn't want to get the pelicans. So now they're gonna get an expansion team and look I'm thrilled that we don't know who's gonna own it. It the arena looks great. I've been to the arena. It's it's super nice Um, I'm happy for the folks in Seattle I I just I don't feel the same ferv that 20 years ago 20 years ago is egregious 20 years later. It's kind of like no, okay, but Let's see what happens. Let's see what the league has I'm thrilled that they're gonna get the banners and the and the jerseys and the retired numbers and things like that Seth are you at all because we're we're miffed by it. We are completely miffed I mean what they're going to charge for these nba expansion franchises Uh, the trail blazers were just sold the guy from the hurricane's bottom and sold an eighth of his team Which puts the value of the care based on what he got for an eighth of the team Puts the carolina hurricane's value at three billion dollars. Like david and I look at that and go I don't see it. Are we wrong here? Or I mean, are these franchises really worth that set? I know when I talk to a tom friend of sports business journal about you know, all the things with the rsn's and the disparity in Revenue not payroll revenue I said if the operating costs are so egregious And the revenue is so depleted. How are the valuations so high? And that that was on the heels of when the lakers had just been sold and the and the and the celtics had just been sold So there that was about six to eight weeks ago when I had him on that podcast But you're absolutely right. Where is the value coming from? Why is it so profitable to own these franchises when the operating costs are so exorbitant? Is it simply because there's only 30 of them or 32 of them? Maybe the nhl's going to expand up to 36 But you know, I don't understand how the portland trailblazers can be worth as much as the washington commanders And I understand it's 82 games compared to eight or nine or 10 home dates, but I mean, it's an NFL franchise Right, you would think right? I just I know michael ozany and uh, he used to be at fourbs. He's now at cnbc He's a he's a good guy on valuations. He always comes out with his uh franchise evaluations He might be I've had him on on the podcast a couple times. I would ask him that exact question Well, maybe we will you should all right Sports with friends holla justice. You only work part time now. Which one are you doing? 2026 mlb season preview with jason stark of the athletic hall of famer Jason's been on the podcast a couple of times last time he came on The sport was in a very different place in 2022 than it is in 2026. We talk about that the resurgence of popularity Whether or not the on-field product is any better and we talk about revenues and labor and the union and everything that Is also facing baseball, but it's not a rip job. It's a it's a pretty pretty objective podcast Jason stark uh and sports with friends. Yeah, he he was on Good feeling. We only have a minute. Do you think baseball can Continue thriving if they lose like half of next year No, oh no, no, no, no, no, no, they're screwed. I mean they they're screwed what what he is He remains hopeful that they're not missing game He knows there'll be a labor stoppage, but he thinks they might be able to get it before they miss games Like just like the last one. We'll see we'll see wow Well, no, no, he wasn't predicting that he's saying he's hopeful Still that that's a wow. Yeah, because seriously every player that's interviewed says that we're Basically planning on not playing next year. War chest ramen noodles for a dollar. Yep, right ramen noodles I don't think it's ever a dollar anymore Yeah, it's like four for a dollar now sports with friends all of justice Follow him on exit seth underscore ever at seth underscore ever at seth all the best. Thanks Uh, thank you for having me. Um, uh, jimmy olson matt mcclore Hopefully next week for hall of justice From the christopher reeve movies The guy who played jimmy olson the only guy alive Oh, wow That's interesting. I did not know that. I bet that's a nice little fact to it Maybe some jerry mac numeric questions next week at least his uh step brother reference that he had in his presser miller and moan miller and molten dot com You're listening to miller and molten and now here's mark miller and david molten 21 minutes past the hour dave mccarthy to talk hockey You know a little more than 15 minutes time miller and molten miller and molten dot com miller underscore molten on x It is a hump day, but it's april first and so We just asked you you get involved in the whole April 1st april fools day pranks Yes or no One of two things is going on david and it could be both There are a lot of people that are done with x that aren't using it the way that they once did right Or our poll questions suck Okay, because there was a time not too long ago our numbers for us were decent Now there are like six people answering our poll question And this one was out at the beginning of the show We both reached posted it in a pretty timely fashion I will say I can't tell the story on the air and I don't want to because it's not mine But if you have a moment today And I wouldn't do it on your work computer. I'd do it at lunch in your car Find dany davido tell the story of the prank they pulled on him On it's always sunny in philadelphia I think it's an all-timer Okay, it's pretty solid. I mean The links that the cast went to cast and crew went to To prank davido is pretty good and he tells the story quite well, so That's all i'll give you because uh, you know, I I do like you know I mean some of these pranks that people have shared with us on the pelican roofing the florida text line are pretty solid I mean, they're better than mine You know, all I've really done is have my daughter come up with a fake illness and I've done it when i'm doing the show when I was doing the show at a studio too So I've not only convinced my daughter to do the prank when she gets up I've left the house right So I can't take any grief right in the moment Which is dangerous I was reminded this morning my daughter For a few years would play pranks on my mother Okay She would really yes And my wife's not a prankster and i'm not a prankster But my daughter is very much prankster. Yes. She is she has a great so your daughter has a great sense of humor She really and truly does and so Uh, yeah, she had the daycare Uh convinced that we were adopting Uh for quite a few days Right, uh, she also told everybody that she was born on the roof of the hospital because she was born in fargo and the floods And she was born in fargo and she was born right during the floods But she was not born on the roof of the hospital Okay, so my daughter's got the the prankster in her Okay, and I have this feeling and I don't know your son-in-law well I've met him, you know just one time seems like a nice young man. You speak very highly of him And that's enough for me To be brutally honest because You are brutally honest. So if you didn't like him, I would know this by now not on air but off air and david speaks very highly of him Right, but in my brief meeting of him He seems like he could be taken for a prank by your wife Oh, I mean by your daughter rather like if your daughter wanted to really Get him Yeah, I know her I know who her father is She got all of the snark and sarcasm Of her father while getting all of the nice wonderful things Of her mother So that makes her a very believable person correct You know that's where you and I would have trouble with from a prank right we start doing that. There's so much snark in us Right pulling off an elaborate prank is difficult like I think my wife if she really tried like you said she's really really nice Right because she comes off as trustworthy. So people would go hook line and sink her with whatever she was selling And her job. She's a veterinarian people trust veterinarian I so I think that like if she wanted to pull off an elaborate prank I think she could get away with it. I think similarly. Yes of your daughter Yeah, like, you know, she's a good person. She has a job that makes her trustworthy And she but she has all of the biting snark and sarcasm of her father and not everybody knows that Yeah, plus she's the boss so yeah, I mean she's the authority figure in the Relationship and in the house. So yeah, absolutely. So I'll be curious. I will talk to her later today whether or not You know, she is mellowed with age or whether or not she's pulling something off on either one of her kids or on her husband I did want to throw something out there. This may seem obvious to you mark. It just didn't hit me as obvious You know, if you were house time runner in the Yankees How do you feel about the raise? Remember they're moving to Tampa Remember you're in Tampa Now I understand it's just, you know minor leagues and what have you but they want to move to Tampa In fact, they want to move across the street from where you do spring training And yet, you know, there are some owners. I mean, let's be honest. There are some owners who would be dead set against this The Simoner family is all in on the raise moving to Tampa They went public with a letter Okay, they're trying to pressure the Hillsborough County Politicians, they're like, yeah, this is a great thing. This is far and away the best Okay solution that's been proposed and we've been here the whole time And they flat out said the raise and their fans deserve this. You need to give it to them You need to give it to them I was very impressed with the letter that, you know, like tiger released his tape in yesterday Crap, okay. The Yankees released his tape and yesterday. I was really impressed with it I was like, damn, they're all in on this huh I guess the only thing That would to me make them bothered and obviously I've not if it's happening. I've not heard it But they play their a-ball team at Steinbrenner field. They're, you know, they're florida state league team and they're not telling them to go anywhere No, so, you know, if you're a Yankee fan and still want to go catch your Low a-ball team play there. They're still playing Yeah, I mean, I believe the if the rays are able to move to Tampa. I'm pretty sure that the, you know The a-ball team will remain where it currently is but I don't know. I I just know that there are certain owners You know, do you think the cubs in the white socks would cooperate? I don't think so at all I don't think so at all And they share different sides of the same city. I don't think the ownerships would cooperate At all well and think about it. You know, but you go back generations The Mets and the Yankees Worked together. Yeah, Yankees had to redo the stadium. Right And they did so maybe there's some of that, you know, and I obviously it was his father at that time but you know hell obviously is aware of what happened then so and hey good for him for being for baseball because When I'm you know, I've been walking The campus to south florida every day Part of what I need to do is I'm getting back on my feet. They want me to exercise good for you know And I and I shouldn't you So I walk that campus of south florida every day Classes get out between 1045 and 11. I'm right in the middle of campus every day and I see hundreds of kids I very rarely see raised stuff I see lightning stuff every day Didn't see a guy yesterday in a mayfield Jersey and bucks hat They were the creamsicle jerseys too But you know, I see a lot of buck stuff when I'm out and about at the grocery store wherever I see a lot of lightning stuff I don't see the raised up and it'll come when they come to Tampa. They're not a Tampa team right now. They're not The other thing, you know, it reminds me the Yankees took it easy on the rays I mean they charged them 15 million to lose their ballpark last year But out of that 15 million the Yankees did the operating costs. I mean the Yankees didn't make a ton of money Having the rays play in their ballpark last year. No, but they did get it refurbished basically for free. Yeah I mean, you know the spring training home of the Yankees now did get a little polished put on it Looks pretty nice. That's true You're listening to miller and molten and now here's mark miller and david molten 22 minutes to the top of the hour. Thanks so much for being with us on this hump day april fools day Focus of our poll question. Do you participate in april fools pranks? Yay or nay vote accordingly that mark miller the david molten miller underscore molten on x Dave mccarthy busy guy he covers hockey writes about it for nhl.com talks about it hosts the sunday brunch on series xm nhl radio channel 91 And also talks about it and can be seen on nhl network follow dav on x at david the letter a mccarthy Dave a mccarthy. Dave. Thanks for doing this. It's david and mark again. How are you? I'm doing all right in in hindsight. I probably should have double checked to see that the request come on this morning was genuine when I got yesterday Never occurred to me Well, let's let's so here we go right on let's start with the lightning I know they lost last night couple empty net goals and the canadiens got them but You know david and I my co-host and I I don't know if I'll argue is the right word But when we you know when he talks about the east he's like the east is still running through tampa I love what buffalo is doing. I like this carolina team But the pedigrees in tampa when you stack up the east When these playoffs starts do you still think the tampa bay lightning are the best team in the east? Yeah, I do I think it's it really comes down to tampa bay and carolina as the best two teams at this point but Tampa bay as the championship pedigree now Let's say both the lightning is they have been fighting their game for the last two or three weeks They've been finding ways to pick up points Which is the mark of a good team even though they have not been playing to the level they feel they're capable of Um, but they're taking that point so that's good. But you know, I talked to john cooper When they were in town here probably three weeks or so ago and They had lost a few in a row coming into that game against the leaves. They beat the leaves and Played a little bit better and I asked him after the game I said was that more closer to the standard that you expected the team? And he was like honestly No, no because we still gave up a bunch and under Vassalos he had to make Couple of under Vassalos he types saves if he doesn't do that Then the game is tight and who knows how it how it ends up. So So they're trying not to rely on their goalie As often as they have been last week or so they They've been chasing a lot of games have been getting down early. They've been fighting back again picking up points, but Um, the idea is not to have to chase the game because as as he said If you do that consistently in the playoffs eventually You're not going to be able to come back and you're going to run out of runway. So Um, I like them. I do I still do think you're the best team. Um, But they are they are trying to get their game in order right now Um, and it's been a little bit of a fight for the last three weeks. However, I think with the the core that they have Uh, unfortunately Victor had been not a part of the program right now with uh, with being away from the team for personal reasons So we wish him the best. He's a great guy. Um, you know, that that doesn't help But I I just do think they've got the core that eventually hear down the stretch of the last one They have six seven games left They'll figure it out and they'll be uh, they'll be in good shape in the playoffs. See you've got a guy like points You've got a guy like that fulevsky, you know, uh quality center-iceman elite level goalie Headman will be back. I assume, you know, that's a pretty good starting point for any team Uh, i'm a believer that kutcher off should win the heart this year Okay, I now listen mc david's the best player in the game mc kennon's having a monster year on the best team But you know the lightning got off to a horrible start and kutcher off is playing At a pace that quite frankly only the all-time greats have played at over the last uh 40 to 50 games I'm just curious. Do you think? At this time instead of finishing in the top three or the top five That kutcher off can win the heart Or is it already being given to the guy in colorado? I think it should be mckina kutcher off without question. Um You know, you look at what he's been able to do this year It's it's incredible to watch every time you open a box story. He's got three or four points Um, and just the way he plays the game again John cooper told me I asked him because I forget he broke some record when he I think he got a hundred points when he was in Toronto I think that's what it was. Oh, he seems like he's set like six different records this year But I think that's what it was and I asked him about what it's been like watching kutcher off Over the last number of years and he said honestly kutcher's like an artist um and a professor Teaching a course in real time during the game to the point where the novice hockey person would watch And be like, yeah, I can see what he's doing there. Yeah, that makes sense And maybe I could do that too. You couldn't but he makes it look so easy Even to the the uninitiated hockey person. So you've got a guy playing at that level Uh, he it's fun to watch and then when it comes to the heart trophy If you took kutcher off his team They're nowhere near where they're at right now And so that I think is the mark Of a leading contender for the heart trophy take him off the team. Where's the team at? Nowhere near where they are right now. So I think As good as season as Nathan mccanon has had he's gotten more around them in terms of support If you took Nathan mccanon off colorado, would they be where they are? Probably not Probably not in in first But I still think they'd be in good shape And it's to take nevin away from Nathan mccanon at all But there's just more support there Um in colorado kutcher. I haven't had that a lot this year And so I think he's the guy that that needs to win win the heart this year. He's doing something that's just pretty special to watch All right, the Leafs fire traveling the gm there They've got to redo what their front office looks like. We all know the problems that they've had and the lack of success for such so long now when they didn't Defend austin matthews in the moment. I thought that said a lot I thought it was even more chicken blank that they and I know they had to do it the other night, but I just I spent a lot of time around the sport and I just didn't like the way that team handled that I wonder If they have to move on from matthews. I know he has to agree to a trade But is that is it time to move him? And should they if you're toronto is it do you have to make that bold of a change? Well, let me ask me why why do you think it would be time to move on from matthews It's interesting you bring that up and I'm interested in your your your thought process and then I'll get to mine Well, I thought this year the fact, you know, he And I know it's not about the fans in the media But he kind of took himself away from answering questions the way that he's done in the past I think he's a great hockey player. I I do I don't think I would trade him because I think he's a building block But I when they didn't go fight Uh in anaheim when he got his knee blown out in the moment that I don't know Is that a bigger shot on the team or a bigger shot on what they think of him that that was it That was the moment for me. I went I don't want to if I'm austin matthews. I don't want to be here anymore Dave here's my thought quickly. He has two years left on a contract See to me you sit down with austin matthews and you say okay. This is the summer we decide are you a leaf for life? or Then we got to move on to me you either sign them to a six seven eight year extension 100 million dollars you make them a leaf for life and we put this to bed once and for all or If you don't want to resign here then we got to trade you Okay, I'll make your life miserable because I got to get what I can My organization doesn't have the resources anymore the team at the nhl level is A mess I got to get what I can for you and I got to begin the retool. That's my thought about matthews Yeah, wow so much to unpack there, but like all really good points that you guys make here's the thing First I don't think he's taking himself away from answering questions. He's been available. So I'll push back on that Not as much as I'd like but quite honestly none of the top guys are available in Toronto as much as I'd like But he's he's around he doesn't He doesn't hide so I'll say that much So I'll say that much From what Keith Polly had to say yesterday who runs the entire enterprise I don't take off the matthews is going anywhere because Polly explicitly pointed out that he feels the leaves have some foundational pieces You mentioned Matthew specifically said William Melander said John Tavares that Maybe pushed back on that. I think john's a good player. I don't think he should be considered a foundational piece anymore Um, this rur is that in his career, but that's a different story um He said he likes to go to anything they've got so In let's often Matthews comes to them In the off season and says, you know what this might not work for me anymore I don't think the leaves are gonna look to move on him nor quite frankly should they After one down year as a group. I think that would be foolish You'd be really selling low on the guy for for one reason He's had a year and a half where he hasn't been particularly good Or at least at the level that awesome Matthews. We feel is capable of playing at To he's hurt. So you don't know how he's gonna bounce back after that You'd be really selling low on awesome Matthews, which is horrendous horrendous asset management So I don't think they should move on them. They they intend to to retool And contend again next year like Boston has done this season after missing the playoffs a year ago So so the only way he's moving is if he comes to them now, he's got two years left even if he says Yeah, I want to stay Can't sign them until not this July Next July So there really is need to be done there. I think that conversation Needs to occur Next summer As to whether you're staying or not And then if the answer is no or if the anything the answer is anything other than 100 yes Then I think you have to look at training them But with two years left and the faculty is coming off an injury and a down year and a bit That doesn't make a lot of sense to move them and I don't think you will move Unless he comes to them and says yeah, I'm ready to go please Goal tending there seems to be a lot of teams Both sides that have goal tending issues entering the playoffs now, you know, we saw Vegas win a cup with aiden hill So i'm curious if your thoughts like, you know, whether it's buffalo carolina ongoing You know montreal in the west. There's numerous teams with goalies unproven Just curious your thoughts is that why Tampa with vasilevsky boston with reyman and a few others, you know Dallas we could go through the ones with really solid goal tending. Do they really have the Edge this year in the playoffs because there seems to be a lot of teams that are wrestling with their netminder You're right goal tending is an issue in the nhl right now and Now I always like to say that the game should really just be called goalie Because if you don't have one you don't have a chance to compete Um, well vasilevsky, that's why I really like Tampa. He's played well this year And if he plays like he can he can just steal games even if they're not at their best Uh carolina, I do think that at some point in the playoffs freddie anderson's gonna be the guy It takes over the number one job even though they seem to have split between him and bussy this year And anderson's got the pedigree. I wouldn't be surprised if he takes over but I don't love their goal tending as much as I love tampers uh Dallas has had Playoff inconsistencies, I think we'll say so even though he's been great during the regular season at times in the playoffs in recent years at least Um, he has not been as good. So he's got something to prove in my mind there as well Um outside of that like I think if you're in the eastern conference, you know, unless you're playing Uh a team like tampa bay Uh, which at this point, you know, who would it be who's sitting in the second wildcard spot? I think it's it's columbus right now. Um, you know, if you're possible playing montreal You're thinking well, we can win this series and neither the old tending circumstances is is solid Uh in that match up, you know, if you're pizzeria, the islanders, I think quite honestly the islanders You got to like your goal tending better with elia sarocan, although they haven't defended very well as a team lately But you know islanders pizzeria, that's a that's a pick in the knee too. It's that how the first round plays out So I think you're right Um the old tending really has been a concern like my goodness if ottawa Had have been able to get a stop every now and again They'd be comfortably in a playoff spot right now But their goal tending has been horrendous this year either through unavailability or under performance You can't win like that. And I think they're a perfect illustration As to a team that that is pretty good defends pretty well should be able to score enough Just can't get a stop and as a result they find themselves on the outside looking in Dave mccarthy hosts the sunday brunch on serious xms NHL radio channel 91 He can be seen on an hl network television and he writes for nhl.com Dave mccarthy follow him on exit dave the litter a mccarthy Dave a mccarthy dave. Thanks for making time for us. No april fools jokes from us Hopefully we can check in again early in the playoffs Sounds good always good to be on with you boys Dave mccarthy Oh look at that. He called us boys It's a hockey interview. I just want everybody to understand I got through that entire interview and I didn't ask a red one question We ran out of time. That's the reason but but I still didn't Miller and mole. Thanks for listening