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The Season That Was · Predators Official Podcast

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It's the Predators official podcast here on ESPN 102.5, The
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game streaming on Nashville Predators YouTube and wherever
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you find your favorite podcast. Brooks Bratton along with my
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friends Max hers and Kara Hammer and friends.
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Unfortunately, only one of 32 NHL teams gets to finish the
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season happy, The other 31 a little bit disappointed when
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it's all said and done. And for the Nashville Predators,
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that is the case. They fall in Game 81 and Game 82
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of the season, unable to make the playoffs.
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We've got plenty to unpack here as the 2526 campaign comes to a
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close. Exit meetings came on Monday, so
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we'll discuss what we heard from Pred's players, Barry Trotz,
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Andrew Burnett and a number of other gentlemen who spoke on
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Monday. We'll look ahead of the
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offseason and what's to come, have some final thoughts of the
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season and one last biggie. Awesome person of the week for
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this campaign as well. But Max and Kara, the 27th
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season and Pred's franchise history has come to a close.
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We are officially in offseason mode.
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What are we thinking? Kara Hammer.
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I think I'm thinking what all the all the players were
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thinking, Brooks and I know we'll we'll play some of their
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their sound bites coming up here in a minute on the show.
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But it felt like it's one of those days where you're standing
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there and they say we wish we were still playing hockey and
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for us, we wish we were still covering hockey.
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I think there was so much excitement towards the end.
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So, you know, we they were in that last wild card spot.
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You felt like they were going to make the playoffs.
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And then it was just kind of like a roller coaster of
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emotions. And so to be sitting here now on
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April 21st out of the playoffs, it, it feels almost a, a little
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bit like, like a let down. I know the team felt like this
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was the group that could get the job done.
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And it's exactly, you know, what a lot of the players said.
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So I, I think it's this, why aren't we still playing hockey
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kind of feeling right now? And Max, I don't know if you
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you're kind of have that same feeling or if you accepted the
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fact that they may be out, you know, in that last week of the
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regular season. Yeah, I think we'd all bought in
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with the team and bought in at least that they could get in the
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playoffs and see what happens. So disappointing finish to be
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sure. And they had played so great and
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Andrew Brunette said it in his end of season press conference.
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We slipped up once and that was enough to take us out of the
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run. And with how the Preds started
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the season, they couldn't afford to slip up once.
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So it's disappointing how close they got.
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But I think it does give us hope looking forward.
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Absolutely. Yeah, there it was a good mix on
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Monday of, I think, disappointing.
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Some form of that word was the overwhelming sentiment of how
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things wrapped up, but still plenty of optimism.
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You look back as to where they were two years ago on that day
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and coming off of a season that they greatly underperformed.
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Nobody saw that coming. And so to rebound this season,
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they still didn't make the playoffs.
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That's the goal. Goal number one is to get in,
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obviously, and then go as far as you can.
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They were just four points out. But because of that, there is
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still plenty of reason for hope to come in the future.
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And we know that no team ever looks exactly the same from one
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season to the next. So Monday was officially the
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last time that that group of players will ever be together.
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So we heard from Roman Yossi, Steven Stamkos, Ryan O'Reilly,
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Phillips Forsberg, Brady Shea, UC Soros, Luke Evangelista,
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Matthew Wood and Jonathan March to sell all nine of them on
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Monday, as well as Barry Trotz and Andrew Burnett.
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And again, the overwhelming sentiment from those players on
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Monday, disappointment that they came so close to clinching and
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couldn't get it done, but optimism of what's to come.
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And we want to play a couple of clips from two different guys,
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Steven Samcos and Ryan O'Reilly. Again, multiple players stated
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from the team meetings that they had on Monday that they were
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told the plan is to still compete for the playoffs in the
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near future. I've got 2 clips from Steven
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Stamkos here. Here's the first one from the
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Predators alternate captain. I think we just, you know, we
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had some meetings today and I think the message was the
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expectation is still to be a competitive team and to, to push
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for the playoffs. So I, you know, I don't
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anticipate many huge changes, right?
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We've kind of talked about is there going to be a rebuild
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this, that I think that's probably safe to say not going
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to be the, the, the case. I think we're, we all want to be
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part of the solution. Like I said, we saw it for, you
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know, 60 games or 55 games of what the process can look like
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and the integration of some of the younger guys and, and the
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veteran guys, you know, pulling their weight.
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And obviously the, the goal tank that we have here is something
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we can build off of. So there, there's going to be
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some changes for sure. But I think the overall message
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that was portrayed to us today was, you know, let's have a
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great summer and let's get off to a really good start next year
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and, and push through for the playoffs because that's what,
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you know, that's what every team's goal is at during the
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year. So guys, in that one, you hear
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Stanco say from the meetings that we had on Monday, we know
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that there's going to be some changes, but the overall message
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that was portrayed to us is let's have a good summer, let's
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get off to a really good start next year and push for the
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playoffs. And that Max, and we've heard it
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said time and time again, especially over the last couple
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of seasons, this team knows that they cannot get off to a bad
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start. They were in the basement of the
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NHL in November. They worked their way back up.
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But it's so hard to dig yourself out if you start poorly.
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That is going to be such an emphasis.
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Yeah, I think we heard it from more than half of the members of
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the team who gave interviews on exit interview day.
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They won six of their first 20 games.
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That's not good enough. And with how well they finished
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the season, they were playing well enough to get in the
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playoffs. But it was that start for the
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second year in a row that dug them such a big hole that
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prevented them from getting in. Yeah, I think we heard Trotz say
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it numerous times in his press conference.
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We started 612 and two. We cannot have that.
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We need to figure out how to get off to a better start.
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But one thing that really stood out to me about Steven Stamkos
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and going back through it and listening, what he said to the
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media was that this was one of the tightest groups he's ever
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been a part of. And this is coming from a guy
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who has played in the league. He said, I've, I've played in
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league 17 years. You know, to get to this point,
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I'm not just saying it. This was a tight knit group.
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And I think he was asked specifically, he's been a part
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of championship teams, He's hoisted the Stanley Cup.
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Does he feel like this could be the group to do it?
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And he said, yeah, he has that feeling.
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So I think coming from a veteran player like Steven Samkos, just
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that belief, I think that speaks volumes.
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But like we just mentioned, they're all kind of waiting to
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see what's going to happen here with the management.
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Yeah, there's that uncertainty, and I wanted to play one more
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clip from Stan Coast where he touches on that.
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His last answer of his media availability.
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Here's what he had to say as he wrapped things up, looking back
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and looking ahead. Yeah.
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I mean, listen, whatever is going to happen here, I think
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the message is clear today, you know, from the current
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management and the coaching staff that from ownership to to
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players is that the expectation is to be a, a contending playoff
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team. And I, I don't think that is
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going to change. And you know, you know, nothing
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drastic is going to change that. So the message is pretty clear
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that we want to continue to get better.
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And for sure, if you want to be part of that, like I said, you
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want to be part of that culture. And certainly, like I said, the
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the the veteran guys in this team have done a great job with
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with the young guys and showing them what it's like to be a pro
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playing some meaningful hockey down the stretch was great for
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them to get that experience as well.
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And we want to continue that. So that's that's the mindset I
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have anyways going forward. Thank.
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You, Steven. Yeah.
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Thanks, guys. Yeah.
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Thank you. So again guys, you hear him say
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that that you mentioned the veteran group care on how they
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kind of came together with the younger guys and really gelling
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and meshing, showing them what it's like to be a pro and having
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meaningful hockey down the stretch.
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Great for the younger guys to experience.
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And I think that is the biggest question.
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We'll touch more on it in just a moment.
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But they know that there is new leadership coming and they know
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that there is going to be a general manager change.
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And that was another high point of yesterday.
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And saying that, yes, we're optimistic for the future with
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an asterisk because we don't know exactly who this person is,
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what kind of track they're going to take, what they're going to
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want to do as far as changes to the team, changes to personnel,
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those things are all a little bit up in the air.
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And that's something that we're going to have to wait and see
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over the weeks and months to come here.
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So again, that was kind of the overlaying theme is there's
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still going to be some uncertainty.
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And I wanted to play one more clip from Ryan O'Reilly, who had
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a lot of really good things to to say.
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Again, all these media availabilities, you can watch
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them in full on Nashville predators.com.
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And it's worth it, especially from some of the veterans to
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hear what they had to say. But here's a final thought from
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Ryan O'Reilly on the day as to what he thinks about the summer,
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the uncertainty that comes with that, but what could be ahead in
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the future as well? Yeah, that that, you know, we're
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not, we're not too far away. You know, I feel looking at the
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core and the veteran guys, I think a lot of us still are, you
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know, have some few good years left in US and that if we can,
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you know, add maybe a piece or two that we that we'd be close
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and be right there with any other team.
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So, you know, I'm optimistic that we can be a contender.
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And you know, it's going to yeah, it'll be interesting to
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see the summer how it goes. But yeah, there's so many good
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people in here, so many good players that yeah, I'm confident
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that, you know, we can make something happen.
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So guys, they hear from the factor the optimism that the
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Predators can be a contender and while still leaving that out,
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it's interesting to see how the summer goes.
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But he is confident that this group can make something happen.
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And and Carol, we were talking about this offline as well that
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a couple of the guys mentioned. Hey, are there a couple of
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pieces that we can add this summer?
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Because Ryan O'Reilly admitted like, hey, yeah, we're not
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getting any younger. Some of us veteran guys, we know
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that we've got younger pieces, but are there a couple of pieces
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that we can add to push us over to that next level?
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That was also a thought on Monday that a number of guys
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had. Yeah, I think that's it.
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Maybe just adding a, a piece or two, but you know, Trots kind of
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kind of mentioned it too. He said, hey, one of the
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positives of this year was we had 9 rookies play.
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It goes on average a night. There was 5 rookies in the
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lineup. So you think with the, with the
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experience that these guys are going to get, they're all going
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to get better as their careers progress.
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And, you know, before the trade deadline, the Preds were one of
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the oldest teams. Now with what we have with the,
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with draft picks and the way the future is going now, they're,
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they're getting younger. So I think just maybe bringing
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in some some youthful young energy or having a key piece
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here or there, it just might be what the team needs to get over
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the hump. Yeah.
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And I think when you bring in a new general manager and
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executive leadership, whatever forum and whatever timing that
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ends up coming in with Barry Trotz, A successor, that person
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is going to want to make some changes.
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So I think it is fair to expect changes.
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It would be interesting to see a new GM take over and keep the
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exact same team, but I don't think that's how that usually
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goes. So I think you can expect some
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changes and I think a firm statement of direction right
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from the get go, just the way the process has gone.
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They have a lot of great candidates who have spoken with
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Barry Trotz and the Predators hiring team.
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And I'm sure they've been told make your case, what's your
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plan? So they know what the plan is
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coming in. And I think whoever it is is
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going to be able to hit the ground running with that.
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Max, what did you think too? I, I did think it was
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interesting that a lot of guys talked about the meetings that
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they had on Monday. They were told that the plan is
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to continue to push and contend for the play offs now, which I
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think is fair. I, I don't think that you miss
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the play offs by 4 points and say that you're going to
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completely tear things down. This group is still largely
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intact. There are hardly any free
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agents. Most of these guys are under
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contract. We don't know, again, what's
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going to happen with the coaching staff, some of the
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other players moving forward. That that remains to be seen.
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But what did you think about just the fact that that is kind
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of the mantra, at least currently with this group in
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place, is that we're right there and we would rather continue to
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try to build on what we did this season.
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Because Andrew Burnett said it yesterday, too.
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And we've heard him say so many times, he's like, I like our
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game. Like, yeah, we're not perfect
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every night and no team is. But there were more positives
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than negatives, especially down the stretch.
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Yeah, and look, the players who were your best players this year
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still have at least one year of contract.
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And everybody other than Ryan O'Reilly has two years of term
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left from that top group. So Stamkos has two years left,
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the OC has two years left, Forsberg and Starro still have
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tons of time left on their home grown contracts.
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So I think with the winning players you have under contract
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next year, you hope for more of the same and you hope for more
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for the group that came up this year as well.
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So I think it's a fair statement and I think the players want to
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win, you know, that's obvious. And after how close they got
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this year, if they can get it right from the beginning next
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year, this is definitely a playoff team the way it sits
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right now. Can we point out one thing also
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since November and and this was brought up numerous times as
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they had one of the best records in the league.
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It was just you know, the the devastating start to try to
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climb out of the bottom of the league to even put themselves in
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a position. But I think when you go back at
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that, is it it wasn't just a one off shot where they said, hey,
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we had a a few good weeks. They had the mantra when the
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week there was only two weeks since November with having that
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mantra that they didn't come out on top.
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So I think there's a lot of good things to come and I'm excited
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to see where they go from here. 100%, that's a good point.
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Luke Evangelista said that on Monday as well.
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That, yes, you know, could have, would have, should have, looking
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back all the things that you would have changed.
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But if the predators have even a slightly better start, we're
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having a completely different conversation right now.
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I think it's it was a lesson and unfortunately it's a lesson that
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they've had to learn a couple of Times Now.
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But you've simply got to find a way to get off to a better start
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and and keep it going because you wouldn't be in the situation
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that you're in right now. I I wanted to mention a couple
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of other highlights from exit day.
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So Roman Yossi was asked about his POTS diagnosis.
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We of course have talked to him on this show about that He was
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injured at at different times during the season.
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It was not related to that, thankfully.
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And he simply said yesterday I felt a lot better than last
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year. He said I did a lot of other
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things, changed a lot of things in my life off the ice.
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He says I felt good and felt very healthy.
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So that is a great sign moving forward that the Predators
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captain feels that he is continuing continually going to
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be ready to go considering some of the health challenges that he
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has seen. Ryan O'Reilly, you mentioned it.
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Max says he wants to still play here.
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He's got one more year on his deal.
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We'll look forward to speaking with the new GM once they're in
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place. But he was reaffirming again
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that he definitely wants to be in Nashville.
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Jonathan Marshall so admitted he had a tough season, knows he
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needs to look himself in the mirror this summer in an effort
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to get back to the player that he knows he can be.
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And then Matthew Wood and Luke Evangelist, certainly bright
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spots on both chords there. They discussed their growth.
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We're going to have some stories to come on prince.com in the
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weeks ahead to highlight their growth as well.
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But guys, I think that's a high point to talk about.
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And so many of the guys mentioned it yesterday.
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Max is just the way that there were young guys that not only
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came in but really established themselves as everyday NHL ers
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and then the way that the veterans brought them along,
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too. I Ryan O'Reilly mentioned it
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that like, yeah, two seasons ago, yes, everybody got along,
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but it was still maybe the veteran guys and the young guys.
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And those were the groups this time around, they really came
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together. And it was Ryan O'Reilly that
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Andrew Brunette mentioned said, why don't we have some small
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groups? Why don't we go to lunch, this
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couple, the older guys, couple, the younger guys, go to lunch,
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talk hockey, see how everybody's feeling and come back.
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And I think everybody was much better for it.
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And again, I just think that that is such a high point moving
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forward, Max. Yeah, and to see how it worked
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out on the ice with Wood and Evangelista carving out
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permanent spots in the Preds top six.
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Evangelista second on the team with 44 assists.
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Matt Wood played Center for the final 21 games of the season.
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Those are the tangible things that make this blend work that
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we know Matt Wood will be able to play center starting next
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season and get a shot to play there for an entire NHL season
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as a sophomore. That Evangelista will be back
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from the get go and will be a guy who you know is going to
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contribute and fill a spot as the right wing in your top 6 on
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either the first or second line. So those things assured plus the
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emergence of Stamkos as a true forty goal scorer again, he had
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his best shooting percentage in his career this year, in year
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18. Those things that we saw this
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year, if those can all show up from the beginning next season,
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I think this predator is group as it's currently constructed,
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can be dangerous and can be competitive.
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Tara, what did you think to from an energy standpoint?
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And I think it helps some of us too on the outside that get to
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cover the team. Like when there's a new guy that
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comes in, there's an NHL debut or there's a fun storyline like
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that, it kind of gives us a little bit of a boost.
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And I think you saw that with some of the veteran guys too.
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If you've been doing it for 15/16/17 years, a game in
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February can get a little monotonous.
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But when you have some of those young, energetic guys that I
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think it makes a difference and you can really feel that around
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the room. Yeah, I think it was exciting to
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to watch them all season long. And you know, when when the GM
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starts his press conference and the first player he's going to
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talk about is Matthew Wood. I mean, what is that saying?
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It just shows kind of what Woody is.
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But we got to see the dynamic from all of the guys and how
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they welcome players coming in and out of the line up.
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You know, how many times do we talk about things we were seeing
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off the ice? Zach LaRue, Ossie Wiesblatt, the
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way they were just bringing energy, getting everybody kind
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of involved and laughing. And even to closeout Game 82, we
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have Cole O'Hara come in. He makes his NHL debut right
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away. He's feeding a dish to Steven
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Stamkos to set up his first NHL point, you know, and Sammers,
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Sammers the guy getting the puck out of the net.
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So I think that says a lot about just the group in general and
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kind of how much fun things were and how many times throughout
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the season did we have a comeback win.
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So we're in this position, we're watching the team and then bam,
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there they are. We're picking up two points.
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We've had a comeback win. And I think that just speaks to
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volumes to to kind of the energy surrounding the whole group all
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season long. How many times did we hear a
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young guy say, yeah, I grew up playing a Steven Stamkos on a
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video game and now I'm in the same locker room as him.
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It's a little bit of a fantasy camp for some of these guys when
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they first come up, but they've established themselves and
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looked pretty darn good doing it.
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So that's how it shakes out on exit day.
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It was good to hear from the guys one more time.
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We wish them all the best this offseason as they head off to
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their respective locales. A lot of guys, the families will
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kind of stay in town for a little bit.
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Max, I know that you talked to Adam Willsby.
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They'll go to Italy at some point this summer.
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It's just a hop, skip and a jump from Sweden.
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But I know guys are looking forward to their summer
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vacations and well earned. So we thank them for their time
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and all the guys that came on the show this season and just
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all the the time that they spend answering our questions day
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after day after day. We certainly appreciate it from
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that perspective. And we've got some favorite
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moments that we wanted to discuss.
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We'll do that next. Coming up on the Predators
20:24
official Podcast, you're listening to the PLP on ESPN
20:27
102.5 the Game and watching on Pred's YouTube.
20:30
Welcome back into the Predators official podcast.
20:33
Carrie Hammer, Max hers, Brooks Bratton and guys, as we're
20:36
feeling a a little sad that the season's over, we can look back
20:39
and we can all find something positive that's going to carry
20:42
us through the summer until we kick off next season.
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So Brooks, I have to start with you. 82 games, so many comeback
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wins. I mean, what was your favorite
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highlight of the season? It's a lot of games 8284 next
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season, by the way, get ready for that.
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But there's a lot to choose from.
21:00
I mean, you guys mentioned in the last segment so many
21:02
comeback wins, a few NHL debuts. We got to see Brady Martin here
21:06
on opening night. But I think for me it's it's
21:10
tough to beat seeing Steven Stamkos score his 600th NHL goal
21:16
in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. It's and I'd mentioned it on
21:20
previous shows, but to just have the privilege to cover him at
21:25
this stage of his career, he's obviously won a couple of cups
21:28
with Tampa. He's going to be a first ballot
21:30
Hall of Famer and there's only so many guys that have had a
21:34
milestone like that ever. So his four goal game was pretty
21:37
fun to be a part of this season as well.
21:40
But seeing him hit 600, it just seemed like every night there
21:44
was something where he was passing somebody else on the
21:47
scoring list or the power play goal list or he was doing
21:51
something that had never been done before.
21:52
And so I think him in general, such a privilege to cover this
21:57
season as he really found got right back to his form, 42 goals
22:00
in total. But that 600th game or six
22:03
hundredth goal rather is tough to beat for me.
22:05
And then the Eustis on and then shut out in Anaheim too late in
22:08
the season. That California swing, obviously
22:12
really meaningful games that were really fun to be a part of.
22:15
I remember saying the Barry Trotz in the elevator on the way
22:18
down. I think I'd mentioned this too,
22:19
but I don't think I've ever been so nervous for a 5 nothing game
22:23
because the result was never in doubt.
22:25
But it was the shutout. And can they preserve that for
22:28
Eustace Anand and the only shutout of the season for the
22:31
Predators? No problem, 43 saves.
22:33
Anand is going to go to the World Championships, by the way,
22:36
with Finland coming up here in a few weeks in May.
22:39
So congratulations to him. But yeah, lots to choose from,
22:41
but I think those are a couple for me that are going to be
22:44
tough to beat when I look back on 2526.
22:48
Max, I have to ask because you cover the players sometimes from
22:52
a broadcasting standpoint, sometimes doing interviews, and
22:55
then sometimes you just get them out to Brewhouse 100 and you're
22:57
doing a Smashville live show. So is your favorite memory even
23:00
coming from something on the ice?
23:01
Or was it when you were finally able to ask Tyson Jost about his
23:05
Colin Jost SNL? Kind of scared and just getting
23:08
to know these guys. Well, I I do have some great
23:11
memories from those and now I got to go back and rank all of
23:16
them. You're making me think about it,
23:17
but my my favorite game of the season and I think potentially
23:22
my favorite moment covering the Preds over the past Four Seasons
23:26
was Roman Yossi's one thousandth game.
23:29
And how great that was on January 22nd for the first Pred
23:35
ever to play 1000 games. All for us, the entire team to
23:39
warm up in Roman Yossi jerseys, everybody around the glass for
23:43
warmups. Romans kids up on the glass and
23:46
just a celebratory day and week. And for the principal off a huge
23:50
come from behind win against the Senators with a Steven Stamkos
23:53
hat trick in that game. I mean, that night had
23:56
everything. It was right as the Preds were
23:58
really beginning to turn it on and put themselves in the fight.
24:02
It had the nostalgia, it had the moments, it had the hat trick
24:08
and had to come back. So without a doubt, that was my
24:12
favorite game of the season. So that's that was a really
24:15
special night and we're going to have other guys hit 1000.
24:17
Philip Forsberg will be there within the next couple of years.
24:20
But for it to happen for the first time ever was really
24:24
something special. Max, who's your favorite guy?
24:27
Because you do. For those of you that listen to
24:29
the radio and here the pregame show, you know that Max talks to
24:34
a guy before every game and there's only so many choose
24:37
from, so I imagine you had a few multiples at least.
24:39
But who's are there one or two, either guys in general or
24:43
interviews that stick out to you from this past season that you
24:46
enjoy talking to? Good question.
24:49
I don't know. I don't think I can pick
24:51
favorites, but I also haven't gone back through everything
24:54
yet. I do like to go back and listen
24:56
through everything again, but I like to give myself a little bit
24:58
of distance from the season before I do that just so
25:01
everything is a little bit fresher.
25:04
I don't know. I can't.
25:05
I can't just think of it on the spot all.
25:07
Right, well, let's circle back. I was going to ask you.
25:09
I was going to ask you who your favorite is and why is it Fedor
25:12
Sketchkov? Wow, he's out there.
25:16
He's a, he's a special category. Nobody else can do it like
25:19
Smetch does in the interview room.
25:22
Funny, Well, you know, I'll playoff of of who one of my
25:27
favorite guys to interview was. And I think towards the end of
25:29
the season we had to give this nod to to Zach LaRue only
25:32
because in case you missed it or did not catch up on it during a
25:36
broadcast. But he was challenged First off
25:39
with his skate up interview with Willie Donnick to hit Willie
25:42
with as many hockey terms as he could come up with in one
25:46
interview. And he was doing it.
25:49
I don't know Willy so much so caught on, but Zach was just
25:54
dropping every every line you could imagine.
25:56
We're going to get pucks in deep.
25:58
We're going to be hard on the forecheck.
25:59
You know all the cliches we hear night after night.
26:02
Well, then turn around. I had Zach a week later and he
26:05
did the same thing to me. But this time he could not keep
26:07
up with it and broke character in the middle of his interview
26:10
and started cracking himself up before he even skated off.
26:14
But I think that just goes back to that's what we talked about
26:17
in the first segment of that energy.
26:18
The guys were having fun. They were winning games.
26:20
We were they were picking things up and you know, the the mood
26:23
was light. But for me, two favorite moments
26:27
of the season, it had to be a the comeback win against Saint
26:31
Louis, that 5 to 1 deficit, find a way to come back and win.
26:34
I mean, every time they scored a goal, you just had the feeling
26:37
that they were going to win that game.
26:39
So I think that was the most exciting game to cover.
26:42
And then secondly, the Nashville Predators handing the Colorado
26:46
Avalanche their first regulation loss this season at Ballerina.
26:50
Because as we know, the Central Division rival got off to a hot
26:54
start. But Nashville went in there and
26:57
and defeated them. And I was able to take Remy and
27:00
that was our first game in Colorado.
27:01
So I think that one definitely stands out.
27:04
I was going to say it, didn't Remy get the best dancer award
27:07
or something like that on the? Record in the stairs.
27:11
She was dancing to all the things.
27:12
I think she was stealing the show away from the broadcast.
27:15
So shout out Remy. It happens, it happens.
27:20
We appreciate her and we appreciate all the moments from
27:23
the past season because there were plenty.
27:25
And even again, I think it just goes to show like this team had
27:29
a good season. Unfortunately, they don't make
27:31
the playoffs, but there are a lot of highlights.
27:33
I mean, it got to a point where unfortunately, the Predators
27:36
would go down 1-2, three goals every night and they would
27:39
simply find a way to come back and win just about every single
27:42
one of those games. But yeah, I I just think that
27:46
there's, there's a lot to look back on.
27:47
And, and, and I agree with you, Max, like I will go back at some
27:51
point this summer and, and rewatch all the highlights.
27:54
I had almost kind of forgotten about Stan Coast's four goal
27:57
game and some of the hat tricks and some of those comeback wins.
28:01
I think, you know, July and August when you're kind of going
28:04
through hockey withdrawals, you go back and and take a look and
28:07
be like, Dang, there were some good games.
28:08
So get you hyped up a little bit.
28:11
And yeah, there's certainly plenty of highlights to look
28:13
back on. So we think the press for
28:15
bringing those to us. And thanks to both of you for
28:18
recalling some of those moments as we.
28:20
Neither of you even brought up your trip to Sweden, you
28:25
remember. That happened, Brooks.
28:26
That happened. I do remember that happened,
28:28
that feel we were talking about that the other day.
28:30
That feels like years ago that we went to Stockholm.
28:32
But that was pretty great. That was yeah.
28:34
To see Philip Forsberg and Adam Wilsby in their home country and
28:38
and get a really good win at the start of that trip, that was
28:42
that was pretty great. I think I had more Swedish
28:44
meatballs and mashed potatoes. The old, old digestive tract was
28:48
not feeling great by the end of that trip, but it was well worth
28:52
it. That's probably way too much
28:53
information, but it was a good trip nevertheless.
28:58
Brooks bites. Here that comes Max.
29:01
Brooks bites. Max is not a fan.
29:03
Hey, now that we've looked back, let's look ahead.
29:06
Even though it's the offseason, there's still plenty to come in
29:09
the next few months. We will touch on all of that
29:11
coming up in just a moment. You are listening to and
29:13
watching the Predators official podcast Back in a Moment.
29:17
Welcome back to the season finale of the Predators Official
29:20
Podcast here on ESPN1O25, The Game, Nashville Predators,
29:25
YouTube, and your favorite podcast platform.
29:27
So last this time ever, I'll get to see my 2 best friends, Brooks
29:30
Bratton and Carrie Hammer. Just kidding.
29:32
We're going to have some episodes over the summer and
29:34
I'll see them again soon. My name is Max Hers.
29:37
Here's what we have to look forward to in this summer from a
29:40
Preds perspective. First up, the draft lottery on
29:44
Tuesday night, May 5th. It will be on ESPN before the
29:48
playoff games that night and the Predators are 10th in the draft
29:53
lottery, meaning they have a 3 1/2 percent chance of getting
29:57
the 1st overall pick and a slightly higher chance, 3.7% of
30:03
getting the second overall pick. It is most likely that they will
30:07
pick 10th overall in their slot. That is 73% chance.
30:12
So we've seen it happen. Last season the Islanders were
30:17
11th and they picked 1st overall.
30:19
Reds are in the lottery and you got to be in the lottery to win
30:23
the lottery. So you're telling me there's a
30:25
chance? Yeah.
30:26
It's. You never know, right?
30:28
Like, like you just said, the Islanders won the lottery.
30:31
They picked Matthew Schaefer, and all of a sudden, the whole
30:33
trajectory of their franchise seemed to change.
30:36
So stranger things have happened.
30:38
So that'll be something to watch out for.
30:39
Like Max said, May 5th, the time is is not exactly been
30:43
determined yet, but that night before those playoff games,
30:47
that'll be something to watch out for.
30:48
The scouting combine, fine, comes May 31st through June 6th,
30:52
that is in Buffalo, and then the 2026 NHL draft also in Buffalo,
30:57
June 26th and 27th. It is decentralized again this
31:01
year. So Predators, management,
31:03
scouts, everybody will be here in Nashville.
31:06
I will more than likely be in Buffalo though, to meet whoever
31:09
the Preds end up picking in the rounds ahead.
31:12
So looking forward to that. And then something that we all
31:14
look forward to, Kara, as development camp kind of gives
31:17
us our little summer hockey fix. So that comes June 29th through
31:21
July 3rd. So you would certainly expect
31:24
all of the draftees that are picked that weekend and Buffalo
31:27
to come down to Nashville as well of all of Nashville's
31:30
remaining top prospects as well. That's always a fun week to look
31:34
forward to, Kara. Yeah, it's always the best.
31:36
And do we know are any of these going to be coming up open to
31:39
the public so the fans can come out, get a chance to see some of
31:41
these younger guys too? I would sure hope so.
31:44
That's usually the case right? And it'll get finished off by
31:47
the future Stars game. We anticipate that that will be
31:51
on July 3rd, the day before the 4th of July.
31:53
Again, plenty more information will come on development camp
31:56
sometime in June as we get closer to the actual date there.
31:59
But something to mark on your calendars.
32:01
Again, June 29th through July the 3rd, get your summer hockey
32:05
fix. And then in the midst of that,
32:07
July 1st, free agency begins. Of course, that's always the
32:10
case. July 1 and hockey a new fiscal
32:13
year starts. So at 11 AM Central July 1st,
32:16
the Predators and all 32 NHL teams are eligible to sign some
32:20
free agents and Max, the Preds don't have a ton of players on
32:24
expiring deals. So Eric Holla, Tyson Jost are
32:27
the only two unrestricted free agents.
32:29
Justin Baron is the only restricted free agent and we
32:31
mentioned this in the first segment, but not a lot of guys
32:35
in that regard that could potentially be on their way out,
32:37
at least as far as free agency is concerned.
32:40
So it'll be interesting to see what the Preds do and how they
32:42
approach free agency. And not a turn around the league
32:45
either honestly. Yeah, the Preds are really not
32:48
alone in that, but a lot of teams could look very similar
32:52
heading into next season. Now, there's always a chance for
32:54
shake UPS or a trade or maybe even an offer sheet or two
32:59
around the league, but with the cap rising the way it has, teams
33:02
were able to get guys on some deals locked up, but they
33:05
wouldn't have been able to maybe 5-10 years ago.
33:08
So this may be a lighter summer for free agency.
33:10
So we'll see what that ends up looking like, whether the Preds
33:13
have interest in keeping Eric Holla or Tyson Jost as Ufas. 2
33:17
guys who certainly showed their their utility in the middle 6
33:20
for the Predators this season. And the Preds took care of their
33:23
home grown restricted free agents with contract extensions
33:26
late in the season for Federer, Svechkov and Zach LaRue.
33:31
So Justin Baron's the only one now.
33:32
And we will see what happens with the new GM.
33:35
If the Predators keep Justin Baron, they'll have the rights
33:38
to as a restricted free agent or if they choose to go another
33:40
direction. So not a ton of decisions, but I
33:43
think all decisions that could go either way for the Preds.
33:47
Absolutely. And one more thing to look out
33:49
for. Of course, this will always
33:50
happen every summer, but the schedule will be released at
33:52
some point. That usually comes around the
33:55
draft, around free agency, late June, early July.
33:58
And remember, and we've talked about it before, it goes from 82
34:01
to 84 regular season games. And we do anticipate that the
34:04
regular season will start at the end of September as opposed to
34:08
the first or second week of October.
34:10
That'll be a huge change, a shorter training camp for
34:13
preseason games, 84 regular season games.
34:17
But I can't recall the last time, I don't know if it's ever
34:20
started the regular season in September, maybe way back in the
34:24
60s or 50s, but it's certainly been a minute if that's ever
34:27
been the case. So that'll be something to look
34:28
for as well. And then our friends up north,
34:31
the Milwaukee Admirals, but they're headed to Manitoba to
34:34
begin a best of three series on Wednesday night, the Ahls Calder
34:38
Cup playoffs start. They will face the Manitoba
34:41
Moose who play in the same building as the Winnipeg Jets.
34:44
So some familiarity there for a few guys who went up.
34:47
So Zach LaRue, Reed Shaffer, Joachim Kemel, Cole O'Hara, Ryan
34:52
Ufko all joined the ads following the end of the Pred
34:55
season. Of course, Kevin Gravel, who was
34:57
up here in Nashville, went back down to Milwaukee, their captain
35:01
as well. And then we expect Brady Mark
35:02
and also to join the Admirals for the postseason.
35:05
So that'll be good to get a good look at him once the OHL season
35:09
while it has concluded for him and his Sue Greyhound.
35:11
So Brady Martin, we expect, will join the Admirals at least for a
35:15
little bit here in the postseason.
35:16
Game one is Wednesday night. Again, it's best of three.
35:19
So Game 2 Friday, Game three, if necessary, is this coming
35:24
Sunday. And then two more things to
35:25
mention. Ryan O'Reilly, of course, the
35:27
nomination for the Clancy award for the Predators this season.
35:30
We've talked about Ozzie Wise Black being named Nashville's
35:33
Masterton nominee. Those award finalists will be
35:37
announced in the weeks to come. So I also had the privilege to
35:41
write a story on Ryan O'Reilly being nominated for the Clancy
35:43
Award. A really fun story to tell with
35:46
a couple of people in the community in the the work that
35:48
he does that doesn't necessarily go to the forefront, but is
35:52
certainly worthy of mention and a big reason why he is nominated
35:55
for this Clancy award. So guys, plenty to look forward
35:57
to and the mohunts ahead. Some downtime, of course, but
36:01
Kara Max, don't, don't put your phones away.
36:04
We could have some things to report on in the months ahead.
36:07
You got it. I got mine and I'm excited for
36:10
the Admirals Brooks. They've got potentially 2 really
36:14
tough challenges in rounds 1 and 2.
36:17
The first round, it's not a play in per SE, but it gets you into
36:21
what would be the first round of the NHL play offs.
36:24
And there's no travel, so it's a best two out of three, all on
36:27
the road. And the Admirals get a lot of
36:30
their big guns back like you said.
36:31
So I'm looking forward to what that looks like, especially if
36:34
Brady Martin is part of the formula for the Admirals.
36:37
It would be his first AHL action after he played in three NHL
36:40
games back in October and if they win that best of three on
36:44
the road, they'd be the four seed in the Central and they'd
36:47
have to take on the record setting Grand Rapids Griffins
36:50
Red Wings AHL affiliate who are loaded with both prospects and
36:55
veterans and had an amazing season.
36:59
That would be a fun one. Yes, Austin Watson, the member
37:02
of the Grand Rapids Griffins, a name from Predators lore past.
37:05
Yes, I'm looking for. I think as soon as we get done
37:08
recording this, I'm going to get Scott Nickel and Carl Taylor,
37:11
Admirals GM Admirals coach, on the phone and see what they're
37:14
thinking about things. So I'll be sure to ask them what
37:17
they think about staying in Manitoba for at least four
37:20
straight days. And on that note, we're back in
37:22
just a moment to wrap up with the final biggie, Awesome Person
37:26
of the week of the season. This is the Predators official
37:29
podcast on ESPN 102.5 the Game and Predators YouTube.
37:33
Final segment of the season finale of the Predators official
37:36
podcast here on ESPN 102.5 The Game and Preds YouTube.
37:41
Max Karen Brooks here one last time.
37:42
I want to say a big thank you to everybody who listened this
37:45
season and everybody who supported us from the Predators
37:48
video team and social media staff.
37:50
Nate Baker is our producer. Drew Harris and Nick Pitchnick
37:55
have been our editors. Justina Quagliata from the Preds
37:58
social media team runs the show. So many others from our Preds
38:01
video and social media squad have helped us out as well.
38:04
So thank you guys for your help. Thank you to everybody who
38:07
watched and listened this year. It was fun coming to you in a
38:12
new way and we had a lot of fun with the POP this season and we
38:14
are expecting to be back in all of the same forms and maybe some
38:18
new stuff next season. So thank you so much for your
38:21
support every single week. We have finished up the show
38:25
with the Big E Awesome Person of the Week in memory of our friend
38:29
Aaron Donnick who passed away last summer.
38:32
And it is a fitting final Big E of the year because at the
38:36
Predators season finale, Aaron Alvey Forsberg, wife of Preds
38:40
player Philip Forsberg, in conjunction with the Preds
38:43
Foundation and Starz Nashville, the nonprofit fund that Aaron
38:47
Donnick worked with and loved so much for so many years, named
38:51
our Aaron Donnick Scholarship winners.
38:55
The Heart of Aaron Donnick Scholarship was given out to two
38:58
Nashville area high school seniors, Vizmaya from Page High
39:02
School and John from Green Hill High School, Kara.
39:06
It was so great to see these two smiling faces that Aaron would
39:10
be so, so proud of each Get $5000 college scholarships.
39:14
Yeah, I think I saw Willie's post about it and he made the
39:18
comment goes these two people just embody the spirit of Aaron.
39:22
So I think it was just so, you know, neat to see it all come
39:26
together and we just can't thank the Forsbergs enough.
39:29
I mean, Aaron, it was so instrumental in taking charge of
39:35
this and coming straight up to William saying we want to help,
39:37
we want to do something and we know how much Arondonic love
39:41
stars. So to see all of the things that
39:44
Arondonic love come together, the Forsberg stars, the Preds
39:47
Foundation, all to help you younger, the younger generation.
39:51
I think it's just really special.
39:53
And what a way to to cap off the season and just just to keep
39:58
honoring Aaron Donic, who we miss and love every day.
40:02
Well our biggie person of the week started with the Forsbergs
40:07
back in September endowing the scholarship and here we are at
40:10
the end of the season with them giving it out.
40:12
So fitting bookend to a season where I caught myself thinking
40:17
about Aaron and Sheila crisps so so many times.
40:20
So I think those are the things that will stick with me the most
40:23
from this Pred season. You know, we've had some tough
40:27
moments, but it's been really rewarding and and hopefully
40:32
somewhat joyful to be able to honor people like that as we
40:35
have our biggie awesome person of the week every week.
40:39
And as you said, Max, what a fitting way to wrap it up on
40:42
this season finale episode. As you said to just thanks to
40:46
all the listeners, all the viewers, Every time that
40:49
somebody stopped me in the concourse at a game or just
40:51
around town and said, hey, love the pod, love the interview.
40:55
That's really gratifying. So we appreciate that.
40:56
We appreciate you listening, appreciate you watching.
40:58
It's a pleasure for us to be able to bring this medium to you
41:02
and give you a closer look behind the scenes at your team.
41:05
And thanks to both of you for letting me hop on the season.
41:07
It's been really fun. It's like the old days.
41:09
Yeah, glad to have you back. 100% well for Max, for Cara, I'm
41:15
Brooks. It's been 1 heck of a season.
41:17
We thank you so much for tuning in one more time.
41:19
As we said, plenty to look forward to in the offseason.
41:23
We will be back when there is news that breaks and we have
41:26
items to bring you. So we're not going away for the
41:28
whole summer, but we will take a little bit of reprieve for now.
41:31
So for Max, here is Cara Hammer. I'm Brooks Bratton, thanks so
41:34
much for listening, for watching to the Predators official
41:37
podcast in 2526. Six, enjoy some R&R.
41:41
We will talk to you before you know it.