Latest / Predators Official Podcast / Happy Days feat. Zach L'Heureux

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Happy Days feat. Zach L'Heureux · Predators Official Podcast

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Welcome to the predators official podcasts here on
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ESPN1O25, the game streaming on YouTube and a whole slew of
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other platforms. Brooks Brattenham, Nashville
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predators.com here with you joined by my friend Kara Hammer
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of Preds TVI am in Vancouver, Kara is back in the United
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States. But no matter how far the
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distance, Kara, we are able to celebrate a win for the Preds in
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Seattle. Some folks, I imagine probably
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went to bed. I woke up to some text messages
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of people being excited, saying hey what a win and what a goal
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from Ryan Ofco. Yeah, what a win, especially if
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you tuned out after the first period when the Predators found
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themselves down to to Nothing against the Kraken, but how
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about that middle frame and Brooks?
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I I've been watching that game, listening to the commentary
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between Willie Donic and Chris Mason.
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I think they use the word discombobulated, and that's kind
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of what they looked like in those first 20 minutes.
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But then they found a way to turn things around.
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And we have to give a ton of credit to these young guys who
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have come up and seem to re energize this entire bench.
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The young guys are crushing it, and that was such a fun part of
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Tuesday night and such a fun part of the last few.
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Yeah, we we'll talk about it a lot here.
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Preds with a huge win in Seattle.
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Ryan off coast. First NHL goal is 1 to remember.
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The kids are all right. More on the kids in just a
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moment. The Preds very much still in the
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playoff hunt as well. And we're going to be joined by
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Zach LaRue a little bit later in the podcast.
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To the man they call happy, looking forward to talking to
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him. But Kara, as we said, certainly
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reason to be happy as we record this on Wednesday, March the
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11th, the night after the Preds with yet another comeback win,
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this time against the Seattle Crack.
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And you said it down to nothing in the first period.
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They score 3 unanswered in the second stanza and then one more
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empty netter for good measure. We'll get to the goaltender in a
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moment because he deserves a lot of credit here.
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But again, Orion off coast first NHL goal proves to be the game
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winner. I don't know about you, but
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watching it live, I usually don't react.
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You don't really react in the press box, but I had a little
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bit of an audible reaction. There may have been a bad word
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or two in in in impressiveness if if you will, so back.
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To Upco right point Upco makes a move, cuts to the net.
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Upco scores Ryan Upco scores his first NHL goal.
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But my goodness, not only to score that goal as a young
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player, as a rookie, as a defenseman, but for that to be
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your first NHL goal. As Andrew Brunette said
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postgame, it doesn't get much better than that.
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Yeah, that one was a beauty. I mean, I feel like it's blowing
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up on social media right after the goal happened.
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I thought that was pretty. And then you go and you see all
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the people sharing their insight to what they saw from Ryan Ufko,
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a huge one. But one thing you just mentioned
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to me, Brooks, how special were the players on the ice with Ryan
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Ufko after he scored his first NHL goal that were there to able
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to congratulatory celebrate with him?
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Yeah, that was something that I asked him in the post game.
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It's watching the replay. I didn't necessarily notice it
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at 1st. And then you go back and you try
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to find little nuances of what's going on and who picked up the
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puck, which it was Ryan O'Reilly who got the puck for Ryan Ufko.
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But yeah, the the four other guys that were on the ice with
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him and in in return, in that celebratory hug line, it was
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Steven Stamkos, Roman EOC, Ryan O'Reilly and Jonathan Marsha.
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So that's a pretty good group to be on the ice with for your
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first NHL goal. And I asked Ofco in the post
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game, I was like, did you notice that?
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Did it? Obviously there's so much going
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on in a moment like that, but did you take a second to realize
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who was on the ice with you? He he said, yeah, I once I
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realized who was coming at me to celebrate with me, he's like,
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that was just a wow moment. You dream of that as a kid to be
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in the NHL and just to be able to do it here with those types
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of players, those types of superstars, he said.
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It's really special. What are you thinking as you're
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going to the net there and then? What was that like?
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For. You to put one in?
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Yeah. Felt like I had some space.
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I made that first move and then kind of saw lane of the net.
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I think Factor did a good job tying up the D man, which gave
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me that lane and yeah, I just kind of read off the goalie, try
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to move and it worked out. Maybe you you haven't realized
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it or maybe you did, but just looking kind of at the
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celebration there is you don't see this damn coats March just
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on O'Reilly. What?
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What do you think of being able to play with guys like at this
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level? Right.
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Now, yeah, it's definitely a privilege.
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I didn't kind of notice that after I saw all those guys
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coming in. I was like just a oh, wow
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moment. You know, you dream of that as a
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kid playing hockey. You want to play in the NHL and
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to be able to do it here with these guys and then, you know,
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to be out there with those superstars, it's really special.
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And it was just a just a great moment.
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I'm looking forward on Wednesday here as we go to practice in
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Vancouver to not only asking Ofco what his phone looked like
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this morning when he woke up because again, he's from the
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northeast and he didn't score that goal until 11 o'clock 11:30
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Eastern. I imagine that there were
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probably a decent amount of people sleeping who woke up to
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see, Oh my goodness, look at that.
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And then, oh, by the way, the reaction that'll certainly come
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in regardless of what time it was and who was watching that
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game for Ryan Ofco. But every first NHL goal is
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worth celebrating. But that one, what a not only a
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beautiful goal Cara, but a huge goal and a huge game for the
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Predators, arguably their biggest game to this point in
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the season. Yeah, definitely.
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I mean, it was hard not to look at that as being one that the
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Predators needed to win. And Brooks, now if we want we we
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could take a look at the standings.
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We're within one point of the last wild card spot.
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I mean, the Preds could have a chance to sneak in.
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Obviously there's so much parity when you're looking at
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Nashville, LA, San Jose, Seattle, but they definitely
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needed to pick up that win over the Kraken.
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I believe we're at 64 games currently.
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I mean, you're on the road with the team.
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What do you feel the mindset is now?
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We saw so much transition. We had the trade deadline on
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Friday. The team went to Buffalo, they
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came home. Now they're out on this stretch.
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But they all know that two points are needed every single
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night until they close this out. Yeah.
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It's, it's a good question And, and Carol, like it's honestly a
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balance. I've talked to a couple of the
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guys about that, whether it's the young guys or the more
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established veterans. And for the young players,
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they're really enjoying just the opportunity of being here.
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I, I think regardless of where the Predators would have been in
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the standings, anytime you're a young player trying to establish
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yourself, trying to prove that you belong in the NHL, belong to
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have a spot on a nightly basis, it's just an excellent
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opportunity to be able to do that.
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But I think especially the situation that the Predators are
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in, they're enjoying being a part of that.
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And I think the veteran guys are enjoying the youth infusion, the
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influx of energy that those players kind of bring.
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And Nick Purbix mentioned it on Tuesday when I talked to him
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before the Seattle game. He said it's it's not as if
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there's a carelessness to what the young guys are doing, but
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there's just kind of that happy, go lucky, carefree.
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Like I'm here in the NHL, I'm so happy to be here.
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And oh, by the way, I'm going to find a way to contribute and
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make a name for myself and help this team to stay in the race.
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That's what's really cool about all of this.
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And I love what Andrew Brunette said following the game in
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Seattle because, again, that was a huge game.
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The Predators went in three points behind the crack and they
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are now one point behind Seattle.
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And oh, by the way, they'll host Seattle in Nashville next week.
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You want to talk about another big game on the calendar?
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But again, like you talk about finding that balance of, yes,
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we're in the playoff hunt, but we're trying to enjoy it at the
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same time. I love what Brunette said, He
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said on Tuesday night. We're just excited to be in it,
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He said. Nobody gave us a chance to be
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anywhere near this. But the guys have battled back,
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gotten ourselves into these games and they're trying to
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enjoy it. Again, Brunette saying that
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we're not supposed to be here, nothing is expected, so let's
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just have fun with it. And it's not always fun when you
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start the game down to nothing and you've got to find a way to
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claw back. But that's kind of been the MO
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all Season 2, right? The Predators are battle tested,
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nothing comes easy, but more often than not, they have found
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a way. So you want to be realistic
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about it. Again, as we record here on
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Wednesday, March the 11th, the Predators odds are 28.1% to make
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the playoffs according to Moneypak.
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Obviously at the odds of greater as as of the moment that they
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will not make it. But I think a lot of that is
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you've just got to be in it, right and enjoy it.
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Enjoy the moment, enjoy the ride and what you've got going here.
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And for Nashville, that's a fun little accoutrement, if you
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will, of just being a part of what you've got going right now.
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So. You're saying there's a chance?
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There is a chance indeed. And I think again, it's eleven
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of these remaining 17 games are coming against teams that are
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all currently within nine points of one another in the West,
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right? So that's the Predators very
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much hold their fate in their hands.
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And that's something that you've got to appreciate too, is that
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if they're able to beat the teams like Seattle, like Utah,
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that you're going to face like the California teams, the LA is
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in the San Jose's. Those are all huge games and
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it's just a fun time of year. It's fun to be playing
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meaningful hockey in March. It's not something that the
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Predators had last year. And as Andrew Burnett said,
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they're trying to make the most of the moment.
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Well, you say they're energized and you say they're happy.
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We're going to speak with the guy they call happy.
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Coming up next, you're listening to the Predators official
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podcast. Welcome back to the Predators
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Official Podcast here on ESPN1O25, The game streaming on
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Preds YouTube and everywhere you find your favorite podcasts.
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Brooks Bratton back alongside my friends Max Hers and Cara
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Hammer. And we are happy because the man
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known as Happy is joining us now on The POP, Zach LaRue, his
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inaugural appearance on the Preds Official Podcast.
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Zach, thanks for waking up and doing this.
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How are you? Good, thanks for having me.
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Of course, a pleasure as always, and we've been talking about it
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all morning, talking about it all last night, too.
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But haven't gotten your thoughts yet on Ryan Ofco and his first
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NHL goal. Let's start with that.
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What are you thinking as you're watching him Dipsy doodle his
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way to the net and put the puck over the line?
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Yeah, I think. He got a little lucky.
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No, it was, it was pretty special, man.
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Obviously I think, you know, I've been telling the guys I've
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seen him do that move 100 times in Milwaukee before and I knew
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it would work at every level. Just the way he can move his
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hips and be so strong while he does it and get around players.
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It's it's special and not a lot of guys in this league can can
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do that. So obviously super happy for
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him. He's he's an unbelievable guy,
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great teammate and just to see him get out there and you know
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how that emotion when he scored is was pretty special.
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So obviously just just glad that he was able to get his first
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one. It was a massive win for the
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team in Seattle, Zack. What was it like getting that
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done and was that the biggest game you've ever played in in
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your life? At this level of probably yeah,
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you know, last year there was at this time of year the the games
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weren't weren't as meaningful. But I think now, you know,
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having this opportunity, obviously just being in the line
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up and now playing with, you know, purpose, every game
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matters like Game 7. So try to bring that energy,
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help the team do whatever you can to to, you know, win.
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But I've I've played some some pretty big games.
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I think in junior I had some big playoff games and even in
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Milwaukee, you know, a few years ago in the playoffs.
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But you know that last last night had that had a bit of that
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feel. Obviously we went in the room
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after that first period where pretty disappointing ourselves,
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but we knew we had a lot of hockey left and we could turn
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things around, so I thought we did a really good job with that
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in the second period. You talk about OFCO and having
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the chance to to watch him do that before I what's this like
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right now having these guys come up from Milwaukee?
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You're all here, you're all playing in these meaningful
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games. I mean, what's the vibe with the
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with the young guys, with the veterans?
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Yeah, obviously we know the situation.
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You know, this team is battled so hard all year to to, you
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know, be in this situation and, you know, losing some meaningful
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guys can be can be tough. And obviously these guys that
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that I played with last year too, and and, you know, seeing
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them go socks. But at the same time, and it
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really opened the door for for a lot a lot of us young guys.
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We wanted to come in here with, you know, a good attitude, a lot
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of energy and just keep bringing it every night and prove that we
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all deserve to be here. And we're not just here because,
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you know, the team is going a different direction.
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We're here because, you know, we've earned it and we can help
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this team win. So I think we've done a good job
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so far in the, you know, few games that that we've played and
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we've all stepped up to the to the plate and, you know, showed
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that we can be effective at this level.
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So I think we just want to continue on that, that stride
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we're on, keep bringing that, that positive energy that, that
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youth, you know, we're, we're hitting, we're bringing the legs
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or no talking on the bench. We're not afraid to, you know,
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set our presence. So I think we've, we've done a
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good job so far. We just want to keep keep it up.
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Zach, you scored in Buffalo on Saturday after coming up a
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couple of weeks ago getting back into the lineup after the
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Olympic break. I know the win would have been
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ideal, but for you, how good did that feel to put the puck in the
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net again at the NHL level? It was definitely, I'd say maybe
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a bit of a relief in, in a sense that I think coming back to this
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level, I knew that I was ready for it.
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I knew that whatever the challenge was going to be, I, I,
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I'd be able to, you know, accomplish it.
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And I think I, I've been playing some really, really good hockey.
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I, I've been at the top of my game.
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I'm moving my feet, I'm creating stuff, I'm, you know, getting
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into opponents faces, but I'm also doing a very smart matter
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and not hurting the team. So I think I I've done every
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every little thing right to get rewarded with a goal.
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There was was pretty special. Obviously had a lot of family in
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town too that, you know, drove down from Montreal.
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So to, you know, be able to see them after the game and, you
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know, obviously have them cheering could they're up in the
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300 section. But I could, you know, I could
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see the yellow jerseys up there and everybody cheering.
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So that was that was very special.
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I was going to say, from my vantage point, they were only a
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couple of sections over from the press box.
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They're going nuts. So one, I was wondering if you
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could hear them cheering, but who's got the whistles?
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Who is it in your family that's got the whistle going?
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I'm pretty sure that's my aunt. She she can be pretty loud and
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and she's loud and proud. But no, I'm I'm assuming that
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was that was her that was going nuts when she found out that was
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me. Talking to Predators winger Zach
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LaRue here on the Predators Official Podcast.
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Zach, it feels like when you're in the NHL, your family is
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everywhere. What's it been like to have your
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family supporting you when you get back right into the NHL like
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this through these last couple seasons?
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It's just been awesome. It's been like this my whole
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life. Honestly, at every level.
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Their support has meant so much to me, whether it's my immediate
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family, my extended family, they, they traveled and they
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just, they're always watching the game, shooting me texts.
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And, you know, just knowing that, that I have that, that
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much support when I go back home and then I can talk to and reach
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out to is, is, you know, there's no better feeling in the world.
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Honestly, it's, it's who I play for.
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It's what drives me every day. You know, I, I want to do great
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things for them and, and be able to accomplish my goals and to,
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to, to, you know, know that they're there and they're behind
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me. And no matter what, if it's, you
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know, going well or going bad, they're, they're still shooting
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me, you know, good luck, tax. And, you know, you did great and
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amazing. And yeah, it's, it's special.
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It's like I said, it's something that that I really had my whole
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life and that I'm really fortunate.
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About tell us a little bit about the last two years for you.
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I mean, you, you play your rookie season in Nashville and
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then then you're, you're down in Milwaukee.
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I mean, what's kind of, you know, what's, what's driven you
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to, to get back to this point? Yeah, I think just wanting to be
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at this level for a long time, it's, you know, it was my goal
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as you know, a kid growing up to to, you know, make it to the NHL
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and obviously having the opportunity to do that last year
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and playing so many games. Sometimes you you think, you
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know, you've accomplished that and there's there's not much
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more to strive for. But I think, you know, having
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that reset this year and starting Milwaukee and
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obviously, you know, have some setbacks with injuries and
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whatnot. But at the end of the day that I
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think that's all just adversity. It's all stuff that if you want
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to make it to this level and and be consistent here, you you got
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to work through those things. It's not a lot of guys can say
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that, you know, they they had a smooth sailing, you know, got
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their junior went right to the NHL and you know how to long
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career. It's it's a lot of, you know,
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stories of guys that have been up and down and, you know, work
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their way there and it wasn't just handed it to them.
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So obviously I knew I could could be back here and I had the
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talent and I have the, you know, the grind, the mindset to to,
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you know, play at this level, But I had to go improve it
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again, which is part of hockey, And I think I did a really good
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job of that and in Milwaukee and showing that, you know, I
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deserve another chance. And now that I'm getting it, I
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think I'm making the best of my opportunity.
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So obviously I'm very fortunate and very grateful of, you know,
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everything that the preds have given me.
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And I just want to, you know, keep doing what I do till for
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the rest of the year. What have you learned about
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yourself through all that, Zach? I think I've learned a lot and I
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think I'm, you know, I'm growing, you know, just from a
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few years back to now, you know, I think my game is really
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rounded up. You know, I want to play that
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200 foot in your face smart hockey and, you know, always
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helping the team in the right direction.
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I think, you know, I've gotten in trouble in the past with, you
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know, suspensions and bad penalties and whatnot, but I
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feel like I'm really shying away from that, you know, staying
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level headed but also knowing, you know.
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My friend, maybe the. The wires touch and, you know,
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you can go a little crazier. I I think I could pick and
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choose my moments a little better now.
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But yeah, I think I just just learning what it takes to, you
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know, be an NHL player being here full time.
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And obviously, like I said, just having this opportunity now is,
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is awesome for me. And, you know, I think I just
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want to keep, keep working towards, you know, my goal of
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being here full time. Zach, what's the mix right now
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of young guys and older guys in the room?
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Like we've heard some of your younger teammates mention, you
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know, playing with somebody like Steven Stamkos.
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I used to play as him on a video game and now I'm sitting next to
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him in the locker room. What is that kind of been like
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as you've just again come back up, gotten acclimated and the
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way things are going right now, especially the the older guys
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may be kind of feeding off some of the energy from the younger
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guys? Yeah, I think, you know,
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obviously, like you said, playing with those guys is, is
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so special. They're they're all guys that,
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you know, us young guys have idolized growing up that like
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you said, play video games with them.
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And, you know, still to this day, you know, my my buddies
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always ask me how it is playing with them.
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But I think for me having that opportunity to play with him
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last year, I kind of gotten by that, you know, starstruck, you
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know, sense that, that I get around them.
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I feel like now they're just, you know, regular guys.
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There's just no teammates, friends that I can be open with
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and just chat with and be goofy, you know, be myself.
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So I think that's definitely probably helped me in a sense
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that, you know, I'm not trying to impress anybody.
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I don't feel like I'm stepping on anybody's toes.
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I can really just be myself, go out there and do what I got to
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do to help the team and not worry too much about any of that
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extra stuff That's, you know, they're obviously and it's still
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special. Don't get me wrong like.
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Being able to play with Steven Stamkos, Roman Yoshi know these
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guys is awesome and I and I'm definitely fortunate about it.
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But at the same time, like I, I think I've kind of gotten past
20:19
that that, you know, why died, you know, starstruck little kid
20:23
in me that that I that I was last year.
20:25
So I, I think that's just at the end of the day, it's, it's just
20:29
helping me, you know, feel comfortable and play my game.
20:32
As you said, being yourself, your energy is infectious.
20:35
Where does that come from? Have you always had that?
20:39
Have you always been that kind of a player and that kind of a
20:41
person that you're just bringing the mood up wherever you go?
20:45
Yeah, I would say so. I think definitely just kind of
20:49
get it from my parents and the family, pretty loud family, you
20:53
know, if you, if you look back at, you know, Christmases and
20:56
family gatherings, you know, we're always super competitive,
20:59
loud, making jokes and just having a good time.
21:02
So, you know, that's why I try to bring every day.
21:05
Obviously there's there's days that are harder than others, but
21:09
sometimes you got to slap a smile on your face.
21:11
You know, you need somebody to be be a little louder.
21:14
And I think, you know, losing, you know, a few, few of our
21:17
louder guys that the locker room can be a little more quiet now.
21:20
So I think sometimes it's it's not a bad thing to, you know,
21:24
have somebody just getting the boys going, you know, screaming,
21:26
screaming a little bit and getting getting everybody on
21:29
their feet. So I think, yeah, I'm just able
21:32
to be myself, be comfortable and, you know, I'm not afraid to
21:34
speak up and just kind of get the get the guys going
21:37
sometimes. Speaking of yourself, what does
21:39
Zach LaRue like to do on an off day?
21:42
That's a good question. Obviously, I think it.
21:45
Depends. I think when when I'm at home,
21:47
I'm a big fan of going to the movie theater.
21:49
I like, you know, going to watch movies just hanging out.
21:53
I think I've shield away a little bit from video games.
21:55
That's maybe before I I played a lot more video games, but now I
21:59
just, you know, hang out with my girlfriend.
22:01
I know when we were in Milwaukee at a pool table there, so played
22:04
a lot of pool and, yeah, just watch movies, hang out.
22:07
You know, I think this the schedule so hectic during the
22:10
season that when you do get those off days, you try to make
22:13
the best of them. They're just relax, you know,
22:15
maybe go, go grab some food, you know, take a night off from
22:18
cooking or something. But yeah, I think a lot of it's
22:23
just, you know, hanging out and relaxing and make sure the
22:25
body's prepared for, you know, the upcoming games.
22:28
Final question for Zach LaRue here on The POP.
22:30
We know that you've been nicknamed Happy a lot of places.
22:35
We've heard Z in the NHL. What nicknames do you like?
22:39
What sticks and what can we go with here on the podcast?
22:43
Honestly, you said it. Those two right there are my
22:45
favorite. I think Happy's just been kind
22:49
of one of those that that has always lingered around but have
22:51
never like been like the nickname that people call me.
22:55
I don't know why, but I think, yeah, since I've, I've kind of
22:59
come down to the States and you know, in Canada we say zed.
23:02
So whenever I go home and say like people call me Z, they're
23:05
always like that. But I love it.
23:08
I think Z is a great one. It's simple, it's effective.
23:11
And you know, I know people are talking to me when they say it.
23:14
So honestly, either one of those are are good with me and you
23:17
know, honestly and call me pretty much anything, I'd
23:19
probably just laugh so. Well, no matter what they call
23:24
you, we're happy you're here. We're glad that you're back up
23:26
in the NHL and doing well, and it's always a pleasure to have
23:29
you. You've been a media darling the
23:31
last couple of days, so thanks for thanks for waking up with us
23:33
after a late. Night it's good.
23:35
I was I was up and buzzing this morning so.
23:40
Amazing. Hey, it's it's amazing what 2
23:42
points will do for the boys, right?
23:44
Oh yeah, exactly. They'll put a smile on anybody's
23:45
face. Love it.
23:47
Hey, that's Zach LaRue here on the Preds official podcast.
23:50
We'll be back in just a moment. You are listening and watching
23:53
To the POP. Welcome back to the Predators
24:01
official Podcast. And how happy are you after
24:04
speaking with Zach LaRue? It's so great to have him back
24:07
up in the lineup. And Brooks and Max, I think we
24:09
have to agree. Like, we're also happy that he's
24:11
unsawed, right? He played in the coldest outdoor
24:14
game in AHL history. Was it NHL history?
24:18
I don't know. It was like negative something.
24:20
I'm pretty sure he had frostbite.
24:22
So we're just, we're happy that happy's back and unthought.
24:25
It really is amazing. Just you talk about his
24:28
infectious personality and what he does for the room when he's
24:31
when he got called up during the Olympic break and you knew who
24:34
was going to be back and playing in the lineup, it was just to a
24:38
different vibe in the room. Not that the room wasn't already
24:41
tight and you know, feeling good to begin with.
24:44
But he just has a different layer and you got to have those
24:47
type of guys around, especially at a time if things aren't going
24:50
well, he's someone that keeps the mood up.
24:52
But on a night like Tuesday when you get a huge win, you know,
24:56
you talk about losing a couple guys that maybe we're a little
24:59
bit louder in the room and someone's got to take that roll
25:03
over. So he's more than willing to do
25:04
it, but yeah, glad to glad to have him around because he's a
25:08
beauty, as they say in the hockey circles.
25:10
To me the the turn around in that game in Seattle started
25:14
when he crashed the net and started mixing up after the
25:16
whistle, went back to the bench with no helmet in the second
25:19
period and then from there the Preds turned it on.
25:22
It was really the first sign of life in a lifeless game that
25:25
turned into the biggest win of the season.
25:27
Well, a huge reason for that. And we, we mentioned it at the
25:30
top, but we'd be remiss to not talk about UC Soros, who it's
25:35
when he has a night like that. I don't know, guys.
25:37
It's, it's not as if we've become immune to it necessarily,
25:40
but we've seen it before. And so it isn't necessarily top
25:43
of mind. But the Predators do not win
25:45
that game. They don't even get out of the
25:47
first period. If it wasn't for UC Soros, that
25:50
could have easily been a 5-6 nothing game the way the 1st 20
25:54
minutes went. But Soros, as he has shown time
25:57
and time again, has the capability to steal a game like
26:01
that. 43 saves, including sixteen in the first period.
26:06
And I love the tweet from Pete Weber earlier this morning
26:10
saying that he got word that the King County Sheriff has a
26:13
warrant out for UC Soros after stealing that game last night.
26:17
You got to love Juice. And, you know, after we're we're
26:20
looking at his play and going back to last week during the
26:23
trade deadline, you know, losing so many of the penalty killers.
26:26
We were talking now like who who do we have left?
26:29
And the number one guy still there.
26:31
You see Soros, I mean, he is going to be, he's going to be
26:35
the guy. And he's he's, he's shining
26:37
right now. Yeah, that PK last night, 5
26:40
stops for Soros, all from right in the high danger area.
26:44
A lot of chances redirects in the low slot and that's where
26:47
all the big saves came from. Soros has been on his game ever
26:49
since coming back from the Olympics.
26:51
It's been awesome to see him carry over his Olympic success
26:54
right back into the NHL in a season high 43 saves is worthy
26:58
of a win in the biggest game of the season.
27:01
Well, you mentioned that penalty killer.
27:03
It reminds me of Vanderbrunette. Got asked about that last
27:07
Thursday going into the Boston game.
27:09
As you said, obviously a lot of penalty killers were sent on
27:12
their way elsewhere across the NHL.
27:14
And Brunette was asked, what's the key?
27:17
How are you going to deal with the penalty kill now?
27:18
And he said, well, some guys are going to get some experience and
27:22
you just hope the juice is really good.
27:24
That's but that, that is such a key, right?
27:26
Like if your your goaltender is good or great, as UC Soros was
27:31
last night, it just drives the penalty kill.
27:33
And it, it, it brings confidence to the rest of the bench.
27:36
Even when things aren't going well at the start, when your
27:40
goaltender is dialed in, everybody immediately knows
27:43
that. All right, we're still in it.
27:45
Even though things aren't going well right now, we can dig deep
27:49
and find a way to get to get a couple of goals and you're right
27:51
back in the game. It's exactly what the Predators
27:54
did. And I love after the game, Ryan
27:56
Ofco already had the post game paddle and helmet and he gave
28:01
the paddle to UC Soros and then Soros gave the helmet right back
28:05
to Ofco. So a little goaltender,
28:06
defenceman love there. But yeah, UC Soros again, just
28:10
you mentioned it, Max. Like such a great showing at the
28:12
Olympics and then coming back now and translating into the
28:15
NHL. The Predators, like they had to
28:17
have that game too, right? I think that's a big thing that
28:20
they're in this race. But if you're going to stay in
28:23
it, you have to beat the teams that are right in the mix there
28:28
with you, especially a team that was only three points ahead of
28:31
you in the wild card. It's not over if you lose that
28:34
game, but you really needed to win it if if you want a chance
28:38
to get in at this point. So now the rest of this road
28:40
trip, big points on the line everywhere.
28:42
The Canucks are last in the NHL. Preds will get them on Thursday,
28:46
Sunday night in Edmonton against the Oilers, who are struggling.
28:50
But I've played really well against the Preds the last
28:52
really decade now. And then the road trip ends
28:55
Tuesday night in Winnipeg with The Jets, who like the Preds,
28:58
maybe weren't expected to be in this playoff race with some of
29:01
the decisions they've made in the way they've looked this
29:03
year. But they're in it.
29:05
They're going for it. So that last spot is up for
29:07
grabs in the Western Conference. And the Preds have just a good a
29:10
shot at it as anybody. Some of these teams have been
29:12
scuffling the last few weeks. The Kings have not been up to
29:15
their standard. The Sharks have their moments,
29:18
but they haven't quite seized it yet as the playoff team that
29:22
they could be maybe a few years in the future.
29:24
Doesn't look like they're all the way there yet, so this is as
29:28
much the Pred spot as anybody after a head to head 4 point
29:31
game win against Seattle. No, it is, and they'll come back
29:34
home next week and host Seattle as well.
29:36
And we've talked about it before, but that road trip in
29:38
April, the final road trip of the season in California and
29:42
then finishing in Utah, Depending on how things shake
29:45
out over the next few weeks, that could be a massive trip
29:48
with implications. Every night, a four point swing
29:52
every night, as you say, at this time of the year.
29:55
But I mean, the Preds are very much in it.
29:57
You know, there's, there's been a lot of talk.
29:59
Obviously, we just got past the trade deadline.
30:01
The Predators made some moves. They sent out some pieces, they
30:04
kept some other pieces. There's been a lot of talk on
30:07
social media, a lot of criticism.
30:09
But regardless of your opinion on how things played out over
30:14
the last couple of weeks with regard to trades and who was
30:18
traded and who wasn't traded, the Predators are still very
30:22
much in a playoff hunt. And I'm not sure why more people
30:25
aren't talking about that. Because they hold their fate in
30:29
their hands, and if they can win a few games with date, which
30:31
they have shown they're very much capable of doing, we could
30:35
be having a very different conversation in a couple of
30:38
weeks, good or bad, depending how these next few weeks go.
30:42
But there's no reason to believe that the Preds aren't capable of
30:46
getting into that second wild card spot if things go well, if
30:49
they get performances like they did from UC Sorrows, if the
30:52
young guys keep contributing, if the veterans find a way to
30:56
continue putting the puck in, than that.
30:57
I know that's a lot of IFS, guys, but there's no reason to
31:01
believe or no reason to not believe.
31:04
But the Predators can't find their way into the postseason
31:07
with this group that they have here right now.
31:09
I said this last week, but I think it's still evident today
31:12
that the biggest thing for this team is when I spoke with Roman
31:15
Yossi before the Boston game last Thursday, he said we're in
31:19
a playoff hunt. And that is their mindset.
31:22
And I think that if they continue that moving forward,
31:25
they're going to find success. Nobody saw the trade and
31:27
thought, OK, it's over, we're out of a playoff spot.
31:30
It's time to just mail it in. You know, a little senioritis as
31:34
as the kids get here in this springtime, the the team is in
31:38
it. I mean, they're still vying.
31:39
And you look at how valuable right now it is to have a player
31:41
like Ryan O'Reilly on your team who was in this position before
31:45
with the Saint Louis Blues and found a way to turn it around
31:47
and come out and win a Stanley Cup.
31:49
Not saying that's what Nashville is going to do, but to have that
31:52
mindset and to have these valuable players right now, this
31:55
is an asset for the younger guys to feed off of moving forward.
31:58
Well, what's the best cure for senioritis, Kara?
32:01
Some idiot freshman following you around, keeping you in the
32:04
game. And I think that's what Zach
32:06
LaRue, Reed Schaefer, Ryan Ofko, Yokim Kimmel, Fetter Svechkov.
32:10
That's what they got to do. And I think it's working.
32:13
Well, Kara, that's a really good point from you too that you
32:17
know, you talk about. The mindset has never changed
32:20
right when we go into the room after the game, and it's been
32:24
this way for months after the Preds worked their way back.
32:28
We know the start to the season wasn't great, but they started
32:31
to adopt that win the week mantra and everyone's probably
32:36
sick of hearing to say it, but that's kind of the viewpoint
32:38
that they've had for the last couple of months and more often
32:41
than not, it's worked in their favor.
32:43
But whether it's a big win or a tough loss or anything in
32:48
between, especially these last couple of weeks, the way things
32:51
were going leading up to the trade deadline, anytime you go
32:54
into the room and talk to guys after the game and say what's
32:57
the mindset moving forward, it's never deviated from.
33:01
We believe that we're still in a playoff time.
33:03
That's what we're thinking. And it hasn't changed.
33:06
And I love that it hasn't changed because it could have
33:08
easily been, oh, we're selling off guys at the deadline.
33:11
We've got a bunch of young guys coming up from Milwaukee.
33:14
Let's accept what it is. Let's call a spade a spade.
33:17
But that's not what they've done.
33:18
And you know, for the guys in that room, they've said all
33:22
along, the only thing we can control is winning the game.
33:24
And they've done that more often than not over the last few
33:28
months. And again, I just think that
33:30
that mindset, I love that they have it because it's so much
33:33
better than saying, oh, what was me?
33:34
This isn't what we're doing. You know, we're probably not
33:37
going to make it like they're still in it.
33:39
And I love that they're not deviating from that.
33:42
And especially that the young guys have come in and not only
33:46
said, yeah, great to be here in the NHL, but let's try to make a
33:49
push, let's go for it and see what happens.
33:51
I just think that, you know, regardless of what you think
33:54
too, of whoever they could potentially get in the first
33:58
round, if they do make it, I don't know, you know what you
34:02
get in and you've got a chance. And, and I'm can't wait to see
34:06
how these next few weeks play out because again, I just think
34:09
it's very exciting to be playing meaningful hockey in the month
34:13
of March, which has not been the case at this time last year.
34:16
And so it's a it's a nice little turn around and we'll see what
34:19
the press can do with it. But the the mental part of it is
34:24
as big as anything and, and they're embracing that that
34:26
aspect right now. Yeah, and coach Derek McKenzie,
34:30
who runs the penalty kill, told me that every single guy came up
34:33
and said I can kill penalties. So you got guys who are bought
34:38
in, they all want the sweatshirt, they're all the
34:40
dogs, and we're here for it. Love those sweatshirts.
34:44
I got to get my hands on one of those sweatshirts.
34:46
Although you probably got to be a member of the penalty killing
34:48
unit. Block a shot bro you.
34:49
Got to block a shot bro. I'll block a shot.
34:52
I was a defenseman back in middle school.
34:54
I can do it no problem, right? Park yourself in front of a 95
34:58
mile an hour slap shot. All right, well before I block a
35:00
shot, let's head on to the final segment.
35:03
You are listening to and watching the Preds official
35:05
Podcast here on ESPN1O25, the game streaming on Preds YouTube.
35:10
We'll be back to wrap things up in just a moment.
35:18
Welcome back into the Predators official podcast and my favorite
35:22
segment of every week, our Big E awesome person of the week.
35:26
And this one is special. This goes out to to Nick and Ali
35:31
Hague. Ali, obviously wife of Nick
35:33
Hague as she shares her her journey and she's been outspoken
35:38
on something very personal that she's been dealing with.
35:40
And Brooks, you actually had a chance to sit down with Allie as
35:44
she kind of spoke about what she's been dealing with.
35:46
Yeah. So Nick Keg's wife, Allie, has
35:49
been dealing with colon cancer. She was diagnosed recently and
35:53
just the young age of 26. That is obviously not something
35:57
that you're thinking of at that stage of life.
35:59
And she's now using her story to raise awareness about early
36:03
detection during a colorectal cancer awareness month.
36:06
So in partnership with Vanderbilt, the Ingram Cancer
36:09
Center, Nick and Ali Haig have been gracious enough to sit down
36:15
and and kind of help tell their story.
36:17
And it it can be tough. It can be vulnerable.
36:20
You don't necessarily always want to put yourself out there
36:22
with something like this. But I think the mindset is if
36:26
even one person hears this or sees this message and and get
36:30
screened and could potentially help save their life, then that
36:33
is completely worth it. So yeah, the hags have done a
36:36
couple of pieces with the Preds and the Preds Foundation here.
36:40
So they've got APSA that's out now.
36:42
The Predators Foundation accounts have shared it on
36:45
social media. And then I actually had the
36:47
chance to do a sit down with Nick and Ally and Doctor Kathy
36:51
Ng from Vanderbilt, who is actually Ally's doctor, and just
36:55
had a very real and raw conversation with them about
36:58
what they've been dealing with. And again, I think the biggest
37:01
piece of this is you just never expect a 26 years of age to deal
37:06
with anything like this, especially colon cancer.
37:09
And so that was something that Ali wanted to get the word out
37:13
on to not only make people aware that this is a real thing that
37:18
the people need to to have their eyes on, but the partnership
37:22
with Vanderbilt and what they've been able to do with the care
37:25
they've received and what Vanderbilt does for the
37:27
Predators in general. Vanderbilt Medical Center, of
37:30
course, we had doctor Lance Eclair on a few weeks ago
37:32
talking about the relationship with the team as well.
37:36
But for Ali and Nick, it's it's something that's obviously hit
37:38
very close to home. And I love the way that they've
37:41
looked at it too. Of course, Nick Hague signing
37:44
with the Preds over the summer and they've kind of said, you
37:47
know, everything happens for a reason.
37:48
Maybe this was a little bit of a blessing in disguise that they
37:51
were able to sign here in Nashville in a place with
37:54
Vanderbilt, a world class Medical Center that simply has
37:59
care that not a lot of other places are able to provide.
38:01
So it's one thing to come to Nashville and play hockey, but
38:05
when something that matters so much more than hockey comes into
38:09
play, it's been really great for the hags as well to be able to
38:13
hop on over to Vanderbilt and and they can say, you know what,
38:16
we've got you. We're going to take care of you.
38:18
So shout out to Nick and Ali. Hey, Ali is is really brave for
38:22
dealing what she's dealing with. And we can see the the full
38:27
piece hopefully sometime this week, if not next week coming
38:30
out from our our pres video department.
38:32
But just really grateful and thankful for them to share a
38:35
little bit of their story and make people aware that this is
38:38
something that happens. And again, if only one person
38:42
hears this and could save a life, then then that makes all
38:45
the difference. Well, that's incredible.
38:47
And we know that our girl Aaron Donic, who the biggie is named
38:51
after, would be in awe of speaking about Vanderbilt
38:54
Medical Centers where she had all of her treatment.
38:56
I mean, she was always texting us about the care she received.
38:59
We've heard Willie sing praises for the staff over at
39:02
Vanderbilt. So we love this.
39:04
We love this for Ali, that she's had the the great care from
39:07
Vanderbilt and that she's had the courage to speak out some
39:11
great story, Brooks. Yeah, definitely, definitely
39:14
very worthy of the biggie. Perhaps our most worthy biggie
39:17
we've had all season. So makes me think of Aaron,
39:20
makes me miss her, and makes me happy for The Hague family that
39:23
they're speaking out and Ally is receiving the treatment that she
39:27
deserves and that's going to make her feel great. 100% So our
39:30
thanks to Nick and Ally Hague, doctor Kathy Eng from Vanderbilt
39:33
as well, who is way smarter than all of us.
39:36
We realize in that conversation, it's amazing to have people like
39:40
that on our side who who are willing to help.
39:42
So thanks once more to them. We're going to throw it out
39:45
again to just a reminder. You can always use #prints
39:48
podcast on social media or you can comment on the YouTube link
39:54
in the video here. And you want to get involved in
39:56
our mailbag. If you want to drop us a line or
39:58
a question or a topic to talk about, we are always happy to do
40:02
that but. Our thanks to Zach LaRue in the
40:04
meantime for joining and for Max and for Kara.
40:06
Another episode of The POP. Here's the Prez roll on out
40:10
West. We'll be back home next week for
40:13
a couple of games. And as we said, it's crunch
40:15
time. It's a fun time of the year.
40:16
The Prez are playing meaningful hockey and we're glad to help
40:20
bring you a little bit closer to that for Max and Kara.
40:24
I'm Brooks Bratton, thanks for listening.
40:25
Thanks for watching to the Prez official podcast.
40:28
Have a great week. We'll talk to you soon.